Passage waders

Dungeness - 0615 - 0830hrs - cold, cloudy, hazy viz, NE 4 - An early morning seawatch from the hide with the locals delivered a steady up-Channel passage of waders, wildfowl and terns typical for the time of year. In the vanguard were over 300 Bar-tailed Godwits in loose flocks along with 50 odd Whimbrels and lesser numbers of Grey Plovers, Curlews, Oystercatchers, Turnstones and a Ringed Plover. A steady trickle of Gannets, Common and Sandwich Terns was enlivened by several small groups of Arctic Terns and 11 Little Gulls; more Commic Terns further out were those too distant for me to identify. Also in the mix: three Red-throated Divers, three Fulmars, two Kittiwakes, six Brent Geese, 20 auks, several small flocks of Common Scoter, Teal and Shoveler, a Bonxie and three close Arctic Skuas. Incoming passerines included several Linnets and Goldfinches, two Crows, a Siskin and a Swallow.