Sunday 12 January 2014

Dungeness Seawatch

Dungeness  - cold, dry, sunny, SE 4 - With the weather gods at last delivering the fabled south-easterly wind we joined TG, MH, CP & PB for a very enjoyable seawatch from the fishing boats. It was action all the way with a constant stream of gulls, auks, divers, wildfowl, Cormorants and Gannets rounding the point. Best of all though were the numbers of Kittiwakes, many of which passed just off-shore, plus an unprecedented number of Bonxies for January.
Thanks to TG for supplying the count details from 0730-1000hrs:
Red-throated Diver - 22 west, 4 east
Gannet - 21 west
Brent Goose - 17 east
Wigeon - 138 east
Common Scoter - 4 west
Shelduck - 24 west
Red-breasted Merganser - 3  west
Bonxie - 6 west
Kittiwake - 992 west (95% adults)
Mediterranean Gull - 3 west
Guillemot - ca 4,500 west
Razorbill - 226 west
Also noted, a 1st winter Caspian Gull feeding amongst the Herring and Black-backs, a coasting Peregrine and a Grey Seal offshore.
Other news today around the peninsula included the Hume`s Warbler in the trapping area, Black-throated Diver on New Diggings and at Scotney, Bean and White-fronted Geese plus Long-tailed Duck.
Lade - 1615hrs - Checked the pits at last knockings in gloomy, cold conditions where at least three Little Egrets came to roost in the willow scrub.

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