Went to Dungeness on Friday,had a scout round the fishing boats first,but didn`t locate the glaucous gull,then to RSPB reserve,which was fairly quiet just a bittern a snipe and a fine male marsh harrier were noteworthy.The ARC pits held a few more interesting ducks with 2 male and about a dozen female smew stealing the limelight,with a supporting cast of several goldeneye.Unfortunately the male smew stayed well away from the Hanson hide but several females were more obliging.
FEMALE SMEW
ANOTHER RED HEAD
MALE SMEW WITH TWO OF HIS HAREM OF FOUR
MALE SMEW ON THE WING,SPOOKED BY A MARSH HARRIER.
From here had another visit to Dr Syns churchyard ,where the northern long tailed tits were eventually found by Dave Walker,they spent a long time preening in a bramble patch before emerging and going along the hedge by the railway.
NORTHERN LONG TAILED TITS
There were also several greenfinches and goldfinches in the treetops as well as a pair of our own long tailed tits which appeared to be nest building.A grey squirrel was also present raiding the peanut feeder in the adjoining garden .
GRAVE SQUIRREL
Brilliant once again.
ReplyDeleteAlways interesting & informative.
D Gimber