Birding in the heat.

As well as seeing the Blue Tits fledging at the weekend, a couple of visits were made to the woods and coast.

Saturday (26th) involved a trip to Dungeness but via a slightly different form of transport. Angela, our friend Graham and I drove to New Romney where we caught the RH&D train to Dungeness. Their goal was to take some photos of the scenery while I hoped to spot and photograph a few birds. Single Sand Martin, 2 House Martins and several Swallows and Swifts were moving low north, plus a male Wheatear and singing Skylarks near the fishing boats. With the clear skies and quite cool easterly breeze there were relatively few small birds and not even a raptor moving overhead. A nice snack at the railway cafe before a cramped but light hearted journey back on the train. One chap day tripping from London just couldn't understand why I spend so many days of the year down at Dungeness and on the Romney Marsh. Personally... I love the place and much prefer it to town life and cities like London.

Sunday morning (27th) was again hot but Angela and myself paid a brief visit to Kings Wood, Challock. The shade from the trees helped to take an edge off the temperature. Blackcaps, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs were all singing and we got good views of a male Garden Warbler singing from an Oak tree. A Turtle Dove and Coal Tit were in the same branches. A brief snatch of Tree Pipit song, but no sightings alas. Further into the forest, Green Woodpecker, Long-tailed Tit and Chaffinch were all noted and more Coal Tits were feeding young. Back with plenty of time before the Monaco GP!