Black-necked Grebe

The six Pink-footed Goose were back on Boulderwall Fields this morning and later re-located with a Greylag flock to Lydd Fields viewable from Dengemarsh Road. A glorious blue sky day with a light northerly breeze made photography tricky. Still plenty of displaying Goldeneye on Burrowes and New Diggings and the long staying Long-tailed Duck still on New Diggings. A single Water Pipit was feeding on Hayfield 2 and Richard found a Black-necked Grebe on Dengemarsh where a female Pintail was also present. Lapwing numbers appear to be building with a count of 1,114 across the reserve today.

Water Pipit

Water Pipit

Pintail (female)

Pintail is an annual visitor to the reserve but usually in low numbers.

Black-necked Grebe

Bleck-necked Grebe

Dungeness RSPB and Scotney Sand Pit

I'd only just got home from a survey at Hythe when Martin called to inform me that Owen had found a pair of Bean Geese near Scotney Sand Pit, so it was back out the door. A beautiful bright blue sky day with early morning temperatures of -4°C. The Bean Geese were of the Tundra form and with c.100 Greylags.

Tundra Bean Geese with Greylags

Tundra Bean Geese with Greylags

Back on the 9th I located a couple of Water Pipits on Hayfield 2 and showing well on the edge of the short grass. Colin and Sue then found a third and another was on Cook's Pool on the 10th, so they have finally arrived for the winter.

Water Pipit

Water Pipit