Thursday 6th.May 2010

I had planned an 'away day' today , and as a NW wind was forecast , I decided on Dungeness rather than Elmley . With hindsight , I don't think Elmley could have been any windier than Dungeness , but even though the sun was shining , it was cold , unless you got out of it , and very few spots enabled that . On the way down , I made my wish list , Turtle Dove and Yellow Wagtail would make me happy .

I didn't make a list of species seen , but will post shots taken and add comments .

Along the track from the road , several small flocks of Linnets were seen , males in breeding colours .

As Phil said after his last visit , every bit of scrub seemed to have a Sedge Warbler singing in it . Reed and Cetti's Warblers also seen .

The sentry male Kestrel was patrolling .

Although no food was in the car park feeders , the Tree Sparrows were waiting for them to be filled .

In what felt like a gale , my first Small Copper was hanging on for dear life . A Brown Hare had the right idea , back to the wind , behind a tussock . A quick look in at the crowded Denge Marsh hide , and quickly found out that the Purple Herons hadn't been seen for ages , so I left them to it .Male Reed Bunting , enjoying a bumpy ride .If a bit of scrub didn't have a Sedge Warbler in it , then you could be sure of finding a Common Whitethroat in it .Cutting across the middle , I put up several Curlew . Another mis-ID by me , but corrected by Ken/Disabled Birder Of Halling . The birds are in fact Whimbrel . Thanks very much Ken .Several times I got sightings of a Falcon in flight .The usual shot of a Red-legged Partridge , running away .

Driving back down the track , I thought I saw the Falcon land in front of me . Camera ready , I turned the corner to find a female Kestrel perched on a fence post , and two posts away , the Falcon , a Hobby .

I had a look around the ARC pit , but apart from lots of Swallows , Swifts and Sand Martins , just a distant view of a Marsh Harrier . I headed to the lighthouses , and seeing two Ring Plovers , parked and tried for a shot . They were gone before I crossed the road , but another movement , caught my attention , a female Wheatear on the shingle .I then found a second on some old concrete .Behind the lumps of concrete , several Gulls were 'chilling out' , including this very large Greater Black-backed .Further back , a couple of last year's juveniles .

I never did see a Turtle Dove or Yellow Wagtail , nor did I hear a Marsh Frog.

On the way home , I stopped at Marden Meadow , a Kent Wildlife Trust site , renown for the Green Winged Orchids that grow there , but that will have to wait for another day . Anyone thinking of visiting , they are in full flower now .