A Trio of Egrets

Dungeness - 0915hrs - mild, se2, sunny - An hour at the fishing boats with the group produced a steady flow of seabirds including, 2 Balearic Shearwaters, 8 Common Scoters, 50 Gannets, 100 Sandwich and Common Terns and 1 Arctic, Guillemot, 5 Arctic Skuas and a Bonxie, plus several pulses of Sand Martins and Swallows striking out for France. A Yellow-legged Gull and 10 Turnstones on the beach.
After picking up Bill from Plovers we headed back to the Point and had a walk down to the Obs where we noted a Common Redstart in the lighthouse garden. Elsewhere, 10 Wheatears, 20 Pied Wagtails, 5 Chiffs, 2 Whitethroats and a Kestrel.
RSPB - 1300hrs At Boulderwall we had cracking close views of the Cattle Egret, plus 2 Whinchats, 5 Wheatears, 3 Marsh Harriers and a late Swift. Just before the Visitor Centre car park a flock of 20 Yellow Wagtails and 10 Wheatears contained a single Greenland Wheatear. A circuit produced 2 Ruffs, Common Sandpiper, Kingfisher and a Raven on Burrowes; 2 Hobbies over the hayfield; Great White Egret, 8 Little Egrets, Garganey, Pintail, Sparrowhawk and Greenshank on Dengemarsh; Stonechat, Whitethroat, Reed Bunting and Green Woodpecker at the Corral and hundreds of hirundines overhead. Also, up to 10 Cetti`s Warblers in song. Grass Snake, Common Lizard and Wood Mouse seen on the return trail.
Over the road a quick look from Hanson revealed further views of the Cattle Egret, 3 Black and 2 Arctic Terns, 1 Little Gull and all the usual waders including a single Curlew Sandpiper. Funny tho, after seeing so many great birds, best of all tho was a Reed Warbler feeding just in front of the hide, low down on the edge of the reed bed.
A stunning day all round and good to see a few old faces down at Dunge after twitching Buffy at Rye. And thanks to one and all for the incoming texts with local bird news.

 Cattle Egret, Boulderwall & Great White Egret, Dengemarsh