As Brian, Heather and myself crested the Dunes at Donna Nook we felt the full force of the biting westerly wind and the chill 4C temperature felt even colder. We had expansive views though of the salt marsh and estuary and across the Spurn Point and, behind us, over the rapidly developing flood mitigation area. The recently noisy and busy grey seal nursery was now quiet and peaceful again, the adults and pups having returned to the sea. We made our way along the seaward side of the dunes as far as the old sluice at Pye's Hall where we crossed back over the dunes to return on the landward side of the dunes. The recent high tides had flooded the path and the whole area was busy with bird life. The thrilling call of curlew echoed over the marsh along with the insistent and strident calls of redshank. Egrets fed in the creeks and gulls gathered raucously. Walking back towards the car we passed the area which, in a couple of months, will be alive with green hairstreak butterflies, but now things are still wintry despite the welcome sunshine.
On our way home we called in at Cleethorpes Country Park thinking that this might be where the female goosander was. I had already tried unsuccessfully on the boating lake and we had no better luck today. Not long after getting home I had a message to say that it had been showing well on the boating lake. Ah well!!
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