Sea Watching and a Soaking!

Great Skua

07.00-13.00 with AJG,CP,MH,DW,PT

Brent Geese: 94 W
Shelduck: 13 W
Pintail: 1 W
Shoveller: 2 W
Wigeon: 14 W
Teal: 1 W
Eider: 13 E
Common Scoter: 57 W     4E
Great Crested Grebe: 5 on sea
Gannet: 319 W
Little Egret: 2 E
Purple Sandpiper: 1 W
Turnstone: 4 on beach
Dunlin: 8 W
Great Skua: 6 W
Arctic Skua: 10 W
Mediterranean Gull: 47 W
Caspian Gull: 1 1w on beach
Baltic Gull: 1 1w on beach?
Little Gull: 5 W
Kittiwake: 7 W
Sandwich Tern: 150 W
Common Tern: 28 W
Guillemot: 2 on sea
Swallow: 18 out
Starling: 360 in off
Grey Seal: 2
Also several 1,000s of Black-headed, Common, Herring, Lesser and Greater Black-backed Gulls off shore.

Brent Geese (A distinct lack of juveniles) 

 Mediterranean Gull adult

 Mediterranean Gull 1w

 Mediterranean Gull 1w

 Mediterranean Gull 2w

                                                        Mediterranean Gull 1w

1w Baltic Gull?

Mid afternoon a very wet visit to the ARC, no surprise that I had Hanson to myself as most people wouldn't be stupid enough to get a soaking walking from the car park to the hide. From the hide a Black-necked Grebe, Great White Egret, Garganey, 9 Dunlin, 2 Water Rail and a Bittern dropped into the reeds beside the hide, plus the usual wildfowl and another soaking walking back to the car park.  

Sea Watching!

0645 to 0745 + 09.50-10.35  + 14.20-16.50  many thanks to AJG for collating the numbers.

Red-Throated Diver: 1 around

Great Crested Grebe: 2 on sea

Gannet: c50 around

Brent Goose:  301 down    11 up

Wigeon: 25 down

Teal:  63 down

Marsh Harrier: 1 out

Avocet: 7 down at 0708   6 up at 09.55

Dunlin: 5 on beach

Ringed Plover: 1 on beach

Turnstone: 10 on beach

Common Scoter: 56 up

Arctic Skua: c6 around

Sandwich Tern: c50 around

Common Tern: c30 around

Little Gull 1 around

Kittiwake: 3 down

Mediterranean Gull: 4 2x 1w + 2 ads

Caspian Gull: 2w on beach

Auk sp: 5 down

Grey Seal: 1 

Harbour Porpoise: 2

 2w Caspian Gull

 2w Caspian Gull

This Herring Gull won't win any beauty contests, but you have to feel sorry for it with a fishing hook embedded in the top of its leg with the line wrapped round its leg.

Another normal day at Dungeness!

First thing this morning despite the fog the usual Great White Egret and Little Egret could be seen on the New Diggings from the causeway.

This mornings sea watch was not exactly inspiring. 

07.10-08.10 from the fishing boats:

Gannet: c20 off shore

Wigeon: 28 down

Brent Goose: 48 down       16 up

15 Oystercatchers: up

Arctic Skua: 1 around

Yellow-legged Gull: 1 2w on beach

Sandwich Tern: 15 down

Common Tern: 4 down

Swallow: 14 out

Meadow Pipit:12 out

Starling: single flock of c100 in

The most interesting thing on the beach was a Rap artist with a huge entourage with Range Rovers and personalised BMWs making a video, by the time everyone is paid I cant see there being much profit.

At the observatory 30+ birds were processed mainly Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and a very fat Sedge Warbler. In the trapping area with Dw a Yellow-browed Warbler was heard but not located.

Lloyds and West beach held a few more Chiffchaffs, a Wheatear and 4 Black Redstarts.

Early afternoon at the ARC from Hanson another Great White Egret, 2 Black-necked Grebes, a Garganey, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Dunlin, 7 Ruff, c100 Golden Plover among c250 Lapwing, several squealing Water Rails, 2+ Cetti's Warblers and Marsh Harrier along with all the usual wild fowl.

A mid afternoon sea watch from the fishing boats produced only a few Gannets offshore.

Late afternoon at the south end of the ARC 2 Greenshanks of note, then at Boulderwall Farm the Cattle Egret was still with the herd, further down the track 2 Curlew one of which posed in the late afternoon sun.

I could find nothing unusual in the Gull roost by the track but there were 2 colour ringed GBBGs and 1 colour ringed LBBG.

