Winter thrushes

Dungeness - mild and dreary start, brighter later - A brief scan of ARC from the road revealed six Goosanders on the lake and two Smews on New Diggings, while the Ring-necked Duck remained on Cook`s pool, Boulderwall. We walked the foreshore from the lifeboat station to the fishing boats where the only bird of note was a 1st winter Caspian Gull on the shingle behind the Fish Hut. Offshore two flocks of Brent Geese totalling 100 passed up-Channel. Whilst at the boats chatting to PB and SO news came through of a Red-necked Grebe at Scotney on the pit behind the caravan park, but was a no show by the time we arrived.

                               1st winter Caspian Gull, Dungeness

Walland Marsh - On the way back from Rye this afternoon we crossed the Marsh where the hedgerows along the back lane to Lydd were alive with hundreds of Redwings and Fieldfares, the most I`ve seen so far this winter. The usual Tree Sparrows and finches were on the Midley feeders and several Buzzards were noted sat in fields, including a distinctive pale individual. I couldn't make out the Bewick`s Swans at Horses Bones Farm, although the low sunlight made for difficult viewing.