MIGRANTS IN THE GLOOM.

With Heathy out of action after 9.30 a.m. today it was a very early start at the Towers.  We started our stroll just before 6.00 a.m. with a female BLACK REDSTART found immediately on the rocks by the car park.  Within a few hundred yards the first of six WHEATEAR was encountered with some unsatisfactory pictures taken of a cracking male.  4 'Scandinavian' Rock Pipits were feeding on the shingle ridge and a single seal was sighted extremely close to shore.  The obligatory waders made the notebook in the shape of Sanderling, Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Turnstone and Redshank.  However, 2 Knot always a 'tricky' species at Reculver were also noted.  At Cold Harbour the second Black Redstart was seen in company with a Wheatear.  The sea was extremely quiet with only a few gulls and Cormorants passing.  Julian Perry phoned to say he had seen a single Sand Martin which we had missed although Marc found the PALE BELLIED BRENT still in with a few remaining Geese.  Fortunately, we re-found the male Wheatear which allowed us some better pictures, but was never keen to pose for too long.  On return to the Towers 3 male Wheatear and a single female flitted around the rocks and soon disappeared.  Finally, a sparkling male BLACK REDSTART was around the visitor centre and until the bird was disturbed it allowed us excellent views and a few pictures.  Hopefully, this is the beginning of so much more to come.