A walk around Bishopstone early morning followed by a seawatch for an hour until thick fog ended the session produced 23 Brent Geese, 7 Common Scoter, 2 Grey Partridge, 1 Grey Plover, 2 Golden Plover, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Lapwing, 3 Curlew, 1 Greenshank heard in the dark, 12 Turnstone, 1 Arctic Skua, 1 Razorbill on the sea, 7 Little Gull, 17 Kittiwake, 3 Sandwich Tern, 2 Great crested Grebe, 2 Red throated Diver, 1 Great Northern Diver on the sea, 18 Gannet, 1 Peregrine, 2 Firecrest, 1 Grey Wagtail and 1 Rock Pipit. With a fresh NE wing blowing this morning with some rain, I spent 5 hours seawatching and noted the following highlights: 1196 Brent Geese, 21 Shelduck, 33 Wigeon, 8 Teal, 5 Eider on the sea and then east, 40 Common Scoter, 32 Oystercatcher, 2 Lapwing, 5 Curlew, 2 Turnstone, 3 Sanderling, 12 Dunlin, 4 Arctic Skua west, 1 Great Skua, 2 Razorbill, 1 Little Auk (159) quite close west at 10:15, 70 Little Gull, 48 Kittiwake, 143 Black headed Gull, 21 Common Gull, 3 Great Black backed Gull, 2 Sandwich Tern, 4 Great crested Grebe, 5 Red throated Diver, 2 Great Northern Diver on the sea together, 15 Gannet, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Peregrine and 2 Pied Wagtail, Nocmig recording Friday night produced a few Golden Plover calls and c30 Redwing calls.

With a light wind early morning, I spent an hour listening into the darkness before having an hours seawatching and then a walk along the seawall. Birds noted included 19 Grey Partridge at dawn, 1 Pheasant and 1 Woodcock (157) flew past in silhouette. The rest of the morning until 10:30am produced 15 Brent Geese, 8 Stock Dove, c20 Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 1 Redshank, 4 Turnstone, 33 Black headed Gull, 1 Common Gull, c80 Herring Gull, 2 Great Black backed Gull, 1 Sandwich Tern, 9 Great crested Grebe, 2 Red throated Diver, 1 Great Northern Diver offshore, 15 Cormorant, 2 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Great spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Peregrine and 1 Jay. There were 4 Skylark, 5 Long tailed Tit, 1 Blackcap, 4 Goldcrest, 3 Firecrest, 4 Stonechat, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Meadow Pipit, 1 Rock Pipit, 753 Chaffinch west, 3 Brambling, 5 Linnet, 2 Redpoll, 14 Goldfinch, 3 Siskin and 2 Reed Bunting (158) flew west. 

Looking West over Herne Bay Downs

 

I spent a couple of hours seawatching on a calm sea from first light which produced 1 Greylag Geese, 132 Brent Geese, 4 Shelduck, 12 Woodpigeon, 1 Coot heard at dawn, 1 Oystercatcher, 35 Lapwing west, 3 Redshank, 4 Turnstone, 14 Little Gull west, 25 Black headed Gull, 4 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Common Gull, 30 Herring Gull, 2 Arctic Tern still offshore, 7 Sandwich Tern, 15 Great crested Grebe, 8 Red throated Diver, 1 Gannet, 30 Cormorant and 2 Little Egret. There were c40 Carrion Crow, 1 Peregrine, 3 Skylark, 25 Starling, 7 House Sparrow, 2 Pied Wagtail, 6 Meadow Pipit, 61 Chaffinch and 7 Linnet. 

