Osprey and ouzels

Dungeness - 0800hrs - cool, sunny, e 6 - A blasting east wind made for difficult birding around the point this morning where passerines were understandably keeping a low profile. However, a circuit with the locals produced a scattering of Chiffchaffs, Goldcrests, Song Thrushes, Robins, Dunnocks, Mipits, Linnets, Great Tits, Stonechats and a couple of Blackcaps between the lighthouse garden and the moat. Several Ring Ouzels were also seen this morning.
Lade - 1030hrs  - Despite the strong wind I decided to walk Mockmill where two Ring Ouzels and 10 Song Thrushes hurtled from cover towards the rough ground behind the `mirrors`. Six Stonechats were more obliging and a Sparrowhawk nipped through while a few Swallows and Mipits drifted over.

                               Golden and Grey Plovers, ARC

ARC - 1300hrs - We commenced a three day bird tour for our guests from Bexhill in grand style with cracking views of an Osprey from the car park. Initially picked up over Tower Pits it made slow progress over ARC flushing everything before heading out across the shingle towards Burrowes where the roosting gulls gave flight. From Hanson hide a decent selection of waders was on offer amongst the Dunlins, Lapwings and Goldies including Grey Plover, Knot, Blackwit, Ruff, Little Stint, Snipe and a Common Sandpiper. We also had brief views of a Bittern working its way along the edge of the far reedbed where seven Great White Egrets were also feeding, plus 10 Grey Herons and Little Egrets. Also noted two Marsh Harriers, a pair of Pintail, Sand Martins, Swallows, and a mixed flock of Long-tailed Tits and Chiffchaffs from the Willow Trail.
  Over the road on Boulderwall fields we eventually located a Glossy Ibis and the Cattle Egret, thanks to a flush job by a Marsh Harrier. Plenty of feral geese, Lapwings, Stock Doves, a Hobby, Golden Plovers and the like here, plus a couple of Yellow Wagtails overhead.
Dungeness - Another crack at the lighthouse garden drew a blank for the Yellow-browed, but we did see a Black Redstart on the power station fence and two Stonechats despite the wind. We finished the day in grand style on the return to Plovers as a flock of 200 Brent Geese flew along the beach at Lade calling wildly as they passed over the kite-surfers, a fine spectacle.