DUCKS, ANGUS, AND WAXWING WEDNESDAY

Its duck time, this pair of Mandarin Ducks appeared in Bushy Ruff,The drake is still coming out of eclipse so is not quite as grand as he will be soon,originall from China but now established as a breeding bird here.

MANDARIN DRAKE, not in full breeding plumage but getting there.

The female is less gaudy but still lovely plumage.

GUILLEMOT Conducting the aukestra at Samphire hoe.Don`t blame me blame Paul Holt.

THE SNOW BUNTINGS remained at South Foreland for at least two weeks.

RING NECKED DUCK AT DUNGENESS an American diving duck that occurs annually in the UK,similar to our Tufted Duck.

GOLDENEYE these two females also at Dungeness

They are also a diving duck

A FLIGHT OF WIGEON

 GADWALL DRAKE

AN INTERESTING FUNGII AT DUNGENESS Can`t find it in my book?

 RECORD SHOT OF CATTLE EGRET AT DUNGENESS

 WHOOPER SWAN AT WEST HYTHE

 DELFT SEAWAYS NEARING PORT

 WHITE CLIFFS OF DOVER FROM ADMIRALTY PIER

 A SHOWER AT DUNGENESS

PIED WAGTAIL ON THE PIER

JUVENILE SHAG IN THE WELLINGTON DOCK,this one is not ringed but previously birds ringed in Scotland have turned up here.

Storm Angus last weekend nearly ended in disaster when the SAGA SKY lost power and drifted onto the rock barge anchored off Samphire Hoe if the barge had not been there who knows where it would have ended up.

SAGA SKY with substantial damage on her starboard side.
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Reports of Waxwings arriving is always exciting and news of 5 at PEGWELL COUNTRY PARK  got the trigger finger twitching.

Hopefully there will be more to come so keep an eye out for them wherever there are lots of red berries.

I will say bye for now with a big wave

WINTER DRAWS ON

Since my last blog,the last of the summer birds have departed to be replaced by our winter visitors.
Last Saturday morning was pretty foggy on the cliffs first thing and there was not much to report to Wildlife Migration Day HQ at Samphire Hoe,then as I neared the South Foreland Lighthouse a pair of Shorelarks were seen feeding on the cliff path,these lovely little birds can be quite approachable and these two were no exception,luckily the sun poked through the mist at the same time.

 SHORE LARKS AT SOUTH FORELAND LIGHTHOUSE.

SHORELARK aka HORNED LARK,this one showed off the horns quite well.

WATER RAIL AT OARE

RUFF

LITTLE STINT

BLACK TAILED GODWIT

SPOONBILL ON THE EAST FLOOD AT OARE

REDSHANK

GOLDEN PLOVER and LAPWING

1000s of DUNLIN and KNOT take to the air when danger threatens.

Back to the cliffs on Wednesday and the highlight was a superb male Snow Bunting on the path near the cliff edge.

SNOW BUNTING-male.

One of the Shorelarks remains near the lighthouse but appears to be sick or injured as it doesn`t stand just sits on its belly,it is feeding ok and can fly so hopefully it will recover.

FIELDFARES in the air STODMARSH  are a spectacular sight when they go to roost at dusk.

FIELDFARE IN THE BUSH

FIVE SNOW BUNTINGS ON THE CLIFF PATH ON THURSDAY MORNING.

FEMALE OF THE SPECIES.

GUILLEMOT IN DOVER HARBOUR SEEN FROM THE ADMIRALTY PIER.

Several Little Auks have been reported around the Kent coast this week,they are like a miniature guillemot,but the one at Hythe on Thursday eluded me,but the first Purple Sandpiper of the winter was seen on the stone groyne Stade St.

PURPLE SANDPIPER.
A few new moths to end with,the MERVEILLE DU JOUR below is a lovely moth  with a lovely name to match.

MERVEILLE DU JOUR-MARVEL OF THE DAY.

FEATHERED THORN

GREEN BRINDLED CRESCENT

 ALKHAM VALLEY SUNSET

HALLOWEEN MARROW.

STODMARSH STARLING MURMURATION.Hopefully numbers will build up soon.