randombirder

The first opportunity to see an eleonora's falcon in the UK - they seldom stick around and are extremely rare so to have one hold it's ground for a few days was welcome for many UK listers.  It showed reasonably well too hunting in fields adjacent to Worth Marsh where at one point, the eleonora's a female red-footed falcon , and a hobby were seen in the same view.  Really nice. I then headed down to Lighthouse Down near Dover for the sardinian warbler where I bumped into my old friend Jamie Partridge - we hung out for a bit, and heard the bird call twice which unfortunately never broke cover and as far as I'm aware, wasn't seen again. A lovely day out in Kent nonetheless.

An interesting day surveying an area on the North Kent coast.  The weather brought kindness in abundance, the strong May sun tempered slightly by a gentle  breeze.  It was great making tracks around the survey lines that covered eight miles in total. Bird of the day went to a  Nightingale that sang briefly within a large hawthorn and was always out of view.  A couple of Cuckoo were calling within the vicinity with one later seen flying low along the old sea wall. There were plenty of vocal Warblers including a couple of Lesser Whitethroat , with Common Whitethroat and Reed Warbler plentiful.  Just one Sedge Warbler was noted during the course of the day. There was a bit of interest on the receded tide.  A single Avocet looked forlorn in one of the bays, where a Common Sandpiper flicked low along the shoreline.  A stunning adult summer Grey Plover was accompanied by two not so dapper individuals with a Whimbrel and two Turnstone ...

Decided on something a little different today - an area of coastline I had never explored.  Having spent a lazy morning in Margate, eating and exploring some of the more quirky sights of this ecclectic seaside town, we made our way to Cliftonville. The habitat here looks good for passerines, particularly chats and so it was no surprise to find a minimum of seven whinchat  a couple of northern wheatear , and a common whitethroat  here. The Viking Trail meanders along the coastline with stunning views of the white cliffs lining the coast overlooking the sea.  The path does detour away from the coastal edge in places, routing around Joss Gap but then rejoins the path a little further on.  As Broadstairs edges closer, steps lead down onto the sandy beaches where a promenade sweeps past a number of gaudy beach huts. Broadstairs itself a lovely town, exuding a sense of class sadly seldom found in seaside towns.  Much like...