Wryneck and Hoopoe

Dungeness - 0930hrs - cold, sunny, ne 5 - Lawrie and Sally were down for a weekends birding with a blasting wind off the sea, so far from ideal conditions for migrant hunting. However, a quick stop opposite Jarman`s yielded five Wheatears, Mipit, Skylark, Pied Wagtail, Ringed Plover and Stock Dove. In the gorse scrub south of the Trapping Area a Wryneck showed well, albeit briefly, but there were hardly any other passerines about apart from several Chiffchaffs, Swallows and Whitethroats. Two Whimbrels on the turf by West Beach was the first time I`ve ever seen these waders grounded at the point.

                                Whimbrels, Dungeness

RSPB - Very quiet around the reserve with two Whimbrel on the hayfields, three Garganeys on Dengemarsh, plus all the usual Sedge Warblers, Whitethroats, Marsh Harriers and the like.
Hythe - We then went twitching to Range Road, Hythe, where a Hoopoe had been found earlier on a piece of rough ground by the ranges. It didn't showed particularly well and spent most of its time skulking behind a fence, apart from a brief fly around.
Littlestone - We checked the bay, trying to find an area free of kite-surfers, not easy as there was over 100 out there today. However, five species of shorebirds were noted.
Dungeness - Back to the point and cracking views of a male Ring Ouzel out on the turf by Lloyds, and a Raven being mobbed by crows over the power station, rounded off a strange days birding that was low on numbers but high on quality.