New Year's Day... rain stops play.

After celebrating the new year festivities with close friends, I ventured out in the gloom meeting up with the parents at Kenardington bridge along the RM Canal for a days listing. They had already seen a Barn Owl near Appledore along with a Tawny Owl near the Rare Breeds Centre at Woodchurch. 3 others had been calling in Orlestone Forest. Highlights for me included 7 Little Egrets by Hamstreet Garden Centre, 32 Bewick's Swans on Walland Marsh near Old Cheyne Court Farm, Great White Egret and 2 Smew on the New Diggings at Dungeness and a Great Skua and Caspian Gull at the Fishing Boats. Sadly the weather deteriorated during the afternoon and we called it a day at around 2:30 pm having clocked up 80 species between us. Not bad considering the poor weather. The camera stayed in the dry and warmth of its bag...