Sunbathing birds

Lade - cold, dry and sunny, NW 3 - A fresh wind out of the north made it seem colder than it actually was, but in the shelter of the willow swamp many birds were enjoying the warm sunshine including Grey Heron, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Blackbird, a female Sparrowhawk, plus a Moorhen that had climbed into the bushes to receive the full rays. Some of the ducks had also retreated into sunny corners of reedbeds out of the wind, while two Green Woodpeckers preferred to warm up on the concrete bowl of the 30` listening mirror.

                                Spot the Green Woodpeckers!

                                Sparrowhawk sunbathing

                                Shoveler and Wigeon

  On the beach all the usual waders and gulls were noted on the incoming tide. There was still a police presence on site this morning searching for a Greatstone man who went missing yesterday evening.

Common Gull on the beach