Gulf Stream failure

As the foul weather inflicted further damage on the already-beleaguered British leisure industry, you have to search for a scapegoat. I blame the oil spill for diverting the Gulf Stream, thereby sucking down the north winds from the arctic. Consult "The Day After Tomorrow" to see what will happen next.
A visit to Rye Harbour is a good antidote to the weather, as the frenetic activity of gulls and terns can be watched from the dry interior of the hides. The closest island is low in the water, but some Black-headed Gulls have made nests and we can see glimpses of eggs.
Both Common and Sandwich Terns nest here too, adding their own calls to the cacophony.
The numbers of Mediterranean Gulls have increased over the last few years, and over 100 were counted today. Maybe they will soon be seen as unwelcome immigrants, pushing out the now-threatened Black-headed Gulls? Will there be a cap, or maybe an armistice for those with rings over 10 years old?
As the rain came down, there was nothing else to do but enjoy the activity before you - constant scuffles as neighbour scrapped with neighbour. Gulls seemed miffed with a visiting Moorhen, while Coots just fought amongst themselves.

A Redshank kept itself to itself, and moseyed around the shingle beach.

Later, I parked up near Dungeness to try to twitch the two Purple Herons that had been seen there. Fortunately they flew up from the reeds before too long, showing their scrawny frame, white chin-patch and yellow beak, with snake-like necks - strange birds indeed.