Gulls, sawbills & egrets

Dungeness RSPB - 0930hrs - mild, cloudy, sw 2 - Spent most of the morning at the bird reserve, some of which was in a meeting, on a balmy day when temperatures touched 14C by early afternoon.
Although wildfowl numbers were low on Burrowes they did included three redhead Smew, 20 Pintail, Goldeneye and a flock of five Goosanders, presumably the birds from New Diggings. Across the site at least six Great White and four Little Egrets noted, plus the usual Marsh Harriers, Kestrel, Green Woodpecker and the like. In Dennis`s hide DW located a colour-ringed/numbered 3rd winter Caspian Gull amongst the Black-backs and Herring Gulls, plus an adult Yellow-legged Gull.

                                3rd winter Caspian Gull, Burrowes

                               Adult Yellow-legged Gull, Burrowes

Lydd - A circuit of the town produced the two semi-resident Cattle Egrets in Dengemarsh Road and the swan flock in the fields from Swamp Lane that included 20 plus Bewick`s and a Whooper Swan.
Scotney - Stopped off briefly at the Sussex end where the immature drake Scaup and two Black-necked Grebes showed well.
Littlestone - Just before lights out we checked the beach from the Varne where only five species of shorebirds were noted due to the tide being out, but did include 11 Grey Plovers.

                                Its a dogs life...

I`ve had a few enquires of late asking about the well being of a certain Border Terrier called Barney. Well, as you can see from the pic above he`s having a tough time of things, its nothing to do with me either, if I had my way he`d be outside in the kennel... Mrs PT on the other hand insists on spoiling him, just because he`s got a dodgy front paw, but if you ask me I reckon he`s milking it...