Warm, dry and sunny, light airs - Another stunning day guiding for Mark from Lexington with plenty of good birds in sparkling autumn weather conditions. We kicked off at the point where Chiffchaffs were all over the place along with a few Blackcaps, Lesser Whitethroats and a Willow Warbler in the lighthouse garden. Other passerines included several Stonechats, two Black Redstarts, 20 Meadow Pipits, a Whinchat, a Reed Warbler (in the hand) plus five Skylarks and ten Tree Sparrows on the beach opposite Jarman`s. Pulses of hirundines moved through while Kestrels were still much in evidence and a male Peregrine was sat on its favoured perch atop a pylon. A cursory look across a flat-calm sea from the hide produced plenty of Gannets fishing offshore, passing Sandwich Terns, three Brent Geese, a Common Scoters and four Arctic Skuas. Moving onto Lade where we failed to locate the Black-necked Grebe that had been reported on north lake earlier. Next stop was the southern end of ARC for brief views of a juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper (later seen from Hanson hide) along with a Ruff and a Redshank. News came through of an American Golden Plover located amongst the Lapwings and Golden Plovers on Burrowes and we were soon on site enjoying superb views of a moulting adult bird, the first I`ve seen in this plumage. We finished off the day from Hanson hide and Lade Bay where Glossy Ibis, Bar-tailed Godwit, Shelduck and Oystercatcher were added to our two day bird list totalling 95 species including some cracking rarities: White-winged Black Tern, Red-necked Phalarope, American Golden Plover and Pectoral Sandpiper. Thanks for the company Mark, and hope to see you again next year.
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