Local movement

Another bitingly cold grey morning at The Point, at least the fishing boats gave some shelter from the NE wind.

From the fishing boats 08.20-10.15:

In the first hour c1500 Great Crested Grebes moved east into the bay, along with c2000 Auks (vast majority of which were Guillemots), c 300 Red Thoated Divers, c 150 Gannets and c50 Kittiwakes. In the second hour this local movement slowed to a trickle, with the addition of 32 Common Scoter, 2 Fulmars and a drake Goosander which brightened the sea watch. Also a Common Seal.

At the south end of the ARC 4 Smew(1 drake) and a Great white Egret among the common wildfowl. From Hanson 2 Smew, 3 Goldeneye and 4 Marsh Harriers of note. The Willow Trail held 12 Long-tailed Tits, a Goldcrest and a Chiffchaff. At the car park another Great white Egret over and c25 Tree Sparrows.

At Scotney nothing of note. A wander down Dengemarsh Gulley produced just a single Marsh Harrier of note. 

A single Whooper with the Bewicks

 Opposite the model aircraft club on Walland the 200+ Bewick Swans could be seen distantly and using the public footpath opposite allowed me to locate the Whooper Swan, the usual Sparrows and Finches at Bayland Farm and from the Woolpack the 5 Tundra Bean Geese and 6 Greater Whitefronts among the Greylags, also a single drake Pintail feeding in the field with the Geese. The Tickners Lane seed dump held the usual finches with 8 Yellowhammers, 7 Corn Buntings, 10+ Reed Buntings and a Common Buzzard.