Dungeness!

Hello

It seems to be a very quiet day in the county today but a Spotted Redshank was still at Pitsford Reservoir north of the causeway this morning and other birds were eight Great White Egrets, a Garganey, two Dunlin, a Common Sandpiper, two Ruff, six Common Snipe, two Ringed Plovers, a Whinchat and two Stonechats. The Wood Sandpiper was also reported.

Birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton included eight Stonechats and two or three Whinchats. The two Dunlin were still at Ravensthorpe Reservoir today and there was still a Spotted Flycatcher at Stanford Reservoir plus a Pintail and five Ravens.

A Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper were on the New Workings North at Earls Barton Pits today with three Stonechats on the New Workings South and two Redwings over.

In the meantime a small contingent of Northants Ringing Group members have been down at Dungeness Bird Observatory on the Kent coast enjoying visible migration and a little ringing. Sea-watching has produced views of terns and gulls feeding over the sea, a passage of Arctic Skuas and small numbers of waders and wildfowl. On the land there have been plenty of chats, pipits and wagtails, as well as warblers to keep migration enthusiasts entertained. A tame Red Fox coming for food was fabulous and we were lucky enough to see Common and Grey Seals, Harbour Porpoises and some interesting end of season insects.

Regards

Neil M

Clifden Nonpareil or
Blue Underwing

Views from the old
lighthouse at Dungeness.