Tuesday 2 August 2016

Manxies and terns

Dungeness - 0800hrs  - mild, overcast, misty, wet, sw 5 - A poor day weather wise with a front moving in off the Atlantic bringing rain for much of the day on a stiff breeze, although it remained humid. We wandered down to the Patch where hundreds of gulls were on the beach and over the boil, but only a single juvenile Yellow-legged Gull of any interest.
1500-1630hrs - Joined PB and MH at the fishing boats for a pretty decent seawatch in poor visibility with the Dungeness foghorn booming away. A steady westward passage of Gannets, Black-headed Gulls, Common and Sandwich Terns was underway, some of which were milling around fishing for whitebait; and it was good to see a few juveniles in the throng. Quality came in the form of seven Manx Shearwaters, four of which cut in nice and close, three Fulmars, seven Common Scoters and a dark phase Arctic Skua harrying the passing terns. On the walk back to the car a Wheatear flew along the concrete road.

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