Pett Marsh
1st February 2010, MondaySunday 31st January 2010. The morning started at 8am, cold and frosty, with the marshes muddy footpaths frozen, I decided to go hunting for the Great Grey Shrike,and after about an hour waiting, the bird perched itself on the top of a large bramble bush. And while l was waiting, leaning on the gate with what looked like a normal field in front of me a male Kestrel decided to start hunting the field which in turn put a very large wisp of Snipe up, around 150 birds shooting up from a water meadow, which was not frozen, which was very surprizing because most of the other bodies of water, were frozen solid, a part from the pools. At the pools, the ducks were much the same in number and in species, the only difference being in the numbers of diving ducks, 30 Tufted Duck, but only 10 Pochard, the main inprovement came on the sea with 1Drake Velvet Scoter and a short time afterward 60/80 Common Scoter all heading east. The numbers of G.C.Grebe on the sea, have gone right up with 600/800,which might well be an under statement? On the marsh there were good numbers of the normal waders, with addition of 10 Ruff and 3 Green Sandpippers with the latter being on the R.M.C. Also seen Barn Owl, Marsh Harrier.Tuesday 1st Feb In the afternoon for a couple of hour, on the marsh 15 Brent ( with 37 east in the bay),10 W.F.Geese, 600/800 Wigeon, 3 Pintail, 200 Teal,80 Shoveler, 40 Gadwall, 9 Pochard, 28 Tufted Duck. Good bird watching Pete.