It is a very damp, grey morning with low blowing mizzle reducing the view to about 100m. Perfect! I got on site in the gloom just after seven to the sound of flocks of still migrating Redwings calling overhead and Robins contact calling from the scrub. A Firecrest called a stridently from the carpark and several Goldcrests did likewise from the Mardyke where i could also hear two Chiffchaffs and the Kingfisher. Despite the restricted view I could make out lots of waders on Purfleet Scrape. It must have been hightide as neqrly 200 Redshank were present along with three Curlew, 12 Dunlin, two snoozing Greenshanks and a 'chewit' calling Spotted Redshank. A single Grey Plover was with the shanks and Lapwings. Whistling Wigeon could be heard and both Rock and Meadow Pipits were out there somewhere!
A walk around the woodland produced 21 Song Thrushes and 14 Blackbirds while more Redwings and a few Chaffinches were overhead. No sign of the hoped for Ring Ouzel yet. . .
22-10-12