Warblers, Redstarts & Swift

Lade - 0700hrs - sunshine and showers, sw2 (the hosepipe ban seems to have done the trick, with rain most days since...) - Cracking day for migrants around the peninsula commenced with Willow Warblers in the garden and others hereabouts; even by late late afternoon birds could still be heard singing away.
Dungeness - 0900hrs Plenty more Willow Warblers, Blackcap and Redstart in a private garden on the point, plus more WWs and another Redstart around Lloyds. At least 10 Swallows over, 3 Sparrowhawks, 5 Goldfinches, 3 Wheatears and 3 Black Redstarts singing from the power station fence.
Tower Pits - 1100hrs First Lesser Whitethroat of the year singing in the scrub near the car park and first Reed Warblers around the pit margins, along with 5 Sedge and 10 Willow Warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs and 5 Cetti`s Warblers. A trickle of Swallows overhead and 2 Sand Martins. At Cockles Bridge an early Swift fizzed over the Dungeness Road and headed fast inland.
Littlestone - 1200hrs - Rounded off the Birdwatching Break with a selection of beach waders: Oystercatchers, Curlews, 4 Redshanks, 13 Turnstones, 12 Dunlins and 2 Ringed Plovers. Also, 4 Sandwich Terns and a Med Gull on the sands.
Lade Pits 1600hrs - At least 10 Willow Warblers around the sallows, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Sedge Warblers and a singing Cetti`s. Over south pit, 5 Swallows.
In summary the best day of the spring so far for volume of migrants with Willow Warblers the most numerous. Also around the bird reserve today: Ring-necked Duck, from Springfield Bridge; LRP, ARC and Burrowes; Whimbrel, Boulderwall; Whitethroat, Tower Pits; Ring Ouzel, return trail and loads more warblers at Christmas Dell.

                                          Willow Warbler & Redstart, Dungeness