Gale force winds

Lade - mild, sunshine and showers, gale force winds - The past couple of days have been dominated by strong to gale force south-westerly winds blowing up Channel making birding almost impossible at times. Two mornings on the local patch resulted in few birds out in the open although Cuckoos, Reed Warblers and Whitethroats did make their presence felt above the tempest.

                                Dungeness cardinal buoy

Dungeness - 0845-0945hrs - An hour from the hide produced two Manx west and a single distant skua east, plus the usual terns and Gannets.

                                Whimbrel, access road

RSPB - 1000-1300hrs - A guided walk for a small group of birders was hard going, but despite the adverse weather conditions we managed to see 12 Dunlins and 50 Common Terns on Burrowes, Hobby, Marsh Harrier, Cuckoo, Garganey and Great White Egret on Dengemarsh, Lesser Whitethroat by Christmas Dell, Wheatear near the Return Trail and six Whimbrel on the access road field, plus all the usual warblers thereabouts.