First Post Of 2012

I kicked off the New Year at the 'obs' which I have neglected recently. I knew that the forecast was for showers this morning and that's what I got first thing, but very quickly this changed to heavy persistent rain. As I walked through the copse a couple of Robins 'ticked' and a Song Thrush flew in front of me.

I headed along the track besides the hedge and ditch, but didn't really have very much until a Lapwing lifted from the 'ringing field'. As I headed towards the sea wall I could see a blob on a fence post and when I lifted my bins the blob turned into a 2CY male Merlin. Nice! A blurry shot of the bird can be found below.

 Merlin

I headed through the reedbed and the dunes and still not very much. I was going to have a short sea watch from the sea wall but the heavens opened and I had to make a hasty retreat to my car where a cup of coffee awaited me.

I then headed to the Marine Lakes to feed the Turnstones. As there wasn't a tide there were only 12 feeding around the boating lake. As it was still pouring down I had a look on the estuary from the car but all I could see in the murky conditions were large numbers of Oystercatchers and 52 Knot.

The rain didn't let up so I returned home. I don't make New Year's resolutions, but I am going to try and do more general naturalising (is there such a word?) in 2012. I have changed my blogger header in respect of this to a Comma butterfly and also to remind me that the start of Spring is just round the corner, depending on when your definition of the start of Spring is!