Red-backed Shrike

Wet and windy, mild, SW4 - I often find that a good barometer of birds being on the move is when my early morning circuit of the town park with Ted delivers the sound of warblers in the trees; in this case, the distinctive huitt of Chiffchaffs, and plenty of them. Later on at Dungeness and Lade many more were seen, but mostly heard, particularly at the top of Long Pits where I also had a single call note of what sounded like a Yellow-browed Warbler. Other species of warblers noted across the peninsula included a few Blackcaps, Common and Lesser Whitethroats, plus singles of Redstart and Spotted Flycatcher in a clump of willows by the Wigwams. Nearby, I eventually relocated the juvenile Red-backed Shrike perched atop a patch of aspen on the sheltered side soaking up the sunshine between the showers. On the Desert several parties of Yellow Wagtails and Meadow Pipits were grounded along with two Wheatears and a Whinchat. There was little change at Lade since my last visit where hundreds of Sand Martins hawked low over both lakes. 

                                 Red-backed Shrike - Dungeness

Elsewhere today, the American Golden Plover was still within a Golden Plover flock in the stubble field opposite Jury`s Gap, while a juvenile Long-tailed Skua made a repeat appearance off the fishing boats at Dungeness (MC). Yesterday at the boats, in torrential rain, I watched two Swifts coming in off the sea and clip the shingle bank before disappearing inland, probably my last of the year.