Twitching

First thing this morning I had a look around Walland Marsh. 4 Cuckoo's seen at various sites, 3 Common Buzzards, a single Turtle Dove, Tree Sparrows at the usual spots and 2 Marsh Harriers. 

Late morning AJG, MH and myself decided that we would go to a well know Honey Buzzard site and try our luck. Probably not a great idea considering the time and weather but us 3 duffers went anyway. 5 minutes after arriving on site a male Honey Buzzard gave us great prolonged scope views displaying with plenty of wing clapping, a few minutes later another Honey Buzzard appeared fantastic. While we watching them DB turned up and invited us to follow him to where he had been watching the Back kite. as we followed him down a lane near Selling the Kite appeared and gave great views. Pity I totally messed up the camera settings more than I usually do. While watching the Kite a White Wagtail appeared and a Garden Warbler was singing (my first of the year in Britain)

 We decided to push out luck and drove to Oare Marshes to try and see the Bonaparte's Gull. We pulled into the layby by the East Flood and more or less the first bird we saw was the Bonaparte's. Unfortunately it just sat on the island all the time we were there, also there some Black-tailed Godwits which gave a nice fly by and plenty of Avocets. We were not there long before the weather closed in. What a brilliant twitch.

Distant Osprey

Walking to The Patch this morning a Grey Heron flew out to sea, once there in the company of DW and AJG  c170 Common Scoter flew east and c90 west,  a single Shelduck flew east also 9 Oystercatchers and 2 Kittiwakes. On the beach and over The Patch up to 3 Mediterranean Gulls, c 30 Common Terns including a first summer bird and 6 Sandwich Terns. 15 Swallows and 4 Sand Martins flew east. Mammals were represented by a Common Seal, a Grey Seal and 4+ Harbour Porpoises. A Black Redstart was singing inside the power station complex.

The south end of the ARC held a Little ringed Plover, Little Egret and 100+ Hirundines and Swifts. Arriving home a few minutes later a tweet from BP (AKA King Squacco) alerted me to an Osprey over the south end of the ARC. I found it among a swarm of Gulls with my binoculars but by the time I got the scope out of the car and set up I was unable to find the bird again. A very unsatisfactory from the garden tick.

 A late morning/early afternoon visit  to The Midrips with AJG found the summer plumaged Curlew Sandpiper still present, also 4 Grey Plover, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Whimbrel, 3 Dunlin, a Turnstone, 14 Avocet, 20+ Ringed Plover, 40+ Redshank, several flottillas Liquorice Allsorts (Shelducklings) and 4+ Wheatears including 2 juveniles.

This afternoon by the track to The Pines my first Painted Lady of the year, a couple of Cetti's Warblers and a Marsh Harrier. The Swallows are still in residence in the screen hide so please be careful if you use the hide.
On Burrowes 15+ Common Terns with a single Sandwich Tern and 2 Marsh Harriers over the Open Pits. Many Swifts and Hirundines over the pits taking advantage of the masses of insects there.

Another winters day

A very cold cloudy day with the sun not appearing until around 18.30. First stop this morning was the Willow Trail, 100+ Swifts fighting the strong north easterly over approach track and trail, a few Reed warblers were still singing but most birds were keeping in cover in the horrible wind. I only opened the hatch at Hanson for a few seconds as the wind blasted in.
The track to the pines was much the same, though duck numbers appear to building up. In the screen hide a pair of Swallows appear to nest building, so please be careful if you in there if the hide has not already been closed.
Dengemarsh Gully was an avian free zone. On Dengemarsh the Common Terns still on there rafts but no Hobby's.
A message from CT had me going to the Midrips where the cold North Easterly blasted across the bank and me wishing I had worn my gloves as well as the 2 fleeces I had on. On the second pool complex a summer plumaged Curlew Sandpiper was on show with a Knot, 2 Grey Plover, 2 Turnstone, 3 Dunlin, 40+ Redshanks, 16+ Ringed Plovers, 12 Avocet, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 + Wheatears and at least 40 Shelduck.
This evening a trip down Galloways found 2 Stonechats, 6 Meadow Pipits and a Red-legged Partridge.

Hobby's

A pleasant walk around The Willow trail first thing this morning. Plenty of Reed Warblers and Reed Buntings singing also a Cetti's Warbler, a Blackcap, a Chiffchaff and 20+ Swifts hawking overhead. From Hanson Hide a dozen each of Pochard  and Tufted Duck but little else. By the time I had driven down to Dengemarsh Gully the wind had increased considerably. All I could find were a few Linnets and a Peregrine by the Converter Station.

1 of up to 7 Hobby's over Springfield bridge today

After lunch I cycled down to Springfield Bridge where I spent an hour watching up to 7 Hobby's taking Damsels and Dragons. Because of the weight of my normal camera  while cycling I only had my small 300mm DO lense with me, which does not do justice the Hobby's. Also there 2 Cuckoo's, 2 Marsh Harriers and the Bittern booming. From Dengemarsh Hide more of the same with the added attraction of 20+ pairs of Common Terns on the rafts and the pair of Common Gulls still in residence. A pleasant if windy half hour on the mound with more of the same. At Burrowes Pit the water levels are definitely dropping and with a bit of luck come the Autumn there will be enough exposed areas to attract waders,

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.