Northern France 5th June 2013

Last of the summer wine crew( AJG,JM,CP,BP and myself) had another day out in Northern France. Catching the 04.20 ferry to Calais and consuming the obligatory full English on board to set us up for the day. Once off the ferry I drove straight to Sailly Bray where the cloud cleared and the sun shone for the rest of the day.Few birds were seen on the drive down but several Grey Partridge were noted. 

 At Sailly Bray we found at least 4 (3m, 1f) White-spotted Bluethroats. The males were singing and gave great views in the telescopes.5 Marsh Warblers were singing but were typically elusive, 3 Great White Egrets flew in and 4 White Storks were present, as were 2+ Marsh Harriers, several Common Buzzards, a Hobby, 2 Turtle Doves, several Blue-headed Yellow Wagtails, Nightingales, Reed, Sedge, and Cetti's Warblers, a family party of Blackcaps, singing Garden Warblers and much more.

 Next stop was the roadside pools at Le Crotoy, where the Black Headed Gull colonies were in full swing with a few Mediterranean Gulls, several stunning White Wagtails were present, 2 Garganey, several White Storks could be seen in the distance, a Cattle Egret flew over as did another Great White Egret.

 Next stop Marquenterre which was packed with French tourists and not a pair of binoculars between them. We opted to lose the crowds and view some of the Herons from a mound outside the park.

 Although fairly distant in the picture above there are White Storks, Spoonbills, Cattle Egrets. Little Egrets and Grey Herons, The Night Heron is obscured. While at the mound we heard Crested Tits, a family party appeared and gave superb views. We had our lunch in the car park and CP shared the lovely cake his good lady baked for the day out.

 Our next stop was a new site for me. We walked along the railway line near Le Crotoy which overlooked some pools. There we found a minimum of 10 Black-winged Stilts, 20+ Spoonbills, 5+ Great White Egrets, many Little Egrets, a Purple Heron, lots of Yellow Wagtails, Avocets and more. We also found Musk rats there.

 Next stop was Crecy Forest, from the escarpment we saw 2 Honey Buzzards, though the views were not as good as last year, we were unable to find Melodious Warbler probably because of the time of day and lateness of the season. On the way home near Cap Blanc Nez a superb adult male Hen Harrier flew over the road and hunted the fields. To finish a superb day we found 2 distant Stone Curlews. A great day out with great company. Thanks to the tenacity of CP our day species total reached 100, by staying on deck in the bitter evening wind, spotting 6 Kittiwakes and 15 Fulmars following a fishing boat just outside of Calais while the rest of us sat in the warm bar with pints of Stella.

A distant Stone Curlew

Today most of my time was spent driving to Swarovski at Salfords to try and expedite repairs to my telescope.

North Easterly becoming Tedious!

 First thing this morning the cold North Easterly still blowing The Point was very quiet. Very little new in the bushes but still a trickle of Swallows coming in. The Black Redstart was still singing behind The Patch hide and on The Patch just 15 Common Terns, 1 Sandwich Tern, a few Black Headed Gulls and a few larger Gulls. By the Converter Station 30+ Linnets, 4 Wheatears and a Peregrine. At the south end of the ARC 6 Teal and Little Ringed Plover of note. The Willow Trail held many Damselflys and a few Dragons, from Hanson nothing of note, except that the water levels are definitely dropping and there could be some islands in few weeks if this dry weather continues.
From the screen hide scores of Swifts could be seen over the lakes and beyond, also c20 House Martins and nearby the Little Owl was sun bathing. 2 hours spent sky watching from the garden (10.00-11.00 and 14.00-15.00) was not very productive, except for a Cuckoo that a spent a couple of minutes in the hedge opposite. Today was first day in a while that I have not recorded a Hobby from the garden.

Late this afternoon I cycled to Camber scanning the Scotney complex and its shores on the way, finding nothing of note. Camber sands held 8 Redshank and 5 Grey Plover. On the way back I went to the Midrips where there were 2 Wheatear, 6 Avocet, a Bar-tailed Godwit, a few more Redshank and 6+ Ringed Plover.

While getting my things together for a day trip to Northern France tomorrow the base of my telescope snapped off. I have heard of this happening, but doubt I will be able to get it fixed before my birding trip to Turkey in just over 2 weeks time!  

