Birding and other distractions

A lovely sunny day and I headed to East Kent following news of birds in the region. I started at Botany Bay hoping to catch up with two Pallid Swifts that turned up yesterday and had remained in the area. I saw the birds though they were very high up in the sunny skies so views were poor. A Black Redstart on the roof of a nearby house was some consolation. Then on to Westbrook where a Dusky Warbler had reportedly been showing quite well in the Sunken Garden. However, the bird had flown to the undercliff prior to my arrival and was occasionally being seen in scrub there. It was calling quite often and I eventually obtained good views, my first Dusky Warbler for several years. Whilst watching the warbler news came through that a Desert Wheatear had been found at South Swale reserve. I arrived there at 3 p.m. parking near the Sportsman. The bird had been present along the sea wall though had flown and my first views were not so close. I went back to the car and retrieved my 'scope tho...

A short visit to Bredhurst primarily to check on work that had apparently been carried out in Pylon Valley. I was pleased see that National Grid had cut two broad tracks beneath the power cables as had been done in earlier years. This action improves the habitat no end and augers well for an interesting new year in the area. Whilst there I found a couple of Marsh Tits and also heard one or two Bullfinch. Pylon Valley  Marsh Tit