Warbler and waders

Lade - cool, sunny, NW 3 - A much fresher feel to the weather first thing with a cool Arctic airflow flooding across the Marsh, lovely stuff. I wasn't  expecting much on the local patch, considering how clear it had been overnight, but from the off at least 30 Willow Warblers were noted across the shingle scrub and around the willow swamp, although there were probably many more that went unseen. Lesser numbers of Sedge, Reed and Cetti`s Warblers, Common and Lesser Whitethroats also noted. The cool conditions had also driven down about 500 Sand and House Martins over south lake, while Turnstone (unusual here), Common Sandpiper and Greenshank were present around the margins. Also noted several Stonechats, 10 each of Mipit and Yellow Wagtail grounded on the shingle and the first Kingfisher of autumn across north lake.
  On the bay this afternoon hundreds of Sandwich and Common Terns, the usual Curlews and Oystercatchers, Dunlins, Knots, Barwits and five Sanderlings, plus three Arctic Skuas hunting along the tideline.

                                Willow Warblers taking in the early morning sunshine

Dungeness - On Burrowes a loose flock of a dozen Black Terns, amongst hundreds of Common Terns, still held the American Black Tern, which briefly perched on one of the tern rafts. Waders included six Dunlins, two Little Ringed Plovers, 12 Blackwits, two Curlews and a cracking adult Grey Plover, plus Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Hobby and two Great White Egrets. From Hanson hide two smart juvenile Curlew Sandpipers flew in beside several Dunlins, two Snipe, a Wood Sandpiper, Redshank and 100 Golden Plovers. Amongst the myriad of eclipse ducks were four Garganeys and six Wigeon as well as brief views of a Bittern, Great White Egret and a juvenile Marsh Harrier. More Willow Warblers were heard from the boardwalk.
  At Galloways we had brief views of the Wryneck just past the bend along with 10 Whinchats, Common Whitethroats, Stonechats and Yellow Wagtails.