Pheasant and a Swallow

Dungeness - 0730-0930hrs - mild, cloudy, e 3 - A circuit of the point delivered a few grounded migrants such as Goldcrests, Blackbirds, Chiffchaffs and Robins in the bushes, plus Redwings, Fieldfares, Song Thrush, Ring Ouzel, Mistle Thrush and a Woodcock in or around the moat and a Firecrest in the Obs garden. During conversation with DB he commented on the first Dungeness record of Grey Squirrel, noted in his garden this morning.

                                A late Swallow

                                Pheasant, a rare sighting in these parts

RSPB - At Boulderwall a Swallow flew around the barn and settled on the roof, while it was good to see that the Tree Sparrows had returned in force after their sojourn out on the Marsh. On Burrowes a Blackwit remained in front of Firth hide, plus all the usual wildfowl, egrets and a count of 520 Cormorants around the lake. Bird of the day though was a cock Pheasant strutting around the car park, the first I`ve seen here in ages. Very quiet over the road on ARC with only a handful of ducks and egrets on the shingle islands from Hanson hide, although a mixed passerine flock from the willow trail attracted a few Goldcrests and a Firecrest.
  On the weather front, yet again the rain forecast for today failed to materialise. I cannot recall seeing the peninsula so parched for late October, there isn't a drop of moisture on the shingle ridges with the plants desiccated to a crisp.