Warblers

Dungeness - mild, cloudy, light airs - Spent the day guiding for Alan and Caroline in more pleasant weather conditions than yesterday. A cursory seawatch from the hide yielded very little apart from a few Gannets, scoters, terns and divers. On the land several Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps vocalised in the lighthouse garden, while a Dartford Warbler was noted nearby, along with Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Linnets, Black Redstart, Wheatear and a Swallow over.

                                Sedge Warblers were in fine voice today

 Around the bird reserve circular walk the warbler tribe were much in evidence with 20 Sedge and 10 Cetti`s Warblers in the ascendancy along with Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat and our first Lesser Whitethroat of spring. Following a tip-off three Garganeys (two drakes and a duck) on Dengemarsh Sewer were a nice surprise with a drake on the lake later in the afternoon, while the Crane remained in the distant field from the dung heap in Dengemarsh Road. Also noted, three Brents, a `booming` Bittern and Bearded Tits from the viewing ramp, a Whimbrel over calling, Tree Sparrows at Boulderwall,  Raven, Wigeon, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard and Mediterranean Gull elsewhere and a summer plumage Sanderling on Burrowes.
  We finished the afternoon scanning the sands at Littlestone in hazy light where 13 stunning Bar-tailed Godwits in breeding plumage were feeding on the mud patch in front of the caisson. Also here 13 Turnstones and plenty of Curlews and Oystercatchers further out. 
  A fairly decent range of migrants and breeding birds of 89 species were noted over the two days for our guests.