Bar-tailed Godwits and Wheatears

Scotney - cool, sunny, W 5 - A breezy but dry, sunny day and a treat to be out and about guiding after yesterdays deluge. A terrific session here for the guests with a large mixed flock of around 150 Barwits and Whimbrels on the front field, plus Redshank and Common Sandpiper around the lake margin. Out back up to 30 Yellow Wagtails put on a fine show along with a supporting cast of Corn Buntings, Wheatears, Skylarks, a Peregrine perched atop a pylon, a close Buzzard and a Little Owl. On the pits, 20 Avocets, two Little and one Great White Egret, Greenshank and Egyptian Goose.

                                One of many Yellow Wagtails seen today

  We called in at Galloways where Lesser and Common Whitethroats, Sedge Warbler, Meadow Pipit, Stonechat, Wheatear, Raven and Kestrel were all noted.
Dungeness - A circuit of the reserve delivered 30 more Bar-tailed Godwits, three Dunlins, Teal and Shoveler on the islands at Burrowes, plus hundreds of Swifts and hirundines overhead; Great White Egret, a flyover Spoonbill, three Hobbies, Cuckoo and several Marsh Harriers at Dengemarsh; a pair of Wigeon at Tanner`s Pool and plenty of common warblers, Linnets and several more Wheatears along the trail.   

                                Bar-tailed Godwits on Burrowes

Lade - Our final port of call this afternoon was the local patch where more Barwits and 20 Curlews were on the bay from Romney Tavern. On south lake the usual ducks and grebes, plus three more Wheatears on the Desert. We could find no sign of the long-staying Long-tailed Duck though, so I assume that it has finally departed northwards.
   In summary a fine days birding with the highlights being the Bar-tailed Godwits, many in their breeding finery; the Scotney Yellow Wagtails; Hobbies hawking mayflies over Hooker`s reedbed and Wheatears just about everywhere we went.