WeBs and harriers

Lade - cold, wet and windy - Another grim morning with a scudding wind out of the west; although we started our circular walk in sunshine by the lakes, it finished in spectacular style on the beach with a heavy shower and a totally unexpected bolt of lightening and clap of thunder out to sea! However, the WeBS count was low with just a pair of Goldeneyes, 55 Shovelers and 140 Teal the highlights amongst the usual Coots and diving ducks. Despite the strong wind several Marsh Harriers and a Kestrel were hunting the rough ground behind the `mirrors`, while a flock of 55 Curlews flew to roost on the desert.
  This afternoon I joined CP for the monthly harrier count at our usual watch point on Walland Marsh in blustery weather, but thankfully no rain. Only three Marsh Harriers came into roost, although another half a dozen birds were in the general area; they may have been put off by a party of duck shooters by the reservoir. Six Great White and two Little Egrets eventually settled into a roost once the shootists had cleared off. Also noted two Green Sandpipers, Snipe, three Common Buzzards, two Sparrowhawks, three Kestrels and several hundred Greylag Geese flying into roost at sunset.