Long Tailed Duck at Last.

Spent the afternoon at South Gare trying to locate the Long Tailed Duck which had been reported there earlier in the week.  Thanks to Bert we managed to see one in the bay.  Later in the afternoon a second bird flew in to join it.  Also there on our arrival was a large flock of over 50 Snow Bunting but we failed to locate them later in the day.  There were good numbers of Knot, Turnstone and Oystercatcher along with Purple Sandpiper a fly over of a small group of Sanderling and at least 5 Bar Tailed Godwit.  A Guillemot became beached on the breakwater and late in the afternoon a Merlin landed on the beach before flying off.  All in all a very pleasant afternoon although a little cold in the wind.