27/02/2025

 I thought yesterdays sea watch was poor, unfortunately todays watch was abysmal.

07.45-09.00 from the hide with RW, OL 
NW 3-4   3º    
Common Scoter: 8E  
Great-crested Grebe: 1E  
Oystercatcher: 1W     
Black-headed Gull: Present n/c
Mediterranean Gull: 1E  1W
Common Gull:  Present n/c
Herring Gull: Present n/c
Great Black-backed Gull: Present n/c   
Auk sp: 13E        9W
Red-throated Diver: 36E      12W
Gannet: 9E     3W
Cormorant: Present n/c
Black Redstart: 1 Behind Hide female
Meadow Pipit 2 Behind Hide

I did a circuit of the reserve late morning, a pleasant walk is the best I can say about it.

The Smew and Long-tailed Duck were in there usual spots per JY.

At least the Little Owls didn't let me down despite the miserable weather.

The Lydd Little Owls

26/02/2024

2 Velvet Scoter passing East past the sea watch hide this morning

07.35-10.00 from the hide with RW, 

Wind SW 3-6 picking up quickly  6º 

Brent Goose: 27E  (3 flocks)   

Pintail: 3W   (appeared to be coming in from the continent)

Velvet Scoter: 2E

Common Scoter: 13E     1W 

Great-crested Grebe: 5E         3 present 

Kittiwake: 2E  

Black-headed Gull: 154E

Mediterranean Gull: 3E 

Common Gull:  17E

Herring Gull: Present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Guillemot: 7E     

Auk sp: 58E     12W

Red-throated Diver: 104E      8W

Gannet: 18E      7W

Cormorant: c500 present

Harbour Porpoise: 2

25/02/2025

Black Redstart behind the hide this morning

07.45-09.00 from the hide with RW, OL 

WSW 2-3   10º    Very uninspiring!

Brent Goose: 31E  (4 flocks)      1W

Common Scoter: 12E     8W  

Oystercatcher: 4E     

Black-headed Gull: Present n/c

Mediterranean Gull: 1E  5W

Common Gull:  Present n/c

Herring Gull: Present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Guillemot: 1E     

Auk sp: 2E

Red-throated Diver: 32W      5E

Gannet: 7E 

Cormorant: Present n/c

Black Redstart: 1 ringed male behind hide 

I spent some time with JY counting Common Snipe with aid of our Thermal Imagers, we found 20+ Common Snipe and 2 Jack Snipe, we would never have found the latter without using the Thermal Imagers, we also had a couple of Russian White-fronted Geese fly over and found 10+ Great-crested Newts.

Uncropped image of the first Jack Snipe

Cropped image of the first Jack Snipe

Uncropped image of a second Jack Snipe

Cropped image of the second Jack Snipe at a slightly different angle

Great-crested Newts

2 of the 3 Cattle Egrets in the Cockles Bridge Triangle

Barn Owl by Hanson Hide this morning

The female Smew was again on the ARC today and the Long-tailed Duck was still on the New Diggings

Blue Tits were going in and out of the nest hole they used last year on the side of Hanson Hide today

A Tree Sparrow nearby

24/02/2025

A Gannet battling West past the Bouy this morning

The sea watch hide kept me dry this morning, despite it shaking each time one of the force 9 gusts struck it in the very wet and stormy conditions. 

07.30-10.30 from the hide joined by Owen.

SSW 7-9    10º    Rain

Brent Goose: 51E  (4 flocks)

Velvet Scoter: 2E (drake and duck)       5W (single party 3 drakes)

Common Scoter: 6E     13W  

Great-crested Grebe: 2E 

Oystercatcher: 2E     

Kittiwake: 8W

Black-headed Gull: Present n/c

Common Gull:  Present n/c

Herring Gull: Present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Lesser Black-backed Gull: 5W

Guillemot: 15W     

Razorbill: 34W

Auk sp: 7W      6E

Red-throated Diver: 51W      5E

Fulmar: 1E      2W

Gannet: 55W      21E 

Cormorant: Present n/c

A smart looking Cormorant passing West this morning

A very smart adult Herring Gull

A quick trip to Scotney saw the the female Scaup at the double bends and huge flocks of Lapwings and Golden Plover swirling about over the fields.

