Chats and warblers

Lade - warm, dry, sunny, light airs - En-route to Mockmill at least 10 Wheatears and two Whinchats on the Desert. The sewer scrub was alive with birds including 20 each of Reed Bunting, Linnet and Common Whitethroat, plus a scattering of Lesser Whitethroats, Willow Warblers and two Sedge Warblers, while a pulse of Sand Martins and Swallows overhead attracted the attention of a Hobby.

                                Wheatear and Whinchat on the Desert at Lade

ARC - 1200hrs  - A decent selection of waders on the shingle ridges comprised mainly Golden Plovers and Lapwings, plus four each of Snipe, Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers, Little Stint and Dunlin.
  Whilst in Hanson hide I had an interesting natter with bird tour guide Malick Suso from the Gambia who was visiting Dungeness. He is a regular on the Gambian Experience stand at Bird Fair and is the guide used by Chris Packham on his birding holidays to this bird-rich west African country, details of which can be found on: www.gambia.co.uk/birdwatching-holidays
Dungeness - 1530-1630hrs - A seawatch from the fishing boats this afternoon was predictably quiet with just a trickle of feeding Sandwich and Common Terns offshore, a westbound Fulmar and a pulse of 30 Sand Martins striking out across the briny. Several Harbour Porpoises and a Grey Seal also noted.