12/03/2022

Flocks of Brent Geese were passing the hide at regular intervals all morning

Another busy morning staring at the sea:

 06.00-12.00 from the hide with JS, SO, RW, OL, LH, PH, JY.

Brent Goose: 2359E (28 Flocks)   1W 
Shelduck: 4E
Velvet Scoter: 3E
Common Scoter: 52E     
Red-breasted Merganser: 2E
Red-throated Diver: 152E     6W
Great-crested Grebe: 14E    94 on 
Fulmar: 4E    1W
Gannet: 37E
Cormorant: present n/c
Oystercatcher: 44E    
Kittiwake: 164E   
Black-headed Gull: 583E
Mediterranean Gull: 104E
Common Gull: 218E
Great Black-backed Gull: 41E
Lesser Black-backed Gull: 3E
Herring Gull: present n/c
Sandwich Tern: 1E
Harbour Porpoise: 7

Lovely to see flocks of Black-headed Gulls purposefully powering East

Nice to see but probably just a local movement of Oystercatchers

Velvet Scoters passing East 

An abandoned migrant RIB drifting past the Bouy this morning

A black-necked Grebe was found on Dengemarsh from the hide this morning by RW, it was still present late afternoon per JY. At least 5 Cattle Egrets at Cockles Bridge still. As I drove along the causeway  the 2 Glossy Ibis flew from Cooks Pool over the road towards the private fishing lakes, there were 3 Great White egrets on the ARC. Elsewhere there were a few Chiffchaffs and a Firecrest around The Point.

A visit to Scotney sand pit this afternoon paid off when this Wheatear popped up, my first of the year, also a White Wagtail, Green Sandpiper, 8 Avocet, 4 Dunlin, 4 Redshanks and a Black Swan.