Gannets

Another very gloomy start to the the day. The sea from the fishing boats was again carpeted with Great Crested Grebes, Guillemots, Razorbills, Red Throated Divers and Cormorants, with a few Kittiwakes and Common Scoter. A shoal of probably Whiting came close to shore encouraging the Gannets to put on a superb display. (Pity my good camera is still being repaired) Another highlight this morning was a party of 5 Eider moving west also a flock of 13 Shelduck. The Glaucous Gull was in its usual spot on the beach. 

 At The Patch a Little Gull was the star among 200+ Black headed Gulls. On New Diggings 7 Smew (1 drake), 3 Goldeneye and 2 Great White Egrets. A walk from the ARC car park round the reserve produced 30+ Tree Sparrows and another Great White Egret at Boulderwall Farm, the Slavonian Grebe was still at the back of Hookers. The rest of the walk was pleasant now that the sun was shining, but apart from 3 Marsh Harriers and plenty of common wildfowl  little of note was seen.

At Scotney once again few geese present, Lapwings, Golden Plover and Wigeon however were plentiful. While I was there 15 Ruff flew in, one them being colour ringed and flagged. Also present a female Red Crested Pochard asleep on the peninsular, which was well spotted by PT.