Wednesday 28 November 2012

Harrier Roost

The Point, Dungeness 07.30-10.30:
Red-throated Diver: 55w      18E                      Auk sp:  361w    30E
Black-throated Diver: 1w                                 Guillemot:  6w
Gannet: 18E                                                   3w Glaucous Gull:  1 on beach
Brent Goose:  55w   3E                                    Yellow Legged Gull: 1 on beach
Shelduck:  20w   65E                                        Mediterranean Gull:  4w  1E
Pintail:  6E                                                       Kittiwake: 10E
Wigeon:  13w   14E                                          Peregrine: 2 E
Teal:  2w                                                         Starling: 705 in
Common Scoter: 36w   33E
Red-breasted Merganser: 5w

Knot Littlestone beach
 A lunchtime walk along Littlestone golf course sea wall found c200 Sanderling, c150 Dunlin, 4 Knot, 8 Grey Plover, c200 Turnstone and a Black Redstart of note.
Superb male Hen Harrier. Picture taken in near dark moments before it dropped in to roost 
Most the afternoon was spent walking out from The Woolpack to fields by the wind mills. During this walk c14 Marsh Harriers were seen along with c2000 Golden Plover, c3000 Lapwing, 6 Snipe, 500+ Fieldfare and 10 Meadow Pipits. Getting back to the reed bed at c15.30  in the hope that some Harriers would roost there today. Waiting for the Harriers  to roost a Common Buzzard was seen, along with many more Golden Plover, Water Rail squealing and Bearded Tits pinging. Soon several Marsh Harriers were circling the reed bed being joined by a superb male Hen Harrier and huge female Peregrine that was as big as the Hen Harrier. Eventually 10 Marsh Harriers roosted as did the Hen Harrier which dropped in last at 16.18. 

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