A Glorious Day!

Sunset over Dengemarsh

My first sea watch of the year from the fishing boats 08.00-09.00:

Common Scoter: 5 down
Velvet Scoter: 2 down
Red-throated Diver: 253 down            7 up
Gannet: 198: down
Turnstone: 8 on beach
Kittiwake: 176 down including a party of c70 off shore
Auks sp: 605 down          27 up       most appeared to be Guillemots

Driving across the causeway towards Pigwell. a Great White Egret and a Marsh Harrier flew over. At Pigwell no sign of the Dartford Warbler but a Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail and 6 Stonechats were some compensation.
A long walk around the fields at the back of Scotney with PW in the warm sunshine was very pleasant, though some what lacking in avian interest. We did see of note several each of Corn Bunting and Skylark along with 18 Egyptian Geese.
On the main pit at Scotney now 3 Black-necked Grebes and the 1w drake Scaup along with the usual wildfowl.
In Lydd the 2 Cattle Egrets in there chosen field performing for the crowds.
As the reserve was apparently very busy I parked at the ARC and wandered up the track over the railway line out towards the mirrors to look around the Gorse banks, although once again very pleasant avian interest was at a minimum, with a Red-legged Partridge, a handful of Song Thrushes and 2 Green Woodpeckers. I came back via the airport pits where a couple of Water rails were squealing, a Marsh Harrier put on superb display of agility avoiding 2 annoying Crows. At last light from the screen hide 2 Great white Egrets and 2 Chiffchaffs.
The Bewick Swans, Whooper Swan and Bean Geese are still in the field by Horsebones Farm, Walland Marsh per MH.

Dartford Warbler to end the year!

Dartford Warbler at Pigwell this afternoon! (taken with the happy snapper)

A long wander around the fields at the back of Scotney this morning, in the hope of stumbling across Alan's Little Bustard proved fruitless. However it was a beautiful, windless, frosty morning with other birds to look at. The flock of 18 Egyptian Geese still in there favoured field, 3 Tundra Bean Geese dropped in, c 100 Tree Sparrows were in the set aside with a few Corn Buntings, Reed Buntings and Skylarks, several Marsh Harriers were around, c100 Golden Plover and numerous Greylag Geese.

A text from CT about a Dartford Warbler at Pigwell a scarce bird on the peninsular, fortunately I was nearby and had good views of it, but missing my 1d and 400DO.

This afternoon on Walland the Bewick Swan herd as risen 79 with the Whooper Swan and 3 Bean Geese for company. In Lydd the Cattle Egrets had returned to there normal field after moving to Brickwall Farm per MH & CT.

Late afternoon on Scotney the 2 Black-necked Grebes and 1w drake Scaup still.

A good year on the Peninsular for me seeing 227 species with the most notable miss being Brambling and the Bee-eater debacle, however I would have swapped them all to have been with DW as the Ross's Gull flew past. 

Pas De Calais

St Margarets from Cap Gris Nez today with a happy snapper as my Canon gear is in for repair. In the foreground some of the 584 Red-throated Divers that flew south in an hour.

Cap Gris Nez 09.00-10.00 with Tony and Trevor.

Common Scoter: 40 S
Velvet Scoter: 4 S
Goosander: 1 N
Red throated Diver: 584 S
Black throated Diver: 2 S
Fulmar: 2 N
Gannet: 100s S
Great Skua: 1 S
Mediterranean Gull: 3 S
Fieldfare: 75 S
Siskin: 7 S
Green Finch: 20 S
Next stop a couple from Gris Nez was Le Slack, which was some what disappointing bird wise due to heavy human disturbance.
From there we moved to Oye Plage which was also disappointing as it usually comes up with some treats. Despite a long wander along the dunes and around the shooting pools, the best we could muster was a Kingfisher, 2 Little Egrets, c40 Linnet, several each of Skylark, Song Thrush, Blackbird and Reed Bunting.
As time was getting on our last stop was at Guinnes Boardwalk where we manged to find Short-toed Treecreeper, 2 Willow Tits, Chiffchaff, 30+ Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, a Marsh Harrier and a Great White Egret. On the drive to the ferry we saw 6 Common Buzzards.
Looks like tomorrow is going to be a slog around the footpaths of Walland Marsh!

Winter Winds!

An hours watch 08.00-09.00 from the fishing boats in a bitingly cold NE wind. The only count I made as birds were streaming up channel into the bay was of 84 Red-throated Divers, Auks mainly Guillemots numbered in the 100s as did Gannets, Cormorants and Great-crested Grebes with Kittiwakes in the 10s. On the horizon 100s more Auks were barrelling down channel.
New Diggings still held 5 Goosander, a Smew and a Great White Egret.
Burrowes held at least another 2 Goosander, along with a minimum of 6 Smew and good numbers of Wigeon and Shoveler, 12+ Pintail, 5 Great White Egrets and the usual Marsh Harriers.
The Bewick Swan herd on Walland has grown to 59 with at least 8 young, the Whooper Swan and 4 Tundra Bean Geese were still keeping them company.
I was unable to find the Scaup on Scotney but it was probably still present sheltering from the wind, the 2 Black-necked Grebes had moved to the Kent end in the NE corner.
The 2 Cattle Egrets still in there chosen field at Lydd.
No sign today as far as I am aware of the yesterdays 1w Glaucous Gull despite much searching, however at least 1 Caspian Gull at The Patch per OL. 

