After the excitement of Mondays' twitch, this week has been very uneventful until today when i finally had a chance to go to Dungeness to hopefully, and finally catch up with the 3 Penduline Tits which had been seen all week on the ARC Pit.
I arrived shortly after 07.00 in ok conditions but the strong south-westerly wind left me with big doubts on whether or not i would see these very awkward to get birds. However the reedmace at the end of the willow trail nr the ARC hide was sheltered, and within five minutes of arrival, i had a quick glimpse of a PENDULINE TIT low down in the reedmace. I managed to get the scope on it and nailed my third lifer of the week.
In the 45 minutes i was there all three Penduline Tits showed extremely well and atleast one bird was in full song. They often just perched in the willow trees alongside the reedmace giving superb prolonged views.
Other bits and bobs from the ARC hide included two summer-plumaged Slavonian Grebes, five Goldeneye (inc. 1 drake), Swallows and a few Sand Martins.
I moved on to Pett Level and Pannel Valley afterwards but there wasn't much about. Plenty of Mediterranean Gulls were along Pannel Valley along with 2 Avocets, 4 Avocets were on Carter's Flood and two pairs of Little Grebes were defending territory whilst making an absolute racket, though very entertaining to watch.
