A trickle of spring migrants

Dungeness -0615hrs - cold, dry, sunny, ne 3 - It was no real surprise that the seawatching was hopeless given the wind direction and clear skies. However, along with TG and BB we lasted just over the hour in the seawatch hide for a trickle of Common Scoters, Gannets, Common and Sandwich Terns, two divers, four Shelducks, three Little Egrets, six Oystercatchers and two Whimbrels, which were new for the year. The oddest bird of all was an unidentified swan that crossed and probably made landfall on the ranges. At the Patch two Arctic Terns amongst a flock of 20 Commons were also new for the year.
Lade - Only three species of moths in the trap last night including the first Tawny Shears and Muslin Moth of the season. The only migrant of note locally was a year tick House Martin over the causeway at Lade pits with 5 Swallows, plus a further trickle of Swallows into the north wind along the beach during the morning.

                                Muslin Moth, Lade

                                       Tawny Shears, Lade

RSPB - 1400hrs - A tour of the bird reserve kicked off on ARC from the causeway road, where along with SB and BP we noted three distant Black-necked Grebes in summer plum, plus a close drake Garganey at the south end. Up to seven Little Gulls were hawking insects alongside the Black-heads out on the lake.

                                Garganey, ARC

Next stop Hayfield 2 where we bumped into PB and seven Blackwits on the flood which looks superb for drop-in passage waders at the moment. A Raven flew towards the ranges and a couple of Marsh Harriers were over Hookers. It was then back to ARC to get better views of the grebes from Screen hide, but to no avail, although a `rattling` Lesser Whitethroat was new for the year.
In summary, a decentish day with five new for the year - now, where`s that check list...

                                Blackwits, Dengemarsh