Gulls, Divers, Auks, Pendulines and Sand Martins

At The Point a very busy sea watch this morning with 1000s of birds moving, though not much variety. Coverage was from 06.30-13.15 (AJG,DW,SC,MC)  Highlights were:

Red-throated Diver: 1,100+ E

Sandwich Tern: 35+ E

Little Gull: 36 W

Mediterranean Gull: 2 W

Auks: 5,000+ W  mainly Guillemots

3W Glaucous Gull: 1 on beach

3W Caspian Gull: 1 on beach

near adult Yellow Legged Gull: 1 on beach

                                              Caspian Gull

                                                  Glaucous Gull

                                          Yellow-legged Gull

                                                      Optimist

                                           Record of 1 of the 2 Penduline Tits
 The sea watch was cut short by a text from SB saying 2 Penduline Tits were  showing beside the track to Lydd. From the visitor centre 4 Sand Martins were hawking over Burrowes and 5 red head Smew were also there.
 A stop at the south end of the ARC found a White Wagtail (thanks Neil) also 5 Smew (2 drakes) and 2 Marsh Harriers.
Back on the reserve 2+ Great White Egrets from the entrance track and 2 more Marsh Harriers, the drake Red-crested Pochard was back on the discovery pool early afternoon.
On Walland 30+ Bewick Swans and the Whooper Swan still present this afternoon.
The Harrier roost count late this afternoon was disappointing at the reed bed I was covering, as once again no birds roosted. Water Rails were squealing and Fieldfares were going over to roost as several Marsh Harriers flew over to other roost sites as did 2 Common buzzards.