Storm Barney

Lade - Mild wet and windy sw 3-6 - These past couple of days have been dominated by fast-moving weather fronts streaming in off the Atlantic. The strong `uns are now named by the Met Office with  today`s blow entitled, `Barney`: I`ve told my beloved mutt, but he was less than impressed...
There hasn't been much change to the bird life on the wind-swept gravel pits around the peninsula with the 2 Black-necked Grebes still hugging the margins of New Diggings, Goosander and Smew on Burrowes and Great White Egrets just about everywhere you look around the bird reseerve. A Firecrest showed well yesterday morning by Dennis`s hide and during the afternoon there was a report of a Dusky Warbler near Hookers reed bed which proved suitably elusive, and again this morning when it was seen and heard skulking in scrub. Another skulker, a Dartford Warbler continues to remain faithful to the gorse and bramble cover along the return trail. 
Dungeness - A late morning visit along the beach and fishing boats revealed little movement offshore apart from Cormorants, Kittiwakes and Black-headed Gulls, plus 10 Common Scoters west. Great Crested Grebe numbers are starting to increase and 45 Turnstones were present on the tideline.
By early afternoon the rain commenced and the wind rapidly increased as Storm Barney swept up Channel rendering any attempt at birding pointless.