I would like to begin my report by firstly saying a big thank you to Richard Doan, the site Warden, for hosting us and giving up his time to lead both the walks. Also to the cafeteria staff for preparing a delicious buffet supper, and lastly to all the club members who attended the event - all 16 places on both walks were filled and the buffet was fully booked as well, so very many thanks to all for your support. It was good to welcome some new faces and to renew acquaintance with some of the longest standing and most experienced county birders.

The weather forecast being for a cloudy afternoon, with rain due around 5.0 Richard decided to do the Coastal area first, so we duly set off across the salt marsh heading for the East Dunes and then the Mill Hill vantage point. A couple of Herring Gulls, some Swallows and a group of Black-tailed Godwits flew over our heads and Meadow Pipits were present in the marsh. We were also on the lookout for a Clouded Yellow Butterfly which had been seen earlier and were shown some of the plants growing in this area.

The dunes were very quiet but there was a bit more action around the beach and over the sea where there was a bit of a feeding frenzy taking place involving Sandwich Terns, Gulls a few Gannets plus a couple of Arctic Skuas. A little Egret and at least one Curlew were in the pools behind the beach and Cormorant, Greater Black-Backed Gulls, Herring and Black-Headed Gulls and Sandwich Terns were around the tide line. Also seen from Mill Hill were at least one House Martin, further Swallows, a Magpie and Woodpigeon.

Returning to the Visitor Centre just as the rain started, we then enjoyed an excellent buffet of sandwiches, sausage rolls, mini Scotch eggs, dips, salad sticks and quiche, bags of  crisps and a range of very tempting and delicious cakes and scones, with tea and coffee also provided. Two Spoonbills were spotted  on the New Saltmarsh distantly to the North.

After the meal, and with the rain still falling and the light deteriorating, we took the cars down to the Beach Car park and walked through to the Tennyson's Sands hide. The recent prolonged drought having resulted in most of the lagoons drying out birds present were all concentrated in this area. The usual expected cast of Shelduck, Mallards, Teal, Avocets and Little Grebe , Moorhens, Pied Wagtails and Jackdaws were all present, with additional highlights being  a single Yellow Wagtail, a rather skulking Water Rail, Sand Martins on passage and a Green Sandpiper. With thanks to Phil Hyde for moving on to the adjacent hide and finding a Whinchat sitting on a wire along the back fence which made my afternoon !  The final destination was the Mere where I believe further Green Sandpipers and several Spotted Redshank were present.

I would like to end my report with a poem kindly sent by Carol Long, who was one of the participants, sharing some of her feelings for this very special place. With many thanks to her.

Report by Sally Prescott

Gibraltar Point – or Coming Home

The sea stretches to the horizon

Separated from us by creeks and marsh.

Far away shapes; gannets, fulmars, shearwaters

Swiftly moving dots over grey dawn sea.

From the marsh the lonely call of the redshank

Piercing the laughing chatter of jackdaws.

Beautiful place not seen by me for 30 years;

The same yet also unfamiliar.

People I knew there no longer remembered;

The old field station swept away in a high tide.

Yet it is still here, still remembered, like a homecoming

I immerse myself in its dawn to dusk,

Happy among the fIocks of waders, the solitary water rail,

Happy among the green-clad birdwatchers sharing their sightings 

A comaraderie of expertise and free spirit

Through their shared love of the wild.