Yellow-browed Warbler & Much, Much, More...

Lade - 0800hrs - Cloudy, sunshine later, dry, light airs - An eerily still day with loads of birds from the off. Around the cottage and overhead, Goldfinches, Redpolls, Siskins, 50 Swallows, 30 House Martins, 6 Jays, plus Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Robins and Goldcrests in the gardens. Also 6 species of moths in the trap last night including Blair`s Shoulder-knot and Dark Sword-grass.
Dungeness - 0900hrs - Terrific session here with a steady flow of Mipits, finches and hirundines coming and going. The lighthouse garden contained plenty of Robins, Great Tits, Goldcrests, Blackbirds, Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps and a Common Redstart, plus 3 Jays, Skylark and Greater pecker overhead.
At the Obs the ladies enjoyed birds in the hand from the ringing hut, particularly Chiffchaffs and a Jay. In and around the moat, 10 Goldcrests, 20 Blackbirds, 10 Song Thrushes and 2 Ring Ouzels.
On the way out we stopped to check the gull flock on the beach opposite the Sanctuary and connected with the 3rd winter Glaucous Gull and the adult Yellow-legged Gull.

                                          Jay, DBO

                                          Great White Egret, Burrowes

                                          Stonechat, Dengemarsh

                                          Spitfire

                                          Stonechat, Dengemarsh

Greatstone Beach - 1300hrs - On an incoming tide hundreds of Curlews and Oystercatchers on the beach, plus 20 Barwits, 5 Knots, 50 Sanderlings and Dunlins. As always, a great spectacle when the waders flew off to their high tides roosts.
RSPB - 1400hrs - A circuit of the bird reserve delivered a decent return with highlights being 2 Great White Egrets on Burrowes, 2 Stonechats near Christmas Dell, Snipe and Bearded Tits at four different locations. The scrub near Dengemarsh hide delivered a mixed flock of Long-tailed Tits, Goldcrests, Chiffchaffs and a very late Willow Warbler, and from the ramp Marsh Harriers and 10 Stock Doves. Best of all though was the willow scrub near the Corral where a flock of Long-tailed Tits, Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs contained a stunning Firecrest and a superb Yellow-browed Warbler, located initially by call. Also noted a Brown Hare, Smooth Newt and loads of Migrant Hawkers.
On the walk back to the car park a large flock of Lapwings put on an impressive aerial display over the shingle ridges, as did a Spitfire over Lydd Airport.
Another cracking days birding around the Peninsula with a wide range of migrants on show.