news for yday: a trip eastwards looking for gulls was rather dissapointing in the fact there werent really any to look through. best of the rest was stuff we already knew about. scotney held slav grebe, black necked grebe (kent side), 11 smew (a flock with 2 drakes), marsh harrier and 62 whitefronts. marsh harriers were also seen at pett, icklesham and rye(2) where there was also a ringtail hen harrier. the day ended with 3 goosanders (1 drake) and 2 ad med gulls at arlington. typically, the day i dont go to the marina dad finds a black necked grebe offshore there!

more late news: 8 shags were roosting on the end of the west arm of the marina 25th.

3 goosanders (1 male) were at arlington reservoir late this morning.

finally, an update! the christmas period was largely quiet with a trip to manchester producing nothing more than 2 red grouse at dovestone res, oldham and a fem goosander on a river near batley, huddersfield. the marina failed to produce anything other than run of the mill stuff like shag (up to 5) purple sand (max 16) and 1-2 black reds. the snow of recent days hasnt really produced as much as i thought but there were still many thrushes, pipits, skylarks and lapwings on the coast. 6 woodcock, 4 firecrests and 2 chiffs were at sheepcote on the 10th, y'day there was a med gull on hove lagoon but the highlight were 5 woodlarks on southwick beach.