Garden Geese!

At Cockles Bridge on my way to the beach this morning the 4 Bewick Swans were still with the Mute Swans.

08.30-09.30 from the sea watch hide:

Eider: 7W

Red-throated Diver: 18E    2on

Great-crested Grebe: 8 around

Gannet: 157E   31W

Cormorant: 89W

Merlin: 1 in

Kestrel: 1 in

Kittiwake: 21 around

Razorbill: 1E

Guillemot: 1E

Auk sp: 10E

Grey Seal: 1

After doing some domestic stuff I went back to Cockles Bridge where among the many Greylag Geese I picked out 2 Pink-footed Geese, a Tundra Bean Goose, 5 Greater White-fronted Geese and 2 Barnacle Geese. While watching the geese with some locals the 4 Bewick Swans flew back in.

3 of the 4 Bewick swans at Cockles Bridge today

MH called me to say he could see the Bewick Swans from my house, so I drove the short distance to home and joined him and AJG in scanning the Goose flock from my garden. While scanning the farmer appeared and drove out the Geese and Swan flock deliberately flushing them by sounding his horn and flashing, lights then getting out and clapping and waving his hands, we managed to find all the Geese except the Tundra Bean Goose before they were all flushed by the farmer, so adding Pink-footed Goose to the garden list.

Late afternoon on the reserve was very disappointing as very few Gulls came into roost and nothing notable.

Merlins!

Cattle Egret at Boulderwall

3 visits to the reserve today saw the Cattle Egret first thing and again mid afternoon, a Greenshank from Dennis's hide first thing was still present at dusk, an unusual site for me was 2 Merlins perched in a dead tree by the entrance track, another unusual siting occurred this afternoon while in Firth hide Graham noticed a passerine on the edge of a lake which was a Grey Wagtail, I can't remember seeing a grounded individual on the reserve before. The late afternoon roost produced just a single 1w Caspian Gull, 3 Yellow-legged Gulls, 2 Great White Egrets and 2 Marsh Harriers, also a female Goosander flew through. An unusually high count of 106 Mallard on Burrowes this afternoon At Cockles Bridge 3 Bewick Swans still and 2 Barnacle geese among the Greylag Geese, also Common Buzzard.
Late morning a 1w Caspian Gull was roosting behind the Fish Shack.

2 Merlins by the reserve entrance track

1w Caspian Gull behind the Fish Shack

 Caspian Gull at The Patch this morning 

A Caspian Gull was among a few Gulls roosting at The patch this morning though they were quickly disturbed by works taking place on the bund.

Off shore a few Red-throated Divers, Gannets and Auks but little was moving. On the boundary wall and the sewage Works a Black Redstart c15 Meadow Pipits, c10 Linnets a couple each of Chaffinches and Pied Wagtails, also a Grey Wagtail per BH.  

 On the reserve 3+ Yellow-legged Gulls on Burrowes, also 3 Goldeneye, no sign of yesterdays Little Gull or any Goosander, though DC found a Common scoter at Christmas Dell late afternoon. A Great White Egret flew over but it seems that the Cattle Egrets have departed.
The 2 Whooper swans are still at the back of Scotney per CT.

Bewick Swan 1of 4 and Ruff from Hanson this afternoon

From Hanson this after noon 4 Bewick Swans, a Ruff among c200 Lapwing and c40 Golden Plover, also a skulky Water Rail. 

Little Gull Surprise!

A wander down to The Patch this morning saw of note 12 Red-throated Divers moving east, a handful of Gannets and a 1w Mediterranean Gull, on the beach Great Black-backed Gull JC782 a regular bird here.

At the lighthouse with OL a Marsh Harrier flew out to sea, also another Harrier sp flew high out to sea. 

Another disappointing wander among the fishing boats and up towards the lifeboat station, just 2 Skylarks of any note.

 Skylarks on the beach behind the fishing boats

 On the reserve mid morning there were lots of Gulls for a change even in front of Firth Hide, 2 new colour rings were recorded with the help of Pete B. Unfortunately the wardens chose this morning to take the boat out on the lake which put an abrupt end to any more Gull watching. Just to make sure the Gulls wouldn't return a Peregrine landed on one of the islands and had a bath.
At Cockles Bridge at least 2 Bewick Swans still, also a Great White Egret there.

Tree Sparrow at Scotney

Late morning/early afternoon at Scotney the usual feral Geese including 180 Barnacle Geese, the Common Sandpiper was still present round the main lake, by the farm 10+ Tree Sparrows, a Black Redstart and Little Owl, at the back of the farm the 2 Whooper Swans still with the Mute Swans, 100s of Golden Plovers, Lapwings, Teal and Wigeon, 2 each of Common Buzzard and Marsh Harrier.

