A wet morning with cold NNW wind didn't inspire me to rush down to the beach. Instead a leisurely breakfast and extra Coffee. 

When I finally arrived at the beach around 10.00 there was absolutely no movement off shore, but the sea was covered in birds. c500 Guillemots, c30 Razorbills, c500 Cormorants, c500 Great-crested Grebes, c30 Red-throated Divers and 100s of Gulls all busy feeding. On the beach the 1w Glaucous and 1w Caspian Gull were loafing around the puddles.

On Burrowes a red head Smew, Slavonian Grebe and a 1w Little Gull flew through. No sign of any of the Long-eared Owls today, hopefully they have just buried themselves deeper in the bushes.

Late afternoon look at Scotney, Bretts Marina and Scotney saw nothing of note.

Much the Same!

 The 1w Glaucous Gull enjoying a drink at the puddles.

A short uninspiring sea watch this morning as it seems we seeing exactly the same birds each day. The only new bird was a drake Tufted Duck which is scarce on sea watches here.

08.15-08.45 from the fishing boats:
Tufted Duck: 1W
Red-throated Diver: 21W     13E
Great-crested Grebe: N/C many present
Gannet: 9W
Cormorant: N/C many present
Oystercatcher: 2E
Kittiwake: 3W
Glaucous Gull: the regular 1w bird on the beach
Caspian Gull: the regular 1w bird on the beach
Guillemot: 47 o/s
Razorbill: 6 o/s
Auk sp: 62 o/s

I couldn't resist taking more pictures of the Glaucous and Caspian Gull as I had them all to myself in excellent light conditions. Both were still present this afternoon.

1w Caspian Gull showing well on the beach

A walk from the ARC car park to the Pines saw 2 Chiffchaffs with c9 Long-tailed Tits also 3 Cetti's Warblers and a Green Woodpecker.

At Scotney the 2 Black-necked Grebes were the only birds of note on the main lake, a few Ringed Plover and Dunlin on the sward.

A walk from Springfield Bridge around the reserve in the sunny conditions was a bit of a slog. No sign of the hoped for Glossy Ibis in the The hayfields or much else apart from a flock of 9 Curlews that landed briefly before a Marsh Harrier flushed them. At the back of Dengemarsh the Lapwings and Golden Plover and wildfowl were constantly being flushed by up to 5 Marsh Harriers, in the reed bed a few Reed Buntings and a Kingfisher. By Scott hide 2 Chiffchaffs one a regular Colybita the other probably a Tristis, It spent most of its time out of site on the lakeside of the bank giving just a couple of very brief views. 2 Smew including the drake was on view at Burrowes and the Long-eared Owl was still behind the Dipping Pool. On the way back a Great White Egret appeared at Christmas Dell. 

Back on the beach this afternoon the Caspian and Glaucous Gulls were in the roost. With the now overcast and windy conditions the temperature plummeted, I wimped out of another sea watch instead going home for a mug of tea.  

Glossy Ibis!

Thick fog at Dungeness this morning kept me at home till 10.00. As it cleared I drove the short distance to Scotney where a few Dunlin, Redshank and Ringed Plovers were on the sward as was the feral flock of Barnacle Geese. On the lake 2 Black-necked Grebes were of note (3 seen later per PT) a Peregrine and Marsh Harrier were terrorising the Wigeon. Brett's Marina and Galloways were very quiet.

As I arrived at Boulderwall Farm PB sent a message that a Glossy Ibis had flown over Burrowes, a few minutes later the Ibis (130 for the local patch) flew over the viewing ramp and disappeared into Dengemarsh. Later it made it's way to the fields north of Boulderwall where several 100s of Golden Plover could be seen among even more Lapwing and 76 Dunlin. Also there 8 White-fronted Geese and 5 Egyptian Geese among the Greylag and Canada Geese, a red head Smew among Coot and Wigeon there, another Peregrine and several Marsh Harriers, a male Stonechat was in the reeds also 2 Great White Egrets there.

 The best I managed of the Glossy Ibis

 some of the 100s of Golden plover present

On the beach this afternoon the regular 1w Glaucous and 1w Caspian Gull were still present along with a few Kittiwakes, Red-throated Divers, Auks and Great-crested Grebes.
Late afternoon 4 Great White Egrets and 22 Little Egrets roosted at the ARC.

Grebes!

 With a little imagination you can pick out the Slavonian Grebe flying with a Great-crested Grebe.

