Spotted Flycatcher

Lade - 0800hrs - cool, sunny, w 3 - Another poor night in the garden moth trap with just five species and none NFY. A couple of Hobbys were already on the wing over the willow swamp, while Swifts came and went.
Dungeness RSPB - A circular walk for a group of old friends from Maidstone way concentrated primarily on wild flowers, of which there was a surprising range in bloom including our first vipers bugloss and Nottingham catchfly. Also managed to find a smart male grass snake, two crested newts, five species of dragonflies, a few common butterflies and plenty of marsh frogs.

                                Hobby, Dengemarsh

                               Spotted Flycatcher, near Scott hide

Despite the increasing wind Reed Buntings, Linnets, Tree Sparrows, Sedge Warblers and Whitethroats all showed well, along with singing Bearded Tits, Cetti`s and Reed Warblers. At least six Hobbys put on a show over Dengemarsh along with several Marsh Harriers and plenty of Swifts.
At Hookers we watched a family group of Dabchicks and on the Discovery pond a brood of Moorhens. On the hayfields it was pleasing to note two female Lapwings, each with two well grown chicks, and when a Peregrine whipped over at least 10 adults rose up to `greet` it. By Christmas Dell we jammed a Wheatear, followed by a Spotted Flycatcher hawking insects on the sheltered side of the scrub by Scott hide, and a welcome year tick, not that I`m year listing of course...