Raptors!

Arriving expectantly at the fishing boats this morning, I received a call from DW asking if I had seen the 2 Great White Egrets come in off the sea, I hadn't, I was unlocking the gate at the time.

07.15-08.15 was a very slow hour. 

Gannet: 19 up

Wigeon: 8 up

Common Scoter: 7 up

Shelduck: 1 down

Brent Goose: 11 up   3 down 

Oystercatcher: 1 down

Kestrel: 2 out

Merlin: 1 over beach. My first of the autumn.

Arctic Skua: 1 chasing Terns

Sandwich Tern: c20 off shore

Meadow Pipit: 89 N

Swallow: 21 up

Chiffchaff: 1 by the boats  

Grey Seal: 1

Harbour Porpoise: 2+

Chiffchaff at the fishing boats

I spent the rest of the morning at the observatory and around The Desert and trapping area. Although the bushes appeared quiet, at least 8 Kestrels and 6 Sparrowhawks were around the area  60 birds were ringed mainly Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps, also a Firecrest and the superb young male Sparrowhawk below. Also at least 8 Kestrels, 6 Sparrowhawks and 2 Merlin's were around the area and a steady trickle of Meadow Pipits and Swallows, 2 Skylarks, 2 Yellow Wagtails and a Black Redstart at West Beach.

After lunch as I was about to pull out of my drive, an articulated lorry blocked me in and my view of the field while it waited for another vehicle to pass, when the lorry eventually pulled away the first thing I saw was a ring tail Hen Harrier just 50mts away cruising by and rapidly disappearing behind the football pitch and over Brett's towards the ranges. 

From Springfield Bridge 3 Great White Egrets, a Hobby, a Common Buzzard and 3 Marsh Harriers.

At the ARC from Hanson in the company of The joker 2 more Great White Egrets, 3 Black-necked Grebes, 2 Garganey, 4 Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit and a Knot among c50 Golden Plover, al so numbers of Wigeon are building with a few Pintail. At the south end 2 more Black-tailed Godwits and a pulse of c100 Swallows through. 

 Black Rustic the first for thePlodland trap

 Barred Red. This variant  becoming quite regular at Plodland

 L-album Wainscot also a regular in the trap

Handfuls of Lunar Underwings

Colour Ringed Caspian Gull!

Very quiet around The Point this morning in the poor visibility. There were 2 Peregrines round the power station, a Black Redstart, a Wheatear and 2 Chiffchaff  at West Beach were the highlights.

Dengemarsh Gully held 9 Chiffchaffs and a Goldcrest with c150 Meadow Pipits over. 

 Goldcrest

On Dengemarsh the Great White Egrets have increased to at least 4, 2 Yellow Wagtails and more Meadow Pipits over.

 Distant pic of the 4 Great White Egrets on Dengemarsh

At Galloways 8+ Whinchats, 6 Stonechats, 4 Wheatears, 9 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps and 18 Brent Geese over eastwards were the highlights. 

 Meadow Pipit

On the ARC from Hanson, the Glossy Ibis, 2 Black-necked Grebes, 5 Ruff, c100 Golden Plover along with the usual wildfowl.

1w Caspian Gull  XDFE

When I arrived at the fishing boats late afternoon MS and MC were there, quickly they pointed out a superb colour ringed 1w Caspian Gull which which gave us some great views before moving off towards the lifeboat station. While I was there a couple of Arctic Skuas were chasing Terns off shore and a few each of Brent Geese and Wigeon passed.

Stop Press: I have just received a text from Mick to say that the Caspian Gull is sporting a German ring.

Fog!

First thing this morning at the observatory hot and humid. I decided to do my regular plod around The Desert and southern edge of the trapping area. By the railway sleepers 3 Wheatears and c40 Meadow Pipits, a Stonechat on the Brambles at the start of the High Gorse, then the fog rolled in off the sea, the temperature plummeted, i continued my plod seeing very little and was very pleased when I eventually got back to the car and was able to don my fleece .

I stopped at the south end of the ARC but could barely see the waters edge, I stopped again further along the causeway but the fog was so thick I could not even see the Cormorant Island. I decided to cut my losses and go home and do some of the chores I have been putting off. 

 At about 13.30 the sun broke through the fog and I could see the ARC Water Tower. Chores forgotten I went to Hanson where a Great White Egret was strutting around, the Glossy Ibis appeared, a single Garganey was loafing with the Shoveller, 2 Black-necked Grebes, c150 Golden Plover dropped in and the duck Red-crested Pochard could be seen among all the Gadwall and smaller numbers of Wigeon and Pintail.
A firecrest was associating with a Tit flock in the Willow Trail, on the wires behind the Screen hide a Spotted Flycatcher, from the hide a Water Rail and all the birds seen from Hanson. At the pines 2 Chiffchaffs and unbelievably my first Goldcrest of the year on the peninsular.

 Golden Plover from Hanson

Feathered Brindle's in the Plodland trap this morning

As you were!

A stiff NE wind early this morning strengthening during the morning made birding hard work, consequently little was seen in The desert or Trapping area. At the observatory Meadow Pipits were being caught and rung in the refurbished Crow trap.