White Winger!

A late morning trip off the peninsular to Pett with OL was rewarded with views of the Lesser Yellowlegs though comparatively distant. As time was limited we weren't able to wait for it to come to the roadside pools.

Back in Lydd the 2 Cattle Egrets were still performing in their favorite field.
As I was finishing lunch a tweet from AL and crew about a 1w Glaucous Gull at Greatstone changed my plans for the afternoon, minutes later I was on site but the gull was gone. A wander out to the beach and still no sign. I made my way to the lifeboat station where I could see a swirl of Gulls. On arrival I checked the swirling Gulls but no white winger! Walking over the ridge of the beach, a small roost came into a view including the 1w Glaucous Gull also a family with a dog heading straight into the roost. Fortunately for me they flushed it towards and past me heading towards Greatstone.

1w Glaucous Gull, Dungeness.

Mick and Richard were by the fishing boats with there Bread, Popcorn and fish offal hoping to pull in a goody. They did manage a first in the shape of young Grey Heron investigating the offal bucket.

JYY69 1w Great Black Backed Gull

Christmas Egrets!

 I got out for a couple of hours today. The Swans and Geese were still insitu, as were the Scaup and Black-necked Grebes. Galloways was desolate but Dengemarsh came up with a Bittern, a Raven, Great White and Little Egrets and Marsh Harriers. Also it was nice to have the Cattle Egrets all to my self.

A couple of hours at Dunge!

Late morning the 2 Cattle Egrets still performing for those who care to visit them. 3 Great White Egrets could be seen from the causeway as I drove to Greatstone, where on the beach a different Snow Bunting fed unobtrusively on the tide line despite the many the dogs.

Snow Bunting Greatstone

On Burrowes Pit of note from Dennis's Hide now 5 red head Smew, 5 Goosander, 2 Black-necked Grebes, 6 Goldeneye, 2 Great white Egrets, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Marsh Harriers. In the scrub by the hide a Firecrest and 2 Chiffchaff.

At Scotney the Scaup still present and also the 2 Black-necked Grebes along with all the usual wildfowl and feral geese.

On the marsh by Horsebones Farm the 29 Bewick Swans, Whooper Swan, 4 Tundra Bean Geese and a Greylag all still very distant.

Bits!

Once again the 2 Cattle Egrets were strutting around there chosen field early this morning. At The Point Gannets, Kittiwakes and Auks tooing and froing along with 100s of Cormorants.

 1w drake Scaup Scotney!

At Scotney the Scaup still at the Sussex end but I was unable to locate the Black-necked Grebes.

 Chiffchaffs from Hanson!

At the ARC from Hanson 3 Chiffchaffs in the small reedbed, a Great White Egret, 3 Marsh Harriers and a Kingfisher of note. A raven flew over the carpark.

 Kingfisher from Hanson!

On Burrowes from Dennis's hide 3 Great White Egrets, 2 red head Smew and 5 Goosanders of note, also a Firecrest in the scrub by the hide.
This afternoon at the fishing boats c150 each of Kittiwakes and Gannets off shore along with a few Auks. 

Sea Watching!

A grim day on the peninsular where sea watching from the comfort of the car was the only realistic option.
08.30-11.00

Brent Goose: 39 up
Wigeon:   35 up
Red-breasted Merganser: 1 down
Red-throated Diver: 1 up       2 down
Fulmar: 8 down
Gannet: 504  down
Great Skua:  1 down
Kittiwake:  51 down
Auk sp: 176 down     19 up
Harbour Porpoise: 2

13.45-15.00

Red-throated Diver: 52 down        2 up
Gannet: 26 down
Kittiwake: 41 down
Yellow-legged Gull: 1 ad in roost
Auk sp: 43 down      6 up

In Lydd the 2 Cattle Egrets were still showing well opposite Wraxhalls Aggregates, Dengemarsh Road.
On the marsh the Whooper Swan, Bewick Swans and Tundra Bean Geese were all still present in there usual field.

Not Bad for December!

The 2 Cattle Egrets were on the cow shed roof first thing this morning.

A sea watch from The Point 08.30-11.00: 

 Brent Goose: 9 down

Teal:    30    down

Wigeon: 3   down

Common Scoter: 16 up     13 down

Velvet Scoter: 1 down        Probably same seen Galloways  MH + CP

Red-breasted Merganser:  1 down

Red-throated Diver: 27 down     62 up

Fulmar: 1 up

Gannet:   c50 off shore      

Grey Plover: 1 down

Turnstone: 6 on beach

Dunlin: 1 down

Great Skua:  3 down      2 up

Pomarine Skua: 1 up

Kittiwake: 29 down    15 up      c20 on sea

Guillemot: 8 down

Razorbill: 5 down

Auk sp:  121 down    105 up

   

Shy as ever this afternoon!

At Scotney the 1w drake Scaup still, also the 2 Black-necked Grebes and the usual feral geese.

On Walland still 100s of winter thrushes feeding in the Hawthorns and a few Tree Sparrows in the usual spots, also the 29 Bewicks, 1 Whooper and 4 Tundra Bean Geese still in the field adjacent to Horsebones Farm.