Irresistable Waxwings

 An early morning visit to scotney to try and catch the Geese roosting on the pit was a miserable freezing failure thanks to a couple of idiots with shotguns. On the way down as i passed Hamstreet i saw the Waxwings i found on Wednesday in the same place but as it was quite dark i thought i'd re-visit them after i'd looked at Scotney. There were 2 flocks of Barnacle Geese there the usual feral flock of 70+ with its hybrid Emporers and another of 120+ presumably wild birds. This flock contained 2 coloured ringed individuals which i managed to read and have reported. The Greater Whitefronts were scattered across the marsh by the shooters. Wigeon numbers around the pits appear to increase every day with 6000+ probably very conservative. Also seen were 3 Marsh Harriers, 2 Ruff, 40+ Golden Plover and a Peregrine. Walland Marsh still  has many flocks  of mixed thrushes but i could not find yesterdays Waxwings. Back at Hamstreet the sun was now out and the 18 Waxwings i found had increased to 47 with at least 1 colour ringed individual but not yet seen well enough unlike some of the other posing individuals.

Walland Waxwings

As i drove across Walland Marsh i got a text from Jake telling me had just found 30 Waxwings  in Horsham, moments later i found a party of 10 feeding on the Hawthorns along with hundreds of Redwing and Fieldfare. At the feeders were 6 Tree Sparrows and nearby at the drying barn 12 Corn Buntings, 15 Yellowhammers, 8 Linnets, 4 Goldfinches and 20+ Chaffinches and hundreds more thrushes. In the fields 62 Bewick Swans, 100+ Greater Whitefronted Geese, 26 Golden Plover, 2 Marsh Harriers and a Common Buzzard looking dejected sat in a muddy field. Nearby at Scotney pits the Wigeon numbers easily topped 5000, 100+ Greater Whitefronted Geese, 100+ Barnacle Geese some colour ringed. Still no Smew or Goosander there despite fair numbers at Dungeness. 

Foggy Scotney

On my way to Scotney this morning i saw 18 familiar silouettes by the side of the main road at Hamstreet.  Unfortunately i could only get a record picture of 16 of them due to traffic. At Scotney i counted 121 Barnacle Geese  and 73 Greater White Fronted Geese(both counts are probably very conservative) and probably 4 Bean Geese. ID and precise counts was difficult due to the fog, distance and the folds in the landscape. Also 4+ Marsh Harriers were chivvying the 3000+ Wigeon on and around the pit.

Super Sawbills

 A brilliant morning at dungeness started with a Bittern flying over the deserted ARC Pit car park as i arrived. Though the pit was mainly frozen 1000+ Wigeon  were in a small ice free hole along with 8 Goldeneye a few Pochard and Tufted Duck. 4+ Marsh Harriers were chivvying the Coot  and Teal unsuccessfully. The Willow trail held a Chiffchaff and a couple of squealing Water Rail. I followed Ray Turley down the icy entrance track to  the Visitor Centre which we had to our selves. From Firth hide we counted 4 Bitterns on show around the  edge of Burrowes Pit though distant 11 Smew (1 Drake) on the New Diggings and 6 Goosander. From Makepiece Hide a brilliant drake Goosander with 3 Red heads Goosander came right up to the the hide giving myself and Ray the best views we have ever had of Goosanders and 2 red head Smew came nearly as close. At least 2 more Bitterns were seen and a Yellow Legged Gull was on the ice, also another Chiffchaff was in the Willows infront the hide.

An icy Walland Marsh

At an icy Walland this morning there were still numerous Fieldfares and Redwings. As i was counting one of the  groups Bewick Swans i heard a now familiar trill as 26 Waxwings flew over north as i struggled to get the camera on them. A Snipe was huddled on the verge and a Common Buzzard sat on a bush way out on the marsh and then the snow arrived.

They really are Waxwings

 

Early Morning at Castle Water

An early morning vigil in the hide at Castle Water, paid off when this Bittern walked out of the reed bed, allowing me to take some 600 photo's these are just from the first 100. There was at least 2 present whilst i was there along with 2 red head Smew, 1 Water Rail and numerous dabbling duck and a Marsh Harrier. A look at Northpoint and Scotney found little of note. On the walk from the car park at the ARC Pit to the hide a flock of 34 Waxwings flew NW. On the pit a fine drake Smew, 3 Goosander  2 drakes and 8 Goldeneye also 4+  Marsh Harriers. At Walland 2 Tree Sparrows by the feeders, large flocks of Redwing and Fieldfares (3000+) around the marsh devouring the Hawthorns. 

Sensational Eagle

A very successful twitch to Amberly Wildbrooks for the White-tailed Eagle. An incredible bird for Sussex. Pity it was always distant hence the rubbish pictures but it was good to meet some old freinds. Also there a ring tail Hen Harrier, 5 Common Buzzards and aflock of c.20 Waxwings briefly.

Bitterns

 At Walland this morning there was 86 Bewick Swans in 3 herds of 45,26 and 15, 6 Tree Sparrows, 4 Corn Buntings, 10+ Yellowhammers and several large flocks of Fieldfares and Redwings with several pairs of Mistle Thrushes. Most unusually i did not see a single Marsh Harrier  there. At the ARC Pit there was 8 Goosanders including 2 fine drakes, 16 Goldeneye and 5 of our american friends and 2 flyover Bitterns. In the Willow trail 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest and 3 Cetti's Warblers.
On the main reserve there was 4+ Marsh Harriers another 3 Goosanders, 6 Smew including 2 Drakes, 2 Black-necked Grebes atleast another 4 Bitterns flying around and sitting in the reeds and bushes with one quite showy individual near Scott Hide. Also from there 2+ Water Rail and a Great-crested Grebe doing battle with a Perch. On the beach the 1W Glaucous Gull was posing well and 100+ Great-crested Grebes on the sea. 

 

More Waxwings

Couldn't resist stopping to take more Waxwing pictures. These were on the A259 at Hythe. There was 45 of them and not another birder the whole time i was there.

A Good day around Walland and Dungeness

 A damp dreary start at Walland found the Hawthorns full of thrushes. The vast majority Fieldfare and Redwing and Blackbirds with a few Mistle thrushes and Song Thrushes with 2+ Sparrowhawks in attendance also 3 Great spotted Woodpeckers. In the fields 20 Bewick Swans and 4 Marsh Harriers. At the ARC Pit 17 Goosander, 20+ Goldeneye. On the reserve a red head Smew, 1 Slavonian Grebe, 2 Black-Necked Grebes and a Great Spotted Woodpecker on the centre feeders. At the point the 1w Glaucous Gull still showing well and 100+ Great Crested Grebes on the sea. Back at a now sunny Walland Marsh another herd of 26 Bewick Swans flew over and 4+ Tree Sparrows posed in a Hawthorn.