Hard Work

I joined AJG this thoroughly unpleasant morning in the relative comfort and shelter of the sea watch hide 08.00-09.20, it was hard work with the hide shaking in the strong winds and visibility down to a few yards at times, when the frequent squalls came through driving the rain into the hide. Thanks to AJG for collating the numbers.  

Fulmar: 2W

Gannet: 79W

Grey Plover: 1W

Arctic Skua: 3E

Black Tern: 1W

Sandwich Tern: 33W

At Scotney the usual feral Geese joined by 3 Egyptian Geese, on the turf 21 Curlew and singles of Whimbrel, Redshank and Dunlin, also 6 Yellow Wagtails and c50 Linnets, in the bay a newly arrived flock of 50+ Wigeon. Over the lake many House Martins, Sand Martins and Swallows, a Marsh Harrier was struggling in the wind on the north bank.

 Whimbrel at Scotney

By Brett's another 8 Yellow Wagtails and a Whinchat and many more Hirundines over the lake.

A walk from Springfield Bridge to Hookers and back saw 20 Yellow Wagtails and 10 Meadow Pipits feeding around the Bull, the hayfields held 4 Snipe and 5 Lapwing though that was after a Marsh Harrier had made a low pass over the fields. I just made it to the hide before another squall came over. From the hide many more Hirundines, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Little Egrets and a Cetti's Warbler, little was seen around Hookers as it seemed most birds were keeping well hidden from the weather.

Sand Martin Dengemarsh

This afternoons sea watch 13.15-16.00 was a slow but you have to be there to see the goody, if the goody does come past.

Great-crested Grebe: 4 around

Balearic Shearwater: 1W

Gannet: 29E    16W

Cormorant: 8 around

Arctic Skua: 1 around

Sandwich Tern: 73E     581W

Commic Tern: 4E  25W

Harbour Porpoise: 3+

Common Seal: 1