Warblers & Churches

Dungeness - 0900hr - Coolish start, sunny and dry, n2; warm later, w3 - An interesting day out and about across the Marsh and one in which wherever we went I seemed to bump into birders from home and away; starting off with the Dover Crew at Dunge, moving on to one of the Ashford Birders fishing on the RMCanal at Kenardington and ending up chatting to Bill Haines from London at Springfield Bridge. Also met a coachload of tourists, (complete with a Blue Badge guide) at St Clements Old Romney, touring Marsh churches. As I said, a day full of surprises.
Anyhow, the seawatching was slow from the hide with distant Gannets and Sandwich Terns, 2 Little Gulls, a Kittiwake and a few hirundines of note, plus up to 20 Porpoises and a Grey Seal. A mooch around the Moat delivered Sparrowhawk, Mipit and a few Yellow Wags over.
RMCanal, Kenardington - 1130hrs - A cracking session here with plenty of passerines either side of the bridge including 10 Chiffchaffs, 5 Willow Warblers, 4 Blackcaps, 2 Reed Warblers, Sedge Warbler, 10 Chaffinches, 10 Greenfinches, 20 Linnets, 4 Goldfinches, 2 Bullfinches, Reed Bunting, 2 Yellowhammers, Treecreeper, 10 each of Blue and Great Tits and a Spotted Flycatcher. Also noted a Mink.

                                         Juv Yellowhammer, RMCanal

                                          Little Owl, Dengemarsh

                                         Grey Heron, ARC

We then visited Fairfield, Brookland and Old Romney churches.
Galloways - 1600hrs - Three Stonechats, 4 Wheatears and a Kestrel here.
Springfield Bridge - 1630hrs - Finally nailed a Little Owl on the chicken sheds, plus 4 Stock Doves and 6 Pied Wagtails, a Stoat, a Great White Egret over Dengemarsh and a Merlin chasing Linnets.
ARC - 1715hrs - Finished the day at Hanson hide where just 2 Little Stints, 6 Dunlins and 3 Pintails of interest.
The bird tally for the week ended on 112 species with Pec Sand and GWEgret the only rarities but a good supporting cast of waders, wildfowl and raptors for the guests to enjoy.