Tuesday 11 April 2023

12/04/2023

After yesterdays excellent sea watch see https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/2389/20230410 todays was very poor, with just a handful of Common Scoter, Red-throated Divers, Sandwich Terns and Gannets.
Around the peninsula new arrivals were thin on the ground, just a handful of Wheatears and Sand Martins. Sedge Warbler numbers are increasing, but I didn't hear any Reed Warblers today, though that could be weather related. The now resident Glossy Ibises, Marsh Harriers, Bitterns and Bearded Tits can all be seen with patience along with usual species.
The drake Scaup still hanging out with Pochards at Scotney today
Brown Hare at Dengemarsh

Skylark at Dengemarsh
 

Thursday 6 April 2023

06/04/2023

Some of the Brent Geese that passed in todays gloomy conditions
A force 4 SSW with constant drizzle made for quite a good sea watch today.
06.45- 1130 from the hide with CP,RW, JY, PT.
Brent Goose: 1,024E
Shoveler: 4E     4W
Teal: 2E
Garganey: 1E
Eider: 11E      1 on
Common Scoter: 1,138E
Velvet Scoter: 2E
Red-breasted Merganser: 2E 
Great-crested Grebe: 1E   2 on
Oystercatcher: 2E     
Whimbrel: 1E 
Curlew: 1E
Dunlin: 3W
Kittiwake: 15E
Little Gull: 6E
Mediterranean Gull: 2E    
Sandwich Tern: 78E     32W  
Arctic Skua: 1E  
Guillemot: 6E 
Auk: 12E     
Red-throated Diver: 71E    
Great Northern  Diver: 1E
Fulmar: 2E    1W   
Gannet: 187E    27W  
Swallow: 1 in off
Harbour Porpoise: 4+
A close look will reveal 3 Series in the above image, taken by the Dungeness approach road just before dusk yesterday.
The first Willow Warbler of the year to ringed at Dungeness. Courtesy of Dungeness B.O.
This afternoon I managed very poor views of 2 male Redstarts in the recording area, also some Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers and a Swallow there. There was very little news from elsewhere apart from the Ruff still present at Boulderwall. The drake Scaup was still on Scotney from the double bends yesterday.

Tuesday 4 April 2023

04/04/2023

A biting force 4 Easterly wind and clear skies this morning didn't bode well for a classic sea watch, but it was an improvement than of late.
06.30 - 09.00 from the hide with RW, CP 
Brent Goose: 19E
Greylag Goose: 2 out   
Shoveler: 10E
Pintail: 1E
Garganey: 3E all drakes
Teal: 25E  
Common Scoter: 259E
Red-breasted Merganser: 17E
Great-crested Grebe:  3E    2 on
Oystercatcher: 5E
Curlew: 5E
Kittiwake: 8E
Mediterranean Gull: 4E
Common Gull: 57E
Sandwich Tern:21E    
Guillemot: 12E   
Auk: 41E     
Red-throated Diver: 43E   
Fulmar: 2E    
Gannet: 36E    43W  
Harbour Porpoise: 4+
Grey Seal: 1
Most of the rest of my day was taken up with waiting for parcels to be delivered. I did get out late afternoon to the ARC where the highlight was a confiding male Siskin at the Pines with a couple of Greenfinches. Several Sand Martins and Swallow flew through and 2 Goldeneye were present, but I missed the 2 Garganey that spent most of the day there.
The 2 Glossy Ibis are still around but it seems as though the Cattle Egrets have departed, there are still Great White egrets around, also a single Greater White-fronted Goose. The hay fields attracted there first Garganey of the year today and Red Kite flew over per BH.
It is not often a Siskin is seen well at Dungeness like this bird as they are usually flyovers. 



Nice to see a Greenfinch tucking into the conifer seeds
Yesterday the Penduline Tit showed well at the ARC, but the highlight for me was an Alpine Swift that powered through late afternoon, a self found tick for me, pity it didn't hang around for better photographs.
The Alpine Swift as it powered away from me
Penduline Tit

 

Sunday 2 April 2023

02/04/2023 The Weekend.

1 of 2 Alpine Swifts that spent Saturday afternoon hawking over the peninsula

 

This tatty Hooded Crow spent a couple of hours on the beach near the fishing boats Saturday morning

Todays Penduline Tit at the ARC was a little distant but a good find by Rick Smith

A relatively showy Water Pipit at the ARC was unusual today


Six distant Brent Geese over Luxury super yacht "SERENE" which purred past Dungeness early Saturday morning. Which was probably the highlight of the weekends very poor sea watching.