Dungeness - cold, drizzle, cloudy, NE 4 - The poor weather continues, although a long walk around the peninsula was considerably brightened by a smart male Whinchat in the northern part of the Desert, now a somewhat scarce passage migrant in spring, plus a female Common Redstart nearby. There appeared to have been an overnight drop in of Willow Warblers and Common Whitethroats, although Lesser Whitethroats are still in the ascendency across the scrublands. Also noted a Wheatear, several Linnets and Reed Buntings, a Sparrowhawk and a Stonechat at Lade. On the bird reserve a couple of Whimbrels were on the field by the bend in the access road and several Swifts fluttered high over the car park, probably regretting their early arrival in the chill air.
Elsewhere this week on our Ted walks it has been slim pickings. On Wednesday a Cuckoo singing to the north of New Romney was my first here for the year while the same day there was also a fall of Blackcaps around the town gardens and parks, plus two parties of Whimbrels overhead calling in the evening. A few more Sedge and Reed Warblers have moved into the sewer margin reedbeds and Swallows are now a regular sight around the local horse paddocks and stables. Mediterranean Gulls continue to drift over on high calling, while the beach in front of the golf course at Littlestone has produced a few Sandwich Terns and common waders.
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