Whiskered Tern

A very light southerly wind with an almost calm sea but despite being mostly distant there were still a few birds going past offshore. A three hour watch included 11 Pomarine Skuas comprising flocks of two and nine and an incredible flock of 17 Cattle Egrets. 

Cattle Egrets

Cattle Egrets

Early afternoon I received a message at 14:07 from Craig Edwards, the RSPB Reserves Manager that a Whiskered Tern was on Dengemarsh viewed from Dengemarsh Hide. I called MC and then had to call him back as the bird had flown north. MC, RW and I started to check the various water bodies on the reserve and on checking New Excavations I re-found the tern sitting on a post. Unfortunately a Marsh Harrier caused it to take off and fly towards Burrowes Pit. Locals started to arrive at Makepeace Hide but there was no sign so the search began again until Jacob radioed that he had re-located it on ARC where most of the Locals managed to obtain views before at 15:53 it flew back towards the New Excavations/Dengemarsh area but despite searching could not be relocated until 18:51 when relocated on Hookers by GP.  

Whiskered Tern

Whiskered Tern

A few Grey Plovers across the reserve. These four making use of a new islands created at New Excavations.

Grey Plovers 

Black-winged Stilt

Early morning excitement and anticipation with a productive and varied sea watch including a good movement of Common Scoter. A Surf Scoter was amongst a Common Scoter flock heading east off Beachy Head at 06:51, an hour later it was passing the Point and was seen by a few of the locals and visiting birders as it sped past moving position within the Common Scoter flock. As the sea watch started to slow down, a nice find by Gary Johnson of a female Black-winged Stilt at RSPB Dungeness on Hayfield 1 early morning caused most remaining birders to depart and head to the reserve. 

The late afternoon light was great for getting some photos with the Stilt close to the western fence of the Hayfield.

Female Black-winged Stilt

Female Black-winged Stilt

Sedge Warblers are established across the reserve, a small number now singing from exposed perches.

Sedge Warbler

Also on Hayfield 1 an Avocet joined the Stilt and a pair of Little Ringed Plovers.

Avocet

Little Ringed Plover

Ravens breed locally but it is not often that you get a chance to see one up close. Martin gave me a call on the radio as one had been bathing and was drying off near the Hayfields.

Raven

A couple of pairs of Redshank are favouring the shingle islands in front of Xmas Dell and looking very smart in their breeding plumage.

Redshank

Three Grey Plovers were roosting on the islands along with a single Redshank.

Grey Plovers