march 2012 Back to Dungeness

Bleak

My lovely wife on her first visit,  She loved it here

A boat left behind

We seem to end up at Dungeness a lot as Brian like's it a lot. A bleak cold resort that has a charm all of its own.We alway's go up on to the beach when we get there to see what's passing through, today not much, just Sandwich Tern flying with the commoner gulls, So off to the trapping area, Nothing had been trapped yet but we look around the gorse bushes and get lucky when we see a Firecrest flying in and out then notice five more, I love to see these tiny birds I think  one of my favorites.The warden comes over the hill from the observatory and up pops a nice Woodcock We get a great view as it fly's right over our head's. We look round the wire fenceing and get two Black Redstart's. Willow Warbler heard plus Chiffchaff. The week before when we was down here a nice Glaucous gull was on the shingle by the boat's. A few birder's about looking at it when Brian & jimmy call a Caspian gull a lifer for us so great. Up on the beach looking out to sea we get Guillemot, Little gull., Kittiwake, Artic skua, Black throated Diver, RazorBill, On the way out we look over the water both side's of the road and get a nice Great White Egret, we then pick out a Long-tailed Duck, I say we but I mean Brian & Jimmy tell me it's there. Off home, 99 miles as we get near rainham Brian says do we want to see the short eared owls , we did not turn down the chance to see owls, Brian got them the night before on the way home from work, we did not wait long before 3 flew  up and came right toward us a great sight as one turn's into the light the marking's stand out fantastic. A face we see now and again Nick Croft is here as well nice to see fellow birder's. A great day now home.