30/01/2025

A bright chilly morning with not much moving at sea except Auks. There were however 1,000s of Gulls offshore feeding.

 08.00-09.30 joined by RW & CP.   NNW 3  3º

Shelduck: 2E

Great-crested Grebe: 17E

Kittiwake: 74W    

Black-headed Gull: Present n/c

Common Gull:  Present n/c

Herring Gull: Present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Auk sp: 313W           12E

Red-throated Diver: 46W        14E

Gannet: 24W      8E   

Cormorant: Present n/c

Grey Seal: 2

Common Seal: 1

After breakfast and hanging around for a courier to arrive I went down Dengemarsh road, first stop to count the Yellowhammers just 3 today, then down to the manure heap where I could view the 6 Pink-footed Geese, they were quite difficult to see as they were distant and had to be picked out as they fed behind a reed lined ditch. I was going to look at Denge Marsh but there was work going on so I missed the new in Black-necked Grebe. Instead I went to Scotney and as it was a sunny day I guessed the Little Owls would be out sun bathing, they did not disappoint!

The local Little Owls sunbathing early afternoon

At Scotney again many Lapwing and Golden Plover, 2 Redshank and a Curlew loads of Wigeon but little else.

At the fishing boats I was joined by Richard where we saw good numbers of Auks but little else.

13.30-15.00 with RW at the fishing boats

Common Scoter: 3W  

Great-crested Grebe: 15E

Kittiwake: 13W

Red-throated Diver: 13W

Guillemot: 77W      3E

Razorbill: 202W

Auk sp: 1,088W

Gannet: 28W

Harbour Porpoise: 1

Common Seal: 1

Grey Seal: 2

Late afternoon there were 2 Cattle Egrets and 4 Little Egrets in the Horse Paddocks. 

The Long-tailed duck was still present on the New Diggings but the new Great Northern Diver was gone per JY.