Clancy`s Rustic

Lade - warm, dry and sunny, SW2 - An early viz mig from the back garden delivered a trickle of Skylarks, Mipits, Reed Buntings, Chaffinches and alba wagtails overhead, south along the coast. However, the main event was in the garden moth trap which was stuffed full of over 150 moths of 12 species. Quite why it was so profitable is a mystery but I`m not complaining! Black Rustics were the most numerous at 75 while the quality was provided by two Clancy`s Rustics and a Blair`s Shoulder-knot.

                                  Blair`s Shoulder-knot and Clancy`s Rustic

Dungeness - A wander around the bushes at the point was largely uneventful with just a few Siskins over and a couple of Chiffchaffs in the moat, plus Stonechats and a Black Redstart. A flock of 20 hirundines by the lifeboat station contained mostly House Martins and several Swallows.

                               Blue skies over Dungeness

Birdwatching Break - We started a three day bird tour for Sarah and Jim from south London this afternoon in warm sunshine. First stop Scotney pits from the roadside pull-ins which yielded the usual feral geese, ducks, gulls, Cormorants, Lapwings, Curlew, Buzzards, Marsh Harrier and Kestrel. From the range road at Galloways, Stonechats and Kestrel. Moving onto Dengemarsh from Springfield Bridge two Cattle Egrets sat on an island along with a Great White Egret and Ruff, while we watched a Great Crested Grebe take its time tackling a large fish. Also noted from the bridge: Marsh Harrier, Raven, Linnets and Reed Bunting.

                                Down the hatch - eventually!

                                Garganey preening

  Finished the afternoon at Hanson hide where a Garganey showed well amongst the usual range of ducks on the islands, plus five Ruffs, Ringed Plover, 30 Golden Plovers, Great White Egret and a Sparrowhawk. Plenty of Migrant Hawkers, Common Darters and Speckled Woods also on the wing this afternoon.