Another normal day at Dungeness!

First thing this morning despite the fog the usual Great White Egret and Little Egret could be seen on the New Diggings from the causeway.

This mornings sea watch was not exactly inspiring. 

07.10-08.10 from the fishing boats:

Gannet: c20 off shore

Wigeon: 28 down

Brent Goose: 48 down       16 up

15 Oystercatchers: up

Arctic Skua: 1 around

Yellow-legged Gull: 1 2w on beach

Sandwich Tern: 15 down

Common Tern: 4 down

Swallow: 14 out

Meadow Pipit:12 out

Starling: single flock of c100 in

The most interesting thing on the beach was a Rap artist with a huge entourage with Range Rovers and personalised BMWs making a video, by the time everyone is paid I cant see there being much profit.

At the observatory 30+ birds were processed mainly Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and a very fat Sedge Warbler. In the trapping area with Dw a Yellow-browed Warbler was heard but not located.

Lloyds and West beach held a few more Chiffchaffs, a Wheatear and 4 Black Redstarts.

Early afternoon at the ARC from Hanson another Great White Egret, 2 Black-necked Grebes, a Garganey, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Dunlin, 7 Ruff, c100 Golden Plover among c250 Lapwing, several squealing Water Rails, 2+ Cetti's Warblers and Marsh Harrier along with all the usual wild fowl.

A mid afternoon sea watch from the fishing boats produced only a few Gannets offshore.

Late afternoon at the south end of the ARC 2 Greenshanks of note, then at Boulderwall Farm the Cattle Egret was still with the herd, further down the track 2 Curlew one of which posed in the late afternoon sun.

I could find nothing unusual in the Gull roost by the track but there were 2 colour ringed GBBGs and 1 colour ringed LBBG.

I joined CT in Makepiece where there were 10 Dunlin and the Stint, which was still about as far away as is possible there, from Firth at Dusk 3 Great White Egrets, the Glossy Ibis and a Merlin. 

For a relatively quiet Dungeness day I still clocked up 89 species. 

 Curlew by the entrance track late afternoon

 Great White Egret from Firth at dusk

Glossy Ibis from Firth at dusk