Goosanders

New Diggings - 0900hrs - cold, grey, light airs - Quite often this large, open aspect road-side lake is sparsely populated, but not so this morning with light winds affording a decent selection of birds across the water. A couple of hundred large gulls made up the bulk numbers followed by Tufted Duck, Coot, Gadwall, Pochard, Goldeneye and Shoveler, while the quality came in the form of four Goosanders, one of which was a stunning drake, arguably our most handsome wintering duck. At least 30 Great Crested Grebes included a head-shaking, displaying pair still in partial breeding plumage. Around the margins were two each of Great White and Little Egrets and a Kingfisher zipped over the western end.

                                Goosanders, New Diggings

Pigwell - Decided to check out the lakes behind Lydd for a change, but only small numbers of diving ducks were present. The rough ground and damp fields did however produce three Snipe, six Corn Buntings and a Stonechat, while distant fields held hundreds of corvids, Woodpigeons and two Marsh Harriers.
Called in at Dengemarsh Road where the two Cattle Egrets were still in the field opposite Wraxalls stone yard.