Sanderling

On Burrowes this morning a Greenshank was the only wader of note. A Hobby was along the entrance track and the usual Marsh Harriers were all over. Sand Martins once again were much in evidence probably numbering in there 1,000s over the whole of the peninsular.

 Opening the flaps at Hanson this morning just about the only wader to be seen was a lonely looking Avocet. The 1st summer Little Gull put in an appearance and 5+ Little Ringed Plovers could be seen. By the track a to the hide an Emporer Dragonfly was devouring a Damselfly sp.

A Dunlin and Sanderling at the fishing boats.

A 2 hour sea watch in the glorious sunshine this afternoon, in the company of MH and AJG had its moments.

14.00-16.00  From the fishing boats:

Common Scoter: 10E
Gannet: 27W   15E
Cormorant: 8 around
Whimbrel: 2W
Dunlin: 2 landed on beach briefly with the Sanderling then headed West
Sanderling: 28
Mediterranean Gull: 1 ad  E
Yellow-legged Gull: 2 juveniles around
Kittiwake: 3W
Sandwich Tern: 34W   7E
Common Tern: 21W
Sand Martin: 243 out
Grey Seal: 1 bull
Harbour Porpoise: 4+

Sand Martins!

After going through a poor moth catch this morning I went straight to the ARC Hanson hide, where staring into the early morning sun a Little Stint, 7 Ringed Plovers, 2 Green Sandpipers could be seen among c100 Lapwing, also there the 1st summer Little Gull and 100s of Sand Martins which were abundant all day all around the peninsular. A late afternoon visit to Hanson added a Black-tailed Godwit and a Common Sandpiper.

 juvenile Little Grebe on the discovery pool

Between the VC and Firth I flushed a Green sandpiper from the discovery pool, also 2 juvenile Little Grebes there. From Firth hide another Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, a Wood Sandpiper, 4 Redshank and a Greenshank. Another Redshank showed well from Makepiece. At Dengemarsh a Hobby and the usual Marsh Harriers and myriads of Sand Martins. A Bittern flew over the return trail as did a Green Woodpecker. 

 A poor image looking into the sun of the Wood Sandpiper

 Redshank from Makepiece

 An hour spent sea watching lunch time from the fishing boats, where the highlights were a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, an adult Mediterranean Gull a couple of Porpoises but little else.
At Scotney in a very strong wind this afternoon, the 2 seemingly resident Spoonbills, plenty of Yellow Wagtails, a few Corn Buntings and a Little Owl.

Early evening from Firth just a Greenshank of note.

A trickle of waders.

After emptying the trap this morning I made my way to Hanson hide, where apart from plenty of Hirundines, a few LRPs and a Black-tailed Godwit little of note was seen. On Burrowes 2+ Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper, a Little Stint, 13 Dunlin and a Greenshank but little else of note.

Another Little stint on the ARC and a Wood Sandpiper briefly on Burrowes this afternoon per MH.

Greenshank from Firth hide this evening.

At the observatory the fridge was full of moths, the Orache Moth, Splendid Brocade, Brussels Lace and Small Mottled Willows to name a  few.
An early after sea watch was very slow, only enlivened by 3 Harbour Porpoises.
13.30-14.30 from the fishing boats:
Fulmar: 1W
Gannet: 22W
Cormorant: 4 o/s
Mediterranean Gull: 3 o/s all adults
Kittiwake: 2W
Sandwich Tern: 10W
Common Tern: 1W
Swift: 1 out
Harbour Porpoise 3

A mid afternoon walk out to the back of Scotney was curtailed by the onset of heavy drizzle, though I did manage to see the 2 spoonbills and a Little Owl.

A trip to Burrowes this evening found no change from this morning.

 Twenty-plume Moth in the Plodland trap over the weekend

Orache Moth

Splendid Brocade

White-winged Black Tern!

 A welcome in the ARC car park.