 Grey Heron in the Willow Trail

Midday at The ARC from Hanson, pretty much the same as it has been for the last fortnight, The Glossy Ibis still present, 2 Black-necked Grebes, 2 Garganey, 5 Ruff, 4 Black-tailed Godwits an increase in the numbers of Wigeon and Pintail, a confiding young Grey Heron in the Willow Trail.  

 15.00-16.00 from the fishing boats:
 Great Crested Grebe: 1 off shore
Gannet: 17 up
Brent Goose: 3 down
Common Scoter: 35 down
Teal: 1 down
Mediterranean Gull: 2 up  1w+ ad
Kittiwake: 1 up
Commic Tern: 2 up
Sandwich Tern: 31 up
Swallow: 3 in
Harbour Porpoise: 2+
Grey Seal: 1

 Marsh Mallow Moth

2 surprises in the moth trap this morning the lovely moth above and the brute below.

Dytiscus Dimidatus???

No Change!

I was again this morning by the sound of c1,000 Greylag Geese coming into the stubble field opposite Plodland.  A stunning sun rise this morning while emptying the moth trap, 94 moths of 21 species (49 Setaceous Hebrew Characters), Dark Spectacle the best. 

Sunrise over the ARC from Plodland

Sparrowhawk on shingle ridge in The Desert

Next a wander around The Desert which was fairly quiet with only small numbers of Sylvia Warblers, a few Chiffchaffs, 2 Wheatears and steady trickle of Hirundines over. A gathering of c 100 House Martins around the lighthouse soon departed south.

House Martins near the Lighthouse

At The ARC a work party in front the screen were doing much needed work, so most of the birds were disturbed. The Glossy Ibis was still around also the 2 Black-necked Grebes. Several 100s of House Martins were gathered around the rim of the Water Tower providing a superb spectacle.

House Martins around The Water Tower

One of 3 Turnstones on the beach feeding on Lobster

14.15-17.35 from the fishing boats:
Red-throated Diver: 1 a summer plumaged individual off shore
Gannet: 19 up
Common Scoter: 4 up
Brent Goose: 21 down   1 up
Peregrine: 1 out
Turnstone: 3 on beach
Arctic Skua: 4+ off shore
Little Gull: 3 up
Mediterranean Gull: 2 up
Kittiwake: 1 up
Black Tern: 1 off shore
Commic Tern: 22 up
Sandwich Tern: 138 up
Auk sp: 2 up
Hirundine: c100 out
Grey Seal: 1

Harbour Porpoise: 4+

Brent Goose going back past the fishing boats

A few Migrants!

07.15-08.00 from the fishing boats:

Gannet: 31 up

Shelduck: 1 up

Arctic Skua: 8 up

Sandwich Tern: 47 up

Swallow: 48 out

Meadow Pipit: 27 out

Yellow Wagtail: 2 out

Wheatear: 1 on beach

Harbour Porpoise: 2

Clouded yellow: 1 in

 Wheatear in The Desert

Mid to late morning around The Desert and southern edge of the trapping area of note:

Marsh Harrier: 3 all juveniles

Wheatear: 7

Redstart: 2   1 in Desert + 1 in the moat ringed this morning

Great-spotted Woodpecker: 2

Swallow: 178 over

House Martin: 83 over

Sand Martin: 37 over

Meadow Pipit: 52 over

Blackcap: 13

Lesser Whitethroat: 3

Common Whitethroat: 3

Chiffchaff: 5

Yellow Wagtail: 2

Sparrowhawk: 1

 Redstart in the Moat

Early afternoon at Dengemarsh from Springfield Bridge:  2 Great White Egrets, 2 Hobby's and a Common Buzzard.

 Glossy Ibis ARC

Mid afternoon at the ARC of note: The Glossy Ibis, 5 Ruff, 6 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Dunlin, 100+ Golden Plover, 2 Turnstone, 1+ Garganey, the female Red-crested Pochard, 2 Black-necked grebes and another Hobby.

 Red-throated Diver at The Fishing Boats

Half an hour late afternoon at the fishing boats, a Red-throated Diver close in shore, a Guillemot, 3 Arctic Skuas chasing Sandwich Terns, a few Gannets and 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls in the roost.

2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls by the fishing boats

Little Change

The last 2 days the birding has been fairly slow. I've spent a quite a few hours staring at the sea but very little appears to be moving even with an on shore breeze. The same 5 Arctic Skuas chasing Sandwich Terns. Checking the French web sites there appears to be very little moving down their side of the channel. The Desert and The Point have produced very small numbers of Wheatears, Whinchats, Chiffchaffs and Sylvia's with a steady trickle of Hirundines and Meadow Pipits.

The ARC has hosted the Glossy Ibis, 4+ Garganey, 2 Black-necked Grebes, the Red-crested Pochard, 6 Black-tailed Godwits, 5 Ruff, 6 Dunlin and a Common Sandpiper along with all the common wildfowl and many Hirundines. The 2 Great White Egrets appear to be exclusive to Dengemarsh, also there a Hobby, 3+ Marsh Harriers and an Osprey reported there.

