Jack Snipe

Lade - 0730hrs - mild, cloudy, wet, se 2 - A thorough working of the local patch this morning teased out a Jack Snipe from Mockmill sewer along with 3 Common Snipes. There appeared to be an influx of Stonechats with at least 10 birds scattered across the shingle scrub, plus 20 Linnets, 20 Goldfinches, 2 Skylarks, Wheatear and Reed Bunting. A large tit flock by the ponds contained several Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests, while several Water Rails yelled from cover in the willow swamp. All the usual wildfowl on the lakes, plus 2 Swallows hurrying south and a Marsh Harrier over the `mirrors`.
A decent catch in the garden trap last night yielded typical autumnal moths of 10 species.

                                        Autumnal Rustic

                                         Black Rustic

                                        Lunar Underwing

Greatstone Beach - A surprisingly high count of 120 Sandwich Terns on the sands was the highlight here, plus a Black-tailed Godwit amongst the legions of Oystercatchers, Curlews and Dunlins.
RSPB - Along the access road 5 Stonechats and a Wheatear, plus Kestrel and Marsh Harrier over Boulderwall fields. At least 8 Great White Egrets were on Burrowes along with the usual wildfowl and 6 Swallows south.
Very little on ARC with 8 Pintails and a Black-necked Grebe the highlight amongst low numbers of wildfowl. From the willow trail, Cetti`s Warbler, Chiffchaffs, Goldcrest and Water Rail.
Dungeness - An hour at the boats this afternoon proved high on comedy value with the usual suspects on good form, but low on seabirds with just a trickle of Sandwich Terns, Gannets, Common Scoters, several Arctic Skuas, auks and 2 Med Gulls.