Lesser Redpolls

Lade - cold, dry, cloudy, sunny later, NW 2 - Despite the wind and rain of last night it was mild so I ran the garden moth trap; maybe for the last time this season, what with colder nights ahead in the forecast.  Five species of macros came to light with Black Rustics the most numerous and one tatty Delicate the highlight.
  Before the rugby we walked the local patch where the overhead passage of passerines was once again pitifully low with double figures of Goldfinch, Chaffinch and Meadow Pipit and single figures of Skylark, Reed Bunting, Siskin and Redpoll. Two Ring Ouzels dropped in to join a scattering of grounded Blackbirds and Robins along the main track, with another two high over towards Mockmill, while two Lesser Redpolls fed on birch seeds in the ponds, a rare sighting here on the ground. Plenty of egrets and Grey Herons were around the reedbeds and several Marsh Harriers enjoyed the dry, calm weather conditions whilst hunting over the willow swamp.

                               Ring Ouzel, Mockmill (pics by David Scott)

                               Long-tailed Duck, Burrowes (pic by David Scott)

  An early afternoon walk along the foreshore between Littlestone and St Mary`s Bay, in warm sunshine, brought forth the crowds and as a result few birds were noted - and certainly no Snow Buntings! On the golf course a small flock of grounded Skylarks hugged one of the fairways and several Stonechats perched on wire fences. Roosting Turnstones and Ringed Plovers were the only waders seen along the beach. A Black Redstart flicked off a garden fence by the old water tower, while more were present on the Dungeness Estate today.

                               Skylarks, Littlestone golf links