21/01/2021

Sea Watch  07.40-08.40 by AJG:

Common Scoter: 140W

Velvet Scoter: 4W

Red-throated Diver: 7W

Fulmar: 2W

Gannet: 26W

Cormorant: present n/c

Kittiwake: 7W

Black-headed Gull: present n/c

Common Gull: present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Auk sp: 242W

First Green Woodpecker of the year today from the garden

Slightly oiled Red-throated Diver, presumably the bird that was on Lade Pits.

Another hike today saw very little across the fields in the near gale force wind, small numbers of Lapwing were being disturbed by hunting Marsh Harriers, while Grey Herons and Great White Egrets were keeping low in the ditches. I didn't encounter any White-fronted Geese today and only very small numbers of Greylags, so I presume they were all out around Scotney.

The reserve was very quiet but a slightly oiled Red-throated Diver was new on the New Excavations. On Burrowes just 3 Goldeneye of note, most of the islands are now submerged, but on the bright side this meant there were only a small number of Cormorants present. Carrying my walk onto the New Diggings where the Black-throated Diver was showing well albeit in dreadful light conditions and the resumption of the rain, also 4 more Goldeneye there.

Slightly oiled Red-throated Diver

Black-throated Diver

Black-throated Diver

View from the left side of Dennis's Hide now that scrub and Sallow have been cut. The Tern raft has also been moved nearer to the viewpoint.

An extra viewpoint over hayfield 1 & 2 has been cut opposite the entrance to Christmas Dell hide