First Siskin!

Lade - 0700hrs - misty start, warm and sunny later, nw 2 - We flogged around the local patch for little reward first thing apart from a Siskin overhead in the murk, which I later realised was a year tick! A few Mipits and Swallows also drifted over, plus a Grey Wagtail. Around the willow swamp several Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap, two Cetti`s Warbler, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a tit flock.  There was nothing new on the lakes with a family party of Common Terns still present.
  The garden mv yielded up a dozen species of macros, but was mostly full of Large Yellow Underwings, although several L-album Wainscots and an Angle Shades livened the catch up a little.

                                Angle Shades and L-album Wainscot

Dungeness - Called in to Hanson hide around midday where four Black Terns were hawking insects over the lake. On the islands pretty much the same as yesterday with three Little Stints, a Curlew Sandpiper, 20 each of Blackwits and Dunlins, two Great White Egrets and a glimpse of a Water Rail.

                                  Grey Heron and Great White Egret from Hanson hide

An afternoon scan of Dengemarsh from Springfield Bridge was notable for distant views of the local Osprey over towards the water tower. On the marsh a mixed flock of Golden Plovers and Lapwings, plus two Ruffs.