Whiskered Tern

Lade - cool, cloudy, N2, muggy later - On south lake a Common Sandpiper and Greenshank had managed to make landfall around the margins, plus another of the latter over calling. A Hobby sat on the shingle heap on the Desert waiting for the temperature to rise and become more suitable for hunting flying insects. Cuckoo, Marsh Harrier and Sparrowhawk were all active around the willow swamp.

                                Whiskered Tern, Burrowes

Dungeness - A late morning call from MH told of an adult Whiskered Tern on Burrowes lake flying up and down between Dennis`s and Makepeace hides. By the time I arrived on site it showed well from Firth hide hawking insects over the water and eventually settling on the islands opposite Dennis`s amongst the Common Terns. A stunning bird in full breeding plumage, particularly so at rest sporting a dark grey body and wings with contrasting white cheeks and a dark cap; a sturdy dark red bill and legs completed the ensemble. In flight the dark grey rump, tail and wing coverts contrasted with a silvery forewing, as it hawked prey in typical marsh tern fashion.
  There was also a decent showing of waders on the islands too with at least four Red Knots among a small mixed flock of Curlew, Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit, Ringed Plover, Sanderling and Dunlin, plus Common Sandpiper and Redshank.
  This afternoon I called in at Littlestone where the Serin continues to perform like a good `un, singing from its usual pine clump. Other news today concerned a Bee-eater over the point calling this morning (DBO).