Brent Geese

Dungeness - 0800hrs - mild, showery, sw 5 - A 90 minute seawatch from the hide produced 142 Brents and 25 Common Scoters up-Channel, plus single figures of Red-throated Diver, auks and Kittiwakes feeding off shore and a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers west. A steady flow of gulls headed towards the Patch where there were at least 25 Little Gulls and two Meds.
On the way out we checked from the fishing boats where the 1st winter Glaucous Gull was still present.

                                Brent Geese, Dungeness

                                Tufted Duck, Burrowes

Scotney - 1015hrs - Had a run out with MH this morning. We arrived at the pit during a heavy shower, but could find no sign of the Long-tailed Duck, although a pair of Egyptian Geese were in the field by the farm.
RSPB - The fields between Boulderwall and Cockles Bridge were checked for the ibis, but all we could see were feral geese, Curlews, Wigeon, Grey Herons, Lapwings and gulls. At Dengemarsh a lone Brent was briefly amongst the Greylags and six Shelducks, while on Burrowes three Goldeneye and Smew were amongst diminishing numbers of ducks and a Kingfisher was heard from Dennis`s hide. ARC held the usual wildfowl including eight Goldeneye and a Smew, plus stunning views of a Peregrine; Great White Egret, Chiffchaff and Marsh Harrier also noted here.
Lade - The Slavonian Grebe was still present on north lake along with a pair of Goldeneye, 50 Wigeon and all the usual common ducks.