Friday 13 May 2011

Lost Blogs

For some reason two days of post were lost this week, so here`s a quick summary.
Wednesday - 11th May - Did Dungeness in the morning and mopped up on the likes of Black Redstart, Wheatear, Stonechat and Skylark. At the Patch located a Roseate Tern on the beach amongst 100 Common and 5 Arctic Terns. In the afternoon we scored with two stunning Red-rumped Swallows over the fields at Boulderwall alongside hundreds of Swifts and House Martins. Also around the reserve 3 Little Gulls, Whimbrel, Stonechat and a cracking Greenland Wheatear. In the evening a decent selection of waders on Greatstone Beach included Knot, Whimbrel and Sanderling.
Thursday - 12th May - Hunted around Walland Marsh for farmland birds and had cracking views of Yellow Wagtails, Corn Bunting, Tree Sparrow, Hobby, Buzzards and Marsh Harriers. Superb views of the relocated Crane at the Woolpack plus 20 Med Gulls. Spent the afternoon at Rye Harbour where the seabird colony was a big hit with the first Black-headed Gulls chicks on show. At least 9 Little Terns noted and a pair of Avocets with chicks. Looked in at Scotney on the way back where a flock of 42 Ringed Plovers was noteworthy.

                                          Sub-adult Crane, Walland Marsh
                                          Black-headed Gull with chicks, Rye Harbour
                                         Little Terns, Rye Harbour
Friday - 13th May - Did a short seawatch at Dungeness and got Gannets and scoters. Lade delivered superb views of Cuckoo and Marsh Harrier.
Finished the week with 107 species and a good run of rarities including: Red-backed Shrike, Collared Pratincole, Crane, Roseate Tern and Red-rumped Swallows. Also, some good back up species, most seen at close range, which birders struggle to find up country such as: Brent Goose, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Peregrine, Hobby, LRP, Avocet, Barwit, Whimbrel, Med, Little and Glaucous Gulls, Arctic and Little Terns, Turtle Dove, Cuckoo, Barn and Little Owls, Nightingale, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Yellow Wagtail, Black Redstart, Wheatear and Greenland Wheatear, Stonechat, Mipit, Tree Sparrow and Corn Bunting.

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