A very busy sea watch this morning from the fishing boats in a bitter NE wind 09.00-10.40:

Red-throated Diver: 32E   5W
Great-crested Grebe: 2,661 moved North into Lade Bay
Slavonian Grebe: 1E
Gannet: 53E   2W
Cormorant: N/C but several 100s present
Oystercatcher: 1E
Kittiwake: 37E   + c25 in feeding flock o/s
Glaucous Gull: 1 the regular 1w bird around
Caspian Gull: 1 the regular 1w bird around
Guillemot: 248E
Razorbill: 14E
Auk sp: 135E   27W

1w Caspian Gull in the puddles this morning!

Mid morning from Cockles Bridge, 8 Red-legged Partridge, c150 Golden Plover, c500 Lapwing, 2 Egyptian Geese with the Greylags, 2 Marsh Harriers, a Common Buzzard and a Great White Egret.

Early afternoon back at the boats more Red-throated Divers and Guillemots moving into Lade Bay and both Glaucous and Caspian Gull in the roost.

A drive around Dengemarsh, Brett's Marina, Galloways and Scotney saw the usual suspects but nothing of real note.

Apparently the Long-eared Owl was flushed by a photographer, who left the footpath and walked behind the Dipping Pool. Lets hope it will return to its favoured roost tonight.

Hen Harriers make the day!

I went to the fishing boats this morning full of hope as a cold SE wind was blowing, after a few minutes I realised today would not be a classic day>
08.10-09.10 from the fishing boats:
Common Scoter: 3E     4W
Red-throated Diver: 14W   2E
Great-crested Grebe: many present
Fulmar: 3W
Gannet:  29W    4E
Cormorant: many present
Mediterranean Gull: 2W
Glaucous Gull: the regular1w bird on the beach.
Kittiwake: 9W
Auk sp:  66W    9E
A look around Dennis's Hide for yesterdays possible Siberian Chiffchaff drew a blank, as did a few minutes staring into the bushes behind the Dipping Pool for Long-eared Owls, though not surprising as the SE wind was blowing straight into the roost. A drake and 3 duck Smew and 10 Goldeneye were the highlights on Burrowes, 2 Great White Egrets from the entrance track also 300+ Golden Plover, c40 Dunlin, c500 Lapwing and 2 Marsh Harriers.

 The flooded Wicks

Late this afternoon I walked along the sea wall from Jury's Gap to the Midrips/Wicks, on the beach several more clusters of Goose Barnacles, also c120 Oystercatchers, 27, Sanderling, 3 Dunlin, 1 Knot and 2 Grey Plover. On the pools 16 Shelduck, c80 Wigeon, 12 Shoveler, 4 Teal, 10 Redshank and c100 Golden Plover. At dusk a Ring-tailed Hen Harrier and an adult male Hen Harrier my first this year, also a Marsh Harrier came in.

Sanderling on the beach at the Wicks

 1 of the clusters of Goose Barnacles on the beach at Dengemarsh Gully

With a brisk North Westerly blowing I decided against my usual sea watch from The Point this morning, instead I drove to the seaward end of Dengemarsh Gully and walked along the tide line to the switching station and back. I found several clusters of Goose Barnacles but no Columbus Crabs among them. Avian interest was in the form of a Raven and a Peregrine.

 My first Black-tailed Godwit of the year!

Parking at Scotney Farm entrance I walked through the farm past the back lakes to Jurys Gap then back along the cycle path to Scotney. Despite the sunny weather avian interest was very poor, just 11 Brent Geese and c25 Greylag Geese on back lakes, along with 4 Pintail, a few Shoveler, Teal, Shelduck, 5 Little Grebes, 3 Little Egrets and a couple of Marsh Harriers over. In the fields a few Skylarks and Reed Buntings, 2 Corn Buntings and 2 Tree Sparrows. Jurys Gap to Scotney was virtually bird less. The highlight was my first Black-tailed Godwit of the year in the pools on the sward with 10 Ringed Plovers. Also on the sward the feral Barnacle Goose flock has reappeared after a couple of weeks absence.

Video of Glaucous Gull in the puddles this afternoon.

This afternoon the 1w Glaucous Gull was showing well in the puddles and the 1w Caspian Gull was on the beach. Little else of note to be seen there this afternoon other than the visibility out to sea.

Bolougne from Dungeness.

A walk late afternoon at the ARC to the pines saw the usual Marsh Harriers but no Bitterns today, 5 more Black-tailed Godwits flew over towards Greatstone, a red head Smew was on the lake, a Tit flock with c15 Long-tailed Tits was around the pines also a Chiffchaff there. 

