The decision was local patch or Dunge, it wasn't until I sat in the car it seemed like a good move to head to Dunge. I arrived around 8.20 and had a quick coffee, first bird whilst pouring my strong starter for the day was a FIRECREST in the edge of the lighthouse garden, these were to become order of the day. A quick seawatch revealed little, a few GANNETS, a distant Diver sp. and 4 flocks of BRENTS was all I could muster in half an hour so I headed back to the lighthouse garden. There were maybe 4 or 5 Firecrests a couple of CHIFFCHAFF, soon to be joined by more and best of all MC and DW were watching 2 'Continental' COAL TITS, the first I had seen on this country from memory, which is not always to be relied upon!
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| Continental - Coal Tit |
A walk round the bushes produced at least 5 or 6 more Firecrests in various locations, a flyover SISKIN and 2 SPARROWHAWK, at least 2 Chiffchaffs also sung.
I headed to the reserve and met briefly with SB before heading out around the walk, the weather was glorious, another Firecrest was added as were 5 SMEW, SPOONBILL, GREAT WHITE EGRET, BEARDED TIT and eventually round to see BLACK NECKED GREBES. I couldn't find the hoped for Sand Martin or Swallow.
I decided to head back to the point to enjoy more Firecrest action in some great light, I also added 2 BLACK REDSTARTS to the days tally. Also here was an unexpected HUMMINGBIRD HAWK-MOTH
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| One of many Firecrests |
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| Fly by Sparrowhawk |
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| Bearded Tit on the reserve |
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| Hummingbird Hawk Moth |
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| Firecrest |
On the way home I popped into the local patch, it was fairly quiet no sign of the Little Ringed Plovers I had seen on the 21st or the Jack Snipe, the 2 SEO's were still present though.
