July 7th

This morning we managed to avoid the heavy showers, that were passing to the south of us, as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and back. The bird of the morning was a totally unexpected, July female Goosander roosting at the edge of  Coldharbour lagoon (167th). We wondered whether it was ill or injured but Matt later saw it swimming strongly in the lagoon after we had left.

Female Goosander

Other birds we saw included 2 Swallows, 9 Skylarks, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Goldfinches, 5 Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 8 Avocets, 2 Coot, 3 Common Terns, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull W, 2 Shelduck, 3 Linnets, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 168 Swift flying W and 2 Tufted Duck.

Avocet brooding young