Bitterns

07.45-10.00 at Dungeness Point with PT and DW:
Many Auks, Great Crested Grebes, Cormorants and Kittiwakes toing and froing.
Red Throated Diver: 269E  129W
Gannet: 451W
Brent Geese: 3E
Shelduck: 1E
Mediterranean Gull: 3E
In the Gull roost, the Great black Backed Gull that is unable to stand with its wings folded but can fly very well.

Droopy

On New Diggings 26 Smew(3Drakes), 4 Goldeneye and the Great White Egret.

On the ARC from Hanson Hide, MH told me that a Bittern was in the small reed bed to the left of the hide. In a short time it duly posed for me. Also 1 red head Smew, 12 Goldeneye some displaying, 1 Black Tailed Godwit, 16 Golden Plover, 1+Cetti's Warbler and a Chiffchaff in the willows. 

A plod around the Tower Pits found another Bittern, 2 Cetti's Warblers and 2 Ravens by the Water Tower.
At the screen hide the Great White Egret and a little Egret and another Bittern flew in.

Back at Hanson Hide the Bittern came out and climbed the reeds before moving to the other side of the pit. Another Bittern was in the reeds to the right of the hide and a red head Smew swam close to the hide.

Driving back across Walland  51 Bewick Swans with 6 juveniles. The end to another very good day.

Around Ashford

3 of the 5 on Conningsbrook Lake

 On the partially frozen Conningsbrook Lake this morning 5 Goosanders, 2 Little Egrets, a few each of Gadwall, Pochard, Tufted Duck and Teal but no sign of yesterdays Iceland gull. Beside and in the Stour adjacent to the pit 2 Great White Egrets and 2 Common Snipe. 3 Woodcock flushed from surrounding bushes containing several each of Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers. At Wye a flock of 500+ Fieldfare. From a nearby raptor watchpoint with a distant veiw of The Swale a minimum of 10 Common Buzzards, 2 displaying Sparrowhawks and a Kestrel.

Record of 1 of the 2  Great White Egrets  at Connings brook

In the car park at Faggs Wood this afternoon a blinged up Goldcrest was feeding on bread as was a Treecreeper.The bread and cakes that are left there dailyby a dog walker attracted dozens of Blue and Great Tits, Chaffinches, several fighting Robins,  2 Coal tits, 2 Nuthatches, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers also Magpies and Jays. A 2hr plod around the wood found 100s of flighty Redwings, 2  Woodcock, 4 Lesser Redpolls, 6 Bullfinches and 4 Mistle Thrushes. Everything else was in the car park.

Much The Same but I'm Not Complaining

At The Point the usual Auks, Red Throated Divers, Great crested Grebes and Cormorants feeding in shore with Gannets and Kittiwakes off shore. New Diggings from the causeway held at least 2 red head Smew and 9 on the ARC, where 3 superb drake Goldeneye were doing their wonderful head tossing display. The ARC car park was nearly full so I drove back out and went to the visitor centre stopping at Boulderwall to admire the Tree Sparrows basking in the glorious sun shine.
As the visitor centre was packed I plodded back up to Hookers and round the back towards Lydd. During this plod highlights were 1 fly over Bittern up to 4 Marsh Harriers, 6 Common Snipe and 4 Stonechats.
Driving back out a Great White Egret flew over Boulderwall and John and Doreen Cooper pulled up beside me and had a chat.(Twice in a week). From there I went to Scotney where 30+ Geater White fronted Geese and the 2 Pale bellied Brent Geese were still present among the several hundred Greylag Geese. Also a Marsh Harrier,15+ Skylark, 2 Stonechats, 50+ Curlew and 100+ Stock Doves were out in the fields.
On Walland 45 Bewick Swans at midley and 2 more Marsh Harriers.

Velvets

At Dungeness point this morning I pulled behind a DW who pointed out a Yellow Legged Gull in the gull roost and had also seen 5 passerines drop in behind them and thought they might be Snow Buntings. While we were chatting I saw 5 passerines drop onto the beach, shortly after DW spotted a Snow Bunting on the shingle ridge but by the time we had finished scanning the gulls and parked up they had vanished.  In a strong NW wind Auks, Gannets and Red Throated Divers were tooing and froing along with a few 50+ Common Scoter and c20 Velvet Scoter. Also a few Great Crested Grebes 1 Red Breasted Merganser and a flock of 46 Brent Geese flew east as I left the beach.

On the New Diggings 17 Smew (3 Drakes) 5 Goldeneye and a Great White Egret.

Across Walland only 35 Bewick Swans at Midley Tree Sparrows at the usual spots, 3 Common Buzzards perched up and 2 Marsh Harriers.

A Morning at Dunge!

