let the seawatching begin

So my seawatching season kicked off yesterday (Sun 4th), and hopefully one of many jaunts down to Dungeness for some seabird action.  Myself and Mo joined virgin Lee Brown on his first ever seawatch which produced NINE ticks for the newby, which you can find here Lee'sbirding

Conditions weren't ideal for a seawatch.  Clear blue skies and blistering heat!  But we showed willing and it sort of paid off.  Arriving at 06:30 at the fishing boats scanning the calm bright sea good numbers of Gannets were on the move.  A single Fulmar, flocks of Scoter, couple of Sandwich Terns and Kitts amongst the feeding Commons, Little Gull.  Several Manxs east and west were a surprise as were two close BALEARIC SHEAR'S.

One each of Bonxie and Arctic Skua, and virgin boy even pulls out an Arctic Tern and Guillemot.

With the sun really burning a quick look at the patch produces several Med Gull.

Onto the Arc pits we pick up the Black-necked grebe and a couple of Garganey, and the regular Tree Sparrow's.

So back home for lunch and not a bad mornings birding considering clear skies!

Nice to catch up with Brian, Jim, Their Dad, Mick and Richard.

this was the only pic i got before flusher Morrison arrives.