Saturday 3 August 2013

A flock of Goosanders!

Lade - 0630hrs - warm, dry and sunny, sw 5 - A blustery wind kept moth numbers low last night with nothing new for the season and only Oak Eggar of any note. Checked south pit where several parties of Swifts were hurrying south along with Sand Martins going the same way.
ARC - From Hanson the shingle ridges were largely bereft of waders except for two each of Wood Sandpiper, Lapwing, Blackwit and LRP. The Oystercatchers with three well grown young appeared to be doing well and together with a Common Tern, greeted a passing Common Buzzard with a series of noisy dive-bombs. Several Wigeon were asleep amongst the common wildfowl, while more Sand Martins and Swifts scuttled southwards. Good to see and have a natter with some of the regulars in the hide this morning.
Dengemarsh - Whilst walking down to Springfield Bridge I noticed a flock of ducks flying towards Lydd. Couldn`t quite make out what they were as I got onto them late and at some distance, but they showed plenty of white on the upper wing and I thought maybe Wigeon, although the shape wasn`t right.
Anyhow, LH was in the wardens truck parked by the bridge and managed to get some decent pics which confirmed their true identity as a flock of 11 Goosanders! What on earth they were doing here at this time of year is anyones guess...
Also noted Hobby, juv Marsh Harrier, Little Egret, Common Tern and the usual collection of wildfowl.
Dungeness  -Finished off with a 60 minute seawatch from the boats with PB where all we could muster was a steady movement of feeding Common Terns, a few Sandwich Terns, Gannets and the 1st summer Little Gull. More Sand Martins passed down the coast plus 20 Swifts.

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