Close quarter Merlin

Dungeness - warm, dry and sunny, light airs - We spent most of the morning wandering around the peninsula in glorious autumn sunshine with barely a breath of wind. Along the beach a Wheatear, several Stonechats, Mipits and Linnets were feeding around the new lighthouse while off the boardwalk the sea was covered in 1,000 plus Mediterranean Gulls and score of Gannets. Overhead passage was limited to a few Skylark, Goldfinch, Redpoll and Siskin. The old lighthouse garden was bustling with Goldcrests, tits, Chiffchaffs, Robins, Dunnocks, Goldfinches, Blackbirds and a Tree Sparrow, while at the Obs the ringers were kept busy processing mainly Lesser Redpolls and Goldcrests. More of the aforementioned were present in the Moat and on the walk back to Jarman`s a Ring Ouzel and Song Thrush were flushed from a clump of scrub.

                                Lighthouse Stonechat and Wheatear

                                Goldcrests and Goldfinches, Old Lighthouse Garden

                                Lesser Redpoll, DBO

Spent a most enjoyable two hours this afternoon in Hanson hide where the islands were smothered in over 200 Golden Plovers and 150 Lapwings, plus five Ruff, Blackwit, Curlew and Snipe. Hundreds of Shoveler, Teal, Gadwall, Wigeon, Pintail and a Garganey loafed in the sunshine, while several flyover Marsh Harriers, Peregrine and a Bittern kept the ducks and waders on their toes. Also noted: Kingfisher, Great White Egret, Goldeneye and Water Rail.
  However, if that little lot wasn't enough just as we were leaving a Merlin flew in and perched atop a willow close to the hide. A most un-Merlin like encounter, being as they`re usually seen sat on a hillock or post miles out on the Desert or tearing after Skylark or Linnet overhead. It only perched for a minute or so but what a stunning view before it typically shot off over the islands flushing the waders.
  The Willow Trail sun-traps harboured loads of Migrant Hawkers, Common Darters, Speckled Woods and two Common Lizards on the boardwalk. Chiffchaff, Goldcrest and Blackcap noted in the scrub.
  Finished the afternoon off at the fishing boats where the usual Gannets and gulls were feeding offshore.

                               Female Merlin, ARC