Tundra Bean goose

Looking out the bedroom window this morning and seeing how dark and damp it was outside I quickly slid back into bed for an extra hour. The late start was fortuitous as while having breakfast a garden first of 2 Bullfinches dropped in.
I drove straight to Galloways and spent 20 minutes on the bank by the tank scanning all round, seeing a grand total of 1 distant Marsh Harrier and a few crows. While there I received a text from MB telling me that a Bean goose was on show at Scotney. Arriving a few minutes later the bird was on show in the Sussex part of the pit, it later moved to Kent where I managed a record picture of it. Also there a Slavonian Grebe, huge numbers of common wildfowl and 1000s each of Golden Plover and Lapwing which put on spectacular displays each time they were disturbed. After a tip off from PT that there were a couple of Corn Buntings at the back of Scotney Court Farm, I walked up the concrete road and out onto the marsh where I found a flock of 16 Corn Buntings. 6 Brent Geese were on one of the floods and 10 Little Grebes on another and 4+ Marsh harriers over.
A walk up to the pines and round the Tower Pits from the ARC car park produced 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Little Egret and little else.
  

Harbour Porpoise demise

Sea watch from the fishing boats 08.00-09.25 with DW, PT and MH: The first thing I saw was a dead Harbour Porpoise on the high tide line. It looks like the fins have been cut off, so it was probably trapped in a fishing boats nets.

Red-throated Diver: c100+ off shore

Great-crested Grebe: 1300+ off shore

Fulmar: 1w

Gannets: c100w

Common Scoter: 7w

Red-breasted Merganser: 1w

Turstone: c20 on beach

Dunlin: c200w

Bonxie: 1+ off shore

Kittiwakes: c100 off shore

Auks: 1000+ off shore (probably equal numbers of Guillemots and Razorbills)

Harbour Porpoise

A call from CT had us hot footing it to Scotney where he and BH had found 7 Greater Whitefronted Geese and a single Pinkfoot among 100s of Greylags and a Bar-headed Goose. A spectacular sight was a male Hen Harrier beating up a Peregrine over the pit and at the same time flushing 1000s of Lapwing and Golden Plover, also there a Slavonian Grebe picked out by DW a Marsh Harrier over and 100s of Wigeon, Tufted duck and Pochard.
From the Causeway 1 Great White Egret and 3 Smew also another Great White Egret on the ARC pit.
Out on Walland Marsh the Common Crane still showing distantly, 46 Bewick Swans, 2 Whooper Swans, 6 Waxwings found by CT and BH.
This afternoon 14 Mistle Thrushes at Cold Harbour and only 3 Fieldfares now that the huge flocks of last month have stripped the bushes of berries. A late afternoon watch on an isolated reed bed  in the hope that some Harriers might come into roost drew a blank but 6 Bearded Tits and some squealing Water Rails was some recompense.

Yet another victim of an angler

A beautiful sun rise at the fishing boats this morning, saw the 3w Glaucous Gull nearby on the beach, several 100s of Great Crested Grebes on the sea, a few each of Gannet, Kittiwake, Guillemot and Red-throated Diver on the sea.  As the sun rose sea watching became difficult looking straight into it, so I went round to the sea watching hide.

 At the sea watching hide I noticed a juvenile gull behaving oddly, but quickly realised it was another anglers victim. David Gower who keeps the beach clean joined me, I pointed the gull out to him, as he lives nearby he fetched a knife and pliers and we went down the beach to see if we could help the gull.

Hooked

 As the hook was embedded into its lower mandible and the line was secured to the beach, it was unable to fly away which was fortunate.

No Escape 

 I easily caught the gull and could see that it had ripped its flesh around its bill trying to free its self.  I held it tightly while David pushed the hook through the lower mandible enabling him to cut the hook off the line and free the bird from its bond. Immediately that was done I set it on the beach and it flew off hopefully learning a lesson and leaving me to head for The Patch.

The hook has penetrated the lower mandible

 At The Patch 100s of Black-headed Gulls also 2 Mediterranean Gulls of note, a Black Redstart was on power station wall.
New Diggings held 6 Smew (1 drake) and 2 Great white Egrets. On the ARC Pit 100s of the common wildfowl and 32 Bewick Swans of note.
A walk around the reserve was pleasant with 100s of the common wild fowl, another Great White Egret on Denge Marsh, 3 Marsh Harriers and a pair of Stonechats.

