A spin round the Marsh

Met TG at The Point this morning. The sea was flat calm and smothered in sea birds.

Guillemots/Razorbills: 1,560 (TG counted them), Great Crested Grebes 2,000+, smaller numbers of  Gannets, Kittiwakes and Red Throated Divers but no passage. Behind the sea watching hide 2 Black Redstarts but a little camera shy. 

 Had a spin around the marsh with TG and DW. First stop the reserve entrance track at Boulderwall Farm where 5 Tundra Bean Geese and 7 Barnacle Geese were spoiling there credentials by associating with some Canada Geese, 5 Marsh Harriers in the air together with some display behaviour, 3 Common Buzzards, 2 Ravens, c100 Golden Plover, c50 Curlew, a Cetti's Warbler shouting and 2 Bearded Tits hidden in the reed bed. A drive down Dengemarsh road found another Black Redstart on the farm house.  At Scotney the female Scaup was showing on the far side of the pit with Tufties and pochard, much smaller numbers of Wigeon present than recently, 3 Pintail dropped into the new pit behind and a Marsh Harrier quartered the fields behind. On the grassy areas several 100s of Lapwing a few Golden Plover and Dunlin.
On Walland still 200+ Bewick Swans present though very distant, a distinct lack of winter Thrushes(No Fieldfares or Redwings seen)  opposite the feeders dozens of House and Tree Sparrows, Greenfinches, Chaffinches and a Yellowhammer. The Tickners Lane seed dump held several Reed Buntings, Yellowhammers and a Corn Bunting. At the Varne Sailing Club where there are now 3 Snow Buntings present on the beach. On Lade north pit the Black-throated Diver still present also 3+ Goldeneye.

 The ARC Pit from Hanson had 10 Smew showing quite well, 4+ Goldeneye, 2 Firecrests in the bushes beside the hide, 2 Bitterns 1 quite close but in dense reeds. Another good day on the marsh with 86 species seen today.