Turtle Dove and Woodcocks

Last week's London Birding Breakout Tour for Jordan from Seattle was a standout day for us. This time we covered several sites in Kent, before a very special evening finish in Surrey...

The day started with good looks at a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker.

It was pretty misty first thing but we still managed to secure views of Garden Warbler, with several of these nondescript birds singing away.

We weren't counting on European Turtle Dove but this early male was on-site and purring his heart out.

Breeding Willow Warblers are few and far between these days but we found a few territorial males.

Nightingales — as ever — were tough to spot but this individual eventually obliged.

Moving on to Dungeness, we started with a seawatch at the coast, which produced the likes of Arctic Skua, Arctic Tern, Little Tern and Common Scoter. Heading to the RSPB reserve, this Oystercatcher was among the first of the birds seen.

White Wagtail is always a nice spring migrant to encounter.

But it was hard to beat the waders, with lovely views of several Bar-tailed Godwits...

...And Greenshanks...

...And a Little Ringed Plover dropped in.

The wind picked up, making the songbirds more of a challenge, but we ending up seeing most species, including Sedge Warbler (pictured), Lesser Whitethroat...

...And this male Bearded Reedling.

Late afternoon, we started heading towards London, calling in to see this Little Owl in its favourite tree.

The grand finale, though, was a spectacular show from several Woodcocks at dusk, near Dorking in Surrey.