Med Gulls

Folkestone - 1000hrs - v cold, sunny, se4, -1C - Had to go to the cash & carry in Folkestone so thought it only right and proper to check out the Med Gulls at Copt Point. Smart birds (for a gull) are Meds and I can remember back in the 80`s calling in here to twitch one when they were still a scarce bird. Anyhow, saw about 50 in the area today around the old pub, the coastguard lookout and down by the harbour. Several posed on roof-tops for piccies but should`ve taken some bread to bring `em down.
On the fields behind the lookout were 4 Goldies, 2 Lapwings and a Dunlin feeding on a snow-free patch of grass.
On the harbour breakwater and wall, amongst the gulls, were 20 Turnstones, 6 Dunlins, 2 Redshanks and a Purple Sandpiper.

                                           Lade Bay - sunrise

                                           Golden Plovers - Folkestone

                                          Lapwing & Goldie - Folkestone

                                           Adult Mediterranean Gulls - Folkestone

ARC - 1400hrs - From the causeway road 7 Goosanders on the edge of the ice along with hundreds of Wigeons, Gadwalls and Shovelers, plus 3 Dunlins and a Snipe on the frozen mud. Over the road on New Diggings 3 redhead Smews. From Hanson, 1,000 + Wigeons, Shovelers and Gadwalls plus several Shelducks, Pintails and brief view of a Bittern. Opposite Screen a small flock of Long-tailed tits and a Chiffchaff. Out on the ice yet another moribund Common Gull and several other looking decidedly unwell; wonder why this gull in particular seems to be suffering...