Purple Heron

At sea off The Point this morning a few very distant Manx Shearwaters, the usual Common and Sandwich Terns tooing and froing, a feeding flock of c60 Gannets, a few Fulmars, 2 Sanderling E, 19 Common Scoter W and a Black Tern at The Patch.
Whilst I was at the north end of the trapping area trying to photograph Dragons and Damsels, CT called me to say, that as he was driving down Dengemarsh road, he thought he had seen a Purple Heron drop into the reed bed near Springfield Bridge, but was not 100% certain. 15 minutes later I was standing on the bridge with him, PT and Barney watching up to 5 Hobby's acrobatically catching insects over the reed beds, up 4 Marsh Harriers and the female Red-crested Pochard. After an hour there was only CT and myself left looking for the Purple Heron and we were rewarded with a very short flight view. After another hour a 1st summer Purple Heron flew out of the reed bed for a more prolonged flight allowing record images to be taken and to the obvious enjoyment of DW who had just ambled to the bridge seconds earlier. Then the rain started.

Manxies

Waking up to heavy rain, I took the opportunity of being stuck at home to finally do the paperwork involved with Nightingale survey. The final tally was 22 singing males in one tetrad and 4 in the other.

Black Tern over The Patch

Mid morning the rain eased and made my to Dungeness. At the south end of the ARC Pit 2 Dunlin, 2 Redshank, 2 Ringed Plover, an Oystercatcher sitting on its nest very close to where the Lapwings nest was predated. Also c300 Swifts, c50 Swallows, c10 House Martins, 2 Sand martins hawking over the ARC Pit, New Diggings and The Point.
In 2.75 hours watch from the fishing boats and from the sea watch hide 11.45-14.30 with DB.
Manx Shearwater: 58W   2E
Fulmar: 9W
Gannet: c200  milling around off shore
Common Scoter: 2W
Sanderling: 5E
Sandwich Tern: c25 off shore
Common Tern: c200 off shore
Black Tern: 1 at The Patch
Guillemot: 1E
Auk sp.: 13W
Kittiwake: 2W

Jubilee wash out

As expected the sea was quiet in a very short watch, with just a few Gannets and Sandwich Terns tooing and froing off shore with 9 Common Scoter flying west.

On the land a Lesser Redpoll in the lighthouse garden, 4 Swallows through. I a plod around The Desert Magpie's and Crows outnumbered passerines which tells its own story. 

At the south end of the ARC Pit 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Grey Plover, 3 Dunlin, 2 Oystercatchers and 3 Ringed Plovers.

Round the Water Tower 2 Marsh Harriers, a Common Buzzard flew over and 4 bedraggled Hobby's looking fed up, sitting around waiting in vain for it to warm up and bring out the Dragonfly's, Lesser Whitethroat still singing alon with the odd Cetti's and Reed Warbler. About 13.15 the rain set in so I joined the rest of the country watching the Jubilee celebrations. 

In the Woods

Having a few bits to do at home this morning and guessing that Dungeness would be a bit wind swept, I decided to spend the rest of the day in Orlestone Forest. Parking in Faggs Wood I spent 5 hours plodding around most of the forest. As expected few birds were singing with them being busy with breeding.
Only 1 Nightingale heard where a month ago 22 were heard, All I saw were brief glimpses of most birds they as flashed through the canopy or the undergrowth but 32 species seen or heard in a very pleasant plod.

More of The Same

Now that most the birds are in breeding mode it is very quiet on the avian front round The Point. At The Patch 16 Sandwich Terns, 14 Common Terns on the beach and 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls flew through. Plodding further on 2 pairs of Wheatears, 18 Linnets, a family of Pied Wagtails and a Peregrine on the switching station.

An hour at the fishing boats found a few Sandwich and Common Terns tooing and froing along with a few Gannets, a Kittiwake flew west as did 2 distant Auks and 4 Common Scoter.

At the south end of the ARC the water level is slowly dropping a pair of Lapwings look as though they are trying to nest there, also there 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Little Ringed Plover, a Dunlin and 2 Hobby's. 

At the ARC car park several Tree Sparrows grabbing Damselflys, 2 Marsh Harriers over the Water Tower and a Hobby.

An hour spent at Galloways this afternoon with MH saw a Marsh Harrier and a few Mippits but no sign of the Quail heard earlier by SC.

   



Windy

At The Patch this morning in a brisk south westerly a few Common and Sandwich Terns and an adult Yellow-legged Gull were the highlights. On the power station perimeter fence 2 Black Redstarts and a Northern Wheatear.
Round the bushes and Lighthouse garden a Sparrowhawk spooked the local Linnets and the resident Common Whitethroats.
At the south end of the ARC Pit the water level is starting to drop as the Herring Gulls nest is now on dry land also there 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Ringed Plovers, an Oystercatcher, a Lapwing and a Dunlin.
Round the reserve the wind was still blowing no sign of yesterdays Squacco Heron, plenty of Tree Sparrows and the Bitterns seem to be more in evidence, hopefully they are feeding young and 20+ pairs of Common Terns on the Dengemarsh rafts. At the viewing ramp a family party of Bearded Tits, 3+ Hobbys, 3 Marsh Harriers, 2 Little Egrets and all the usual warblers also several Hares.
Across Walland more Tree Sparrows,  4+ Hobbys, 2 Marsh Harriers, a Turtle Dove, several Yellow Wagtails, Yellowhammers and Corn Buntings.

