Dungeness, Penduline Tits, Wrong time right place.

Having failed to find the Penduline Tits last weekend at Dungeness, we decided to make a return trip and hope for better luck.

Unfortunately we picked Sunday instead of Saturday. Saturday was sunny and calm, Sunday was overcast with very strong icy winds and rain never felt far away.

First stop was Lade GP's in search of a Slav Grebe, reported as present on the Saturday, but there was no sign of it this morning.

While scanning the pits the rain started to fall, and fearing a soaking we decided to make for the car.

From here we headed for the fishing boats in search of the juvenile Glaucous Gull. The beach was lined with small fishing tents and fishing rods supported on tripods.

It just so happened we had arrived just before the start of the World Dab Fishing Championships!

Having checked the roosting gulls behind the boats there was just time to scan the beach, where the Glaucous Gull was found among another group of roosting gulls.

With so many fishermen lining the beach it wasn't long before the gulls took to the air, luckily the Glaucous headed towards where we were standing and I managed to grab a quick shot before it headed off in the direction of the patch.

Glaucous Gull

 Within the roosting birds on the beach were several Kittiwakes and again I managed a couple of flight shots before they headed off along the beach and out to sea.

Kittiwake

Time to head round to the reserve and another search for the Pendulines. Shortly after reaching the viewing  ramp the warden arrived and said that the Pendulines had been seen but were difficult to pin down.
With the strong icy winds it proved too difficult and after two hours of scanning the area and searching each and every reed mace we left without seeing them for the second week.
Some decent views of a couple of Marsh Harriers, a Peregrine scattering the local flocks and a very vocal Cetti's provided some enjoyable moments while searching for the Pendulines.

A short drive North from the reserve and the Glossy Ibis is found in a horse paddock close to the road. I took the opportunity to take a photo before we headed for home.

Glossy Ibis

Although disappointing to dip the Pendulines for a second week, it was still an enjoyable day and it won't be long before the next visit.