Shoreham and Arundel (30-31 December 2011)

Friday 30 December.  A morning low tide isn't the best for the Adur and so it proved with few gulls in evidence and just 3 Grey Plover, a Curlew and a Rock Pipit.  A text from DC that he'd seen a Great White Egret flying west past Birling was a convenient excuse to head to Widewater.  No sign of the egret although arriving 65 minutes after the sighting may just have been too late if it had continued west?  Once at Widewater it would have been criminal not to have had another look at the Snow Buntings and although the light wasn't special it was hard to resist taking a few more photos. 

Snow Buntings still gracing Widewater

Saturday 31 December.  Visited Arundel WWT with Megan seeing a Snipe, 5 Bullfinches and a Reed Bunting.  The collection included some Lesser White-fronted Geese and other favourites that either brought back happy memories or reinforced positions on my 'wants' list.

Lesser White-fronted Goose, single wing a bit of a giveaway

Bronze-winged Duck, one of South America's finest

Blue Duck, 15 years since I saw these in New Zealand

Harlequin, a nice reminder of our honeymoon in Iceland in 1989

Scaly-sided Mergansers, still high on my wanted list ...

Pheasant at Arundel