Dungeness cuckoo and sunset

I grabbed a couple of hours at the Hanson ARC pit tonight. There was plenty of cuckoo activity along with good views of all the regulars from this walk. A cold brisk NE wind seemed to be blowing in. This didn't seem to hamper the invasion of Painted Ladies that has been a feature all over Kent today. I watched a Hobby by the car park entrance launch from the roadside fence on many hapless butterflies flying through. Bird migrant wise a flock of 45 Ringed plovers with 4 Dunlin in Summer plumage graced a small island on the lake and 4 Yellow wagtails graced the empty carpark.

Collared Doves displaying

Swifts mating on the wing at Dungeness

There were many swifts feeding over the ARC pits on Saturday morning, I presumed these were birds that were simply moving through heading North. However, as we know, Swifts do everything on the wing eating, sleeping and eh well...judge for yourselves! So, I think we can safely say some of these Swifts were local breeding birds too. These pics were taken quickly with limited time. Looking at the results, I'd like another go to try and add a little more quality to the images.

Peregrine and prey at Dungeness

Just managed one snap of this superb adult Peregrine flying low over the ARC pit at Dungeness yesterday morning. Its not a great quality pic, but I think that's a part/plucked Moorhen its carrying? Five minutes later, walking back to the ARC car park I saw my first Hobby meander through the swifts hunting there.

Manx shearwaters Dungeness

Strong south westerly winds today brought in a number of Manx Shearwaters past the point heading East and south out of the channel. Mostly in small groups. I saw birds flying through continuously in a two hour seawatch. Also today 4 Artic Skuas 1 Black tern small flocks of Common Tern heading east.

Red Kite - first garden and Shadoxhurst record

Easily the Bird of the year so far was this fine Red Kite being hurried along at roof top level across the garden (from south to north) by every Jackdaw and Crow in the village.
Seen at 10.00 am, we rushed to the front of the house, with camera in hand, where we managed a photograph. Forgive the poor result, but I estimate the bird was probably a mile away and soaring high, too. Its hard to believe, just seconds before it was close enough to cast a shadow across the garden.

I don't remember seeing any wings tags and the wings did look tatty too. Who knows where this bird originated from. Could this be the first of many Kites possibly colonising Kent - we will have to wait and see!