Last of the Summer Wine Crew in Northern France

Myself, MH,CP,AJG and PT our driver for the day had a superb day in Northern France today in search of Black Woodpeckers and Middle spotted Woodpeckers. We went over early via Eurotunnel and drove straight to Crecy Forest seeing several pairs of Grey Partridges on the way and my first Swallow of the year over the motorway.

In the forest we parked up and wandered along one of the tracks having brief views of Red Kite and Hawfinch. Nuthatches were calling all around and several Marsh Tits were seen. It was not long before we heard a Woodpecker calling which then flew over us, as soon it landed CP got onto it immediately identifying it as a Middle Spotted Woodpecker. It eventually showed well to all of us along with its mate. Being buoyed with our success we drove onto another part of the forest for Black Woodpecker. As we got out the car the forest floor appeared to rise up as 100s possibly 1000s of Redwing took off moving to the canopy. For a few minutes the cacophony of sound from calling Redwing, something which I have never experienced and recalled a large Starling roost resounded through the forest. While watching and listening to this we heard another pair of Middle Spotted Woodpeckers which also showed well Fantastic! While in the forest we also had good views of several Short-toed Treecreepers which were busy calling and chasing one another, Firecrests and more Marsh Tits. Although we did not achieve our prize of Black Woodpecker we had a truly amazing time in the forest. 

                                   Middle Spotted Woodpeckers Crecy forest

                                   c50 miles as the Woodpecker flies from Dungeness!!!!

 We move on to Sailly Bray, on arrival the wind had increased so the chances of seeing the Bluethroats were not good and weren't surprised not to see any. However at the entrance a fine male Black Redstart, a White Wagtail, several Chiffchaffs, a Sand Martin and 12 Swallows greeted us. 2 Stonechats were along the fence line, 2 Great White Egrets, 2+ Marsh Harriers, a ringtail Hen Harrier, 2+ Common Buzzards were over the marsh, as we leaving another Red Kite and Goshawk gave us brief views.

 Next stop was Le Crotoy ponds which can be viewed easily from the road or if you are feeling lazy you need not leave the warmth of the car.

 At Le Crotoy we saw a pair of Garganey, 2 Spoonbills, 2 more Great White Egrets, 5 White Storks flew over, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 more superb White Wagtails, 3 Little Ringed Plovers, 7 Common Snipe and at least 2 stunning Water Pipits. More about our day out can be seen HERE

Our last stop of the day was at Sangatte where AJG picked out a Stone Curlew despite the freezing and now blasting wind. A superb end to a brilliant day in Northern France with 87 species seen without really trying. I am sure the The Last of the Summer Wine Crew will be back in Northern France a few more times this year having loads more laughs and superb birding.

A Black Day

An hour at the sea watch hide this morning was not particularly  productive with c60 Red-throated Divers Divers east, c40 Gannets feeding off shore and very small numbers of Common Scoter, Sandwich Terns and Auks.

A walk around The Point in increasingly strong winds produced a male Black Redstart, a Stonechat and 4 Meadow Pipits a very poor total for April.

The south end of the ARC there were 4 Black-tailed Godwits, 8 Smew (2 drakes) and 3 Goldeneye. New Diggings held 2 Great White Egrets and a red head Smew.

From Hanson and the Screen another Great White Egret and a Chiffchaff  by the track.   

 By lunch time the NE wind had strengthened further making the land virtually unbirdable. In Dengemarsh Gulley a Black Restart and a Wheatear were struggling to perch in the wind, overhead a Peregrine and a Raven made light of the wind. Parking at Springfield Bridge I plodded around the hayfields seeing little of note. Round Hookers 3 Marsh Harriers put on a marvellous aerial display and the Black-necked Grebe shone in the sun.

Lazy Day

Waking up at 05.30 and seeing the trees swaying in the the easterly gale I went back to bed. When I finally surfaced I made my way to Dungeness seeing a new bird for the year in the form of 2 Mandarin Ducks chasing round over some gardens near Shadoxhurst. (Were you looking up Pete and Pam). On the Lydd road at Belgar Farm the Barn Owl was hunting, this time away from the road  with no photo opportunities.   

