Christmas Egrets!

 I got out for a couple of hours today. The Swans and Geese were still insitu, as were the Scaup and Black-necked Grebes. Galloways was desolate but Dengemarsh came up with a Bittern, a Raven, Great White and Little Egrets and Marsh Harriers. Also it was nice to have the Cattle Egrets all to my self.

A couple of hours at Dunge!

Late morning the 2 Cattle Egrets still performing for those who care to visit them. 3 Great White Egrets could be seen from the causeway as I drove to Greatstone, where on the beach a different Snow Bunting fed unobtrusively on the tide line despite the many the dogs.

Snow Bunting Greatstone

On Burrowes Pit of note from Dennis's Hide now 5 red head Smew, 5 Goosander, 2 Black-necked Grebes, 6 Goldeneye, 2 Great white Egrets, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Marsh Harriers. In the scrub by the hide a Firecrest and 2 Chiffchaff.

At Scotney the Scaup still present and also the 2 Black-necked Grebes along with all the usual wildfowl and feral geese.

On the marsh by Horsebones Farm the 29 Bewick Swans, Whooper Swan, 4 Tundra Bean Geese and a Greylag all still very distant.

Bits!

Once again the 2 Cattle Egrets were strutting around there chosen field early this morning. At The Point Gannets, Kittiwakes and Auks tooing and froing along with 100s of Cormorants.

 1w drake Scaup Scotney!

At Scotney the Scaup still at the Sussex end but I was unable to locate the Black-necked Grebes.

 Chiffchaffs from Hanson!

At the ARC from Hanson 3 Chiffchaffs in the small reedbed, a Great White Egret, 3 Marsh Harriers and a Kingfisher of note. A raven flew over the carpark.

 Kingfisher from Hanson!

On Burrowes from Dennis's hide 3 Great White Egrets, 2 red head Smew and 5 Goosanders of note, also a Firecrest in the scrub by the hide.
This afternoon at the fishing boats c150 each of Kittiwakes and Gannets off shore along with a few Auks. 

Sea Watching!

A grim day on the peninsular where sea watching from the comfort of the car was the only realistic option.
08.30-11.00

Brent Goose: 39 up
Wigeon:   35 up
Red-breasted Merganser: 1 down
Red-throated Diver: 1 up       2 down
Fulmar: 8 down
Gannet: 504  down
Great Skua:  1 down
Kittiwake:  51 down
Auk sp: 176 down     19 up
Harbour Porpoise: 2

13.45-15.00

Red-throated Diver: 52 down        2 up
Gannet: 26 down
Kittiwake: 41 down
Yellow-legged Gull: 1 ad in roost
Auk sp: 43 down      6 up

In Lydd the 2 Cattle Egrets were still showing well opposite Wraxhalls Aggregates, Dengemarsh Road.
On the marsh the Whooper Swan, Bewick Swans and Tundra Bean Geese were all still present in there usual field.

Not Bad for December!

The 2 Cattle Egrets were on the cow shed roof first thing this morning.

A sea watch from The Point 08.30-11.00: 

 Brent Goose: 9 down

Teal:    30    down

Wigeon: 3   down

Common Scoter: 16 up     13 down

Velvet Scoter: 1 down        Probably same seen Galloways  MH + CP

Red-breasted Merganser:  1 down

Red-throated Diver: 27 down     62 up

Fulmar: 1 up

Gannet:   c50 off shore      

Grey Plover: 1 down

Turnstone: 6 on beach

Dunlin: 1 down

Great Skua:  3 down      2 up

Pomarine Skua: 1 up

Kittiwake: 29 down    15 up      c20 on sea

Guillemot: 8 down

Razorbill: 5 down

Auk sp:  121 down    105 up

   

Shy as ever this afternoon!

At Scotney the 1w drake Scaup still, also the 2 Black-necked Grebes and the usual feral geese.

On Walland still 100s of winter thrushes feeding in the Hawthorns and a few Tree Sparrows in the usual spots, also the 29 Bewicks, 1 Whooper and 4 Tundra Bean Geese still in the field adjacent to Horsebones Farm. 

Dull!

First thing this morning a quick look in Dengemarsh Road, Lydd found the 2 Cattle Egrets still.
An hour sea watching at The Point this morning saw:
Red-throated Diver: 4 down        2 up
Gannet: 89 down        26 up
Little Egret: 1 in
Kittiwake: 7 down     2 on beach
Yellow-legged Gull: 1ad in roost
Auk sp: 27 down
At The Varne lots of waders, 100s of Oystercatchers, 10s of Sanderling and Dunlin, a few each of Knot, Grey Plover, Redshank, Bar-tailed Godwit and Turnstone.
On Lydd airport fields c150 Curlew and c200 Lapwing.
Late morning/early afternoon on the reserve 6+ Great White Egret, 2 Red head Smew, 5 Goosander, 2w Yellow-legged Gull, yesterdays 3w Caspian Gull was present for c30 minutes, several Marsh Harriers and all the common wildfowl.
This afternoon on the Marsh 3 Tundra Bean Geese, a Whooper Swan and 28 Bewick Swans all together between Hawthorn Corner and Horse bone farm. Further out on the marsh 20+ Tree Sparrows, 100s each of Fieldfare, Redwing and Blackbirds.
At Scotney the1w drake Scaup and 2 Black-necked Grebes still present.
Late afternoon at the ARC a Great White Egret and 6 Goldeneye from Hanson of note.
From the screen a Bittern flew from the tower in the failing light.

All about a Gull!

When I managed to get my self out this morning, I looked over to the cow shed to see one of the Cattle Egrets on the roof, then I drove the short distance to Scotney GP where 1w drake Scaup and the 2 Black-necked Grebes were showing quite well at the Sussex end. At the Kent end all the usual feral Geese and 100s of Wigeon.

