1st January 2010 Bodiam Castle, Dungeness and Pett

Bodiam Castle, East Sussex

Black-necked Grebe 1 first-winter ex.

Mallard 20

Moorhen 5

Lapwing 50

Black-headed Gull 10

Common Gull 1

Wood Pigeon 5

Collared Dove 5

Green Woodpecker 1

Great Spotted Woodpecker h drumming

Pied Wagtail 1

Wren h

Robin 2
Blackbird 5

Song Thrush 5

Redwing 2

Blue Tit 5

Great Tit 2

Nuthatch 2

Magpie 2

Jackdaw 50

Rook 1

Carrion Crow 5

Starling 10

Chaffinch 2

Bodiam Castle

First-winter Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis at Bodiam Castle, East Sussex, January 2010. The visibly buff-tinged neck and yellowy tint to the rear ear-coverts and pale neck patch are remnants of juvenile plumage rendering this individual a first-winter.

As the bare parts of juvenile Black-necked Grebes are as those of adult non-breeding birds (BWP) they offer no clue as to maturity and it is therefore important to consider a birds plumage. Juvenile Black-necked Grebes are characterised by a buff-tinged upper neck (BWP) and breast and a yellowy tint to their ear-coverts (Vinicombe). Black-necked Grebes undergo a partial post-juvenile moult that commences soon after completion of juvenile plumage in the summer continuing to December (BWP). After this moult they are generally considered indistinguishable from adult non-breeding birds (BWP).

Walland Marsh
Mute Swan 60
Bewick's Swan 54
Greylag Goose 50
Marsh Harrier 2
Red-legged Partridge 2
Pheasant 2
Golden Plover 300
Skylark 1
Mistle Thrush 5
Yellowhammer 10

Dungeness
Little Grebe 5
Slavonian Grebe 1
Cormorant 70
Grey Heron 1
Wigeon 300
Gadwall 20
Teal 50
Pintail 5
Shoveler 10
Pochard 40
Tufted Duck 50
Goldeneye 5 (1 drake)
Smew 2 (1 drake)
Goosander 3 (1 drake)
Ruddy Duck 5
Marsh Harrier 2
Kestrel 1
Coot 50
Lesser Black-backed Gull 5
Herring Gull 100
Great Black-backed Gull 50
Stock Dove 3
Long-tailed Tit 5
House Sparrow 5
Tree Sparrow 2
Reed Bunting 1

Scotney GP
Great Crested Grebe 6
Barnacle Goose 30 (Kent)
Shelduck 10
Redshank 8

Pett
White-fronted Goose 5
Canada Goose 60
Oystercatcher 3
Grey Plover 2
Curlew 20