Dungeness - mild, cloudy, SE 3 - The past few days have been predictably quiet around Lade and on the RSPB reserve where the Great Northern Diver continues its winter sojourn. While time spent walking the bay checking for Snow Buntings along the strandline has been fruitless it has enabled me to clock-up all 11 species of wintering shorebirds, including three Black-tailed Godwits from Littlestone Green. On Monday, together with Chris P, we checked the foreshore at various points between Hythe and Dymchurch for Purple Sands and a 1st winter Glaucous Gull (reported from Willop Basin) without success; although we did note a few Teal on the bay, plus Kittiwakes and a Little Gull at Hythe. Also noted along the way two decomposing Harbour Porpoises and a piece of flotsam complete with Goose Barnacles. On Tuesday an hour at the fishing boats in the morning proved productive with the brisk onshore wind delivering hundreds of close Guillemots, Razorbills, Kittiwakes and Gannets, several Red-throated Divers and a party of 30 Brent Geese and five Little Gulls heading up-Channel. This morning we walked the foreshore at Dungeness down to the Patch hide (which is now a sorry old sight) where plenty more auks, Gannets, gulls, Red-throats and a couple of Fulmars were rounding the point.
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