Lord of Hookers finds another Squacco

Due to family commitments I was in the midlands yesterday and missed the skulking female Red Breasted Flycatcher, they are super birds even the females.
This morning I was at the south end of the ARC when I got a text from The Lord Of Hookers about a Squacco heron that had just flown over him at Christmas Dell and disappeared into the thick mist over Dengemarsh. I parked in the ARC car park and plodded along to Dengemarsh through the mist. On the way plenty of Reed ans Sedge Warblers singing along with Common Whitethroat and Linnets and Lesser Whitethroat. By Hookers a couple of Bearded Tits flew by the path and the Bittern boomed from the mist enveloped Dengemarsh. Reaching Dengemarsh I looked from the hide at the Common Terns on the rafts, I checked around the reed fringes that I could see but no Squacco. As I came out the hide MH appeared and we made our way to the gate overlooking the western side of the marsh, there we met The Lord of Hookers  and paid homage. A few minutes later the Heron flew out of the reeds and settled across the lake from us giving distant and misty views.
While we there a Bittern gave a couple of fly pasts and some more booming, a drake Garganey was floating about and 2 Little Egrets dropped in.
After going back to my car for lunch  I went back to Dengemarsh with DW and almost immediately the Squacco flew across the lake towards us and landed closer to us for a couple of minutes before going into the hayfield and then out to Christmas Dell.

On me bike

With Dungeness being quiet and beautiful weather it seemed perfect for a bike ride around Rye Harbour. I chucked the bike into the back of the Chelsea tractor and parked up at Jurys Gap at 07.45 and set off at very gentle pace, stopping and scanning at all the small pits up to North Point. It's amazing how many birds you here from a bike that you miss from the car. Numerous Reed and Sedge Warblers and a surprising amount of Cetti's Warblers, Mediterranean Gulls mewing overhead Lapwings in the fields and Marsh Harriers hunting. From Northpoint to Rye and to Harbour Road and on to the new floods. It was low tide so few waders 3 Avocet, 6 Ringed Plovers, 2 Redshank and 4 Oystercatchers. Along the seafront access road Little Terns were tooin and froing  with Sand Eels for there  mates, not sure how many pairs but at least a dozen. On to the Ternery Pool which gave great photo opportunities.

Hundreds if not 4 figures of Black Headed Gulls many now with chicks.

 Dozens of Mediterranean Gulls probably more hidden at the back of the islands.

 Most of the Sandwich Terns were on the back Islands but this one posed infront the hide.

 Numerous Common Terns gave excellent photographic opportunities.

As did this Redshank posing in front the hide.

 From the Ternery Pool it seemed like a good idea to carry on to Pett Pools. On the way more Terns another Marsh Harrier hunting near RM Canal and few other bits and pieces. Once at Pett Pools it seemed a good idea to carry on up to the Pannel Valley Which was fairly productive with a minimum of 4 Common Buzzards another Marsh Harrier, 2 eclipse drake Garganey, a Little Ringed Plover, c40 Avocets, Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers and 2 Hobby's. I finished up at the Pannel Bridge hoping to see the Glossy Ibises but no luck. I made my way back to Winchelsea and then out to the Castle Water hide. From the hide another hunting Marsh Harrier and a pair of Garganey were the only birds of note. By this time my legs and arms ached I was sore in a few places and still had at least another 8 miles to cycle to the car. I gradually made my back with frequent stops for drinks and Ice Creams eventually reaching the car at c15.00. As I fell in the car I got a text from CT about a Red Crested Pochard at Springfield Bridge, as I was only a few minutes away I went to have a look. Fortunately MH was there to point out where it had buried itself in the vegetation. After about half an hour it came out and swum across the lake.

MORON

The Peony below is credited as being the only wild example in Kent. 3 days later some moron has ripped it out! 

Thursday 24/05/12



Sunday 27/05/12 after the moron has done its work!

Grey Plover ARC south end

Very quiet on the avian front at Dungeness today. Best was the Grey Plover at the South end of the ARC with 3 Redshank, 5 Ringed Plovers and 1 Dunlin.

Stodmarsh

After yesterdays long but great day I had a lay in. When I finally surfaced I heard that 2 White-winged Black Terns had been seen at Stodmarsh.  I guessed Steve Ashton would be at Stodmarsh so I called him for an update, he kindly informed me that the birds were still there. http://steveashtonwildlifephotography.blogspot.co.uk/

On arrival at the Lampen Wall the birds were showing well though the light was terrible(thats my excuse) I spent a long time watching and try to photograph them before having a plod around the reserve. At the water meadows a Wood Sandpiper, a Greenshank and distant flight view of a Temminckt's Stint with 4 Ringed Plovers. Hoping for better views I walked round to Harrisons drove with Gavin Coultrip, then to the Marsh Hide but no luck, though a Lapwing performed in front the hide and Hobby's seemed to be everywhere. Arriving back at the Lampen Wall I heard that the stint was back at the water meadows so had a quick walk there to get good scope views of it.

Also seen and heard were Reed, Sedge, Cetti's and Garden Warblers, Blackcaps, Treecreepers and a Nightingale.