Spotlighting in the Gobi Desert!

 European Eagle Owl

On our recent to trip to Mongolia we went out spotlighting for cats and various rodents in the southern Gobi Desert on several evenings. During one of these evenings as we were walking along a gorge, a European Eagle Owl flew just c25 feet over our heads carrying prey for its owlets, 2 LED spotlights picked it out completely dazzling it, causing it to crash into the side of the gorge dropping its prey which landed at my feet with a thump, it then fell to the ground dazed and dazzled just a few feet away from us. As far as I know the Owl recovered. I had never worried about the consequences of spotlighting, but this incident bothered me to the extent that I now feel I don't want to participate in spotlighting again.

Corpse of a Pallas's Cat kitten decapitated by a European Eagle Owl that was meant to be fed to the 2 Owlets nearby. We thought the adult owl would return and pick the kitten up after we left, but the corpse was still where we left it on our return in the morning. 

 European Eagle Owlet possibly going hungry because we dazzled one of its parents. Fortunately the owlet didn't panic and fall off the cliff edge when spotlighted.

 Adult Lammergeier

Had these 2 Lammergeier's panicked when picked out by our spotlights, they could easily have been seriously injured, launching themselves off the cliffs into the darkness.

Juvenile Lammergeier

Adult Pallas's Cat

Although this adult Pallas's Cat looks relaxed in the spotlights, it eventually did panic when we got to close and launched itself down the rock face to escape us. As far as I know it did not injure itself, but it did leave me with a bad taste in my mouth, another reason for me not to spotlight again.

 These Marbled Polecats seemed quite relaxed and seem to be playing in the spotlight

Marbled Polecats

On another evening a juvenile Pallas's Sandgrouse caught in our spotlights, we could easily have caught this bird had we had a net. Whether or not the bird and rodents were stressed by spotlighting I don't know. Several other Pallas's Sandgrouse were flushed as we drove around the desert looking for Jerboa's and Gerbils.

 A couple of Fat-tailed Gerbils were found by spotlights, the one above froze where as the other dived into cover.

 Hairy-footed Jerboa

Long-eared Jerboa

This Long-eared Hedgehog definitely didn't enjoy the attention we gave it.

 Box-tree Moth a first for me and apparently only the second Dungeness record.

Passerines have been very difficult to find just lately around the peninsular, with the constant N.E wind making things even more difficult. Bearded Tits have been seen occasionally but very briefly from the viewing ramp, even Reed and Sedge Warblers have been elusive. On the brighter side islands are rapidly appearing on the ARC and on Burrowes attracting the first returning Common Sandpipers, Dunlin, Ruff, Greenshank and a Knot. This morning the first juvenile Yellow-legged Gull was seen at The Patch per DW, on the reserve the Little Gull is still present also a Mediterranean Gull there. I'm off to Mongolia tomorrow, hopefully when I return towards the end of the month things will be really moving.

Plutella Xylostella have been coming to the Plodland MV in good numbers

Rye Harbour Nature Reserve!

The paved track was covered in 100s of smashed Mussels, this Herring Gull showed me why.

Walking along the beach track towards the Ternery Pool I heard a couple of Little Terns but saw none, apparently they are having a poor breeding season so far. I did see a pair of Wheatears taking food into there nest site. 

It would seem Black-headed Gulls, Mediterranean Gulls and Sandwich Terns are all doing well this year.

 Lots of juvenile Mediterranean Gulls on the Ternery Pool

 This Mediterranean Gull appears to have have snatched another Mediterranean gull chick

 A ringed adult

A colour ringed adult, but as I was to lazy to carry my scope around today it went unread.

