An Afternoon Recce

RSPB Reserve - 1400hrs - mild, sw3, sunny - An afternoon recce around the bird reserve in preparation for a weekend bird tour produced the following: Dengemarsh, the Great White Egret, 2 Greenshanks, 5 Bearded Tits, Pintail, Merlin, Stonechat and a late Sedge Warbler. At Boulderwall, the Cattle Egret was most obliging, perching on a gate and flying around, although distant. Hobby also seen here, plus 3 different Marsh Harriers as well as Whinchat and 2 Wheatears in the scrub. On Burrowes, Ruff and Common Sandpiper. From Hanson 8 Dunlins, 5 Ringed Plovers and a Green Sandpiper, plus Wigeon, Goosander and a trickle of Sand Martins. Unsure as to whether or not there was some sort of Kestrel movement on the go, as seemed to see them wherever I went this afternoon, totalling probably 10 individuals.
Other news included the usual Glaucous and Yellow-legged Gulls at the Point, plus passing Balearic Shearwater, Eider and skuas, while down the road at Rye Harbour a Buff-breasted Sandpiper was found this morning on the new salt marsh flood.