Woodcocks and Dusky Warbler

Dungeness - warm, dry and sunny, se 2 - 1000hrs - We spent most of the day wandering around the peninsula in balmy, almost summer-like weather conditions and getting further views of the Dusky Warbler in a private garden at the Sanctuary. Inevitably we bumped into some old birding faces from Bedfordshire amongst a steady procession of twitchers paying homage to the warbler.
Out on the desert and along the edge of the trapping area Barney was on top form flushing at least 3 Woodcocks, our first of the autumn; also noted 2 Coal Tits of the continental variety, 2 Chiffchaffs, 10 Goldcrests, 20 Robins, 2 Stonechats, 3 Black Redstarts, 30 Goldfinches, 20 Linnets, 5 Reed Buntings, a Grey Plover over calling and a trickle of Skylarks overhead. There was no sign of the Yellow-browed Warbler seen earlier in the north-east corner of the trapping area.

                                Woodcock flusher

After a bite to eat we spent the afternoon by the fishing boats where there was limited seabird activity apart from a few distant auks, Gannets and Kittiwakes, plus 5 Brents and 2 Red-throated Divers west bound. We then joined Mick the gull aficionado who was on site at high tide with his usual bucket of fish guts, bread and popcorn to entice a Caspian or Yellow-legged Gull into camera range, but there was little happening so we yarned on a bit before departing to watch 30 blokes from the southern hemisphere knocking lumps out of one another at Twickenham.

                                Gulls and Turnstone, Dungeness