PLODDINGBIRDER: Garganey and first Arctic Skua!

Thursday 28 March 2019

Garganey and first Arctic Skua!

A strange but quite birdy day in overcast flat calm conditions, 11 Garganey 4 on ARC all drakes, 4 more on Burrowes 2 drakes and 3 more on this afternoons sea watch 1 drake. Water Pipits seemed to be arriving all morning at Dengemarsh with 3 birds becoming 18. My first Arctic Skua of the year flew east this afternoon.

Garganey over the ARC

It was very quiet on The Point this morning, so a call from CP saying there were 4 drake Garganey on the ARC from Hanson was very welcome and saved AJG and myself from a fruitless wander around the trapping area. While watching the Garganey up to 16 Sand Martins were hawking over the lake and 3 Goldeneye could be seen. While checking the New diggings from the causeway a party 9 Ruff flew over, presumably part of the flock of 27 that were at Cooks Pool.

Ruff over the ARC

Great White Egret on its way to France

While chatting to DB & OL at The Point a Great White Egret cruised over us and out to sea to France.

Beareded Tit at Dengemarsh

Another walk from Springfield Bridge around the hay fields saw at least 4 Bearded Tits and many Reed Buntings, also 3 Water Pipits that quickly became 6 Water Pipits and apparently became 18 Water Pipits by early afternoon.

A wander out the back of Scotney found 3 Avocets, 4 Corn Buntings and 10 Tree Sparrows of note but little else was seen.

A quick check of the Gulls on Burrowes found a Normandy ringed G.B.B.Gull 62V and 4 more Garganey.

Back at the screen hide at the ARC the 4 drake Garganey could still be seen and a Bittern was booming behind the hide.