Good Memories!

As the weather was so abysmal here today I barely left the house. To keep myself amused, I thought I'd have look and see what was on my external back up hard drive, I ended up spending virtually all day looking 1,000s old photographs, which bought back some great memories.

The images below are small sample taken in May 2006 on a trip to Pelee with Dick Eyre-Walker. Pelee is such an easy place to go birding, with a tram service to and from the Visitor Centre to The Point if you don't feel like walking, if you do there are lots of good paths all of which are flat. The local birders are really helpful and want you to see every bird. One time while we were there they were running down the road to see a rare bird, we declined to run it was Black-billed Magpie! Hopefully one day I will go back.

 Blackburnian Warbler

 Black and White Warbler

 Black-throated Blue Warbler

 Black-throated Green Warbler

 Blue-winged Warbler

 Canada Warbler

 Cerulean Warbler (female)

 Chestnut-sided Warbler

 Magnolia Warbler

 Nashville Warbler

 Ovenbird

 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)

 Yellow Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

A benign day!

07.40-08.30 from the fishing boats: With the benign weather today very little off shore movement.
Wigeon: 9 down
Common Scoter: 2 up
Red-throated Diver: 6 up
Great-crested Grebe: 172  up into Hythe bay
Gannet: 98 down
Peregrine: 1 around chasing the Merlin.
Merlin: 1 around
Kittiwake: 37 down
Guillemot: 9 up

The Patch hide under siege!

At The Patch just 2 Mediterranean Gulls of any note, although the 1,000s of Gulls present over the boil and further down the beach were suffering much disturbance. 

 The new rock flood protection for the Power Station!

 A beautiful Goose even if it is feral!

On the main pit at Scotney the 3 Black-necked Grebes and the drake Scaup still and later the 2 Tundra Bean Geese on the main spit along with the usual wildfowl.

 Feral Egyptians with some of the 148 Brent Geese present at the back of Scotney!

Wandering the paths at the back of Scotney enjoying the sunshine, a flock of 148 Brent Geese and 6 Egyptian Geese. Way in the distance nearly to Jurys gap 2 Great White Egrets. A flock of 42 Tree Sparrows just in Sussex were very flighty, most likely something to do with the 2 Peregrines that were putting on a superb aerial display and the 3-4 Marsh Harriers there. c35 Corn Buntings and 20+ Skylarks were also seen around the fields and farm.  

 The 2 Great White Egrets definitely in Sussex! 

 Part of a flock of 16 Corn Buntings in the farm

record of the 2 Tundra Bean Geese

The 2 Cattle Egrets were in the field behind the chicken sheds at Brickwall Farm, Dengemarsh Road early afternoon, also 3 Marsh Harriers there and a raven.

Typical afternoon view of Bittern from the Screen

Mid afternoon from the screen hide 3 Bitterns gave flight views, 2 Great White Egrets, 2 Goosanders, 5 Goldeneye and the usual wild fowl.

Walland!

A busy half hour mid morning at the Tickner Lane seed dump, saw 30+ Yellowhamers, 20+ Corn Buntings, 20+ Reed Buntings, 4 Tree Sparrows, 40+ Chaffinches, 50+ Fieldfare,several each of Redwing and Song Thrush, a Green Woodpecker, 2 Common Buzzards, a Marsh Harrier and a Sparrowhawk.

At Baynham Farm more Yellowhammers, Tree Sparrows and Chaffinches, with Goldfinches, Greenfinches and c100 Linnets.

In the field adjacent to Horsebones Farm 84 Bewick Swans, the single Whooper Swan still with the lone Greylag Goose in tow. 

At Scotney the 1w drake Scaup and the 3 Black-necked Grebes eventually appeared from behind the gull island, also usual feral geese but no Whitefronts or Beans.

No sign in 3 visits of the Cattle Egrets in Dengemarsh Road, Lydd.   

1w drake Scaup, Scotney.

Early afternoon on the beach, the sea was very quiet and very few gulls in the roost areas.

The ARC was also very quiet with just 2 sightings of Bitterns, 2 Goosander, a Great White Egret and the usual wildfowl.  

Herons!

Early morning at Dengemarsh from Springfield Bridge saw of note 2 brief flights of Bittern, 2 Great White Egrets out in the fields, 3 Little Egrets flying over, a Cattle Egret at the back of the reed bed, 3+ Marsh Harriers and the usual wildfowl. From opposite the watersports entrance c500 Golden Plover, c1,000 Lapwing being constantly flushed by Marsh Harriers and a Peregrine. The Cattle Egrets are now getting a harder to see, as they move around now that there are no longer any cattle in the their usual field

Around the Scotney complex of note 14 Greater White-fronted Geese, 2 Tundra Bean Geese, the feral flock of Barnacle Geese with there attendant hybrids, 3 Black-necked Grebes, the 1w drake Scaup, a flock of 40+ Tree Sparrows at the Sussex end of the main lake behind the bungalow, also 4 Corn Buntings there, another party of 8 Tree Sparrows, 12 Corn Buntings and a few Skylarks at the back of the lake.

