Back to the Marsh

The 2 Whooper Swans were still in the Kale field at Midley, in the hedgerows 15+ Tree Sparrows, 25+ Fieldfare and 4 Mistle Thrushes. At Scotney the plastic Barnacle Geese were looking very smart in the morning sun with c150 Wigeon, c400 Lapwing, 1 Redshank and a Marsh Harrier over the Maize Field despite all the disturbance from the gravel excavations. 

In a couple of visits a large part of the day was spent in Hanson Hide at the ARC hoping the sunshine would entice the Penduline Tit out, but no luck. A Water Rail showed briefly with a couple of others squealing near by, a Bittern gave a couple of fly pasts as did a Peregrine and Marsh Harrier. A Kingfisher flew up and down a couple of times looking for a perch, it settled for a while on the nearest available perch to the hide (not exactly frame filling, it could so easily be so much better). A Goldeneye flew in and the first Smew of the winter appeared in front of us. A brief visit to the reserve found the Long-tailed Duck from Dennis's hide and a Great White Egret from the visitor centre(King Squacco had seen 4 Great whites on Burrowes).

 On the beach a Yellow-legged Gull posed on a shed roof, a one legged Turnstone posed in the puddle with the Glaucous Gull. At sea a few Kittiwakes, a single Common Scoter on the sea and Little Gull was off shore. In a late afternoon visit to Springfield Bridge with MH 2 Marsh Harriers were seen but little else.

Cap Gris Nez amazing vis mig

With North Westerly wind forecast for last night and this morning myself TG,DW and GH boarded the 06.40 ferry to Calais. After a full English breakfast we went out on deck for a sea watch and were pleasantly surprised to find birds which ever way you looked. Most numerous were 100s of Gannets, Kittiwakes and Auks, with 10s of Little Gulls, 9 Red-throated Divers, 4 Red-Breasted Mergansers, 2 Eiders, a Great Skua, 4 Brent Geese and 100s of the Commoner Gulls, a Peregrine just outside Calais harbour and a Shag at the entrance. There was a considerable delay in the harbour waiting for a berth which enabled us to see the first of 100s of Mediterranean gulls seen by us today. We eventually disembarked and I drove the short distance to Cap Gris Nez. As we got out of the car at the car park vis  mig was obvious with 100s of Thrushes, Starlings, Finches and Skylarks overhead. 

As we made our way to the top of cliff  1000s of Passerines were flying all around us on a scale that I cannot remember ever seeing. We set up our scopes for sea watching at the top of cliff rather than half way down so that we could enjoy the spectacle of this wonderful Passerine movement. Counting the birds was impossible because the numbers were overwhelming With 1000s of Fieldfares, 1000s of Redwing, and a few Blackbirds, Song Thrushes and even a Mistle Thrush. The Finches consisted of 1000s of Chaffinches, 100s each of Brambling, Greenfinches, Goldfinches and a few Siskins and Tree Sparrow. Skylarks were numbered in 1000s as were Starlings also at least 4 Woodlarks and 4 Waxwings with 1000+ Jackdaws. The vast majority of these birds were coasting westwards with few venturing out across the channel to England.  

The sea was also full of birds 1000+ each of Gannet and Kittiwake, 100s of Little Gulls, 20+ Red-throated Divers, a Black-throated Diver, a Sooty Shearwater, 5 Eider, 200+ Common Scoter, a Velvet Scoter,  10+ Red Breasted Mergansers, 200+ Brent Geese. The fishing boats off shore had 1000s of  the commoner Gulls and some Mediterranean Gulls. It was very difficult to concentrate on the sea with so much going on overhead.

 This afternoon we walked some of the fields and hedgerows at Gris Nez which were full of Birds.

Some Brambling posed for me and we also saw Black Redstart, Stonechat, Yellowhammer, a couple of Common Buzzards and more Mediterranean Gulls.

 A Hen Harrier was hunting some of the fields and flushed a covey of 8 Grey Partridges. The whole day we only saw 2 Magpies and a few Crows but on the downside we did come across a bloodied Sanderling.

 The wood round the gun emplacements was fairly quiet but we did find Chiffchaff, Goldcrest and a Short-toed Treecreeper. A brilliant days birding in good company.

