Wednesday 25 April 2012

The Sea

Dungeness - 0730hrs - low cloud, heavy rain, se6 - A shocker of a morning with rain lashing into the seawatch hide and slow going due to the viewing conditions. However, a trickle of close Gannets, Fulmars, terns and auks during the hour I was present. The rain continued all morning, easing up to more showery weather during the afternoon, when by all accounts a steady flow of Bonxies moved up-Channel with Arctics and at least one Pom Skua, Arctic Terns and Little Gulls.
On the way back from Folkestone this afternoon the seascape was most impressive from Seabrook to Hythe with huge waves breaking over the coast road in places. A brief stop in the small car park opposite the Hotel Imperial revealed a number of Gannets and Kittiwakes close to shore, plus a single Bonxie.
1500hrs - Another watch from the boats at Dungeness revealed a stream of Sandwich and Common Terns, Gannets, auks, 10 Bonxies and 2 Arctic Skuas rounding the peninsula. With the seawatch hide being manned for most of the day the final tally of seabirds should be impressive.

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