Friday 14/02/2020

As there was barely a breath of wind this morning there was a touch of frost on the windscreen first thing this morning. The sea very quiet with just the usual suspects.
07.45-08.30
Common Scoter: 5W
Red-throated Diver: 4W     2E
Great-crested Grebe: 62 o/s
Gannet: c20 o/s
Cormorant: present n/c
Kittiwake: c15 o/s
Black-headed Gull: present n/c
Common Gull: present n/c
Herring Gull: present n/c
Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c
Guillemot: 46W       14E
Razorbill: 38W   1E
Auk sp: c50W
Harbour Porpoise: 2

 One of my library images of a Barn Owl taken at Scotney in 2016

I joined CP in a very pleasant walk around the back of Scotney, there were plenty of Wigeon and Lapwing by the main lake, a Redshank and a few feral Geese. I didn't see a Sparrow of any kind at the farm, but a Black Redstart was on the green footbridge. We spotted a Barn Owl hunting along a ditch in front of us and watched as it pirouetted and dived into the ditch, a minute or two later it reappeared carrying a large rodent which we think was a Water Vole. The Owl started flying towards us, I instinctively tried to raise my camera suddenly realising I'd left it in the car, the Owl kept coming towards us flying past just 10mts away giving us the best views we have ever had, it continued on finally landing in a barn full of hay bales to eat its prize. I had broken my own rule always take your camera, barring absolute disaster the images I could have achieved would have made the above image look as if it had been taken on Box Brownie. We continued on our way seeing several each of Common Buzzard, Marsh Harrier and Kestrel, a Merlin, a Sparrowhawk, 3 Green Sandpipers, 2 Ravens, a few each of Corn and Reed Bunting, Skylarks, a flock of Linnets, all of the feral Geese, 100s each of Lapwing and Golden Plover and found that the 5 Long-tailed Ducks were still present on the far western back lake, not bad for a very leisurely stroll.

This afternoon on the ARC all the usual wildfowl present, highlights being a Firecrest and a Chiffchaff. Good to see that the Sea Buckthorn that has taken over the sandy area between the car park and the Screen Hide is being removed, look forward to seeing spring Wagtails, Pipits and Plovers on the cleared area. 

  Clearing the Sea Buckthorn 

 Very poor images of the 2 Water Pipits on the Hay Fields this afternoon

The 2 Water Pipits on the Hay fields between Dengemarsh Hide and Christmas Dell were associating with 5-6 Meadow Pipits, but only allowed scope views.

 CP has bolted the The sea watch hide to the concrete foundation, but it is now perilously close to the edge after storm Ciara. Hopefully storm Dennis wont be so severe and fortunately the high tides are quite small. There is certainly not enough room for us to set up our chairs in front the hide, to let us bask in the sun while watching the flocks of Poms come through in May.