Funton (Kent), WeBS Count: Highlights included: Sparrowhawk (1 male), Little Egret (1), Marsh Harrier (2) and Avocet (267).

Grove Ferry (Kent): Marsh Harrier (2), Bearded Tit (heard) and Woodcock (1).

Snipe

Tufted Duck
Tufted Duck

Mute Swan

Welney (Norfolk): Bewick's Swan (6), Whooper Swan (70+), Goldeneye (1 male), Ruddy Duck (1 female), Black-tailed Godwit (400+) and Tree Sparrow (1)

Salthouse and Wells (Norfolk): Cold and overcast conditions gave way to brighter weather as we neared the North Norfolk coast at Salthouse where we enjoyed fantastic views of Snow Buntings (100+), often down to just several feet. At nearby Cley, we saw Avocet (20) and a single Ruff. We then headed to Wells (seeing three Barn Owls on route), where we enjoyed superb views of two more Barn Owls on posts next to the road and Brent Geese (500+) feeding in the field. At the fishing lake at the end of the coast road, we again saw the four Scaup that we also saw yesterday and yet another Barn Owl! Heavy rain and snow then set in as we returned to the house.

Barn Owl

Barn Owl
Barn Owl

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Turnstone

Flitcham Abbey, Titchwell and Wells (Norfolk): Popped into Flitcham Abbey, weather was overcast with light drizzle, birds of note included: Fieldfare (4), Stock Pigeon (4), Red-legged Partridge (2), Curlew (1), Teal and Gadwall. At Titchwell, the drizzle persisted for a short while and the visibility was quite poor. We enjoyed very close views of a feeding Water Rail near the main path and as we continued on: Marsh Harrier (1), Brent Geese (100), Spotted Redshank (1), Black-tailed Godwit (5), Avocet (10), Bar-tailed Godwit (5), Sanderling (5), Dunlins, Oystercatchers, Common Scoters (1000+) and Goldeneye (5). As we made our way back to the car, near the picnic sites, we enjoyed very close views of at least one Woodcock. After a spot of late lunch we continued along the coast to Wells to see the four reported Scaup (1 male, 1 first-winter male and 2 females), which we caught up with on the boating lake. On route, we managed to also see Pink-footed Geese (1000+) and six Barn Owls. On the way back to our Norfolk home, we made a short diversion to Choseley where we saw several thousand more Pink-footed Geese along with a single white-phase Snow Goose.

Woodcock

Woodcock
Water Rail

Goldfinch

Blackbird

Black-tailed Godwit

Brent Goose

Grove Ferry (Kent): We met Bob and Jeremy at Grove Ferry this morning and made our way round the reserve. The weather was quite dull and overcast, but we saw: Bullfinch (1 male, 2 females), Marsh Harrier (1), Bittern (1), Bearded Tit (heard), Sparrowhawk (1), Green Woodpecker (1), Water Pipit (1) and Little Egret (1).

Snipe

Gadwall

Dungeness (Kent): Left the Medway towns this morning in fog, arriving to pleasant and bright conditions on the Dungeness peninsular. As we wandered around the reserve, we saw: 4 male and 5 female Goosanders from Firth Hide (and 6 females at the ARC later), 4 female Smew, Little Egret (1), Peregrine (1), four Marsh Harriers, two Cetti's Warblers (heard), three Goldeneyes (1 male, 2 female), Barnacle Geese (23), female Ruddy Duck and a Black-necked Grebe.

Reed Bunting

Tufted Duck
Shoveler

Marsh Harrier

Great Tit

Carrion Crow

Goldeneye

Black-necked Grebe

Cliffe (Kent): A morning trip to Cliffe for a couple of hours. Shorelark (3), Sparrowhawk (1) and Great Northern Diver (1).