Birding and other distractions

Mild and sunny this afternoon. A Dartford Warbler was heard and seen well. The bird sang briefly at one stage. It was high tide and there was a big roost of Avocet just off the saltings. Difficult to be sure of numbers but at least 500. Offshore were three Red-breasted Merganser, an all female group. Also a pair of Goldeneye. Dartford Warbler  As above  Avocet

Rain was easing when we arrived at Pegwell Bay though light was poor. The long-staying pair of Twite were still present on saltmarsh below the undercliff and flew in after a short while. They were initially elusive amongst the vegetation though eventually showed before flying to nearby bushes on the shore. They remained there for 10 minutes allowing good views albeit not particularly close. Ebsfleet was the next destination where a Long-tailed Duck had been reported on a creek near the sewage farm. A moulting male, the bird was easily found and permitted ridiculously close views. Twite Long-tailed Duck 

Arriving shortly after 9 a.m. I parked in a nearby retail park then walked round to the site where Northern Waterthrush had been seen the day before.  However, there was no sign of the bird until 11:30 when it was then seen nearby. The afternoon was spent trying to see the bird which proved difficult as it kept below a row of bushes on the muddy edge of a reedbed. I finally managed to obtain two reasonable views albeit much of the bird was obscured each time. The picture below was taken two days later when the bird showed comparatively well by all accounts. Northern Waterthrush. Photo by Mike Ilett