Raptors and herons

Dungeness - warm, cloudy, drizzle start, brighter later, WSW 4 - Despite indifferent weather the peninsula eventually produced the goods for our guests Sue and Chris from Surrey. Amid the early morning murk at the point Black Redstarts, Wheatears (including two fledged juvs), Stonechats, Meadow Pipits, Skylarks and a pair of Peregrines were all eventually located, while a brief glance at the sea delivered a few Gannets, two Sandwich Terns and a Fulmar.

                                 Peregrine, A Station

                                 Fledgling Wheatears, Dungeness

                                 Southern Marsh Orchids, ARC

                                  Four-spotted Chaser, ARC

                                 Black-tailed Godwits, Hayfield 2

                                  Corn Bunting, flood field

                                  Kingfisher, Hookers

Moving onto the bird reserve where we had superb views of up to 10 Hobbies, several Marsh Harriers (including a food pass), Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and Kestrels. The hayfields came up trumps with a flock of 15 Black-tailed Godwits and the Glossy Ibis nearby, plus Corn Bunting and Yellow Wagtail along the flood field. Also noted: Cuckoo, Common Tern, Raven and Kingfisher at ARC, another Kingfisher at Hookers and Bearded Tits, Cattle Egrets on Boulderwall fields and a steady trickle of Swifts and House Martins overhead. The orchid show was also much appreciated at ARC. On a sadder note we counted 12 dead gulls on Burrowes, presumably as a result of avian flu. However, to end on a positive we ended the day recording a satisfying 83 species of birds for the guests.