What the Hell has happened at Stodmarsh!!!

As you leave the car park walking to the Lampen Wall the stench of rotting fish hits you. The lake is lined with thousands of dead fish of all sorts and sizes including Eels that can tolerate poor conditions and hundreds of large Carp that were probably 20+ years old. In the 2 hours i was there i did not see a single Damselfly and only 1 Dragonfly, I hope this catastrophe does not spread to Grove Ferry. The Night Heron was showing distantly and appeared to be either catching small fish or cosuming the dead ones. 

At the ARC Pit late this afternoon from Hanson Hide there was 14 LRPs, 1 Green Sandpiper, 4 Ringed Plovers, 6 Black-tailed Godwitsand a Greenshank. |At the southern end the Goosander was with masses of loafing Pochard and 2 more LRPs. On Burrowes Pit the 1st summer Little Gull, 2 more LRPs and a Knot. 

Elmley

Had a glorious day at Elmley. Along the entrance track Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, Yellow Wagtails, Lapwings and Redshanks seemed positively abundant and the air was buzzing with bird song and calls. Round the Kingshill Farm bushes were 2 Hummingbird Hawk Moths, numerous Common Darters had emerged, many Meadow Browns, Large Skippers , Red Admirals and Large Whites . From the toilet block view point the Barn Owls could be seen in there box. Apparently there are 4 Owlets. Along the mile and quarter walk to the hides the sedges held plenty of Reed and Sedge Warblers, while the ponds held Great crested and Little Grebes, with more Skylarks Pipits and Wagtails and waders in the fields and Marsh Harriers over them. At Wellmarsh Hide Lots of Black-tailed Godwits and Avocets with plenty of young. As i came out of the hide 6 Spoonbills circled high overhead and disappeared over the Swale. At Counterwall Hide more Godwits and Avocets, also a Turnstone and Common Sandpiper and 10 super summer plumaged Spotted Redshanks. At one of the other hides 3 Spoonbills flew in and landed distantly(not sure if this was an extra 3 or some of the 6 seen earlier). The Avocets semm to have had a bumper breeding season on Elmley this year.

I spent an hour or so looking for the Dainty Damselflys under the bridge but was unsucessful along with few other people.    

A pleasant day at Dunge

From Hanson Hide this morning several Reed Warblers feeding young. Numbers of Lapwing and Pochard still seem to be increasing also 9 Little Egrets, a Cuckoo and a Whimbrel of note. With flying Ants on the wing large numbers of Gulls including at least 18 Med Gulls, Starlings and 3 Hobbys were having a feeding frenzy over the Tower Pools. At the southern end of the pit the Goosander still present despite the best efforts of the army appearing to try to land a Chinook there.

At the power station the only things of note were a Hummingbird Hawk Moth on the perimeter wall and another by the concrete road.

Common Blue Damselfly

On the reserve the Great White Egret still on Dengemarsh also many emerging Damselflys but little else in the thundery conditions this afternoon.

Hot morning lazy cool afternoon.

At the ARC Pit this morning there was very little change. A single Green Sandpiper from the Screen Hide and 2 LRPs, a Cuckoo and a Curlew, the 1st Summer Little Gull and Goosander at the South end with many Pochard and another 2 LRPs.

Leucistis Grey Heron

A walk from the ARC car park to Dengemarsh saw the usual Tree Sparrows at Boulderwall Farm also my first Painted Lady of the year and 2 Hobbys there. At Hookers a Bittern flew towards Christmas Dell at the same time as a the above leucistic Grey Heron. Several family parties of Bearded Tits were there and the Great White Egret was on Dengemarsh and 2 Yellow Wagtails flew over. 

At the fishing boats the Glacous Gull still present also several Juvenile Wheatears around the boats. At Jurys Gap this afternoon nothing of note but the sea was lovely after the first cold shock! Retirement you cant beat it!

At the ARC Pit today from the screen hide 1 Green Sandpiper and 1 Common Sandpiper, from  Hanson Hide 4 LRPs, 4 Dunlin, 1 juv Ringed Plover, 6+ Little Egrets and 2 Marsh Harriers.. Many Swifts, Sand Martins, House Martins and Swallows over the pit also 10+ Hobbys over the bank by the railway line 2 more LRPs at the south end along with the Goosander and 1st Summer Little Gull. 

My First Day of Retirement

2nd Summer Med Gull with young?

 At the ARC Pit this morning the highlights were 5 Black-tailed Godwits, 9+ Little Egrets, 1 Dunlin, 2 Cuckoo's, 3 Hobbys 2+ LRPs and 6 Sand Martins through. The water level at Carters Flood, Pett is high at the moment, consequently the only waders there today was 2 Avocet. A Hobby was hunting from a Hawthorn to the left of the hide until the regular Little Owl saw it off. Pett Pools hels 33 Black-tailed Godwits and an Avocet. At Rye Harbour the Gull and Tern Colonies are full of young.  On The Ternery Pool young Med Gulls were all round so appear to have had a good season.  The pair of Common Gulls appear to have been flooded out. A Turtle Dove was purring on the reserve and Skylarks appeared to be numerous.

Little and Large

The Ahhh factor!

The Squacco Heron was still showing well from the ramp but just that little tbit to distant for really good pics. While watching the Squacco the Great White Egret flew over then landed on Denge Marsh near a Little Egret showing the huge size difference. Also from the ramp the Bittern gave a fly by and was booming, a family party of Bearded Tits were pinging and flitting in the reeds along with Sedge, Reed and Cetti's Warblers, 3 plus Hobbys entertained with their aerobatics and a couple of Marsh Harriers cruised the reed beds.The Trre Sparrows have occupied the triangular box at Boulderwall Farm and Bee's appear to have ousted the Kestrels from there usual site there.  On the ARC Pit the Goosander was roosting on the islands from the Screen Hide also the 2 Green Sandpipers still there. A count of Pochard on the pit was 346. At Cockles Bridge a Corn Bunting was singing and 2 Yellow Wagtails were in the horse paddock. 

Wild day at Dunge

A wild wet morning on the viewing ramp at Hookers produced superb prolonged views of  the Squacco Heron, which eventually flew to Denge Marsh but still showing all be it more distantly. Also from the ramp the bittern was booming occasionally and the Beardies were pinging. The Great White Egret was on show distantly on Denge Marsh with a couple of Hobbys, 3 Marsh Harriers and 6 Common Terns. On the ARC Pit an exceptionally early or late Goosander and 2 Green Sandpipers from the screen hide.

Squacco in the rain

In an hour at Dunge RSPB in the rain this evening the Squacco Heron was showing at on Hookers Pit and the Great White Egret was on Denge Marsh. On the way back to the car a very bedraggled Hobby was huddled up on a fence post and hundreds of Swifts were over the pits. 

Squacco Heron

I should have been in Wales today but due to unforseen cicumstances i found my self in Worthing.  So i was unable to get to Dungeness untill late afternoon. Fortunately the Squacco Heron behaved it self and showed well on Denge Marsh all be it fairly distant for photographic purposes. Also showing there was the Great White Egret, 2 Hobbys and the Bittern was booming regularily.