An earlier shot of the same bird as today 

As I am a year older today I had family things to do so couldn't stay at Dunge to long, so decided to park at the ARC and wander out to the back of Hookers to look for yesterdays Bluethroat.
I joined the Burt family on the walk there seeing Tree Sparrows at Boulderwall, at least 3 different Marsh Harriers, Curlews, Wigeon and Stock Doves of note. At Hookers the Black Necked Grebe was still present, 2+ Bearded Tits, Cetti's Warblers shouted, Water Rails squealed but no sign of the Bluethroat.   

North Easterly still blowin!

With the NE wind still blowing and occasional snow/sleet showers heralded yet another bitterly cold day on the peninsular. An hour from the sea watch hide 08.20-09.20 was not particularly inspiring:

Red-throated Diver: 37E

Great-crested Grebe: 100+ on sea

Fulmar: 1E

Gannet: 40+ feeding off shore

Brent Goose: 7E  2W

Common Scoter: 2E   9W

Oystercatcher: 4E

Little Gull: 2E

Arctic Skua: 1E

Auk sp: 14E

Carrion Crow: 4 in off

Meadow Pipit: 8 in off

Harbour Porpoise:  4+ off shore

In a snow shower around the lighthouse 3+Black Redstarts but little else.

At the south end of the ARC 3 Smew still (1 drake), 3 Goldeneye, 5 Pied Wagtails, 1 Black Redstart, 3 Meadow Pipits, 1 Redshank, 1 little Egret and the usual Shoveler, Gadwall, Teal, Tufted Duck and Pochard.

On New Diggings 2 Great White Egrets and a Little Egret.

 The Little Ringed Plover was still on its muddy patch down Dengemarsh Road. Parking at Springfield Bridge I walked round the hay fields and once again failed miserably in my quest to find some Garganey there, but I did have 2 flight views of Bitterns, a Raven and a Peregrine over and 3 Pintail on the flood.
At firth hide 2 red head Smew and 3 Goldeneye were the pick of the wildfowl, behind the hide 3 Chiffchaffs but no sign of the Penduline Tits.
Wandering back up to Dengemarsh 4 Marsh Harriers were displaying and another Bittern and great white Egret dropped into the New Excavations.
Wandering round Hookers 3 more Chiffchaffs, several Cetti's warblers chattering, 4 Bearded Tits, another Bittern, 50+ Stock Doves. On the shooting pool another Great white Egret and 100+ Wigeon, among the feral Geese.
At the back of Hookers a Black Necked Grebe with the Coot and Tufted duck but stubbornly staying as far away as possible and into the light. While watching the Grebe the Marsh harriers continued hunting the ditches and fields, putting up another Great White Egret out towards Lydd. In the reeds more Bearded Tits were pinging and a Peregrine flew through.
Wandering back to the car the Raven came through again as did a Peregrine.
Apparently soon after I left Hookers someone found a male Bluethroat, life can be a bitch sometimes! Hey Ho! (I would be grateful if anyone has any more information on this bird).

No Garganey

My plan today was to scour the reserve today for some Garganey. Arriving at Boulderwall Farm to find a Police car across the entrance and the fire brigade steaming up behind me (apparently a horse was stuck in a ditch) it was time for plan "B". Straight on to the south end of the ARC where a Great White Egret and Little Egret were in the reed bed with a Cetti's Warbler singing nearby. Carefully scrutinising every duck and finding 5 Smew(1 drake) and 2 Goldeneye and definitely NO Garganey. While checking the Meadow Pipits for something better a smart male Black Redstart hopped into view. Across the road on New Diggings 3 Great White Egrets sheltering from the sleet and wind and a Marsh Harrier flew over the road.
I drove round to Dengemarsh Road where the Little Ringed Plover was still on its muddy puddle, parking at Springfield Bridge I could see several emergency service vehicles in the distance near Boulderwall farm. From the bridge I made my way round the flooded hay fields, once again scrutinising every duck and every tuft of sedge for a lurking Garganey and once again failing. However a smart pair of Pintail were some compensation also 20+ Dunlin, 8 Ringed Plover, 3 Common Snipe, 6 Curlew and 2 displaying Lapwing. along the ditch at the top of hayfield 3, 2 Bearded Tits were flitting through the reeds, while trying to get an angle to photograph them I virtually trod on a Bittern, in my resulting panic I failed to photograph any of them. From the viewing ramp another Bittern (the one with the missing primaries) that came up from Christmas Dell dropped into the Hookers reed bed. While there a Marsh Harrier put on a superb aerial display flushing 200+ Wigeon, 100+ Stock Doves, 50+ Curlew, 50+ Golden Plover, 4+ Ruff and 100+ Lapwing and countless Starlings.
At the sheep coral another Bittern (the pale bird) jumped out and flew to Boulderwall and at the same time a Great White Egret flew towards Lydd. My last hope of Garganey was at the shooting pool but that was bird less, then I remembered the emergency vehicles.
Wandering back to the car I saw yet another Bittern in the distance at the back of Dengemarsh, 6 Common Snipe flew over as did a Raven.
In Dengemarsh Gulley another smart Black Redstart and a Chiffchaff were of note. In Dengemarsh Road I met NB and parents who told me of 2 Penduline Tits at Firth hide, although I was there in minutes there was no sign of them and as far as I know they weren't seen again. A last look at Dengemarsh found 2 LRPs on the muddy pool. Walland Marsh was quiet, except for the male Hen Harrier which flew across the road by the cut turf field, the Tickners lane seed dump was virtually bird less. Not a single usable photograph today.   

