Wednesday 23rd January

This was a very dull morning with a heavy layer of cloud, the air was damp, but at least it was not raining. Large groups of Black Headed and Common Gulls, with the occasional Herring and Black Headed Gull were lined up on the mud, they occasionally rose in a large flock to fly over the water. I could see a solitary Redshank on the mud and small rocks below Sea Walls, no courting today. Neither were there any Peregrines visible, flying or perched in the oak. Maybe I needed to stay longer for a viewing?

Monday & Tuesday, 21st & 22nd January

Monday was so wet that when I reached Sea Walls I could see very little through the raindrops on my glasses, just enough to make out the forms of Gulls on the mud, and vague smaller brown shapes which I took to be Redshank. The Peregrine Watch was even wetter!
Tuesday was bright and clear with a watery sun. At Sea Walls as I peered immediately over the cliff I noticed two Redshank among the rocks on the mud below. Courting! The male all puffed up and walking round to attract the female, she looked rather unconcerned, but he enticed her into the water and with a flutter of white from their flight feathers, mated; afterwards they walked away from each other picking in the mud as they separated. Spring must be near. At the Peregrine Watch there were three Redshank on the mud below, it looked as if they were also playing the mating game. A Peregrine was over in the oak opposite, he (a small bird) flew over and below our cliff, then a little later reappeared again in the oak. A Kestral came and sat on a dead tree at the base of the cliff. A really beautiful bird with black tips to its wings and a beech-brown plumage.

A good day for my 200th posting on this blog.