Convolvulus Hawk-moth

Lade - warm, dry, cloudy, w 2 - A pre-breakie walk delivered a scattering of Chiffchaffs in the scrub and a few hirundines already on the move. A scan across the Desert through 180 degrees revealed eight hovering Kestrels.
Dungeness - 0915hrs - An hour from the seawatch hide was notable for a westward passage of 500 Black-headed Gulls, 150 Sandwich and 80 Common Terns, plus two each of Little Gull and Black Tern, a 2nd winter Med Gull, 12 Common Scoters and a steady flow of Gannets. The land was quiet with just a handful of Kestrels, Black Redstarts and Chiffchaffs.
Called in at the Kerton Road Café where a Convolvulus Hawk-moth was on show from yesterday.

                                Convolvulus Hawk-moth, KRC

We finished the morning at Lade where the usual wildfowl were present.
In summary a pretty decent weeks birding for the guests with 120 species noted. Visitors always enjoy birds such as Sooty Shearwater and Glossy Ibis, but the week was probably more memorable for the large number of Kestrels seen across the Marsh and the migrants on Tuesday afternoon along the Royal Military Canal.
On the way back from Ashford this afternoon I stopped off at Honeychild Farm where eight Turtle Doves were lurking amongst 145 Collared Doves on overhead wires and barn roofs.