A damp and cold day saw a little bit of movement offshore with four Teal, a Mediterranean Gull, 70 Guillemots, 101 Razorbills, 367 Auk sp and 47 Red-throated Divers and 108 Gannets of note and also a first-winter Caspian Gull at the Patch. Three Black Redstarts were feeding alongside the power station wall.
Six Grey Seals were feeding offshore from the fishing boats.
Another fairly miserable day of weather with a moderate SSE wind and intermittent rain. Again decent numbers of Gannet offshore, mainly moving westwards and a smattering of Brent Geese passing east.
Seawatch per MC/RW/OL (08:00 to 09:30): Brent Goose 56E, Common Scoter 1W, Great-crested Grebe 2W, Kittiwake 68W, Little Gull 3W, Mediterranean Gull 1E, Great Black-backed Gull 47W, Lesser Black-backed Gull 3W, Sandwich Tern 1W, Guillemot 13W, Razorbill 112W, Auk sp. 145W, Red-throated Diver 61W, Fulmar 13W and Gannet 958W.
Grey Seal 1
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| Black-headed Gull (TJVV) - Martin Casemore |
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| Map of Black-headed Gull (TJVV) Ringing Location to Dungeness Point |
Dungeness Point: Caspian Gull 1 (1st Win), Yellow-legged Gull 1 (3rd Win) both noted in the gull roost on the point. Also of note, the Black-headed Gull photographed above was colour-ringed in Poland and has returned to the peninsula for its fourth year in succession. The bird was originally ringed as an adult on the 6th June 2020 in Lubczyna, Poland some 980km from Dungeness (MC).
Long Pits: A Firecrest was seen at the end of the pits (JT-M).
Dungeness RSPB: The single Great Northern Diver was once again moving between Burrowes Pit and New Diggings. A drake Goldeneye was also on Burrowes, whilst a Great White Egret and two Brent Geese were around the Boulderwall Farm area (DB/MC/RW).
Lastly the family of three White-fronted Geese had moved over to Lydd Fields and could be viewed from Robin Hood Lane (MC).
A horrid day weather-wise with persistent rain and fairly strong southerly winds made for a fairly unpleasant day. Bird wise not much change from the past few days with the bulk of the birds still in situ. It does however look like the Glossy Ibis have moved on due to the cold snap. A few bits and pieces made the seawatch worthwhile with another Great Skua being the highlight.
Seawatch Hide per RW (08:15 to 10:15): Wigeon 1W, Teal 12W, Common Scoter 1W/9E, Kittiwake 11W/6E, Mediterranean Gull 1W/2E, Great Skua 1E, Auk sp. 47W/44E, Red-throated Diver 41W/13E and Gannet 144W/737E.
Dungeness RSPB: The single Great Northern Diver was still present on Burrowes Pit from Dennis’s Hide. Three White-fronted Geese (2 ad/1 juv) were still in the Boulderwall Farm area late morning (MC/RW/NB).
Slightly out of area but of note, the herd of 33 Bewick Swans were still on Walland Marsh viewed from Hook Wall in the company of four Whooper Swans. A male Hen Harrier was also seen near Caldecot Lane, Lydd (NB).
A morning of freezing fog meant there was little noted on the bird front across the recording area and little coverage throughout the day. The weather forecast for Sunday looks like heavy rain and strong southerly winds so perhaps more challenging weather to follow tomorrow.
Dungeness RSPB: Only one of the Great Northern Divers was reported today, still in its usual haunt of Burrowes Pit from Dennis’s Hide. Finally some winter geese graced the peninsula with the discovery of six White-fronted Geese and two Brent Geese in with the Canada Goose flock at Boulderwall Farm (MW/DB/RW/MC).
A bitterly cold start to December with sub-zero temperatures early morning and a biting northerly wind. An increase in Caspian Gull numbers across the recording area perhaps bodes well for the winter period.
Seawatch Hide per MC/RW/OL (08:00 to 09:15): Teal 1W/27E, Shoveler 6W, Common Scoter 6E, Great-crested Grebe 12 o/s, Oystercatcher 4E, Kittiwake 2W, Great Black-backed Gull 23W, Lesser Black-backed Gull 3W, Guillemot 1W/2E, Razorbill 2W/4E, Auk sp. 19W/32E, Red-throated Diver 10W/9E, Gannet 84E, Cormorant 142W and Merlin in off.
Red Fox 1 and Grey Seal 1
Dungeness RSPB: The two Great Northern Divers ended the day back on Burrowes Pit from the Dennis’s Hide having been between here and New Diggings earlier in the day. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was still on Burrowes and was joined by four Caspian Gulls (Adult, 3rd win and 2x 1st win). Also of note, two Goldeneye were on Burrowes (RW/MC)
A gentle north-westerly for most of the day and a decent amount of cloud cover made for much better viewing conditions for sea watching. Another Velvet Scoter was the highlight but also a good mix of common wildfowl too.
