Ruddy Duck Culling

One of the shooters boats hauled out onto the causeway between New Diggings and Burrowes Pit

As I drove across the causeway towards The Point, I saw 3 4x4s with motor boat trailers on the adjacent causeway with attendant Ruddy Duck shooters. All perfectly legal and sanctioned by the RSPB!!!   

At The Point the Glaucous Gull was on the beach. Offshore still many Guillemots and Razorbills with lesser numbers of Gannets, Kittiwakes and Red-throated Divers but no real migration yet.

At the Varne Sailing Club the 2 Snow Buntings on the beach. On the falling tide 100+ Knot, 30+ Bar-tailed Godwits, 100s of Oystercatchers, 14 Redshank, 40+ Turnstone, 12 Grey Plover and 100+ each of Dunlin and Sanderling.

On the Lade Pits the Black-throated Diver on north pit, Great White and Little Egret on south pit, 4 Goldeneye and 2+ Water Rail squealing.

The ARC was quiet with just 8 Smew (2 drakes), 6 Goldeneye among small numbers of common wildfowl.

Boulderwall held the usual Tree sparrow flock, along the track  7 Barnacle Geese, another Great White Egret, c50 Curlew and a Bittern over. From Dengemarsh another Bittern and 2 Marsh Harriers.  

 On Walland  a Whooper Swan with 266 Bewick Swans (59 Juveniles). The feeders held the usual Tree Sparrows, Yellowhammers, Chaffinches and Greenfinches, nearby a Common Buzzard.

Wildfowl clear out

At The Point this morning 1000s of Guillemots and Razorbills tooing and froing, with smaller numbers of Kittiwakes, Gannets and Red-throated Divers.

The Black-throated Diver had moved to to Lade south pit with a Smew and a couple of Goldeneye.

At Scotney duck numbers appear to have reduced significantly. The feral Barnacle Goose flock still present and 100s each of Golden Plover and Lapwing. Of note 3 Egyptian Geese flew over towards Dengemarsh.

From the causeway New Diggings was also virtually devoid of wildfowl but 2 Great White Egrets and 4 Smew could be seen.

A very short visit to Hanson, as the icy wind blowing into the hide made viewing difficult and very uncomfortable, but 6 Smew (2 drakes), 5 Goldeneye, 2 Marsh Harriers and another Great White Egret was noted in that time. 

 On Walland 223 Bewick Swans at Hawthorn Corner and another family party of 5 at Midley, The bushes opposite the feeders held c20 Tree Sparrows and 4 Yellow Hammers with 2 Marsh Harriers over and 2 Common Buzzards. Earlier a Ring Tail and the Male Hen Harrier was seen there by Wendy.

223 Bewick swans and 2 Mutes

Black-bellied Dipper

 Myself TG, DW and GH who was our brilliant chauffeur today twitched the superb Black-bellied Dipper today at Thetford. It performed admirably from the moment we arrived all be it in the heavy shade, where it caught many Caddisfly larva. It was amazingly tolerant of birders and photograghers  showing down to a few feet.

 A couple of hours spent looking for Otters was fruitless, even though just about every resident of Thetford seemed to have seen them. One lady out for a walk with her mother, produced her I Phone and showed us a video she took on it yesterday, of 2 Otters playing just a feet from her in the river. We did manage to see a Kingfisher several times, Marsh, Coal, Long-tailed, Blue and Great Tits, Brambling, nuthatch and Treecreeper.

Bonaparte's Gull

A trip to Princes Park Eastborne today. After a quick look at the sea from the fishing boats where the usual Auks, Gannets and Kittiwakes were off shore,  we (DW,TG myself and picking GH up on the way) set off from Dungeness Obs. A quick stop on the causeway saw 2 Great white Egrets and at least 5 Smew ( 2 drakes ) on the ARC with another Great White Egret behind Boulderwall farm. At Pett level the 2 Pink-footed Geese showed distantly as did a Barn Owl and 3 Greater White-fronted Geese on the way back.

Arriving at Princes Park the Bonaparte's Gull was showing well and did so throughout our stay. It readily came to the bread being fed to the Mute Swans.

 In a quick look at Scotney on the way home a surprise in the form of 2 Scaup picked by TG. Scaup are few and far between on the marsh these days, last year I failed to see one so this male and female were very welcome. Hopefully the weather will be kind tomorrow for a trip to Thetford to see the long staying Black-bellied Dipper.

