Great White Egrets!

Looking out at another Gloomy but windless day while eating a full English, I decided I'd have long wander around the fields at the back of Scotney GP. I even left the camera at home as the light was poor.
I checked out the main lake first which was covered in the common wildfowl but I could see nothing unusual. Checking the flood from the lay by there was no sign of yesterdays Little Stint or the Dunlin just 5 Redshank in the flood. On the turf 100s of Lapwing and Golden Plover, as well as 100s of grazing Wigeon and 2 flocks of feral Barnacle Geese.
Parking at the entrance to Scotney Farm, as I walked up the road 2 Kingfishers flashed across it and by the conveyor belt a Green Sandpiper flushed from the ditch, which also held 4 Little Egrets.
In the farmyard a mixed flock of 60+ Chaffinches and House Sparrows were feeding on spilt seed but no Bramblings. On the pit behind Scotney main pit 4 more Little Egrets, 36 Shelduck, 100+ Shoveler, 150+ Mallard which seemed strange with amount of shooting here abouts, also 2 Avocet.
In the set aside strips and fields a superb flock of 120+ Corn Buntings, c40 Skylarks and large flocks of Goldfinches and Linnets, with a few Greenfinches also 8 Egyptian Geese including the leucistic individual. As I wandered further out I saw more Corn Buntings, a flock of 100+ Tree Sparrows, also many Meadow Pipits and Reed Buntings but not a single Yellowhammer. In the bushes a few Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Robins 3 Fieldfare and 6 Stonechats. Surprisingly I saw few raptors, a single Common Buzzard, 3 Marsh Harriers and a single Sparrowhawk terrorising the Pied Wagtails in the farm yard. With the amount of passerines in the fields it looks ideal for a Hen Harrier or 2, though considering the parlous state of the British breeding population its not surprising none were present. It makes me angry just thinking about the rogue game keepers and estate owners, I could go into a ranting diatribe but there are plenty more bloggers out there who can do it far more eloquently than I ever could.
This afternoon on the reserve I met DB and family who spotted an adult Caspian Gull on Burrowes also 3 Goosander. Between us we counted a minimum of 11 Great White Egrets before I checked the ARC, where from the screen there was another feeding in its usual spot making a minimum of 12 at Dungeness today. A Cattle Egret was also still present per PB and MH.
       

Snow Buntings!

I joined AJG this morning for a very poor sea watch after half an hour we'd had enough:

07.50-08.20 

Shelduck: 1 W

Red-throated Diver: 2 W  + 1 on sea

Gannet: c12 around

Kittiwake: 2 W

Auk sp: 63 W

As we were getting into our cars 6 finches flew by 3 of which were rather chunky, once in the bins it was obvious they Snow Buntings with 3 Goldfinches. The Buntings alighted on the beach and I snapped a long distance record shot, I turned my back on them because of the strong easterly wind to make a quick call, by the time I looked back they were gone, probably NE towards Greatstone.

A snap shot of the 3 Snow Buntings.

I parked at the ARC and had a quick look from Hanson and the Screen, but the strong easterly wind made viewing very uncomfortable with very little to see apart from a Great White Egret and a few of the commoner wildfowl.

Wandering from the ARC to the back of Hookers and some way up the Lydd footpath to view the Geese, I only found Greylags and Canada's, by the path a couple Stonechats, a Cetti's Warbler and squealing Water Rails. I then wandered out to Springfield Bridge then back down to Makepeace seeing nothing of note, then along to Dennis's where a couple of Great White Egrets were the highlights, then back up the entrance track to the ARC car park, a long plod with very little to show for it, no doubt I'll do it all again in the near future.

This afternoon at Scotney a Little Stint with c 20 Dunlin and a Redshank on the flood, also the feral Barnacle Geese still there.

Late afternoon on Walland in the drizzle I watched 3 Marsh Harriers go to roost, also myriads of Lapwing and Golden Plover (2-3,000 of each) being flushed by shooters. Fieldfare numbers appear to have dropped but they may have already gone to roost before I arrived.

Plodding around!

After scraping the ice off the windscreen for the first time this winter, I drove to the fishing boats arriving the same time as AJG where we spent 08.00-09.00:

Brent Goose: 5 W   1 E

Common Scoter: 7 W

Red-throated Diver: 3 W 4 E 

Great Northern Diver: 1 W

Merlin: 1 over

Kittiwake: 1 W

Sandwich Tern: 1 off shore

Auk sp: 6 W

Stock Dove: 49 W

 Firecrest in trapping area

A mid morning wander around the trapping area found a minimum of 4 Firecrests moving around with a couple Tit flocks, joining them a few Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs, while Water Rails seemed to be calling all around.

On the New Diggings from the causeway 4 Great White Egrets and 3 Little Egrets.

