Spring?

15 the flock of Waxwings still present in Hestia Way at 07.30 this morning, on my return at 16.30 the flock had grown to 50+ birds.

The first day of spring at Dungeness was once again cold with light NE winds and visibility getting steadily worse during the day. 

Sea watching from the Fishing Boats 08.40-09.50 & 14.45-15.05: The Patch c10.30-c11.15

Red throated Diver: 6E  2W                      Little Gull: 6E                   

Fulmar:  1W                                            Kittiwake: 8E

Gannet:  137E                                          Mediterranean Gull: 1E

Brent Goose:  219E                                 3w Glaucous Gull: 1 on beach 

Canada Geese: 4 on sea                            Meadow Pipit: 6 in

Shelduck: 1E                                            Rook: 5 out

Common Scoter: 3W                                Jackdaw: 5 out

Teal: 3E                                                   Harbour Porpoise: 8+

Merlin: 2 in

Dunlin: 18E

Curlew: 7E

Oystercatcher: 12E

Ring Plover: 2 on beach

Just for Steve Gale 1 of 2 at Dungeness today

 Highlight today was the first 2 Wheatears of the year on the beach. The settling beds at the power station held 1 Black Redstart, 3 Meadow Pipits, 3 Pied Wagtails and a Grey Wagtail which I missed (grounded Grey Wagtails are scarce at Dungeness).
Burrowes Pit was very quiet with a red head Smew and 4 Goldeneye the pick of the bunch.
New diggings held the usual Great White Egret and duck Red Crested Pochard was still present. From the causeway 3 Smew (1 drake) could be seen on the ARC and a Marsh Harrier over the road but little else of note.
From Hanson another Marsh Harrier, 3+ Goldeneye, another red head Smew and 2 Peregrines stooping over the lake.

            A couple of record shots taken from the car this afternoon while blocking the road!