Late afternoon back at the reserve from Makepiece very few Gulls still, though a 1w Little Gull was a surprise visitor in the gloom.

After yesterdays appalling weather today seemed almost summery.
A quick stop off at Cockles Bridge on my way to the sea watch hide saw 3 Bewick Swans with the Mute Swan flock.
07.00-08.30 from the sea watch hide with AJG who kindly collated the numbers:
Common Scoter: 9E   1W
Red-breasted Merganser: 4E
Red-throated Diver: 32E
Gannet: 431E
Great Skua: 1E
Kittiwake: 6 around
Razorbill: 7E
Auk sp: 16E

Yellow-legged Gull  near the fishing boats this morning

A wander along the beach from the fishing boats to near the life station and back was pleasant in the light winds and sunshine, but quiet avian wise. The highlights being 6 Wood Pigeons Feeding among the Sea Kale, 27 Great-crested Grebes off shore along with c50 Kittiwakes and 8 Mediterranean Gulls, a Yellow-legged Gull, a Red-breasted Merganser flew west and a colour ringed Great Black-backed Gull JP981 which is a new one for me.

JP981 Great Black-backed Gull

On the reserve late morning from Dennis's Hide a 4th Cal Year Caspian Gull and 2+ Yellow-legged Gulls and another new for me colour ringed Great Black-backed Gull JP498, but little else of note.

Early afternoon at Scotney the usual array of feral geese, also a surprise in the form of a Common Sandpiper.

Late afternoon as there were not many Gulls coming into Burrowes to roost, I went to the ARC for the Egret roost, just 4 Great White Egrets and 4 Little Egrets came in. 5 Bewick Swans roosted in front the Screen Hide and lovely drake Goosanders dropped in briefly then moved to Burrowes. 

Sheltering from the East Wind!

A strong easterly wind again made for another cold day, though the hide was relatively comfortable.
07.00-11.00 from the sea watch hide with AJG who kindly collated the numbers & JTM
Brent Goose: 1E
Shelduck:  2E
Gadwall: 2E
Wigeon: 9E
Teal: 2E
Eider: 10E
Common Scoter: 14E
Velvet Scoter: 1E
Goldeneye: 1E male 
Goosander: 2E
Red-breasted Merganser: 11E    2W
Red-throated Diver: 46E
Black-throated Diver: 1E
Great-crested Grebe: 67E
Red-necked Grebe: 1W
Gannet:1,884E
Merlin: 1 hunting offshore
Lapwing: 7 out
Turnstone: 1 around
Great Skua: 1E
Mediterranean Gull: 2E   3 around
Kittiwake: c60 around
Sandwich Tern: 3 around
Razorbill: 8E
Guillemot: 7E
Auk sp: 219E

Cattle Egret over the reserve entrance track this morning

13.30- 15.00 from the shelter of the fishing boats joined by MH & JTM.
Brent Goose: 1E   1W
Wigeon: 22W
Red-breasted Merganser: 3E
Red-throated Diver: 8E    1W    2on
Great-crested Grebe: 31E
Gannet: 102E
Golden Plover: 2 out
Mediterranean Gull: 2E
Kittiwake: c100 around
Razorbill: 46E
Guillemot: 12E
Auk sp: 34E
Skylark: 1 behind beach
Harbour Porpoise: 1+
Grey Seal: 1
Common Seal: 1
I joined DW late afternoon on the reserve where 1,000s of Gulls came in to the roost but we could only find a single 1w Caspian Gull and 3+ Yellow-legged Gulls in the gloom.
In the near dark 5 adult Bewick swans were roosting on the ARC. 

A very cool morning with a strong easterly wind  that lasted all day.
08.00-10.00 from the fishing boats joined by DW & PW:
Brent Goose: 1E   2W
Teal: 3W
Common Scoter: 3W
Red-throated Diver: 37E
Great-crested Grebe: 9E   1 on
Gannet: 100s around
Cormorant: present n/c
Turnstone: 1 around
Dunlin: 19E
Sanderling: 3E
Great Skua: 2E
Mediterranean Gull: 18 around
Kittiwake: c150 around
Guillemot: 3E    3 on
Razorbill: 36E   2 on
Auk sp: many
Goldfinch: 80 over
Harbour Porpoise: 2+

Stonechat in scrub behind the fishing boats

Back at the fishing boats after lunch lots of birds offshore mainly Gannets and Kittiwakes still, with a few Guillemots, Razorbills and Red-throated Divers. c100 Auks moved west in an hour. 

