WAGTAIL BONANZA.

Arriving promptly at Grove just before 6.00 a.m. after arranging another weekend trip to Marc's 'spiritual home'.  I parked up and strolled half-way to Harrison's before phoning Heathy and he was waiting for me at Reculver, having changed his mind.  He had sent me a text the previous evening, knowing full well I never check my phone.  We therefore started our walk about 20 minutes late.  The Sand Martin colony at Bishopstone is now well over 100 birds and we soon both added Swift to our year lists.  Sandwich Terns were passing us generally in pairs and as we passed the Oyster Farm Little Egret, Shelduck and 3 Greenshank made the notebook.  Common Tern, Turnstone, Ringed Plover and Grey Heron were added as we reached Cold Harbour.  There were definitely more Yellow Wagtails on show and even I managed to take a passable photograph.  A very approachable was Wheatear feeding on the millions (honestly) of flies present.  On the sea wall we noticed a distant Wagtail which was noticeably different and getting much closer we soon picked up on its striking head colour which confirmed to us it was a male GREY-HEADED WAGTAIL.  Marc managed to obtain some images and with Matt and Chris Hindle close-by they to were very soon enjoying this very rare bird for Reculver.  Chris with his encyclopedic knowledge of records soon told us this was only the 3rd record for the area and the first since 1989.  We moved on and a very smart White Wagtail made its presence felt.  As we moved inland Shoveler, Gadwall and Tufted Duck were added to our day lists and although we retraced our steps we didn't manage to re-find the Wagtail as the first of the 'Pan' Lister's arrived.  The Stonechats had successfully raised two Little Chats which was heartwarming and despite constant sky-watching Red Kite still eludes us.  Marc returned home looking forward to his perfect evening - 'Dr Who', 'Sing If You Can' and 'Britain's Got Talent' - pure TV heaven.