18/02/2026

A Mediterranean Gull battling against the strong SE wind today

07.15-09.30 & 12.00-14.00 from the hide with JS, SF, RW, OL, JY, SB.  Wind a biting ESE 6  Temp 6º,

Brent Goose: 2E   

Shelduck: 4E

Teal: 6E

Velvet Scoter: 6W
Common Scoter: 5E   2W

Red-necked Grebe: 1 landed on sea and drifted West. (Jacob and Charlotte only)
Great-crested Grebe: 16E      60 Present

Oystercatcher: 22E

Curlew: 1W

Dunlin: 20E
Kittiwake: 39E  
Black-headed Gull: 63E
Common Gull: 78E
Herring Gull: present
Great Black-backed Gull: present  

Razorbill: 91E       17W
Guillemots: 1812E    2W
Auk sp: 91E      17W

Red-throated Diver: 295E     2W
Fulmar: 3E 
Gannet: 49E       2W
Cormorant: present no count

Peregrine: 1 present

Harbour Porpoise: 3 present

Grey Seal: 1 present

On the way back from the early morning sea watch I stopped at Cockles Bridge where there was 2 Whooper Swans with some Mute Swans in the fields opposite the bridge. In the triangle 14 Cattle Egrets and 3 Little Egrets were feeding.

After breakfast a short excursion to Scotney where 1,000+ Golden Plover were on the sward, along with 17 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Curlew, 18 Redshank and 500+ Lapwing. c250 Wigeon were in the pool but I couldn't find the American Wigeon.

While having a quick coffee before going back to the sea watch hide the Lesser Whitethroat was feeding under the Camelias in my garden.