Highlights today included a male Marsh Harrier over Narrow Pits early afternoon, 95 Sanderling, 30 Grey Plover and 27 Turnstone on the shore early morning and 83 Curlew and 54 Golden Plover in flight over the Beach Reserve at dusk.
The tide was almost high and the sea was choppy but not rough like it has been in the past few days, the marsh was looking more like a marsh with more surface water about, also the pools were looking much better in the water levels. There was a good selection of surface feeding ducks with 50 Mallard, 20 Gadwall, 30 Shoveler, 80 Wigeon, 100 Teal the only diving duck l saw was 1 Common Scoter onthe sea. Waders seen were 1200 Lapwing, 150/200 Curlew, 6 Redshank, 20 Snipe, 1 Green Sand and 50 Oystercatcher west. Birds of prey were in good supply as well with 2 Marsh Harriers ( 1 male, 1 cream head) 1 Merlin, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrow Hawk. Other birds of interest were 2 Rock Pipits. Good bird watching Pete.
A great northern diver flew in and landed on the ARC pit in front of the hide this afternoon, shortly followed by two penduline tits. The great white egret is still at Denge marsh, where a bittern was also seen today. A male goosander was on Burrowes pit this morning along with some goldeneye.