A few from Kent and Sussex

A couple of weeks ago my son asked if we could go to the Isle of Sheppey to do some birdwatching. We had hoped for bearded tits at Capel fleet but sadly none were present. We got news of a couple of rare birds at Reculver nearby so headed there but on the way from Capel fleet saw a very obliging Barn owl in a tree near the road.

Not a new species for my challenge but nice to see and certainly a better photo than my first attempt.

At Reculver the desert wheatear that had been reported was still there and was showing stupidly well!

163. Desert Wheatear

A Shore Lark at the same location was another bird I had never seen before:

164: Shore Lark

We then returned to Capel Fleet and waited in the hope of Short Eared Owls. We were rewarded just as the sun was about to go down. Again not a new bird for this year but very nice to see.

We had planned to go back to the Isle of Sheppey again this weekend but a poor weather forecast meant we gave it a miss. I did however take the opportunity of popping along to see the Rough Legged Buzzard in Jevington, Sussex. Before it showed I managed a shot of a Corn Bunting:

165: Corn Bunting

The light was terrible but I did manage a shot or 2 of the Rough Legged Buzzard when it hunted across the field in front of us.

166. Rough Legged Buzzard