Seabirds, chats and waders

Lade - 0700hrs - cool, sunny, ne 5 - In contrast to yesterdays heat wave it was the return of the blasting north-easter, that increased throughout the day, making for difficult birding conditions across the peninsula. However, first thing it wasn't too windy and a nice flock of chats on the Desert comprised 12 Wheatears (three Greenland types), four Stonechats and our first Whinchat of the year, plus several Linnets, Mipits and Skylarks with Yellow Wagtail and Greenshank overhead.

                                Stonechat, Lade

Dungeness - 0830hrs - Met Lew from Orpington who`s down for a couple of days birding. We started off in the seawatch hide where a steady up-Channel passage of scoters, Common and Sandwich Terns, Gannets, Brents and Whimbrels was underway. Also of note a Buzzard! several Mergansers, Red-throated Divers, Fulmars, Kittiwakes and Swallows. The land was quiet with two Sparrowhawks, two Kestrels, four Wheatears, two Ringed Plovers and a Goldfinch the highlights.

                                Goldfinch, Dungeness

RSPB - Highlights around the reserve included a grounded Whimbrel from the access road, Goldeneye on Burrowes, Ringed Plovers on Hayfield 3, five Garganey on Dengemarsh that joined a flock of 20 Teal and 15 Wigeon, two Ravens, Greenshank and Sand Martins over, `booming` Bittern and courting Marsh Harriers Hookers, Tree Sparrows car park, Sedge Warblers and Whitethroats elsewhere.

                                Whimbrel, RSPB

Scotney - On the lake virtually the only bird of note was the long-staying drake Scaup, while on the grass there were eight Ringed Plovers. Plenty of birds out back though with some cracking Yellow Wagtails and Corn Buntings, plus Med Gull, Egyptian Geese, Redshank, four Little Ringed Plovers, 14 Avocets and a Greenshank.

                                Scaup, Scotney

                                Yellow Wagtail, Corn and Reed Buntings, Scotney

In summary a fair days birding, despite the wind, with 90 species noted.