Friday 25 November 2016

07.50-08.50 from the fishing boats with OL, fairly quiet in a cold NE 6-7
All up channel unless stated otherwise:

Brent Goose:           22
Shelduck:                  6
Wigeon:                  21
Common Scoter:    31
R.B.Merganser:       2
G.C.Grebe:            17 around
Fulmar:                    2
Gannet:                  54
Cormorant:         c350 around
B.H Gull:            present n/c
Mediterranean Gull:3
Common Gull:     present n/c
L.B.B.Gull:           present n/c
G.B.B.Gull:          present n/c
Kittiwake:             27
Guillemot:              4 around
Auk: sp:                46 down channel
Stock Dove:          18 in
Starling:                40 in
Linnet:                   17 over
Goldfinch:             10 over
A quick stop at Boulderwall saw the Ring-necked Duck still on Cooks Pool, the Cattle Egret in the distance with the cattle, 2 Great White Egrets in the ditches and the usual wildfowl.
 Bewick Swans on Denge Marsh
A walk around the hay fields saw a few Reed Buntings, Chaffinches and Linnets feeding in  the Sunflower field. On Denge Marsh 2 Bewick Swans (4 more on the ARC per M Hook) and the usual wildfowl. The Sunflower field at the back held 300+ Stock Doves, c100 Linnets, many Starlings and a few Meadow Pipits and Skylarks, all attracting the attention of a Common Buzzard, Kestrel and a couple of Marsh Harriers.
As the ranges were open again I drove to Jury's Gap, clambered over the sea wall and rocks and walked the sea wall. Considering the habitat there were very few birds there, just 24 Wigeon, 2 Shelduck, 2 Mallard, 2 Mute Swans and 7 Redshank were the combined total for the 3 sets of pools.
The rough ground had 2 Marsh Harriers and a Common Buzzard all of which soon drifted off towards Scotney. In the sueda 2 Reed Buntings, a Wren and Common Stonechat. 
Scotney had all the usual feral Geese and wild Duck and little else.
Another hour on the beach this afternoon saw nothing of note in the still strong NE wind, I tried tempting the Gulls with loaves of bread to no avail.
 Pheasant in the middle of Burrowes
Back on the reserve from on Burrowes a Drake Goosander, also a drake Red-breasted Merganser which is more unusual, 3+ Goldeneye and the usual dabblers. The Gull roost attracted an adult and a 1w Caspian Gull though most were flushed at dusk when a Pheasant flew across from Firth landing on one of the islands, it was still there as dark fell. The Long-eared Owl was still behind the Dipping Pool today.  

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