 A constant stream of Sandwich Terns bringing in Sand Eels

 A juvenile Sandwich tern

 The Sandwich Terns seem to have had a good breeding season at Rye

 Another Sand Eel arrives

Good numbers of juvenile Sandwich Terns on the Ternery Pool

Not so many Common Terns

 Curlew

 Juvenile Redshank

 Redshank

Oystercatcher

Female Tufted duck trying to protect her young from a very persistent Common Gull

Late afternoon a summer plumage Ruff and 3 Black-tailed godwits were on the ARC

 Great Tit in the moth trap at 04.30 this morning!

I got up extra early to cove the moth trap this morning but the Great Tit still beat me, it had eaten at least 1 Elephant Hawk moth and a Privet Hawk Moth before I could chase it out along with a lot of the moths.

 A Whitethroat singing by the beach car park

From the sea watch hide this morning again very little of note, just a handful each of Gannets and Sandwich Terns and few Harbour Porpoises.

1s Mediterranean Gull from Firth

On the reserve the Little Gull still present along with a few Ringed Plovers and a 1s Mediterranean Gull. The Common terns seem to have at least 6 young at present.

This afternoon I had the beach at the fishing boats all to my self, allowing me to scan the sea whilst basking in the glorious sunshine and listening to the France V Denmark match, which was probably the most boring match of the world cup.

14.15-17.00

Common Scoter: 11E
Great-crested Grebe: 1 around
Gannet: 6E    6W
Cormorant: 7around
Shag: 1E
Oystercatcher: 6E    1W
Black-headed Gull: 42E
Mediterranean Gull: 7 around (4 x ads, 2s, 2 x 1s)
Sandwich Tern: 44E   2W
Swift: 1 out
Swallow: 1 out
Skylark: 1 singing behind beach
Harbour Porpoise: 6+
Grey Seal: 1
Common Seal: 1

Sunny Days!

Common Seal

This morning from the sea watch hide, a few Gannets, Common and Sandwich Terns milling around offshore along with 2 Mediterranean Gulls and a few juvenile Black-headed Gulls my first this year, also 46 Common Scoter flew East. A Common Seal in the scum along the shore line and Grey Seal along way out.

Common Buzzard getting the Herring Gull welcome

An hour lunchtime scanning from the garden saw little of note, though a Common Buzzard straying over some nesting Herring Gulls livened things up.

Napoleon's Column at Wimereux from Dungeneness this afternoon

2hrs on the beach at the fishing boats saw very few birds, the highlight being 6 Mediterranean Gulls feeding along the colour change, 4+ Harbour Porpoises and a party of 12 Gannets that were were probably in French territorial waters moving down channel. In this afternoons excellent visibility Boulogne 27 miles away was clearly visible, I could even make out vehicles moving along the roads there.

Boulogne Cathedral Dome from Dungeness this afternoon

In this warmer weather the moth trap catch is improving but still very immigrants.

 Evergestis Limbat

 LIme Hawk Moth

Swallowtail Moth

Bittern Garden Tick!

Mediterranean Gull at The Patch

The Patch has been very quiet this week, with just a few Mediterranean Gulls and Common Terns of note there. A male Black Redstart was behind the hide this morning.

Common Seal at The Patch

Late morning JTM alerted me to some Common Buzzards moving around the peninsular, I set my scope up in the front garden and quickly located 4 Common Buzzards and 2 Marsh Harriers, while scanning for more I picked out a Bittern flying over Hookers and followed it all the way to the Tower Pits, a long awaited and welcome from the garden tick.

14.15-15.15 from the fishing boats:

Common Scoter: 12 drifted west along the colour change

Great-crested Grebe: 2 around

Gannet: 7W     1E

Cormorant: 4 around

Sandwich Tern: 6W

Harbour Porpoise: 2+

Grey Seal: 1

 Young Dunnock in the garden for the last couple of days

Juvenile Goldfinches have started to appear at the garden feeders this week

The moth trap has been generally poor lately due to the cold windy nights, but has pulled in one or two nice moths.

The first Cynaeda dentalis of the year in my trap, one of my favourite micros

First Leopard Moth of the year, a gorgeous beast.