Below a few moths from the Plodland trap  

 Golden Twin-spot

 Cypress Carpet

 Size variation of Feathered Gothics

Wasp Spider Dungeness

Barred Warbler!

Sea watching from the fishing boats today 07.00-07.40 + 14.00-16.00 was not especially productive, but did produce the first returning 25 Brent Geese of the Autumn, a minimum of 5 Arctic Skuas were chasing the Terns off shore, other highlights included 2 Mediterranean Gulls, a Black Tern and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull.

At The Patch 2 more Mediterranean Gulls and 2 Wheatears and a Black Redstart on the bund were the pick of the bunch. Also another Black Redstart at Lloyds.

Next stop The Desert where 2 Whinchats, 3 Wheatears, 8 Chiffchaffs, 4 Blackcaps, 7 Common Whitethroats, 4 Lesser Whitethroats and 6 Robins were seen before a call from DW had me hurriedly making my way to the southwest corner of the trapping area where he had found a Barred Warbler. On arrival the bird had gone to ground, DW carried on with his net round while myself and OL continued to look for it. We were joined by CT and soon after a the Barred Warbler flew in front of us into a Rose Hip where it showed quite well. At least another 10 birders eventually saw it.  

On the ARC today the Glossy Ibis still, 1+ Black-necked Grebe, 1+ Garganey, a Ruff and still many Sand Martins and swallows. 

Late afternoon at Galloways 3 Whinchats and 2 Stonechats of note.

 Barred Warbler

 Barred Warbler

All pictures below were taken at the fishing boats this afternoon

 Arctic Skua

 Juv Black Tern

 Juv Common Tern

2w Mediterranean Gull

Still slow on the sea!

10.00-10.40 from the fishing boats: 

Arctic Skua: 2+ around

Kittiwake: 2 down

Sandwich Tern: 36 down

Swallow: 21 out

Wheatear: 2 on the beach

A wander around The desert found, 7 Common Whitethroat, 6 Blackcap, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Chiffchaff, a steady trickle hirundines moving south and a Marsh Harrier hunting over the trapping area. 

 Grey Heron by the track to Hanson

In 2 visits to the ARC saw The Glossy Ibis, 2 Black-necked Grebes, a Garganey, 30+ Golden Plover, 200+ Lapwing, a Ruff, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Common Snipe, 2 Marsh Harriers and a leucistic Sand Martin feeding over the lake.
 At Scotney c55 Barnacle Geese with the feral flocks of Greylag and Canada Geese, c50 Yellow Wagtails, 200+ Golden Plover and myriads of Swallows and Sand Martins.

Below a few moths from last nights catch.

 Dark Spectacle

 L-Album Wainscot

Red Underwing

Not much about????

First thing this morning after staring into the Lighthouse Garden for 5 minutes all I saw was 2 Wood Pigeons, evidently no fall today.

I made my way to The Patch seeing a Pied Wagtail, 7 Linnets and a Chiffchaff on the perimeter fence, also several Migrant Hawkers and Common Darters sunning themselves on the wall.

From the hide on the beach and over the boil c1,000 Black-headed Gulls, c500 Herring/Lesser and Greater Black backed Gulls, also 5 Common Gulls, 1 ad Kittiwake, 1 1w Mediterranean Gull, 3 Black Terns, c60 Commic Terns and 26 Sandwich Terns which were roosting on the beach.

Offshore in c30 minutes of watching 3 Arctic Skuas chasing Terns, 18 Gannets up and 2 Harbour Porpoises. 

1w Mediterranean Gull with black-headed Gulls

 On the track to Hanson a Red-legged Partridge the first I have seen here in a long while and a Great Green Bush Cricket. Also in the 3 visits I made to the ARC today I saw the Glossy Ibis, 3 Egyptian Geese, 8 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Spotted Redshank, a Common Redshank, a Ruff, a Golden plover,  4 Common Snipe, c200 Lapwing, a Black-necked Grebe, Great Crested and Little Grebes, a Water Rail and 2 more squealing, still large numbers of Coot here and a few Moorhens, 2 Garganey, many each of Gadwall, Shoveller, Teal, Mallard, Pochard, Tufted Duck, 2 + Marsh Harriers, a Common Buzzard, 2 Cetti's Warblers heard, 5 Reed Warblers, 3 Common Whitethroat, a Blackcap several each of Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler, a steady trickle over of Sand Martins and Swallows,  on top of all those a colour ringed Spoonbill was asleep on the Cormorant island. (It appeared to be Yellow over White over Blue on its right tibia)  

Juvenile Little Grebe on the dipping pool

 No sign of the Red-backed Shrike on the reserve today, but a backup cast of 2 Great White Egrets, more Marsh Harriers, a Hobby, 3 Sparrowhawks, 2 Whinchats more ducks and Grebes, several Little Egrets and was probably Honey Buzzard going south and much more.

Half an hour at the fishing boats this afternoon produced another 2 Arctic Skuas and handful each of Gannets and Sandwich Terns, also 2 more Harbour Porpoises.
 We call this a quiet day at Dungeness! we are truly spoilt!