Aftre lunch a visit to the ARC saw the female Smew but always distant, as was the Long-tailed Duck on the New Diggings. Very little else was seen in the poor weather.

 

23/02/2025

More Brent Geese on the move today

Brent Geese with an Cormorant escort

07.00-10.40 & 12.45-14.55 from the hide with JS, CF, RW, OL, SO, N & J Burt 

SSW 7   10º    

Brent Goose: 735E  (27 flocks)

Pintail: 2E

Common Scoter: 28E  

Great-crested Grebe: 3E      15 on  

Oystercatcher: 22E

Curlew: 2E

Kittiwake: 89E

Black-headed Gull: 196E

Mediterranean Gull: 67E

Common Gull:  61E

Herring Gull: Present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Lesser Black-backed Gull: 5E

Guillemot: 3E    

Razorbill: 4E

Auk sp: 29E  

Red-throated Diver: 182E     9W 

Great Northern Diver: 1E

Fulmar: 2E

Gannet: 83E   15W 

Black Redstart: 1 behind the hide

Cormorant: Present n/c

Harbour Porpoise: 2

Grey Seal: 1

Black Redstart behind the Sea watch Hide

Female Scaup at Scotney

The female Scaup was again at Scotney from the double bends today, also the female Smew was still on the ARC but elusive. The Long-tailed Duck was still showing poorly on the The New Diggings. On Burrowes a Great Northern Diver was still present at the South Western end from Makepiece. 5 Avocets on Dengemarsh were a surprise. There were no reports of any wild Swans on Walland today.

21/02/2025

One of today's flocks of Pintail passing the sea watch hide. Many thanks to John Young for the image.

Although the weather looked as though it might encourage some migration the first 2 hrs were fairly quiet, with the usual lull from around 08.30 leaving me thinking it was going to be another slow February day,  then around 09.30 duck and geese numbers picked up and they just kept on coming, with Pintail in particular coming in record breaking numbers, a wonderful experience that will be cherished by those present.

07.15-15.00 from the hide with JS, CF, CP, RW, TH, PE, JY, OL SSE 5-6    11º    

Brent Goose: 2,283E 

Greylag Goose: 28 came in off the sea 

Shelduck: 2E

Shoveler: 65E  

Pintail: 994E    A record count for Dungeness

Teal: 3E 

Eider: 1E   (drake)

Velvet Scoter: 1E

Common Scoter: 65E 

Stock Dove 13  8 came in off the sea later 5 flew South out to sea

Great-crested Grebe: 3E  

Oystercatcher: 26E

Ringed Plover: 1E

Curlew: 34E 

Sandwich Tern: 1E

Kittiwake: 186E

Black-headed Gull: 309E

Mediterranean Gull: 60E

Common Gull:  117E

Herring Gull: Present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: 149E

Lesser Black-backed Gull: 2E

Guillemot: 31E      2 present

Razorbill: 4E

Auk sp: 204E   13W

Red-throated Diver: 110E     2W 

Fulmar: 5E

Gannet: 128E   2W 

Cormorant: Present N/C

Peregrine: 1 present

Harbour Porpoise: 2

Common Seal: 1

Grey Seal: 2

19/02/2025

A pair of Eider passing the hide this morning

 06.55-09.30 & 13.00-15.15 from the hide with CP, RW, OL    SE 4-5    3º      

Brent Goose: 595E  (17 flocks)

Pintail 8E   (4 drakes)

Eider: 2E   (drake & duck)

Common Scoter: 8E  

Great-crested Grebe: 7E       

Oystercatcher: 29E

Little Gull: 1E

Kittiwake: 485E

Black-headed Gull: 146E

Mediterranean Gull: 2E

Common Gull:  41E

Herring Gull: Present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Sandwich Tern: 1E

Guillemot: 60E      3 present

Razorbill: 226E

Auk sp: 714E  

Red-throated Diver: 263E    24W 

Fulmar: 5E

Gannet: 89E   2W 

Cormorant: 82E      36W

Brent Geese passing the hide today

Pintail past this morning

Elsewhere the Long-tailed Duck, Black-necked Grebe and 4 Water Pipits are all still present around the reserve per PT & RW but nothing new.

