Shearwater quest

Lade - warm, dry, sunny, E 5 - In contrast to yesterday when birds were everywhere in the light airs, this morning the wind picked up from the east making for difficult birding with few passerines noted, although Chiffchaffs could be heard calling from the bushes around the ponds. Most of the waterfowl hugged the willow swamp, along with several Little Egrets.

                                Juvenile Marsh Harrier, ARC

  Moving onto Dungeness and an hour staring out to sea from the Patch hide produced plenty of Gannets, Sandwich and Common Terns, four Common Scoters, a Teal, an Arctic Skua and a party of seven Brent Geese into Hythe Bay. Two Sooty Shearwaters were seen earlier heading into Lade Bay (MC) .
  From Hanson hide on the bird reserve all the usual ducks and waders were present including a Garganey, four Ruffs, three Greenshanks and two Black-tailed Godwits, plus all three species of egrets, Marsh Harrier and Buzzard. The Pectoral Sandpiper was reported earlier in the day along with an adult Little Gull.
  An hour from Lade beach scanning the bay at high tide this afternoon in the vain hope that a shearwater may be blown in on the strong easterly drew a blank. However, Sandwich Terns crossing the bay attracted two Arctic Skuas while Gannets fished further out. Also noted three Brent Geese and six Wigeon.