I am happy to report that Havergate has escaped the worst of the recent stormy weather with the only downside being me not being able to get out there as often as normal! However, apart from looking a bit windswept, we have had no damage to any of the infrastructure out there.
Even though we have had to cancel a couple of work party days due to the weather, we are still on track to getting the new hide up and running. This will still be our top priority over the next couple of weeks along with a few other jobs that will need doing before Spring gets here.
Bird wise it has certainly quieted down, though there is still plenty to see out on our lagoons. Here is what we had on our recent full island count at the weekend. 796 wigeon, 494 teal, 47 pintail, 262 shoveler and 2 Golden eye. Waders were not quite as numerous as previous weeks but we did have 25 Avocet, 6 ringed plover, 31 grey plover, 257 dunlin, 40 turnstone, 150 bar tailed godwit and 154 redshank. Highlights of the day however were one spoonbill sleeping on main lagoon and a stunning male hen harrier flying along the saltmarsh of the ness opposite Havergate.