Over the last couple of weeks, two large storms have crossed the UK, known as storm Ciara and storm Dennis. Both have left damage and flooding in their wake, as well as high winds that have persisted for days after the main storm passed.

A day after the worst of storm Ciara, I paid a further visit to Oare marshes. It was so cold and windy that I didn't stay long. The tide was well in: an unusually high tide, post-storm and coincident with the new moon. The slipway was almost entirely underwater, and, to my delight, I saw there was a small flock of turnstones at its end, busying themselves at the edge of the water. I expected them to fly off at my approach, but by moving carefully, I was able to get surprisingly close, while they nosed around in the surf and appeared to birdbath in the choppy waters of the Swale.

They did not stay for very long, of course, but I had a good ten minutes with them: plenty given the unpleasant conditions, and I managed to catch some pictures as they flew off.

Incidentally, I had had a very different view of these birds a few days previously: they had taken up residence on the gunwales of a small dinghy anchored just offshore; they lined up neatly and kept their feet dry.