Another quiet night in the moth trap, 2 Small Mottled Willows the best. At the Observatory a few migrants were being caught in the trapping area, 3 Peregrines were around the power station but generally the birding was very quiet.
After having a very late breakfast at home, a tweet came through that a Black Stork had been seen moving west over Hythe. I contacted some of the locals and let them know and we were all looking skyward at various locations around the Dungeness peninsular. While I was scanning for the Stork from the front garden, I saw 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Common Buzzards, a Hobby, Sparrowhawk, a Peregrine, c150 Swifts over Lydd Wood but no Black Stork. After about an hour Dave Brown who was at Dengemarsh, called me saying he thought he had seen the Stork flying over the ranges but it was lost to view. I dived into my car and sped down Galloways to the guard house in double quick time. I jumped out the car and scanned over the ranges almost immediately picking up the Stork way to the west, presumably over the Midrips. I fired off some terrible long distance record shots believing that was all I was going to get. Dave Brown and family arrived moments later, the Stork appeared to turn around and head straight back towards us. It kept circling but coming closer all the time, more frantic phone calls ensued. To both our astonishment it came quite low directly over us giving us fantastic views as it made its way towards Dengemarsh. We jumped in our cars and chased it to Dengemarsh where we watched it fly over the reserve and down to the light houses, then move off North along the peninsular towards Lade, eventually losing sight of it as it headed towards New Romney. I think all the locals that were on the peninsular saw the Stork, so many thanks to the Hythe lads for alerting us to the fact that the Stork was heading our way and to Dave Brown for calling me so promptly. I can only assume as it came from Hythe it went in land bypassing the peninsular.
Overhead!
Black Stork when I first saw it way in the distance probably over The Midrips thinking that this would be the best image I would get.
Acleris emargana new for the Plodland trap.
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