Thursday 16 November 2017

Goring, 16th November 2017

Highlights this morning included a juvenile Red-throated Diver on the sea, 11 Common Scoters, two Kittiwakes, five Mediterranean Gulls, a Little Egret, a Chiffchaff, a redpoll, two Stonechats, 39 Red-breasted Mergansers, nine Razorbills, five Guillemots, 45 Great Crested Grebes, 12 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 15 Gannets, an Oystercatcher, 48 Ringed Plovers, 82 Dunlins, nine Sanderlings, nine Turnstones, 13 Great Black-backed Gulls, two Goldcrests and five Skylarks.

The scoters involved a flock of nine which headed west and a pair on the sea, where for the first time I saw for myself scoters living up to their name, the male displaying my scooting a couple of feet across the surface of the sea then cocking his head. It was nice to meet local birder Nick B and I appreciated his lift back home!

wader slumber party: Sanderling, Ringed Plover and Dunlin
the lonely Dark-bellied Brent remains...
Great Black-backed Gulls joined the loafing squad today
the male of a Stonechat pair - hopefully a Dartford will join them soon