Weird Weather

Lade - warm, dry and sunny, S2 - The weather has certainly been a bit odd of late with gale force winds and rain for much of yesterday culminating in an evening deluge of hail and rain followed by a stupendous bolt of lightening that must`ve struck quite close to the cottage as the ground shook setting off several car alarms out in the road!
  However, this morning was much more benign and remained mild. From the back garden at dawn a few passerines passed overhead, mostly Chaffinch, Mipit and Goldfinch along with a few Skylark, Greenfinch, Siskin and Redpoll. Outback more grounded finches, larks and pipits and one Song Thrush. On south lake two Shelduck amongst 100 Shoveler, plus two Great White Egrets and Marsh Harrier by the main reedbed and two Brent Geese overhead. Several Goldcrests and a Chiffchaff called from the willow swamp. The interpretive sign along the main track has again been vandalised for the umpteenth time by an unknown moron; I feel like setting up a camera trap to nail him/her (probably an irate dog-walker).
  A check of the beach delivered two late Sandwich Terns, seven species of shorebirds, 10 Shelducks and two Brent Geese.

                                Sandwich Terns