I joined CT in Makepiece where there were 10 Dunlin and the Stint, which was still about as far away as is possible there, from Firth at Dusk 3 Great White Egrets, the Glossy Ibis and a Merlin. 

For a relatively quiet Dungeness day I still clocked up 89 species. 

 Curlew by the entrance track late afternoon

 Great White Egret from Firth at dusk

Glossy Ibis from Firth at dusk

A few bits

A late start today due to domestic stuff. On the ARC from Hanson A Great White Egret, 2 Black-necked Grebes, a Garganey, Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Ruff, and all the usual wild fowl, as I was leaving a bittern dropped in beside the hide.

Over the road at Boulderwall the Cattle Egret was performing with the cattle, along with 10+ Yellow Wagtails, 50+ Meadow Pipits.

On the the New Diggings another Great White Egret and 2 Little Egrets viewable from the causeway.

 As I arrived at the observatory DW walked in from the trapping area carrying an armful of bags containing mainly Chiffchaffs. After he processed them all I joined him on the next net round, only to find every net empty! though we did see 2 Jays on way back to the observatory.

I decided to have a wander around The Point where Chiffchaffs were seemingly very numerous, also 4 Black Redstarts, a Whinchat and 6 Stonechats were noted.

A sea watch from the fishing boats: 14.30- 15.40

 Red-throated Diver:  1 down

Gannet: 16 down

Common Scoter: 23 down  11 up

Wigeon: 16 down

Teal: 1 up

Brent Goose:  23 down   2up

Turnstone: 4 on beach

Arctic Skua: 1 around

Kittiwake: 3 down

Mediterranean Gull: 5 down

Yellow-legged Gull: 1  2w in roost

Sandwich Tern: 14 down

Common Tern: 3 down

Guillemot: 1 on sea

Grey Seal: 1

Harbour Porpoise: 14

 Guillemot at the fishing boats.

A couple of moths from the Plodland trap this morning

 Barred Sallow

Gold Spot

Egrets!

 Arctic Tern at the fishing boats this morning

07.45-09.15 from the fishing boats:

Red-throated Diver: 1 on sea

Great-crested Grebe: 2 on sea

Gannet: 37 down

Common Scoter: 3 down

Eider: 5 up (2 drakes)

Brent Goose: 3 Down

Oystercatcher: 2 down

Turnstone: 4 on beach

Arctic Skua: 2 around

Pomarine Skua: 1 down (A truly awful image posted at the end of the Blog)

Mediterranean Gull: 1 1w down

Common Tern: 34 down

Arctic Tern: 1 down

Sandwich Tern: 96 down

Guillemot: 1 on sea

Alba Wagtail: 12 up

Swallow: 2 out

Meadow Pipit: c50 on beach

Grey Seal: 1

Common Seal: 1

Harbour Porpoise: 2+

 While I was at the observatory this morning a call from The Joker to say he had found a Cattle Egret by the entrance track at Boulderwall, a nice bird and still present late afternoon. While watching the Egret on my own a Common Buzzard gave a nice flyby.
From Hanson 3 Black-necked Grebes, a Garganey, a Great White Egret, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Marsh Harriers, a Water Rail, 7 Ruff, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, c40 Golden Plover among c200 Lapwing plus all the usual wildfowl.
Another sea watch this afternoon produced of note c50 Swallows leaving for France followed by a Hobby.

 Common Buzzard at Boulderwall

 Hummingbird Hawkmoth in the Plodland trap this morning

 Oncocera semirubella also in the trap this morning

A truly awful image of this mornings Pomarine Skua!

No Change!

Driving to The Point this morning the usual Great White Egret could be seen on the New Diggings.

This mornings sea watch was only notable for a flock of c150 Swallows feeding low over the sea c400mts out, also 2 Grey Wagtails that briefly alighted on the power station filter beds before heading off to France.

The daily plod around The Point and The Desert in the warm sunshine was truly unremarkable avian wise.

At the ARC a work party was doing much needed work cutting Sallows, so much disturbance and little to be seen.

Sitting on the beach at the fishing boats this afternoon in the sun and a warm breeze for 90 minutes was very pleasant, but avian wise it was a rerun of yesterday, with the same single Black Tern, Little Gull, Arctic Tern and 2+ Arctic Skuas, along with offshore c30 Gannets, c30 Sandwich Terns and c20 Common Terns.

Early evening on the reserve found little of note on Burrowes, but 4 Great White Egrets at Dengemarsh.  