Short-toed Treecreeper

Dipping

The Whoopers were still in the Kale field at Midley on Walland Marsh this morning also a Merlin there. A plod around The Moat, Lloyds, West Beach, Lighthouse Garden and the Station Gorse  found just 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, a Black Redstart and 3 Sparrowhawks. Overhead a few Chaffinches and c400 Starlings came in.

Just along the road at Lade north pit the Long-tailed Duck was still present also a single Goldeneye with Pochard and Tufted Duck flock. In the Sallows several Water Rails squealing 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Goldcrests and 3 Redpolls. Overhead a couple more Redpolls and 3 Siskins and 2 Swallows.

 Long-tailed Duck Lade north pit

 Great White Egret taken through glass at Firth hide

On the reserve 3 Great White Egrets round Burrowes, While I was in Makepiece hide c2000 Starlings in several flocks flew across Burrowes having just arrived. When I entered Scott Hide BB called telling me a Penduline Tit was showing well in front of Hanson. It only took me a few minutes to get there and as I walked into the hide the Tit dropped into the reeds, despite staring at the reed bed for a couple of hours it was not not seen or heard again today. Apparently it was ringed, so is probably the same bird that has turned up for the last 2 years at this time of year. To make things worse just before I arrived SB and others in the hide had a Shorelark fly over the ARC. Some consolation was a Bittern flying across the lake into the reeds on the other side of the hide, a couple of distant Common Buzzards, 2 Marsh Harriers and a couple of Snipe. While there news came through from SB of a Long-tailed Duck on Burrowes from Makepiece Hide. I made my way there curious to see if it was the Lade bird. When I saw it I could see immediately that it was a different bird as it was much whiter on the face. I finished the day at Galloways hoping for a Short Eared Owl but only saw 4 Red-legged Partridges.

Wind and Rain

With the rain lashing down and the wind howling, where else would I be but sitting in my car sea watching at The Point on Dungeness beach. At times the car felt as if would be blown over in some of the squalls. In 2.5 hrs  150+ each of Gannets and Kittiwakes moved west, also 3 Red-throated Divers, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Sandwich Terns, c40 Auks, c30 Starlings in, a Merlin just offshore and 2+ Harbour Porpoises. As I drove back across the causeway a Great White Egret and 2 little Egrets were sheltering on the New Diggings.

 A soggy Glaucous Gull in its favoured puddle.

 Merlin just off shore

 At midday the wind seemingly strengthening I called it a day and headed over Walland, where the Whooper Swans were feeding reasonably close to the road. Little else was seen due to the wind.

A record shot of the Crossbill that Mike Buckland kindly informed me about at the pines yesterday taken in virtual darkness. This is the only Crossbill that I have seen on the peninsular that was not a fly over. 

Long-tailed Duck

The Whooper Swans were still at Midley as I drove across the marsh to Dungeness. A Marsh harrier hunted the field behind and 2 Swallows were hawking along the roadside ditch.

At the north pit Lade a Long-tailed Duck which kept its distance, a Goldeneye, a few each of Pochard and Tufted Duck, some dabblers, Great-crested and Little Grebes. In the Sallows several Water Rails squealing 3 Cetti's Warblers and 2 Chiffchaffs.
A sea watch from The Point in constant rain was poor with the usual Gannets off shore, 5 Red-throated Divers west, 4+Kittiwakes off shore with 3 Mediterranean Gulls 2 of which were robbing the kittiwakes. On the beach by the fishing boats the Glaucous Gull and a Yellow-legged Gull.

More of the same

Driving across Walland this morning the 2 Whooper Swans still present at Midley with Mute Swans, 2 Marsh Harriers hunting the fields, the Hawthorn hedges were full of Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Redwings and a few each of Fieldfare and Mistle Thrushes. In the bushes opposite the feeders a mixed flock of finches including 10+ Tree sparrows.

 In 2 visits to the fishing boats, 6 Red-throated Divers moving west, as were 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 26 Common Scoter, 14 Kittiwakes, 1 Sandwich Tern, 1 Bonxie and few Gannets. On the beach the 3w Glaucous Gull and an adult Yellow-legged Gull.

