To my surprise, the reservoir is still 80% frozen. Only the 15 Tufted Ducks swim out in the open patches, the Mallard, Gadwall & Teal preferring to lurk in the flooded willows where they cannot be counted accurately.
And my tripod fell to pieces as I was opening it. Read the rest of this entry »
Highlights at Castle Water early morning included a Bittern, four Smew (including two drakes together in front of the hide), a male Marsh Harrier and a Buzzard. In addition, another Bittern and two (redhead) Smew were on Long Pit, along with three male Goldeneye and a Red-throated Diver, while 65 Knot, six Grey Plover and a Red-breasted Merganser were on the Quarry at high tide.
Male Smew at Castle Water this morning
Started the day by driving to Scotney Pits, which paid off for a change , with a good selection of birds. Mainly in the form of wildfowl, with around 400/500 mixed Geese flocks, consisting of Barnacle 80, Emperor 10, Brent 40( 1pale bellied), 20 W.F.Geese, the rest of the numbers were made up with G.L.Geese and Canada Geese. Other choice sigthings, 7 Smew( 3adult drakes) 1 B.N.Grebe. Also of interest was seeing 5 Marsh Harriers seen flying from the marsh and heading west heading towards the sea. From there l went to the A.R.C pit, but the only birds of note was a drake Goosander and 2 Smew red caps. At Pett there is still 17 W.F.Geese and a Brent with a mixed flock of around 200 Grey Lag and Canada Geese. On the sea 20 R.T.Diver with only 50/60 G.C.Grebe. As it was high tide, for the first time this winter there was the best count of roosting Grey Plover with 40 at Winchelsea beach end. A sub adult male Marsh Harrier was haunting over the marsh, and making the marsh come alive, but unfortuantly it was not only a Harrier putting the birds up l missed a Red Kite in the frenzy. Good bird watching Pete.