Weekly summary

Lade -cold, dry and sunny, light airs - A stunning morning with bright sunshine throughout and plenty to see on the local patch. A single Long-tailed Duck remained on south lake among a range of wildfowl including nine Goldeneye, 150 Shoveler and 20 Wigeon, plus two redhead Goosander that touched down for ten minutes before heading back towards the bird reserve. The Slavonian Grebe, however, was not seen but could still be lurking in the reeds somewhere across the site. Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker were all noted, while the wintering Dartford Warbler briefly popped up atop the gorse scrub by the tunnel. Walking back along the beach numerous dogfish, sea mice and cockles were washed up from the recent stormy weather and six species of shorebirds were noted on the sands.

                               Common Gull, Lade sands

  Elsewhere today, the wintering Smew and Black-throated Diver were reported from the bird reserve and two Bean Geese were seen at Scotney among the Greylags. On Walland Marsh 42  Bewick`s Swans were counted earlier in the week near Cheyne Court, but not viewable from roads, with 30 odd flying in to roost on ARC pit at dusk most evenings. White-fronted Geese have also been mobile between the Dengemarsh and Scotney area and a Glaucous Gull has been coming and going on Burrowes. The wintering Long-eared Owl/s have not obliged this week.