Magpies

Dungeness - 0800hrs - cold, cloudy, sw 3, then nw 4 rain - Joined PB for just under the hour for a look at the sea from the boats where the expected trickle of Gannets and Kittiwakes were joined by a few auks, Red-throated Divers, Common Scoters and 50ish Great Crested Grebes on the sea. On the move west were 18 Brents, 15 Wigeon, 15 Dunlin, 2 Teal and a Mallard. And then the rain arrived...
Scotney - All the usual Wigeon, Goldies, Lapwings, feral geese on the grass, while the Long-tailed Duck looked settled in for the duration on the lake. On the way home a Great White Egret flew over the causeway road heading for the reserve.
Lade - With the rain band passing over by mid-afternoon we checked the pits where yesterdays 2 Goldeneyes remained on north lake and a couple of Marsh Harriers hunted over the farmland towards the airport. Chiffchaff, Cetti`s Warbler, Water Rail and Long-tailed Tits were all heard in the willow swamp. In fading light we hung around to see if anything came to roost and indeed 3 Little Egrets flew in along with 26 Magpies plus a few Blackbirds, Song Thrushes and Woodpigeons.