Brent Geese

Dungeness - Mild, cloudy, SSE 4 - We spent the morning on the point which included a two hour seawatch (0900-1100hrs) from the fishing boats where a steady westward passage of seabirds was underway. The main spectacle was provided by gaggles of Brent Geese some approaching so close that you could hear them cackling away to one another. Ducks were on the move too with variable numbers of Wigeon, Teal, Pintail, Shoveler, Shelduck and Common Scoter noted, plus parties of Dunlin coming out of the bay on the high tide and heading to roost sites. Red-throated Diver, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Gannet, Sandwich Tern, auks, Kittiwake, Mediterranean, Common, Black-headed Gulls and a distant skua were also logged. The next couple of hours were spent traipsing around the peninsula where the highlight was at least ten Fieldfares scattered across the Trapping Area along with a handful of Blackbirds, some of which may have been from the continent judging by their grey plumage and black-bills. Large charms of Goldfinches were also seen along with a few Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, Robins, Goldcrest, Stonechats, a Firecrest, a Green Woodpecker, two Kestrels and a Peregrine. A check at two locations for Yellow-browed Warblers seen earlier drew a blank.

                                  Brent Geese - Dungeness

                                  Shelducks - Dungeness 

                                   Common Scoters - Dungeness

                                  Fieldfares - Trapping Area

                                 Blackbirds, Robin and Blue Tit - Trapping Area