Dungeness - Hot, dry and sunny, NE 2 - A scorcher of a day that was thankfully tempered somewhat by a pleasant easterly breeze off the sea. A guided walk this morning started at Burrowes where it was good to see 12 Common Terns settling down to breed on one of the islands in front of Dennis`s hide (closed due to bees!) along with a lone Sandwich Tern. A flight of 33 Curlews came in off the bay to roost out the high tide providing a fine spectacle as they flew around calling before landing opposite the visitor centre. Amongst the nesting Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the islands (some with chicks) were several gull corpses and at least three moribund Herrings that didn`t look as though they`d last the day; Avian Flu is well and truly here. On a brighter note the old washout sand bars in front of Firth are looking good for waders with plenty of Lapwings, four Redshanks, two Oystercatchers and two Ringed Plovers present, and hopefully a few passage waders to come as the summer progresses.
Firth washout
Ringed Plover, Burrowes
Great Crested Grebe, ARC
Honey Buzzard peeling away towards Dungeness
On the way over the road we stopped at Boulderwall where at least six Cattle Egrets were feeding within the suckling herd. Walking down the track to Hanson hide I couldn`t believe my luck as the distinctive shape of a Honey Buzzard flapped low overhead being mobbed by an irate Oystercatcher! It was so close I could make out its yellow eye and the grey hood and heavily barred underparts of a dark phase adult male, what a stunner. After Whatsapping the news out the HB flew towards Dungeness where it was seen by several locals, whom I joined later on as it soared over the lighthouse, again being mobbed (this time by crows) before dropping down into the Trapping Area. This spring at the ARC I`ve already seen two Red Kites, a Black Kite and now a Honey Buzzard, so something of raptor hot-spot! Also from Hanson hide: 12 Black-tailed Godwits, four Avocets, a Glossy Ibis and all the usual wildfowl; there was no sign of yesterdays Black-necked Grebes or the Ring-necked Duck.
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