Plodding around

No sign of any Waxwings in the garden or on my way to Dungeness this morning. I arrived at the car park by the power station at c07.50 in a snow storm and after a cup of tea started sea watching from the hide with AJG and SO at 08.30- 10.00:

Red-throated Diver: 42E

Gannet: c50E

Shag: 2E   species no.150 for me on the marsh this year.

Brent Goose: c100E

Common Scoter: 14E

Eider: 4E (3 drakes)

Merlin: 1 in

Sparrowhawk: 1 in

Grey Plover: 3E

Curlew: 4E

Knot: 3E

Bar-tailed Godwit: 2E

Oystercatcher: 3E

Auks: c50E

Bonxie: 1E

Sandwich Tern: 5E

Meadow Pipit: c30 in

Common Seal: 1 off shore

Harbour Porpoise: 2+ off shore

A wander around The Point found of note, 1 Wheatear, 1 Black Redstart, a Raven, a Peregrine and a Stoat.
At the south end of the ARC little of note, 2 Great White Egrets on New Diggings.
A wander up the track to the pines and back saw a Bittern, another Great White Egret, another Black Redstart , 2+ Common Snipe and a Green Woodpecker.
Round the reserve it is still very quiet, another Great White Egret, 3 flight views of Bitterns and a few Ringed Plovers, Dunlin and Redshanks on the flooded hayfields. Though 2 Garganey have since been reported and photographed.

From Dengemarsh Road c400mts south of Springfield Bridge a muddy puddle in the arable field held a Little Ringed Plover which showed very well. Further down in the Gully another Black Redstart, 2 Chiffchaffs, a Song Thrush and a Green Woodpecker.

That's better a very good day!

The day started in fine style with sun shining and 2 Waxwings gorging on the Cotoneasters in my Garden.

At The Point I only watched the sea for 30 minutes as the passage was thin but still better than yesterday, with a steady trickle of Red-throated Divers and Auks moving east with lesser numbers of Gannets and kittiwakes. While checking the gull roost the 3w Glaucous Gull landed beside the car encouraging me take yet more pictures of it. 

 A wander around the bushes found 5 Black Redstarts, a Wheatear, a Stonechat, 4 Meadow Pipits and a Pied Wagtail.
Wandering around the ARC several Cetti's Warblers chattered, a Green and Great spotted Woodpecker flew along the track, in the Sallows 3 Chiffchaffs and a Black Redstart. Further on I flushed a Jack Snipe(very scarce at Dungeness), 2 Common Snipe and 2 Marsh Harriers flew over, also a Bittern where the Bamboo has been cut.

Record shot of Jack Snipe

From Hanson a Little Gull was fluttering over the the surface, 3+ Goldeneye, a Marsh Harrier and 2 Great White Egrets could be seen. In the Willow Trail 2 Goldcrests and 2 Chiffchaffs with the Long-tailed Tit flock.

At the south end of the ARC the first Little Ringed Plover of the year, a Little Egret, 5 Smew(1 drake) and another Cetti's Warbler.

A phone call from OL telling of a Bluethroat at Samphire Hoe had me hot footing it back to the car,  45 minutes later myself and another birder walked up the path towards a bush being watched by the assembled birders, to see the female Bluethroat fly out of another bush in front of us. The Bluethroat showed in some long grass being mainly obscured for a couple of minutes allowing a couple of record shots. As far as I know was not seen again while I was there. A very good day.

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.