At the entrance to the reserve Boulderwall Farm held 10+ Tree Sparrows. In the Gull roost by the track another adult Yellow legged gull and on Burrowes 4 Great White Egrets, 7 Little Egrets, a Marsh harrier over and a Goldeneye among the usual wildfowl. At the ARC from Hanson 2 more Goldeneye and c300 Wigeon with other dabblers. 2 Chiffchaffs were in the reeds by the hide. On New Diggings a Great White Egret (a 5th bird or one of the 4)

Quiet

The 2 Whooper Swans were still at Midley this morning as I crossed the marsh on my way to Dungeness. From The Point the sea passage was disappointing 5 Common Scoter, 4 Red-throated Divers, 2 Teal, 7 Kittiwakes, 3 Guillemots, 2 Razorbills, a few Gannets and a Merlin in 2 visits this morning and lunchtime.
On the reserve 3 Great White Egrets on Burrowes and an adult Yellow-legged Gull in the roost by the entrance track. The ARC was quiet with of note 2 Goldeneye, 2 Marsh Harriers, 40+ Golden Plover, 7 fly through Dunlin and the usual Wildfowl. Looking at the forecast there wont be much change this week.

Egrets

The 2 Whooper Swans were still with the Mute Swan herd at Midley as I drove across Walland to Dungeness this morning. As I parked on the beach a Merlin flashed by after a Meadow Pipit. A plod along the beach towards the Lifeboat Station found the 3w Glaucous Gull and 2 adult Yellow Legged Gulls on the beach. 3 Red-throated Divers flew west and 26 Common Scoter east. 3 Guillemots were on the sea, a few Auk sp and Gannets were tooing and froing off shore. Highlight was a 1w Arctic Tern moving west. When I got back to the car the wind had got up and showers were threatening to come ashore.

At the ARC I spent an hour on my own in the empty Hanson hide staring at the Bull Rushes hoping that a Penduline Tit might appear. No luck with a Penduline but 2 Bearded Tits dropped into the reed bed frustratingly staying on the outside out of sight most the time and couple Water Rail were squealing. A Kingfisher made 4 fly pasts once attempting to perch on reed by the hide without success. (Oh for some perches to be strategically placed but that seems to be against RSPB rules). A party of 4 Goldeneye was round the Cormorant Island and C100 Golden Plover, c200 Lapwing, c400 Wigeon with smaller numbers of the usual wild fowl regularly being spooked by 2 Marsh Harriers and Sparrowhawk.

On the reserve 4 Great White Egrets and 3+ Little Egrets also a drake Goldeneye per CT and BH. From Firth Hide one the Great White Egrets often comes quite close allowing photo opportunities pity about the light. With the weather deteriorating I gave Dengemarsh and Hookers Pit a miss and went back to the ARC  for another look for a Penduline Tit, no luck, but another glimpse of the Kingfisher flashing by.

At Scotney the feral Barnacle Geese flock still present, c150 Golden Plover, 8 Dunlin and a Redshank on the flood and 2 Marsh Harriers hunting the fields at the back of the pit.

Coming back across Walland the 2 Whooper Swans showing well close to the road, 10+ Tree Sparrows, a Marsh Harrier and a Common Buzzard.

Walland Whoopers

Thanks to a text from Neil this morning I picked up on the 2 Whooper Swans he located with Mute Swan herd near Midley Drying Barns, both were still present late this afternoon.

 A stroll along the beach from the fishing boats to the Lifeboat station hoping for a Little Auk  or better on flat calm sea drew a blank. 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls were near the fishing boats. While searching the Gull flock for a Caspian Gull and failing the Glaucous Gull flew in landing a few feet from me hence another picture of it. 3 Swallows flew along the beach and 20+ Stock Doves came in.

 On the reserve there was 4 Great White Egrets on Burrowes and 6 Little Egrets, 4 Swallows flew south over Christmas Dell where there were many Blackbirds and Song Thrushes. Cetti's Warblers were calling all around the reserve. At Hookers 2 Stonechats, 4 Bearded Tits, 2 Marsh Harriers and several young Smooth Newts crossing the path.

Not Today

With the forecast of strong NNW wind and very cold with it I did not hurry out this morning. After domestic duties and a full English breakfast I made my way to Dungeness. On arrival TG and DW were already on site staring out to sea with the news that I had missed nothing good. I stayed after they left but saw nothing much of note. A short visit to the ARC was fruitless. Back at the beach the Glaucous Gull was on the beach also 2 Yellow-legged Gulls but still little of note passing off shore. A windswept Walland was only notable for the lack of avian activity.

