A very busy 2 hours at the fishing boats this morning despite it being so cold and grey in a brisk ESE wind. As I was on my own this morning I'm sure I missed many birds, especially high flying and those along the tideline.

07.45-09.45 from the fishing boats

Brent Geese: 16E

Shelduck: 9E

Shoveler: 2W

Wigeon: 26E

Teal: 15W

Red-throated Diver: 547E     4W

Great-crested Grebe: 14E     4 on

Fulmar: 2E

Gannet: 242E

Cormorant: c5,000 Probably a very conservative estimate

Oystercatcher: 3E

Turnstone: 2 on the beach

Kittiwake: 19E

Mediterranean Gull: 2E

Guillemot: 1,784E

Razorbill: 218E

Auk sp: 766

Black Redstart: 1  by the compound

Whooper Swans viewed from Swamp Road, Walland Marsh

 Late morning I joined Colin, Pete and Pam on Walland Marsh where the 5 Whooper swans were showing nicely, however we were unable to find any Bewick Swans, though they were probably at the back of Scotney. Also on Walland 2 Mistle Thrushes were nice to see as not a common bird on the peninsular these days, also good numbers of Common Buzzards.

Pink-footed Goose viewed from the Dung Heap in Dengemarsh Road, 

On the sward at Scotney early afternoon the usual feral geese, many Wigeon and  Lapwing, a small number of Golden Plover and a couple each of Curlew and Redshank of note.

Mid afternoon and the light was already fading at Dengemarsh, so it was nice discover a Pink-footed Goose among the many Greylag Geese which was my first of the year, also 5 Tundra Bean Geese though somewhat distant which were also my first of the year, then in the same flock and also distant 23+ Russian White-fronted Geese, hopefully they will hang around till the new year. As dark fell OL called me to say a Short-eared Owl was out hunting at Galloways just around the corner, a very nice way to end the day. 

Tundra Bean Geese viewed from the Dung Heap in Dengemarsh Road, 

Russian White-fronted Geese and Tundra Bean Geese viewed from the Dung Heap in Dengemarsh Road,