02/11/23 Storm Ciaran

The weather apps predicted gusts of up to 100 mph just off shore between Folkestone and Dover around 8am this morning, in reality I believe 80 mph was reached locally but still a significant weather event.

I battled the conditions over to the western end of the harbour and found relative shelter against the sea wall. There were around 50 Large Gulls on the beach, and 100+ sat on the water.

Visibility was poor at first but good enough to pick up some kittiwakes, several little gulls and a Juvenile Sabine’s Gull flying mid harbour, the latter a bird I’ve really hoped to find locally and especially in the harbour. At times it was the only bird in flight but photography was a challenge at this point in the day and I only managed to get a record shot of it sat on the water before it flew around at height and I lost it.

Little Gulls were present in differing numbers throughout the day and a high count of 15 at once, although surely more were involved.

A fleeting view of a Storm petrel sp early on was later resolved when a Peregrine appeared low over the water chasing (unsuccessfully) what I realised was a Leach’s storm Petrel, into view. The bird was lost towards the ferry port. Another 2 Leach’s were seen by Russ B heading for the outer harbour 20 mins later. If we are to treat each Leach’s as a different bird I went on to have another 4 sightings in the harbour, and 2 flew East on Shakey beach were a Bonxie also flew East and 3 Sandwich terns fed close in.

Other birds of note were 3 Brent Geese, a 1st Winter Caspian Gull, a juv Common Tern, a single Razorbill, 2 Goosander West,an Adult Shag and a Sandwich tern. A fun day and hopefully the damage isnt too bad. More sea/harbour watching to come i should think.