Dungeness - 8th December 2011

I went down to Dungeness today to try and find the Hume's Leaf Warbler, but after a good 1.5 hrs thrashing around the trapping area, I was wet, cold and still hadn't found it. There were a few birds about with 4 Goldcrest, 1 Siberian Chiffchaff and a few Blue and Great Tits. Then I went for a seawatch for another 1.5 hrs which didn't yield a huge amount - 38+ Guillemots, 1 Red-throated Diver, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers and a Great-crested Grebe as well as Gannets, Cormorants and a variety of the more common gulls.

However, I then went out towards the fishing boats and found the Glaucous Gull sitting within easy photo distance of the car. I didn't even see the Caspian Gull next to it until Dave pointed it out! The Casp was a Kent tick for me, having seen them before at RSPB Rainham.

I then drove back ot the ARC pit and saw the Great White Egret on the way there. From ARC I saw the recent Peduline Tit, Long-tailed Duck, Goldeneye and almost all the more common ducks.

Not a bad day for December with two year ticks and one kent.



Glaucous Gull



Caspian Gull



Penduline Tit