SPRING FEVER

 Waiting for the first migrants can be a frustrating affair,Chiffchaff ,Garganey,Sand Martin,Wheatear,Sandwich Tern can all arrive this month and the first butterflies begin to appear.Peacock,Comma ,Small Tortoishell and Red Admiral will have hibernated over the winter and can show up as soon as its warm enough,Small White, Holly Blue Brimstone are also March regulars.

Of the former I have only seen the first two species, especially disappointing was the failure of the Wheatears to show up at Samphire Hoe at their usual time..All of the butterflies mentioned have been spotted however.

RED BREASTED MERGANSER MILTON CREEK

-a murky day unfortunately.

GREENSHANK MILTON CREEK

GREEN WINGED TEAL WITH COMMON TEAL RYE HARBOUR another murky day.

GREEN WINGED TEAL  an American vagrant.

2/22

 You have already seen the Shore Larks and the American Robin from earlier in the month so here is an update on the other highlights from the month.

YOUNG MALE BLACK REDSTART AT SAMPHIRE HOE

SANDERLING

KEARSNEY SUNSET

GREAT NORTHERN DIVER

GN DIVER

DARTFORD WARBLER AT THE HOE

SPOONBILL AT RYE HARBOUR

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A SINGING SONG THRUSH AT THE HOE.

LITTLE GREBE OR DABCHICK -KEARSNEY.

TREECREEPER in the woods above KEARSNEY ABBEY.

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BACK TO THE GREAT NORTHERN DIVER,it caught a large Dab

but couldn`t swallow it.

THE MALE CORMORANTS IN DOVER HARBOUR ARE LOOKING RESPLENDENT INTHEIR BREEDING PLUMAGE.

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COURTSHIP DISPLAY

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THE RING NECKED DUCK AT MURSTON WAS HARD TO FIND

AND WAS SLEEPING WHILE I WAS THERE.

I never used to see NUTHATCH around Dover now have seen them in three different places locally this year.

This is one bird I can still hear its loud call is often what draws it to attention.

NUTHATCH.

WHEN THE RED RED ROBIN........

 When the early Europeans landed in North America they saw a bird with a red breast and called it a Robin,.It was nothing like our Robin apart from the red breast.It was in fact a member of the Thrush family which is quite obvious when you see it.

So when one was reported down the road in Eastbourne last week I went on my second twitch of the year and soon encountered this smart looking bird.

-It was first reported on the 8th Feb but may have been around longer.

-Evidently it is the 32nd American Robin to reach our shores

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The American Robin my second new bird for the UK this year a good contrast to the Little Bunting.

I SEE SHORE LARKS ON THE SEA SHORE

 A second visit to Leysdown for the Shore Larks eventually paid off when I found them at Warden Bay.The Magnificent 7 showed well and were quite confiding.The Horned Lark as it is known elsewhere is a winter visitor to Britain from NE europe where it breeds in mountainous terrain above the tree line.

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