German Yellow ringed X060 1w Caspian Gull (possibly Hybrid) Saturday afternoon

After several days of severe frost the lakes are beginning to freeze. A quick look around Burrowes early this morning found 7 red head Smew and 5 Goosander (3 drakes) and 3 Great White Egrets flew over. Once again the Long-eared Owls were missing much to the disappointment of coachloads of birders who were arriving as I left. 

A Little Owl was sun bathing on the ranges, Bretts Marina was frozen as was Dengemarsh so little was seen. At partially frozen Scotney the Geese must have been feeding out the back, a red head Smew was on the main lake. I was going to have a wander out the back but the number of cars parked at the farm entrance put me off. 

1w Little Gull at the fishing boats this afternoon

This afternoon at the fishing boats with Mick and Richard no Caspian Gulls, but there were a few colour ringed Herring and Great Black Backed Gulls, a 1w Little Gull made a couple of flybys. Off shore 2 Mediterranean Gulls, a Great Skua, a few each of Kittiwakes, Gannets, Guillemots, Razorbills and Red-throated Divers, the most unusual bird though was a drake Pochard that flew down channel.