White-fronted Geese

Lade - mild, dry sunny, sw 2 - 0800hrs - Nothing much to report on the local patch apart from two Great White Egrets and Goldeneyes up to 12 in number, including three drakes, plus the usual wildfowl and Marsh Harriers.

                                White-fronted Geese, Burrowes

RSPB - 1000hrs - On the way up the access road the expected Tree Sparrows were active on the Boulderwall feeders while the drake Ring-necked Duck was asleep on Cook`s Pool amongst the Tufted Ducks and Coots. Opposite the Dipping Pond the two Long-eared Owls showed well roosting close together in the willows. On Burrowes the surprise package was a flock of 43 White-fronted Geese on the islands in front of Makepeace hide, before they eventually flew off in the direction of Lydd. I could find no sawbills on the lake, or elsewhere around the reserve, but did count 10 Goldeneyes, two Pintails, 500 Lapwings, two Snipe and a Water Rail from Scott hide. A male Peregrine flushed the Lapwings and gulls, while Chiffchaff, Cetti`s Warbler, Bearded Tits, Great White Egret, Raven, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Stonechat and Green Woodpecker were all noted around the trail. There were few birds on ARC.
  At Kerton Road the Eastern Stonechat was still frequenting the broom scrub on the western side of the quarry about 200yds from the entrance. Elsewhere today, the Taiga Bean Geese remained at Pett Level, 55 Bewick`s Swans were at Horses Bones Farm near Lydd, but there was negative news on the Camber Red-necked Grebe.