A 4:30am alarm this morning so I could get an early start at Reculver in the hope of a few waders moving. I had just parked up when Marc heath arrived and we set off at 5:30 towards Cold Harbour. We picked up a stray cat which followed us at least a mile along the sea wall before we shook it off. First bird we heard was a Willow Warbler just east of the towers. Further along Common Sandpipers were calling everywhere, and we counted about 16 birds from the towers up to Plumpudding, though there were probably more but it's hard to keep track when they spook so easily. Other waders were 18 Whimbrel, 35 Ringed Plover, 10 Turnstone, 34 Sanderling, 1 Dunlin and 2 Little Ringed Plovers calling as they flew south over the towers.
Also seen were 9 Little Terns, 15 Sandwich terns, 7 Common Terns, 1 Peregrine, 1 Wheatear, 1 Kingfisher, 3 Med Gulls and over 40 Yellow Wagtails.
On the way back there was a young Common Seal on the beach at Cold Harbour.
This afternoon I went back up to the towers and stood sheltered from the stiff south west breeze. After about half an hour I was joined by Chris and Anne Hindle, and Matt Hindle was down at Cold Harbour. I stayed until 5 o'clock. I managed to see 5 Little Terns, 6 Black Terns, about 60 Common Terns, and 15 Sandwich Terns, 7 Gannets and an Arctic Skua flew east. There were also 12 Common Scotors distantly flying east, while a large flock of Whimbrel flew east.
Nice header shot of the Common Sandpiper. I finally managed a few shots today of a Common Sand myself at last, been trying long enough. Some nice shots on here.
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