Spring migrants trickle in...

Lade - 0800hrs - mild, mist, drizzle, se 2 - The early morning moisture and murk seemed to do the trick with a splash of migrants across the peninsula this morning. We stuck to our routine and worked the local patch first off where Mockmill held ten Chiffchaffs and the first Sedge Warbler singing from cover. South lake was as per yesterday plus two Swallows hawking flying insects, of which there were vast clouds. Around the willow swamp another ten Chiffchaffs and a Firecrest amongst the established Reed Buntings and Cetti`s Warblers.
Ketchley Copse - Five Chiffchaffs, Goldcrest and a singing Blackcap were the highlights here.
Dengemarsh - This place continues to turn up the goods with `booming` Bittern and displaying Marsh Harriers over Hookers, a pair of Little Ringed Plovers and six Dunlins (one in summer plum) on Hayfield 3, a Swallow over the flood and a drake Garganey skulking in the reedbed pools. Also noted, Raven, Linnet, Great White Egret, Wigeon and the two Cattle Egrets over the road by the farm.

                                Little Ringed Plover, Dengemarsh

By noon we were soaked and headed for home, noting a Black-necked Grebe on New Diggings en-route, however it had been the best morning so far for spring migrants.
Also reported this morning from the gully and Galloways were more Swallows, Chiffchaffs, Firecrests, Black Redstarts and Wheatears (MH), plus Willow Warbler near Hanson hide (AP) and Ring Ouzel in the Trapping Area (OL).
For once the seawatching was respectable with decent numbers of Brent and scoters on the move, plus a variety of ducks including Long-tailed and Garganey (TG & PB).

                                Chiffchaff, Dungeness

Dungeness - 1400hrs - An afternoon attempt at a seawatch resulted in 50 Brents, 20 scoters and a Sandwich Tern from the hide, before the fog rolled in. Several Chiffchaffs, Black Redstarts, Mipits and Pied Wagtails perched on the power station wall snapping up insects, while a Common Tern was the only bird of note at the Patch. The lighthouse garden harboured at least two Chiffchaffs and a Firecrest in the thick foliage.