Divers

08.00-14.00 A windy, chilly, damp and rewarding sea watch from the car on the concrete road with TG, later joined by DW, BB and MH.

Great Northern Diver: 1E  (very scarce at Dungeness)    Dunlin: 42E

Black-throated Diver: 2w                                                Curlew: 6E

Red-throated Diver: 6E  2w  4 on the sea                        Oystercatcher: 2E

Red-necked Grebe: 1 on sea                                             Yellow-legged Gull: 2 on beach

Brent Goose: 1408w   64E                                               Knot: 6E

Common Scoter: 69w  57E                                               Ringed Plover: 1 On beach

Velvet Scoter: 1E                                                             Turnstone: 4+ on beach

Wigeon: 132w  15E                                                          Bonxie: 2w

Teal: 33w  2E                                                                   Kittiwake:39w  4E

Pintail: 4w  2E                                                                  Little Gull: 2w   1E  

Red-breasted Merganser: 10w                                          Mediterranean Gull: 5w

Shelduck: 4w                                                                    Starling: 400 in

Merlin: 1 out   1 in off                                                       Goldfinch: 80+E

record of  todays Red-necked Grebe(will be glad to get my 7d back next week)

 Of note on the ARC from Hanson was c150 Golden Plover, 1 Marsh Harrier and the usual wildfowl. In the Willow Trail 2 Chiffchaffs and 2 Goldcrests with the Tit flock. On the reserve c25 Tree Sparrows at Boulderwall Farm and the 3 Great White Egrets on Burrowes being harassed by Grey Herons.

2w Male Hen Harrier

 As I drove out of Lydd on to Walland a superb 2w male hen harrier hunting a Kale field but staying distant. Further on 20+ Redwings at Hawthorn Corner and 10+ Tree Sparrows at Midley.

Goldfinches

A busy morning sea watching from the fishing boats this morning.With much needed help from TG, DW, BB, AB counting the finches moving east over the beach.

Red-throated Diver: 7w

Black-necked Grebe: 1 drifted west

Gannet: c40 off shore

Brent Geese: 112w 6E + 1 Pale bellied w

Common Scoter: 113w 6E

Merlin: 1 over beach

Sparrowhawk: 1 over beach

Curlew: 1E

Dunlin: 1E

Turnstone: 6 on beach

Bonxie: 2w

Guillemot: 6w 4E

Raorbill: 4W 2E

Auk sp: 412w

Sandwich Tern: 14 off shore

Kittiwake: 17w

Mediterranean Gull: 8w

Glaucous Gull: 1 on beach

Yellow-legged Gull: 1 on Beach

Swallow: 75

House Martin: 5

Skylark: 3 in

Meadow Pipit: 17 E

Redwing: 1 in

Chaffinch: 20E

Goldfinch: 3460E

Linnet: 277E

Redpoll: 16E

Siskin: 4E

Harbour Porpoise: 3+ offshore

1 of 3 on Burrowes Pit

On the ARC from Hanson of note 150 Golden Plover, 2 Marsh Harriers and 6 Swallows. In the Willow Trail 3 Goldcrests and 2 Chiffchaffs.

On the reserve 3 Great White Egrets showing well on Burrowes Pit (shame about the light) and the usual wild fowl.

Vis Mig Dengemarsh Gully

This morning I joined MH and BM by the sluice for a very enjoyable vis mig at a foggy Dengemarsh Gully 08.00-12.00: Totals below are birds identified most of which appeared to be coming straight in off the sea and up the gully. There were many more unidentified due to the conditions and some of us being a bit hard of hearing.

Brent Geese: 70w
Wigeon: 58w
Shoveller: 3w
Mallard: 2w
Tufted Duck:1E
Kestrel: 2 around
Curlew: 5E
Jack Snipe: 1 in and dived straight into the gully
Short-eared Owl: 1 just east of the gully.
Swallow: 31 in
Pied Wagtail: 11 in
Meadow Pipit: 38 in
Skylark: 122 in
Goldcrest: 4 in the gully
Chiffchaff: 5 in the gully
Robin: 22 in the gully
Song Thrush: 157 in
Redwing: 104 in
Blackbird: 112 in
Ring Ouzel: 5 in
Fieldfare: 3 in
Starling: c370 in
Chaffinch: 286 in
Brambling: 1 in
Goldfinch: c90 in
Linnet: c120
Siskin: 6+ in
Redpoll: 12 in
Reed Bunting: 7 in
Later a male Black Redstart was seen on the Dengemarsh Chicken sheds and a Great White Egret from the viewing ramp.

