Scotney - mild, sunny, SW2 - Perfect weather conditions then for a trek out back where there was plenty to see, particularly around the wetlands, with thousands of Lapwings (c3,000) and Golden Plovers (c1,500) swirling overhead providing a fine spectacle along with hundreds of Starlings and feral geese. The lakes were packed out with ducks with Pochard, Teal, Shoveler and Wigeon in the hundreds (I`m glad this isn`t my WeBS site!), while the wintering Black-necked Grebe was still at the Sussex end. Also on the lakeside swards were several Curlews, Redshanks, Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits. Birds were fewer and far between on the farmland section out towards the wind farm where the highlights were two flocks of Corn Buntings totalling 25 birds (several in song), 12 Tree Sparrows, 19 Brents, 23 Bewick`s Swans and a cracking grey ghost Hen Harrier. Other sundries included: two Common Buzzards, two Marsh Harriers, a Kestrel, a Merlin, a Raven, two Stonechats, 20 Stock Doves, a Cape Shelduck and a scattering of Fieldfares, Blackbirds, Skylarks, Goldfinches and Linnets. In summary a fine morning`s birding, and one very tired Ted at the end of it all!
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