A 76 species day

Greatstone Beach - warm, dry, cloudy, sw 3 - 0900hrs -  A days birding with Brian and Sara commenced at the Tavern with a scan of the sands before high tide. Amongst the remaining Curlews and Oystercatchers was a single Whimbrel; best of all though were stunning views of a female Peregrine chasing Black-headed Gulls along the tideline, without success. Also noted a Med Gull and a steady southward passage of Swifts, plus the first of several pristine Painted Lady butterflies we were to see today, sunning itself in the lee of a bush.
Dungeness  - We eventually located a Wheatear (with young), plus Skylark, Linnet, Mipit and Stock Dove, but Black Redstart proved elusive. On the old light a single well-grown Kestrel chick was leaning perilously on the window sill while the adults hunted nearby. A brief look at the sea yielded a few passing Gannets, Sandwich and Common Terns.

                                Juv Kestrel & Gatekeeper, Dungeness

RSPB - A circuit of the reserve, in an increasing wind, yielded the expected range of warblers, including singing Lesser Whitethroat, a freshly fledged Marsh Harrier, Common Tern chicks on Dengemarsh, `pinging` Beardies, a Kingfisher, plus Redshank, Common Sandpiper and Little Ringed Plovers on Burrowes.

                                Common Terns, Dengemarsh

Scotney - All the usual birds here including two Little Owls and Spoonbills, plus plenty of Corn Buntings, Yellow Wagtails, Skylarks, Linnets and a Tree Sparrow.

                                Little Owls, Scotney

ARC - Finished on a high from Screen hide with Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers (six) and a Garganey amongst a myriad of eclipse wildfowl, hirundines and Swifts.
A steady days birding across the peninsula delivered a wide range of species for our guests.