Round the Marsh

As it was a bright sunny morning a rare event lately, I had another look at the Waxwings at the Ashford Designer Outlet. Mick,Richard and Kev were already there, Mick had done some gardening arranging some berries and apples on Kevs tripod to get the perfect shot. 60+ Waxwings were there when I arrived and more came in making 100+. I took a few a shots but when the cloud arrived the cold in the bitter wind got the better of me.
Across the marsh noticeably less winter thrushes but the highest count of Bewick Swans so far with 242. The 2 Whoopers were elusive but eventually showed in flight at Midley disappearing among the windmills. At Scotney c200 Golden Plover, 2 Ruff, the feral Barnacle Goose flock and an Egyptian Goose in the fields at the western end. Galloways was open but very disappointing with nothing seen on the drive to the sea. Off shore a few Red-throated Divers, Guillemots and Great Crested Grebes. Spending 30 minutes by the wrecked armoured car just a few Crows and a distant Raven.
From the track to the VC the 7 Barnacle Geese, 3 Great White Egrets, 2 Marsh Harriers, c50 Curlew, 3 Ruff, c100 Golden Plover and the usual Tree sparrows at Boulderwall Farm.
Back out on Walland the ring tail Hen Harrier near Hawthorn Corner, at the seed dump in Tickners Lane 20+ Yellow Hammers, 2 Corn buntings, 5 Reed Buntings and 2 Common Buzzards.
It looks like the northern part of the marsh at Snave is to be blighted with 6 more Wind Turbines see Here 
    

Rain and Waxwings

A short sea watch this morning due to the poor weather found 2,000+ Great Crested Grebes on the sea, with 100+ Guillemots (but no Razorbills), 40+ Red-throated Divers and good numbers of Kittiwakes and Gannets off shore.

New Diggings held 19 Smew (2 drakes) and 2 Great White Egrets. The ARC from Hanson held 12 Smew (later joined by the 2 drakes), another Great White Egret, 2+ Marsh Harriers annd the Red-crested Pochard among the Wigeon.

The 7 Barnacle Geese and 2 Ruff could be seen from track to the VC. When I arrived at Scotney BH had his scope on a very distant Common Crane, also there 5 Ruff, 20+ Dunlin, 300+ Golden Plover and the feral Barnacle flock. 

85 Waxwings at the Outlet

 Coming back across Walland 235 Bewick Swans counted by PT, still a few winter thrushes and a Common   Buzzard. While I was in Hanson Wendy told me that she had seen 100+ Waxwings early morning by the Ashford Designer Outlet. After a text from her at 15.00 saying they were still present, I made a short diversion to see them. Pity the light was failing when I arrived but still a brilliant sight.

Bittern and Barn Owl

 Arriving at The Point this morning the as rain cleared and the gale subsided a little, an hour watching the sea produced many Guillemots, Razorbills, Red-throated Divers, Gannets and Kittiwakes could be seen tooing and froing. A Fulmar moved west as did a Bonxie.

 On the beach 100s of Black-headed Gulls and a few Kittiwakes one of which was bathing in a puddle. A Knot resting on the beach was unusual. As I left the beach the 3w Glaucous Gull flew over.

On New Diggings from the causeway, 2 Great White Egrets and a single Smew among the common wildfowl sheltering under the western bank, on the ARC 2 more Great White Egrets and 12 Smew (2 drakes) among large numbers of common wildfowl sheltering behind the bushes.

 From Hanson Hide 2 Bitterns, one of which flew in front the hide. A kingfisher was fishing inside the bushes by the hide and 2 Marsh Harriers were doing there best to spook everything.

 Among the many common Wildfowl a female Red Crested Pochard and a female Common Scoter.

 At Boulderwall Farm c20 Tree Sparrows round the feeders. Looking north from the track to the VC at the junction of the track to Hookers, 7 Barnacle Geese and the Greater Whitefronted Goose still present behind the fence in the sheep field also another Great White Egret making at least 5 at Dunge today.

 At Scotney 2 Black-tailed Godwits (my first of the year on the marsh), 4 Ruff, c500 Golden Plover, 22 Dunlin and the feral Barnacle Goose flock. Feeding round the hay bales by the sheep troughs 16 Corn Buntings.

 On Walland still 100s of winter thrushes, c160 Bewick Swans, 1 Black Swan, 2 Common Buzzards. By the feeders 20+ Tree Sparrows, 4 Yellow Hammers and c10 Green finches. At the triangle a stunning Barn Owl. Another excellent day on the peninsular with 84 species seen today and 132 so far this year.

Red-throated Divers

As soon as I arrived at The Point a flock of Red-throated Divers was moving west totalling 596. Off shore many Guillemots, Razorbills and Kittiwakes with a few Gannets. The 3w Glaucous Gull was on the beach.

