RETURNING BIRD

Not having a lot of time this week with one thing another a made a couple of vist to hampton to see what gull have returned only bird that has is this smart adult med gull just losing it hood,looks like a returning bird as there was one kicking around in the winter,quick trip to the harbour produced next to now't with only the scoter hanging about,no kittiwakes just yet will not be long soon as they turn up i know movement is soon

YET ANOTHER KENT TICK

My kent list is being added to at a pleasant pace at the moment with me and chip shop chris heading up to the dark side of cliffe,being updated most of the day by dave on the lesser yellow legs we left sunny whitstable and headed off with a straight forward run we arrived just after five being greeted by the burt family,who straight put us on the bird,plenty of laughter and fun had by all as young gibbard and dave was also there,suprize of the night was a barn owl which breezed by us on the viewing hump as always never ready with the camera,the yellow legs

gave us cracking views for almost an hour making that my 286 bird for kent 14 to go,to make the cracking number of 300,will i make it by the end of the year very much doubt it but will do my best,three kent ticks in so many weeks i might just squeak in,

at mo the camera has taken a back seat,enjoying just birding and having a ticking time doing it wonder what my next kent bird will be,hopefully i might find it myself in the harbour i know what i would like but will it happen..........................you never know thats the joy of birding

OTLOMAN BUNTING,whoops ORTOLAN

Sorry my crap spelling, but my dyslexia showed well today arriving at the early hours with martyn already there on the planned sea watch,so we walked up to the fishing boats with the sun rising and a clear sky not a good start,couple of skuas and a red throated diver,before sue arrive after that not a lot happen few willows and chiffs about,with martyn releasing one out of one of the diggers cab god knows how it got in there,so we walked up to the patch bump a few friends along the way,chatting away with andy and mike missed another sooty as it flew past,plenty of wheatears abouts

we headed back to the fishing boats to carry on are sea watch,the i had a call from andy lawson alert us to a ORTOLAN bunting at dengermarsh gullys, so we followed dave walker up there,as walked up it flew out a bush next to the cars and land in a bush then on the deck for a few minutes than disappeared out of view not to be seen again,great going for me two lifers in a week and not a stint involved,headed back to the beach to a windy reception,few skuas and auks and plenty of terns headed home a happy birder

SEMI P SANDPIPER

with news breaking that ploddingbird ie martin casemore had a found a semi p sandpiper at dungerness,a bird i never seen,and of course,i was at work,so a quick phone call to ron,who said he keep me informed during the day,until i could get down there, so a few texts to adam to see if he wanted a lift,we left at half three and soon as we walked in the hide at twenty to five we was greeted my mr and mrs burt,ron,dave and rob and the finder himself martin,cracking views of this little rare bird a few distant shots but worth the drive

well worth the ear ache when i got home