More Willow Warblers

Dungeness - 0730hrs - cool, sunny, nw 3 - A chilly start to the day with a north-westerly airflow giving a distinctly autumnal feel to proceedings. We checked the bushes around the lighthouse where  a few Willow Warblers and two juvenile Stonechats was about all that could be mustered. However, on the sheltered eastern side of the trapping area up 20 Willow Warblers were enjoying the warm sunshine, snapping up insects along with a handful of Common Whitethroats, Chaffinches, Blue and Great Tits. In the sun traps beside banks and low cover numerous Common Blues, Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns basked, plus several Painted Ladies attracted to the flowering thistles and ragweed.

                                Common Blue and Painted Lady

                               Willow Warbler
 

                      North-eastern corner of the Trapping Area, a favourite migrant trap

Lade - It was a similar picture around the willow swamp with Willow, Sedge and Reed Warblers feeding in the shelter of the ponds and Common Whitethroats in the dry scrub.

ARC - An afternoon walk down to pines revealed yet more Willow Warblers and a host of Swallows and Sand Martins on overhead wires. A flock of 100 Lapwings over contained six Redshanks.