After the yesterdays excitement today was always going to be an anti climax. A dull drizzly morning at the fishing boats found the sea was full of Guillemots, Razorbills,Great Crested Grebes, Cormorants and a few Red throated Divers. Off shore Gannets were more numerous than of late and a few Kittiwakes patrolled the beach. Again I was unable to locate the Glaucous Gull.
On the New Diggings from the causeway 7 Smew (2 Drakes), 6 Goldeneye and a Great white Egret.
On the ARC from Hanson 9 red head Smew, 8 Goldeneye, plenty of the usual dabbling and diving duck, 300+ Golden Plover, 1 Black-tailed Godwit and 1 Marsh Harrier. From the screen 1 Bittern.
A brief visit to the reserve saw the Long-tailed Duck from Dennis's Hide and 2 Tree Sparrows on the centre feeders.
A wander around Pigwell pits found just 1 Little Egret.
Coming back across Walland the Bewick Swan herd numbers  were down to 58

The Eagle Has Landed (In Sussex as well)

Juv White-tailed Eagle at Playden(East Sussex) above Scots Float from the Military Road.

 I had just left Hanson Hide making my way to the car park when I received a call from TG, telling me the White Tailed Eagle was in the field at the entrance to the wind farm on the A259, feeding on a dead Fox. Before I got to the car I got 2 more calls with same info (thanks everyone). Then a hectic drive across Walland Marsh following 2 other cars with the same destination and all being held up by the Gas Boards temporary traffic lights and some tree cutting. I arrived on site to the news that the Eagle had now flown off and was a blob in a distant tree. Where I was told that the farmer had told CP that a Vulture was eating a dead Fox, fortunately CP followed this info up to discover the Eagle. While waiting for it to show a Ring Tailed Hen Harrier and a Marsh Harrier did fly bys.
After watching the blob for half an hour I moved to what I thought was a better position, which it was slightly. A few minutes later the Eagle left its tree and flew low over my original position. That will teach me to trespass.
The Eagle appeared to land in a field north of the A259, but could not be seen. After a while it took off from where it was hidden in a fold in the land and headed towards Rye being harrassed by 2 Peregrines. It then landed well into East Sussex above Scots Float. Another hectic drive to the Military Road via Rye ensued where great scope views were had by all observers except one. ME! I had driven off leaving my scope beside the A259. Definitely dejavu  as I lost my last tripod leaving at Amberly after twitching the White-tailed Eagle there.  I took few record pictures and watched it being harassed by Gulls and 2 Common Buzzards, then hurtled back for my scope which fortunately was being looked after Romney Marsh Warden(thanks Owen). As I got out the car he pointed skyward the Eagle was high overhead thermalling before eventually moving off north.

Above Boonshill (Sussex)

Still in Sussex

Still in Sussex

Still in Sussex

Thermalling over A259 Kent/Sussex Border 

Thermalling over  A259 Kent/Sussex Border

This afternoon at Northpoint G.P. 4 Ruff and a Golden Plover with the Lapwing flock. At Scotney the 2 Pale Bellied Brent Geese  and 32 Greater White fronted Geese.

To Hythe and Back

 Back to Botolph's Bridge first thing this morning for a couple of hours just in case the White Tailed Sea Eagle was still around. Unfortunately no sign of it, but there was some compensation in the form of partially oiled Red-throated Diver in Nickoll's Quarry on the sailing pit, also good numbers of Redwing and Song Thrushes feeding around the sewage works and a Chiffchaff. Next stop Littlestone sea front where the tide was out. Plenty of waders on show including Sanderling, Dunlin, Knot, Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwits, Oystercatchers, Redshanks, Grey Plover and couple of Ringed Plovers.

 On to the New Diggings where a Great White Egret was showing well. Also there 8 Goosander, 6 Smew and 6 Goldeneye.

 Next stop the ARC Pit Hanson Hide where 33 Bewick Swans were resting after being chased off the marsh. A Cetti's Warbler was feeding on the ice in front the hide and a 1+ Water Rails were squealing in the reeds. Out on the pit 8+Goldeneye, 1000+ Wigeon, 400+ Shoveler, 150+ Gadwall, 100+ Teal a few Shelduck and 2 Pintail. 2 Marsh Harriers hunted the reeds. I had a treat while I was there when old friends John and Doreen Cooper came into the hide enabling me to catch up on Beachy Head and things in general. 

Pity about the reed stem

 A red head Smew fed close to the hide for a couple of minutes before flying off and walking back to the car park a Bittern flew towards Boulderwall Farm.

 On the reserve from Dennis's Hide the Long tailed Duck was distant and 2 Goosander were seen. Being half term the reserve was busy, so I made my way to Dengemarsh Road stopping to admire the Tree Sparrows on the feeders at Boulderwall Farm. At the Dengemarsh chicken sheds i finally caught up with the Black Redstart there. Opposite the sheds an abherrant plumaged or hybrid Wigeon.

Abherrant Wigeon

 Walland Marsh was very quiet with little of note, except for a Common Buzzard feeding on worms near The Woolpack PH.

 Heading for home I found my first Green Sandpiper of the year in ditch by Fairfield Church and near Woodchurch 60+ Yellowhammers by a game strip. A very good day out.

