Possible Bearded Seal? and 200 up!

Seal sp.

 07.45 at The Patch this morning, DW was already there grilling the Gulls. We carried on scanning the Gulls on the beach and over The Patch finding a minimum of 6 Mediterranean Gulls including a Juvenile and a colour ringed adult (Green Ring, white 5S3) also a 1st summer Little Gull. I pointed out a seal swimming close inshore to DW assuming that it was a Common Seal that has been seen regularly there, then carried on looking out to sea for a few minutes where a flock of c200 Common Scoter were flying around off Rye Bay. In that time DW had been studying the Seal and eventually said that that he thought it was unusual and that it might be a Bearded Seal. As my knowledge of Seals is very limited I was not much help to him. Others arrived and even with the help of mobile internet ID of the Seal was not confirmed. If anyone can help with the ID of this Seal I would be most grateful.  While looking at the Seal 2 Crossbills flew over my 200th bird species for the marsh this year. 4 more Crossbills were seen at Galloways by OL this afternoon.
CT covered the reserve this morning and apart from 2 Common Sandpipers had little to report and no sign of the Great White Egret on Dengemarsh this morning.

Mediterranean Gull colour ring 5S3

Juvenile Mediterranean Gull

Sedge Warbler

First thing this morning I went as far as the sea watch hide as there were several parties of far eastern fisherman hoping to catch supplies for there restaurants. 

There were no Gulls or Terns on the beach and very few over the boil. In another visit this afternoon 3 Mediterranean Gulls among roosting Gulls on the Beach and couple more off shore also 3+ Harbour Porpoises off shore.

In 3 visits today to the ARC the highlights were a first summer Little Gull, 2 Little Ringed Plovers (adult and a Juvenile), 6 Little Egrets, 2 Marsh Harriers and c30 Sand martins through. 

At Dengemarsh viewed from Springfield Bridge 3 Marsh Harriers, a pair of Sedge Warblers entertained me feeding there young with constant supply of what looks like newly emerged Damselfly's. The Common Terns seemed to be catching a good supply of small fish for there young. 

A warm sea!

07.30 at The Patch: No sign of any Little Gulls or Mediterranean Gulls, in fact very little of anything. Just 1 Sandwich Tern, 4 Common Terns and a few Black-headed, Herring and Black Backed Gulls, not even any Harbour Porpoises or Seals. At least the Black Redstart was still singing its heart out at on the power station fence.

Studying the menu

In the observatory the juvenile House Martin now flying around with some encouragement though not exactly chasing after food.

This nest is a bit thin!

No fear of man!

At the ARC highlights were a fly over Greenshank, 7 Little Egrets and the Swallows still in residence at the Screen hide.
Late morning I cycled to the Midrips. At Scotney the highlight was 2 Avocets with the usual Greylag and Canada Geese, Herring Gulls, Mute Swans and a single Black Swan. 2 Yellow wagtails were in with the pigs at Jurys Gap. At The Midrips 25 Avocets, 2 Redshank, 4 Curlew, 4 Ringed Plover and a male Marsh Harrier. I could not see any Shelducklings so I assume the Harrier has had them. On the way back I stopped off at Jurys Gap for swim in the sea and not another person on the beach brilliant! I was surprised at just how warm the water was ! I'll be back in tomorrow.
This evening I cycled down to Springfield Bridge and spent a pleasant hour looking over Dengemarsh, where 3 Marsh Harriers including a juvenile hunted the reed beds. A Hobby made a brief fly through and Common Terns were very active also dozens of Greylags and Canada Geese came in to roost despite the best efforts of an army helicopter to disturb all the birds.

Bits and Pieces

07.30 at The Patch: 4 Little Gulls, 8 Mediterranean Gulls among the usual species of Gulls and Terns. The Black Redstart still singing behind the hide though looking decidedly scruffy. 

1st summer Little Gull

 At the observatory the juvenile House Martin still thriving on its diet of moths.

 At the ARC from Hanson a Reed Warbler still singing in front the hide. On the islands 6 Black-tailed Godwits and 8 Little Egrets with 2 more at the south end. At the screen the pair of Swallows still in residence and at the pines a Cuckoo, a Hobby and a Marsh Harrier. From Dennis's Hide 100s of eclipse wildfowl and 11 Dunlin on an island.
This afternoon at Dengemarsh plenty of activity on the Tern rafts and seemingly thriving this year, also 3 Red-crested Pochards, a Hobby, and 3 Marsh Harriers.
At Scotney little of note.

