Dungeness - cool, cloudy morning, nw 3, warm and sunny afternoon - A day in the field with Andrew and Andrea commenced with a seawatch from the hide where at least three Arctic Skuas were operating offshore against the Sandwich Terns, plus Common Scoter, Kittiwake and a few passing Gannets. Two Black Redstarts showed well by the Patch hide, while 10 House Martins hawked for insects in the lee of B Station. Plenty of Chiffchaffs were in the bushes around the moat, plus Stonechats, two Wheatears and a Song Thrush. At the Obs staff were busily ringing Meadow Pipits, and a male Peregrine sat atop one of the pylons. Moving onto Lade where the usual wildfowl and grebes were complemented by a small flock of roosting Bar-tailed Godwits and Knots. On the bay from the Tavern viewpoint hundreds of Oystercatchers, Curlews, Bar-tailed Godwits, Black-headed and Common Gulls on the sands, plus four Grey Plovers, 10 Shelducks, Sanderlings, Dunlins, Ringed Plover and 50 Sandwich Terns.
On the bird reserve the circular walk is now open seven days a week from 10am - 5pm and the shop open until 4pm. There was very little on Burrowes with two Grey Plovers and a Redshank the highlight amongst the usual wildfowl, gulls and Cormorants. The new track from the access road to the New Diggings viewpoint yielded a Marsh Harrier and Black-necked Grebe, while on ARC a flock of 150 Golden Plovers was the highlight. Also noted around the reserve plenty more Chiffchaffs, vocalising Water Rail, Cetti`s Warbler and Kingfisher, two Great White Egrets, eight Pintails, Garganey, several Kestrels, Green Woodpecker and a Clouded Yellow butterfly.
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