Splash Point 15/4/19

Promising conditions and certainly the best seawatch for a week or so. For the first two hours the passage was very good with a drake Scaup and three Manx Shearwaters being the undoubted highlights among the throng of Common Scoters piling past. With such a strong Auk passage I was too hopeful for a Puffin, and with two passing Dungeness it certainly felt as if our chances had gone, and so that was the case. News from the west of a few Garganey coming our way kept the enthusiasm up but all too soon the passage dropped considerably, and with the wind turning NE it was over until next time. Some great variety today with scarce species such as Black-tailed Godwits and a Barnacle Goose making the grade, and once again great company alongside Richard and David during the quiet periods.

Totals between 05.40 - 13.40 - Wind ESE F3:

Common Scoter - 1124
Gannet - 208
Teal - 43
Bar-tailed Godwit - 24
Auks - 190 (most identified were Guillemots)
Scaup - 1 drk at 06.10
Commic Tern - 47
Red-throated Diver - 8
Manx Shearwater - 3
Whimbrel - 67
Sandwich Tern - 80
Arctic Skua - 10
Little Gull - 24
Velvet Scoter - 8
Grey Plover - 18
Shoveler - 12
Gadwall - 10
Shelduck - 10
Great Skua - 4
Sanderling - 3
Dunlin - 2
Garganey - 4 (3 08.50, 1 09.47)
Brent Geese - 56
Black-tailed Godwit - 2 in s/p
Black-throated Diver - 9
Diver sp. - 2
Barnacle Goose - 1
Mediterranean Gull - 4

Common Scoters

What were originally thought to be five Garganey

 until I got home and realised the error in judgement...….

single Teal at each end of the trio of Garganey

Gannets

Little Gull

Whimbrels