Chiffchaff

Chiffchaff lighthouse garden

On The Point this morning a Chiffchaff was the only migrant in the Lighthouse garden, the rest of the bushes were devoid of avian life.
A try for yesterdays Serin between B Station and the Converter Station drew a blank, but 40+ Linnets, 4 male Wheatears and a Peregrine were worth the walk. On the way back a Reed Warbler in the brambles behind The Patch hide.
A couple of hours BOP watching from the front garden yielded the usual Marsh Harriers, 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Hobby's, a female Sparrowhawk, several Herons tooing and froing the Heronry and 2 Yellow Wagtails.
This evening down Galloways a family party of Stonechats were of note.

Orchids

This morning at the south end of the ARC a drake Garganey and a Little Ringed Plover were the highlights. On The Point 3 Spotted Flycatchers in the moat, 3 Male Black Redstarts singing around the power station and a female by the car park, a newly arrived Willow warbler on the photogenic  perimeter security wire were of note.

Late morning from the garden up to 4 Marsh Harriers and 4 Hobby's could be seen, also a Common Buzzard, a Sparrowhawk, several Grey Herons to and from the Lydd Heronry, also good numbers of Swifts and Hirundines very high.

Willow Warbler

 This afternoon I joined DW,GH, AJG and P on a trip around a few sites in Kent looking for Orchids. We saw many Lady Orchids, a few Fly Orchids and Man Orchids, some Early Purple Orchids, Birds Nest Orchids, White Helleborines and some Greater Butterfly Orchids and Spotted Orchids which were not yet in flower.

Lady Orchids

Lady Orchid

Lady Orchid (Whire Form)

Man Orchid

Fly Orchid

Fly Orchid

White Helleborine

Still Cold and Miserable

Another cold miserable day at Dungeness so much so that I never lifted the camera once. 20minutes spent in the rain early morning saw just a few Sandwich and Common Terns feeding off shore, 18 Gannets moving west and 4+ Harbour Porpoises.
A look around the Gorse bushes and the Lighthouse garden drew a blank.
At the ARC scores of Swifts and a few Hirundines, 3 Hobby's still at the Tower Pits, a Cuckoo and the usual reed bed warblers.
On the reserve from Dennis's Hide a single Sandwich Tern, 15+ Common Terns and many more Swifts.
This afternoon a cycle ride down Dengemarsh Road saw 2 Yellow wagtails and a Corn Bunting by the racing track entrance. Round the Hayfields a drake Garganey, 2 very hungry looking Hobby's hunched up on the perimeter fence,  but no sign of any of the Lapwing chicks. From Dengemarsh hide I counted 20+ sitting Common terns on the rafts with a single Oystercatcher and a pair of Common Gulls that have commandeered a raft to them selves,  the Bittern was still booming and 2+ Marsh Harrriers were quartering the reed beds.
There seems to be a fair number of well advanced Cormorant young in the bush nesting colony on Burrowes Pit also still many Swifts there.    

Bits and Pieces

A complete reversal of yesterdays wet miserable conditions this morning. Round the point this morning bright sunshine and a chill breeze produced only 1 Willow Warbler at West beach, where a male and female Black Redstart hunted insects for there brood nearby. The only other migrants were 8 Swallows coming in low over the beach. 

 At the south end on the ARC many Swifts, House Martins and Swallows and also over New Diggings.
A walk up to the Pines saw 3 Hobbies including the one below in the Sallows, Common Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers were singing and a couple of Cuckoo's were chasing each other also the obligatory Marsh Harriers over the tower pits.

Early afternoon another Hobby and Cuckoo over the entrance track and still many Swifts with fewer Hirundines from Dennis's Hide. Also from the hide a Tree Sparrow, 1 Sandwich Tern, and 6+ Common Terns and a Little Egret.
Late afternoon a walk along The Midrips in the drizzle saw 2+ Wheatear, 6 Meadow Pipits, 4 Reed Buntings, another Cuckoo, 6 Avocet, 12 Dunlin, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 5 Grey Plover, 3 Turnstone, 12 Oystercatcher, 8 Ringed Plovers, 2 Lapwing, c15 Redshank, c40 Shelduck, 4 Mediterranean Gulls over, 2 Sandwich Terns over with many more off shore and many more Swifts over the pools.

Enjoying the Sun

Early morning I cycled down to Dengemarsh. On the way a couple of Yellow Wagtails were opposite the racing track and a Corn Bunting a little further down, over the fields a Marsh Harrier hunted. Round the Hayfields no sign of any Lapwings (I hope they haven't all been predated), in hayfield 3 a Little Egret was the best I could see. From Dengemarsh Hide 2 of the rafts were a hive of activity with the nesting Common Terns, the third having been taken over by a pair of Common Gulls. The Bittern was booming every few minutes and the Harriers were busy over the reed bed.

