Twitching a Thrush

Late news on Friday night about a Dusky Thrush inMargate cemetery meant an early morning start. A drive down to Dungeness to pick up DW, TG and MC and we were off. Just as we were driving along towards Hammond's Corner and a phone call from SC meant a short diversion into New Romney.
Arriving at the cemetery, we parked on the side of the road and walked the short distance in. The thrush had been seen well during the early morning but was now hiding in some trees, which is more or less where it stayed for most of the morning giving occasional views as it hopped about or sat preening. It did fly around the tree tops for short while but there were so many people about it was unlikely to come down. It was very frustrating to nearly always be in the wrong place and photographs were almost impossible so it was doubly disappointing to see some if the excellent pictures on the web.




As the bird disappeared around lunch time it was decided to leave as there was a female red-backed shrike on the RSPB reserve.
We stopped off at Samphire Ho to look at the Early Spider or hides before going back to the obs for a cup of tea. We then drove round to find the shrike which was showing well in the brambles along the trail between Christmas Dell and Denge Marsh hides. A Hobby was on one of the posts across the fields and 5 whimbrel flew over, calling.








Early Spider orchids, Samphire Ho!




White throat gathering nest material








Red-backed shrike, Dungeness
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