Wednesday 8 May 2013

Wader Search

Dengemarsh - 0915hrs - mild, wet, sw 2, drier later, sunny, sw 4 - With heavy rain and drizzle by the time I got out decided to check the hay fields for passage waders of which there was just a single summer plum Dunlin in amongst the breeding Lapwings, Ringed Plovers, Oystercatchers and Redshank, plus 2 Little Egrets, Teal and Shelduck. A Raven flew over `cronking` and the Bittern was `booming` from Hooker`s.
Scotney - On the grass from the lay-bye there was a decent flock of 25 Barwits in various stages of breeding plumage, plus 15 Tundra type Ringed Plovers, 2 Grey Plovers and Redshank. From the farm entrance couldn`t find the Long-tailed Duck but did see Greenshank and Common Sandpiper around the margins, plus a spanking Greenland Wheatear. From the pull-in at the Sussex end 12 Common Terns on the rocky spit was noteworthy.
Dungeness -1130hrs - With the rain clearing did an hour in the hide during which time all that moved up-Channel were 14 Common Scoters, 5 Brents, 2 Kitts and a Red-throated Diver.
1445hrs - Another 90 minute watch from the hide and boardwalk with MH delivered a bit more in the shape of 40 Common Scoters, 18 Brents, several Gannets, and singles of Red-throated Diver and Bonxie. A trickle of Swallows and 3 Swifts inbound, plus half a dozen porpoises just off shore.
ps: News from the Wiltshire Birders concerned 3 colour-ringed Spoonbills at Rye Harbour this afternoon. The early morning shift at Dungeness turned up singles of Pom Skua and Roseate Tern

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