Friday 29 August 2014

Another good day at Dungeness!

06.50-07.30 from the fishing boats was very quiet just 2 Arctic Skuas, and a handful each of Gannet, Sandwich Terns and Commic Terns. On the beach 100+ Yellow Wagtails and 300+ Hirundines out.
Next stop the ARC where the Red-necked Phalarope was still performing distantly along with 4+ Garganey and myriads of Sand Martins. The Willow Trail held just 1 Willow Warbler of note. 
BH and myself then went to Dengemarsh Gully, on arrival just a handful of birders were present with no sign of the Melodious or the Wryneck. We made our way along the eastern side of the Gully and soon located the Melodious Warbler and I took yet more images, shortly after BH found the Wryneck, which was extremely elusive and camera shy while we were there. Around the Gully several Common Whitethroats and Wheatears were present. 
Along Galloways 16 Whinchats, 20+ Wheatears and 4 Common Whitethroats, also a steady stream of Hirundines westwards.

13.00-15.15 from the fishing boats joined by MH. A busy watch until the sun came out and passage dried up. 
All down channel unless stated:
Fulmar: 7
Manx Shearwater: 1 up
Gannet: 87
Great-crested Grebe: 4 off shore
Common Scoter: 9     4 up
Turnstone: 2 on beach
Great Skua: 1
Arctic Skua: 13
Mediterranean Gull: 1
Kittiwake: 4
Sandwich Tern: 185
Commic Tern: 376
Swift: 22 out
Swallow/Sand Martin: 200+ out
Late afternoon early evening back at the Gully the Wryneck showed just long enough to get a very poor image. The Melodious was far more obliging, so yet more images were taken. The last image I took today, is the one below of the Melodious Warbler asleep on its roost branch in the Elder on the seaward side of the sluice. Certainly not the clearest or sharpest shot of the day but may well be the very last image of it.

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