18/02/2025

Some of this mornings Brent Geese

A lone drake Eider the first one I've seen this year

 07.40-11.00 & 14.00-1545 from the hide with JS, CF, RW, JY, OL  

ESE 4-5    2º    

Brent Goose: 621E  (14 flocks)

Shoveler: 5E   (3 drakes)

Wigeon: 4E      (2 drakes)

Eider: 1E   (drake)

Common Scoter: 9E  

Red-necked Grebe: 1E

Great-crested Grebe: 2E      3 on  

Oystercatcher: 14E

Curlew: 6E (single flock)

Sandwich Tern: 1E the first Dungeness record this year.

Little Gull: 1W (adult)

Kittiwake: 22E

Black-headed Gull: 39E

Common Gull:  10E

Herring Gull: Present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Lesser Black-backed Gull: 1E

Guillemot: 15E      1 present

Razorbill: 96E

Auk sp: 404E  

Red-throated Diver: 242E    45W 

Great Northern Diver: 1E

Fulmar: 2E

Gannet: 87E   6W 

Cormorant: 123E       364W

Black Redstart: 1 behind hide

Harbour Porpoise: 2

Common seal: 1

Grey Seal: 1

A very poor record of todays Red-necked Grebe

Black Redstart behind the hide

Apparently there was much disturbance on the reserve from work parties, so not surprising that there was no other news from the peninsula, apart from the Cattle Egrets still being present in the Cockles Bridge Triangle.

17/02/2025

A very cold and a very poor watch this morning.

07.35-09.00 from the hide with JS,RW, OL  
E 3-4    2º    
Brent Goose: 12E
Common Scoter: 2E  
Great-crested Grebe: 5 on  
Oystercatcher: 9E
Ringed Plover: 1E
Kittiwake: 6E
Black-headed Gull: 16E
Common Gull:  27E
Herring Gull: Present n/c
Great Black-backed Gull: Present n/c
Guillemot: 3E
Auk sp: 102E  
Red-throated Diver: 39E     9W 
Gannet: 23E   2W 
Cormorant: 27E       24W
Harbour Porpoise: 2 

There were 3 Cattle Egrets in the Cockles Bridge triangle when I went home for breakfast

The female Smew was on the ARC this morning per JY but it sucessfully avoided me, a coule of hours of thermalling drew a blank as well. The Long-tailed Duck was still on the New Diggings , as usual it kept its distance,

The Black-necked Grebe was still present on Denge Marsh this afternoon

Some of the 15 Bewick Swans left on Walland Marsh, I assume the rest have started their return journey.

16/02/2025

 

A party of Pintail moving East past the sea watch hide this morning

Even in the relative comfort of the sea watch hide the bitingly cold east wind this morning made for an uncomfortable watch. I guess I'm getting old!

07.30-09.30 from the hide with RW, OL  ENE 4-5    2º    Overcast

Brent Goose: 38E

Pintail: 37E   (5+9+23)

Wigeon: 38E   (7+5+2+23)

Aythya sp: 2E    (probably Scaup)

Common Scoter: 7E  

Great-crested Grebe: 2E    6 on  

Oystercatcher: 28E

Little Gull: 6E (single flock all adults)  

Kittiwake: 12E

Black-headed Gull: 9E

Mediterranean Gull: 1E

Common Gull:  7E

Herring Gull: Present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Razorbill: 2E

Guillemot: 6E

Auk sp: 25E  

Red-throated Diver: 62E     27W 

Gannet: 176E   3W 

Cormorant: 180E       21W

Harbour Porpoise: 2

Grey Seal: 1

On the reserve the Long-tailed duck was still present on The New Diggings per JY et al and the Black-necked grebe was again on Dengemarsh, but no sign of the female Smew, though it could well be tucked away out of the the freezing East wind, 1 Water Pipit was seen on the hayfields per DB. There are still at least 2 Russian White-fronted Geese on the reserve per JY et al. The Egrets were all to be found in the usual places, a Bittenr was booming on Denge Marsh per RW. On Walland still 15 Bewick Swans at Coldharbour Lane per NB.

