Lade - 0700hrs - cold, cloudy, n 2 - Three Black Redstarts flitting amongst the gorse on the storm beaches were virtually the first birds seen on a circuit of the local patch this morning. Unfortunately, that was about it with no other grounded migrants seen or heard. Around the willow swamp plenty of Water Rail activity, plus Sparrowhawk and Marsh Harrier overhead. On north pit 3 Goldeneyes amongst the grebes and common diving ducks and a Little Egret over.
Dungeness - Walked the scrub around the old light and over to the moat where up to 10 Blackbirds, 5 Mipits, 3 Black Redstarts, 2 Stonechats, and singles of Chiffchaff, Wheatear and Redwing.
RSPB - 1430hrs - Yet again the elusive Penduline Tits were seen and photographed by a handful of birders earlier this afternoon, this time on the Discovery Pond. There doesn't seem to be any pattern to their occurrences as they have been seen at half a dozen randomly scattered reed bed locations over the past month or so. Still, I guess when they eventually settle down to breed we should all be able to enjoy them...
Anyhow, the reserve had a distinctly wintry feel, but without the birds; what with temperatures of 2C, a brisk east wind and occasional sleet showers. On Burrowes 5 Smew with 4 more on ARC plus 2 Great Whites on New Diggings. Elsewhere, a few Chiffchaffs around the site, a Black Redstart at the southern end of ARC and a couple of Marsh Harriers over the causeway road heading towards the Oppen Pits.
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