Wind Farm behind Scotney

As a brisk North West wind was blowing first thing this morning I gave the sea watch a miss, instead I walked around the back of Scotney in the glorious sunshine though without any expectations. A pair of Peregrines were feeding on what looked like a Wood Pigeon, a Raven was feeding on a dead Sheep while fending off the attentions of several Crows and Magpies, 2 Marsh Harriers were hunting along the ditches and flushed a Green Sandpiper, several Skylarks and Corn Buntings were chasing around and singing, Reed Buntings were singing from the Reed fringed ditches, a pair of Stonechats were flycatching. Around the derelict buildings 8 Tree Sparrows, a charm of 30+ Goldfinches being watched by a male Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel caught a Vole and a Peacock butterfly was basking by the barn.  

 Peacock at Scotney

Around the reserve 2 red head Smew on Boulderwall Pools, 2 more on Burrowes also a drake, another at the South end of the ARC and 2 more on New Diggings with 2 Black-necked Grebes. The Long-eared Owl was again showing very well behind the Dipping Pool while 2 Sparrowhawks were duelling overhead.

An afternoon walk out the back of the ARC out to the mirrors was hard going, the highlights being a Jack Snipe, 4 Common Snipe, 2 Marsh Harriers another Sparrowhawk, a pair of Stonechats and a sleepy Fox.
A short watch from the fishing boats saw absolutely nothing moving but plenty of Great-crested Grebes and Cormorants on the sea.
Late afternoon at Scotney 30+ Golden plover on the sward with c150 Lapwing, 6 Ringed Plovers, 2 Dunlin, 4 Curlew and 2 Redshank also the feral Barnacle Goose flock.

Sleepy Fox neat the Mirrors