Dungeness - 0900hrs - Rain, cloudy, mild, ne3 - Weatherwise a thoroughly grotty day with persistant rain and heavy showers lashing the Point all morning. We spent most of the time seawatching from the hide and the concrete road with a brief visit to The Patch. The seawatch produced a total of 200 Brents, 50 Common Scoters and 2 Bonxies down-Channel. Everything else was milling around offshore, so 50 odd Gannets, 10 auks, 3 Red-throated Divers, Sandwich Tern and a juv Kittiwake, plus 5 Porpoises and a Grey Seal. Loafing gulls by the fishing boats included Shortie the Glaucous Gull and the adult Yellow-legged Gull. At The Patch, 3 Little Gulls and a Med Gull amongst 100 assorted gulls (there was also a report of a Sabine`s along the beach this morning). Passerines of noted included 50 Goldfinches, 4 Mipits and a Skylark.
Shortie, the Glaucous Gull, now in 3rd winter plumage
In summary, Sarah, Jean and Laura clocked up 100 species this weekend, despite the rain on Friday and today. The individual highlight was probably the Short-eared Owl because of the stunning views it gave, but predictably the passerines around the Peninsula on Saturday stole the show: particularly the thrushes, Ring Ouzels, Jays, Bearded Tits, finches, crests and Yellow-browed Warbler. An enjoyable weekend all round in great company.
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