Deciding on a visit to Dover this morning, leaving at 6am it was shortly after 7.15 that we were parking the car in the pay and display car park alongside the harbour.
From here it was a short walk across the bridge and we were heading off along the Prince of Wales pier. Stopping just before the first shelter to scan a small group of gulls roosting at the water's front of the old Hoverport failed to locate the Glaucous Gull among them.
Luckily we had brought some bread along, and shortly after throwing some down the target bird came flying into view.
It made a few passes and then decided it was going to land among the roosting gulls. It wasn't hard to pick out.
It didn't stay there for long, and soon was flying close to the pier again.
Turnstones were searching for any scraps of food along the pier and among the rocks.
A seal was busy fishing in the harbour and so was a Shag. It came alongside the pier at one point allowing a quick photo before it headed back towards the harbour.
Another year tick was added when three Purple Sandpipers were found among the rocks on the far side of the harbour.
After leaving Dover there was time for a drop in visit to Oare Marshes, where the water levels were high, leaving very few of the islands exposed. Lapwings, Avocets, Wigeon, Teal and good numbers of Pintail were found along with a couple of fly over Marsh Harriers.
On the way home, there was still time for a drop in at Elmley Marshes. As we pulled in a surprise year tick was added when two Grey partridge were found close to the road. The first Grey Partridge I have ever seen at this site. I've seen Red-Legged on many occasions here but never Grey so this was a nice bonus.
The drive along the entrance track was largely uneventful, with the usual Lapwing, Redshank, Curlew, Skylark and Marsh harriers seen. Two Snipe were found and a nice flock of Black-tailed Godwits flew in.
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