Red-backed Shrike

At the ARC this weekend the Red-necked Grebe was the star but always distant. Also there up to 5 Black Terns, a Black-necked Grebe, 3 Little Stints, a Curlew Sandpiper, up to 38 Black-tailed Godwits, 20+ Dunlin, a Ruff, a Hobby, an Osprey and much more including 8 Great-white Egrets which roosted Saturday evening. 

 Red-backed Shrike

Today Dave Bunney found his second Shrike of the year from his garden, this time a showy juvenile Red-backed Shrike. Elsewhere in The Desert  migrants were few and between though there was some quality in the form a Pied Flycatcher and a few Firecrests.

  Red-backed Shrike

  Red-backed Shrike

 Brown Hare in The Desert

 Brown Hare in The Desert

 Pied Flycatcher in The Moat

Firecrest at the observatory

 Arctic Skua at the fishing boats

At the fishing boats 6+ Arctic Skuas have been hanging around for a couple of weeks terrorising the Sandwich Terns, a few Great Skuas have been passing including one that dropped on to a Lesser Black Backed Gull, drowned it and started to eat it. Brent Geese and Wigeon have started to move west, a Shag was in front the sea watch hide this morning a Dungeness rarity. 

 Arctic Skua at the fishing boats

 Arctic Skua at the fishing boats

 Common Tern at the fishing boats

 Mediterranean Gull at the fishing boats

 juvenile Gannets at the fishing boats

 Brent Geese pass the fishing boats

 Distant Red-necked Grebe Saturday morning