Cirl Bunting at Dungeness 15th May 2024

 



A Melodious Warbler was present in the moat at Dungeness Bird Observatory during the morning but it was the finding of a much rarer Cirl Bunting that stole the day.  

The bird was seen and photographed briefly by the rail track behind Southview Cottage before flying to the West.  I was the sole observer and despite trying to inspire other birders to help come relocate the bird only Tom Wright found the time.  However, neither of us could relocate it and gave up after an hour or so as the day warmed up.

I had originally thought that it must had come from from a nearby secret breeding site, similar to the one in West Sussex perhaps, but apparently not.  If they are present somewhere on Romney Marsh it's yet to be discovered.  It seems more likely that it was a vagrant from the continent.  Previously, Cirl Bunting had not been seen at Dungeness for 20 years, and then 60 years before that. 

I hope that, this bird, or one like it, will somehow find the singing male near Brighton.


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