It's only March!

08.05-08.40 from the sea watch hide:

Red-throated Diver: 4W     2E

Fulmar: 3W   1E

Gannet: c25 off shore

Brent Goose: 92E

Peregrine: 1 in

Black Redstart: 2 behind hide on perimeter fence.

Harbour Porpoise: 1 off shore

The light house garden was seemingly devoid of avian life as was most of The Point.

Scotney turned up 4 Avocets at the Kent end, a visit to The Midrips saw a few Oystercatchers, 7 Redshank, a Dunlin and few pairs of Shelduck. Dengemarsh Gully was equally quiet. Most of the long stayers were reported on the reserve today, but the Hume's Leaf Warbler was no show for the second day in a row.

An hour or so in the Plodland garden sky watching saw 2 Marsh Harriers, a Common Buzzard and Grey Heron of note, but no Kites.  

Nothing came into my camera range today, and as there seems to be loads of pictures of the Pembroke Great Spotted Cuckoo on the net, I thought I'd join in by posting an image of one I took at Brooklands Park Lancing, West Sussex in April 2005.   

Fog and a Pink Foot!

A distant Pink Footed Goose in field by Boulderwall Farm.

A very foggy morning meant an extra in hour in bed and a full English before I left home for Scotney. Once there 2 Avocet at the Kent end were the highlights, but no sign of Long-tailed Duck which may have decamped to Burrowes Pit, joining the Black Necked and Slavonian Grebe and drake Scaup. News from BP about a Pink Footed Goose in the fields by Boulderwall farm delayed my lunch, as it is a scarce bird for Dungeness. As for its provenance who knows! While having lunch the fog returned with a vengeance so that was it for the day.   

Pas De Calais 11th March 2014

Presumed 1w male Snowy Owl

 Another cross channel twitch in the company of DW and GH who very kindly did all the driving. We caught the 06.00 ferry to Calais allowing us to have a full beakfast, arriving at Le Maisnil at 09.00 the bird was easy to find by the crowd of 1 french birder watching it, we stayed till about 12.30  during which time the Owl did what Snowy Owls do, nothing! it sat on the pollarded tree the whole time we were there. 2 locals joined the throng of 4 and admired the Owl through my scope for a few minutes and later 3 more french birders arrived but didn't stay long as it was lunch time. When we left site no one was there. The bird is in a field between the D141B(Rue Haut Loge) and the D141(Rue de la Feterie, Le Maisnil. The field is accesed by a muddy track that runs between the 2 roads, though the bird can seen distantly from the D141. If you go please park sensibly and respect the residents privacy.

 From Le Maisnil we went to a forest immediately north of Valenciennes where we found a pair of Middle Spotted Woodpeckers, Black Woodpecker calling, lots of Crested Tits, Short toed Treecreepers, Nuthatches, Marsh Tits and more. A very enjoyable day in great company.

Short-toed Treecreeper

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!