Monday 20/01/2020

 Some of the 18 Bewick Swans over my house before sunrise this morning

 Fiery sunrise over the ARC

5 of the 12 Great White Egrets that left the ARC just after sunrise

As it was such a nice calm day I went to Copt Point to read some Mediterranean Gull rings. On arrival the sun was shining, no wind and best of all very few people and dogs, a shame that there were only 9 birds present all roosting on the sea, after 2 hrs I gave up and back to Dungeness.

Early afternoon the sea was littered with Guillemots, Razorbills, Cormorants, a few each of Great-crested Grebes and Red-throated Divers, a single Brent Goose, a couple of Harbour Porpoises and Grey Seal, the birds flying were the 6 Common Scoter.

2 Black Redstarts and a Dartford Warbler were near Southview per Dave Bunney, I managed to see 1 of the Black Redstarts, the Dartford will have to wait for another day.

Some of the Bewick Swans on the New diggings including a juvenile

25 Bewick Swans were on the New Diggings and 2 on the ARC, an hour later there were 26 on the New Diggings but no juvenile.

All 26 Bewick Swans later joined by 3 more

The Swans spent a lot of time calling and and head bobbing leading me to believe they would leave, just after sunset 14 of them took to the air and headed off out to sea, a few minutes later 11 returned.

Some of the Bewick swans heading out to sea

This evenings Egret roost was a disappointment as only 8 Great White Egrets and 10 Little Egrets roosted, I was expecting the 3 Cattle Egrets found by MH in Caldecott Lane to come to roost, I'm guessing that they must be new birds to Dungeness rather than returnees.