Its getting boring now!!!

Another day of bitterly cold North Easterlies, it's becoming very boring the same weather everyday and very little migration on land or sea.

 From the comfort of the car 07.45-08.45:
Red-throated Diver: 41E  23W
Gannet: 6E
Pintail: 4E
Common Scoter: 12E
Sandwich Tern: 4E
Kittiwake: 6E
3w Glaucous Gull: 1 on beach
Auks: 91E
Harbour Porpoise 2+ off shore
A pretty pathetic total for late March. Having said that it would have been a good  watch from where I used to watch in Shoreham, West Sussex.
A look around The Point came up with 6 Meadow Pipits and 2 Pied Wagtails Pathetic!!!
At the south end of the ARC 8 Smew (1 drake), all sheltering under the railway bank with a few Shoveler, Gadwall, Pochard, Tufted Duck and 2 Goldeneye. No passerines on the small beach. 2 Great White Egrets on New Diggings from the causeway.
A brief view of a Bittern from the entrance track to the reserve, on Burrowes 3 more Smew(1 drake) and very little else. A wander round Dengemarsh to the Hayfields which look excellent for waders and Garganey found only 8 Ringed Plovers, 15 Dunlin, 1 Redshank and a Shelduck. Wandering back to the visitor centre into the raw wind 2 Marsh Harriers were over Christmas Dell a couple of Chiffchaffs were heard but little else. Maybe Tomorrow!!!
Scotney was no better with just a few more Ringed Plovers and Dunlin on the grass.
Across Walland still good numbers of winter thrushes, at the feeding station the Water Rail still dashing in and out of cover spooking the Tree Sparrows and finches, 2 Common Buzzards and 3 Marsh Harriers were seen from the various vantage points.

Kentish Plovers

No sign of the Waxwings in Hestia Way this morning but they are probably nearby.

Driving past Belgar Farm a Barn Owl land on a post beside the road totally ignoring all the traffic rushing by, allowing me stunning views when I parked on the opposite verge. 

 A sea watch from The Point in the comfort of the car 07.55-09.00:
Red-throated Diver: 29E   2W
Gannet: 49E
Brent Geese: 26E   16W
Common Scoter: 14E
Sandwich Tern: 14E
Arctic Skua: 1E
3w Glaucous Gull: 1 on beach
Kittiwake: 14E
Auks: 95E  all those identified were Guillemots
Harbour Porpoise: 2+ off shore
A plod around the Lighthouse, Lloyds, West Beach, The station, the Research Station and the fishing boats came up with the grand total of:
Wheatear: 1
Black Redstart: 1
Stonechat: 1
Linnet: 2
Meadow Pipit: 4
Skylark: 1
Blackbird: 3

 At the south end of the ARC another Black Redstart showed well with a couple of Meadow Pipits and 3 Pied Wagtails. A Great White Egret was on New Diggings.

 While I was in Lydd getting some breakfast DW called with news of Kentish Plover at Rye Harbour. A short while later I arrived at Lime Kiln Cottage with PT hot on my heels. As no one else was there we had to find it for ourselves, fortunately it was virtually the first bird I looked at. Other people arrived and while trying to show them the bird I realised that were in fact 2 birds present. Most of the time they were fairly distant but mid afternoon the colour ringed individual did venture a little closer.

                      Both Kentish Plovers can just about be seen in this record image.

A jaunt around the hides with PT, Wendy and Doug. We saw 20+ Avocets, 50+ Sandwich Terns, 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 20+ Knot, 2 Sanderling, 3 Grey Plover, 100+ Dunlin, 20+ Ringed Plover and 5 Black-tailed Godwits flew in. The day started badly but got better and better.