Bitterns

A morning visit to Castle Water found whilst walking out to the hide, the 4 Pink-footed Geese and 44 Greater White-fronted Geese, loosely associating with the Greylag and Canada Geese feeding in the fields by Camber Castle. 2 Marsh Harriers were hunting the partly frozen reed beds disturbing several hundred Wigeon, Shoveler, Gadwall and Teal. Also seen on the way to the hide 4 Common Snipe, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 8 Song Thrushes and a Merlin.

Arriving at the empty hide and opening a flap a Common Snipe posed for the camera then a movement in the reed bed as Bittern jumped out and flew to the Cormorant tree reed bed. While watching an adult male Marsh Harrier putting up the duck and Coots an adult female swooped in and took a Coot as it struggled to get airborne.
A short while later another movement from the reed bed to the left of the hide caught my eye, another Bittern but this time it stalked out on the ice and walked towards the hide eventually crossing in front. Amazingly another Bittern came out of the reeds on to the ice for a few minutes before stalking back in.

As I was leaving the hide I recieved a call from DW telling me he had seen a Glossy Ibis drop into Scotney, so I hot footed there but was to late it had flown off. Arriving at the ARC car park I was informed the the Ibis had dropped into the ARC Pit for a few minutes, before once again flying off appearing to go high out to sea.

On New Diggings 8+ Smew and 8+ Goosander. As I drove into the reserve a Bittern dropped into the pit next to Boulderwall Farm and from Dennis's hide 4 more Goosanders, 1 Smew, 1 Peregrine and a Raven.

Back at the Tower Pits 3 more Bitterns,2 Marsh Harriers, 3 Water Rail and a Chiffchaff. While there I got another call about a Sea Eagle reported at Bottolph's Bridge, 30 minutes later I was there but no Eagle.

Counting Harriers or Not!

 After a full English this morning making a late start I made the short but very slippery drive in the falling snow to Faggs Wood. By the car park 5 species of Thrush fed round the chicken runs along with Robins, Wrens, Dunnocks and a Green Woodpecker. In the car park a Jay, Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker and lots of Great and Blue Tits fed on the bread and doughnuts left out for them. A plod around the wood saw 3 Woodcock, 4 Goldcrests, 1 Tree Creeper and a fly over Bullfinch  and little else in the falling snow. From there I drove towards Scotney. On the Brett Pit 4 Smew(2 Drakes) and 3 Goldeneye. At Scotney Mike Buckland was scanning the frozen vista and informed me that the Greater White-fronts were still there. We walked to the small copse to look for Woodcock on the ground, we found a couple but the smallest movement spooked them. We moved to the Sussex end of Scotney where we could see the 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese with the 9 Dark-bellied Brent Geese. 

A Frozen ARC from the Screen Hide

    

I moved on to the ARC Pit which was now almost completely frozen. In front Hanson hide a Cetti's Warbler skulked along with a Water Rail, a Bittern flew across the ice as did a Sparrowhawk while a Fox trotted about on it. A walk up to the Screen Hide found a tit flock with at least 10 Long-tailed Tits and a Chiffchaff.
New Diggings from the causeway before being moved on by the police found 10+ Goosander and 8+ Smew also a Great White Egret.
Driving back across Walland to The Woolpack, 55 Bewick Swans and a Merlin.
A twenty minute walk out across the snowy marsh to the Harrier roost I was going watch was uneventful. Setting up the scope I quickly found a Marsh Harrier perched on a fence post, which was just as well as the Harrier sat there for minute then flew off south and that was the only one I saw in 1.5hrs. Fortunately there were some other birds to look at. 3 Common Buzzards perched up in separate trees, a Bittern flew into the reed bed, 6 Bearded Tits flitted about, 11 Corn Buntings roosted in the reeds, 2 Water Rails ran along the edge and 2 Merlins chasing and catching Skylarks in front of me .   

More Woodcocks

Mid morning on Walland found the 77 Bewick Swans still at Midley and 1 Little Owl. At Scotney 2 Pale Bellied Brent Geese with 9 Dark Bellied Brents, 20 Greater White Fronted Geese, 500+ Greylag Geese and the feral Barnacle Geese. A walk along the cycle path there flushed 8 Woodcock and a red head Smew was on the Brett Pit.

A visit to Lydd Wood found another 6 Woodcock, 20+ Song Thrushes, 4 Redwing and a Water Rail.

At the ARC Pit a minimum of 4 Bitterns present this afternoon, 3 Marsh Harriers, 1 red head Smew, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Water Rail, 4 Cetti's Warbler and 4 Woodcock at the Tower Pits.

This afternoon on Walland the Swans had disappeared, 10+ Tree Sparrows at the feeders, 3+ Marsh Harriers, 2 Common Buzzards, 4 Common Snipe flushed from the ditches and a look around some of the bushes found another 5 Woodcock and a few Thrushes.