Cold Kent and Common gull recovery.

Second day of surveys today, and now I'm feeling really cold !!! having been out in that freezing east wind, chill factor bloody minus 7or 8 , it was nice to get back to the car and thaw out.

A great start when a herd of 12 BEWICK'S flew low east over the marsh, always brilliant seeing wild swans and just as we predicted too.

Birds were fairly thin on the ground today, although Wigeon numbers were again high, Lapwing and Golden Plover were all over the site making them hard to count.

A single Jack Snipe flushed was the only other highlight of the low tide survey.

Usual Peregrine and Marsh Harrier were the only raptors of note.

Returning Home I popped into the mighty Mayesbrook Park and found one of our colour ringed Common Gulls on the Ice, apparently the first recovery of this species.

Common Gull - 2AAV ringed at rainham landfill on 11.02.12