Velvet Scoters in the early morning light
08.00-09.30 from the hide with RW, OL & SO Wind WNW5 a bone chilling 1ยบVelvet Scoter: 2E
Common Scoter: 12E 1W
Great Crested Grebe: 2E 1 present
Oystercatcher: 1E
Kittiwake: 12W
Black-headed Gull: present
Common Gull: present
Herring Gull: present
Great Black-backed Gull: present
Great Skua: 1E
Guillemot: 16W 3E
Auk sp: 438E 32W
Red-throated Diver: 82E 246W
Gannet: 74E 70W
Cormorant: present
Merlin: 1 present
Grey Seal: 1 present
A perishingly cold sea watch gave a nice start to the year with Bonxie, Velvet Scoter and Merlin.When I got back home for breakfast the Lesser Whitethoat soon appeared and disappeared just as quickly, which it did on several occasions while I was home.
Lesser Whitethroat joining a Great Tit at the feeder
Lesser Whitethroat
Lesser Whitethroat
Looking very different in the low afternoon light
I could see the reserve car park was busy from home, so I gave it a miss. The Great Northern Diver, Whitefronts and Goldeneye were all still present per JY, RW. At the ARC the Bittern was showing in its usual spot per NB.
On Walland Marsh the Bewick Swans were still at Ashentree Lane, 2 Whoopers were at Caldecot Lane per JD, NB and 19 Whitefronts were at Dennes Lane but no sign of any Tundra Bean Geese.
At Scotney 2 Goosander were a surprise find by CG, also 4 Black-necked grebes and the Scaup still present.
2 Goosander on the far bank of Scotney from the double bends
The Scotney Scaup seems to be moulting quite quickly
4 Black-necked Grebes at Scotney viewed from the double bends