 While I was emptying the moth trap this morning, I received a message from Paul W saying that he thought there was a White-winged Black Tern on the ARC from Hanson. 5 minutes later I was watching said bird.

 White-winged Black Tern

While doing some gardening a Hummingbird Hawkmoth appeared on the Buddleia giving me an excuse to stop work and take some more photographs.

Waders!

After going through last nights reasonable moth catch, another Kent Black Arches probably the best, as I emptied the trap a Great-spotted Woodpecker flew noisily over the garden followed shortly by an equally noisy Green Woodpecker, then the local Herring Gulls and Jackdaws started alarming as a Peregrine flew over. I then spent half an hour at the fishing boats where barely a handful of Gannets and Sandwich terns were seen, c15 Common Terns feeding over 3+ Harbour Porpoises and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull on the beach. 5 Lapwing flew down to The Point before turning round and heading back inland and 3 Swifts headed to France. At the observatory DW helped me out with a couple of moth IDs, he and OL also enjoyed ringing a juvenile Magpie caught in the Heligoland Trap. Another local bought a Tree Lichen Beauty to the Observatory which flew off like a rocket as he was showing it.

  Juvenile Yellow-legged Gull

 Sedge Warbler with bling

While wandering around the reserve a Sedge Warbler sporting a ring was feeding young at Christmas Dell. At Dengemarsh at least 6 fast growing Common Tern chicks on one of the rafts, 3+ Marsh Harriers over the reed beds, a Hobby and a Peregrine.

On Burrowes a flock of 45 Redshanks, 2 Ringed Plovers, a Little Ringed Plover, 3 Common Sandpipers, 4 Green Sandpipers and a Mediterranean Gull. 

 Some of the 45 Redshank in front Firth hide

 Mediterranean Gull Firth hide

 Little Owl, sheltering from the mizzle Scotney.

At Scotney several 100 Sand Martins appeared as the mizzle swept in, then disappeared just as quickly as the mizzle cleared. The 2 Spoonbills were still insitu, as were 3 Little Owls, still plenty of Yellow Wagtails and Corn Buntings to be seen and a couple of Tree Sparrows, another Peregrine, a Sparrowhawk, a Hobby and a Marsh Harrier were hunting over the fields. 

 Ruddy Shelducks ARC

Mid afternoon at The ARC from Hanson a 1st summer Little Gull, 58 Redshanks, 6 Greenshank, 4 Black-tailed Godwits, a Ruff, 5 Dunlin, 10 Little Ringed Plovers, a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, a Hobby, a Cuckoo, a Sparrowhawk , a Marsh Harrier, c100 Sand Martins and 2 Ruddy Shelduck which flew in looking tired after their long flight! 

1 of 4 Green Sandpiper at  Firth hide late afternoon

Late afternoon still 43 Redshanks and 4 Green Sandpipers in front of Firth.

Quiet times!

This morning very few Gulls at The Patch as several anglers were fishing there. In a small roost near The Patch 3 juvenile and an adult Mediterranean Gull.

 1 of 3 juvenile Mediterranean Gulls near The Patch today

Sea watching today 10.30-11.30 & 13.30-15.00:

Common Scoter: 52E  16W
Great-crested Grebe: 6 o/s
Gannet: c250 feeding o/s  &  51W
Cormorant: 9 o/s
Oystercatcher: 1W
Turnstone: 1 on beach (my first returning bird)
Whimbrel: 2W
Mediterranean Gull: 3W    2 x ad + 1st summer
Kittiwake: 1W
Sandwich Tern: 130W
Common Tern: 14W
Guillemot: 1E
Sand Martin: 101 out
Harbour Porpoise: 3+
Grey Seal: 1
Hopefully passerine migration will start soon and give me a reason to look in the bushes.

 2 Whimbrel head west past the fishing boats this afternoon

3 Poplar Grey from this mornings catch

Just for Steve Gale!

More sea watching but no Albatross!

