East Sussex

A cold grey day in East Sussex started at Scotney where 20 Greater Whitefronted Geese were at the Sussex end with 200+ Greylag Geese, 70+ feral Barnacle and hybrid Emperor Geese, 1000+ Wigeon and 2 Marsh Harriers.

Northpoint G.P. and the smaller pits which were frozen on the way were disappointing, lacking the expected cold weather influx of wildfowl.

On to Pett Levels where there was plenty of geese grazing behind the pools including 38 Greater Whitefronted Geese, 230 dark bellied Brent Geese, 200+ Canada Geese, 200+ Greylag Geese and a Marsh Harrier over Carters Flood.  

 On to Rye Harbour and parked at the viewpoint. A long but pleasant plod around Castle Water to Winchelsea and back via the Long Pit and Narrow Pit. The smaller stretches of open water on the way to Castle Water hide was frozen and as I walked out towards the hide a flock 70 Pintail flew over. The area in front the new bench was mainly clear of ice. Scanning the wildfowl a surprise as 4 smaller geese stood out from the 200+ Greylags, these Pinkfeet are I assume the 4 from Pett Level. As I carried on to the hide a snipe was flushed from  a dyke. Infront the hide another Common Snipe sat ignoring the noise from the occupants of the hide, on the open water 100+ Shoveler, 100+ Wigeon, 100+ Gadwall, 8 Pintail, 6 Little Grebes a few Tufted Duck and Pochard and 2 Marsh Harriers.
Moving on from the hide towards Winchelsea 2 Bullfinches and 2 Green Woodpeckers and little else till the Long Pit  where the highlight was 4 Goldeneye and 8 Little Grebe. On the Narrow Pit 1 Red head Smew, 1 Great Crested Grebe, a Stonechat by the path and 15+ Song Thrushes along the way.