Dungeness - Warm, dry and sunny, S 3 - A ridiculously warm (16C by mid-afternoon) day for a guided tour for three Naturetrek guests commenced at the point where the highlights were three Crossbills over the old lighthouse, a Peregrine stooping above the power station and three close Red-throated Divers on the sea off the fishing boats. Passerines were few but did include a couple of charms of Goldfinches, several Stonechats and Pied Wagtails, but a no-show Pallas`s Warbler in the moat; although it was seen briefly today. A quick look at the bay resulted in distant views of Curlews and Oystercatchers. The afternoon was spent on the RSPB reserve where the circular trail produced plenty of Lapwings and several Great White Egrets on Burrowes; a Raven over; two Marsh Harriers from Christmas Dell; a Bearded Tit on the Hooker`s grit tray; and Firecrest, Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit and Great Spotted Woodpecker in the car park scrub. We finished the afternoon from Hanson hide with a spectacular Starling murmuration of c10,000 birds that eventually dropped into the reed-bed by the Cormorant colony, plus several Bitterns flying over the screen hide reed-bed, six Great White Egrets, a Sparrowhawk, a Kingfisher and all the usual wildfowl. In summary, a steady day`s birding in fine company with 65 species logged.
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