Short-eared Owl back of Lydd airport

From the Screen hide of note a Great White Egret, 3 Goldeneye, 2 Marsh Harriers, 3 Bearded Tits, a Cetti's Warbler, 2 Chiffchaffs and Water Rail .

A late morning early afternoon plod around the Gorse ridges behind Lydd airport was hard work. In the Gorse I only found several Wrens, Robins, Dunnocks and Blackbirds, but a Short-eared Owl quartering the rough at the back of the airport made the plod worthwhile, a Common Buzzard sitting on the mirrors and a Marsh Harrier was also seen. By the Water Tower a Black Redstart was feeding around the compound.

This afternoon on the reserve from Makepiece in the company of MH 3 Goosanders, 2 Black-necked Grebes were the highlights among the many wildfowl present.

Not a bad day!

After a lay in I arrived at the fishing boats as AJG and BM were leaving, I quickly joined them when they told me how little they had seen in an hour there. We had a wander around the trapping area seeing a few Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs, but best of all a Woodcock flushed my first this year.

Driving back across the causeway 5 Great White Egrets and 3 Little Egrets could be seen on the New Diggings.

On Walland Marsh a single Bewick Swan with some Mutes at Old Romney, at Hawthorn Corner 200+ Fieldfare, 15+ Tree Sparrows at Midley. 

 Bewick Swan

This afternoon On the ARC from The Screen 4 Goldeneye and 2 Great White Egrets of note, but no sign of any Slavonian Grebes or the Smew.

From the entrance track to the VC, 5 Greater White-fronted Geese with Canada Goose flock, also a Common Buzzard, 2 Marsh Harriers and a Kingfisher.

 Caspian Gulls

Staring into the gloom from Makepiece I saw 2 adult Caspian Gulls, 2 Goosanders, a Black-necked Grebe of note, also all the usual common wildfowl. No sign tonight of the Cattle Egrets coming to roost.

Gloomy:

A 40 minute watch from the fishing boats this morning was very slow with 2 Great skuas the highlights. A wander around the boats and sea containers was equally unproductive.
On the reserve 3 Goosanders on Burrowes with a minimum of 7 Great White Egrets, 2 Little Egrets, 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls, a Black-necked Grebe, also many each of the common wildfowl.
From Dengemarsh 2 Cattle Egrets, c50 Golden Plover, 3 Marsh Harriers and 2 Curlew of note. Water Rail and Cetti's Warblers were calling all round the reserve, a Great Spotted Woodpecker was by Scott Hide, 2 Tree Sparrows and a Sparrowhawk by Dennis's. On ARC from the Screen the red head Smew, a Slavonian Grebe, 2 more Great White Egrets and the usual wildfowl.
Late afternoon on Burrowes from makepiece 2 Cattle Egrets were flying into the the Cormorant roost, but veered off at the last moment and flew the length of Burrowes across the New Diggings and into the Sallows at the south end of the ARC to roost.   

Snow Bunting!

 Brent Geese passing the fishing boats!

Not the most enthralling morning sea watch but just about kept us interested:
07-10- 10.30 + an hour this afternoon:
Brent Goose:  c500 W
Wigeon: 12 W
Teal: 3 W
Eider: 6 W
Common Scoter: 8 W    2 E
Red-breasted  Merganser: 15 W  3 E
Red throated Diver: 22 W
Slavonian Grebe: 1 on sea
Fulmar: 1 W
Gannet: c 30 o/s
Oystercatcher: 43 E
Knot: 1 E
Dunlin: 3 W
Great Skua: 1 E
Mediterranean Gull: 2 W
Little Gull: 5 W
Kittiwake: 14 W
Guillemot: 1 down
Razorbill: 13 down
Auk sp: 138down
Sandwich Tern: 1 o/s
Black Redstart: 1 around
Snow Bunting: 1 around

 Black Redstart looking arty!

This afternoon on the reserve I just missed the adult Caspian Gull being watched from the VC. From Makepiece of note, 3 Cattle Egrets came into roost with the Cormorants, 2 red head Goosanders, a Black-necked Grebe, 3+ Marsh Harriers, 4+ Great White Egrets, 3 Dunlin and good numbers of the common wildfowl. The 2 Slavonian Grebes and the red head Smew were reported on the ARC,

 Goosander in front of Firth

The Harwich lifeboat powers past the fishing boats!

Little Gulls & Divers

 An hour at the fishing boats first thing this morning with AJG, in gloomy virtually windless conditions, seemed a very long hour with little moving. We did not take much persuading to retire to the observatory for a cup of tea. On the way 3 Black Redstarts were performing by the track to the obs. A short walk out to the trapping area was cut short by the arrival of the rain though we did see a few Goldcrests, Chiffchaffs, 4 Fieldfares and lots of Robins. After a cup of tea and putting the world to rights, the wind picked up and the rain eased, AJG went back out into the trapping area while I drove down to the fishing boats. On arrival the rain became torrential for a few minutes. As the rain cleared I let the car window down and the first bird was a Great Northern Diver flying high c200 yds off shore, then the sea seemed full of birds. I watched with AJG and DW till 12.10 when I had to attend an appointment but was back at 14.05 til 16.00 joined by MH and AJG. 

