19-05-07 Wild West (wind)

What a wild day fed up sitting in decided to have a run to East Chevington via Bothal pond wasn’t to bad once you got tucked in the hedge,2 Widgeon, 2 Gadwall, Mallard. Shellduck, Little Grebe, 2 LBB, 1 Barnacle, Ringed Plover & 1 L RP, with 17 Ringed & 1 Dunlin dropping in ,12+ Swifts & 8 Sand Martin hawking over the pond, went past Longhirst Flash plenty of Gulls sitting in the field but the wind to strong to check so it was on to Linton ,a couple of guys that where ahead of me at the flash where pulling out of Linton as I turned in so it didn’t look good for much here ,I went to the East side first but nothing going to the West side a couple of birders that had been at Bothal where also coming back and said there was not much about, I had my flask so I thought time for a coffee anyway, but not long after I got in to the hide I picked out a Ring Necked Duck not being sure of all the points to look for and wary of Hybrids I took a sketch and checked off all the points I could remember a very smart Male keeping close company with a Female Tufted for most of the afternoon, so it turned out to be a good afternoon after all, also present 2 Fox, 1 LRP, 4 Barnacle and the usual duck and Little Grebe.