We started the day at Rye Harbour hoping the Terek Sandpiper had stayed overnight. Unfortunately, after a two-hour search, there was no sign of the bird. The islands on Ternery Pool held impressive numbers of Med Gulls and Sandwich Terns. Two Common Sandpipers, six Ringed Plovers several calling Cuckoos and single Little Ringed Plover and Black-tailed Godwit were the best we could manage.
Dungeness was more rewarding with a smart Kentish Plover dropping onto a small shingle island on Burrowes Pit. We enjoyed some nice scope views before making room for the growing crowds. A Hoopoe had been present the previous day along Dengemarsh Road so that was our next destination. After negotiating the narrow roads, busier than normal today due to the fact that there was a triathlon taking place, we pulled up along Dengemarsh Road. Birders already on site had seen the bird and gave us a general area of where it had last been seen. After 20-30 minutes of scanning the fields, the Hoopoe suddenly flew up and was promptly harassed by the local Magpies. It circled back around and landed briefly in the sheep field before taking flight again.
A brief drive along the entrance track at Elmley on the way home gave a few photo opportunities. A Little Egret was busy trying to catch small fish. Which it did easily and frequently.
Elmley is normally a good place to see Yellow Wagtails, and one individual showed well on a gate post.
A Corn Bunting showed well on a roadside post.
There was also plenty of evidence of successful breeding seasons of lapwings and Redshanks and Coots, with plenty of youngsters seen.
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| Redshank chick |
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| Coot chick |
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