In the fields behind the beach this morning a peregrine flew past, disturbed by a tractor. This was closely followed by a merlin – initially seen sitting on a fence post (I’d been looking out for a merlin for the last few days as the cold weather has brought them here in previous years). There was also a red kite circling around.
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Waders included a few golden plover and a few lapwing in one field, and 50 or so curlew in another field with black-headed gulls and starlings. There was also a group of about 12 wigeon in the ditch running down to the beach. Also of note, a greater spotted woodpecker flying over one of the fields. I see them regularly in the woods behind the road, but never on the beach side of the road.
On the way home I inadvertently flushed a snipe from the stream next to our driveway.
Aline Denton