Probably the rarest birds on the marsh today were 3 Egyptian Geese at Scotney and little else of note there. On Walland I could only find 28 Bewick Swans (others had 54 + 2 Whoopers). A wander out onto the marsh on one of the footpaths produced the Common Crane and c20 Marsh Harriers but it was cut short by the rain.

Orlestone Forest

As Dungeness would be busy today I decided to go to the woods. Driving along Brittania Lane I saw the familiar shapes of 20 Waxwings in the tops of the road side bushes, they were dropping down out of sight into a garden to feed then back up. As I pulled up to try and photograph them ,it seemed every man and his dog come out to see what I was doing. So I left them to it.
Orlestone was very wet and muddy which seemed to deter most people. The bright sunshine seemed to bring out the woodland birds, including all 3 woodpecker species. Nuthatch's and Treecreepers, Blue, Great, Coal and Long-tailed Tits, were numerous and even a few Redpolls were found.       

Kittiwake victims

Sea watching from the fishing boats this morning 08.30-10.30 produced:

Red-throated Diver: 2E  3W

Fulmar: 6W

Gannet: 595W

Brent Goose: 42E

Common Scoter:  11W  4E

Grey Plover: 1W

Knot: 31W

Dunlin: 21W

Kittiwake: 356W   Several were oiled

Little Gull: 5W

Guillemot: c150 off shore

Another anglers victim!

 On New Diggings the usual 2 Great White Egrets and on the ARC Pit 3 Smew were the highlights.
A few hundred mts from home looking very bedraggled in the heavy rain 41 Waxwings on Singleton Hill, Singleton by the roundabout.

Singleton

As I had some domestic stuff to do today I decided to spend an hour wandering around Singleton this morning. Less than 300mts from home I heard a trill and there was a Waxwing sitting high in a bush for just a few moments before disappearing into nearby gardens. At the top of the hill 4 Lesser  Redpolls  were feeding in some Birches. Near the lake a Nuthatch was calling and a Coal Tit was on a garden feeder as was Blue and Great Tits. A pleasant enough walk but not enough to change my mind about moving to the coast.

A very good and busy seawatch

Thinking that not much would be happening at The Point I had leisurely breakfast and drive down arriving at the fishing boats at 09.45 just as party of 60 Brent Geese flew east over the shore. For the next 3 hrs there was a non stop westerly passage of sea birds except the Brent geese that were mainly west. With so much going on I am sure I missed quite a few birds especially when i trying to photograph the Little Gulls. Thanks to Kevin for helping me to keep count and the spotting the Pom. Totals for 09.45-12.45 as follows:

Red-throated Diver: 128W     11E

Great Crested Grebe: n/c but many on sea

Fulmar: 4W

Gannet: 692W   Including 1 adult with a flouresent yellow mantle colour marked?

Brent Goose: 812E  (in 26 flocks)   19W

Shelduck: 6E

Wigeon:7W

Teal: 4W

Gadwall: 4W

Common Scoter: 11W

Dunlin: 79W

Sanderling: 10W

Grey Plover: 4W

Turnstone: 2W

Pomarine Skua: 1W

Auk: 1740W    (Majoity Guillemots)

Kittiwakes: 1364W

Little Gull: 28W

3w Glaucous Gull: on beach

See Here (Mick Southcott) for better images 

New Diggings held 2 Great White Egrets and 4 Goldeneye. Burrowes Pit held 6 Goldeneye, 100s of the usual wildfowl but no Sawbills. On the ARC 2 red head Smew, 4 Goldeneye, the usual wildfowl, 2 Marsh Harriers and a Great White Egret.

A Trudge in the Mud

By 10.00 I was going stir crazy, so I made my way to Orlestone Forest for a trudge in the mud but at least it was sheltered from the wind. Most the birds were seen around the car park, where a Coal Tit let me try my old 40D which considering the light and the rain did not perform to badly. On the trudge (Wellies a must) Most the common woodland species were seen, lots of Jays, Nuthatches, Long Tailed, Blue and Great Tits, several Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers, 2 Bullfinches  but still a distinct lack of Redpoll and Siskin. 1.5 hrs later the rain got worse and I gave up and went home.

Err 20

I drove through Shadoxhurst this morning but was unable to find the Waxwings this morning. Which was probably just as well, as driving across Walland a Mistle Thrush, which are usually very skittish was feeding in a Hawthorn hedge, allowed me to pull up beside it and at point blank range let down the window get my camera off the back seat press the shutter and **** ** Err 20  SHOOTING IS NOT POSSIBLE DUE TO AN ERROR TURN THE CAMERA OFF blah blah!!!!!  It would seem the 7D has some reliability problems. Back to be repaired again!!

