Firecrests

Dungeness - 0900hrs - dull, wet, rain, n2 - A typical grim December day with low cloud and rain coming and going throughout, but it did brighten up this afternoon.We wandered across the beach towards the fishing boats searching for passerines along the way, of which there were none, although DW had a fly over Snow Bunting this morning. A brief seawatch yielded single figures of Gannet, Kittiwake, Red-throated diver, Kittiwake and Brent Goose, all moving up-Channel. On the sea 20 Great Crested Grebes and three Guillemots.
RSPB - From the causeway road a Great White Egret on New Diggings, plus two Goldeneyes amongst the ducks, and a couple of hundred Gadwall on ARC. Burrowes held another four GWEgrets (also singles at Boulderwall and ARC, making seven in total), 23 Pintails, five Goldeneyes and a flyover Redshank, plus a redhead Smew and two Shelducks from the Screen hide on ARC.
However, if there is one little bird that is guaranteed to brighten up a grotty winters day then it has be the Firecrest. A tit flock near Dennis`s hide attracted one, while in the scrub by Tower Pits a much larger mixed passerine flock held another, plus three Chiffchaffs and 15 Long-tailed Tits.
The two Cattle Egrets were still in the field opposite Wraxalls stone yard in Dengemarsh Road, Lydd (PB).

                                Great White Egrets, Burrowes

Lade - Checked out the Magpie roost just before dusk but numbers were difficult to count due to the strong east wind that had picked up during the afternoon. At least 30 birds came in, but low and fast to avoid any buffeting from the blow, plus five Little Egrets and a few Blackbirds.