Siberian Stonechat

At a very foggy Dungeness this morning an arrival of Thrushes with 27 Blackbirds, 13 Song Thrushes, 9 Redwing, 1 Ring Ouzel and 18 Robins grounded between Lloyds and the Old lighthouse with more flying over unseen. Also seen 3+ Black Redstarts, 11 Goldcrests, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Stonechat, 5+ Skylarks and a few Siskins over.

A look in the trapping area found more evidence of an arrival with Blackbirds seemingly everwhere and another Ring Ouzel.

With news that the Siberian Stonechat was still present at Beachy Head I gave in to temptation and twitched it with GH. AS we arrived at Birling Gap the fog cleared and the sun came out letting us enjoy  the Siberian Stonechat in good light. While there a Hobby flew over, we also saw a Whinchat which sometimes sat very close to the Siberian Stonechat, 1+ Brambling over, my first Fieldfare of the Autumn among many Thrushes and in Shooters Bottom several Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs, more Thrushes and Robins, a Black Redstart and a Hobby possibly the bird seen at Birling gap.

Wet and Miserable

Probably the most photographed Glaucous Gull ever.

As I drove on to the beach in the near dark this morning, I could see the Glaucous Gull bathing in the puddles by the fishing boats along with the adult Yellow-legged Gull. In couple of hours of staring through the rain from the end of the concrete road I recorded:
Red-throated Diver: 1E
Gannet: 136E
Brent Geese: 93w  2E
Wigeon: 7E
Common Scoter: 38w
Turnstone: 4 on the beach
Bonxie: 1E
Arctic Skua: 1W
Kittiwake: 14E
Sandwich Tern: 15E
Arctic Tern: 1E
Swallow: 7E
Meadow Pipit: 6 in
Skylark: 5 in
Redwing: 4 in
Starling: c250 in
Goldfinch: c500E
Linnet: c150E
Grey Seal: 1
Harbour Porpoise: 3+
Leaving the beach the light was a little better so I took yet more pictures of the Glaucous Gull.
In the Lighthouse garden a couple of Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs. Viewing The Patch from by the seawatching hide 3+ Mediterranean Gulls and a little Gull could be seen round the boil.
At Scotney the feral Barnacle Geese still present along with several hundred Greylags, a single Brent Goose, c300 Golden Plover, c1000 Lapwing, a single Redshank and a Marsh Harrier. With the weather getting worse I gave in to the inevitable and headed home.

Sprites

Near the the fishing boats this morning the Glaucous Gull was on the sands with the bait diggers, c600 Starlings came in and a few flocks of finches over. In the Lighthouse garden 4+ Goldcrests, 2 Chiffchaffs and 2 Song Thrushes. Round the moat 6+ Goldcrests, 6+ Chiffchaffs, 4 Blackcaps and a Ring Ouzel. Late this afternoon a Sparrowhawk was trapped and ringed at the obs. 

Late morning and most of the afternoon was spent round the trapping area with Mark T, where we came across a large Tit flock that contained 6+ Chiffchaffs, 6+Goldcrests and a Firecrest. Having been alerted that a Pallas's Warbler had been heard deeper into the trapping area, we slowly made our way to the area seeing more Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests also fly over Brambling, Siskin and Redpolls. After a while I heard it call 3 times but no sight of it. While looking for a it a Long Eared Owl was flushed which I missed, while looking for the Owl DW spotted the Pallas's Warbler which I glimpsed before it disappeared. SM heard and found a Yellow-browed Warbler amongst numerous Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests which I managed to get slightly better views of than the Pallas's. Some very good birds seen  but very frustrating views of most.    

Camera Problems

Sea watching this morning was uneventful with a couple of Arctic Skuas(probably the birds that have been around for weeks) a few Gannets and Terns, a Red-throated Diver on the sea, c250 Swallows and House Martins over, 350+ Goldfinches a few Siskins, Chaffinches and Redpolls, also 12 Pied Wagtails. The Glaucous Gull flew in and landed less than 10mts from me, I raised my camera and pressed the shutter and disaster, nothing happened, some frantic fiddling still nothing.The camera was saying both batteries and a spare apparently completely exhausted, which could not be as all 3 were charged fully last night. So spent the rest day on a trip to London to hopefully get the problem sorted. The repairers tried their batteries and still nothing. Will have to use my 40D for a while. 

