Sparrowhawk again!

Lade - mild, wet and windy, sw 6 - I always try and have at least one day a week without using the car and today seemed perfect as an active weather front moved up-Channel bringing near gale force winds and heavy rain showers throughout, although it sort of broke up as the afternoon progressed.
  A couple of hours over the local patch this morning proved challenging, dodging the rain and searching for birds in sheltered spots around the ponds. A mixed passerine flock contained a few Robins and Blackbirds and at least one Song Thrush feeding on berries, while Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits, Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests comprised the majority of arboreal birds.

                                Sheltering from the tempest

  Due to the strong winds many of the Cormorants, ducks and grebes had retreated into the sheltered central lagoon within the Willow Swamp, along with half a dozen Little Egrets and Grey Herons. Scores of Sand and House Martins swarmed over north lake as a straggle of Curlews flew to roost on the approaching high tide on the bay.
  There was little to be found on the wind-blown Desert apart from a few Meadow Pipits and Linnets. Scanning over towards the airport the skyline was broken by a huge set of marques in preparation for next weekends dance festival.

                                Connected Festival tents, Lydd airport

  Back home several more Chiffchaffs and Robins moved through the garden cover, and during one heavy shower a juvenile Sparrowhawk flew in and briefly perched atop the bird table before flopping  into the fir trees for further protection from the rain.
  Afternoon forays over the beach proved fruitless due to the wind and rain.

                               Soggy Sparrowhawk