6th-7th February 2011

Sunday 6^th February – Mild, cloudy, SW6

Dungeness – 1000hrs – Did a quick half an hour seawatch from the boats this morning in dreadful conditions with a big sea running and plenty of mist and spray restricting visibility. A steady supply of auks, grebes, divers and gulls milling around the point, plus a handful of Gannets. Located the wintering 1^st winter Glaucous Gull on the beach, which seemed completely at ease in the foul weather.

ARC – 1045hrs From the road at the south end two Smew and a Little Egret alongside the causeway.

RSPB – 1100hrs – Showed 12 visiting birdwatchers around the circuit on what was entitled a `Wildfowl Walk`. Burrowes resembled a little sea with ducks sheltering from the strong wind behind islands and the bund adjacent to Scott hide. All common species noted. On Denge Marsh good views of Raven tearing apart a rabbit carcass and two low flying Marsh Harriers. Tree Sparrows and Reed Buntings on the car park feeders.

Monday 7^th February – Mild, cloudy, SW5

Dungeness – 0900hrs From the fishing boats a steady stream of Brents moved east with at least 500 in a couple of hours. At the Patch the usual melee involving hundreds of gulls, plus an immature Great Black-back on the beach with a numbered ring that was probably from Norway according to David Walker.