Beardies

20+ Waxwings still in Hestia Way, Ashford this morning as I made my way to The Point. An hour from the sea watch hide saw 200+ Red-throated Divers moving east, along with the usual Gannets and Auks, a few Common Scoter and Wigeon and a single drake Eider flying west.

At the ARC a walk to the pines found the duck Red-crested Pochard on its usual lake, several Reed Buntings and Cetti's Warblers singing, a Bittern and 3 redhead Smew from the Screen hide (the half that wasn't full of snow). At the pines 2 Marsh Harriers displaying over the airport pits but little else.

At Boulderwall 30+ Tree Sparrows, over the fields behind c150 Golden Plover, c500 Lapwing, c100 Curlew and a myriad of Starlings put up my a marauding Merlin. Another Bittern flushed from beside the corral dived into a nearby reed bed. 

At the back of Hookers 2 more Marsh Harriers displaying, c150 Stock Doves and a lone dark bellied Brent Goose with some Greylags. In the reed bed no sign of the Penduline Tits but some Bearded Tits were compensation. Scotney was again an avian desert.

 On Walland 36 Bewick Swans and a single Whooper Swan with a few Mutes and a Black Swan. At Bayland Farm a Common Buzzard over also 2 more Marsh Harriers. In the bushes 20+ Tree Sparrows and 4 Yellowhammers with the usual finches.