8 Red Kites

After a call from Nick Green last night (http://theshadoxhurstgarden.blogspot.co.uk/) alerting me to 4 Red Kites that had been following a plough near Shadoxhurst, which is a very short journey from my home, had me on site at 07.45. Even as I parked I could 2 Red Kites sitting out in the ploughed field and 2 more in a tree in the middle of the field. As I watched them 2 more Red kites dropped out of the back of tree into the field  making 6.  (many thanks Nick) I called a couple of local birders but as often happens just before they arrived all 6 Kites just upped and flew off north. Just as MH and BP arrived another Red Kite (No.7) flew in from the south and continued northwards, at least there journey was not a  waste of time. We all decided to go back to Dungeness to spend some time on the viewpoint. As we turned into Boulderwall Farm another Red Kite (No.8) appeared being harrassed by a Marsh Harrier which it dwarfed. Most of the Kites were quite tatty individuals untagged and probably originating from the continent.

From the viewpoint we saw 4 Marsh Harriers, 3+ Hobby's, a Cuckoo, several flight views of Bearded Tits, a Common Tern fishing infront the veiwpoint, Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers singing around us, also a Lesser Whitethroat and the Bittern boomed several times.
The Little Stint was still at the south end of the ARC Pit and on the sea 4-500 Common Terns along with adult Iceland Gull untill the sea fog moved in and obscured The Patch.
On Walland Marsh plenty of Tree Sparrows at all the usual spots, a few Corn Buntings and Yellowhammers, 3 Turtle Doves and 3 Marsh Harriers.