Play Me Old King 'Coal' that I may join with you! - Genesis

A chance to catch up with a few birds to add to both Year and Dorset lists in the Christchurch, Dorset area today. A brief stop at Mudeford Quay was profitable only for the view across to the Isle of Wight and

THE NEEDLES (Lighthouse)

A little further on the car park was 'eventually' found, only to be greeted by a COAL TIT which was an addition to both lists before wandering down to

 where both RABBITs

 and JACKDAW were seen in good numbers.

 CHRISTCHURCH PRIORY

as ever looked magnificent in the morning sunshine

 as did the grazing PONIES out on the Salt Flats.

 There were also probably as many as 100

 

 SAND MARTINs

new for the County

 and even more distantly a group of Waders

 deserving of closer scrutiny.

 First to be identified was

 REDSHANK (Dorset)

 followed by the first SANDERLING of the year for me.

They were in the company of both Dunlin and Oystercatchers.

 The views and sky were quite dramatic

back towards MUDEFORD,

 the OPEN SEA and

 HENGISTBURY HEAD.

 A few

SANDWICH TERNs were also recorded and added to the 

Dorset List which was the last of the day.

Totals stand at Year = 109, County = 85

 A shadow of a man, a face through a window
Crying in the night, the night goes into
Morning, just another day

Mandy - Barry Manilow