Sunday 27 March 2016

Dungeness 25th March

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!
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
One of many Firecrests


Fly by Sparrowhawk

Bearded Tit on the reserve

Hummingbird Hawk Moth

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.


4 comments:

Ana Mínguez Corella said...

Nice series of pics.. Happy easter..

Ana

Maria said...

Lovely series of Birdpics! and...Hummingbird Hawk Moth
Greetings,
Maria

John eos shooter said...

The firecrest pictures are awesome! Gr. John

Helma said...

Hi Alan,
the coal tit is really beautiful. Picture 2 is a wonderfull picture with his wings fanned out as :-) The kingfisher is great. This I do not get in the picture because they are not a second silent! The bearded man's head. A hawk flying so nice to get the photo is superb!