Red-necked Phalarope

Lade - mild, cloudy, ne 4 - 0700hrs - The fabled easterly airflow overnight with low cloud certainly did the trick this morning with several classic drift migrants on the local patch. Best of all was two Whinchats in Mockmill and a Spotted Flycatcher in the willow swamp, plus at least three Lesser Whitethroats (they've got to be the smartest of warblers...) and a scattering of Sedge, Reed and Willow Warblers and Whitethroats. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was new and a few Yellow Wagtails moved overhead.
ARC - Wasn't home long before a call came through from PB concerning a juvenile Red-necked Phalarope from Hanson hide, a rare bird in these parts. When I arrived it was frantically `spinning` and wading on the near islands amongst the wildfowl and Lapwings and occasionally taking short flights. As always with phalaropes, smart and highly watchable. I managed a few dreadful records shots, which quite frankly I`m embarrassed to post, but I`m sure there`ll be plenty of much better ones from PB et al. The recent deluge had raised the water levels, covering most of the islands.

                                Red-necked Phalarope, ARC

ARC - Having been in Hythe most of the day I couldn`t resist late seconds on the phalarope which was showing distantly from Screen hide this evening amongst a large of flock of Lapwings. A Little Stint was also present, alongside Dunlin, plus a Spotted Redshank, Snipe, Redshank, Greenshank overhead, Garganey and Black-necked Grebe. A tip off from a visiting birding concerning a Pied Flycatcher near the pines was an unexpected bonus and new for the year.

NB: Other drift migrants reported around the peninsula today included, Pied Flycatcher and Melodious Warbler in Dengemarsh Gully, plus a Wryneck and more Whinchats at Galloways.
With temperatures in the high teens forecast for tonight it could be a good for moths, providing its not too wet.