Pomarine & Great Skua at Dungeness & Porpoises

Up early Jimmy & I meet up with Brian to set off to Dungeness once more, it takes us about 90 minutes to get to the beach, the hide is not open again, it seems unfair that only the few can use the hide, but never mind we start to look out over the sea mainly we wanted to see Black tern today as Jimmy & I need to see one for a year tick.

We spend 3 hours on this part of the beach no luck with the target bird, but we are now joined by a good few other birders which helps us to scan the sea for anything going through.
Jimmy calls a Little Gull which is always nice to see.

Lesser Black-Backed Gull

Then it's Brian's turn to call a Kittiwake not to far out, then somebody calls out a Pomarine Skua, after checking with the boys,that is indeed what the bird is,we all get a nice view of it.
We see Arctic Terns & Common Terns, also about 20 or so Scoters flying through.
Next up we see a nice Great Skua, this is another year tick for us,this brings my year total to 239, this is my best year total so far.
We also see a couple of Porpoise's swimming about in front of us always worth seeing this wonderful  sight

Off to the cafe for a cuppa & some toast, energy restored so off to look for Black Tern up the other end of the beach by the boats, plenty of people fishing here, we scan for some time and see more Arctic terns & another Bonxie, also some more Porpoise's pop up & down not to far away from us.



 Then the target bird for the day appears when 2 juvenile Black Terns are spotted, they had been reported from here earlier, It's good to finally catch up with them. Total now standing at 240.

Tree Sparrow

Off to Denge Marsh now,a quick scan reveals Sandmartins everywhere maybe 500 or more, also a Little Egret, but no sign of the Great White Egret, not to much about so we have a quick drive round to scan across the lakes and then a quick look at the Tree Sparrows at the reserve entrance.
 Brian take's a quick drive down to the vistor centre to see if anything is reported, but the board has not been updated today, so we call it a day and head home.


Dungeness( Bleak)

Dungeness( this is a calm day)

Heron