Wheatears!

 Driving along the road to the point I stopped and chatted to Wendy and Doug, who informed me that they had seen a Wheatear opposite Jarmans. I parked up by the fishing boats and wandered back along the beach, taking time out to snap a distant pic of the 1w Glaucous Gull in the roost, further along the beach a Black Redstart was darting around the old winches and overhead a Skylark was singing. Then a fine male Northern Wheatear popped into view allowing a dodgy photo opportunity which I promise not to repeat again till next year.

 On the New Diggings the 2 Black-throated Divers still present, over the road on the ARC from the causeway a Great White Egret, 2 red head Smew and 2 Goldeneye.

Late morning I parked at Springfield Bridge and plodded round the hayfields to Makepiece. 2 Peregrines were causing havoc over Dengemarsh, feeding on the flood detritus by hayfield 3 perimeter fence my first Fieldfare of the year on the local patch, this time last year there were 100s feeding in the fields opposite plodland. Feeding with the Fieldfare was a Scandinavian Rock Pipit which disappeared to the other side of Dengemarsh. From Makepiece 9 Goldeneye, 2 red head Smew, a Black-necked Grebe, a Slavonian Grebe and a drake Scaup but no sign of the Green Winged Teal.
At the bottom of Dengemarsh Gully another Wheatear and another Black Redstart.
Late afternoon back at Firth and Makepiece still no sign of the Green Winged Teal.
The Long-tailed Duck has reappeared on Scotney per  BC.  

Hume's Leaf Warbler!

07.45-08.45 from the sea watch hide:

Red-throated Diver: 7E   4W

Great Crested Grebe:  c50 off shore

Gannet: 6E

Brent Goose: 64E

Kittiwake: 7E

1w Glaucous Gull: 1 around

Guillemot: c15 on the sea

Black Redstart: 1 behind the hide

Kestrel opposite Lloyds.

In the trapping area the Hume's Leaf Warbler, was calling frequently and showing occasionally, but it is still a photographic challenge. Also in the area 2 Chiffchaffs and a Firecrest, along with several Small Tortoiseshells and Peacock Butterfly.

At least 1 Black-throated Diver was still on the New Diggings but little else of note.

Late afternoon at Dengemarsh 2 Marsh Harriers were quartering the reed bed, several Reed Buntings were in song and a Stonechat was fly catching from the fence.    

1w Glaucous Gull still present!

 1w Glaucous Gull cruising along the the sea wall this morning!

07.30-09.00 from the sea watch hide with DW:

Red-throated Diver: 9W 2E 2 on sea

Diver sp. 1E

Fulmar: 1W 1E

Gannet: 59E

Brent Goose: 214E

Teal: 26E

Shoveller: 4E

Gadwall: 2E

Mallard: 2E

Wigeon: 6E

Pintail: 8E

Common Scoter: 63E 15W

Oystercatcher: 4E

Kittiwake: 64E

Mediterranean Gull: 7E

1w Glaucous Gull: 1 around

Guillemot: c20 on sea

A small Arrival!

This morning 07.20-08.20 from the point:

Red-throated Diver: 5W    2E   2 on sea

Great Crested Grebe: c50 off shore

Fulmar: 1W

Gannets: 37E    6W

Brent Goose: 3E   (almost stratospheric)

Shoveller: 5E

Common Scoter: 70W      8E

Merlin: 1 over beach

Oystercatcher: 3E     1W

Sandwich Tern: 1E

Guillemot: c50 off shore

Driving off the beach at c08.30 the lifeboat car park was already full and with wall to wall sunshine expected today The Point and reserve was going to get busy, so I stayed away for the rest of the day.

From the causeway 2 Great white Egrets and 2 Little Egrets at the south end of the ARC, at least 1 Black Throated Diver still on the New Diggings. Once again I did not see the Glossy Ibis in the field with the Emu/Rhea whichever, but it was reported there later in the day. At Scotney the 3 duck Scaup still present but no sign of the drake, the Black-necked Grebe was still present.    

 In Dengemarsh Gully early afternoon 4 Firecrests (2 more around the lighthouse and West Beach per DG) 2 Chiffchaffs and 2 Stonechats also in the Gully. By the power station 2 ravens could be seen. 4 more Stonechats around Galloways.

                           The local Little Owl was sun bathing on the chicken shed roof. 

