Saturday 31 December 2022

31/01/2022

After spending Christmas in sunny Fueventura it was a bit of a body shock coming back to Dungeness and its usual cool, very damp and very windy climate. Yesterday I didn't leave the house, though I managed to see a flock of 12 Greater White-fronted Geese flying around Lydd Fields from the bedroom window. Today I at least made the effort to go out spending an hour with RW and OL at the fishing boats watching a stream of West bound Gannets, Kittiwakes, Red-throated Divers and Guillemots. Along the surf 100s of Gull and Cormorants including the odd Yellow-legged Gull and Caspian Gull but no White winged Gulls.
Whooper Swans still at the southern end of the ARC this morning
A drive over Walland Marsh saw a flock of 47 Bewick Swans (18 Juveniles) best viewed from opposite the model aeroplane field entrance, as the rain was horizontal from the West I was unable to open the car window enough to get any images of them. A Fieldfares were seen but little else. Speaking to other locals this morning the Green-winged Teal would appear to have moved on, but could still be sheltering under the bushes, to be honest in this weather I'm not inclined to wander around the reserve with little shelter looking for it. My 2022 total for Dungeness peninsula was 218 with notable absence of Bean Goose, Glaucous Gull, Hooded Crow, Melodious Warbler and Red-backed Shrike, though I did finally see a Dungeness Caspian Tern and few other scarce birds. Hoping for a better 2023. Happy New Year to everyone.
3 Whooper Swans at Midley this morning
 

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