As I drive the short distance to the beach this morning the car was bleeping ice warnings at me! Giving me a foreboding that this morning sea watch was going to be poor, it was not poor it was dire! especially considering that it is the 5th of May!
O5.30-08.00 with AJG, SO, MB et al
Shoveler: 1W
Common Scoter: 23W
Great-crested Grebe: 12 around
Fulmar: 2E
Gannet: 147E   43W
Cormorant: present n/c
Oystercatcher: 1W
Arctic Skua: 1E
Mediterranean Gull: 1E (1st Summer)
Common Gull: 18E
Kittiwake: 4W
Sandwich Tern: 158E   19W
Common Tern:107E
Common/Arctic Tern: 40E
Auk sp: 1E
Harbour Porpoise: 5+

Tree Sparrows at Scotney deciding which way to go

A Long walk out the back of Scotney was pleasant but cold in the a stiff NW breeze. As I walked towards the farm the remains of 2 Mute Swans and an Avocet were laying on the grass under the power lines.

 At the farm a female Yellow Wagtail was pulling cows hairs off the barb wire for nesting material.

Tree Sparrows and Yellow Wagtail feeding in the hay

The regular Little Owl was in its usual spot on the crates having been missing the last few times I looked for it. A Hobby zipped across the farm yard in pursuit of a Swallow that was far too agile for it.

Tree Sparrows and Yellow Wagtails were seemingly all around the yard and Swallows were prospecting for nest sites.

On the back lakes at least 34 Avocets were present with 16 looking like they were on eggs, hopefully the Badgers wont be able to get out to them and there is enough of them to deter the Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. My first Common Sandpiper of the year was with a Ringed Plover on another island, but disappointingly no other waders were present.

 As I continued my wander Yellow Wagtails and Swifts were numerous as were Reed Buntings and Linnets, just small numbers of Corn Buntings, another Little Owl, several Common Buzzards, 2 Marsh Harriers were seen. 
Another sea watch this afternoon from the fishing boats was vast improvement to this mornings watch.
13.40-16.40 with AJG who collated the numbers:
Shelduck: 2E
Common Scoter: 60E  5W
Red-throated Diver: 5E
Great-crested grebe: 16 around
Fulmar: 4E
Gannet: 73E
Cormorant: Present n/c
Shag: 1E  a scarce bird at Dungeness.
Bar-tailed Godwit: 8E
Great Skua: 3E
Arctic Skua: 3E
Little Gull: 8E
Kittiwake: 3E
Little Tern: 17E
Sandwich Tern: 218E
Common Tern: 24E
Arctic Tern: 11E
Common/Arctic Tern: 117E
Guillemot: 1W
Auk sp: 3W
Swallow 1 in