June 24th (Oare)

Linnet

I couldn`t get out of the house until quite late in the morning.So I decided to go to Oare and be in time for the mid morning high tide.When I arrived and during the whole of my visit it was cold,dull and windy,nothing like the warmer weather that had been forecast

I located the Bonaparte`s Gull just after I first arrived feeding out on the mud at the mouth of the creek.Later I saw it again on the east flood.Its head looks to be darker now,than when I first saw it about a month ago.

In all I saw 49 species,the most notable being - Ruff 2,Bonaparte`s Gull,Avocet,Black-tailed Godwit,Marsh Harrier 1,Bearded Tit,Cetti`s Warbler (heard),Linnet 6,Cuckoo (calling) and Common Tern.

Ruff

Two Ruff were present,the above bird is colour ringed. (right leg,metal ring + white?cream above,yellow below,left leg,red below,blue above).

Little Egret

Black-tailed Godwit

Black-tailed Godwit

June15th (Rye Harbour Nature Reserve)

Avocet

Bright,but cloudy,strong southwesterly.

Jeanette and I had a run down to Rye harbour this morning.It was nice to spend  time in the hides away from the very strong wind.

Med Gull,on nest

Common Tern

Sandwich Tern,colony

Sandwich Tern

Black-headed Gull on nest

June 7th (New Hythe)

Nightingale

A walk round New Hythe just after midday produced,(2) Oystercatcher and (1) Shelduck flying up river,a Common Buzzard high over the Sunken marsh,a Grey Wagtail at Brookland,several Garden Warblers,one of which was on the edge of the Bucket wood and the other near the west scrub and singles of Kingfisher and Kestral close to the Streamside lake.Several or more Nightingales were still singing gustily.

June 3rd (Oare marsh)

Bonaparte`s Gull

It was a spur of the moment decision,but I thought I`d better go and see the Bonaparte`s Gull at Oare before it departs.I found it almost immediately without too much difficulty roosting on one of the islands on the east flood.I say without too much difficulty,because I had to wait about fifteen minutes for it to show its head before I could be certain it was the Bonaparte`s.I found the size difference to be of little help on the ground.

One very obliging Sedge Warbler was singing in brambles on the edge of the west flood.

Sedge Warbler

At least (200) Black-tailed Godwit were present on the east flood.

Black-tailed Godwit

May 24th - 31st (Cornwall)

Yellowhammer (male)

Jeanette and I spent last week in a cottage not far from St Just,in Cornwall.

Yellowhammer (female)

We spent a day at Jeanettes sisters place near Looe.It was nice to see Yellowhammers and Marsh Tits coming to the feeders,both species are scarce back in Kent now.

Marsh Tit (young bird)

Common Buzzards

I spent a short while sea watching at St Ives.Not a lot was going on,but I did see Gannets,Manx Shearwaters,Fulmars,Kittiwakes and Guillemots.

Meadow Pipit

Rock Pipit

Gannet

Fulmar

The breeding pair of (Lizzard Point) Chough were showing well from the cafe,whilst we enjoyed our cream tea.

Red-billed Chough