Departing Brent Geese

Barmy warm sunny clear weather at Dungeness (February 28th)made it feel more May than March. On the sea by the fishing boats, a broad thinly populated raft stretching east to west of Great Crested Grebes fished leisurely. This flock must number thousands of birds and is considered the highest numbered winter flock in the British Isles. There are also a few Auks and Red-throated Divers mixed in too. A one hour sea watch saw two flocks of 40 -50 Dark bellied Brent Geese heading up channel on their first stage back to breeding grounds in the Siberian Tundra. A few Common Scoter were seen flying west, presumably rejoining the larger flocks in Camber Bay. On the ground, by the fishing boats, 20-30 Turnstones loitered on the foreshore and a pair of Skylarks were chasing around the boat and net area.