Another session this morning dominated by rain again. So frustrating when you work all week and hope the weekend will be fine. I spent a couple of hours seawatching again out of the rain before a brief walk at Bishopstone before, surprise surprise, the rain arrived heavily again. Birds noted included 49 Brent Geese, 3 Shelduck, 1 Oystercatcher, 11 Turnstone, c10 Black headed Gull, 2 Great black backed Gull, 1 Arctic Tern spent quite a while fishing offshore and occasionally came nearer where on one occasion, it landed on the beach. With a bit of stalking, I was able to enjoy some lovely views and managed a few shots. Also seen were 6 Sandwich Tern, 3 Great crested Grebe, 2 Red throated Diver, 5 Gannet, c50 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Jay, 35 Carrion Crow, 4 Skylark, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Firecrest, 56 Starling, 1 Song Thrush, 10 Blackbird, 8 House Sparrow, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Meadow Pipit, 1 Rock Pipit, 336 Chaffinch west, 10 Linnet and 1 Siskin. 

Arctic Tern

It must be the weekend as I woke up to heavy rain this morning which meant I decided on a seawatch, which at least meant I could keep under some shelter. Birds noted from first light until 10am included 8 Brent Geese, 4 Velvet Scoter (156) flew in from the west and landed on the sea for c20 minutes before flying off east towards Reculver. Also seen were 2 Common Scoter, 2 Red breasted Merganser, 3 Redshank, 1 Turnstone, c42 Black headed Gull, 3 Common Gull, c20 Herring Gull, 3 Great Black backed Gull, 3 Arctic Tern flew east close inshore, 2 Sandwich Tern, 3 Great crested Grebe, 1 Red throated Diver, 23 Gannet, 116 Cormorant, 1 Shag west, 1 Little Egret, 1 Great spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Jay, 11 Skylark west at sea, 1 Long tailed Tit, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Firecrest, 16 Starling, 5 Blackbird, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Pied Wagtail, 17 Meadow Pipit, 1 Rock Pipit, 19 Chaffinch and 1 Goldfinch. 

I had a seawatch  Friday morning in a WNW wind for a couple of hours from 07:15 and then a quick look around the nearby bushes. Birds noted included 7 Turnstone, 218 Black headed Gull, 2 Common Gull, c90 Herring Gull, 3 Great Black backed Gull, 2 Arctic Tern west, 2 Sandwich Tern, 6 Great crested Grebe, 9 Cormorant, 2 Little Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier west at sea, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 4 Skylark, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 2 Firecrest, 2 Stonechat, 2 Pied Wagtail, 3 Meadow Pipit, c70 Chaffinch west, 5 Linnet, 1 Redpoll, 5 Crossbill west and 3 Goldfinch.

This morning in a west wind from 07:15 for a couple of hours, I had another seawatch. Birds noted included 2 Brent Geese, 1 female Scaup (155) flew west close inshore and was seen a while later passing Swalecliffe. A patch tick and a real bonus for the year list. Also seen were 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Grey Plover, 31 Golden Plover west at sea, c300 Black headed Gull, 9 Common Gull, 6 Great Black backed Gull, 5 Great crested Grebe, 2 Red throated Diver, 1 Great Northern Diver flew west, 2 Gannet, 98 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Peregrine and 4 Chaffinch west.

With a strong NW wind forecast for today with heavy rain at times, I spent about 7 hours sheltering from the elements. The first few hours were very quiet and with heavy rain, the visibility was poor. the rain eventually stopped and although it wasn't a NW classic, a few birds were seen including 45 Brent Geese, 3 Shelduck, 3 Teal, 6 Tufted Duck (152) flew west, 3 Red breasted Merganser (153) west, 5 Turnstone, 1 Knot (154), 2 Arctic Skua, 1 Razorbill, 1 Guillemot, 4 Large Auk sp west, 5 Kittiwake, c120 Black headed Gull, 1 Mediterranean Gull, c30 Herring Gull and 6 Great Black backed Gull. There were 6 Arctic Tern with some feeding close in with Black headed Gulls, 5 Sandwich Tern, 1 Great crested Grebe, 2 Red throated Diver, 1 Kestrel and 1 Pied Wagtail. 

Arctic Tern