Very quiet on the sea this morning with just a handful of Red-throated Divers, Common Scoter, Gannets and Wigeon. A Grey Wagtail was feeding on the power station filter bed. At the Patch the 2 1w Iceland Gulls still in residence also a 1w Caspian Gull there among the usual Gulls.

Around the Lighthouse 3+ Black Redstarts, a Goldcrest and a Wheatear of note.

 Raven

 The 2 Slavonian Grebes were still on the New Diggings, apparently at least 2 Black-necked Grebes were present but not seen by me.
A pleasant walk around the reserve where every bush seemed to hold a singing Reed Bunting, several Cetti's Warblers were calling and a Raven was one of the highlights, 3 Smew including a drake could be seen from Christmas Dell hide. Denge Marsh was disappointing but held the usual wildfowl. Marsh Harriers were displaying high over Hookers along with a couple of Common Buzzards. At the back of Hookers the Hooded Merganser was still present but distant.

 Smew

Hooded Merganser

This afternoon in Denge Marsh Gully a Firecrest and another Goldcrest, the Raven was seen again but otherwise quiet.

The Sunflower field at Springfield Bridge held c100 Linnets, c40 Reed Buntings, c30 Chaffinches and 6+ Greenfinches.
2 Hebrew Characters and Common Quaker were my first moths of the year last night.