Sunday 29 September 2013

Coasting Swallows

Lade - 0700hrs - cloudy, dry, ne 4 -This infernal easterly airflow is beginning to cheese me off. You`d have thought that by now it would have delivered the goods, but if it has the wind is so strong down here on the coast that any self respecting passerine is keeping firmly into cover and out of the way. Wandering around the local patch this morning was only notable for a steady flow of Swallows heading north, presumably coasting up the Kent coast looking for the shortest crossing point.
On south pit 12 Shelducks and 50 Wigeon amongst the usual wildfowl.
ARC - Called in Hanson hide late morning where the same bunch of waders were on show that have been around all week. The 2 Pectoral Sandpipers were adopting a low profile but 5 Curlew Sandpipers and 4 Little Stints were far more obliging, including an adult stint in winter plumage. Other waders included 10 Dunlin, 4 Ruff, 3 Greenshank, Blackwit and Snipe amongst 200 Lapwings and Goldies. All the usual wildfowl, Little Egrets, plus Chiffchaff and Cetti`s Warbler from the Willow trail
PS: News from elsewhere  concerned a Two-barred Crossbill found by Neil Burt in Challock Forest near Ashford, while down here at the rarity hotspot of Dungeness a Goldeneye on Burrowes officially confirmed the arrival of winter (MH).

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