Scary owls...

Dungeness - 0800hrs  - mild, dry, cloudy, sw 3 - Another dry day, although the wind picked up through the afternoon. A Wheatear on the shingle opposite Jarman`s and a Chiffchaff in the lighthouse garden were the only two migrants I could find. A brief seawatch from the hide produced up to 50 Gannets feeding offshore and 25 Red-throated Divers east bound into Rye Bay. Joined DW at the Patch were 2 Med Gulls and a Kittiwake were among the hundreds of large gulls on the beach and over the boil. The bird scarers were in operation on B station including two large plastic owls which the Herring Gulls didn`t seem to mind.
Whilst chatting to DG and OL by the car the 1st winter Glaucous Gull flew towards the Patch.

                                One scared Herring Gull, that worked then...

                               Orange-breasted Owl, Dungeness

ARC - From Hanson hide the Long-tailed Duck was being particularly difficult to see as it spent more time under the water than on the surface. Otherwise there was only a handful of diving ducks on show and a distant Little Egret. With the water level so high its going to be months before any islands appear here suitable for waders and other migrants.