4th March

Considering how uneventful it has been at the south end lately, I thought I would try a change and do the full circuit of the realignment area.   With a nice light SSW wind and no-one around, I had a most enjoyable morning and early afternoon.   On the shore side mainly between Stonebridge and Pye's Hall were 300 Knot, 110 Redshanks, 60 Curlews, 118 Oystercatchers, 120 Sanderlings, 670 Dunlin, 7 Grey Plovers, 470 Brent Geese, one pale-bellied Brent Goose, 16 Shelducks, Cormorant, 6 Little Egrets, Grey Heron and 4 Rock Pipits.   The realignment area itself is already holding a fair amount of rainwater and of particular relevance along the new bank were 70 Goldfinches, 65 Reed Buntings and 55 Yellowhammers.   These last counts are absolute minima as birds were darting back and forth along fences and bushes and probably were even more numerous.   Also in this area were 60 Stock Doves, 29 Mallard, 3 Tufted Ducks, 140 Teal, Wigeon, 2 Mute Swans, 3 Coots, Little Grebe, Lapwing, Ruff, 5 Meadow Pipits, 2 Grey Partridges, male Hen Harrier, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Kestrels and a Short-eared Owl.