Serin

Lade - humid, light airs, occasional drizzle - Spent the day guiding across the peninsula for our guests Mark and Maria. First off we checked the garden moth trap where 32 species of macros included Swallowtail, Poplar Hawk-moth and Marbled Coronet new for the season. Next stop Littlestone where the long-staying Serin showed like a good `un in the fir trees opposite the entrance to the golf course. Also noted a Coal Tit and a number of House Martins from the colony along the seafront. On the bay a few Curlews and Oystercatchers were all we could muster on the wader front.

                                Swallowtail

                                Marbled Coronet

                                Serin, Littlestone

  Moving down to Dungeness where we mopped up on 10 each of Wheatear and Black Redstart with a supporting cast of Linnet, Mipit, Skylark, Stonechat and Whitethroat. The male Peregrine also showed well on the power station, unlike a Raven flying over the back of B station. A late afternoon visit back at the point for two Bee-eaters drew a blank, so we opted for half an hour at the fishing boats which was also quiet apart from a few terns, two Mediterranean Gulls and several Porpoises. Two Brown Hares were noted in the Kerton Road triangle.
  A circuit of the bird reserve delivered all the usual stuff, including cracking flight views of a Bittern at Hooker`s, plus Marsh Harriers, Bearded Tits, two Hobbies, Cuckoo, Lesser Whitethroat and a Great White Egret. On Burrowes plenty of Common Tern action, two Black-tailed Godwits, 50 Lapwings, four Ringed Plovers, Shoveler, Teal and Wigeon amongst the ducks. Painted Lady butterflies were everywhere today.