First Manxie

Dungeness - cool, sunny, se 3 - 0615hrs - A check of the massed ranks of gulls on the beach by the fishing boats drew a blank on yesterdays Iceland Gull. However, a quick look at the sea yielded our first Manx Shearwater of the year down-Channel, plus a steady flow of Gannets, Common Scoters and Brents up-Channel. We then moved position to the seawatch hide where plenty more of the aforementioned were noted along with a trickle of Kittiwakes, Little Gulls, Sandwich Terns, 2 Common Terns (our first of the year) a few auks, Red-throated Diver and Fulmar, and finally just as we were about to leave to do breakfasts a close Arctic Skua clipped the cardinal buoy. Bonxie, Black-throated and Great Northern Divers and Velvet Scoter were also noted through the morning. For full details of a lively seawatch refer to: www.ploddingbirder.blogspot.co.uk
  On land the only migrants detected were a Firecrest in the lighthouse garden, 2 Chiffchaffs by the Britannia and a Wheatear by Jarman`s.

                                Sunrise over the English Channel, Dungeness

                               Goldcrest, Plovers garden

Lade  - Two Buzzards flew over the cottage early afternoon, while Blackcap and Goldcrest sang from back gardens hereabouts.