On the reserve from Dengemarsh hide 3 Marsh Harriers and a Great White Egret of note. Another 2 Great White Egrets from the entrance track. From Dennis's hide 2+ more Great White Egrets, a red head Smew, 5 Goosander, 2+ Yellow-legged Gulls and a superb 3w Caspian Gull sporting what looks like a Polish yellow colour ring PRZC. 

3w Caspian Gull PRZC  (heavily cropped)

A bit of a slog!

At The Point this morning off shore passage was non existent, just 3 Red-throated Divers and a handful of feeding Gannets.

The New Diggings still held the 5 Goosander and 2 Great White Egrets.

With the sun shining, a very light breeze and the ranges open, I parked at the beach at Galloways and walked along the top of beach to The Midrips and back. This stretch of beach is completely undisturbed and ignored by other birders, so there must be at least a couple of Snow Buntings there. 3 hours later I returned to the car having seen 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Redshank, 2 Meadow Pipits, 3 Shelduck, 2 Mallard a few Great Crested Grebes and Red-throated Divers off shore and a few Carrion Crows. Not even a Common Scoter let alone a Surf Scoter! I really wont be in a hurry to do this walk again.

At Scotney the 2 Black-necked Grebes and 1w drake Scaup still.

 1w drake Scaup 

Adjacent to Lydd FC the Cattle Egrets still being camera shy, always staying at least 2 mts away!
A quick drive around the marsh found that the Whooper Swan and 28 Bewick Swans were still present.
From Dennis's hide the 3 red head Smew, 2 Goldeneye and 2 Great White Egrets of note.
Late afternoon at the ARC a Bittern from the screen and another over the Tower pits, another Great White Egret, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Bearded Tits, also Water Rails and Cetti's Warblers seemingly calling from every piece of scrub. 

Barn Owl!

08.15-09.00 from The Point:

Wigeon: 2 down

Great-crested Grebe: 150+ feeding off shore

Red-throated Diver: 45 down   8 up

Gannet: 21 down   4 up

Cormorant: c300 off shore

Kittiwake: 4 down

Guillemot: 2 on sea

Auk sp: 12 down

On the New Diggings the 5 Goosander still, 2 Great White Egrets and 2 Little Egrets plus all the usual wildfowl.

ARC south end the rgular flock of 150+ Gadwall.

Adjacent to Lydd FC the 2 Cattle Egrets still performing for the cameras.

At Scotney the 2 Black-necked Grebes, the 1w drake Scaup, 2 Marsh Harriers hunting the north bank and the usual feral geese.

I spent a few hours wandering the more secluded lanes and paths on Walland Marsh today, Redwing, Fieldfare and Blackbirds were numerous, also plenty of Song Thrushes and 10+ Mistle Thrushes. Several Tit flocks were located but contained nothing unexpected, also Tree Sparrows, Corn Buntings, Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers were found though not in big numbers. The 28 Bewick and the single Whooper Swans were also seen but distant. I didn't look for the Tundra Bean Geese but those that did failed to locate them, they are probably still there but in the longer vegetation. 

 This Barn Owl appeared late afternoon over the ARC car park and round Boulderwall.

Mid afternoon on Burrowes from Dennis's hide saw 3 red head Smew, 5 Great White Egrets and 3 Goldeneye of note.
From the entrance track a Great White and a Little Egret with 2 Cattle Egrets in the distance all in the same field of view.
From Hanson of note a Bittern flew across the lake. In the Willow Trail the Tit flock held 2 Chiffchaffs.
From The Screen another or the same Bittern flew over the lake also 2 Marsh Harriers. On the lake apart from 100s of Coot very little else was seen.
Late afternoon in the ARC car park a surprise in the form of a Barn Owl that flew through. 

As You Were!

On my way to The Point this morning in the frosty early morning, saw no change on the New Diggings with 5 Goosander, 2+ Great White Egrets, 2 Little Egrets and the odd Marsh Harrier stirring things up.

The 5 Goosander in the early morning light!

At The Point no change on the sea this morning with a few Red-throated Divers, Gannets, Kittiwakes, Auks, 6 Wigeon and 2 Common Scoter. DW had 2 Goldeneye just after I left.
A wander around the boats and sea containers found no passerines so no change there.

Stock Dove in the Cattle Egret field!

In Lydd the 2 Cattle Egrets still showing ridiculously well at times if you stay in your car, I have already taken far to many pictures of them so I snapped a Stock Dove instead, also 2 Tree Sparrows there.

1w Caspian Gull, Scotney GP.

At Scotney the usual feral geese and wildfowl, the 2 Black-necked Grebes still, but new in or over looked a 1w drake Scaup picked out by Barry Wright among a party of Tufted Duck.
Early afternoon back at Scotney, a 1w Caspian Gull sporting a bright red colour ring with white letters/numbers put in a brief appearance, unfortunately the grass was to long for me to be able read the ring, also a group of birders that walked up to my car to ask what I was looking at flushed it GRRRR!
On Walland the same 28 Bewick Swans with a single Whooper Swan, also the 3 Tundra Bean Geese(per Twitter) that have been present on the marsh for at least a week, the adult male Hen Harrier seemed to be zigzagging across the marsh today being seen behind Scotney, The Woolpack, Midley and at Coldharbour, where good numbers of Redwing, Fieldfare, Song Thrushes, Blackbirds and 2 Bullfinches(sadly very scarce here) were feeding in the hedgerows in the less visited areas. A Long-tailed Tit flock near Old Romney contained a Treecreeper another notable bird on the marsh.