Colour Ringed Herring Gulls

50 minutes sea watching at The Point this morning was rather poor today with TG and myself recording only: c50 Auks, 43 Red-throated Divers E, 1 Fulmar E, 63 Wigeon W, 1 Pintail E, 2 Mediterranean gulls off shore with a few Kittiwakes and Gannets.

As things were so quiet we decided we would like to go to Stodmarsh and see some Water Pipits which is a very scarce bird at Dungeness.

In the Stodmarsh car park MG was there and informed us that the Water Pipits were best seen at Marsh Hide. After a very brief look for the Penduline Tit we made our down to the Marsh hide. (I take my hat off to those who walk around the glutinous footpaths there day in day out). Apart from a nice Siskin flock, we saw very little on our way down to the hide, as we to busy looking at the ground making sure we didn't slip over. Once in the hide a Little Egret could be seen and some distant Lapwings, while looking at the Konic horses some 200mts away we spotted a Pipit among them and then some more. We managed to get some reasonable scope views of c10 Water Pipits but they were always distant. As we made our way back along the glutinous footpaths a Bearded Tit flew past and we were told that the Penduline Tit had still not been seen, but as we had seen the Water Pipits out main target for the day,(probably rarer than Penduline Tits at Dungeness) we decided to head back to Dungeness via Hythe as it was nearly high tide, to hopefully see some Purple Sandpipers. At the Imperial hotel breakwater we were royally rewarded with brilliant views of 6 Purple Sandpipers and an adult Mediterranean Gull further along the beach.

KP9T.

 Back at Dungeness scanning the Gull roosts found at least 8 colour ringed Herring gulls 2 of which I was unable to read.
From the causeway 2 Great White Egrets on New Diggings with another from the reserve entrance track, also c200 Curlew and the 7 Barnacle Geese there.

PG8.T

JD5.T

VY6.T

P1BT

TD1.T