 1 of 3 Black Redstarts by the track to the observatory this morning

Dark-bellied Brent Goose: 12 W
Pale-bellied Brent Goose: 1 W
Teal: 2 E      2 on sea drifting west
Eider: 1 drake on sea then flew W
Common Scoter: 20 W   2 E
Red-breasted Merganser: 3 W
Red-throated Diver: 27 W    2 on sea
Black-throated Diver:  7 W
Great Northern Diver: 1 W
Gannet: 91 W
Great Skua: 5 W
Mediterranean Gull: 2 W
Little Gull: 402 W
Kittiwake: 201 W
Auk sp: 22 W

On the reserve at least 1 Cattle Egret, 3 Great White Egrets and 2 Slavonian Grebes per MH.

November Gloom!

A typical gloomy November day with a light south easterly breeze which did not produce much movement at sea. In 2 vigils today from the fishing boats 07.30-09.00 & 14.15-15.45 in the company of AJG who kept the log. The majority of of todays sightings were in the morning session:

Common Scoter: 16 W

Gannet: 245 W

Black-throated Diver: 2 W

Red-throated Diver: 5 W

Merlin: 1 in

Oystercatcher: 4 E

Great Skua: 2 W

Pomarine Skua: 2 W

Mediterranean Gull: 9 W

Kittiwake: 7 W

Guillemot: 4 W

Auk sp: 15 W

Goldfinch 15 down

Pintail from Hanson

On the ARC from Hanson 2 Slavonian Grebes and the red head Smew still, 6 Goldeneye and the usual wildfowl. A wander around the Willow Trail found of note 6 Chiffchaffs, 4 fly over Redpolls, 2+ calling Cetti's Warblers and several calling Water Rails.

Around the pines a Firecrest, 10+ Song Thrushes, Sparrowhawk and c200 Golden plover were seen flying distantly.

From Springfield Bridge 2+ Cattle Egrets could be seen distantly, also a Great White Egret and several Bearded Tits in the ditch. By the chicken sheds 2 Black Redstarts.

Cattle Egrets

A half hour sea watch this morning produced of note:

Red-throated Diver: 1 W + 1 on sea

Gannet: 45+ fishing off shore

Pomarine Skua: 1 W

Kittiwake: 5 W

A wander around the sea containers looking for passerines found just 2 Wrens.

On the ARC from the causeway a Smew, a Slavonian Grebe, 3 Godeneye, a Great White Egret and a Marsh Harrier.

From Dennis's hide 5 Great White Egrets could be seen in front of the visitor centre and 2 Marsh Harriers over the Oppen Pits. From the entrance track at Boulderwall c150+ Golden Plover in the fields with c250 Lapwing. 

A wander up to the pines in the rain found 4 Goldcrests, a Chiffchaff and several calling Cetti's Warblers. By the time I got back to the car the rain had really set in, so I went home for breakfast.

2 of 3 Cattle Egrets present in the hay fields

This afternoon a plod from Boulderwall to Springfield Bridge and back saw 2 Stonechats and a Common Buzzard by the coral, a Kingfisher at Hookers, also a Firecrest in the Tit flock there. On Dengemarsh another Great White Egret, 2 Little Egret and 2 more Marsh Harriers. In the Hayfields 3 Cattle Egrets unfortunately flushed as the farmer moved the cattle. Also a Pipit flushed that I thought was a Water Pipit appeared to drop into the bottom of Hayfield 3 but couldn't be found again.

Late afternoon another look for the Pipit drew a blank but 2 late Swallows flew through.    

A short day!

Due to domestic stuff I didn't get out till 11.00  and had to finish early. When I got out I went straight to the ARC Hanson hide where the smart Slavonian Grebe was still present as was the red head Smew and a Great White Egret along with usual wildfowl. In the Willow Trail a Firecrest, 5+ Goldcrests and 4+ Chiffchaffs with the Tit flock.

12.00-14.45 from the concrete road with AJG:
Brent Goose: 5 W
Shelduck: 4 W
Shoveler: 2 W
Common Scoter: 31 W   2 E
Red-breasted Merganser: 15 W
Red-throated Diver: 3 W
Gannet: 653 W
Dunlin: 93: W
Knot: 1 W
Grey Plover: 8 W      8 E
Great Skua: 1 W
Arctic Skua: 1 W
Pomarine Skua: 1 W
Mediterranean Gull: 1 E    1 W
Kittiwake: 154 W
Little Gull: 10 W
Guillemot: 1 W
Razorbill: 1 W
Auk sp: 11 W
It seems moments after we left a Grey Phalarope appeared per NG http://theshadoxhurstgarden.blogspot.co.uk/ and PT.