** A Short While River Watching. (river medway) at Halling.**

This morning at 10am I had to go to the doctors for my annual flu jab. When I came out I walked the 100yds down to the river. I didn't have as much time as I would have liked before Pam was coming to pick me up so I spend my time scanning the river. It was about two thirds before high tide, it might have been a bit chilly but at least it was dry. The most obvious birds seen was the usual Mallards 7 in number, and a small gathering of Gulls, made up of B/H/Gull, Common Gulls, and a couple of Herring Gulls. I had my first sighting of a Great Created Grebe for over year, it was resting on the river letting the tide take it having a good preen.
On the bend of the river a Cormorant did nothing but dive for food, one day I will see it come up with one of the big fish that are in there.
I then spent the rest of my time scanning the mud flats which turned out to be quite rewarding, for the first time in a while the Common Sandpipers have decided to put in a appearance, 2 was feeding about 200 yards apart, then about 20 minutes later 5 more Common Sands  flew up river closely followed by a single Redshank, the Redshank was making so much noise I reckon it must have got out of the wrong side of the bed this morning :-)
There was also the regular Lapwing (6)and Moorhen(4) spread out here and there. and in the furthest bend of the river that was visible from where I was watching was a Little Egret.