Very few gulls present yesterday afternoon in a strong, southerly wind at the Thaw rivermouth for the BTO Winter Gull survey. Single figure counts of Common, Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed when I arrived, and during the afternoon never more than 50 or so Herring Gull in the count area (the sea and the beach, from Breaksea Pt to East Aberthaw lagoon). By dusk there were 150+ Herring Gull sheltering outside the count area on the former power station buildings, and just 10 on the sea.

Early afternoon near high tide 13 Curlew and 67 Oystercatcher were on the beach between Breaksea Pt and the rivermouth, and a Kestrel was hunting near the coast path in the same area. 10 Shelduck were east of the rivermouth. Other birds present included 2 Peregrine on towers in the former power station site, and 85+ Wigeon and 5 Mute Swan along the coast including at the rivermouth. Most numerous birds on the beach late afternoon were 500+ corvids – mostly Jackdaw and Carrion Crow.