Birding and other distractions

A sunny morning which started with a visit to Otterham Creek, primarily to look for Spotted Redshank. The tide was turning though at the south end of the creek I found a Spot Red amongst Common Redshank feeding on the exposed mudflats. Approximately 800 Black-tailed Godwit were also present, the majority on the east bank. We then walked out to Motney Saltings to check out the river for sawbills and the like. There were indeed four Red-breasted Merganser including two drakes, though they were rather distant in the direction of Kingsnorth. Four Goldeneye were also seen, also including two drakes. They were east of Nor Marsh. Spotted Redshank 

A short visit to Dungeness after collecting a painting at Benenden. The weather was generally ok, cloudy but dry. The first stop was at the visitor centre where a large collection of gulls could be seen on the islands of Burrows Pit. The most numerous species by far was Great Black-backed Gull, with small numbers of Lesser Black-backed and several adult Yellow-legged Gull also present. A probable first-winter Caspian Gull was also found though the bird didn't hang around for long. On the ARC pit there were numerous ducks including a good quantity of Shoveler. Many Lapwing were there though few other waders. Four Great White Egret on the ARC made a total of five for the day, though strangely no Little Egret were seen. The final visit was to Walland Marsh where a dozen swans near Swamp Farm comprised two Whooper and 10 Bewick's. A flooded field along Midley Wall had attracted many Black-headed Gulls and amongst them a single Green Sandpiper. A Sparrowhawk flew through and surpris...

I headed to Devon this morning following news that a yellow billed tern at Dawlish Warren had been identified as Lesser Crested, a species I'd never seen. I had b een Unable to make an early start from home so arrived rather late at Dawlish, around one o'clock. I then had a 30 minute walk to reach the site, initially overlooking the estuary from the dunes. Fortunately the tern was seen straight away though was distant from the viewpoint in the dunes. I therefore moved to watch from near the disused hide, almost halving the distance to the bird.  Initially the tern was sleeping but eventually began stretching and preening then flew around the estuary, occasionally catching a fish. At one point it was heard to call, sounding much like a Sandwich Tern. The bird then settled on a yellow buoy near a fishing boat and after watching it for another 20 minutes or so I headed back as my parking session was due to expire. Even so I soon realised that I wouldn't make it back in time an...