Tuesday, 5 November 2024

Merlin

Dungeness - mild, cloudy, light airs - We spent the morning traipsing around the peninsula in misty, murky weather conditions without a breathe of wind. By far the most numerous passerines were Robins which seemed to be ticking away or perched atop every clump of scrub along with the ubiquitous Wrens and Dunnocks, plus a few Stonechats, Chiffchaffs, Goldcrests, Goldfinches and Chaffinches. Grounded birds included small flocks of Meadow Pipits, Linnets and alba wagtails along the beach which attracted the attention of a brown Merlin in a life and death struggle as it pursued its quarry out over the flat calm sea. Further quality was provided by three Dartford Warblers in broom around the new lighthouse and behind the railway station, while a small fall of Blackbirds, Song Thrushes and Redwings briefly dropped onto the shingle by the old experimental station site. The final migrant of the morning was down to Ted who flushed a Woodcock from a patch of bracken in the desert.

                                 Merlin, fishing boats

                                 Dartford Warbler, new lighthouse

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