Goldcrest on the beach by the fishing boats

Late afternoon on Walland 2 male Marsh Harriers roosted in my allotted reed bed and several more flew over. Interestingly 3 Great White Egrets roosted in Hawthorns there, while 2 Little egrets appeared to roost on one of the reservoirs. 2 Barn Owls hunting the area was notable, 4 Common Buzzards over, a Cetti's Warbler singing and squealing Water Rails but most birds were keeping low in the strong wind.

Pallid Swift & Redwings in the Fog!

Yesterday afternoon and again this morning the excellent Pallid Swift found by Chris Philpott was zooming around New Romney. Although it did show well the light was appalling due to the fog, making obtaining images extremely difficult, as you can see the images that were obtained were awful.

Pallid Swift

 Pallid Swift

 Pallid Swift

Pallid Swift

 Early morning Redwings at the research station

Early morning at The point 100s of Redwings, with smaller numbers of Fieldfare, Blackbirds and Meadow Pipits arrived and were seemingly everywhere. The Lighthouse garden held lots of Goldcrests, at least 2 Firecrests and Chiffchaffs, most the birds seem to move on quickly.

 Chiffchaff looking for insects

 Meadow Pipit with a ring

 Redwing on the beach this afternoon

Early afternoon the reserve was again quiet, the 6 Cattle Egrets were still at Boulderwall and 3 red head Smew were reported though not seen by any of the locals. Mid afternoon at the fishing boats after a call from MH telling me that more Thrushes were coming, saw Redwings, Fieldfare and Blackbirds hopping around the beach. The longer I sat in the car watching them foraging on the beach, more flocks were dropping out of the fog onto the shingle and rough grass behind the fishing boats, as the light faded many of the Redwing were dropping in and promptly going to sleep on the shingle something I have not seen before, I guess that they had been flying around out at sea in the fog and were exhausted. c400 Redwing and 70 Fieldfare were involved but just a couple of Blackbirds and Skylarks.  

 Fieldfare at the puddles at the fishing boats

Redwings bathing in the puddles at the fishing boats late this afternoon

Whooper Swans!

A couple of hours first thing this morning looking around the lighthouses, fishing boats and power station for scant reward, the highlights being 4 Stonechats and a few each of Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits.

Mid morning at Boulderwall saw the 7 Cattle Egrets  and 4 Great White Egrets at the top end of Cooks pool.

The 7 Cattle Egrets showing well today at Boulderwall

As there was news of the first Whooper Swans in the area for 2 years at the back of Scotney, I decided to have a wander out there. I joined Brian at the farm entrance and we made our way into East Sussex to view the Whoopers which were in the company of Mute Swans and 2 Black Swans. We passed a flock of 41 Egyptian Geese adding to the hordes of feral geese at Scotney, 15 Ruff were by the back lake, several100s of Golden Plover and Lapwing were seen, along with Common Buzzard and Marsh Harrier, the Little Owl was seen briefly before being disturbed by a tractor, 2 Black Redstarts were around the farm.

Whooper Swans at Scotney

Fast growing numbers of Egyptian Geese on the peninsular

1 of 2 Black Redstarts around the Scotney Farm

Late afternoon on Burrowes from Makepiece 3 Caspian Gulls were seen 2 x 2w + 1 x 1w, also 3 Yellow-legged Gulls. 

Crests!

 Goldcrest with injured eye

Several Goldcrests and a Firecrest in the old lighthouse garden first this morning, with a few Goldcrests in the Station Gorse and West Beach, also a few Meadow Pipits, Goldfinches and Chaffinches over head.

A walk around the trapping area/Desert with AJG and JTM, saw of note a Ring Ouzel, more Goldcrests, a couple of Chiffchaffs, a Brambling, Great and Green Woodpeckers and a Common Darter.

Fortunately the other eye is good

Common Darter in the trapping area

DW saw a Snow Bunting on the beach at The Point which flew off west. I walked along the beach from the sea watch hide to the Diamond and back in the hope of relocating the Bunting, needless to say I failed to find it or to see anything much of note apart from a late Small Tortoiseshell.

An early afternoon visit to the ARC from Hanson where the islands are quickly becoming submerged, saw 12 Black-tailed Godwits and c100 Lapwing among the usual Shoveler, Gadwall, Teal, Pintail and Wigeon. In the Willow Trail more Goldcrests, another Firecrest and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers.

Still at least 6 Cattle Egrets at Boulderwall and Great White Egrets scattered around the reserve.

Mid afternoon till dusk in Makepiece Hide watching the Gulls come onto roost was disappointing, as only a small number came in. Just 2 1w Caspian Gulls and 4 Yellow-legged Gulls came in.