Freezing Easterly

As I made my way to Dungeness on another bitterly cold morning there were 30 Waxwings in Hestia Way, Ashford. A Barn Owl  flew dangerously low across the road at Belgar farm, Lydd. A sea watch from the hide with Mike Buckland from 08.45-09.45 was slow in the penetrating cold:

Red-throated Diver: 12E       8W

Gannet: 78E

Common Scoter: 51E

Shoveler: 11E

Teal: 3E  2W

Little Gull: 2E

Kittiwake: 8E

Sandwich Tern: 12E  2W

Harbour Porpoise: 3+ off shore 

 A wander around the Lighthouse area produced 4 Black Redstarts, 3 Stonechats, 2 Meadow Pipits, a grounded Lapwing and distant views of a Peregrine.

 A very brief look around the fishing boats found 2 more Black Redstarts and 2 Skylarks.

From the causeway a Great White Egret and a Little Gull on New Diggings.
At the ARC the track to Hanson held 8+Reed Buntings and in the Willow Trail 2 Chiffchaffs with the Long-tailed Tit flock. From Hanson 4+ red head Smew and 5 Goldeneye in the briefest of scans as an icy blast came through the open flaps. By the track to the screen hide a Cetti's Warbler sung half heartedly and another Chiffchaff called. From the Screen 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Little Gulls and 3 more Smew(1 drake). By the time I had got the pines which appeared birdless and back to the car I was frozen and had enough.
From a nice warm car across Walland a female type Merlin flashed across the road at Midley, plenty of Finches and Sparrows(both makes) at Bayland Farm and at the seed dump 12 Corn Buntings, 20+ Yellowhammers, 10+ Reed Buntings and 50+ Chaffinches.