Freezing Easterly

As I made my way to Dungeness on another bitterly cold morning there were 30 Waxwings in Hestia Way, Ashford. A Barn Owl  flew dangerously low across the road at Belgar farm, Lydd. A sea watch from the hide with Mike Buckland from 08.45-09.45 was slow in the penetrating cold:

Red-throated Diver: 12E       8W

Gannet: 78E

Common Scoter: 51E

Shoveler: 11E

Teal: 3E  2W

Little Gull: 2E

Kittiwake: 8E

Sandwich Tern: 12E  2W

Harbour Porpoise: 3+ off shore 

 A wander around the Lighthouse area produced 4 Black Redstarts, 3 Stonechats, 2 Meadow Pipits, a grounded Lapwing and distant views of a Peregrine.

 A very brief look around the fishing boats found 2 more Black Redstarts and 2 Skylarks.

From the causeway a Great White Egret and a Little Gull on New Diggings.
At the ARC the track to Hanson held 8+Reed Buntings and in the Willow Trail 2 Chiffchaffs with the Long-tailed Tit flock. From Hanson 4+ red head Smew and 5 Goldeneye in the briefest of scans as an icy blast came through the open flaps. By the track to the screen hide a Cetti's Warbler sung half heartedly and another Chiffchaff called. From the Screen 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Little Gulls and 3 more Smew(1 drake). By the time I had got the pines which appeared birdless and back to the car I was frozen and had enough.
From a nice warm car across Walland a female type Merlin flashed across the road at Midley, plenty of Finches and Sparrows(both makes) at Bayland Farm and at the seed dump 12 Corn Buntings, 20+ Yellowhammers, 10+ Reed Buntings and 50+ Chaffinches.

Garden Waxwings

Mid morning 24 Waxwings were feeding in Windsor Court seen from my lounge window. I only spent a couple of hours at Dungeness today due to to domestic stuff this morning and the washing machine flooding the kitchen this afternoon.
At Scotney 40+ Dunlin on the flood with a single Redshank, 8 Ringed Plovers and few Golden Plover and Lapwings were of note.

At a windswept Dengemarsh little to be seen from the car, a few Wigeon were feeding in the fields opposite Brickwall Farm and a Marsh Harrier quartered the reed bed,  a single Corn Bunting was by the chicken shed was about the only passerine to be seen.
A short stop at the visitor centre where a Marsh Harrier was observed carrying nesting material and a Great White Egret dropped into Burrowes. Another 2 Great White Egrets were on New Diggings. A short an uneventful sea watch saw little of note, however minutes before I arrived 2 Long-tailed Ducks flew east (DW).
After clearing the kitchen and deciding to buy a new washing machine I opened the front door to see 40 Waxwings feeding on my Pyracantha and Cotoneaster hedge. Hopefully they will be back in the morning.  

  

Waxwings hanging on!

2 Waxwings still in Hestia Way early this morning seen from the car on my way to visit mum in Shoreham, West Sussex. In her garden a Robins nest with well grown young, they must have been sitting on eggs during the blizzards 10 days ago.
I see in PT's  blog HERE he is remarking how the snow has hung around the observatory in the cold weather!

There's a what behind me!

Crossbill!

Red-throated Diver with deformed bill off the sea watch hide 

 50+ Waxwings still present in Hestia Way, Ashford at 07.20 this morning as I made way to Dungeness. On arrival I spent the morning sea watching from various points. Combined totals:
Red-throated Diver: 182E
Great crested Grebe: n/c  many off shore
Fulmar: 1W
Gannet: n/c  many off shore
Brent Geese: 620E
Barnacle Geese: 3E
Common Scoter: 45E
Pintail: 4W
Red Breasted Merganser: 1E
Oystercatcher: 15E
Sparrowhawk: 4 in
Peregrine: 2 over power station
Sandwich Tern: c30 off shore
Little Gull: 4E
Kittiwake: n/c
Auks: n/c many off shore
Harbour Porpoise 2+
Grey Seal: 1

Most of the Geese were moving along the tide line

From the causeway 1 Great White Egret on the New Diggings but little else. On the ARC 5 Smew(1 drake), 4 Goldeneye were the only birds of note on yet another cold dreary day.
10+ Waxwings still present in Hestia Way Mid afternoon.

