First Common Sandpiper

Dungeness - 0630hrs - cold, sunny, ne 4 - Up early for a seawatch that didn't really happen apart from a few divers, Gannets and terns, although AJG had a Red-necked Grebe just before I arrived. We wandered down to the Patch  just in case yesterdays Iceland Gull had tarried, but no joy; later on a flock of 30 Arctic Terns was reported here.
Checked the scrub opposite Jarman`s where a decent number of birds noted in the bright sunshine including 10 Wheatears, 3 Black Redstarts, 10 Linnets, 4 Skylarks, 2 Mipits and singles of Blackcap, Stock Dove and a Merlin.
Lade - A mixed flock of hirundines hawking insects over the willows comprised mainly Sand Martins, while in the bushes Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap noted. Along the main track by south pit at least 6 singing Linnets and 2 Whitethroats, plus Reed and Sedge Warblers in the main reedbed. On south pit a Common Sandpiper (166) over the water on bowed wings was a Marsh year tick and 4 Med Gulls moved over. First grass snake of the year seen basking in the sun by the ponds.

                                Linnet, Lade

ARC/Tower Pits - A couple of visits today revealed a few common migrants similar to Lade, plus 2 Little Egrets and a Yellow Wagtail over. The main news here was the sighting of an adult male Penduline Tit between Screen hide and the willow scrub around the car park.