View from the Screen Hide

At the fishing boats from The Point, plenty of Guillemots, Razorbills, Red-throated Divers, Great Crested Grebes, Kittiwakes and Gannets tooing and froing off shore. No sign of the Glaucous Gull in its usual haunts.

On New Diggings 2 Great white Egrets, 6 red head Smew and 4 Goldeneye among the usual wildfowl.

The ARC still holds several 100s each of Teal and Gadwall, smaller numbers of Wigeon, Shoveller and Pochards and Tufted Duck. The Willow Trail is now very wet (Wellies recommended) but holds  3+ Water Rail, 2+ Cetti's Warblers and a Chiffchaff with the Tits.

Water levels on Burrowes Pit are also very high, with nowhere for the Gulls to roost it was no surprise that no Gulls were present. From Dennis's Hide 2 red head Smew and a Great White Egret, from Makepiece 6 Goosanders (1 drake), 2 Smew (1 drake), 100s of usual wildfowl, 30+ Pintail and 2 Marsh Harriers.

Late afternoon from the Screen Hide 2 Great White Egrets, 3 Marsh Harriers, a Bearded Tit called and 6 Goosander flew in, presumably the Burrowes birds. On Walland still 40+ Bewick Swans.

Shadoxhurst Waxwings

Part of a flock of 45 in the Willow behind the pub.

After picking the Chelsea Tractor up from the garage this morning, (New discs and pads all round ouch!!!!) The other half wanted us to play Father Christmas delivering presents and cards. Driving  up Woodchurch road I spotted the unmistakable silhouette of Waxwings, which were swaying in the near gale force wind at the top of the Willow Tree at the back of the Kings Head pub. After apologising to the driver behind me I counted them, then took a record shot and made a note to come back when the weather and light improves.    

At least its stopped raining

After yesterdays wash out, it was good to get out into today's gloom. Across the marsh 39 Bewick Swans and small numbers of winter thrushes. New Diggings held 6 red head Smew, 4 Goldeneye and a Great white Egret. On the ARC with water levels not surprisingly still rising, 100s each of Gadwall, Teal, Wigeon and Shoveller with smaller numbers of Pochard, Tufted Duck, 6 Goldeneye, a single red head Smew and a Great white Egret. A walk to The Pines found 2 Chiffchaffs and 3 Goldcrests in the Tit flock, 2 Marsh Harriers over and c100 Golden Plover flew over.  The RSPB have now kindly put 3 strategically placed perches in front of Hanson Hide (probably to stop me whinging), which I am sure will soon be giving great views of Kingfishers and more. 

Great White Egret ARC from the screen 

On Burrowes Pit 1 Goosander, 2 Smew (1 drake) and 6 Goldeneye of note among the 100s of common wild fowl. As I was leaving a party of 5 red head Smew flew over the car park.

Blue Sky

What a difference a day makes. Blue sky, mild and plenty of birds on the sea. 100+ Red-throated divers on the sea and up and down off shore, 100s of Guillemots and some Razorbills on the sea and moving mainly west, numerous Great Crested Grebes on the sea, c60 Gannets off shore, 200+ Common Scoter (Juvenile/females) west, 12 Brent Geese E 7W, and a mixed flock of c100 Sanderling and Dunlin. The Glaucous Gull was bullying the Herring Gulls on the wooden tower.

  

 On the New Diggings 2 Great White Egrets, 4 red head Smew, 4 Goldeneye and again I could not find the Black-throated Diver. On the ARC 15 Tree Sparrows in the car park, several hundred dabblers at the south end (Gadwall, Teal, Wigeon, Shovellor, Mallard and 4 Pintail.) also c100 each of Pochard and Tufted Duck, 6 Goldeneye and a red head Smew. From Hanson another red head Smew a fly by Great White Egret but little else of note. The Willow Trail still holds a Chiffchaff and 2 Goldcrests in the Long-tailed Tit flock and 2+ Cetti's Warblers  by the trail.

A stroll along the sea wall at The Midrips was very disappointing avian wise, with just 14 Redshank, 21 Shelduck, 6 Mute Swans and a few Mallard on the pools, The only bop being a Kestrel, though on the sands Oystercatchers were in 3 figures probably due to the disturbance at Camber from the Kite surfers tearing up and down.
The Scotney complex still holds the c90 feral Barnacle Geese flock with its attendant dark bellied Brent Goose, c1000 Lapwing, c1000 Wigeon also 2 Marsh Harriers over the bunds.
On Walland at Tickners Lane the Yellowhammers had increased to 14 with 4 Reed Buntings and c 40 Chaffinches, also 2 Common Buzzards over.

