Soaking!

A thoroughly miserable morning with Torrential rain until 12.30. A morning plod along the green lanes at Coldharbour was rewarded by a thorough soaking. The wild swans could just about be seen as white blobs through the curtain of rain.

In Lydd the 2 Cattle Egrets looked very bedraggled and fed up with rain.

Happy snapped Black Redstart at the fishing boats.

When the rain finally stopped I spent half an hour at the fishing boats with little reward:

Brent Goose: 14 up
Common Scoter: 1 down
Red-throated Diver: 5 up
Gannet: c15 o/s
Kittiwake: 19 on sea
Auk: 8 up
Black Redstart: 1 by boats
This afternoon on the reserve all the usual wildfowl including 3 Bitterns at Hookers per CT, I saw  another 2 on the ARC, also some Cetti's Warblers singing in the sun
At Dusk 13 Little Egrets flew into the ARC roost as did 2 Great White Egrets.

Bits and Pieces!

I joined PT at The Patch this morning where 1,000s of Gulls were on the beach and over the boil, despite careful scrutiny we were unable to find any unusual Gulls. Offshore small numbers of Red-throated Divers, Gannets, Kittiwakes and Auks.
In Lydd the Cattle Egrets still showing well to a constant stream of admirers.
At Scotney the 1w drake Scaup and 2 Black-necked Grebes still among the Tufties and Pochard. The Barnacle Goose flock numbered 103 + 7 Emporer X Heinz 57 and c500 Greylags, also a Kingfisher there.
On Walland 83 Bewick Swans, the Whooper Swan and a single Greylag but no sign of any Tundra Bean Geese. On the marsh large flocks of Lapwing and Golden Plover but thrushes seem to have all but disappeared.
On the reserve this afternoon large numbers of common wildfowl, 7 red-head Smew, 3+ Great White Egrets, 2 Marsh Harriers and elusive Firecrest in the windy conditions. From the entrance track a flock of 42 Curlew, 50+ Golden Plover, c500 Lapwing, 2 Marsh Harriers, a Common Buzzard and 2 Great White Egrets.
I abandoned a late afternoon visit to Scotney due to the rain and high winds.  

Lesser Yellowlegs twitch!

Another dull and dreary winters day at Dungeness, but still plenty of birds to look at starting at the fishing boats 08.10-10.25:

Brent Goose: 38 up

Shelduck: 3 down

Common Scoter: 7 down

Red-breasted Merganser: 4 down

Red-throated Diver: 63 down       17 up

Cormorant: 812 down between 08.10-08.30

Gannet: n/c      c25 off shore

Turnstone: 8 on beach

Great Skua: 1 down

Pomarine Skua: 1 up

Kittiwake: n/c c 25 off shore

Auks:  c40 on sea

As I drove across the causeway 2 Great White Egrets could be seen on the New Diggings. A walk around the Willow Trail found several squealing Water Rail, 4+ Chiffchaff and 3 Goldcrest, in the Long-tailed Tit flock.

Walking from the ARC car park to Springfield Bridge and back saw the usual Tree Sparrows and Reed Buntings round the feeders at Boulderwall. In the fields north of the entrance track c 100 Golden Plover, 20 Curlew, 200+ Lapwing, 200+ Greylag and Canada Geese, 2 Marsh Harriers a Common Buzzard and another Great White Egret. Dengemarsh and the Hayfields were fairly quiet, but did attract 3 Little Egrets and look for spring waders.

A short watch from the garden at lunchtime saw of note the 2 Cattle Egrets, 2 Great White Egrets, a grey Heron, 3 Marsh Harriers, a Common Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk.   

Lesser Yellowlegs at Pett.

This afternoon with news that the Lesser Yellowlegs was showing well at Pett level I made my way there in the company of MH and CP. On arrival at Pett the it was indeed showing very well right beside the road, where it remained until a a ballon came over the sea wall and spooked everything, also of note there a nice flock of 26 Ruff.
Late afternoon back at the ARC from Hanson we had an excellent finish to the day, a Kingfisher was doing what Kingfishers do outside the hide, 2 Redshanks were swimming in the centre of the lake, 2 Bitterns flew across the lake as did 4 Great White Egrets and 4 Little Egrets, 2 Marsh Harriers were terrorising the Coots, 2 Goldeneye were on the lake, 100s each of Jackdaw, Carrion Crow and Lapwing flew through to roost as did many Starlings, the finale was a Large female Peregrine dashing through. An excellent day despite the gloomy weather.

1w Caspian Gull

1w Caspian Gull(not to bad with the happy snapper)

This morning at The Point on a flat calm sea there was no obvious off shore movement, but 500+ Great-crested Grebes with lesser numbers of Red-throated Divers and Guillemots, a few each of Gannet and Kittiwake could be seen. In a Gull roost by the fish hut a very smart 1w Caspian Gull.
This afternoon from Hanson 2 Great White Egrets could be seen but little else of note, in The Willow Trail 2 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, a Great-spotted Woodpecker, a Green Woodpecker and several squealing Water Rail. Walking back to the ARC car park the mist really came down, by the time I reached Boulderwall Farm visibility was very poor, though I did manage to see a couple of Tree Sparrows and c15 Reed Buntings around the feeders. I carried on walking towards Hookers despite the mist seeing a flock of c10 Linnet another Great White Egret and some flyover Greylags and Lapwing. By the time I reached Hookers the visibility was even worse and light was failing so I returned to the car.
It would appear that the Cattle Egrets are literally spreading there wings by spending some time at Brickwall Farm.
On the marsh the wild Swan flock and Tundra Bean Geese are still in there chosen field. At Scotney the 1w drake Scaup and at least 1 Black-necked Grebe still present.

Murky!

Taken in the rain with the happy snapper!

A thoroughly miserable day on the peninsular, barely getting light all day. The 2 Cattle Egrets were still strutting around there chosen field in Dengemarsh Road. At Scotney still the 3 Black-necked Grebes and 1w drake Scaup and the usual wildfowl.

On Walland the wild swans and Tundra Bean Geese just about visible in there chosen field still.

At the fishing boats a few each of Red-throated Diver, Guillemots, Razorbills, Gannets and Kittiwakes in the murk. In the roost an adult Yellow-legged Gull.

Around the reserve the usual sawbills and a Black-necked Grebe per OL.

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