Dungeness ticks the box again

Another trip this morning to my favourite place in Kent and a quick sea watch to start the day. Hundreds of Sandwich Tern flew up with a scattering of Common Terns. Large groups of Scoter and Brents moved up and the odd Gannet and Fulmar added to the spectacle. A pair of Mergansers, three Shelduck and five Shoveler made the list complete for just over an hours watch.

Dunge on our arrival this morning

On the shingle by the boats a pair of Wheatear showed themselves and on the reserve we found our first Sedge Warblers of the year as they sang from most bramble thickets along the entrance track.
A Cetti's Warbler competed for air space with the Sedge's and actually sat up for us as we sat waiting for a Sedge to reveal itself.

Cetti's Warbler Dungeness 

Down at Gallaways we had just Linnets, Stonechats and Mipits for our trouble with yesterdays Whinchat missing and no newbies in although a fly over House Martin gave another year tick.

Stonechat

On the journey home we stopped off at Elmley where we enjoyed good views of several Marsh Harrier and a group of seven Buzzards. Two Peregrine panicked the marsh as did a plane that continued to buzz over the reserve really low for some reason. Then one of those rare moments when the old man gives a confident shout on ID .."Yellow Wag!"  and it was for a nice year tick.

Yellow Wagtail at Elmley

Little Egret

Mallard

Mallard

Marsh Harrier

The M2 was closed adding an hour to the return journey home but a good days birding was enjoyed so I guess it was a small price to pay.

Year list now 196