Swifts

Lade - cool, sunny, N 4 - A nippy morning with a brisk wind out of the north keeping the temperature down. Swifts have been in short supply this spring so it was good to see a small flock feeding on emerging insects over south lake along with a few Swallows. Out on the herb-rich storm ridges scores of Starlings and House Sparrows were plundering invertebrates from the turf and flying back to housing nest sites along the coastal strip.

                                Broom is now replacing the yellow of gorse

                                Reed Bunting singing from dry scrub

Dungeness - An afternoon visit in blustery conditions was notable for the large number of Common Terns on the islands, but unfortunately a Herring Gull has already settled on the shiny new `tern` raft. Most of yesterdays waders had moved on although a flock of nine Whimbrel dropped in alongside the terns and two Curlews. Other waders present included several each of Dunlin and Ringed Plover.

                                Whitethroat perched in front of the Visitor Centre

                                Common Terns and Whimbrels, Burrowes