Little Terns

Dungeness - 0745hrs - cool, cloudy, n2 - A grim old morning more like November than May; will I ever get into shorts this year... Anyhow, an hour in the seawatch hide produced a steady flow of Gannets, Sandwich and Commic Terns (at least 6 Arctics) along with 20 delightful Little Terns in two groups, nice and close too. Infact, most stuff was close including 4 female mergansers, a group of Sanderlings in summer plum, 2 Barwits and a Whimbrel. Also a few Swifts and Swallows in off the sea.
A couple of Poms were noted earlier. On the land the usual Wheatears, Stonechats and Whitethroats, and an Osprey was seen over the Desert (OL).
ARC - 1000hrs - During the course of survey work on the bird reserve I was surprised at how quickly the water level has risen on the pits; from Hanson nearly all the islands are now awash, and it looks as tho there`s plenty more rain to come. However, loads of Swifts and Swallows over the water, 2 LRPs and a Greenshank at the south end and warblers in song everywhere, including Lesser Whitethroat.
Dengemarsh - A slog across the shingle to Pen Bars produced very little except one pair of Ringed Plovers and 2 hares. On the walk back a Short-eared Owl was flushed from cover which flew out across the flood towards Hookers. Also in the area 5 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Marsh Harriers, 2 Blackwits, 2 Garganeys and singles of Raven, Sparrowhawk, Corn Bunting and Whinchat.
ps: A group of Wiltshire birders staying with us for a few days reported a late Pom from the seawatch hide this evening.