This Druid will probably be the highlight of the 2023 moth trapping year in my garden. Only the 4th Kent record and 2nd Dungeness area record.

 The sea watching is still rather poor, but I'll keep plodding at it because eventually it will improve.

06.45-08.45 from the hide with RW 

Common Scoter: 13W      2E

Great-crested Grebe: 1 present

Swift: 3W

Oystercatcher: 1W

Grey Plover: 1W

Whimbrel: 1W

Curlew: 2W

Kittiwake: 9W     

Mediterranean Gull:10W 

Yellow-legged Gull: 3W juveniles

Great Black-backed Gull: 27W  

Sandwich Tern: 24W

Common Tern: 4W    

Auk sp: 1W

Gannet: 50W    14E

Sand Martin: 11W

Harbour Porpoise: 3

Grey Seal: 1 
 

Little Egret from Hanson Hide

Despite good conditions at the ARC there is very little turn over of birds there at the moment, though I am sure it will improve in the next few weeks. Still up to 10 Little ringed plovers with 1 pair still sitting on a nest, 6 Ringed Plovers, a Bar-tailed Godwit dropped in for a couple of hours and up to 3 Garganey present along with usual wildfowl.

Yesterday I took a long walk out onto Walland Marsh to check some nest boxes, I was delighted to find that they had been used by Tree Sparrows with several newly fledged young present, plenty of Skylarks were singing and c20 Yellow Wagtails were seen, though not as many as in previous years, also a few Corn Buntings also in lower than usual numbers.

Skylark

Adult male Yellow Wagtail

Juvenile Yellow Wagtail