Bring on the Spring

Another bitterly cold day with a biting SE wind. As I drove across Walland this morning the Tickners Lane seed dump had attracted several each of Corn Buntings, Yellowhammers, Reed Buntings and c40 Chaffinches with a couple of Greenfinches, 2 Common Buzzards present there this afternoon. From the triangle c70 Greater White-fronted Geese with some Mute Swans, Greylags and 5 Bewick Swans . Opposite the feeders several each of Tree Sparrows, Greenfinches,Yellowhammers and a Water Rail, also 2 Marsh Harriers over. 200+ Bewick Swans showing distantly from Hawthorn corner. All across the marsh 100s of winter thrushes maily Fieldfares with a few Redwing and Mistle Thrushes.

From the causeway a Great White Egret could be seen on New Diggings but little wildfowl.

From the fishing boats still the same Guillemots, Razorbills, Great Crested Grebes and Red-throated Divers tooing and froing with a few Gannets and Kittiwakes but no movement yet.  

 While driving past West Beach I spotted a male Sparrowhawk walking and running among the Broom and Brambles, after a couple of minutes it flew out and landed on the power station perimeter fence about 60mts ahead of me, very slowly I drove along the track towards it, it allowed me pull up beside it and spend a few seconds photographing it.

 At the Varne Sailing Club the 2 Snow buntings performed admirably again as did 1 of c40 Sanderling, 12 Redshank and c30 Turnstone.

A wander round Lade south and north pit failed to locate the Black-throated Diver, but a Bittern was flushed from the central causeway, 2+ Water Rail were squealing and 4 Goldeneye among the common wildfowl.
At Scotney a Barn Owl hunting the north bank and a Marsh Harrier but little else of note.
The fields at Galloways and Dengemarsh held 100s of winter thrushes but little else of note.
At the ARC a wander up to the pines was disappointing and very cold with 5 Smew (1 drake) being the best sighting.
Boulderwall Farm held the usual Tree sparrow flock and little way down the track the 7 Barnacles could still be seen along c300 Lapwing and c200 Curlew. Despite the best efforts of the weather 82 species seen on the marsh today.