White Winged Black Tern!

An uninspiring watch from the boats this morning, counting the Gannets kept me busy. Hopefully the remnants of Hurricane Gonzalo will pep things up tomorrow at The Point and at Cap Gris Nez on Wednesday.

07.05-08.15 from the fishing boats in the company of AJG:

 

Brent Goose: 35 W

Common Scoter: 3W

Red-throated Diver: 1W

Gannet: 508 W

Turnstone: 12 on beach

Arctic Skua: 2 around

Kittiwake: 27 W

Sandwich Tern: 5 around

Auk: sp: 16 W

An hour on the top of The Moat produced another 12 Brent Geese, 3+ Sparrowhawks, 3 House Martins, 5 Swallows, 40+ Jackdaws a few Stock Doves and a few Sky Larks over.

 White Winged Black Tern

I gave in to temptation and left the peninsular for a few hours with AJG to see the White Winged Black Tern at Castle Water, Rye. It was on show the moment we arrived at the hide sitting on one the islands. After a short while it began hawking up and down the lake showing very well in the glorious sunshine. While we were there we also saw 2 Little Stints, a Ruff, 2+ Marsh Harriers, A Ring Ouzel and 8+ Clouded Yellows. 

 At Scotney c2,000 Golden Plover but no sign again of the American Golden Plover, the feral Barnacle Goose flock was still present.
Another sea watch 15.20-16.20 with BM was also uninspiring:
Red-throated Diver: 1 E
Great Crested Grebe: 23 on sea
Gannet: 112 W
Sanderling: 1 W
Greenshank: 1 out
Great Skua: 1 W
Arctic Skua: 1 around
Kittiwake: 12 W   42 in flock on sea
Auk sp: 8 W
Harbour Porpoise: 3

Only 14 moths of 6 species in the Plodland trap this morning. A Delicate provided the quality.

 Delicate