The Bewick Swans and Whooper Swan were reported as still present at Horsebones Farm, on the reserve all the usual suspects could still be seen today.  

 Tundra Bean Geese, Scotney today.

Buntings and Thrushes!

07.40-08.40 at the fishing boats, So enthralling I even counted the Cormorants until they turned round and came back, but at least it wasn't raining.  

 Brent Goose: 41 up

Shelduck: 1 down

Red-throated Diver: 2 down

Gannet: c100 feeding off shore

Cormorant: 728 up (07.40-08.05)

Kittiwake: 28 down

Guillemot: 8 on sea

1 Barrel Jellyfish by boats

 Herring Gull TD1T a regular on the beach

 Typical view of Bittern from the screen

At the ARC 15+ Tree Sparrows around the car park, a wander up to the Tower produced a Bittern, 2 Marsh Harriers, a Great White Egret, Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers, a Chiffchaff in the Long-tailed Tit flock, 3 calling Cetti's Warblers and Water Rails squealing from just about every patch of reeds.
An hour staring out from the screen later joined by BB saw at least 3 more Bitterns, 2 Great White Egrets, 2 Goosanders, a Smew, the usual wildfowl and more Water Rails.
At Lydd the 2 Cattle Egrets still in there chosen field. At Scotney the 3 Black-necked Grebes and the 1w drake Scaup.

Some of the 24 Corn Buntings at the seed dump. 

 I spent the afternoon on the marsh, the 84 Bewick and single Whooper Swan still in the field adjacent to Horsebones Farm. At Midley drying barns 10+ Tree Sparrows, 4 Yellowhammers and a few Chaffinches. A little further on at the feeders at least 20 Tree Sparrows, a few more Yellowhammers, 40+ Chaffinches, 40+ House Sparrows and a flock of c100 Linnets.

 A dodgy shot of the female Bullfinch 

A wander around Coldharbour and the Solar farm saw another 6 Tree Sparrows, c50 Fieldfare, c100 Redwing, 40+ Song Thrushes, countless Blackbirds, 20 Reed Buntings, 8 Yellowhammers, 6 Corn Buntings, a Bullfinch(scarce on the marsh), 2 Stonechat, a Jay, 3 Common Buzzards, 2 Marsh Harriers and 2 Sparrowhawks. 

At the Tickners Lane seed dump 24 Corn Buntings, 30 Yellowhammers, 10+ Reed Buntings, 4 Tree Sparrows another Common Buzzard and Sparrowhawk. 

Late afternoon 3 Marsh Harriers came into roost while another flock of c40 Linnets roosted nearby.

Mink!

Yet another dull, damp miserable day on the peninsular. A late start at The Point this morning, a light S.E wind was blowing but it did nothing to improve the sea passage.

 09.15-10.15 with MH

Brent Goose: 38 up

Red-throated Diver: 2 down

Gannet: 16 down     6 up

Kittiwake:  17 down

Auk: 14 up

On the ARC south end from the causeway, 2 Goosander, a Bittern, a Great White Egret, a Little Egret, a Marsh Harrier, c100 Gadwall, c50 Shoveler and 4 Pintail. 

3 Black-necked Grebes, Scotney.

 At Scotney the 3 Black-necked Grebes at the Kent end and the 1w drake Scaup at the Sussex end.

 The 2 Mink taken through glass from Scott hide.

While sitting in Scott hide this afternoon watching the Smew, a loud screaming from underneath the hide startled me, it sounded just like a Rabbit being attacked by a Stoat so I thought no more of it. A minute later 2 dark shapes dashed up the bank through the brambles, at the top  I could see they were Mink and took a quick snap through a dirty glass window of them. I left the hide to see if I could get a better look, one of them disappeared under the hide the other ran across the path into the reeds, reappearing seconds later and running off down the path towards Makepeace hide. 

 By the track from Scott-Makepeace.

 Coot with a Perch

 A brief visit by the Kingfisher

Another Perch about to go down head first.

Smew brightens the day!

The sun rose out of the sea as a huge fiery red ball this morning, 20 minutes later it started to sleet and rain, 8hrs later it was still raining ending another thoroughly dismal day on the peninsular.
A wander around the north end of the trapping area looking for Woodcock was fruitless and wet, finding only a Tit flock in the bushes, on the north pit a Great Crested Grebe, 5 Tufted duck and 5 Coot.
08.30-09.00 near the fishing boats from the relative comfort of the car.
Brent Goose: 9 up
Common Scoter: 1 down
Fulmar: 1 down
Gannet: c40 o/s
Kittiwake: 14 o/s
Guillemot: 6 on sea
On the ARC from the causeway 2 Goosander, 4 Smew, 2 Great White Egret, 2 Kingfishers, a Marsh Harrier and the usual wildfowl.
On the reserve the rain really started in earnest keeping me marooned in the empty hide, ensuring that no one else would be stupid enough to be wandering about in such appalling weather. The compensation for my braving the weather, was having the hide to myself, with no one to tut at my use of a flash gun to photograph the pair of Smew and a Little Grebe that were feeding on small Perch in front the hide. The Kingfisher came onto the post to the side of the hide posing nicely, as I lifted my camera my mobile rang and the Kingfisher was gone! Bloody PPI!

