Dusky Redshank

Lade - hot, dry and sunny, sw 3 - A day of glorious sunshine with the heat tempered by a fresh breeze off the sea; perfect weather for guiding around the peninsula with our guest Ann from Northants. We kicked off with a mothing session at Plovers, followed by the Kerton Road café where two Sussex Emeralds and a Small Rivulet were the highlights.
  Moving onto the point several Wheatears and Black Redstarts were located, plus a Peregrine on a pylon, Meadow Pipits, Skylark and Yellow Wagtail over. The bay on an incoming tide for shorebirds produced hundreds of Curlews and Oystercatchers and a Whimbrel.

                                Ruff and Spotted Redshank

                                Dusky Redshank

  The wader theme continued on ARC where we were treated to a cracking adult Spotted Redshank (a dusky bird is most unusual down here) and 17 adult Ruffs along with a fine supporting cast of Wood and Common Sandpipers, Redshanks, Little Ringed and Ringed Plovers, Lapwings and Oystercatchers. Plenty of wildfowl, grebes, gulls and Common Terns added to the throng, plus Little Egret, Marsh Harrier and Yellow Wagtail.
  We finished off at the boats with a brief seawatch where 30 Common Scoter, 10 Sandwich Terns, Kittiwake, Grey Seal and Harbour Porpoises were all noted, plus a pulse of 20 coasting Sand Martins.

                                Common Scoters