 2 of the semi resident Arctic Skuas tussling at the fishing boats this afternoon

 Common Lizards sunbathing outside Hanson Hide

Clifden Nonpareil unfortunately not in the Plodland trap but one of two in Bernard and Andil's Ruckinge trap this morning. Many thanks for bringing it to the Obs this morning.

A hat full of Feathered Brindles in the Plodland trap this morning

Black Tern!

07.15-08.00 from the fishing boats:

Gannet: 24 up

Teal: 7 down

Common Scoter: 8 down

Brent Goose: 1 up

Arctic Skua: 2+ around

Common Tern: 46 up

Arctic Tern: 1 up

Sandwich Tern: 41 up

Swallow: 125 out

Meadow Pipit: 280 out

Alba Wagtail: 8 out

Grey Wagtail: 2 over

A leveret by the approach road

My usual wander around The Point and Desert saw 6 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrests, 2 Skylarks, c200 Meadow Pipits. c90 Swallows, a Merlin, 10 Kestrels, 2 Sparrowhawks and a Marsh Harrier hunting the trapping area, also a Hare.

At the observatory good numbers of Meadow Pipits and Chiffchaffs were trapped and processed.

Lunchtime at the ARC saw 1 Great White Egret, 1 Garganey, 3 Black-necked Grebes, 3 Ruff, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, c150 Golden Plover among c250 Lapwing, couple of squealing Water Rails  2 Cetti's Warblers and usual wildfowl.

5 Great White Egrets and the Glossy Ibis were seen from Hookers per MH.

This afternoon 14.50-16.20 from the fishing boats:

Gannet: 14 down

Brent Goose: 1 up

Dunlin: 1 down

Turnstone: 8 on beach 

Arctic Skua: 1 around

Little Gull: 1 down

Yellow-legged Gull: adult in roost

Black Tern: 1 down

Arctic Tern: 1 down

Common Tern: 37 down

Sandwich Tern:  56 down

Guillemot: 1 around 

 Black Tern at The Fishing Boats

 Sandwich Tern at the fishing boats

 Yellow-legged Gull near the fishing boats

A couple of Moths from last nights catch

 Barred Sallow

Sallow

Gulls!

 Wheatear at the fishing boats early morning 

A beautifully warm early morning at the fishing boats today, found a Wheatear sunning its self. Noted moving south in half an hour were c300 Swallows, 2 Grey Wagtails, 4 Yellow Wagtails, c70 Meadow Pipits and 6 Goldfinches. Offshore just a handful of Terns and a an Arctic Skua.

 Reed Bunting in The Moat

A disappointing plod around The Point and Desert seeing of note a single Whinchat, a Wheatear, 2 Black Redstarts, a few Chiffchaffs and a couple of Blackcaps.

 Whinchat at eastern end of The desert

 JT605 Great Black Backed Gull at the fishing boats

I drove into the ARC car park and came straight back out as it was so busy, but by all accounts all the usual suspects could be seen there but nothing new.

A couple of hours this afternoon Gull watching at the fishing boats, saw of note an adult and 2 2w Yellow-legged Gulls, 12 Mediterranean Gulls, a Little Gull, 3 Kittiwakes, 3+ Arctic Skuas, 2 Arctic Terns, c25 each of Common and Sandwich Terns, 20 Common Scoter flew west and 7 Brent Geese flew east. Also a Grey Seal and loads of small Mackerel boiling the sea.

 Turnstone, I couldn't read the ring

 Small Mackerel pursued by an unseen predator

 2w Yellow-legged Gull at fishing boats this afternoon

 Pearly Underwing the pick of last nights catch.

Common and Large Wainscot

Hybrid!

This mornings wander around The Point and Desert area produced 32 Chiffchaffs, 4 Goldcrests, 4 Blackcaps, 2 Black Redstarts, c250 Meadow Pipits, c300 House Martins mainly on the wires around the research station and swarming around the Old lighthouse and a few Swallows.

At the ARC plenty of the usual wildfowl, plus 3 Black-necked Grebes, a Garganey, the Red-crested Pochard, 3 Ruff but no Glossy Ibis.

This afternoon from the fishing boats 3+ Arctic Skuas, c15 Common Terns, an Arctic Tern, a Little Gull, 2 Brent Geese W and 34 Common Scoter W  and 9 E,  but I missed the juvenile Sabines Gull.

A call from DW that he had trapped a Swallow/House Martin hybrid put an end to the sea watch, the rest of the afternoon was spent at the observatory where just over 100 Swallows and a couple of Sand Martins were trapped.

  Swallow/House Martin Hybrid?