Friday 20th December

The recent rain increased the forecast height of the tide and kept the water up much later than usual. Counts from the estuary included 920 Dunlin, 912 Oystercatcher, 307 Wigeon, 294 Brent Geese, 130 Bar-tailed Godwit, 122 Knot, 86 Snipe, 71 Shelduck, 59 Grey Plover, 33 Teal, 12 Red-breasted Merganser, two Kingfisher and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere three Great Northern and a Red-throated Diver were offshore with 25 Great-crested Grebe and a female Eider. 

Grey Plover - Lee Collins