A summers day at last!

At The Patch this morning with AJG an adult and 1st summer Mediterranean Gull, c25 Common Terns and the usual Black-headed and large Gulls. We next walked around the Trapping area and southern Long Pit, noting 2 Blackcaps, 2 Reed Warblers, a Cetti's Warbler and several Common Whitethroats singing.

Next stop the Willow Trail where the trees and bushes were absolutely dripping with Cuckoo Spit, also a Grasshopper Warbler had been reported there earlier, sadly all I could find was a family of Wrens, Reed Warblers, Reed Buntings and another Cetti's Warbler.   

 Juvenile Wren in the Willow Trail

Lunch time at the ARC car park a Hobby flashed over and Cuckoo was calling, in the screen hide the Swallows were feeding 4 young,

 This afternoon at Scotney of note a Spoonbill on the eastern back lake viewed from the conveyor belt, also good numbers of Yellow Wagtails were feeding young still in the nests as were several pairs of Corn Buntings. On the back lake there appears to be at least 15 pairs of Avocets trying again on a different island, after a complete failure first time round due to unknown causes. At least 2 pairs of Little Ringed Plovers there and 6 feeding Little Egrets.

 This evening on the marsh of note a distant Barn Owl, 3 Little Owls, a Turtle Dove, 2 Cuckoo's, a Sparrowhawk and a Marsh Harrier.

An Eyed Hawk Moth from last nights catch of a miserly 13 species.

Flaming June!

After emptying the moth trap, I took a stroll around the hayfields, the NE force 4-5 wind made an uncomfortable walk and totally unproductive stroll.

Over the Willow trail a flock of c70 Swifts were making light of the conditions. 

An hour sea watch from The point was not a great deal more productive, but at least it was sheltered and warm in the car.

09.50-10.50  

Common Scoter: 4W

Gannet: 51E   11W

Sandwich tern: c20 o/s

Common Tern: c30 o/s

Guillemot: 4E

Auk sp: 11W

Swift: 8 in

Swallow: 1 out

This afternoon from Hanson some islands have at last appeared and a Hobby was chasing Mouse Martins. A coot was trying to build another nest infront the hide, the last 2 being washed away. In the Screen hide the Swallows are feeding 4 young, nearby the Green Woodpeckers are feeding young. 

 From the entrance track to the VC 2 more Hobby's entertaining a few visitors, from Dennis's a Ringed Plover and a Little Ringed Plover.

 Shark, 1 of 23 species of macro in this mornings catch.

Another one just for you Steve. 

A few Moths

This mornings haul of 32 macros and 7 micros, plus some unidentified as yet from the moth trap was the biggest so far this year for me, although very modest against some of the catches elsewhere today.

Unfortunately most of my day and evening was spent in London, not a place I willingly go to. 

 Pine Hawkmoth

 Bordered Straw

Iron Prominent

I have been tied up the last few days with domestic stuff and probably will be for a few more days. 

Once again today the relentless wind dominated the birding. although thankfully not cold it was still uncomfortable.

The post/non breeding duck flock at the south end of the ARC is building up though I could find the drake Garganey, there were plenty of Swifts and Swallows over the lake and Cuckoo calling there. 

Hobby over Hookers ramp

This afternoon a walk from Springfield Bridge round the Hayfields to Hookers and Burrowes was disappointing with the wind keeping most birds tucked in the bushes. 5+ Hobby's and 50+ Swifts were high over Dengemarsh and Hookers. There appears to be 4+ pairs of Common Terns on one of the rafts, the other 2 occupied by Common Gulls. Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers, Common Whitethroats and Cetti's Warblers were all singing unseen despite the wind.
Last nights moth catch at Plodland was the best so far this year with 26 species of macro and several micros including another Small Mottled Willow, 2 Bordered Straws and 15 Plutella xylostella. 

Hudsonian Whimbrel (just)!

