Dungeness RSPB

RSPB - 1030hrs - mild, sunny, sw 3 - Once the early morning murk had cleared it turned out to be a pleasant day with plenty of warm sunshine. Parked up at Boulderwall, where up to 15 Tree Sparrows were on the feeders, and walked to Dengemarsh checking the wet meadows along the way where c2,000 Lapwing, 100 Golden Plover, 50 Curlew and hundreds of gulls, feral geese, Starlings, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, two Great White Egrets, Peregrine, Common Buzzard and several Marsh Harriers including the distinctive `yellow` adult female. The spinney by Hookers held a few passerines: Great and Blue Tits, Dunnock, Wren, Cetti`s Warbler, Tree Sparrow and Reed Bunting, nothing special, but just nice to a see a few small birds. Also on the open fields two Brown Hares `boxing`.
A flooded field opposite the Corral attracted a Green Sandpiper, while Bearded Tits, Water Rail and Cetti`s Warbler were all in good voice from the ramp. More feral geese, Lapwings and three Shelducks in the back field.
On Burrowes three Smew and singles of Goosander and Black-necked Grebe amongst the common wildfowl, gulls and Cormorants.
From the causeway road two Black-throated Diver on New Diggings and another Smew on ARC.

                                Dengemarsh/Hookers

Dungeness - 1415hrs  - A seawatch from the fishing boats with MH this afternoon yielded all the expected auks, grebes, gulls and Cormorants feeding offshore, plus a couple of divers, but there was nothing on the move. Along the foreshore were scores of dogfish washed up in the afternoon sunshine. These unfortunate sea creatures are probably a result of so called by-catch from the fishing industry, although some may have been washed up by the recent storms. Known as `rats of the sea` by fisherman many are caught around the British coastline and being inedible are simply chucked over the side dead or dying. Just seems such as waste to me.

                                Lesser-spotted Dogfish, Dungeness