London Nightjar

We headed down to Dunge this morning hoping to find some migrants etc.
Arriving at 7am we headed for the sea where it was bright and calm which obviously meant the birds were not great. We picked up a Kittiwake, some Gannets, Sandwich and Comic Terns along with the usual gulls.
What appeared to be a juvenile Yellow-legged was also on the beach roost and a Seal popped it's head up out by the buoy.

House Sparrow

Moving quickly to the bushes between the lighthouse and the bird observatory we located stacks of Chiffchaff and good numbers of Blackcap. A Common Whitethroat popped up and we found a couple of Black Redstart in the cottage garden. Raven flew over along with Sparrowhawk and Kestrel.
Mipits were being caught in the traps and the volume of Pied Wags had risen but little else was noted here.

Black Redstart

Along the track to the reserve we found Wheatear, Whinchat, Stonechats, Lesser Whitethroats and a Marsh Harrier. As the Harrier came over eleven Snipe were flushed and flew over with Curlew.

Stonechat

Stonechat

Stonechat

Marsh Harrier

At Galloways we found a pair of Whinchat more Stonechats and another Wheatear.
On the drive home news broke of a Nighjar showing at Middlesex Filter Beds so we stopped off to take look. We parked in the Nature reserve car park on Lea Bridge road at Essex Filter Beds and walked along the side of the river. As we entered Middlesex Filter Beds we could see a small gathering and were quickly and enthusiastically put onto the bird. Jim had taken his scope and lot's of Sunday strollers enjoyed great views of the little guy roosting. He woke a couple of times looked at the gathering, shuffled to get comfortable and then went back to sleep. A very nice bird to see during the day beating my previous night time experiences with these wonderful birds.

Whinchat

Nightjar in London

Nightjar

Hackney Marsh......not where you'd expect to find a Nightjar!

A decent day with some good birds seen well even if no ticks were made today.