The Weekend

The Midrips

As there is virtually no wader habitat at Dungeness this autumn I visited The Midrips this weekend for my wader fix. I saw13 species of wader including Curlew Sandpipers and a Little Stint, I also stumbled across a Grasshopper Warbler as walked along the green wall. There was a steady Easterly movement of Sand Martins and Swallows, also c150 Yellow Wagtails,  c30 Wheatears, 2 Whinchats and a few Terns off shore.

Visiting The Midrips can be problematic, especially at the moment with huge amouts of beach defence work being carried out seemingly 7 days a week, early morning is undoubtedly the best time before the contractors start work. 

Barge loads of shingle being imported for flood protection

Avocet with Black-tailed Godwits at The Midrips

Curlew Sandpiper at the Midrips

Black-tailed Godwit at the Midrips

Yellow Wagtails at The Midrips

A definite first for me was spotting this Grey Squirrel at The Patch on Saturday

Willow Warbler at Lighthouse Garden this morning

We seem to be in a form of Groundhog Day at the moment with the same birds all still present with the exception of the Wryneck that hasn't been seen for 2 days, though even that can easily be overlooked. Hopefully from tomorrow onwards the sea will start producing birds and new birds found on the land.

Ravens over the power station this morning

Glossy Ibis on its usual island at the ARC this afternoon