The oysterbeds were a miserable place to be on Thursday being cloudy with a chilly wind and with just two mergansers on the pools. Offshore five Black-necked Grebes were distant with one Slavonian amongst them but no sign of the hoped-for Long-tailed Duck. Amongst the waders just a few Knot were NfY.
Relocating to the east side on the way back produced another fifteen mergansers, plenty displaying, but being forced to fly in the presence of one or two RIBs. A Razorbill flew towards the harbour entrance and two Guillemots were out near the metal platform.
Despite difficult issues at home and more crappy weather Friday's destination, changed en route, proved a winner with lots of blue sky after a wet and squally start. A fine ring-tailed Hen Harrier from the gate (thanks to a fellow birder from Plumpton whilst I was retrieving my scope from the car) was pleasing and the whole area was alive with birds but sadly no partridge species.
A subsequent drop-in for coffee and a snack at WWT produced nothing. The landscaping work is still ongoing and so there was little to see other than a single Water Rail, the first I've laid eyes on this week, and a singing Mistle Thrush.
Now up to 104 species, only 40 less than all of last year!!
