Freezing Dungeness

Redshank Scotney

First thing this morning at the ARC I walked the Willow Trail hoping to find Woodcock without any luck or birds. I entered Hansen Hide and opened a shutter which i quickly shut as the icy wind blew across the pit straight into the hide. Through the glass a Marsh Harrier was quartering the reeds and a Great White Egret was on the N.E. side sheltering under the willows along with several hundred duck (Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall, Shovelor, Mallard, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye and 2 Shelduck).
From the causeway at the southern end 4 red head Smew, the Long Tailed Duck another Marsh Harrier and 100+ Gadwall.
On the beach from the point in biting NE wind still plenty Auks, Great Crested Grebes, Red Throated Divers and Kittiwakes tooing and froing with a few Gannets, 64 Wigeon W, 3 Mallard W +1E, 34 Teal W, 4 Pintail W, 6 Shelduck E, 25 Brent Geese W and 1 Bonxie W. The 2w Glaucous Gull was round the fishing boats.
Back on the causeway 5 red head Smew on New Diggings and 2 Little Egrets.
At Boulderwall Farm 6 Tree Sparrows by the empty feeders, a Great White Egret on the first pit and 100 Golden Plover out in the field, 2 Stonechats and 2 Mistle Thrushes by the entrance track, 2 Tree Sparrows and a Redwing by the feeders opposite the toilet block.
At Scotney 3 Redshank, 10 Dunlin, 100+ Golden Plover and little else of note.
On Walland  45 Bewick Swans at Midley also 8 Red Legged Partridges.