Late afternoon at my allotted reed bed no Harriers came in to roost, a Barn Owl flew over and a Little Owl was calling. 

14/02/2025

Black Redstart feeding behind the sea watch hide this morning

A bitterly cold morning despite the bright sunshine.  ESE 3-4    2º    Sunny

This mornings sea watch carried on in the same vein as the last few days.

07.25-10.00 from the hide with RW, CP, JY, OL    

Common Scoter: 5E  

Great-crested Grebe: 37 drifted E  

Oystercatcher: 29E  

Dunlin: 8E

Kittiwake: 16E

Black-headed Gull: 71 drifted E

Common Gull:  23E

Herring Gull: Present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Razorbill: 14E

Guillemot: 6E

Auk sp: 17E  

Red-throated Diver: 264E     7W 

Fulmar: 3E  1W

Gannet: 193E  

Cormorant:  46E      17W

Raven: 2E along shoreline

Black Redstart: 1 behind hide

Harbour Porpoise: 1

Common Seal: 1

Grey Seal: 2

 

Black Redstart

Black-necked Grebe at Denge Marsh

After a late breakfast and warm up I ventured out onto the reserve. 4 Cattle Egrets with 2 Little Egrets were in the Cockles Bridge triangle as I drove past, at Boulderwall Fields 2 Great White Egrets and the usual feral geese but no sign of the 19 Russian White-fronted Geese that were present yesterday. From Dennis's just 4 Goldeneye of any note. From Firth and adult Caspian Gull among c30 Great Black-backed Gulls. I went into the new Makepiece Hide and immediately realised one of the doors did not close properly with out physically lifting it into place, I feel sorry for any disabled person who may be on there own as I would imagine access and egress would be very difficult for some and near impossible for others, large handles on the inside and outside of both doors may help them. I was also surprised to notice that the screws holding the hinges in place were already starting to rust. I have to say there is plenty of room inside the hide for wheelchairs to move around easily, I assume wheelchair users would automatically gravitate towards the large viewing windows in order to view, these spots were nice and warm, but viewing straight into the sun I imagine would not be a very nice experience.

At Denge Marsh the female Smew was still present as was the Black-necked Grebe, a Dartford Warbler was singing near the viewing ramp and several Water Pipits were on the hay fields.

Late this afternoon a 2w Caspian Gull was viewable from Firth and a Barn Owl was flying around the ARC car park.

12/02/2025

Brent Geese passing the Bouy this morning

 07.55-09.55  from the hide with RW & PT  

NNW 2    3º

Bent Goose: 23E

Pintail: 85W  Appeared to come across the channel.   (250 were recorded at Cap Gris Nez this morning)

Common Scoter: 2E    9W

Great-crested Grebe: 9 present   

Oystercatcher: 4E  1W

Kittiwake: 4E

Herring Gull: Present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Razorbill: 57E      51W

Guillemot: 1 Present

Auk sp: 68E   13W

Red-throated Diver: 147E     22W 

Gannet: 64E  24W

Cormorant: Present N/c

Harbour Porpoise: 2

Grey Seal: 1

Bird of the day was this female Smew discovered by Alan & Peter on Dengemarsh, the first one since January 2022. It is sad this once relatively common winter visitor to Dungeness has become such a rarity.

The 48 Bewick Swans are still on Walland Marsh but have moved to the farthest reaches of Horses Bones farm and can only be seen distantly from the back of Scotney. There were 19 Russian White-fronted Geese on Boulderwall Fields that had originally been flying around Scotney per OL. Also the Long-tailed Duck was still present on the New Diggings today.

These images were taken in the 2010s from Scott hide before the invasion of Cormorants

10/02/2025

Another wet, cold and dreary day. 

