Velvet Scoter at Dungeness

Jimmy & I meet up with Brian at 6 o'clock, no plans made about where to go, so Brian wastes no time in setting of to Dungeness, 7. 30 & we are sitting by the lighthouse by the beach, the mist is quite thick, so instead of going up on the beach we head to the moat, we spend over an hour looking around, not to much about, so we give the beach a try.
When we get up next to the hide we meet a local bird counter, we spend a good couple of hours with him.
The  first birds we see are Red-throated Diver, we see dozens as we watch here.
20 Little Gulls are seen, Auks are plenty, Razorbills, Guillemots, Kittiwake near to the beach.
Jimmy picks up 2 Sandwich Terns sitting on the bouy, another year tick, then a flock of Scoters pass by, Brian soon picks out 2 Velvet Scoters amongst them, a year tick for Jimmy & me.
Also seen Gadwall, Wigeon, Shellduck, Pintail, & also Goosander seen.
Looking at the power station wall I spot a Chiffchaff sitting there, another year tick, also seen on the wall is a Black Redstart & 2 Meadow Pipits.
We have to leave now as this is only a short visit today.
Before we leave we shoot down to the Reserve to see if any thing is reported today, on the way we see 4 Great- white Egrets, the Tree Sparrows are plentiful. Nothing on the Reserve we needed so a quick look over the other side of the road to look for Firecrest that we are told was seen yesterday, Jimmy needs one for a tick.

Tree Sparrow

While he scans the bushes Brian & myself go in the hide, we meet some other birders in there that we know, apart from Golden eye, not to much to see, but we do have a good old talk.
Jimmy has no luck with the Firecrest, so we must head home now, a really nice morning spent at one of our best spots.