Raptor day

Dungeness - cool, cloudy, sw 2-4 - A calm start to the day and a wander around the point with the guests delivered a skulking Sedge Warbler, several Mipits and Wheatears and a flyover Golden Plover on the beach opposite Jarman`s. Elsewhere a scattering of Willow Warblers and Wheatears, an increase in Robin numbers, two Sparrowhawks and a Kestrel.
  From Hanson hide on the bird reserve we jammed in on a terrific raptor session with distant views of an Osprey flying along the coast and catching a fish in Kerton Road quarry. It then flew towards ARC wherebye it was mobbed by crows, Peregrine and Kestrel before dropping onto the shingle to feed. The large female Peregrine then careered across the lake chasing a Black-tailed Godwit,  flushing everything in its wake and tussling with a Marsh Harrier, after which it settled on a post on the far side of the lake. A Common Buzzard and another two Marsh Harriers were also noted, plus a Black-necked Grebe, while the Pectoral Sandpiper remained faithful to the cormorant island.
  The digger work is now complete on Burrowes and it has certainly changed the scenery with plenty of new islands scattered across the pit and an extensive sand bar in front of Firth hide where a flock of Dunlins, Ringed Plovers and a Ruff were busily feeding.
  Over the three days we rattled up 101 species for Ray and Stuart with a number of quality migrants such as Pectoral Sandpiper, Cattle Egret and Red-backed Shrike and a host of raptors.
NB: A second Osprey was seen over Kerton Road quarry this afternoon (PB).