Winter Thrushes

08.35-10.05 at The Point:

Red-throated Diver: 200+

Gannet: c40 off shore 

Shelduck: 2W

Common Scoter: 26W  9E

Velvet Scoter: 17W  with 15 Common Scoter

Kittiwake: c100 off shore

Mediterranean Gull: 2W

3w Glaucous Gull: 1 on beach

Auks: c5,000 tooing and froing 

 With the sun peeking out occasionally, I went to the Varne Sailing Club, Greatstone, where the Snow Buntings were showing well.

 Also at The Varne a good selection of waders, Knot, Sanderling, Dunlin, Redshank, Turnstone, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Oystercatchers and Bar-tailed Godwits.

All over the Peninsular still large numbers of winter thrushes. At the southern end of the New Diggings 10 Smew (1 drake) and 4 Goldeneye among the common wildfowl also 2 Great White Egrets.
From Hanson 2 red head Smew, 4 Goldeneye  and 2 Marsh Harriers hunting the reed beds. In the Willow Trail still dozens of Redwing, 2 Chiffchaffs, 3 Goldcrests and 2 water rails squealing.
At Scotney still many Wigeon but little else of note.
The 7 Barnacle Geese that maybe the real deal still viewable from the reserve entrance track c600mts north west of Boulderwall farm, while round the farm c30 Tree Sparrows.
At Midley on Walland Marsh 176 Bewick Swans (42 juveniles), 2 Whooper Swans, a Black Swan and 2 Marsh Harriers. Another good day with 85 species recorded on the peninsular today.
On the way home driving through Shadoxhurst a Barn Owl swept across the road.