Gulls

2 hours at the fishing boats  this morning was a let down after yesterday. Even so 2 Sooty Shearwaters, 1+ Arctic Skua, a few Common Scoter, a single Eider, 2 Red-throated Divers, a few each of Razorbills and Guillemots with more Auk sp, along with a few Sandwich Terns and Gannets passed by off shore. c300 Swallows went out and c400 Goldfinches and c30 Siskins moved over the beach. It was good to see that the Glaucous Gull was getting back into its old routine.

 At the ARC from Hanson a Merlin flashed across the lake, a Little Stint, a Knot and a Snipe were on whats left of the islands. A Great White Egret flew in being harassed by a Grey Heron and a Goldeneye was present., in the bushes Goldcrests, Chiffchaffs, Cetti's Warblers and Water Rail squealed. At the pines a Crossbill flew over, a Ring Ouzel, Redwing, several Song Thrushes and 3 Marsh Harriers were seen.

 At the reserve on  Burrowes pit 2 more Great White Egrets, 6 Jays flew over as did a Sparrowhawk and a 1w Yellow-legged Gull.

 In the gull roost on the reserve late this afternoon an adult Caspian Gull and an adult Yellow-legged Gull courtesy of DW.

Leach's, Sooty's and a Sabines

Leach's Petrel. Another contender for worst image of the week!

 A brilliant sea watch today 08.00- 15.00: 

Red-throated Diver: 1 off shore                        Sabines Gull: 1w

Great-crested Grebe: c20 off shore                 Glaucous Gull 3w on beach

Sooty Shearwater: 14w                                    Sandwich Tern: 43w

Leach's Petrel: 3w                                            Common Tern: 2w

Gannet:195                                                       Guillemot 26w

Common Scoter: 42w 8E                                  Razorbill: 84w                                

Red-breasted merganser: 1w                           Auk sp: 78w                          

Turnstone: 14+ on beach                                 Skylark: 4 in                               

Dunlin: 5w                                                         Swallow: 96 in                                      

Curlew: 1w                                                        Meadow Pipit: 5 in

Great Skua: 24w 2E                                          Pied Wagtail: 9 in 2 on beach

Arctic Skua: 6+ off shore                                  Starling: 26 in

Mediterranean Gull 2winiter: 1w                       Linnet: 20 over beach

Yellow-legged Gull ad: 1 on beach                   Goldfinch: 498 over beach

Little Gull: 1-3adults 1 1winter all west              Siskin: 7+ over beach

Kittiwake : 6w                                                    Harbour Porpoise: 3 off shore

Sooty Shearwater. Yet another contender for worst photo of the week

As I was driving off the beach a Gull caught my eye. As screeched to halt and fumbled for my camera I realised it was a 3w Glaucous Gull hopefully back for the winter.

The  only snatched shot I managed 

First Goldeneye

Highlights of a plod around The Point this morning with TG were 3 Ring Ouzels, 2 Bramblings, c20 Siskins, c15 Redpolls, c100 Goldfinches, c20 Stock doves, c80 Woodpigeons, 4 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Sparrowhawks, 12 Chiffchaffs, 15 Long-tailed Tits and a flock of 61 Blue Tits.   

 At the south end of the ARC a Little Stint with 30 Lapwing, a singing Cetti's Warbler and a Marsh Harrier over. On the track to and around the pines 2 Jays, a Black Redstart, a Ring Ouzel, 4 Chiffchaffs, 3 Cetti's Warblers, c 100 Golden Plovers over, a Snipe and 2 Marsh Harriers. Across the road at Boulderwall farm 16 Tree sparrows round the feeder.

 On the reserve little of note on Burrowes and New Excavations. At Christmas Dell 4 Blackcaps and a Stonechat. Dengemarsh still hosts the Great white Egret and 2 more Marsh Harriers. At Hookers 2 Blackcaps 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Cetti's Warblers, a photogenic Kestrel and a Ring Ouzel flushed from opposite the ramp.

In a late afternoon look at the ARC from Hanson 2 Little Stints, a Common Snipe and PT spotted my first Goldeneye of the Autumn among the usual wildfowl.