Roseate & Black Terns

Dungeness - 1600-1730hrs - cloudy, mild, drizzle, sw 4 - Having spent most of the day off the Marsh it was good to get out and about this afternoon and feel the weather. We opted for a seawatch from the fishing boats which proved to be a good move as there was a steady movement of seabirds, mostly terns, down-Channel. The highlights were two close Roseate Terns (198 for the year) that I presumed were the pair that have been seen off and on at Dunge during the summer, and more regularly at Rye Harbour in the evenings. At least 30 Black Terns moved through, including one flock of eight adults in full breeding plumage (what gorgeous birds they are) plus, c250 Common Terns, 50 Gannets, 10 Sandwich Terns, 2 Little Gulls and singles of Med Gull and Kittiwake. DW turned up and promptly found three distant Manxies, while a Balearic Shearwater had gone through earlier.
So, all in all, 90 minutes well spent.

                                Oh no! Its surely not seawatching time again...

                                1st summer Little Gull, Dungeness