South-easterly Seawatch

Dungeness - 0900hrs - cool, cloudy, SE 4 - As the wind was from the fabled direction we joined the usual suspects at the fishing boats for a lively hour of seawatching during which most of the auks, in particular, were nice and close. Hundreds of Cormorant, Great Crested Grebe, Guillemot and a few Razorbill were feeding on the sea or moving between the bays, along with a steady flow of Black-headed Gull, Kittiwake, Gannet and Red-throated Diver. Also of note were four Bonxies, two Teal, 20 Brent Geese and a Med Gull on the beach. A Grey Seal provided great entertainment as it wrestled with a massive fish just offshore.

                                Mediterranean Gull, Dungeness

RSPB - 1400hrs - The two Black-throated Divers remained on New Diggings. The walk down to the pines on ARC was devoid of passerines but the pit held three Great White Egrets, eight Goldeneye, four Smew and two Goosander, plus all the usual wintering wildfowl. Two Marsh Harrier and a Green Woodpecker also noted. Little to report over the road apart from the Black-necked Grebe on Burrowes.