Gulls, Merlin and Brambling

Lade - cool, cloudy, rain, nw 3 - A decent fall of Song Thrushes and Robins were scattered across the local patch this morning following heavy overnight rain. Also noted two Ring Ouzels, a Fieldfare, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Chiffchaffs, Goldcrest, four Great White Egrets and four juvenile Marsh Harriers in the air at once over the main reedbed.

                                Merlin at the fishing boats

                                Brambling in front of the power station

                               1st winter Caspian Gull by the puddles

                                Black Redstart

                                Barnacle Geese eastbound

Dungeness - With Clare and Peter down from London for a three day Birdwatching Break there was only one place to start: for the juvenile Sabine`s Gull, that was into its third day. Despite searching the foreshore between the fishing boats and The Patch this afternoon we had no joy. 
  However, we did connect with a wide range of gulls including first winter Caspian and Yellow-legged Gulls by the boats and plenty of Kittiwakes, 10 Mediterranean Gulls and six Little Gulls on the sea. Several parties of Brents and Common Scoters passed the point, plus a flock of six Barnacle Geese (unusual here), 10 Shelducks, 10 Sandwich Terns, five Red-throated Divers and a Bonxie. Best of all though was a Merlin that had chased a Meadow Pipit into the cabin of one of the fishing boats and was in the clutches of JTM awaiting processing at the Obs.
  In front of the power station a Brambling and Black Redstart showed well, while small flocks of Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, Chaffinches, Linnets and Starlings came in off the sea and two House Martins flew over the car park. Grey Seal and Porpoise were noted offshore.
  Although we dipped on the Sabine`s there was still plenty to see - and we only did the foreshore!