Firecrest & Barred Warbler

Lade - mild, dry and sunny, w2 - A terrific start to the day with a Firecrest in the garden conifers and 2 Chiffchaffs. Did the loop walk along the pits and back along the foreshore where a few Mipits, Goldfinches and Reed Buntings over with several more of the latter, plus Chiffchaffs in the willows. The water level has now risen after the heavy rain so the islands have all but disappeared. However, 200 hirundines over the water, plus Peregrine, Kestrel, Greater pecker and Kingfisher of note. Nothing much along the beach apart from a Wheatear and 2 Ringed Plovers.
Rye Harbour NR -1100hrs - With a high spring tide all the waders were on Flat Beach with only a single Spotted Redshank of any note amongst hundreds of common shorebirds, 15 Little Egrets, 12 Shelducks, 10 Mipits, 2 Wheatears and a Merlin. In the harbour entrance a juv Eider, 15 Turnstones and 2 Sandwich Terns. The Spoonbill flew over as we approached the caravan park.

                                         Rye Harbour

                                          Barred Warbler, DBO

DBO - 1700hrs - Made it back to Dunge for the Barred Warbler which showed reasonably well in the moat for 20 minutes or so in bright late afternoon sunshine. Managed a record shot (thanks to CT for use of `scope) as it sunbathed in cover.