 Swift over the Willow Trail

With N.E.wind still blasting over the peninsular this morning, it took only a couple of minutes to empty the over night catch of 9 moths of 7 species from the trap.
I then decided to give The Patch a miss and went straight to the ARC where at least 100 Swifts were tearing around doing what Swifts do, along with a few House Martins and Swallows. A SAparrowhawk mad a half hearted attempt to catch a Swift and a Cuckoo flew through. A few Reed Warblers, a Sedge Warbler and 2 Cetti's Warblers were singing in the shelter of the Willow Trail, but most things appeared to be hunkered down sheltering from the wind.
Burrowes held less Swifts, apart from a nesting gulls, couple of Lapwings, Oystercatchers and a Ringed Plover the emerging islands were empty.

Swift over Dennis's Hide

 As I had go to London this afternoon, I took the opportunity afterwards to go to Pagham Harbour to try and see the Hudonian Whimbrel. I drove into a very full Church Norton car park about 17.30 ,thinking that with so many birders present the Whimbrel would be pinned down, wrong! I was quickly informed that it had not been seen since 14.00 when it had flown to the centre of the harbour, the tide was fairly high and there was still at least another hour to high tide, also the wind was blasting across the harbour into our faces, things weren't looking good.I found a position to scan the harbour that afforded a little shelter, after nearly an hour and half the Whimbrel gave a distant fly past, but was harried by a Gull and flew a little closer before landing back in the middle of the harbour. I managed some very hurried flight shots that are just about recognisable as Hudsonian Whimbrel. As I am staying in West Sussex tonight I will probably try to to get a better view tomorrow if it stays.

 Husonian Whimbrel (not going to win any photographic prizes)

Blasting N.E. Wind!

 Mediterranean Gull in the melee.

Walking to and from the The Patch this morning I felt seriously under dressed even though I was wearing a T shirt, a sweat shirt and a fleece, as the NE wind blasted along the path to the hide.

While there an adult and 1st summer Mediterranean Gulls were the highlights, with up to 10 Sandwich Terns moving into Rye Bay and 12 Gannets moving east, also 3+ Harbour Porpoises off shore.

100s of Swifts, Swallows and House Martins were feeding over the lakes on the peninsular with at least 15 Hobby's. At the ARC c100 each of Gadwall, Mallard, Pochard and Coot, presumably non or failed breeders, also at least 2 Cuckoo's there.

Azure Tit, Kazakstan 2007

With the wind spoiling the day I spent a few hours transferring old photographs onto my new laptop. 

Hummers!

A quick stop off at the south end of the ARC on my way to The Point saw a drake Garganey virtually buried in the New Zealand Pygmy Weed. From by the sea watch hide in a 20 minute watch:
Great-crested Grebe: 4 o/s
Gannet: 1E
Cormorant: 5 o/s
Oystercatcher: 4E
Mediterranean Gull: 1ad at The patch
Sandwich Tern: 5 o/s
Common Tern: 1 at The Patch
Black Redstart: 1 singing behind hide.
Harbour Porpoise: 3
Grey Seal: 1

 Between the hide and the car park at least 7 Hummingbird Hawkmoths feeding on the Valerian by the wall.

 A Weasel ran across the road to the observatory by Lloyds

 Now where's that Green Woodpecker!

 How this Rook managed to fly over the ARC is a mystery to me.

On the ARC the islands will soon showing if this dry windy weather continues, Lapwings are already managing to use them. 3 Hobby's were hunting over the tower pits, Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers were all to be seen around the lake, as well as a Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Swifts, Swallows and House Martins.

 From Springfield Bridge this afternoon up to 23 Hobby's over Dengemarsh, though most were stratospheric. 22 Common Terns were vying for position on the the only raft not occupied by Gulls.
On Burrowes 3 Greenshanks and 2 Avocets per MH.

 Another Bordered Straw in the Plodland trap this morning

One of several Plutella xylostella from last nights catch.

Spoilt by the wind!

