4 hours in total sea watching today for me was a some what fruitless experience. Tomorrows, morning rain coupled with SE winds promises good sea watching, but I have been deceived many times by the weather.
My first Hairy Dragonfly of the year along the track to Hanson Hide
At the ARC from Hanson this morning the islands are still improving but very few birds to be found there at the moment. Bearded Tits were very vocal around the hide, as were Water Rail and the usual Reed Bed warblers, along the track the my first Hairy Dragonfly of the year.
Cattle Egret at Brickwall Farm
At Brickwall Farm, Denge Marsh 2 Cattle Egrets and 2 Yellow Wagtails. A White Stork (probably a Knepp bird) toured the peninsular late morning , I managed to get distant views of it from Denge Marsh.
One of a minimum 7 sitting Lapwings on the hay fields
Despite the hay fields looking in excellent condition they are only attracting a small number of migrating waders. Today there was a singles of Bar-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, and 2 Whimbrel with the resident Redshank, Oystercatchers and Lapwings, I feel sure more will turn up over the next few of weeks.
Greenshank Hayfield 1
Bar-tailed Godwit Hayfield 1
This Corn Bunting has set up its territory again this year at Springfield Bridge
A Frosted Green moth
The above moth was a major surprise in my trap today, it took me a while checking the Moth field guide to actually identify it as a Frosted Green which inhabit old broad leaved woodland with mature trees. Apparently it is the first record of one on the Dungeness peninsula not an area known for its woodland.
Amazing moth record Martin
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