New year New list Jan 1st 2015

I tried to leave home at dawn only to be held up by a puncture. What a start to the year. So dogs walked around the roads, spare fitted I set off at 10.30am.  Stopping off at Pett Pools for a quick look for the Yellow Legs but no joy - a lot of shooting over the pools yesterday probably sent it on its way.

Stopping off at Scotney I soon found the 2 Black-necked Grebes and the 1st winter drake Scaup.



Drake Scaup

 Next stop was at Denge Marsh for the 2 Cattle Egrets - both were seen but one was more on show.

Cattle Egret

On the reserve from Dennis's Hide 1Great White Egret, 1Little Egret, 2 Redhead Smew, 2 Gooseander, 3 female Goldeneye, loads of Shoveler and Tufties.
At Hanson Hide apart from a couple of Marsh Harriers, Shellducks and Comorants it was birdless until a Chiffchaff appeared and a couple of Kingfishers.



Kingfisher


On the way home I stopped off on Walland Marsh finding the herd of Bewick Swans and single Whooper Swan plus one of the 3 Bean Geese reported earlier. Further along the road I added kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Fieldfare, and Pheasant to my new list.

 



Bewick and 1 Whooper Swan