Hirundines

Lade - 0630hrs - cool, cloudy, W4 - A much cooler day with low cloud cover and a scudding wind which delivered the first decent count of hirundines of spring; 100 mostly Swallows, plus a few martins and two Swifts over, along with Yellow Wagtail, Whimbrel and Greenshank. In the shelter of the Willow Swamp a Nightingale gave a couple of short bursts of song, while the two Long-tailed Ducks were back on show on south lake. A lone Wheatear was on the Desert. An evening visit was far less productive as the wind had increased, plus a fine drizzle.
Dungeness - After breakfast I dropped into the bird reserve with our two American guests. At Boulderwall several Tree Sparrows were on the feeders, while six grounded Whimbrels noted along the access road, plus Marsh Harrier, Wheatear, Cuckoo, Linnets, Sedge Warblers, Common and Lesser Whitethroats. On Burrowes, Sandwich and Common Terns, Bar-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Common Sandpiper and Ringed Plover. The Cattle Egret was still on Dengemarsh, plus Cuckoo and Hobby.