Wet & Windy

Dungeness - 0830hrs - Mild, overcast, rain, se 6 - An increasingly mild and wet day with the wind veering to the south-west by mid afternoon and gusting to near gale force. A lively seawatch from the fishing boats produced plenty of Kittiwakes, Gannets, Guillemots and Red-throated Divers rounding the point plus loads more auks and Great Crested Grebes on the sea. Had distant views of a probable Pom Skua and the first Fulmar of the winter. Also, 35 Wigeon, 14 Gadwall and 8 Brents down-Channel, plus the Glaucous Gull hunkered down amongst the gulls.

                                          Glaucous Gull, Dungeness

Crossing the causeway road en-route to Ashford the Black-throated Diver and a Smew noted on a choppy New Diggings, plus hundreds of Gadwall, Teal and Shoveler on ARC. Passing Johnson`s Corner with the rain lashing down 20 plus Waxwings atop an ash trees by the lay-bye.
On the return journey a drive around Walland Marsh delivered 30 odd Bewick`s Swans from Midley railway crossing and a much reduced number of winter thrushes in the hedgerows. Little else of note due to the weather conditions.
Called in at a deserted visitor centre at the RSPB where Burrowes had taken on the appearance of the sea complete with waves! Only a Great White Egret of note here battling to stay upright in the tempest. By 3pm it was almost dark, roll on the spring...