I teamed up with Christian C and Magnus A at first light for a day birding in Kent. We started at Sandwich Bay, where highlights included my first
Lesser Whitethroat,
Cuckoo,
Reed Warblers (two) and
Yellow Wagtails (five) of the year, as well as three
Corn Buntings, a
Yellowhammer, two
Rose-ringed Parakeets, 11
House Martins, six
Wheatears and a
Rock Pipit.
Lapwings and
Greylags had young and offshore were two
Fulmars, a
Gannet, 12
Great Crested Grebes and 12
Common Scoters. Four
Avocets were on the Restharrow Scrape, along with six frisky
Shovelers.
After lunch, we visited Pegwell Bay, finding a
Spoonbill on the sandspit and seeing two
Dark-bellied Brent Geese, four
Whimbrel, a
Yellow Wagtail and 85
Shelducks of note, as well as hearing a
Cuckoo and a handful of
Sedge and
Reed Warblers.
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| Spoonbill at Pegwell Bay |
We headed home via Oare Marshes, which had disappointingly high water levels. However, we logged a
Hobby, a male
Ruff, 200
Black-tailed Godwits, two
Knots, a
Peregrine, a
Water Rail, six
Whimbrel, five
Avocets and a
Bearded Reedling.
