PLODDINGBIRDER: 18/09/2021

Saturday 18 September 2021

18/09/2021

One of the many Arctic Skuas that have been hanging around offshore about to attack a Common Tern

07.30-09.00 with SO, AJG and RW who kindly kept the log:

Mallard: 1W

Teal: 5W

Common Scoter: 11W 17E

Shearwater sp: 1W

Gannet: 328E

Cormorant: 3W

Kittiwake: 96W 57 around

Mediterranean Gull: 1W

Sandwich tern: 122W 37E

Common Tern: 7W 7E

Great Skua: 1E

Arctic Skua: 12E 5W

Auk sp: 3W

Swallow: 4 out

Yellow Wagtail: 1 out

Grey Wagtail on the filter beds behind the sea watch hide

Chiffchaff in The Desert

A wander around The Desert with RW & SO was very quiet, a define clear out of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps from yesterday, we only saw a handful of Chiffchaffs, a couple of Wheatears, Yellow Wagtail over and a trickle of Hirundines, 2 Clouded Yellows were seen as well, the highlight was a juvenile Marsh Harrier that came over the trapping area and flew straight out to sea.

Black-necked Grebe at southern end of the ARC

Cattle Egret at the ARC

1 of 2 Ravens over Lydd Fields

I spent a while late morning early afternoon in the field opposite my house waiting for the stream of Honey Buzzards to come over, I'm still waiting! while I was out there 4 juvenile Hobby's put on a superb aerial display tussling with a Kestrel, a Rook and a Crow. 2 Ravens came over cronking, a mewing Common Buzzard and a very tatty male Marsh Harrier added to the aerial festival. In the stubble numerous Meadow Pipits, Linnets, Reed Buntings and a couple of Yellow Wagtails, while in the ditch a Cetti's Warbler shouted, and a Reed Warbler skulked while a Clouded Yellow flew up and down. Who needs twitching with all that literally on my doorstep.