During the winter months good numbers of Red-throated Divers, Great Crested Grebes and auks (mainly Guillemots) can be seen off the Point. There are, usually, thousands of gulls around the Patch where Iceland and Glaucous Gulls are regular visitors. Cold weather can dramatically increase numbers of birds at this time of the year as in February, 1996 when daily movements of up to 2740 Red-throated Divers, 2000 Kittiwakes and over 14000 auks were recorded.

Return passage to Arctic breeding grounds starts towards the end of February when Brent Geese and Red-throated Divers begin to move east. The geese tend to dominate any daily passage until the last quarter of March when Common Scoter start to move often in company with good numbers of dabbling duck, Teal, Wigeon and Shoveler. Early Sandwich Terns and Great Skuas also appear at this time. Scoter numbers usually peak during the first ten days of April and though the record count of 27035 on 8^th April 1979 seems unassailable, counts of 3-4000 per day are more or less annual. Generally speaking, the second half of April and first third of May is the most exciting period for up-Channel passage in terms of the variety of species involved. Sandwich Terns peak around the middle of the month whilst Common Terns are the most numerous migrant throughout this period with the highest counts towards the end of the month or in the first few days of May. Variable numbers of Arctic Terns are recorded. Great and Arctic Skuas and Little Gulls are prominent and small numbers of Black-throated Divers are regular. Waders are also on the move. Bar-tailed Godwits are the most numerous species with maximum daily counts of 2-3000 not unusual and good numbers of Whimbrel are often recorded. The first few days of May usually see the main passage of Pomarine Skuas, a charismatic species which, for many people, is the reason to visit Dungeness at this time! Numbers are small (record day count, 151 on 7^th May 1981) when compared with those at Hebridean sites but flocks often give excellent views as they pass close inshore and there is always the chance of a Long-tailed Skua with them. Grey Plover, Knot, Sanderling and Little and Black Terns are amongst the supporting cast. The second half of May is usually fairly uneventful but can be enlivened by a small, late movement of Common Terns or Pomarine Skuas.

Pomarine Skuas   6^th May 2002

Despite the great number of hours spent seawatching, certain species, though nationally abundant, remain rarities at Dungeness. Prime examples are European Storm Petrel and Puffin. Great and Cory’s Shearwaters also appear reluctant to venture so far east despite their regular appearance, sometimes in large numbers, at the western end of the Channel. However, with patience and luck, amazing things can be seen for White-billed Diver, Black-browed Albatross, Herald Petrel and Little Shearwater have all been recorded in recent years!