Just a light breeze at The Point this morning but constant rain throughout the sea watch:
08.30-10.45
Common Scoter: 1W
Red-throated Diver: 3W   1E
Fulmar: 3W
Gannet: 19W      13E
Turnstone: 20 on beach
Mediterranean Gull: 4W     1E
Kittiwake:  357W
Glaucous Gull: 1 the regular 1w bird
Guillemot: 3W
Auk sp: 13W

The 1w Caspian Gull was in the roost this afternoon.

On the reserve a Great Northern Diver put in a brief appearance, the 2 Long-eared Owls are still in the bushes behind the Dipping Pool, 3+ Great White Egrets, several Bitterns and the usual Marsh Harriers around. Late afternoon at the ARC several Cetti's Warblers singing, a couple of Chiffchaffs along with the usual wildfowl.   

Fulmars!

 As I drove onto the beach this morning this was the first Gull that caught my eye, hopefully there will not be any more like this.

1 of 153 Fulmars that passed West this morning. My highest total of Fulmars at Dungeness.

As the wind was blowing force 8-10 all day I spent most of the it in the relative shelter of the fishing boats, to be honest the wind would have made birding elsewhere on the peninsula virtually impossible. Some of the huge waves were very impressive, though the Fulmars and Kittiwakes seemed to make light work of the winds. 

08.00-12.00 from the fishing boats:

Brent Goose: 8E

Red-throated Diver: 1W
Great-crested Grebe: 3W
Fulmar: 153W
Gannet: 12W
Cormorant: Present N/C
Kittiwake: 218W
Glaucous Gull: 1 the regular 1w bird
Guillemot: 17W
Auk sp: 24W

I spent most of this afternoon photographing the Gulls feeding on the numerous Whiting that were on the shoreline.

 Herring Gull

 Great Black-backed Gull

  Great Black-backed Gull

 Great Black-backed Gull

 The 1w Caspian Gull after swallowing 3 Whiting in as many seconds!

 2w Yellow-legged Gull

 2w Yellow-legged Gull

Goose Barnacles that have probably drifted from the Caribbean!

Quiet after the Storm.

After a very wild night weather wise on the peninsula and the SW wind still blowing I wasn't expecting much of a sea watch, which was just as well as nothing was moving at sea. A few Auks and Kittiwakes were tooing and froing and a handful of Gannets were feeding also the 1w Little Gull gave a fly by. The 1w Glaucous Gull flew by and the 1w Caspian Gull landed more or less at my feet, I resisted the temptation to take more pictures of them. I started to walk towards the Lifeboat Station where 100s of Gulls were feeding along the tideline, as I headed out towards them they were all spooked possibly by an unseen Great Skua, anyway they all flew towards me including the 1w Glaucous Gull again which landed just a few feet from me. This time I could not resist taking a few more snaps. Also 35 Turnstones flew in which I did resist.   

 Just couldn't resist a few more snaps.

At Scotney there was no change, the waves were lashing the Herring Gull island while on the lake just a few Tufted Duck and Wigeon sheltering in the bays.
Early afternoon back at the fishing boats there was even less off shore. On the beach the Glaucous and Caspian Gull were being well fed while posing very nicely for there constant stream of admirers. Galloways apart from a few Stock Doves and a Kestrel it was its usual disappointing self.

Sea Watching

1w Glaucous Gull in the gloomy morning light.

2 sea watches today in strong SSW winds 08.30-10.00 & 12.20-14.45. On both occasions the Great Skua flew past I was for warned as the 1,000s of Gulls lifted high off the sea to escape its attentions.

Brent Goose: 70E
Common Scoter: 14E
Red-throated Diver: 26W
Great-crested Grebe: 47 on sea
Fulmar: 3W
Gannet: 99W
Cormorant: c600W
Oystercatcher: 1W
Turnstone: 6 on beach
Great Skua: 1W flew back East this afternoon
Little Gull: 1 1w around
Black-headed Gull: c3,000W
Common Gull: c1000W
Herring Gull: c1500W
Caspian Gull: 1 the regular 1w bird
Glaucous Gull: 1 the regular 1w bird
Kittiwake: 231W + feeding flock of c60
Guillemot: 619W
Razorbill: 18W
Auk sp: 78W
Wood Pigeon: 9W

 Some of the Gannets came close inshore

The regular 1w Caspian Gull