Tuesday 22 March 2016

Across the Channel!

Sea watching from the top of Cap Gris Nez.
Another brilliant day out in northern France with MH,CP and PT. We started with a surprisingly good sea watch at Cap Gris Nez in hazy, still, warm conditions.
Brent Goose: c150N
Garganey: 1N
Common Scoter: c100N
Red-breasted merganser: 7N
Red-throated Diver: 204N
Great-crested Grebe: c25 on sea
Fulmar: c30N
Gannet: c100N
Cormorant: present N/C
Curlew: 4N
Dunlin: 8N
Kittiwake: c100N
Mediterranean Gull: 5N
Little Gull: c30N
Sandwich Tern: 6N
Razorbill: 1N
Auk sp: 9N
Rock Pipit: several present
Yellowhammer: several present.
Harbour Porpoise: 4+
Grey Seal: 1
Several Grey Partridges seen in nearby fields.
Our next stop was Guinnes where in now gloriously warm sunshine we saw several each of Short-toed Treecreepers, Nuthatches, Marsh Tits, Long-tailed Tits a couple of Common Buzzards soared over the wood and Chiffchaffs were singing but woodpeckers were notable by there absence. Also 2 Hawfinches were seen by one of us, not me.  Nearby a Kingfish, Great-white Egret and more Short-toed Treecreepers and Chiffchaffs singing, a Water Rail scuttled along a ditch and others were calling. The ditches around the board walk held plenty of Toads and Frogs.
Next stop was Oye Plage, around the car park 5+ Chiffchaff, from the hide 5 Garganey and plenty of Teal, Gadwall, Wigeon, Pintail, and Mallard, c30 Common Snipe, 15+ Golden Plover, many Lapwing and Little Grebe. At The Escardines c70 Avocet, 2 Black-necked Grebes, 2 Spoonbills, c100 Pintail and more Wigeon, Teal and Shelduck.
 Another good day out in great company with a total of 100 species seen today.

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