Everywhere 17/2/11

Well, i started the day off at Splash Point where very little was moving, the only number of note were 323 Brent Geese.
Rackham Woods was cold so not much of note, just 10 each of Redpoll and Siskin.
At a couple of West Sussex Commons Woodlarks were in display and a female Crossbill flew over.
Woodlark in West Sussex.

The news then came through on the pager about the Slaty-backed Gull at Rainham so i had a mad dash up there, got there in good time, a bit of a job and brisk walk, and then two minutes away from the crowd the bird had apparantly flown to the tip. I waited around and within 20 minutes the SLATY-BACKED GULL was picked up again out on the marsh.

Slaty-backed at Rainham Marshes

On the way home i popped into Ashdown Forest and in the valley south of Long Car Park the Great Grey Shrike put on a good performance. Also 2 ringtail Hen Harriers and a couple of Redpolls showed well.

Great Grey Shrike and Hen Harrier on Ashdown.