Montagu`s Harrier

Scotney - 0800hrs - warm, overcast, sw 2 - A wander out back in increasingly muggy weather conditions produced all the usual farmland birds including Corn Buntings, Yellow Wagtails, Skylark, Little Owl, Common Buzzard and Marsh Harrier. A ringtail Montagu`s Harrier flew from the Army ranges, (presumably disturbed by the loud crumps of mortar firing) over our heads and towards Cheyne Court, and was most likely the same bird that`s has been in this area since last month.
  It was good to see Avocets with chicks and a few pairs of Common Terns settled down amongst the Black-headed Gulls on the island. Also around the lake, a Common Sandpiper, Little Egrets, Egyptian Geese and two 1st summer Mediterranean Gulls. Evidence of post breeding dispersal showed in the form of 20 Pochards, 20 Shelducks and a straggle of moulting Lapwings.
  Two Brown Hares showed well in a field of maize.

                                Brown Hares, Scotney

Burrowes - A quick look at Burrowes revealed nothing much apart from the usual wildfowl and a few forlorn looking terns with nowhere to nest.

                               Foxgloves, Lade

Dungeness  - The Patch was very disappointing with only 50 Common Terns over the boil and a few hundred Herring Gulls on the beach, while there was no sign of the hybrid white-winged gull or Roseate Terns. On the plus side a migrant Spotted Flycatcher and Blackcap were in the lighthouse garden, plus a Reed Warbler in the bramble patch on the sea wall, thanks to SO`s sharp eyes. In the humid conditions Small Heaths, Common Blues and three Painted Ladies warmed up amongst the colourful sward of flowers beside the power station wall.

                                Common Blue, Dungeness

ARC/Tower Pits - An afternoon wander down to the pines produced several good views of Cuckoos, Marsh Harriers and Hobbies. Everywhere we went today Diamond-backed Moths were fluttering around in ground cover, there must thousands/millions across the peninsula.