Early evening at The Midrips 31 Avocet including a colour ringed individual, 2 Greenshank, 4 Whimbrel, 8 Curlew, 2 Redshank, 6 Ringed Plovers, 12 Oystercatchers, the injured Bar-tailed Godwit that has been present since May, 2 Wheatears, a Marsh Harrier and c50 Sand Martins.

Little Gulls

A much cooler morning with 100% cloud cover and the North Easterly blowing stronger than ever.

Over The Patch 5 Little Gulls, 9 Mediterranean Gulls were of note. Also the first juvenile Common Tern and Juvenile Herring Gulls that I have seen there this year. Off shore 40+ Gannets were feeding and 50+ Common Scoter moved east. A Grey Seal was also there.

1 Of 5 Little Gulls at The Patch this morning

 As I walked into the observatory the juvenile House Martin was chirping away and looked up expectantly. It is obviously doing well on its diet of moths.

At the south end of the ARC a Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper and a Little Egret.
From Hanson 9 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Dunlin and 4 Little Egrets along with all the eclipse Ducks.
A Marsh Harrier flew over the car park towards Boulderwall and several Tree Sparrows were in the bushes.
While listening to the cricket a Little egret flew over the house along with 3 Spitfires in tight formation.

Waders

On the way to The Point the Little Owl  was posing beside the road and at the south end of the ARC a Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper and a my first juvenile Little Ringed plover of the year..

 At The Patch no sign of yesterdays Black Tern or Little Gulls but still 8 Mediterranean Gulls and only 1 Sandwich Tern and 8 Common Terns.
3 Little Egrets were on the beach in the gull roost and then attempted to land on the floating scum around the boil. 2 flew off west and the other returned to the beach. 10 Common Scoter flew east, 2 Swifts moved west off shore and c40 Gannets were feeding off shore.

 At the ARC from Hanson all the usual reed bed warblers, still 100s of eclipse ducks, 4 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Dunlin, a Greenshank, a Marsh Harrier and c100 Sand Martins.  At Cockles bridge an Oystercatcher posed and Yellow Wagtail was in the horse field.

Spotted Redshank from the screen

After spending the afternoon listening to England's woeful batting performance, I took a walk up to the Screen and the pines. From the Screen the Black-tailed Godwits had increased from 4 to 15 and a superb summer plumage Spotted Redshank was roosting with them. In the hide the Swallows were feeding there young with Damselfly's and a Cuckoo was still calling in the Tower pits.

Black Tern

07.30 at The Patch this morning DW was already there scanning the Gulls. Over the boil 3 Little Gulls, a 1st summer Common Tern and my first Black Tern of the Autumn. On the beach 10+ Mediterranean Gulls and a few Terns in the Gull roost. Off shore a few Gannets, a single Common Scoter, a Grey Seal and a Harbour Porpoise. The Black Redstart still singing in the power station, 

At the observatory the juvenile House Martin growing fast on its diet of Dark Arches.
A Common Sandpiper and 2 Ringed Plovers at the south end of the ARC, the Swallows now feeding young in the Screen Hide, Reed and Cetti's Warblers still singing there. On the islands 4 Black-tailed Godwits, a Green Sandpiper, many Lapwing and 100s of eclipse duck.
This afternoon at Galloways a male Marsh Harrier was of interest.

Black Throated Diver

The Little Owl was showing well this morning near Boulderwall as I made my way to The Point. 07.30 The Patch: 8 Mediterranean gulls on the beach in the Gull roost with just 4 each of Common Tern and Sandwich Tern. 5 more Mediterranean Gulls following a fishing boat, a first summer Little Gull over the boil, c30 Gannets feeding off shore along with a party of 45 Common Scoter and 3 Swifts in. A real surprise was an adult Black Throated Diver flying west just outside the boil. Behind the hide the Black Redstart still singing.

At the observatory the juvenile House Martin still devouring the moth catch.  

Lizard Orchid

 A cycle ride to Camber to see the Lizard Orchids taking in the Scotney complex where apart from 100s of Greylags and Canada Geese there was little to be seen. On the Camber pools 3 Little Egrets and several Reed and Sedge Warblers still singing. At the Lizard Orchid site I counted 70+ spikes along with many Pyramid Orchids and a few Bee Orchids.

The Midrips looking good for Autumn waders.

On the way back I visited The Midrips where I found 19 Avocet, 2 Greenshank, 6 Redshank, 6 Oystercatchers, 4 Sandwich Terns roosting , 5 Little Terns fishing off shore and a Marsh Harrier seemingly taking Shelducklings at will.

