Yesterday I went to Dungeness with my wife and younger sister for a barbeque on the beach. Although this wasn’t a birding trip at all, it is difficult to sit on the beach at Dunge in spring and not see something.

From 1-6pm only a few birds were seen but all afternoon two Cormorants were performing a synchronised diving session in the sea directly in front of us. Lots of gulls were around, most of which seemed to be Herring Gulls but a few Black-headed Gulls glided past. I’m sure there were other species if I’d had the time to look properly. However, we did see 4 Swallows come in off the sea and a group of 36 Whimbrel also arriving.

Most of the day was spent eating shrimps, beef, squid and salmon, but when we got back to the car there was time for a brief look around. Along with the usual Meadow Pipits, Starlings, House Sparrows and Linnets was a female Ring Ouzel foraging outside the old lighthouse. Just as I said, almost impossible to fail to see something of interest at Dungeness at this time of year.