Seawatch Hide per MC/RW (07:30 to 09:30): Brent Goose 1E, Shelduck 4W, Gadwall 2W, Shoveler 2W/21E, Teal 10W/41E, Wigeon 20E, Velvet Scoter 1W, Common Scoter 10W/1E, Great-crested Grebe 1 o/s, Oystercatcher 4E, Kittiwake 2W, Sandwich Tern 1W, Guillemot 1E, Razorbill 4W/2E, Auk sp. 94W/57E, Red-throated Diver 29W/20E/1 o/s, Gannet 308E, Cormorant 277W and Starling 385 in off.
Common Seal 1 and Grey Seal 1
Dungeness RSPB: Two Great Northern Divers were both on New Diggings, whilst an adult Yellow-legged Gull was seen on Burrowes Pit. The Chiffchaff was still around the Visitor Centre bushes and finally, two Goosander were seen from Springfield Bridge (MC/RW/MH).
A calm and cold day on the peninsula with a light northerly wind; clear to start with sunny intervals later in the day.
Seawatch Hide per MC/RW (08:00 to 09:00): Brent Goose seven E, Common Scoter six E, Great-crested Grebe 27 o/s, Turnstone two, Lesser Black-backed Gull two, Guillemot four on sea, Razorbill two on sea, Auk sp. 16E, Red-throated Diver 11E, Gannet 200 feeding, Cormorant 500 feeding, Starling 850 in off, Pied Wagtail one.
Grey Seal 1
Dungeness RSPB: A single Great Northern Diver was present on New Diggings, a Chiffchaff was seen by the Visitor Centre and two Glossy Ibis were in the Cockles Bridge/Boulderwall Farm area. (MC/MH/PM)
A quiet day around the peninsula with very little coverage due in the main to a biting northerly wind. Highlight of the day were the two Great Skua which passed the Seawatch Hide this morning. They have been few and far between on seawatches lately due to the decimation of the breeding populations from avian influenza.
Seawatch Hide per MC/RW (08:00 to 09:00): Tufted Duck 1W, Great-crested Grebe 9 o/s, Turnstone 2, Oystercatcher 2W, Kittiwake 6W, Black-headed Gull 14W, Mediterranean Gull 1W, Common Gull 14W, Great Black-backed Gull 9W, Lesser Black-backed Gull 2W, Great Skua 2E, Guillemot 4E, Razorbill 3E, Auk sp. 23E, Red-throated Diver 13W/14E, Gannet 96E and Cormorant 943W.
Grey Seal 1
Dungeness RSPB: The single Great Northern Diver was still present on Burrowes Pit from Dennis’s Hide and a male Hen Harrier was seen over the Dengemarsh Reedbed during the morning (MC/RW).
The winds swung back to a WNW direction and as a result the temperature was significantly warmer. Generally a quiet day on the peninsula with little moving from the seawatch hide and very few new birds around the area.
Seawatch Hide per MC/RW (08:00 to 09:30): Velvet Scoter 2E, Common Scoter 8W/2E, Great-crested Grebe 5o/s, Kittiwake 51W, Black-headed Gull 37W, Common Gull 9W, Great Black-backed Gull 56W, Lesser Black-backed Gull 9W, Arctic Skua 1E, Guillemot 13W, Razorbill 27W, Auk sp. 49W, Red-throated Diver 10W/1E, Gannet 668W and Cormorant 537W.
Grey Seal 1
Dungeness RSPB: Just one Great Northern Diver remained on Burrowes Pit today, again from Dennis's Hide. Only other report of note was the 3 Glossy Ibis were still present around the Homeleigh Farm/Cockles Bridge area. (MC/RW/MH)
Another chilly morning with a slight change to a gentle north-easterly wind. Generally quiet in the bushes around the Observatory due, in the main to dog walkers.
Fishing Boats per MC/RW (08:00 to 09:00 & 13:30 to 14:30): Brent Goose 1E, Teal 3W, Wigeon 3W, Velvet Scoter 1W, Common Scoter 19W/2E, Great-crested Grebe 12o/s, Oystercatcher 4W/1E, Turnstone 2 present, Kittiwake 7W, Guillemot 8 o/s, Razorbill 15 o/s, Auk sp. 44W, Red-throated Diver 7W/10E/2 o/s, Gannet 65 feeding and Cormorant 1000+ o/s.
Grey Seal 1
Dungeness Point: A single Dartford Warbler seen by the Polish War Memorial (JY)
Dungeness RSPB: The two Great Northern Divers were still present from Dennis's Hide as well as a drake Goldeneye. Late afternoon the herd of 24 Bewick Swans (20 adults/4 juv) from Walland Marsh came into ARC Pit with four Whooper Swans for company. Up to eight Cattle Egret were feeding around Cockles Bridge and the Glossy Ibis flock has lost its fourth member, down to three again today! (MC/RW).
Dengemarsh Gully: Generally quiet with just a Raven overhead and six Goldcrests of note (MC).