09/03/2022

Eider passing the Bouy this afternoon

It's that time of year again so most of today was spent sea watching. Many thanks to the new Dungeness Observatory assistant warden Jacob Spinks for keeping the log. Also present RP, RW, CP, 

06.15-11.00 & 13.00-16.30 from the sea watch hide: 

Dark-bellied Brent Goose: 2192E

Pale-bellied Brent Goose: 1E

Shelduck: 1E

Teal: 29E

Shoveler: 39E

Wigeon: 17E

Pintail: 4E

Teal: 40E

Eider: 10E

Velvet Scoter: 4E

Common Scoter: 312E

Red-breasted Merganser: 6E

Red-throated Diver: 290E     5W  

Black-throated Diver: 1E  

Fulmar: 10E   1W 

Great-crested Grebe: 5E   

Fulmar: 18E    2W

Gannet: 47E    

Cormorant: Present n/c

Oystercatcher: 30E

Curlew: 5E

Dunlin: 3E

Kittiwake:  2,819E

Black-headed Gull: 104E

Little Gull: 4W

Mediterranean Gull: 43E

Common Gull: 89E

Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c 

Sandwich Tern: 17E

Guillemot: 47E 

Razorbill: 16E 

Auk sp: 1,424E   

Peregrine: 1E

Skylark: 1E      

Harbour Porpoise: 1

Pale-bellied Brent Goose (top left)

Some of the 2,000+ Brent Geese past today

More Eider passing the hide

Eider with Shoveler

Rather distant Velvet Scoters

Black-tailed Godwit at Cooks Pool lunchtime

Black-tailed Godwits at Cooks Pool lunchtime

Whilst driving back home for lunch, the 2 Glossy Ibis flew over the ARC towards the fishing lakes. At Cockles Bridge  the Cattle Egrets were still insitu. There appears to have been very little passerine arrivals today.