What a miserable day

A thoroughly miserable morning at The Point with heavy rain and strong winds blowing plenty of Gannets inshore to join the Guillemots and Red-throated Divers and Great crested Grebes. Needless to say I did not stop long. Another casualty of a fisherman's carelessness was a 1st year Great Black Backed Gull with its leg tied up with line, but still managing to beat off rivals for the fish head.

Still 2 Great White Egrets and a red head Smew on a very rough New Diggings, but I was unable to locate the Black-throated Diver.
With rain still coming down I went to the reserve centre for a hot chocolate. Viewing from the centre was all but impossible through windows which being lashed by the rain.
Scotney held the feral Barnacle Flock with a dark bellied Brent Goose that has been tagging along with them for a few days now, several hundred Wigeon, a few Lapwing and Golden Plover.
On a rain and windswept Walland 50+ Bewick Swans could be seen but little else of note.   

Bits and pieces

Driving across Walland in the early morning gloom 52 Bewick Swans and the 2 Whooper swans could be seen at Midley but no sign of yesterday afternoons Waxwings.

The Black-throated Diver, 2 Great white Egrets, a red head Smew and 4 Goldeneye could be seen on the New Diggings from the causeway.

At sea from The Point the usual Auks, Red-throated Divers, Kittiwakes, Great Crested Grebes and Gannets tooing and froing. The Glaucous Gull was hunkered down on the beach by the fishing boats.

On the reserve a Great White Egret by the entrance track and 3+ Marsh harriers around. On Burrowes 5 Smew (1 drake), 2 Goosanders, 6 Goldeneye and 100s each of Gadwall, Teal, Shoveller, Wigeon, Pochard, Tufted Duck with 10+ Pintail. The highlight was 2 Herring Gulls trying to drown one another in front of Makepiece.
On Scotney 1000+ each of Golden Plover and Lapwing, 15 Dunlin, the feral Barnacle Geese and little else. 

Grebes, Egrets and Waxwings

At The Point from the fishing boats this morning very few birds were moving off shore, but there were many on the sea feeding close inshore. As PT managed to count 350 Great Crested Grebes before losing the will to live yesterday, I thought I'd count them today. Totals as follows:

Red-throated Diver: 9

Cormorant: 68

Common Scoter: 6

Great crested Grebe: 731

Guillemot: 182

Kittiwake: 3

On New Diggings from the causeway 2 Great White Egrets, the juvenile Black Throated Diver(Pity it is not as obliging as the Dover Docks bird, I live in hope!) 3 Goldeneye and a Marsh Harrier. The ARC from the causeway at the south end 200+ Gadwall still, 4 Goldeneye and another Great white Egret.

On the reserve on Burrowes Pit another G.W.Egret, 6 Goldeneye, 6 Smew(1 drake) an adult Caspian Gull and 3+Marsh Harriers. A walk to the pines and round the Tower Pits found 15 Tree Sparrows in the car park, 2 Goldcrests, a Chiffchaff, another G.W.Egret (No.5), 3 Common Snipe flushed and 2 more Marsh Harriers. 

Late afternoon driving back across Walland I came across a flock of 18 Waxwings in the hedge north of the drying barns at Midley. The light was failing so only a few pics taken but all were poor. 

Twitching Again

 DW, GH, TG, OM and myself went to Queen Mother Reservoir today to see the Buff-bellied Pipit. The bird showed very well indeed and optics were not required. In fact it was too close most of the time under the concrete rim of perimeter mostly in deep shade. It was still difficult to photograph well in the sun light as it never stayed still moving very jerkily but still close. The Long-tailed Duck and Great Northern Diver were on show distantly It was nice to see a Grey Wagtail which put in an appearance on the concrete as few are seen on the deck at Dungeness.

Harriers

On the sea this morning plenty of Guillemots, Red-throated Divers and Kittiwakes tooing and froing off shore, along with a few Gannets and Common Scoter.

On New Diggings from the causeway, The Black-throated Diver still present, also 3 Great White Egrets, 2 Little Egrets and 3 Goldeneye there.

