Surveying

Lade/Dungeness - cool, sunny, NE 3 - With the main migration period pretty much over I concentrated on breeding bird surveying for RSPB this weekend. At Lade while there was a Cuckoo calling from the top end of north lake there was no activity around the willow swamp again where they usual breed, still there was some compensation in the form of a pair of Egyptian Geese... A passing Red Kite was among a flock of 10 thermalling Buzzards and four Marsh Harriers high over the airport.
  Around the bird reserve a pair each of Ringed Plover and Wheatear were located in breeding habitat. Bitterns `boomed` from reedbeds at Tower Pits and Hooker`s along with calling Cuckoos and the usual array of warblers and Bearded Tits. A drake Garganey was noted on Tanners, while Shoveler, Pochard and Wigeon all appear to be paired off. Also seen two Cattle Egrets on the Hayfields, up to six Hobbies over Dengemarsh, plus Dunlin and Barwit on Burrowes.