Wet, wet, wet

Dungeness RSPB - light rain, followed by patchy rain, then heavy rain, low cloud, e2 - n4, cold - After 2 days up in London it was good to get out and about around the Peninsula this morning, despite the rain and cold, strengthening wind. From the causeway road a flock of 6 Smews and 8 Goldeneyes on New Diggings, plus the GWEgret. Over the road on ARC another 2 redheads plus a report of the wintering Long-tailed Duck. The willow trail delivered 2 Chiffchaffs, 4 Long-tailed Tits and a Goldcrest. All the usual wildfowl in front of Hanson and Screen hides plus a flyover Bittern. At Boulderwall 20 Tree Sparrows around the cottage, 15 Curlews on the fields and a couple of bedraggled Marsh Harriers on the wing.

                                          Smews, New Diggings

                                          Snow Geese, Scotney

Scotney - The highlight here was a flock of 31 Snow Geese, (3 of which were blue morphs) feeding amongst the cattle following their long transatlantic flight...
Dungeness  - A 30 minute seawatch from the boats delivered a steady flow of Gannets, Kitts and Red-throated Divers, plus 150 Brents and 3 Red-breasted Mergansers east. The 2nd winter Glaucous Gull also put in an appearance.