Kentish Plover!

I went to the reserve first thing this morning where I joined GP in Firth Hide, he pointed out 3 Common Scoter which are unusual on the pits, on the islands at least 4 Greenshank, 4 Redshank, 4 Turnstones, 2 Common Sandpipers, several Dunlin and Sanderling. We moved up to Makepiece as the Scoter appeared to be heading that way.

 1s Little Gull from Makepiece grabbing an insect

Common Scoter from Makepiece

Common Scoter from Makepiece

Common Sandpiper from Makepiece

Distant Kentish Plover

While making our way back to the centre I received a call from Liz Hunter saying she thought she had a Kentish Plover from Dennis's Hide, a couple of minutes later I was in Dennis's looking at a Kentish Plover, a Dungeness tick for me, many thanks to Liz.

 Bittern from the screen hide

As news of the Kentish Plover spread very quickly the hide filled up very quickly, so I moved out and went up to the screen hide, hopefully to see the Bitterns and maybe yesterdays Bee-eater which was seen very early this morning. One of the Bitterns obliged, while over the lake House and Sand Martins, Swallows and Swifts hawked.  

A lunchtime sky watch from by Cooks Pool saw 3+ Hobby's 3+ Marsh Harriers and 2 Common Buzzards. A Bittern gave a nice fly by and a Herring Gull ate a Cootling.

 A Herring Gull swallowing a live Cootling, no doubt getting in practice for the Common Tern chicks

The Hoopoe was present on and off all day till dusk, but after the early morning excitement things were fairly quiet.