Patch Return.....Friday 6th October 2017.

After seeing that the weather was still nice after finishing work,Trace and myself had a quick bite to eat after my shift had finished and headed over to East Halton Skitter and decided to walk along the sea wall up to Winter's Pond and back,this is what we saw.
 After leaving the car,the first bird of note was a cracking Barn Owl watched hunting along the beck giving some great views in the broad daylight and a great sight for Trace to enjoy.This was the same bird as i had seen on my last visit,a particularly pale individual.
 As we began to walk along the bank,a little bird shot from the bank side and landed on the sea wall,a lovely little female Stonechat.She began to flit about never staying still in typical Stonechat fashion and then decided enough was enough and flew across the haven onto the skitter pools area.I managed to get a few crap record shots,but the sighting was a nice one all the same.
 We carried on walking along the seawall with 2 Little Egret and a Grey Heron watched feeding in the haven on the incoming tide and overhead a few flocks of Black-tailed Godwits included 2 Ruff as they flew towards the wet field they have been feeding on beyond the Skitter.
 Eventually we reached Winter's Pond and Trace reminisced about when she used to play as a kid down here in the early 80's,how time flies.
 On the pits the usual suspects were present,the Greylag flock were again in good voice and a single Little Egret fished on the opposite side of the pit along with another Grey Heron.On the pit itself and as we were heading back to the river bank,three Goldeneye flew in and promptly had a wash and brush up.All females,these three represent my first birds of the Autumn/Winter period and were a nice surprise.
 The return leg back to the car saw 6 Roe Deer on the fields and a small skein of 12 Pinks headed west up river.
 A nice few hours out and about and great for Trace to visit her old haunts,playing as a kid.

Female Stonechat,East Halton Skitter.

West Bound Black-tailed Godwit.

Big Bird Overhead,Boeing E-3 'Sentry' Heading Back Towards RAF Waddington,Part Of 8'Squadron.

Goldeneye,Winter's Pond,East Halton.

Grimsby Dock's And Dock Tower,Taken From Winter's Pond.

Adult Grey Heron Feeding In The Haven At East Halton Skitter.