31st January

After a damp and dreary start it eventually cleared a bit but as it did so the wind also increased. It was fairly quiet offshore during the morning but in the afternoon there were lots more birds offshore with large numbers of gulls, 50 Wigeon, around 2000 auks and a second-winter Mediterranean Gull whilst the regular first-winter Caspian Gull was seen at various times during the day.

A Grey Seal was seen offshore but unfortunately there are reports of a Porpoise being washed up in a fishing net at Lade and also "several" healthy-looking individuals being stranded and dying on the beach near the Lifeboat Station after the storms two nights ago.

30th January

A check of the land revealed a Hen Harrier hunting over the Desert and Long Pits for a short time before drifting away NW and a Firecrest in the trapping area.

At the sea it was more of the same with lots of Gannets, Kittiwakes and auks passing west, two Mediterranean Gulls feeding offshore and the first-winter Glaucous Gull still loafing around the Point and often on its own.

A Porpoise was also seen.

Click here or on the image below for a short video of the Glaucous Gull.

Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus   first-winter    Dungeness   30th January 2016

29th January

Another gloomy day with increasingly strong winds and then rain limited any serious observations to the sea where there were thousands of gulls again. Birds passing west included a new first-winter Caspian Gull and seven Mediterranean Gulls along with a Red-breasted Merganser and 13 Fulmars whilst a new third-winter Caspian Gull came into the "puddles" on the beach in the afternoon. The regular first-winter Caspian and Glaucous Gulls were still present and showing well.

A Grey Seal and a Porpoise were also seen.

28th January

A new second-winter Caspian Gull was on the beach at the Patch this morning along with seven Mediterranean Gulls. The first-winter Glaucous Gull was also still present.
A Firecrest was seen in the trapping area and a Black Redstart was feeding around Westbeach.

A Grey and a Common Seal were also seen.

27th January

Another day of strong winds and frequent rain which produced a spectacular movement of gulls. Two sessions of watching totaling 6.25hrs resulted in massive totals of 38,000 Black-headed Gulls, seven Mediterranean Gulls, 9,000 Common Gulls, 3,500 Herring Gulls, two Yellow-legged Gulls and 3,816 Kittiwakes passing west. Other bits and pieces included five Gadwall, a Teal, 75 Wigeon, 25 Fulmars, 137 Gannets and a Great Skua. In addition, 43 Brent Geese flew east against the flow. The regular first-winter Caspian and Glaucous Gulls were still present but it was perhaps something of a surprise that no other rarer gulls were found.

A Common Seal and two Grey Seals were showing very well offshore.

26th January

Not a great deal to report on another very windy day except for lots of gulls offshore. The first-winter Caspian and Glaucous Gulls were still present and were joined by two Mediterranean Gulls with another eight birds and 3000 Common Gulls passing west.

Two Grey Seals were also feeding offshore.

25th January

Limited coverage as I had a day off in Holland twitching the superb Siberian Rubythroat. However, I have had reports that the sea was fairly quiet with just a few Brent Geese, three Mediterranean Gulls and a Little Gull moving east feeding offshore, another three Mediterranean Gulls feeding along the tideline and the first-winter Glaucous Gull still present. A Skylark was seen at the boats.
A Brown Hare was seen in the car headlights on the way out early this morning.

24th January

Very little change from recent days with a steady westward passage of Kittiwakes and Razorbills and the regular first-winter Caspian and Glaucous Gulls still showing well at the fishing boats.

Elsewhere, a Penduline Tit was showing well at times in the reeds at Hookers Pit.

23rd January

A damp and dreary day with most of the interest on the shore and offshore again. Large numbers of Gannets, Kittiwakes and Razorbills flew west whilst the regular Glaucous and Caspian Gulls were giving superb views on the beach. A Little Gull was also feeding offshore and a Black-throated Diver and five Gadwall flew west.
A Woodcock was flushed from the trapping area.

Glaucous and Caspian Gull 

Glaucous Gull shows quite well

Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus   first-winter  Dungeness   23rd January 2016

22nd January

A two-hour seawatch this morning was notable for a significant westerly passage of Razorbills with 3740 counted along with a few Guillemots. Good numbers of Gannets and Kittiwakes and a Pintail also flew west. The first-winter Glaucous Gull made several passes along the shoreline as we watched. However heavy rain arrived at around 0930hrs and this effectively brought an end to any passage.
The first-winter Caspian Gull was still showing well and was joined by a new third-winter bird for a few minutes in the afternoon. 
A check of the flooded areas to the east of the Long Pits produced a Jack Snipe and 14 Common Snipe.

Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans    third-winter   Dungeness   22nd January 2016

Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus   first-winter   Dungeness   22nd January 2015