Dungeness - warm, dry and sunny, light airs - Another superb day to be out and about in the field birding with the temperature hitting 20C by early afternoon; however, yet again it was poor fare with migrants few and far between. Once more Robins and Chiffchaffs made up the bulk of birds in the bushes along with a few Blackbirds and a Blackcap in the trapping area. Overhead passage was lamentable for the time of year with only single figures of Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Reed Bunting, plus a hint of quality from two high, calling Woodlarks. Also noted a Sparrowhawk, several Kestrels, and a flock of 12 Long-tailed Tits along the power station fence.
Moving onto Lade pits where the expected range of wildfowl, egrets and grebes were on offer, along with thermalling Common Buzzard and Marsh Harrier behind the `mirror`s. With the ponds bathed in warm sunshine a dozen or so Chiffchaffs flitted through the sallows snapping up insects, a Great Spotted Woodpecker bounded over and plenty of late dragonflies and Red Admirals were enjoying a final hurrah. On the walk back to scan the desert the bay Curlew flock flew over (c300) having been disturbed from their roost by dog-walkers. Elsewhere today a scattering of Ring Ouzels were reported from across the peninsula and at Scotney.
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