 This afternoon at the ARC from Hanson a re-run of yesterday, Bitterns, Kingfishers, Egrets, Smew, Goosanders, Chiffchaffs.
In the near dark at Lydd the 2 Cattle Egrets in there chosen field were joined by 3 Little Egrets.

This afternoon at the ARC 

Chilly!

Another bitterly cold and dull day on the peninsular, started with scraping the windscreen in the half light, then driving the 200 yds down the road to check on the 2 Cattle Egrets which were huddled up to a straw bale. Next stop the fishing boats where an hours sea watch from the relative comfort of the car was busy, but not exactly enthralling.
07.45-08.45
Brent Goose: 3 up
Red-throated Diver: 7 down    3 up
Great-crested Grebe: 182 up  + c100 on the sea
Gannet: 156 up distantly  + a feeding party of c40 birds in shore
Cormorant: c400 tooing and froing
Kittiwake: 12 down   8 up (a big change from yesterday)
Guillemot: 9 on sea  13 up    5 down.
By the lifeboat slipway c1,000 large gulls, try as I might I was unable to locate anything unusual among them.
Next a plod around the north end of the Long Pits which was virtually birdless but at least tramping around on the pebbles kept me warm.
After some warming soup I spent most of the afternoon at the ARC in Hanson hide, where I was joined by CT and MH. We all remarked how we take for granted all the birds we see here, that we are so lucky to have this as part of our local patch. This afternoon was no exception we saw at least 3 different Bitterns, 2+ Great White Egrets, a Little Egret, 4+ Grey Herons, 2+ Marsh Harriers, a Sparrowhawk, a Merlin, 2 Smew, 2 Goosander, 6 Goldeneye, c100 Shoveller and all the usual wildfowl, 2 Kingfishers, 3 Chiffchaff, and heard Cetti's Warbler and Water Rail and all from the comfort of the hide, while being regaled with jokes we have only heard a dozen times before.
Dusk at Scotney produced the 1w drake Scaup, 3 Black-necked Grebes, 3 Marsh Harriers and the usual bits and pieces.
  

Kittiwakes in the rain!

Another thoroughly miserable,e cold, wet day on the peninsular, the rain finally stopping late afternoon.
An hours sea watch from the comfort of the car near the fishing boats was remarkable for the modest passage of Kittiwakes.
09.30-10.30
Common Scoter: 1 down
Red-throated Diver: 18 down  1 up
Fulmar: 1 down
Gannet: 108  down
Great Skua: 1 up then down a few minutes later
Mediterranean Gull: 3 down
Kittiwake:  446 down
Auk: 207 down

The Cattle Egrets present and correct this morning if a bit soggy.

At Scotney the 1w drake Scaup still present but I was unable to locate any Black-necked Grebes.

A quick look at the back of Scotney found 12 Tree Sparrows, 24 Corn Buntings, 5 Little Egrets and 9 Little grebes of note.

Out on Walland Marsh The Bewick Swans and Whooper Swan still tho distant. Feeding under a hedge c100mts long no less than 70 Song Thrushes, 15 Redwing, c100 Fieldfare, c40 Blackbirds, 6 Mistle Thrushes and c40 Chaffinches. Elsewhere on the marsh c2,000 Lapwing, c1,000 Golden Plover, a flock of c25 Linnets and a couple of vocal Bearded Tits along with a Merlin and the ubiquitous Marsh Harriers and Common Buzzards

Kingfisher!

Most of my day was taken up with domestic stuff, which was just as well as it rained for the most of it.

The Cattle Egrets are still in there chosen field in Dengemarsh Road, Lydd. A brief look at the the sea from the fishing boats in the company of DW where a 1w Caspian Gull put in a brief appearance, 3 Mediterranean Gulls were feeding off shore with the many Black-headed Gulls and few each of Gannet and Kittiwake.

Late morning I met up with Richard Smith who had very kindly collected my camera and lens from the repair shop, then delivered them to me today, thanks again Richard.

I managed to try it out late this afternoon at the ARC where a Kingfisher posed in the near dark,

the pics below were taken at 2000 ISO. They are a long way from perfect but a million times better than the happy snapper, so a repair bill a little shy of £600 is worth every penny, considering its in constant use hour after hour due to my stressful, demanding, exhausting lifestyle.

Also at the ARC  3 Bitterns, a Merlin, 2+ Sparrowhawks, 2 Great White Egrets, 4+ Smew, 5+ Goldeneye, a couple of squealing Water Rails and the usual wildfowl. 

 Kingfisher taken at 2000 ISO 160th sec  at 6.3