On the ARC from the causeway 200+ each of Gadwall, Teal and Shoveller

On the reserve 4 Smew including 1 drake, 2 red head Goosander, 4 Goldeneye, the usual Marsh Harriers and what looks like a near adult Caspian Gull.
I spent most the afternoon on Walland Marsh wandering Knee deep in mud and puddles that swamped my wellies. A ring tail Hen Harrier flew through and disappeared into East Sussex, a Male Hen Harrier made several appearances hunting along the ditches and bunds. Sparrowhawk, Merlin,  Peregrine, 2 Common Buzzards and double figures of Marsh Harrier were seen. These were instrumental in flushing 1000s each of Lapwing, Golden Plover and Starlings which all put on a superb aerial displays for most of the afternoon. At the reed bed I was watching at dusk several Bearded Tits were pinging, Water Rails squealing and 2 Stonechats hunted insects, also 1 Marsh Harrier roosted the first here for along time. The long staying Common Crane made a dusk flight around the marsh.     

A lazy day

After a leisurely breakfast I made my way down to Walland Marsh. Driving past Johnson's Corner I didn't see any Waxwings but they can be mobile. (BB saw 3 there later). On the marsh a distinct lack of winter thrushes compared to this time last week. The Swans had moved to Cheyne Court where at least 64 Bewick and 2 Whoopers could be seen though they were being harassed by dogs. 6 Marsh harriers could be seen by the windmills.

A stroll along the sea wall at Littlestone golf course was bracing, 150+ each of Sanderling and Turnstone with a few Grey Plover were the highlights.

At Dungeness the 3w Glaucous Gull and an adult Yellow-legged Gull were in the roost behind the fish sales shop, off shore plenty of Guillemots, Kittiwakes and Red-throated divers. The roadside gull roost had a colour ringed Herring Gull of note, about the only bird that allowed me to point the camera at it.  

TU3.T

From the causeway the Black-throated Diver could be seen on the New Diggings with 3 Great White Egrets, ( A Slavonian Grebe also there per PT).
Most the afternoon was spent in the warmth and comfort of the visitor centre looking at Gulls. 2 Caspian Gulls flew off as I arrived (DW) at least 4 Yellow-legged Gulls were seen along with 1 Goosander and a Peregrine also the ever present Marsh Harriers and a 4th Great White Egret. 

Bits and pieces

A gloomy morning at Dungeness saw very little change on the sea. A few each of Red-throated Diver, Guillemot, Great Crested Grebe and Kittiwakes tooing and froing with the tide off shore, also a few each of Common Scoter and Brent Geese past. The 3w Glaucous gull was on the beach by the fishing boats.

Red-throated Divers head shape is not always difinitive

 The Black-throated Diver was still on New Diggings as was 4 Goldeneye. At the south end of the ARC Pit 250+ each of Teal and Gadwall. From Hanson 3 Goldeneye and 2 Marsh harriers were the highlights. A Chiffchaff and 2 Goldcrest  in the Long-tailed Tit flock in the Willow Trail also 2 Cetti's Warblers and several Squealing Water Rails there.
On the reserve 4 Smew(1 drake), 1 red head Goosander brightened the gloom, along with large numbers of the common wildfowl.

58 of 60+ present

On Walland fewer winter thrushes than yesterday, 30 Bewick Swans at Midley and 2 Common Buzzards. Early afternoon at Johnson's Corner the sun came out for a couple of minutes, as 60+ Waxwings sat atop bushes beside the main road.

Back on The Marsh

As I drove to Dungeness this morning there was still 20+ Waxwings at Johnson's Corner on the A2070 at Hamstreet, 60 were reported there this afternoon.

In Lydd turning on to Dungeness road 5 more Waxwings were feeding on Apples in the allotments.

A short look at the sea was all that was needed to know that not much was moving off shore just a few Auks and Kittiwakes.

From the causeway the Black-throated Diver could be seen on New Diggings and c200 Gadwall could be seen on the ARC Pit.

A walk around the reserve with TG saw 5 Smew(1 Drake), 1 red head Goosander, 4 Goldeneye, 4+ Marsh Harriers, 1 Great White Egret, 100s each of Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Pochard and Coot, lesser numbers of Tufted Duck and Pintail.

On the ARC from Hanson 2 Goldeneye, 1 Great White egret and 2 Marsh Harriers.

 A drive round Walland Marsh 22 Bewick Swans and 2 black Swans  from Bell Corner. Near Old Romney 2 Waxwings one of which posed in the sun for me. Noticeably less winter thrushes on the marsh today.

 Wandering around the paths on Walland this afternoon saw 100s of Golden Plover, 4 Snipe were flushed, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Sparrowhawks and distant views of the Common Crane and a Barn Owl.

 In one of the reed beds 4 Bearded Tits showed well, 2 Stonechats and several squealing Water Rails. c15 Marsh Harriers were seen but only 5 roosted where I was watching.

Common Crane Walland