Faversham Creek (Kent): We walked the dog round the creek after dinner this evening and recorded the following: Mediterranean Gull (1 first summer), Little Egret (1), Cuckoo (1 heard), Willow Warbler (1 heard), Turtle Dove (2), Whitethroat (4), Sedge Warbler (2) and Blackcap (1).

Oare (Kent): After work this evening, in very pleasant summer conditions, we headed down to Oare and walked round the east flood and along the seawall to view some part of the west flood. Birds seen included: drake Garganey (1), Black-tailed Godwit (150+), Marsh Harrier (2), Avocet (1), Common Tern (3), Little Tern (2), Sandwich Tern (1), Bearded Tit (2), Sedge Warbler (4), Reed Warbler (3), Little Egret (2), Cetti's Warbler (1 heard), Cuckoo (heard), Lesser Whitethroat (1 heard) and Swallow (10)

Garganey

Garganey
Garganey

Garganey

Garganey

Dunkirk and Collard's Lake (Kent): Fine weather this morning took the two of us to Dunkirk where Brenda could catch up with some of her school marking in the car, while being interrupted only occasionally to watch: Sparrowhawk (1), Buzzard (1), Kestrel (1), Hobby (3), Swift (10), Swallow (20), over the woodlands of Church Wood. In the general area, while waiting we also had: Whitethroat (2), Blackcap (1 heard), Cuckoo (1 heard) and Green Woodpecker (1 heard). After a couple of hours we moved to Collard's Lake and watched from the viewpoint looking across the lake: Hobby (8) and Marsh Harrier (2).

Dungeness (Kent): Started the day with a short seawatch: Common Tern (250), Arctic Tern (1), Little Tern (1), Sandwich Tern (50) Fulmar (1) and Whimbrel (2). Around the lighthouse we saw: Whitethroat (2), Wheatear (1) Stonechat (1), and Black Redstart (2); before continuing on to the RSPB reserve: Hobby (3), Swift (30), Bittern (1), Reed Warbler (2), Sedge Warbler (1), Swallow (30), Whimbrel (1), Ruddy Duck (1), Purple Heron (1), Cuckoo (1 heard), Whitethroat (4) and Marsh Harrier (4).

Purple Heron

Purple Heron
Pied Wagtail

Black Redstart

Faversham Creek (Kent): Lunchtime jog. Lesser Whitethroat (1), Whitethroat (6), Willow Warbler (1), Chiffchaff (2), House Martin (1), Swallow (20), Blackcap (2) and Little Egret (1).

Oare (Kent): After work we managed a trip down to Oare: Marsh Harrier (1), Cetti's Warbler (1), Sand Martin (10), Swallow (20), Swift (5), Whitethroat (1), Greenshank (1), Little Tern (1), Common Tern (4), Whimbrel (2), Black-tailed Godwit (20) and Avocet (3).

Faversham Creek (Kent): Lunchtime jog. Turtle Dove (1), Chiffchaff (2), Blackcap (3), Whitethroat (3), Swallow (20), Sedge Warbler (1), Reed Warbler (1), Little Egret (3) and Bullfinch (1).

Dungeness (Kent): We popped down to the RSPB Reserve this afternoon to see the Whiskered Tern found on the patch this morning before it relocated to the reserve. Also saw: Hobby (1), Swift (20), Swallow (30), Marsh Harrier (2), Whitethroat (1), Common Tern (5) and heard one Nightingale and one Cetti's Warbler.

Whiskered Tern

Whiskered Tern

Whiskered Tern

Oare (Kent): An after work visit in cold ENE force 4+ winds: Arctic Skua (1 dark-phase), Little Egret (2), Whimbrel (2), Marsh Harrier (2), Cetti's Warbler (1 heard), Black-tailed Godwit (150), Whitethroat (1), Yellow Wagtail (4), Sand Martin (4), Swallow (30), Common Tern (20), Sparrowhawk (1 female), Reed Warbler (1), Sedge Warbler (2), Greenshank (3), Common Sandpiper (1) and Little Tern (2).

Oare (Kent): After work this evening, we popped down to Oare for an hour: Avocet (1), Marsh Harrier (1 male), Sand Martin (4), Whimbrel (2), Cetti's Warbler (1 heard), Snipe (2), House Martin (4), Swallow (20), Yellow Wagtail (2), Little Egret (4), Lesser Whitethroat (1 heard) and a single Black-tailed Godwit.

Grove Ferry (Kent): Marsh Harrier (2), Whitethroat (2), Lesser Whitethroat (2), Blackcap (1), Cetti's Warbler (2), Reed Warbler (4), Sedge Warbler (2), Buzzard (1), Common Tern (3), Swallow (15), Swift (50), House Martin (10) & Sand Martin (2).

Robin

Rook
Common Tern

Chaffinch

Blackbird

Walderslade, Dungeness & Lenham Heath (Kent): Not our favourite style of birding today! Lovely birds to see, but geographically spread around the county meant more time travelling rather than enjoying the sites and birds themselves. Still it's the bank holiday weekend and we shall endeavour to watch our birds in a more relaxed manner over the following two days.

Started this morning at Walderslade with great views of the Iberian Chiffchaff that was also singing regularly. From there, we moved onto Lenham Heath to look for the Hoopoe found yesterday. No luck in nearly two hours of searching with other birders, so we decided to travel down to Dungeness to see the Purple Herons (2), that turned up earlier this week. We were onto these almost immediately upon arrival and there were a large number of Swallows feeding over Hookers Pits along with a few Sand Martins and a number of Common Swifts. While enjoying distant views of these Herons' news came over the pager that the Hoopoe had been seen again, so we were on our way again to Lenham Heath, where we this time enjoyed a view of the bird feeding in a sheep field.

Hoopoe

Iberian Chiffchaff

Iberian Chiffchaff