Short-toed Treecreeper, Guinnes.

On Thursday 20th I joined Chris , Tony and Paul for an excellent day out around Calais, the only image I took mainly because I was being lazy in not carrying my camera, was of a Short-toed Treecreeper. A full account of the trip can be found at HERE. 

Friday 21st most of the day was spent on domestic stuff, a visit to the reserve in the evening found a flock of 35 Black-tailed Godwits in front of Firth Hide, which I think is the biggest flock I have seen at Dungeness, also a single Dunlin and 5 Ringed Plovers. On the ARC a 1st summer Little gull was hawking and a minimum of 5 Cuckoo's were chasing around. 

 Wheatear and Black Redstart by The Patch hide

This morning at The Patch there was barely a ripple at the boil, it was no surprise that very few Gulls were present and no Terns. On the way to The Patch there were 3 Black Redstarts and a Wheatear, along c15 House Sparrows, 6 Linnets and 2 Meadow Pipits all busily picking the numerous insects off the sparse vegetation.

Tree Sparrow on its unusual nest site 

A long walk out the back of Scotney, saw of note good numbers of Yellow and Pied Wagtails, several Corn Buntings including juveniles, a few Tree Sparrows, 4 Little egrets, 2 Marsh Harriers and 2 Common Buzzards. It looks like all the Avocets failed as not a single one was present today, there were at least 14 sitting birds a few weeks ago.

Black-tailed Godwit from Firth this evening

4 Little Terns in front of Firth Hide this evening