At the Varne Sailing Club Greatstone the 2 Snow Buntings as shy as ever, On the mudflats there 100s of Oystercatcher, Knot, Dunlin and Sanderling with smaller numbers of Redshank, Bar-tailed Godwits, Ring Plover, Curlew and Grey Plover.

 On New Diggings from the causeway 3 Great White Egrets and 4 red head Smew among the common wildfowl, with another Great white Egret at the southern end of  the ARC. From Hanson  5+ red head Smew were made several fly bys, many Wigeon, Pochard, Tufted Duck and Shoveller with 6+ Goldeneye and a Kingfisher. (I'm sure Mr A will have obtained some great shots)
At Scotney 300+ Golden Plover, 1,000+ Wigeon and a single Ruff were of note.  

 On Walland a Merlin posed, nearby the Bewick Swan flock numbered 82 and another family party of 5 that seem to keep to themselves on an adjacent field. The seed dump at Tickners Lane held 4 Yellow Hammers and 8 Corn Buntings. Another good day with 76 species seen on the peninsular.

Bitterns

At The Point this morning visibility was very poor in the the driving misty rain. Small numbers of Guillemots, Razorbills and Red-throated Divers were tooing and froing, a small movement of Kittiwakes east and the occasional Gannet ghosted in out of the mist disappearing just as quickly.  The 3W Glaucous Gull was in  a roost next to the concrete road.

From the south end of the New Diggings 8 red head Smew were sheltering under the western bank with the common wildfowl and 2 Great White Egrets were in the reeds nearby.

Another Great White Egret was at the south end of the ARC.

 As the ARC car park was empty I braved the weather on the walk to Hanson as recently a Bittern has been showing well in the reed bed to the left of the hide. I got my self settled in the hide and gently opened the shutter, immediately a movement caught my eye  about 30mts out, raising my binos a beautiful Bittern could just about be seen motionless and then a quick movement as it caught a Stickleback or similar. As I was unable to focus the camera through the reeds and the light was awful, I just sat and watched it as it caught several fish. After c20 minutes I was joined in the hide by a new birder who had never seen a Bittern, needless to say he was delighted. A few minutes later the bird stalked off out of sight the flew over to the screen hide.

 I was later joined by BH and CT who were also sheltering from the weather. A red head Smew flew in and swam into a small bay in the reed bed to the right of the hide, another movement caught my eye and the Smew shot out. A few minutes later another Bittern jumped out of the bay flew slowly in front the hide (to close for me focus quickly or even get the whole bird in) and landed c8 mts from the hide among the Bull Rushes, where it clambered and stalked around for at least an hour for the 3 of us to watch and enjoy it and take one two pictures.

 At Scotney apart from the large numbers of Wigeon there was little of note. On a very wind and rain swept   Walland c150 Bewick Swans still and a ring tail Hen Harrier. With rain still coming down I called it a day.

Bewick's and Smew

Some of the 100s of Gulls at The Patch this morning

 After a few minutes of staring into the bright sunshine at The Point this morning I moved to The Patch which was very busy. Several 100s of Black Headed Gulls dominated with smaller numbers of the big gulls. At Sea noticeably less Auks, a few Gannets, c300 Kittiwakes and 25 Common Scoter moved east.

 From the causeway New Diggings held 9 red head Smew and 2 Great White Egrets and the ARC had 10 Smew (2 drakes) and another Great White Egret. From Hanson a Bittern showed well as did 2 Marsh Harriers and a Goldcrest also a Peregrine shot across the lake.

 At Scotney the Tundra Bean goose showed well among the Greylags, the feral Barnacle flock was still present, also 100s of Wigeon and Golden Plover, 6 Ruff and 14 Dunlin. 12 Bewick swans were in fields to the west of the pit. At the back of Scotney Court farm 12 Greater White-fronted Geese, 16 Corn Buntings, 2 Marsh Harriers and c200 Fieldfare and Redwing. Though in general winter thrush numbers were well down on previous days.
This afternoon the wind had really started to blow and the duck on the ARC were sheltering behind the bushes by the causeway. Among 100s of the common wildfowl were 19 Smew and there were 10 sheltering on New diggings making 29 for the day my biggest count this year.

Out on Walland 13 Bewick Swans at Hawthorn Corner, near Midley Cottages a further 177 Bewick Swans making a day total for the marsh of 202. 5 more Bean Geese that I assumed to be Tundras were with the largest Bewick Swan flock but distant and were flushed by dog walker on the marsh, 4 Greater White-fronted Geese flew over.