Bewick Bonanza

Today was the last day of our north Kent winter bird surveys and it finished with some quality birds,
first up was a herd of 16 Bewick's Swans at our starting point.
These were our second group of the winter and no doubt returning birds having probably been brought down by the gloomy and misty conditions.

14 of the 16 birds

I phone-scoped

Continuing on it was then becoming obvious that there was some movement happening as amongst the regular Wigeon flocks both Gadwall and Pintail were noted in numbers, with Pintail being the first record of the winter here for me.

The high tide had pushed many of the waders off, but still managed all the commoner species with Ringed plover added and a total of 33 Avocet seen Egypt bay, another first for the site for me and were probably part of the tilbury/mucking birds relocating.

The river held a single female Common Scoter and a steady trickle of Brent's moving east.

Seven adult Gannet's headed up-river, and Mo picked up another four and a drake merganser.

Raptors were represented with the regular Marsh Harrier's, Peregrine pair, Kestrel and a very smart immature Merlin.

A quick look into my neglected patch at Barking on the way home and I was rewarded with a single Avocet here alongside both Oystercatcher and Ringed plover all being year ticks.

patch Avocet.