Excellent day on the Peninsular!

08.10-09.10 from the fishing boats:

Common Scoter: 1E

Red-throated Diver: 1W

Gannet: 54W

Arctic Skua: 5W   2+ around

Sandwich Tern: 114W

Common Tern: 2W

Sand Martin: c30 out

House Martin: c20 out

Swallow: c2,000 out

Pied Wagtail: 9 in

Meadow Pipit : 14 in

Linnet: 32 on beach

Grey Seal: 1

At the Observatory 50 Swallows were caught and ringed along with some Chiffchaffs and a couple of House Martins, also present a few Reed Buntings and a Black Redstart.

 7 of 11 Spoonbills that flew over Burrowes

On the reserve a quick look for the Glossy Ibis and Cattle Egret at Boulderwall was a failure but I did spot a Garganey there. While I was in Makepiece Hide Liz hunt spotted 11 Spoonbills flying over the lake, a few minutes later she spotted a funny Cormorant flying over the lake which on inspection turned out to be a Glossy Ibis which then landed on an island in front of us. It seems this was a second Ibis as DB was watching the other one at Boulderwall at the same time. Also on Burrowes 4+ Little Stints, 4 Ringed Plovers, a Black and a Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Common Sandpipers, a Ruff and 3 Great White Egrets of note. 

 Reed Warbler from Makepiece

 Glossy Ibis from Makepiece

 Manx Shearwater over the ARC

While I was in the Visitor Centre a lady came in saying she had seen a Manx Shearwater at the south end of the ARC diving to evade the attentions of a Marsh Harrier. Normally a very unlikely report like this I would take with a pinch of salt, but the lady was insistent and very sure that it was a Manx Shearwater, I quickly drove there and sure enough on the far side of the lake there was a Manx Shearwater, my first ever in land record and I believe a first Dungeness RSPB record unless someone knows different. My sincerest apologies to the the lady for my scepticism.  A very poor long range video of the bird can be seen HERE .

 The afternoon sea watch enlivened by an idiot trying to photograph the waves at the fishing boats

15.00-16.30
Brent Goose: 1W
Great-crested Grebe: 6 around
Gannet: 48W
Sanderling: 2W
Arctic Skua: 3W   3+ around
Mediterranean Gull: 1 1w W
Sandwich Tern: 270W
Common Tern: 10W
Swallow: 32 out
Harbour Porpoise: 5+
Grey Seal: 1

 Sand Martin over the VC this evening

Late afternoon early evening the Cattle Egret and Glossy Ibis were showing distantly at Boulderwall. Along the track a Hobby and Peregrine, 4 Winchats and a Great Spotted Woodpecker of note.