We spent the morning in and around the Dungeness area today, firstly, travelling the roads of Walland Marsh where we soon found the two Tundra Bean Geese in the company of some Bewick's swans. As we watched the geese a herd of nineteen Bewick's Swans flew in, another first for the new year. We continued driving the narrow roads and found a large flock of birds feeding on the stubble fields. Looking closer through the flock we realised it was mainly Tree Sparrows and Yellowhammers with much smaller numbers of Linnet and Reed Bunting. To our surprise, Tree Sparrows were far and away the most numerous with well over a hundred birds! A Merlin was flushed from its roadside tree as we drove past and Brian added Green Woodpecker to his year list and I managed to add Stock Dove and Mistle Thrush to mine.
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| Tundra Bean geese with Bewick's Swans |
A brief seawatch produced a steady stream of Red-throated Divers and Guillemots passed the hide, and we managed to see a group of four Razorbills.
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| View from the sea-watching hide |
As we drove away from Dungeness, we spotted a single cattle Egret in a small sheep enclosure off Dungeness Road.
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| Cattle Egret |
We finished the day at Oare Marshes, where the reported Spoonbill was still asleep on an island on East Flood and was soon joined by a second bird. A Kingfisher was another new addition to the year list when it flew straight in front of us along the channel by the roadside. A Bittern was seen as it flew from the reedbed north of East Flood, crossed the road, and dropped into the reeds on the west side. A Great White Egret was also on East Flood along with Large numbers of Avocet, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, and smaller numbers of Redshank.
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| Sleeping Spoonbill |
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| 2nd Spoonbill flying in |
A pleasant but bitterly cold day's birding, which thankfully remained dry throughout the day.
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