Sunday 17 December 2017

Sea watching at Dungeness in the last few days has produced small numbers of Red-throated Divers, Gannets, Guillemots and Kittiwakes, a count of 522 Great-crested Grebes, a singles each of Black-throated Diver, Goosander, Merlin and Mediterranean Gull. A new 1w Caspian Gull has been seen around The Point for last couple of days. At least 1 Dartford Warbler is still present around the new lighthouse area.
1w Caspian Gull at the fishing boats
16 Bewick Swans were opposite Cockles Bridge yesterday but I could only find 13 today, though the others may have been obscured by reeds.
The now seemingly resident 3w Caspian Gull seems to be living on an island viewable from Makepiece and is usually joined by other Caspian and Yellow-legged Gulls in the late afternoon roost. The long-eared Owl was just about showing today deep inside the bushes behind the dipping pool, a male Brambling was coming to the feeders in the reserve car park today. 6 Goosander (3 drakes & 3 Ducks) dropped into Burrowes this afternoon and were joined by a 4th drake a little later but still no Smew. Nearby at Lade the Long-tailed Duck and Slavonian Grebe are still present.
Scotney is still very quiet with just the usual feral geese to be seen, a Green Sandpiper or 2 can also usually be seen but so far no sign of any wild geese.
Brambling on the visitor centre car park feeders

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