Dungeness Bird Observatory
8th September 2008, MondayA relatively calm and bright morning resulted in a good variety of migrants in the area. Most of the interest was overhead where the two Cranes made a couple of sorties to the Point before returning to the ARC Pit. Raptors were in excellent supply with an Osprey perched on one of the pylons near the Observatory, five Common Buzzards, 12 Marsh Harriers, 11 Sparrowhawks and a Merlin all passing through. There were also good numbers of smaller birds passing overhead with four Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 430 Sand Martins, 1000 Swallows, 11 Tree Pipits, 63 Yellow Wagtails, six Grey Wagtails and at least four Crossbills. There were also a few migrants in the bushes with a male Redstart, four Whinchats, 20 Wheatears, two Lesser Whitethroats, three Blackcaps, 15 Willow Warblers and a Pied Flycatcher of note. The sea also provided some interest with 15 Arctic Skuas, nine Little Gulls, a Black Tern and also a Grey Phalarope reported.
David Walker from DBO website.