Reedbed hunt

Dungeness - mild, sunny, n 2 - A slightly cooler day due to a northerly airflow and clear skies. I decided to set the bar high and check out the reedbeds this morning at Tower Pits, ARC and Hooker`s, being as we`re in the time slot for Penduline Tit. Particular attention was paid to patches of bulrush in sheltered spots behind willow screens. Unsurprisingly none were located but there were plenty of other reedbed denizens to enjoy such as Cetti`s Warbler, Water Rail, Reed Bunting, Dabchick, egrets and Bearded Tit, including one `feeding` on the grit tray at Hooker`s.
  A group of 10 Bramblings dropped into the willows by ARC car park where a mobile tit flock was doing the rounds along with several Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests. A couple of Tree Sparrows showed well on the Boulderwall feeders while the Cattle Egret was out on the fields following the suckling herd. Small flocks of Starlings continued to pass overhead along with finches, Mipits, Redwing, Song Thrush and my first Woodlark of the autumn; just a Hawfinch to come then...
  A number of raptors were on the hunt and enjoying the autumn sunshine, mostly Marsh Harriers but also Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Peregrine, the latter flushing the wildfowl and waders off ARC.

                                Palpita vitrealis, a migrant from southern Europe

                                Bearded Tit on grit tray, Hooker`s reedbed

Lade - Not a particularly good night in the garden moth trap, but it did include the migrant micro moth Palpita vitrealis. Around the garden this early afternoon several Red Admirals on the late flowering buddleia and a couple of Goldcrests in the fir trees.
  A late afternoon check of the bay on a rising tide produced several Common Scoters, a Wigeon, two Brent Geese and an Arctic Skua chasing a Sandwich Tern.