Insomniac Heath had been strolling around the fields and lanes in search of Quail and Reculver's "Holy Grail" a Golden Oriole since very silly o'clock before I met him at the Towers just before 6 a m. It was cold and overcast and there was little improvement in the next three and a half hours. However, there was a noticeable movement of hirundines with nearly 80 House Martins recorded in our walk with very good numbers of Swallow and Swift. Heathy had one excited moment when I thought he had connected with a Red-Rumped Swallow but he didn't quite get a good enough view to make a positive I.D.
The morning began with the first of 25 Gannets noted, which was a Year Tick for myself. Small groups continued to pass all morning. With the toilet block closed Marc soon disappeared off into the undergrowth by the Oyster Farm and cried with delight ........ when a TREE PIPIT flew over his head, distinctly calling. Little Egret, Shelduck, Tufted Duck and Oystercatcher were all sighted in the Oyster Farm and as soon as we reached the Cold Harbour lagoon a couple of Yellow Wagtails made the notebook along with a few noisy Sedge and Reed Warbler. 7 Dunlin and Turnstone were feeding in the lagoon and we then took an uneventful stroll inland. Our return to the Towers added Sandwich Tern, Great Crested Grebe and daddy Stonechat with two baby Chats. We watched from the Towers for 30 minutes and almost unheard of Marc returned home at 9.30 a.m. Hopefully, his family didn't think they were being burgled. Golden Oriole next week? It won't be for lack of trying to find one.
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