Dungeness - 0630 - 0800hrs - misty, murky, NE 2 - An early seawatch from outside the hide in company with MC and CP was notable for an up-Channel passage of some 400 Gannets, and unlike two days ago most of these were close to shore providing a fine spectacle. There was little else though apart from a few Sandwich Terns, a party of 41 Brents, four Shelducks, two Razorbills and singles of Guillemot, Red-throated Diver and Fulmar. Passerines included several coasting Linnets and Meadow Pipits, plus incoming Pied Wagtails and a smart Rock Pipit that landed right in front of us. A Fox came up the shingle bank near the hide, looked at us with disdain and continued on its way scavenging along the strandline, much to the annoyance of a couple of crows.
Last night the temperature remained in double figures, so with light airs and a bit of cloud cover expectation levels were high for our first moths of the year in the garden trap. After six blank nights over the past month it was good to get a result at last; first out was a superb Herald, followed by three Early Greys, two Hebrew Characters, two Small Quakers and a Double-striped Pug. Fairly typical early spring fare, but unfortunately that`ll probably be it for a while as the forecast does not look promising with cold nights and a strong north-easter off the sea over the coming days.
The local patch yielded very little of note apart from a few flyover Linnets and a singing Blackcap and Chiffchaff around the ponds. A count of 70 Turnstones on the ebb tide was noteworthy yesterday along with 25 Ringed Plovers, but today the kite-surfers had taken over the beach on account of the brisk, north-easterly wind.
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