Wednesday 25 April 2018

Warblers and hirundines

Lade - cool, sunny, showery, SW 5 - A breezy morning for a circuit of the local patch where at least two Cuckoos were active around the Willow Swamp. Reed Warbler and Common Whitethroat numbers had increased across the site overnight while Sedge Warbler was still the most numerous of the tribe; Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Cetti`s Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat also noted, plus Marsh Harrier, Hobby and Green Woodpecker. Twenty Swifts and 50 odd Swallows hawked insects over south lake along with one or two Sand and House Martins.





Dungeness - Continuing on with the Cetti`s Warbler survey I concentrated on the Hooker`s area, prime habitat which brought the running total of singing males to over 40; it would appear they had no problems getting through the cold snap in February/March. A stony field at the back of the reedbed attracted five Whimbrels, a Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail and a lone Brent Goose, while Cuckoo, Reed Warblers, Lesser Whitethroat and Sedge Warblers were all in song. A pair each of Pochard and Shoveler suggested breeding on the lakes, a Bittern broke cover flying over the reedbed following a couple of `booms` and the Cattle Egret put in a brief appearance amongst the cows.
  On Burrowes similar waders to yesterday: Barwit, Greenshank, Common Sandpiper and Ringed Plover, plus several more Whimbrels noted from the access road.
 

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