07.55-09.55  from the hide with RW & OL  

ENE 4-5    4º   Rain

Bent Goose: 2W

Common Scoter: 4E    all drakes

Great-crested Grebe: 43E    

Dunlin: 6E

Kittiwake: 33E

Black-headed Gull: Present n/c

Mediterranean Gull: 1E

Common Gull:  Present n/c

Herring Gull: Present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Razorbill: 6E

Guillemot: 174E

Auk sp: 109E  

Red-throated Diver: 102E     7W 

Fulmar: 2E  

Gannet: 283E  

Cormorant:  38E      13W

Harbour Porpoise: 1

Common Seal: 1

After an early afternoon optician appointment in Tenterden I saw a Red Kite near to the Tenterden garden centre as I drove back to the peninsula, cutting back across Walland I was unable to find any Bewick Swans or anything else notable. There was no local news today at all, as I guess most sensible people stayed at home in the dry and warm.

08/02/2025

 A very cold SE wind that even in the hide chilled me to the bone, a few birds but still nothing to get to excited about.

7.50-09.50 from the hide with RW & OL 

Wind SE 4-5    3º

Pintail: 4E   2 drake

Common Scoter: 6E

Great-crested Grebe: 26E    

Oystercatcher: 27E

Dunlin: 36E

Kittiwake: 18E

Black-headed Gull: Present n/c

Mediterranean Gull: 3E

Common Gull:  Present n/c

Herring Gull: Present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Razorbill: 2E

Guillemot: 3E

Auk sp: 46E

Red-throated Diver: 102E     9W 

Fulmar: 17E    1W

Gannet: 252E    11W

Cormorant:  523E      121W

Harbour Porpoise: 2

An afternoon visit to the reserve was really only to have a look inside the new Makepiece Hide. I am told it is designed with wheelchair access in mind with 2 doors that open both ways, it is as you can see from the images very spacious inside, which I guess makes it easier for wheelchair users to move around in the hide. Thankfully not myself being in a wheelchair I would have to ask a wheelchair user whether they would be able to use the flaps or even open them, they would be able to see through the large windows providing they are clear of salt spray, general dirt and rain, I fear anyone using these windows in sunny weather will be baked alive. The large swing doors are great in theory, but we opened one of the flaps and the door blew open causing a freezing through draft, so I can see that users will be looking to find some way of wedging the door shut as I was tempted, which defeats the object. One of the hinges already looks as though it is ready to break, so i'm guessing it wont be long before the doors that are very sturdy and heavy get damaged. As for what the 2 tiers at one end of the hide is for I have no idea. Hopefully teething troubles will dealt with quickly. At the moment all I can say is it is better than a viewpoint. 

What are the 2 tiers for?

A walk late afternoon at the ARC with Colin found Jack Snipe, an unusual newly arrived flock of Fieldfare, but where did they come from?  where are they going? also 2 Great White Egrets but little else notable on this cold grey afternoon.

Jack Snipe

Jack Snipe

Jack Snipe

A flock of c60 Fieldfare in the Sallows between ARC car park and the Screen late afternoon

05/02/2025

 As it was a lovely sunny still morning I gave the sea watch a miss, instead I parked up at the ARC and walked over to Denge Marsh, down to Burrowes and over to the New Diggings and back to the ARC. The 8 Russian White-fronted Geese were still at the back of Boulderwall Fields today along with the usual feral Geese and a few Curlews. 2 Great White Egrets were feeding on Cooks Pool.

Great White Egret on Cooks Pool

Lapwing at Dengemarsh

The Black-necked Grebe was still at the back of Dengemarsh but I saw little else notable there, apparently 2 Spoonbills dropped in for a short while a couple of hours after I left. For some reason the hayfields were devoid of birds, possibly the 2 displaying Marsh Harriers disturbed everything. Burrowes was also very quiet which was not surprising with all the work going on at Makepiece. The walk  over to New Diggings was uneventful but pleasant, on arrival the Long-tailed Duck was with a party of 8 Goldeneye but as usual about as far away as is possible. I glimpsed a Diver briefly through the bushes which I suspected was a Red-throated Diver, a short walk along the causeway confirmed my suspicions. Another Fieldfare was by the entrance track as was the Red-legged Partridge. At Cockles Bridge the usual 4 Cattle Egrets and Little Egrets. The 48 Bewick swans were still at Midley viewed from Cutters Bridge.

Red-throated Diver on the New Diggings

Jack Snipe on the reserve found with the Thermal Imager