Brent Geese

Dungeness - mild, cloudy, sw 4 - With Storm Dennis forecast to reach a full head of steam tomorrow we spent the morning on the peninsula. Offshore, however, the wind was already picking up, although the temperatures remain well into double figures due to the airflow originating from the Caribbean. Apart from several small flocks of Brent Geese passing east and distant Gannets there wasn't a great deal of movement, while large numbers of gulls continue to forage the strandline for remnant bivalve molluscs washed up from last weekend`s storm.
  The wooden seawatch hide has now been bolted securely onto its concrete pad and, fingers crossed, it should survive tomorrows blow even though its on the edge of the shingle bank, as thankfully the tides aren't as high as earlier in the week. The Patch hide is faring slightly better as the diggers have ramped up more shingle in front of it.

                                Seawatch hide

                                Patch hide

 

                                Moorhen under the feeders

  The bird reserve was looking pretty windswept by midday, but the Boulderwall fields still attracted the regular winter visitors including the drake Smew on Tanner`s pool and at least two Ruffs amongst the plover flock. The bird feeders at the car park were busy with tits and finches, but no sign of any Tree Sparrows. Two Water Pipits were noted on the hayfield behind Christmas Dell hide this morning (PB).
  An afternoon visit to Lade pits yielded very little as most of the wildfowl and grebes were taking shelter in the willow swamp out of the wind and rain.