Avocet at Scotney

It's been a very quiet the last few days in the glorious summer weather. I have spent a couple of evenings looking for Quail on the marsh without success, though a couple each of Barn Owls and Little Owls were nice. Around the reserve the resident species are getting on with breeding, Little Ringed Plovers look as though they may on Burrowes and the ARC. A young Redshank on the ARC this morning was probably hatched locally, also 6 Black-tailed Godwits there.

 Starling keeping cool in the garden.

Dungeness beach to myself this afternoon

A sea watch/sun bathe this afternoon from the fishing boats was predictably slow but very pleasant sitting in the cool on shore breeze.

14.00-16.00:

Common Scoter: 16 up

Great-crested Grebe: 2 around

Gannet: 3 up   15 down

Cormorant: 3 around

Oystercatcher: 3 up   1 down

Black-headed Gull: 16 around

Mediterranean Gull: 1 x 1s up    3 x ad down

Common Gull: 2 down

Herring Gull: c50 around

Great black backed Gull: c10 around

Sandwich Tern: 6 up       32 down

Common Tern: 3 up

Grey Seal: 2

Harbour Porpoise: 2+

 White Spot an uncommon visitor to my MV

Moth numbers have much improved over the last few days and I am expecting large hauls over the next few days and hopefully a goody or two.

Barred Red a fairly frequent visitor