Oystercatchers

Dungeness RSPB - humid, sunny, nw 2 - Following a hectic night of crash, bang and flash from thunder and lightening rolling in from the continent, this morning the weather thankfully settled down a bit; although it looked grim inland with heavy rain clouds skirting the Low Weald. A guided walk for RSPB centred on Burrowes where there was plenty of interest on and around the old gravel pit.
  Several pairs of Oystercatchers kept us entertained as they went about their business and it was good to see two well-grown juveniles on an island in front of Makepeace hide. Other waders included six Redshanks, five Curlews, four Ringed Plovers and 100 Lapwings coming and going. There was much Common Tern activity as the adults delivered fish to one week old chicks on the raft, while a solitary Sandwich Tern paid a brief visit in front of Firth hide. Hundreds of Pochard, Tufted Duck and Gadwall comprised the bulk of the duck numbers along with a few Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler and Shelduck. Also noted, Hobby, Little Egret, Marsh Harrier, Raven and Cuckoo.
  There was plenty of other natural history interest on show for the guests from a wide variety of plants, through pond life to insects such as damselflies and bees that emerged into the bright sunshine.