Bramblings

Dungeness - mild, sunny, SE 5 - A brisk wind off the sea made for difficult birding on the land. However, a walk along the beach opposite Jarman`s delivered two hunkered Wheatears, singing Meadow Pipit and Skylark and increase in twittering Linnets. Two Bramblings flew over calling, a bird that has shown a return to form this spring with others noted across the peninsula of late and on bird feeders here and on the bird reserve.
  On the sea a steady passage of wildfowl and Brents was underway, plus Common Terns at the Patch and good numbers of Common Gull and Black-headed Gulls through. The beach fox showed well in front of the Patch hide.

                                Brents and beach Fox

Lade  - The strong wind made viewing difficult on the lakes. I could find no sign of the Long-tailed Ducks, although they could easily be lurking somewhere hereabouts, while several Goldeneye, Teal and 50 Shoveler were still present.
Ray Wilkins - Sad news broke this afternoon with the death of Ray `Butch` Wilkins. He played for QPR in the early 90`s and was a great favourite with the fans despite spending most of his playing career with the `blue lot` down the road. He had another go with the Hoops as player manager mid decade and in his first season delivered a top ten finish for the club; although things went pear- shaped the following season after flogging Sir Les Ferdinand.
  I had the good fortune to meet Butch a couple of times and found him an easy going fella and passionate about the beautiful game.