Caspian Gulls!

 First Firecrest of the Autumn for me

A walk around The Desert and trapping area with AJG saw 3 each of Whinchat and Wheatear, a few Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Common Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 10+ Stonechats, a couple of Green Woodpeckers and a small passage of Hirundines overhead. At the observatory a Tree Pipit dropped into the bushes very briefly and a Firecrest and Black Redstart was trapped, also 2 Clouded Yellows put in a brief appearance.

Young male Black Redstart

 A trio of Egrets species from Hanson

I joined CT at the ARC mid morning, from Hanson Great White, Cattle and Little Egret, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Dunlin, 7 Bar-tailed Godwits,  4 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Greenshank, 3 Ruff, 30+ Golden Plover, the usual Lapwings, 2 Black Terns and 2 Garganey among the usual Wildfowl. This evening CT added Wood Sandpiper to the list.

Great White Egret

 Common Sandpiper at Firth

Early afternoon on Burrowes from Firth a single Knot, 2 Common Sandpipers and 2 Black Terns were the highlights.

Knot at Firth

1st cal year Caspian Gull

14.00-16.30 from the fishing boats with AJG, JTM & DW:

Gannet: 2E   24W
Cormorant: 13 around
Oystercatcher: 3W
Sanderling: 2W
Kittiwake: 2 juveniles around
Mediterranean gull: 1E 1st cal year
Yellow-legged Gull: 3 around all 1st cal year birds
Caspian Gull: 2 around both 1st cal year birds
Black Tern: 2W
Sandwich Tern: 89W
Common Tern: 49W
Sand Martin: 10 out
Swallow: 61 out
Harbour Porpoise: 2
Common Seal: 1

 1st cal year Caspian Gull

 1st cal year Caspian Gull

Border Force off Dungeness towing presumably a migrants R.I.B.

 Norwegian ringed Lesser Black-backed Gull J538L. It's History below.

This evening from Firth hide 2 more 1st calendar year Caspian Gulls and the above Norwegian Lesser Black-backed Gull, also 100s of Sand Martins that disappeared as quickly as they came. Unfortunately very few Gulls came into roost this evening.