The winter solstice

Huzzah! From today the evenings start to stretch out again, so with the intention of spending a fair amount of time on the patch today I walked from White Dyke to Lookers and then back via Marshfoot lane. The weather was fairly inclement today with gusty wind and intermittent showers. White Dyke produced a new Dartford Warbler calling in the scrub near Mappins, initially I suspected this would be the Lookers bird relocating itself however when it appeared on top of a bush it was a more bulk typical drab 1st winter type than the adult bird seen recently. Other birds of note today were the Richards' Pipit (although only in flight) between Horse-eye farm and Lookers, 2 Hen Harrier, 6 Marsh Harrier including an adult male although not including an all dark individual seen on the 13th and 14th, the resident Peregrine (the female with a small prey item) and Buzzard, Cettis' near Horse-eye Green, and a single Water Pipit on Down Level.

Although none were seen today the SEO remain in the area and I am now confident there are at least 6 having seen 4 together in the paddocks just north of Lookers on Friday (19th) which didn't include either the very pale or very dark individuals that have been in the area. The Richards' Pipit has been more reliable over the past week showing well on occasion (including the 13th when I was on site) so most people who have visited have managed to get to grips with it and the all dark Marsh Harrier referred to above was seen briefly on the 13th and distantly on the 14th. Also on the 14th was the Robin pictured left predating what appears to be a Fen Raft Spider. Other residents on show over the past week have included Raven, Little Owl, Kingfisher and Water Rail. Thrush numbers seem to be falling as most of the bushes have been stripped although there are still numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare present.
On the mammal front the frosty 14th produced a Weasel watched hunting on the ice covered ditches near Lookers', frustratingly it kept weaving in and out of the reeds and avoided my attempts to capture an image unlike the Mink seen on the 13th and 14th which is pictured at the head of this post!
Finally further afield the Rough-leg was still present the last time I looked (13th) while the Rock Pipits at Birling were being showy in the car park the same morning.