Yellowhammers and Scaup!

09.30- 10.20 an uninspiring watch at The Point from the comfort of my car: 

Red-throated Diver: 12W   5E  6+on sea

Great Northern Diver: 1W

Great Crested Grebe: c50 off shore 

Gannet: 6W

Brent Goose: 22E

Shelduck: 3W

Little Gull: 1 off shore

Guillemot: c50 off shore 

 From the causeway 2 Black-throated Divers still and a Great White Egret on the New Diggings, on the ARC a red head Smew, 2 Goldeneye and a Marsh Harrier were the highlights.
Lunchtime a Great White Egret flew over Plodland heading for Scotney.
This afternoon on Walland 2 Marsh Harriers and the usual Tree Sparrows at Baynham Farm. The good news is that the farmer has started dumping seed again in Tickners Lane with immediate results, as I counted 32 Yellowhammers, 4 Corn Buntings, 20+ Chaffinches and 6 Greenfinches as well as a few Stock Doves.

 At Dengemarsh this afternoon in glorious sunshine several Reed Buntings basking, 10+ Meadow Pipits on the fence posts, a Marsh Harrier and a Raven. It cant be long before the first Garganey and migrant waders take advantage of the flooded hayfields.

Dengemarsh and the flooded Hayfield this afternoon.

Late afternoon at Scotney 4 Scaup, the Black-necked Grebe, another Marsh Harrier and the Great White Egret on the back lake. 

More from Iceland!

1w Kumlien's Gull

1w Kumlien's Gull

 Adult Kumlien's Gull

 probable adult Kumlien's Gull

 probable adult Kumlien's Gull

2w Iceland Gull

 2w Iceland Gull with Glaucous Gulls

 1w Iceland Gull

1w Iceland Gull

Round the reserve!

I spent most the morning in the company of BP as we wandered up to the pines and then around the reserve. In the ARC car park 2 Mediterranean Gulls flew high overhead and several Tree Sparrows were in the bushes, on the way to the pines a couple of Marsh Harriers were over the Tower Pits and several Cetti's Warblers could be heard as could a Chiffchaff. From the entrance track a Great White Egret near Boulderwall farm, in the fields several Curlews feeding and 2 Hares charging across the field. From the viewing ramp more Marsh Harriers, several Bearded Tits, 2 Brent Geese flew into Dengemarsh and a Raven flew over. The Hayfields are looking really good for spring waders but only held 2 Oystercatchers today. Burrowes was very quiet as most the wildfowl has departed but the Long-tailed Duck was still present. No sign of the Glossy Ibis in the Emu paddock this morning.

Lunchtime I was viewing the fields from Plodland watching a Marsh Harrier quartering the ditches, the next thing I knew it was 6.00 PM! I'd been asleep for 4 hours, I cant seem to shake this bout of man flu!     

American Herring Gulls in Iceland!

Unfortunately time constraints didn't allow more and better images. At least 2 others were seen.

 2w American Herring Gull with Eider (borealis)

 2w American Herring Gull

 1w American Herring Gull with more white wingers!

 Glaucous Gull with all pink bill!

 2w Glaucous Gull with adult Argentatus Herring Gull?

The only reasonable image I obtained of an Icelandic Redpoll. 

A few hours in the sun!

I managed to get a few hours in around the peninsular today. At Scotney the Black-necked grebe was still present as was the Great White Egret on the back lake, most of the wildfowl appears to have departed, 4 Curlews and 6 Dunlin were on the sheep field.
The Glossy Ibis was still in the paddock adjacent to Homeleigh Farm with the Emu, further down the road the 2 Black-throated Divers were still on The New Diggings, on the ARC 2 Goldeneye and a red head Smew and 2 Marsh Harriers,but here also most the wildfowl appears to have departed.
On the beach looking out from the lifeboat station the only gull on the sea was the 1w Glaucous Gull which then flew towards The Patch. By the fishing boats the highlight was a Yellow Brimstone flying in off the sea. Round the observatory a few Small Tortoiseshells and a Peackock butterfly.

Wonderful White Wingers!!!

Just a few Icelandic White Winger images this evening, in a break from my nursing duties of my poorly partner.  I still have many more images to go through when I get time.

 Glaucous Gulls

 Iceland Gulls

 Kumliens Gull

American Herring Gull with Glaucous and Iceland Gulls.