A few more returning migrants

Lade - 0700hrs - mild, cloudy, drizzle sw 3 - Another disappointing night around the moth trap due maily to a brisk south-westerly that increased through the day along with bright sunshine. However, Common Rustic and Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing were both new for the year.
The monthly WeBS count on the pits yielded large numbers of Coot and common wildfowl, plus a Common Sandpiper and 50 Sand Martins.

                                 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Lade

Dengemarsh - 1100hrs - A full circuit from ARC car park delivered plenty of insects on the wing despite the brisk wind. Reed and Sedge Warblers, Whitethroats and Reed Buntings were just about still in song and on the track out towards Lydd we noted five Yellow Wagtails and a singing Corn Bunting. From Springfield Bridge a Common Sandpiper flew low over the lake and the usual Common Terns, Bearded Tits, Marsh Harriers and a single Hobby were noted on the walk round to the viewing ramp, plus a pair of Wigeon on the New Excavations which were our first of the return passage.
However, the hayfields looked a sorry old state; full of long grass and dry as a bone, without a bird present, and by the Corral a large Mink ran across the track which was an equally depressing sight.
Once back at the car we drov to the VC to check out a photographic display by Justin Sutcliffe, complete with his award winning photograph of Romney Marsh, a part of the, `This Was Once Sea` exhibition. Personally, I didn`t think much of the pics, one or two were ok, but others were out of focus, in an arty-farty kind of a way, or irrelevant - still, what do I know...
Anyhow, was good to have a natter with local birders including, as always, NB and family.
It was also a relief to see a few islands on Burrowes, what with the wader passage underway, where  Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers, Common Sandpiper and a Ruff were present.