Spring?

15 the flock of Waxwings still present in Hestia Way at 07.30 this morning, on my return at 16.30 the flock had grown to 50+ birds.

The first day of spring at Dungeness was once again cold with light NE winds and visibility getting steadily worse during the day. 

Sea watching from the Fishing Boats 08.40-09.50 & 14.45-15.05: The Patch c10.30-c11.15

Red throated Diver: 6E  2W                      Little Gull: 6E                   

Fulmar:  1W                                            Kittiwake: 8E

Gannet:  137E                                          Mediterranean Gull: 1E

Brent Goose:  219E                                 3w Glaucous Gull: 1 on beach 

Canada Geese: 4 on sea                            Meadow Pipit: 6 in

Shelduck: 1E                                            Rook: 5 out

Common Scoter: 3W                                Jackdaw: 5 out

Teal: 3E                                                   Harbour Porpoise: 8+

Merlin: 2 in

Dunlin: 18E

Curlew: 7E

Oystercatcher: 12E

Ring Plover: 2 on beach

Just for Steve Gale 1 of 2 at Dungeness today

 Highlight today was the first 2 Wheatears of the year on the beach. The settling beds at the power station held 1 Black Redstart, 3 Meadow Pipits, 3 Pied Wagtails and a Grey Wagtail which I missed (grounded Grey Wagtails are scarce at Dungeness).
Burrowes Pit was very quiet with a red head Smew and 4 Goldeneye the pick of the bunch.
New diggings held the usual Great White Egret and duck Red Crested Pochard was still present. From the causeway 3 Smew (1 drake) could be seen on the ARC and a Marsh Harrier over the road but little else of note.
From Hanson another Marsh Harrier, 3+ Goldeneye, another red head Smew and 2 Peregrines stooping over the lake.

            A couple of record shots taken from the car this afternoon while blocking the road!

Out and about

 15 Waxwings still at 07.20 this morning in Hestia Way J/of Forum Way, Ashford just a few hundred yards from home. They were coming down to feed in the low Cotoneasters on the corner and are tolerant of close approach provided you stay in the car,  5 were still there late afternoon.

14 of the 15 present this morning

There was little sign of off shore migration this morning at a still bitterly cold Dungeness with just a few Brent Geese  Red-throated Divers and Gannets seen. A single Sandwich Tern at The Patch among the usual gulls  and 2 Ravens at the power station. Still no Wheatears at Dungeness.
On New Diggings a single Great White Egret. At the south end of the ARC Pit 5 Smew(1 drake) among the dwindling numbers of Tufted Duck, Pochard, Shoveler and Teal.
A quick look at Burrowes Pit from Dennis's hide was disappointing as it was from the visitor centre.
A wander up to the Tower and around the pits found 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Bitterns flew over the track, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 + Cetti's Warblers singing and the seemingly resident duck Red Crested Pochard. From the the Screen 6 more red head Smew, 2 more Bitterns and a Great White Egret. In the Willow Trail a Firecrest still with Long-tailed Tit flock and a single Chiffchaff, also a Marsh Harrier over. (SB had a Hawfinch fly over the track to Hanson earlier this morning).
A trip out onto Walland Marsh with MH this afternoon where we spent a while at the seed dump in Tickners Lane. While there 30+ Yellowhammers, 50+ Chaffinches, 10+ Reed Buntings, a Corn Bunting and some winter thrushes came to feed but no sign of the Brambling.
The Bayland Farm feeding station held the usual Tree Sparrows and finches, close by a Black Swan was with some Mute Swans was the only wildfowl interest now that the Bewicks, Whoopers and Geese have left. A slow drive along |Caldicott Lane looking for Owls and Grey Partridge drew a blank, but we did manage 2 Red-legged Partridges.  

