Warm, dry and sunny, W3 - A glorious day to be out and about in the field for the monthly WeBS and harrier counts. We spent most of the morning at Kerton quarry and Lade pits counting wildfowl, of which there were very few, as is typical this time of year, and where no species reached three figures; a lone redhead Goldeneye on south lake and at least six Water Rails calling from the willow swamp were the only noteworthy birds. On north lake a 300 strong gull flock comprised roughly equal numbers of Black-headed and Common Gulls, plus 10 Mediterranean Gulls. On the bird reserve the Red-throated Diver and Slavonian Grebe remained on Burrowes, along with two Black-necked Grebes, while at least 10 Cattle Egrets were in a horse paddock set back from the airport road. It was a sorry old sight in the Dungeness RSPB car park where a coach load of birders from Watford were peering through the door into the temporarily closed visitor centre. I explained to some of them that the shop would be permanently closed early next year, along with others across the country, unsurprisingly, it was not well received...
This afternoon I joined Chris P for the harrier count on Walland Marsh where 17 Marsh Harriers came to roost. A pair of Whooper Swans and a Bewick`s Swan disturbed by shooters at the fishing lakes took flight along with a vocal, mixed flock of 500 Greylags and Canada Geese with at least four White-fronts. Also noted several large murmurations of Starlings heading for the bird reserve, hundreds of Lapwings, six Cattle Egrets, seven Great Whites and five Little Egrets at roost, eight Corn Buntings, 10 Fieldfares, four Kestrels and a Common Buzzard.
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