Goosanders and Whitefronts

Another gloomy day with a biting easterly wind. A brisk walk up to the Willow Trail found dozens of Redwing, Fieldfare, Song Thrushes and Blackbirds under the bushes by the track and in the Willow Trail, also there a Woodcock again alerted to my presence by the thrushes, a Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, 2+ squealing Water Rails, 2 Cetti's Warblers and a party of Long Tailed Tits.
At the south end of New Diggings 8 red head Smew among c100 each of Tufted Duck and Pochard and a Great White Egret.
From the Fishing Boats 08.45-09.55
Red-throated Diver: 160+ off shore
Gannet: c100 E + offshore
Cormorant: c400E + offshore
Common Scoter: 26W   30E
Velvet Scoter: 4E
Red-breasted Merganser: 1 on sea
Kittiwake: c120 E
Auks: c 2000E +100s on sea  70/30 split in favour of Razorbills.

At the Varne Sailing Club Greatstone the 2 Snow Buntings in the car park. On the sands 100s of waders of 9 species and c40 Wigeon west.
At Scotney 1000s of Wigeon, the Barnacle Goose flock but little else of note.

15 0f the 28 Whitefronts that flew west over Dungeness RSPB

On the reserve 100s of Winter Thrushes, also 5 Goosanders from Dennis's hide and 6 Goldeneye. The bushes by the track to Scott hide held 2 Chiffchaff, New Excavation held 2 Great White Egrets with a Raven and 3 Marsh Harriers  over. On the way back to the VC a flock of 28 Greater White-fronted Geese flew west. At Boulderwall Farm 30+ Tree Sparrows round the feeders.
Out on Walland 100s more Winter Thrushes, 140+ Bewick Swans, 2 Whooper Swans, a Black Swan and a flock of c40 Corn Buntings near Midley. At the feeding station 20+ Tree Sparrows, 30+ Chaffinches, 10+ Greenfinches, 4 Yellowhammers and 2 Common Buzzards. The seed dump in Tickners Lane held another Common Buzzard, 6 Yellowhammers and 8 Corn Buntings. Another good day with 90 species recorded on the peninsular.