It started overcast and grey with no hint of a New Year sunrise with Robins and Song Thrushes singing out with overly optimistic enthusiasm.  To date, 79 species have been recorded today and most of those were seen before the rain settled in at about ten.

The two White-fronts were around early doors and Lee Spence got some great shots on Monday but there was no hope of anything like this today!

Amazingly Tony O heard the Beardies by the MDZ and David Bradnum had a singing Chiffchaff in the Northern Trail reedbed. Highlight for me was a single adult Kittiwake before the rain came in but this was eclipsed by a boat that been seen coming up past Mucking with a huge flock of Kits, a Gannet and Guillemot in tow. The boat eventually got here and the Kits were still with it, careening close behind as is their want. They revel in this sort of weather and it was a pleasure to watch them playing in the wake with the other gulls. A couple of counts got me to about 45 but I know that David spent longer on them and may have a more accurate count.

The tide was very high and wind driven with white horses whipping up across the saltmarsh below the centre and flocks of displaced Snipe struggling to find somewhere safe to put down. The tide has turned now but the rain is still lashing down and the building is once again creating its own peculiar harmonics!

Trails are still flooded in places but Black Ops and Andrew have created a temporary gangway to get you past the worst of it although extra care will need to be taken.

See you all tomorrow

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