Dungeness with Jono

As usual, we started early and left the pub at 04.15. No Dave this time as he had to stay at home and be a good boy!

Neither of us had slept very well so a large coffee at services was the only stop before arriving at a sunny Dungeness.

Seawatching was great if you are a Gannet fan as there were loads flying though. The Patch had the usual array of gulls and terns with good views of Kittiwake.

Next stop was the Desert and Long Pits which always look like they will throw up a rarity but sadly do not seem to (at least not to us!). A Marsh Harrier and a few Whitethroats were the only highlights although unusually we saw a flying Greater Spotted Woodpecker - a first here.

On to RSPB and frankly, this was not much busier bird wise but a beautiful Grey Plover gave excellent views and I took the opportunity to take a few photos of some of the more common birds.

Last port of call in Dungeness was ARC pit which had given us some decent waders in the past and did so again this time.
Highlights were a Greenshank and Little Stint.

On the water there was the usual array of ducks but Garganey made a welcome addition to our total for the day.

Finally it was off to Rye Harbour NR and by this time rain was threatening. Last time saw a lot of breeding Gulls and Terns but there were only a few left including a young Common Tern precariously swimming!

A pair of Little Grebe swam close enough for photos and we added Avocets to the wader list.

As always we had an excellent day out and totalled 71 species - not bad for a quiet day!!