**MEGA** Orphean Warbler

An Orphean Warbler was identified in a garden in south west Wales near St Brides, originally thought to be a Lesser Whitethroat its real identity was discovered when photographs were published online on the Pembrokeshire Birds website. Access was arranged to the garden and volunteers organised the twitch, sorting out parking in a field nearby and allowing groups of about 40 into the garden to view the bird at any one time. They even put up a sign about two miles away to point the correct turn to take. Everyone appeared to be very well behaved and it went very well. We had travelled down Friday night and stayed near Swansea so we could be on site early Saturday morning. We later went to Dale airfield from where you could see Skokholm Island and we also visited Barry Island which is near Cardiff. 

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Semipalmated Plover

A day in Hampshire to see the Semipalmated Plover at Black Point, Hayling Island. It flew in and was on view at Black Point for a few minutes but was disturbed by a windsurfer and flew off with the other waders. It was relocated on the main beach at Hayling Island but it was raining heavily by this time. Also seen today was the Red Breasted Goose at Sturt Pond, Milford on Sea and the Long Billed Dowitcher at Butt’s Lagoon, Keyhaven Marshes.

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Dungeness, Stodmarsh and Lighthouses.

Started the weekend by going to Eastbourne for the Bonapartes Gull but unfortunately it was not seen. Went to Dungeness where the highlights were 1st winter Caspian Gull, 3 Smew including 1 male, 3 Great White Egrets, Tree Sparrows and a very tame Fox. On Sunday we went to Stodmarsh to see a Penduline Tit. We also visited a few lighthouses and a lightship in Gillingham.

Lightship 21 in Gillingham

Lightship 21 in Gillingham

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Penduline Tit

Penduline Tit

Beachy Head Lighthouse

Beachy Head Lighthouse

South Foreland Lighthouse

South Foreland Lighthouse

Fox at Dungeness

Fox at Dungeness

Great White Egret

Great White Egret

Caspian Gull Caspian Gull