08.00-09.00 from the fishing boats this morning the sea was alive with birds. As it was fairly calm I counted the Great Crested Grebes and in one sweep counted 1,856. Razorbills and Guillemots were streaming out of Hythe Bay as the tide dropped. I estimated c2,000 Razorbills and c1,000 Guillemots moved out of the bay. As the range safety boat came out of the bay it pushed a flock of 192 Red-throated Divers before it. Smaller numbers of Gannets, Kittiwakes and Common Scoter came out of the bay.
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| Slavonian Grebe on Hookers |
A walk around the largely deserted reserve found large numbers of the common wild fowl on most of the pits, 3 red head Smew and another Great White Egret at Christmas Dell. The flooded hay fields on Dengemarsh were full of Lapwing, Golden Plover and Wigeon. A wander round the back of Hookers Pit revealed a Slavonian Grebe and 3 vocal Marsh Harriers.
A search for Grey geese at Scotney at lunch time drew a blank, not even a Greylag, though still 100s of the common wildfowl and 1000s each of Golden Plover and Lapwing.
Early afternoon back at the ARC, an hour spent in an empty Hanson Hide was rewarded with another Great White Egret, a red head Smew, 5 Goldeneye, a Bittern, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Water Rail, 2 Chiffchaff s and Goldcrest with the Long-tailed Tit flock.
On Walland Marsh this afternoon 78 Bewick Swans and 2 Whoopers feeding on the old potato fields. Several 1000s each of Lapwing and Golden Plover being harassed by a Peregrine and Harriers. While watching a Harrier roost in which 13 Marsh Harriers dropped in, a smart adult male Merlin dashed through after a Skylark, later I watched it on a fence post plucking its supper. Also 2 Bearded Tits were seen and Water rails were squealing and in the distance the evocative call of the Common Crane going to roost.
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