Saturday 13 April 2013

Firecrests & Ring Ouzel

Lade - 0800hrs - mild, sunny, ssw 3 - A Willow Warbler singing in the garden conifers heralded a promising morning with plenty more in the willow scrub around the pits along with Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps. The suntrap by the ponds had brought forth legions of flying insects and the hungry warblers were greedily snapping them up, alongside Reed Buntings, Great Tits and even Chaffinches. On the waters there were few ducks although a single Goldeneye remained on north pit, while Dabchicks and Great Crested Grebes were much in evidence trilling and courting respectively.
Water Rails and Cetti`s Warbler were also vocalising and a pair of Green Woodpeckers chased one another around the wall `mirror`. A scan from the aerial mound revealed 2 Marsh Harriers over the airport fields, a party of Sandwich Terns moving along the coast and several groups of Linnets inbound.
Dungeness - With very little happening on the sea we opted for a scout around the bushes at the Point where although there wasn't the number of birds of yesterday at least 3 Firecrests were seen among the Goldcrests and a scattering of Chiff/Willows. News came through of a Serin found by NB and family which despite a thorough search was not relocated, but ample compensation was provided by a cracking male Ring Ouzel which posed atop a gorze bush behind the railway station.
RSPB - 1515hrs - A run out this afternoon in cool, wet conditions commenced at the causeway road where the usual dabblers and Little Egrets noted, plus 2 Swallows. At Boulderwall a Great White Egret by the main pool, while on Burrowes a Goldeneye and 2 Sanderlings were the pick of the birds. A couple of Yellow Wagtails by the Discovery Pool were struggling in the strong wind and a Firecrest popped out by the feeders.

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