North Easterly still blowin!

With the NE wind still blowing and occasional snow/sleet showers heralded yet another bitterly cold day on the peninsular. An hour from the sea watch hide 08.20-09.20 was not particularly inspiring:

Red-throated Diver: 37E

Great-crested Grebe: 100+ on sea

Fulmar: 1E

Gannet: 40+ feeding off shore

Brent Goose: 7E  2W

Common Scoter: 2E   9W

Oystercatcher: 4E

Little Gull: 2E

Arctic Skua: 1E

Auk sp: 14E

Carrion Crow: 4 in off

Meadow Pipit: 8 in off

Harbour Porpoise:  4+ off shore

In a snow shower around the lighthouse 3+Black Redstarts but little else.

At the south end of the ARC 3 Smew still (1 drake), 3 Goldeneye, 5 Pied Wagtails, 1 Black Redstart, 3 Meadow Pipits, 1 Redshank, 1 little Egret and the usual Shoveler, Gadwall, Teal, Tufted Duck and Pochard.

On New Diggings 2 Great White Egrets and a Little Egret.

 The Little Ringed Plover was still on its muddy patch down Dengemarsh Road. Parking at Springfield Bridge I walked round the hay fields and once again failed miserably in my quest to find some Garganey there, but I did have 2 flight views of Bitterns, a Raven and a Peregrine over and 3 Pintail on the flood.
At firth hide 2 red head Smew and 3 Goldeneye were the pick of the wildfowl, behind the hide 3 Chiffchaffs but no sign of the Penduline Tits.
Wandering back up to Dengemarsh 4 Marsh Harriers were displaying and another Bittern and great white Egret dropped into the New Excavations.
Wandering round Hookers 3 more Chiffchaffs, several Cetti's warblers chattering, 4 Bearded Tits, another Bittern, 50+ Stock Doves. On the shooting pool another Great white Egret and 100+ Wigeon, among the feral Geese.
At the back of Hookers a Black Necked Grebe with the Coot and Tufted duck but stubbornly staying as far away as possible and into the light. While watching the Grebe the Marsh harriers continued hunting the ditches and fields, putting up another Great White Egret out towards Lydd. In the reeds more Bearded Tits were pinging and a Peregrine flew through.
Wandering back to the car the Raven came through again as did a Peregrine.
Apparently soon after I left Hookers someone found a male Bluethroat, life can be a bitch sometimes! Hey Ho! (I would be grateful if anyone has any more information on this bird).