 In the small copse at the start of the track to Lydd a Spotted flycatcher which I managed to get a record picture of. I would normally have deleted a picture like this but as they appear to be so scarce this year it might be the only one I get to snap.

 Making my way back to the viewing ramp a Hobby was perched on the viewing ramp bench. From the ramp 2+ Cuckoo's chased each other around, the Bittern repeatedly booming, Marsh Harriers coming and going, Common Terns fishing the pools infront, Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers singing along with Common Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Bearded Tits, 2 high flying Hobby's and a Pochard giving a fly by.

 A couple of hours sitting in the front garden BOP watching  saw up to 5 Hobby's and a Marsh Harrier over the Rape field, 2 distant Common Buzzards and a Raven.

Another cycle down to the viewing ramp this evening in the glorious sunshine produced more or lee a repeat performance of this morning.

Temminck's Stints

This morning I thought I would try The Midrips with the hope of re-finding the Terek Sandpiper.

I was not alone in this thought PT and CT turned up not long after me.

During the walk to the pools 3 Wheatears and a Yellow Wagtail were seen and a couple of Mediterranean Gulls flew by. At the furthest pool there was a good selection of waders present including one which was asleep and facing away from me. Although Redshank, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Greenshank, Grey Plover and Turnstone had all stood by or walked past the sleeping mystery wader I was still at a loss to its identity and imagining all sorts. So I was glad when PT turned up and I pointed the out the bird to him, only for him to be as stumped as myself and the result when CT turned up. Logic said that the it must be something common but what. Although there was a heat haze and it was fairly distant we all had a good scopes so that was no excuse. After what seemed like an age the bird eventually moved to reveal itself as Knot in a strange plumage and that's my excuse!

I had heard that there were a couple of Temminck's Stints at Rye Harbour but decided I did not want to fight my way through Camber and Rye to see some distant dots. Lunchtime I received a call from Tony to tell me that there were 3 Stints and they were showing very well. I took the plunge, less than an hour later I was watching and photographing them at close range. On the walk to the pools 2+ Cuckoo's were making sure everyone saw them, Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers were singing as were Common Whitethroats and a Nightingale sang half heartedly with numerous Mediterranean gulls mewing overhead. Plenty of Avocets and Terns were on show as was a Little Ringed Plover and a Whimbrel.

At Dungeness a Hobby was picked up dead in The Moat, a victim of the poor spring as it was very emaciated and believed to have starved to death per DW.

The only shot I managed with all 3 Temminck's Stints in.

Swimming from one island to another

Terek Ends The day

 Thought I better go to The Point first thing this morning in case the Bee-eater was still present, as I missed it yesterday while visiting mum in West Sussex but no joy. In fact there was very little of note avian wise to be seen in the area. 2 adult Foxes were at the south end of the trapping area.

On returning home for breakfast the air ambulance created some excitement by landing in the Rape field a few yards from my garden. Hopefully the young lady who came off her bike in the Marshman's Triathlon wasn't to seriously injured. 

After breakfast I cycled down to Dengemarsh and around the reserve. On the way down several Yellow Wagtails were observed and 2 marsh Harriers, Hobby's were much in evidence with at least 6 birds being seen, also many Swifts (Another Red Rumped Swallow was reported from the ARC and PT saw one on Walland) 3 first summer Little Gulls were on Burrowes and a couple of Bearded Tits showed well on Hookers. Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers were singing along with Common Whitethroats, a Lesser Whitethroat and many Reed Buntings. From the Screen Hide I watched A Grey Heron take a young Coot followed by 2 large Marsh Frogs before flying off towards the Heronry. 

This afternoon I cycled along to Scotney. A nice ride but little of note, the best being a Common Sandpiper, a Wheatear, a Yellow Wagtail, 5 Barnacle Geese and a Black Swan.
Late this afternoon I was on my way to the Midrips when news of a Terek Sandpiper at Rye harbour Ternery Pool broke. I quickly made my way there but was unable to find the bird. By chance I met a guy leaving the Quarry hide told me the the Terek was on another pool north of the Ternery Pool. In fact the bird had not been on the Ternery Pool at all as I found out when I met the finder Simon linnington, who had a point of telling the news services it was on the pool north of the Ternery Pool. Great find Simon. Also present several Avocets with young, Little Ringed Plover,   and the usual Terns and Gulls.