American Wigeon

'but you see sir. My medium is light....'

' Good point. Tell you what, we'll put up a couple of flares: You'll be lit up like a Christmas tree!'

Another overcast and showery day that progressively became duller during the afternoon. I didn't have any flares which was just as well as they would have flushed the smart drake American Wigeon that had been found at Scotney late morning. Around midday the light conditions were not too bad but quickly deteriorated as heavy showers came in from the south west. The American Wigeon was initially found in Kent in the bay near to Scotney Farm track but gradually moved down the pit and ended up in the late afternoon at the East Sussex end of the pit and always part of a large flock of Eurasian Wigeon. 

Part of the large flock of several thousand Lapwing behind Scotney near the location of the proposed South Brooks solar farm. 

10 points if you correctly identified that the two opening sentences are from Black Adder Goes Fourth.

Grey Day, Grey Geese

After a morning seawatch, a check on Walland Marsh for the flock of seven grey geese (possibly/probably Bean Geese, possibly with Pink-feet) that Neil Burt found late afternoon on the 1st Feb in dull and drizzly conditions. Never close in the Ashentree Lane area but the flock of seven were still at the same location and still distant from Cutter's Bridge. Initial identification of all Bean Geese was later changed to three Pink-footed Geese and four Tundra Bean Geese. Well done Neil. 

View from Cutter's Bridge. Three Pink-footed Geese (left) and four Tundra Bean Geese (right)

After the goose flock disappeared from Ashentree, Martin re-located them at the Beaconsfield/Hook Wall area, and they were closer. Thanks for the call Martin.

Three Pink-footed Geese with Greylags (foreground)

Four Tundra Been Geese with the three Pink-feet at the back

Greater White-fronted Goose (left) and four Tundra Been Geese

Single Tundra Been Goose (foreground) and three Pink-footed Geese