Tuesday 10 November 2015

Wildfowl, waders and wind

Dungeness - mild, overcast, sw 5 - We kicked off at the point first thing for a seawatch from the fishing boats that yielded the expected fare of distant Gannets, auks and Kittiwakes feeding offshore, plus 3 Common Scoter, Red-throated Diver and Brent Goose. There was plenty of gulls to sift through on the shingle including a 1st winter Yellow-legged and Caspian Gull, the latter coming to bread on the concrete road.
RSPB - Moving on to the bird reserve where the highlights on Burrowes were 3 Smews, 2 Goosanders and 3 Goldeneyes amongst hundreds of common wildfowl, most of them sheltering at the western end and viewable from Scott hide. Five Snipe, 3 Great White Egrets, Kingfisher and 2 Stonechats also noted, plus Reed Bunting and Great Spotted Woodpecker on the feeders.
Lade Bay - We checked the bay at three locations from the Tavern to Littlestone and nailed nine out of ten of the usual waders, with only Grey Plover eluding us. As always Ringed Plover and Knot were tricky but we tracked them down opposite the old lifeboat station.
Walland Marsh - Back out on the flatlands we finished the day at a reed bed site where 6 Marsh Harriers came in roost with another ten in the general area.

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