Osprey!

07.30-08.30 from the fishing boats:

Common Scoter:  1 up   5 down

Gannet: c60 around

Sparrowhawk: 1 in

Kestrel: 1 moving south being severely harassed by 2 Arctic Skuas c500 mts off shore

Great Skua: 1 around

Arctic Skua: 8+ around

Sandwich Tern: c100 around

Common Tern: 28 down

Black Tern: 1 around

Guillemot: 1 around

Swallow: 12 out

Harbour Porpoise: 6+

Grey Seal: 1

The sea watch was cut short by the persistent drizzle which also prevented me from doing my usual circuit of The Desert. 

Marsh Harrier from Hanson this morning

Mid morning from Hanson of note 2 Marsh Harriers, a Common Swift among the many Swallows, Sand and House Martins, 2 Common Sandpipers and 3 Garganey among the usual eclipse wildfowl I couldn't find the Pectoral Sandpiper.

Garganey from Hanson this morning

Osprey over Burrowes this morning

On the reserve 2 Cattle Egrets from the entrance track. While walking towards Makepiece with MH the Osprey flew over Christmas Dell towards Dengemarsh then reappeared over Burrowes a few minutes later. From Makepiece  2 Little stints among 6 Dunlin and a Ringed Plover, also the female Goldeneye has reappeared today

2 Little stints from Makepiece this morning

female Goldeneye from Makepiece this morning

Late morning at Scotney the usual Greylag, Canada, Barnacle and Egyptian Geese were joined on the sward by 2 Ruff, 48 Curlew and 69 Golden Plover.

1 of at least 8 Whinchats at Galloways lunchtime

At Galloways an big improvement on yesterday, at least 8 Whinchat, 6 Stonechats, a Chiffchaff and a Common Whitethroat. 

Golden Plover Springfield Bridge this afternoon

1 of 4 Ruff with the Golden plovers and Lapwings at Springfield Bridge

Denge Marsh Gully was an avian free zone this afternoon, Denge Marsh though held 5 Great White Egrets, 148 Golden Plover, 4 Ruff, c200 Lapwing, another Common Swift and all the usual wildfowl.

Another 30 minute sea watch from the fishing boats saw basically exactly the same as this morning with addition of a Common Swift flying out to sea.

Great White Egret from Hanson late this afternoon

As I walked up to Hanson late this afternoon all the birds were flushed from the islands, looking around the Osprey appeared over the Tower Pits and headed off towards Lydd. From the hide the Pectoral Sandpiper had reappeared on the islands, a Great White Egret was posing, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper, a Garganey still also a Curlew Sandpiper dropped in very briefly.