The Moth Trap Feeder!

After spending 3 days battling with a flat pack greenhouse (I'm not sure who won) it was good to get out and about.

First stop was The Patch where there was 2 Mediterranean Gulls on the beach, 2 first summer Common Terns with 8+ adults, 4 Sandwich Terns and dozens of Black-headed Gulls, Herring, Lesser Black Backed and Greater Black Backed Gulls. Then the hordes of anglers arrived and flushed everything. The Black Redstart is still singing behind the hide and a Pied wagtail was collecting food off the perimeter wall. 

In the lighthouse garden which is now becoming quite over grown and looking good for migrants 2 juvenile Goldfinches.

 At the observatory the juvenile House Martin was being fed by DW. It has now graduated from Tawny Shears to Dark Arches from last nights catch and seems to be thriving.

At the ARC a Cuckoo was still calling by the track to Hanson, also there many Reed Buntings a family of Sedge Warblers and a Sparrowhawk over. From Hanson 2+ Reed Warblers still singing in front the hide, on the islands which are rapidly appearing 100+ Lapwing, 2 Redshanks, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Common Terns and many eclipse ducks.
In the screen hide the Swallows still in residence, behind the hide a Hobby over the Tower Pits also a Marsh Harrier and a Bittern flew from the Tower Pits to Boulderwall.
This afternoon watching from the garden listening to the tennis produced the usual Marsh Harriers, a Hobby, a Little Egret and several Oystercatchers calling high overhead.
Islands are now rapidly appearing on Burrowes Pit, hopefully one or two good waders will find them. From Dennis's Hide today 200+ Canada Geese, many eclipse ducks, a Redshank and on the raft behind the hide the pair of Common Gulls have a well grown chick.
This evening a bike ride down Galloways was as expected very quiet. An adult male Marsh Harrier was hunting close to the road, a few Linnets, Common Whitethroats, Meadow Pipits and Skylarks were seen. In Dengemarsh Road a Yellow Wagtail by the entrance to the race track.

Birecik

Calandra Lark

 On the long drive to Birecik lots of Calandra Larks were seen, also Lesser short-toed Larks, Black Headed Yellow Wagtails, Crested Larks, Short-toed Larks, Steppe Buzzard, Hoopoe, Black Headed Buntings and more.

Rock Sparrow

          If you ever go to Birecik this is the tea garden where the Pallid Scops Owls hang out!

 Opposite the tea garden there is an island in the River Euphrates that is home to 100s of roosting and breeding Herons, Little, Great White and Cattle Egrets, Night Herons, Squacco Herons also a dark Little Egret looking very like a Western Reef Heron. The island is also used by 100s of Pygmy Cormorants.

Iraq Babbler

 At the nearby gravel pits we found our main target bird for the area Iraq Babbler, we made a couple of visits to site seeing at least 8 Babblers, also Great Reed Warblers, Eastern Olivacious Warblers, Graceful Prinia's, c20 Desert Finches, Pied Kingfishers, Little Bitterns, Purple Herons, Bee-eaters, Rollers and more.

Graceful Prinia

 Behind the Bald Ibis centre there is canyon where some of the Ibises breed on the ledges.

See-see

In the canyon See-see were found, numerous Rollers, several Menetries Warblers, Upchers Warblers, Syrian woodpeckers, Eastern Olivacious Warblers, Rufous Bush Robins, Hoopoe's and more. The cliffs a few hundred metres from the entrance to the centre hold Little Swifts, Alpine Swifts and Common Swifts.

Chestnut Shouldered Sparrow

 In nearby fields Chestnut Shouldered Sparrows, Dead Sea Sparrows and more Bushchats were found

Dead Sea Sparrow

Eastern Rock Nuthatch

 We found Easter Rock Nuthatch near Halfeti with more Eastern Black Eared Wheatears, Isabelline Wheatears and Woodchat Shrikes.

During the trip White Storks were common in suitable habitat, Crested Larks were abundant as were Isabelline Wheatears. Red-rumped Swallows, Bushchats, Rollers, Spanish Sparrow, Western Rock Nuthatches, Black-headed Buntings were seen at most sites. Other birds seen include Kruper's Nuthatches, Olive Tree Warblers, Eastern Bonelli's Warblers, Masked Shrikes, Penduline Tits, Bearded Tits.
As we were rather late in the season some birds were very difficult to find and very skulking. The 40C+ temperatures did not help and caused havoc with our camera equipment.