Ring Ouzels and GW Egrets

Dungeness - 0800hrs - mild, cloudy, sw 2 - We walked the point this morning from the lifeboat station along the foreshore to the Obs and across the Trapping Area, returning via the Desert. Despite decent weather conditions there were few birds on the move apart from a steady trickle of hirundines, a few Meadow Pipits, Skylarks, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, alba wagtails and Reed Buntings. On the deck, 100 Linnets, Stonechat, Blackbird, Song Thrush, several Robins and Chiffchaffs, while at the Obs staff were busily ringing Mipits caught in the crow trap. At the southern end of the Trapping Area at least seven Ring Ouzels put on a good show clacking away and rising up from the scrub, flying around a bit calling and landing again; also a Merlin over. Yesterdays Wryneck was also seen earlier (OL).

                               Linnets feeding on bugloss seed

                               Ring Ouzel, Trapping Area

  Called in at Littlestone at low tide to check the beach from where the highlights were 150 Knots, 15 Grey Plovers, 500 Oystercatchers and 150 Curlews. Hirundines continued to trickle south, plus a late Yellow Wagtail.

                               Great White Egrets, Lade

  At Lade four Great White Egrets was a record count (for me) around the Willow Swamp along with 11 Little Egrets, five Grey Herons and a host of Cormorants and grebes; obviously `word` had gotten around about some easy fishing... Also noted, Kingfisher, two Chiffchaffs and more hirundines south.