Black Redstarts & Owls

Dungeness - 0915hrs - mild, overcast start, sunny and warm later, sw1 - Started at the Point with Black Redstarts; one in the timber yard at the entrance to the estate and 2 by the fishermans cabins. Also, 2 singing Skylarks, Mipits, Reed Bunting, Pied Wagtail and Old Faithful hunkered down amongst a group of Herring Gulls. On the sea a trickle of Gannets, Kitts, Guillemot, 52 Brents and 15 Common Scoters east, 200 Great Crested Grebes and Cormorants. Year ticked several visiting weekend birders...
RSPB Reserve - 1115hrs From the causeway road Great White and Little Egrets, plus 4 redhead Smews on New Diggings. At Boulderwall the usual flock of Tree Sparrows on the feeders, a pair of Smews on Gun Club pit and a close hare. From the visitors centre a flock of what appeared to be 28 migrant Barwits had plonked down on the nearest island affording ideal digi-scoping opportunities, as did the Long-tailed Duck. From the ramp plenty of harrier activity and a brief glimpse of a Kingfisher, but no sign of any Bitterns flying around; 11 Dabchicks on Dengemarsh was of note and the Great White flew over New Ex.
Lydd - 1500hrs - A check of several chicken sheds in the Lydd area eventually delivered a pair of Little Owls and a superbly life-like model of a Barn Owl perched on a back garden fence 10 foot from the kitchen window!!! Scotney was a waste of time with very little of note.
Galloways - 1600hrs - Finished in fine style with a hunting Short-eared Owl and a Stonechat on the ranges.
Kerton Rd Cafe - A Yellow Horned moth was potted at the cafe, while an Oak Beauty was trapped along the road last night.

                                          Black Redstart and Old Faithful, Dungeness

                                          Barwits & Long-tailed Duck, Burrowes

                                           Little Owl, Lydd