Starlings in the sun

Dungeness - cold, sunny, E 4 - We joined PB at the Patch first thing where the dark 1st winter Glaucous Gull was loafing on the beach amongst a loose flock of gulls. There was little else of note apart from a brown Merlin along the beach, plus a few auks and distant Gannets offshore. Called in at the bird reserve where the Black-throated Diver was still on Burrowes. The usual Smew and Slavonian Grebe were also present, although the grebe had moved to New Diggings (PB).

                                Sunshine Starling

  There was no change at Lade where the wintering pair of Long-tailed Ducks remained on south lake. At home the Starlings were enjoying the winter sunshine, cackling away to one another and sporting their finery.