WILD GOOSE CHASE

With reports of a RED BREASTED GOOSE amongst the hundreds of Brent Geese at South Swale,I was tempted to leave Samphire Hoe early and head off,I gave in to that temptation at about half two and arrived at The Sportsman Pub about 45 mins later.The walk along the sea wall was in to the wind and fairly hard work ,I checked the first flock of Brents near the pub with no luck,so moved on, joined by Marc Heath on the way,we eventually found the bird near Castle Coote,Martin Wilson was already there to guide us in.
First sighting was quite distant,but eventually it came a bit closer

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

CLOSER

The red breated goose breeds in small colonies on arctic tundra and migrates to eastern europe in winter notably the Danube delta,and small numbers join in with migrant brents each year and end up in western europe.

 

It was well worth the effort to see this unusual visitor and looking at todays weather glad I did it yesterday,I hope the other half dozen birders walking out that I met got there before the light went.
On monday there were still half a dozen Ring Ouzels at Langdon Hole

RING OUZEL at LANGDON HOLE.