Temminck's Stint!

 Temminck's Stint 

While I was at the observatory this morning, I received a call from Graham Parry saying that there was a very small wader in front of Firth Hide, that was dwarfed by the Dunlin that were present. A few minutes later myself AJG, SO, JTM and DW arrived to see a splendid adult Temminck's Stint giving superb views. Many thanks from all of us to Graham for the call. Also present of note were 3 Redshank, 6 Dunlin, a Little Ringed Plover, an adult Mediterranean Gull that dropped in and c50 Swifts.

 Temminck's Stint dwarfed by 2 Dunlin

 Little Ringed Plover

Adult Mediterranean Gull

1 of 4 Wood Sandpipers that dropped into the ARC today

Early afternoon JH put out a message that there was 4 Wood Sandpipers on the ARC. After having lunch I went to Hanson Hide where all 4 Wood Sandpipers were still present. One of them was colour ringed and due to the diligence of JTM he ascertained that it was probably from a Spanish colour ringing project. 2 Ruff were present along with at least 2 Little Ringed Plovers, also pulses of Sand martins were going through.

2 more Common Tern chicks this evening that aren't going to make due to the poor design of the Tern rafts. I have seen at least 7 fall off the rafts, so I'm sure the numbers lost must greater. The Temminck's Stint was still present this evening though distant and elusive. Nearby the Serin is still singing in its chosen conifers at Littlestone.

 A Bordered Straw in the trap this morning

My first Jersey Tiger of the year

 Yesterday evening a Spotted Redshank which is quite scarce at Dungeness was at Firth Hide, also 5 Black-tailed Godwits and a juvenile Little Ringed Plover there.

2 of the 3 summering Wigeon yesterday evening from Firth Hide

 Sussex Emeralds from last nights catch. I normally only catch 1 a year

 A typically tatty Sussex Emerald that turn up in my trap

 Sussex Emerald after release at The Long Pits

 Some of the 22 Elephant Hawkmoths that were in the trap this morning, there was also several sets of wings around the trap where the Great Tits got there before me. 

Another Delicate this morning, which means they probably breed nearby.

 A migrant juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker trapped in The Moat this morning by Jacques, also several Swifts over appearing to be moving south.

 Raven

A walk out the back of Scotney with AJG saw the usual Yellow Wagtails, Corn and Reed Bunting, Tree Sparrows, 2 Ravens, 2 Marsh Harriers and a trickle of Sand Martins of note.

Little Ringed Plovers

This evening from Firth 3 Little Ringed Plovers (adult and 2 juveniles), 9 Dunlin and 5 Ringed Plover of note, also c60 Sand martins flew south.

Spoonbill!

With a NE wind blowing overnight and the temperature dropping, it was not surprising that the moth trap was disappointing this morning. After going through the meagre catch I made my way to the sea watch hide where I joined AJG for an hour.
09.00-10.00
Common Scoter: 1E  1W
Gannet: 29E
Cormorant: 9 around
Little Egret: 1 in
Mediterranean Gull: 4 around
Sandwich Tern: 2E
Common Tern: c10 around
Grey Seal: 1
Harbour Porpoise: 2
Hummingbird Hawkmoth: 3

Spot the Little Egret which came in, flew around The Patch a couple of times before disappearing off over the power station.

 At the ARC a Spoonbill was on a small island in front of Hanson Hide, most of it's time was spent in usual Spoonbill pose asleep, but it did a have a fascination for a stick and would pick it up and move it around.

 2 Greenshank, a Ruff, 2 Redshank, several Oystercatchers with Chicks and a Little Gull were also viewable from Hanson as well as all the usual Marsh Harriers and wildfowl. A visit to the fishing boats this afternoon saw another 7 Mediterranean Gulls feeding off shore and a party of 8 Common Scoter.

On Burrowes this evening the highlight was 5 Black-tailed Godwits, the Spoonbill was still on the ARC. Nearby the Serin is still singing in the conifers at Littlestone.

 Tree Sparrow nesting in the engine of an old crop irrigater

I spent 4 hours yesterday wandering out the back of Scotney without seeing another person, plenty of birds but nothing unexpected. Yellow and Pied Wagtails, Linnets Reed and Corn Buntings and Tree Sparrows were in the fields and bushes with1,000s of boisterous young Starlings, Marsh Harriers, Common Buzzards, a juvenile Cuckoo and c80 Sand Martins on the move, best of all a distant hunting Barn owl. 

 Juvenile Yellow Wagtail

 Corn Bunting

 Juvenile Pied Wagtail

Yellow Wagtail

 Little Ringed Plover from Firth hide last night

 Juvenile Black Redstart at The Patch this morning

 4 juvenile Black Redstarts at The Patch hide this morning

An unexciting but pleasant in the warm sunshine sea watch from the fishing boats this afternoon with AJG.
14.15-15.30
Great-crested Grebe: 2 around
Gannet: 5E     4W
Kittiwake: 1W
Mediterranean Gull: 1E (2nd summer)
Sandwich Tern: 4E
Common Tern: c10 around
Harbour Porpoise: 4+
Grey Seal: 1
100s of Swifts moving SW over the peninsular on and off throughout the day.

 Plumed Fan-foot only the second for my trap this morning

Cynaeda dentalis probably my favourite micro