Sanderlings

 Cloudy, mild, light airs - Having spent the past few days tramping across farmland seeing very little today was spent on the coast, where at least there was a bit more on offer. Goldeneye was the only duck of note with four at Lade, 12 on Burrowes, two on New Diggings and two on ARC. Also from Hanson hide I had brief views of a Bittern, several Marsh Harriers and a pair of Glossy Ibises that flew in for a wash and brush up for half an hour before returning to the fields to feed; the odd looking hybrid Mallard/Wigeon was also present. At Cockles Bridge seven Cattle and two Little Egrets noted, while the sea off the Patch was like a mill pond and yielded few birds apart from distant divers and grebes and 50 gulls over the boil. 

                                  Glossy Ibises and Cormorant, ARC

                                  Bittern and Marsh Harrier, ARC

   Sanderlings and Turnstones. Greatstone Beach

On the short high tide this afternoon a scan from the Tavern viewpoint delivered 200 Sanderlings and a scattering of Dunlins, Turnstones and Ringed Plovers; the larger waders having already departed for roost sites. The winter swans were reported from Walland Marsh today, as was the Scaup at Camber pits.

                                 Bird nest boxes ready to go up at Dungeness