Gulls

With a light SE wind this morning hopes for some off shore migration were high. At 08.00 I approached the sea watching hide just as AJG came out shaking his head. The next hour was one of the slowest sea watches I have had at Dungeness:
Red-throated Diver: 10E   35W
Great Crested Grebe: c300 off shore
Gannet: c15 feeding off shore
Brent Geese: 21E
Common Scoter: 34E
Sandwich Tern: 2E   1W
Auk: 16 W
Harbour Porpoise: 1+

1w Caspian Gull

As I could see 100s of Gulls at The Patch I made my to the hide seeing a Black Redstart on the power station perimeter wall on the way. DW was already in the hide and immediately pointed out a 1w Caspian Gull and 1 of 5 Yellow-legged Gulls present. In the next hour a few more Brent and RT Divers went through while we tried to get the codes off a number of colour ringed Gulls.

2w Yellow Legged Gull

As I drove across the causeway 2 Great White Egrets could be seen on the New Diggings. Walking along the track to Hanson a Marsh Harrier flew over , a Cetti's Warbler sung from a reed bed and Water Rail squealed. From the hide a near summer plumaged Black-necked Grebe (my first of the year) was with a flock of Shoveller and Teal all of which were picking insects off the lake surface. Also there 6 red head Smew, 6+ Goldeneye, 2 Bitterns flew across the lake and a Kingfisher made a couple of passes in front the hide.

Over the road on the reserve the fields by the entrance track still hold good numbers of Curlew, Wigeon and Lapwings. On Burrowes 1 Great White Egret, 4 more red head Smew and 6+Goldeneye were of note.

Back at the ARC the duck Red Crested Pochard flew into its usual lake, a Great spotted Woodpecker was by the track to The Screen hide, where 2 Great White Egrets showed well also a drake Smew was seen and 2 Chiffchaffs were calling in the Sallows behind the hide.

Back at The Point another hour sea watching with MH 15.00-16.00 saw:

Red-throated Diver: 57E  8W

Sandwich Tern:  8E  2W

Guillemot: 6W

A few each of Gannet and Kittiwake feeding off shore.

The Tickners Lane Seed Dump held 24 Yellowhammers, 5 Corn Buntings, 12 Reed Buntings and 20+ Chaffinches. Still many winter thrushes on the marsh.  

Sawbills

With yesterday being a wash out I spent most of the day watching 6 Nations Rugby (the less said about England's performance the better). Hoping that this morning would be the day migrants would be moving, I arrived at the sea watching hide full of expectations only to have my hopes dashed by the look on AJG's face. In a couple of hours watching from the hide the highlights were 3 Eider, 7 Red-breasted Mergansers, 4 Sandwich Terns and a few each of Brent Geese, Red-throated Divers, Common Scoter, Gannets, Kittiwakes and Auks.

A quick look from the south end of the ARC saw the usual Shoveler, 3 Goldeneye, a Marsh Harrier and 2 Great White Egrets on New Diggings.

On the way in to the reserve along the entrance track lots of Curlews probing for worms, still good numbers of Wigeon present and another Great White Egret.

On Burrowes from Makepiece hide, the blue flash of a Kingfisher zipping across the lake, over one the the several flocks of Coot and through the bathing Gulls, which hosted a 3rd year Yellow-legged Gull and later the the 3w Glaucous Gull which came in to bathe before going back to the beach. Among the common wildfowl present were 2+ red head Smew, 5+ Goldeneye and a red head Goosander, also present were 2 Marsh Harriers hunting over the southern bank.

By the track on the way out of the reserve a Bittern flew over the newly cleared island and another flushed from the reed bed by Boulderwall Farm.

                                                      Curlew eating worms.
A visit to a full Hanson Hide in the rain was uneventful with highlights being 5+ red head Smew, 2 of which showed well and 4 more Goldeneye. With rain now becoming persistent it was time to come home.