Skylarks

Lade - warm, dry and sunny - A viz mig from the aerial ramp delivered the first real trickle of autumn Skylarks coasting westwards, plus a few Pied Wagtails, Mipits, Reed Buntings and Chaffinches. The bushes around the ponds were much quieter this morning with just a handful of Chiffchaffs and a couple of Blackcaps present. Also noted around the site: Kingfisher, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Great White Egret, Green Woodpecker and the Curlew flock coming off the sands to roost out the high tide on the Desert.
  There was a good catch of moths in the garden trap this morning comprising twenty macros, including Delicate and Plumed Fan-foot amongst the typical autumn species.

                        Migrant Hawkers and Red Admirals were commonplace today

Dungeness - A guided walk for a U3A group from north Kent took place in warm sunshine with plenty of Migrant Hawkers, Red Admirals and one or two Small Coppers, Small Heaths and even a Common Blue still on the wing. All three species of egrets were seen including 12 Great Whites scattered across the site and six Cattle Egrets in Hayfield 2 tracking the cows. Also noted: 200 Golden Plovers on Burrowes, Yellow Wagtail in the hayfield, several Chiffchaffs, a striking juvenile Marsh Harrier and five Buzzards over the ranges, Wheatear, Ruff and Snipe on Dengemarsh, Bearded Tits and Water Rail from the viewing ramp, a Stonechat from the return trail and hovering Kestrels just about everywhere you looked.