Thursday 30 April 2015

Nightingales, owls and a stint

Dungeness - 0630-0730hrs - cool, sunny, sw 2- We rose early for what was a disappointing seawatch with only three Red-throated Divers, two Kittiwakes, a Fulmar and a trickle of scoters, auks, Gannets and terns.
Park Wood, Appledore - Much better here with at least six Nightingales in song, including brief views of two birds low down in ash regrowth. Also noted, three Garden Warblers, Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Jay, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Long-tailed Tit. A good selection of woodland flowers still in bloom and a green-veined white butterfly.
Kenardington - A wander along the canal produced the usual range of wayside birds: Yellowhammer, Lesser Whitethroat, Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and Great Spotted Woodpecker, plus orange tip, holly blue and speckled wood butterflies.
Scotney - Through the farm and out back delivered the usual array of Corn Buntings and Yellow Wagtails, plus 20 Avocets, two Greenshanks, Redshank, Common Sandpiper, LRP, Med Gull, Common Terns and a summer plum Little Stint.
Dengemarsh - On hayfield 3 at least 10 Ringed Plovers present with a flyover Blackwit, two Greenshanks and a Whimbrel over hayfield 2. From the hide a pair of Garganeys, six Egyptian Geese, Hobby, Cuckoo, Marsh Harrier and all the usual warblers.
Romney Marsh - Took the guests owling this evening in perfect weather conditions as the wind had dropped away. Barn Owl was the target bird which we duly saw, but totally unexpected was cracking views of a Long-eared Owl in the same area just before lights out.
The slow start to the day was quickly forgotten as we ended on a high.

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