Melodious Warbler

Hastings Country Park - warm, dry, sunny, sw 3 - We spent most of the day at this stunning coastal country park complete with panoramic sea views towards Beachy Head to the west, and across Rye bay east. The old quarry attracted a few Whitethroats with Willow Warblers and Blackcaps in the wooded glens. Yellowhammers, Linnets and Goldfinches were common place and we had cracking views of a family of Peregrines, plus Buzzards, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk. Plenty of grassland butterflies were noted as well as many Migrant Hawkers.

                               Views across Hastings Country Park

                               Goldfinches were plentiful in the scrub

Dungeness - 1600hrs - Back home news broke of an early Melodious Warbler, found in every birders favourite back garden (well done Dave, another great find and thanks for sending the pics on) on the estate. By the time we arrived on site the warbler was showing intermittently low down in a clump of pines, but had put on a good display earlier when the photos below were taken.

                         Note classic `hippo` head shape and plain greater coverts

                Melodious Warbler - note short primary projection and uniform wings (by Dave Bunney)