Kingfisher

Lade - 0900hrs - cold, sunshine and showers, sw 4 - Another cold morning, but at least the sun was shining between the hefty showers. Most of the ducks had returned to site with hundreds of Gadwall, Shoveler, Teal, Pochard and Tufted, plus five Goldeneye and a single Pintail. Best of all though was my first Kingfisher (not that I`m keeping a year list...) of the year flying through the willow swamp, a bird that is not always easy to see down here on the coast.
After joining the Joker to watch a highly entertaining QPR v Burnley match I picked up the mutt and headed over the road to check the beach for waders and gulls. Unfortunately, the wind had picked up to near gale force by now making for poor viewing conditions. However, at Greatstone we sheltered in the dunes and clocked up six species of waders, three Brents and two Med Gulls amongst the thousands of common species; despite two red setters chasing the birds down the beach - Barney looked on in disgust. We then slogged back into the teeth of the tempest and settled down in front of the fire to await the rugby. It was not an afternoon to be out and about birding.