Much the Same!

 The 1w Glaucous Gull enjoying a drink at the puddles.

A short uninspiring sea watch this morning as it seems we seeing exactly the same birds each day. The only new bird was a drake Tufted Duck which is scarce on sea watches here.

08.15-08.45 from the fishing boats:
Tufted Duck: 1W
Red-throated Diver: 21W     13E
Great-crested Grebe: N/C many present
Gannet: 9W
Cormorant: N/C many present
Oystercatcher: 2E
Kittiwake: 3W
Glaucous Gull: the regular 1w bird on the beach
Caspian Gull: the regular 1w bird on the beach
Guillemot: 47 o/s
Razorbill: 6 o/s
Auk sp: 62 o/s

I couldn't resist taking more pictures of the Glaucous and Caspian Gull as I had them all to myself in excellent light conditions. Both were still present this afternoon.

1w Caspian Gull showing well on the beach

A walk from the ARC car park to the Pines saw 2 Chiffchaffs with c9 Long-tailed Tits also 3 Cetti's Warblers and a Green Woodpecker.

At Scotney the 2 Black-necked Grebes were the only birds of note on the main lake, a few Ringed Plover and Dunlin on the sward.

A walk from Springfield Bridge around the reserve in the sunny conditions was a bit of a slog. No sign of the hoped for Glossy Ibis in the The hayfields or much else apart from a flock of 9 Curlews that landed briefly before a Marsh Harrier flushed them. At the back of Dengemarsh the Lapwings and Golden Plover and wildfowl were constantly being flushed by up to 5 Marsh Harriers, in the reed bed a few Reed Buntings and a Kingfisher. By Scott hide 2 Chiffchaffs one a regular Colybita the other probably a Tristis, It spent most of its time out of site on the lakeside of the bank giving just a couple of very brief views. 2 Smew including the drake was on view at Burrowes and the Long-eared Owl was still behind the Dipping Pool. On the way back a Great White Egret appeared at Christmas Dell. 

Back on the beach this afternoon the Caspian and Glaucous Gulls were in the roost. With the now overcast and windy conditions the temperature plummeted, I wimped out of another sea watch instead going home for a mug of tea.