Tuesday 16 July 2013

Warm again,although a light overcast sky at times,mainly during the morning.

The plan today was to first visit Burnt Oak Wood,for its Butterflies (near Ashford),during the morning and then move down to Dungeness later.However when we arrived at the wood,although warm,the sky was still mainly overcast and consequently activity was very low.So only after about forty five minutes we decided to depart,make for Dungeness and come back later,when hopefully the cloud would have cleared.I did see a Spotted Flycatcher in the wood,my first for the year,so in some way it made up for the lack of Butterfly sightings.

At Dungeness it was also rather quite,although probably not for the same reason,the sea especially so.
The Little Gulls that were around last week,had all appeard to have gone and there was only a small number of other gulls and terns over the patch and on the beach.
Birds of note - Black Redstart (1),(Power Station),Common Sandpiper (1),L R Plover (1),Ringed Plover (3) and Marsh Harrier (1) (RSPB Reserve).We did notice on the reserve that wildfowl numbers have started to climb and Burrows Pit is looking good for some autumn waders,hopefully.
Although we knew a Great White Egret was in the Dengemarsh area,we decided not to go for it and made our way back to the wood,where indeed we found the cloud had cleared and activity was now quite high.

Burnt Oak Wood - Ringlet (10),Brimstone (4),White Admiral (6) and Meadow Brown (5).We had hoped to see Silver-washed Fritillary,but none were seen,Bob thought perhaps it was a little late in the season for them,or possibly  none were present this year.

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