White-fronted Geese

 Lade - cold, dry and sunny, light airs - For most of this week the weather has been wet and windy and while we`ve been out around the local patch daily there has been little to report. However, a cold front moved in overnight delivering more settled conditions with a widespread frost and bright sunshine much more conducive to being in the field. A circuit of the patch was notable for a Kingfisher zipping around the willow swamp, five Goldeneyes on the lakes, calling Water Rails, three Marsh Harriers working the back reedbed and two Ravens over calling. Yet again there were few waders on the bay apart from the usual hundreds of Oystercatchers and Curlews.

                                  Spring was in the air for this pair of Woodpigeons today!

                                 

I had to go into town today and on the way home jammed in on a large goose flock in a field close to the Dungeness road opposite the riding stables near Cockles Bridge. Fortunately there was a lay-bye nearby and by using the car as a hide afforded good views of the flock that comprised 210 White-fronted Geese, 150 Greylags and two Egyptian Geese, plus three Little Egrets in an adjacent field.

                                 White-fronted Geese near Cockles Bridge

Elsewhere this week local wintering birds included an Iceland Gull at the Patch; Black-throated Diver on ARC/New Diggings; Glossy Ibis, Boulderwall fields; and a Long-tailed Duck at Scotney.