Birding and other distractions

My first visit to Dungeness for many months. It was a very windy day with squally showers.  Starting with a seawatch we stood in the slight shelter of the hide on the beach. There was a steady movement of Sandwich and Common Terns mostly flying west, and which on occasions attracted the attention of two skuas. One of the skuas was a typical dark-phase Arctic, while the other was a more lightly built, paler individual, though too far out to identify with confidence. Next to the RSPB reserve, where about seven Cattle Egrets were with the local cows in Boulderwall Fields. Numerous Sand Martins could be seen from the Visitor Centre plus a single Black-necked Grebe. However, whilst there we learnt that the American Golden Plover had been refound at Jury's Gap in East Sussex, so headed there promptly. On arrival the wind felt even stronger though fortunately we found the AGP fairly soon, a moulting adult. It was in a stubble field together with about 35 Golden Plover. Then back to RSPB r...

An afternoon visit in mostly sunny weather. The main objective was to find the Stone Curlew which has been reported on/off since mid August on Flamingo Pool. The NW end of the pool seems to be the favoured location as it was with the bird three years ago. Is this years Stone Curlew the same individual? On reaching the far end of Flamingo I scoped the area and spied a beady eye looking at me from behind a clump of sedge/juncus, though it was the yellow on the bill that first caught my attention. The bird stayed partially hidden like this for about 10 minutes, then stood up and walked forward a short distance. It then flew several hundred yards, though was still visible albeit behind vegetation once again. Other waders seen on Cliffe Pools included two Whimbrel, about five Greenshank and a Common Sandpiper. Several Red Admiral posed well in the sunny conditions. Initial view of the Stone Curlew  Stone Curlew  As above  The area inhabited by the Stone Curlew on Flamingo Pool...