Greenshanks

Dungeness - cool, cloudy, sw 4 - Spent the day guiding for Ian and Penny from Brighton. We commenced at the point where all the usual breeding birds were located including Stonechat, Wheatear, Black Redstart, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Whitethroat, Linnet, Kestrel and Peregrine, plus a very shy, but vocal Firecrest in the moat.

                                Small Copper in the moat

Scotney - Moving onto the farm by late morning and the wind had picked up making for difficult birding. However, we eventually had good views of Tree Sparrows, Yellow Wagtails and Corn Buntings out back, plus Avocets, Marsh Harrier, Common Terns and flyover Whimbrel and Greenshank.

                                Greenshank, Burrowes

RSPB - The afternoon was spent on the bird reserve where first off I had to replace my 20 year Manfrotto tripod that simply fell apart; many thanks to Jenny for flogging me a new `un, which was much lighter than my `old faithful`. On Burrowes 12 Dunlins, Greenshank, Ringed Plover, Redshank and Common Sandpiper was about all we could muster on the wader front, while four Brent Geese flew in from the south and straight back out to sea. On Hayfield 3 two pairs of Wigeon, three Shovelers, Lapwings and Redshanks; three perched Hobbies around Dengemarsh due to the cool wind and a `booming Bittern from the ramp. Many Swifts and three hirundine species were also noted during the day.
  We finished the day on 72 species with a decent range of breeding and migrant birds for our guests.