MONDAY 30/9

A wonderful day so a visit to Dungeness was on the cards. Pectoral Sandpiper has been present for a few days which has avoided me so great after 15 minutes managed to ID the Sandpiper and later had it confirmed by other birders. also seen Curlew Sandpiper , Curlew , Widgeon and Snipe

Saturday 14/9

Another attempt to see the sandpiper with no luck but the screen hide gave up 4 Little Stint so onto the reserve at Firth hide spent an hour Ruff, Bar Tailed Godwit, Ringed Plover, Black Tern, Snipe, Greenshank. 

Sunday 8/9

The first morning of autumn when temperature was below 10 *. So an early start  with a coat on at the reserve. Tree Sparrows showing well at Boulderwall. At the Second hide with no camera Greenshank, Curlew Sandpiper ( 158) Ringed Plover, Ruff, Little Gull, Dunlin and a flock of Golden Plover all at very close range , Light was poor so any Photos may not have been clear ( my excuse) On to Makepeace where a Black Necked Grebe showed well. Denge  Marsh provided Great White Egret , Grey Heron and a Hobbie. Two distant rapters were seen both probably Marsh Harrier but both very high and distant. 100's of Sand Martins and smaller numbers of Swallows on migration.
3 Grassnakes and one Field Vole   
On reaching car at midday weather was now bright and sunny showing 21*

Saturday 31/8

Woke to another lovely day and with still more reports of Whinchats in the area decided to do the RSPB Reserve. Driving up the track noticed a small bird moving from bush to bush on arriving there was a report of Whinchat on track. Did I dip again ?
Tree Sparrows at Boulderwall a Black Necked Grebe and unusually a Stock Dove and a sleeping Little Gull from Shop. Track to Dengemarsh gave up Whitethroat Green Sandpiper and  3 Ruff. The Great White Egret was on Dengemarsh and later a second bird showed itself. After much searching for the Red Crested Pochard managed to find 3 birds showing well. Total 29

Thursday 29/8

Another bright sunny day so managed to get out early to the Patch . The path to the patch gave up 13 Wheatears and a flock of Linnets. While at the patch watched viz mig in action as the wheatears flew off to France. A report of a Black Tern and an Artic Tern both which managed to avoid me. a close in Artic Skua was excellent and a flock of Common Scoter flew west.
On to Arc Hanson and Screen Hide gave up the usual lots of Golden Plover a couple of Greenshank and a Black Necked Grebe. Migration again in view as Swallows and Sand Martins sped passed. Total number 35    

Wednesday 28/8

A short walk from the house along the beach on a lovely morning many swallows along the sea wall then a kestrel in the first garden and sight of the first Clouded Yellow. A few birds in the bushes first was a Goldfinch followed by a Whitethroat then a Lesser Whitethroat and one unidentified warbler uniform brown ( Garden warbler like ) but appeared larger stockier than the Whitethroat. I then picked up a Spotted Flycatcher in the second garden  quietly waiting for prey a second Clouded yellow showed itself and the Spot Fly enjoyed a bit of exotic breakfast. Further along added Dunnock and baby Moorhen and mating Collared Dove.   A few birds calling in the land drain cover but did not manage to ID anything new. 4 Clouded Yellows seen.
Late from yesterday a trip via Dungeness gave me the first migrating Southward wheatears of the year. Reports of Redstart and Pied flycatchers did not come my way.

Monday 20/8

A first time visit to Hothfield Common too late for orchids far too dry for Onodanta but a lovely place and an excellent area at the correct time of year.

On to Stodmarsh lunch in the pub at entrance to reserve which was pleasant but the reserve was very quiet except for biting midges not a day for shorts,