Midges & Sanderlings

Lade - 0900hrs - ridiculously warm, dry and sunny, light airs - A belated WeBS count this morning in fine spring sunshine recorded, predictably, low numbers of wildfowl with 2 Goldeneyes being the only point of interest, plus a couple of hunting Marsh Harriers, a good view of a Water Rail and my first 4 Linnets of the spring twittering overhead.
However, there were millions of midges (and I do mean millions) hovering above the gorse as the temperature climbed into the high teens centigrade. A flock of hirundines and Swifts could have had a field day, but it was not to be with just a disinterested Dunnock singing amongst the myriad of flying insects.
Two patches of coltsfoot in flower added to the sense of spring renewal.

                                          Lade, Midges                                          

                                          Dunnock & Midges, Lade

                                          Sanderlings and Dunlins, Greatstone Beach

New Diggings - 1030hrs Had a cursory look from the causeway road, en-route to the allotment, where the single Great White Egret was again on the far bank along with 2 Littles; there may have been a second GWE secreted behind a bush nearby, but there again it could have been a sheep, as after all, they are very similar at a distance... being white and all...
Greatstone Beach - 1530hrs With the tide on the way out and a fog bank rolling in off the bay paused for a quick look at the beach where a count of 580 Sanderlings was of note. Also 200 Dunlins and 50 Knots, but too early for the big boys to return.