The avian highlight this morning was a flock of 5 Herons that flew west low over the sea as I made my way to The Patch, where c30 Gannets moved east, 9 Swifts flew west, 3 Mediterranean Gulls were around but not a single Common Tern there. A Black Redstart was singing behind the hide, at least 10 Hummingbird Hawkmoths 2 of which were mating were around the car park and Lighthouse, also 3+ Painted Ladies.  

The strong wind today made birding very difficult today, consequently little of note was seen around the reserve or Scotney.

 Yesterdays Small Mottled Willow in the Plodland trap. 

 Hummingbird Hawkmoths mating!

A pair of Eyed Hawkmoths mating in the Heligoland trap yesterday.

Pas de Calais!

Yesterday I met AJG and TM at silly o-clock to catch the ferry to Calais. Surprising the on board breakfast was hot, usually tepid at best. On arrival we drove straight to Bonelle arriving around 07.00. As we got out of the car 2 Turtle Doves flew over and added to the cacophony of bird song, Song Thrushes, Blackcaps, Garden Warblers, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Skylarks, Yellowhammers, Sedge Warblers as well as Wrens, Dunnocks and Robins and more. Scanning the tussock grass we located 4 Bluethroats and several Stonechats, a Cattle Egret foraged among the cows and on a small pool Black-winged Stilts and Avocets were nesting. Also there were singing Marsh Warblers a Strutting White Stork and several White Wagtails. We found Song Thrushes seemed to be abundant at every place we stopped. 

 Black-winged Stilts

 Avocet

 Bluethroat

 White Storks

 White Wagtail

 Cattle Egrets

A La Basse pools the Black-headed Gull colony was full of young gulls, also a few Mediterranean Gulls there. Several Cattle Egrets were foraging around the ponies, 2 Little-ringed Plovers, More Storks, several Common Buzzards, White Wagtails and another Marsh Warbler. 

 Mediterranean Gull

 At our usual raptor watch point at Crecy Forest we had to wait a whole 10 minutes before the first of several Honey Buzzards appeared, along with the usual Common Buzzards, Hobby's, a male Hen Harrier, and a flock of 62 Mediterranean Gulls flew over.

 In the forest Firecrest, Crested Tit, Melodious Warbler, Marsh Warbler and many more passerines were seen and heard as well as superb low flying Honey Buzzard. A tick for me in the forest was a Broad Bordered Bee Hawkmoth.

 Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth

 Spoonbills at Oye Platier

At Oye Platier 11 Spoonbills, 5 Black-winged Stilts, c100 Avocets, a Common Sandpiper, a Ruff, a Greenshank and a Long-tailed Duck.

 Kentish Plover eggs

On a beach near Calais 10+ Kentish Plovers and c50 Little terns were nesting, the Kentish Plover eggs we found had been layed below the high water mark so stand little chance of success.

 Kentish Plover

 Long-tailed Duck at Oye Platier

Do you want use this picnic table!

Good to see Calais local authority have a sense of humour placing the picnic table beside the leaning pill box. Another brilliant day out across the channel in great company and super warm weather.

Hobby's,Swift's and a Puffin!

Very quiet on the sea this morning with just a handful of Gannets seen and 3 Swallows in.

Several hours spent around the reserve failed to find anything unusual. There were still many Swifts and smaller numbers of Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins, at least 9 Hobby's were present. I spent a while photographing them and the Swifts with limited success.

 Hobby

 AT the ARC a Cuckoo, 2 Marsh Harriers and all the usual reed bed Warblers, also plenty of Reed Buntings. Chffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches and Linnets were all present. While on Burrowes a single Ringed Plover, a Little Ringed Plover and a Turnstone. In the Hayfields I could only find a single Lapwing chick, hopefully the others were well hidden. Good to see water being pumped onto an almost dry Hayfield 3.

 Swift

 This evening Owen Leyshon showed me a partially oiled dead Puffin that was found on Greatstone Beach, one day i'll see a live one at Dungeness. Another day trip to France tomorrow mainly to look at some sites that look good on the map.

Puffin