Glaucous Gull & Dartford Warbler

Dungeness - mild, cloudy, sunny later, light airs - Spent the day guiding for Cedric from Sussex in spring-like weather. We kicked off at the fishing boats where the sea was covered in Cormorants, Great Crested Grebes and Guillemots, plus a scattering of Kittiwakes, Razorbills, Gannets, a Bonxie and a flock of 110 Red-throated Divers moving between the bays. News from PB at the Patch told of a 1st winter Glaucous Gull showing well on the beach and just as we arrived a 1st winter Caspian Gull dropped in! A Peregrine and Kestrel were located on the power station structure, while a tour of the point turned up a pair of Stonechats by West Beach, with a smart Dartford Warbler in tow, a Black Redstart by the moat and a flock of 20 Mipits, Pied and a Grey Wagtail by the seawatch hide corner. Dunnocks seemed to be everywhere in the scrub, singing, courting and establishing territories.

                                1st winter Caspian and Glaucous Gulls

                                Dunnocks were highly active this morning

                                Male Stonechat

Lade Bay - We checked the bay on a rising tide at three locations clocking up seven species of waders including both godwits and Knot. At Lade car park a chuckling Starling showed well in bright sunshine.

                               Starling with bracelet

Scotney - All the usual feral geese were on the front fields, plus Pintail and Wigeon, while outback more feral geese and swans and two Grey Wagtails around the farmyard.
Dengemarsh - Finished up at Springfield Bridge where the Linnet/Chaffinch flock noted on the weedy field, plus Marsh Harrier, Great White Egret, Golden Plover and the usual range of wildfowl on the reserve.
  A decent days birding for our guest, in fine winter weather, during which time we noted a typical range of wintering species with particularly good views of the Glaucous Gull and Dartford Warbler.