 Fulmar

10.00-11.00 & 13.30-16.30 from the fishing boats:
Common Scoter: 14E
Great-crested Grebe: 5 o/s
Fulmar: 1W
Gannet: 21E   242W
Cormorant: 20E   16W
Common Gull: 1 juvenile W
Yellow-legged Gull: 2 on beach
Kittiwake: 3W all adults
Sandwich Tern: 6E  100W
Common Tern: 14W
Auk sp: 3E
Swift: 12 out
Sand Martin: 52 out in a single party
Swallow: 1
Skylark: 1 singing behind beach
Harbour Porpoise: 4

A very confiding Juvenile Yellow-legged Gull

Aglossa pinguinalis (Large Tabby) was new for me.

Last nights moth hall was the best so far for me with 58 macros and 17 micros

Mainly Sea watching!

After emptying the moth trap this morning I drove the short distance to the point for a sea watch from the comfort of the car.
08.40-10.00 from The Point:
Common Scoter: 9E
Great-crested Grebe: 5 o/s
Manx Shearwater: 1W
Gannet: 7E   96W
Cormorant: 8W
Ringed Plover: 2 on beach
Dunlin: 5 in all adults.
Mediterranean Gull: 1E  adult
Kittiwake: 2W adults
Yellow-legged Gull: 1 juvenile on beach
Sandwich Tern: 24W
Common Tern: 14W
Auk sp: 1W
Swift: 63 south
Harbour Porpoise: 1

Gannets passing The point this afternoon.

13.55-16.00  with M.H.

Teal: 7W

Great-crested Grebe: 7 o/s

Manx Shearwater: 2W

Gannet: 21E   119W

Cormorant: 10E  2W   4 o/s

Oystercatcher: 1E

Mediterranean Gull: 2W adults

Yellow-legged Gull: 2 juveniles 1 on beach  1E

Kittiwake: 1W adult

Sandwich Tern: 2E  22W

Common Tern: 1W

Swifts: 141 (including a party of 112)

Harbour Porpoise: 4+ o/s

Grey Seal: 1 o/s

Driving back across the causeway c150 Swifts, c150 Sand Martins, c100 House Martins and a few Swallows over the ARC in the mizzle.  

The first Small Ranunculus of the year in the trap this A.M.

36 macro sp and 12 micro in the trap identified so far today, including another 2 Small Mottled Willows, 4 xylostella, Pine Hawkmoth and 8 Elephant Hawkmoths, 6 Silver Ys, a Grey/Dark Dagger and first 3 Small Ranunclus and first Dun-bar of the year were the pick of the bunch today.

Weekend

Saturday morning at the Scotney complex of note, the 2 Spoonbills asleep, 2 Little Owls around the barns, a Green and Common Sandpiper and the usual Yellow Wagtails, Corn Buntings and Tree Sparrows.

In the evening on the ARC of note a Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank, 4 Little Ringed Plovers, 5 Dunlin and 2 Ringed Plovers.

Distant pic of the Spotted Redshank and Greenshank.

An hour this morning from The Point 09.15-10.15:

Common Scoter: 5E

Great-crested Grebe: 5 o/s

Gannet: 64W     4E

Cormorant: 4 o/s   7W

Sandwich Tern: 27W most carrying fish

Common Tern: 7 o/s  party of 8W

Auk sp: 1E

Swift: 4 south

House Martin: 1 south

Harbour Porpoise: 2 

On the turf at Scotney of note 31 Curlew, a Whimbrel, 6 Ringed Plover , 3 Egyptian Geese and 2 Barnacle Geese, among the hordes of Greylag and Canada Geese.

This evening at the ARC 4 Little Ringed Plovers, a Garganey and a mixed flock of c100 House and Sand Martins.

While putting the moth trap out this evening I watched amazed as a Hobby took a Sand Martin as easily as they take Dragonflys.

A lazy day!

 At Scotney this morning the 2 Spoonbills were on the back lake in their usual pose, it seems as though there maybe 1 pair of Avocets left and 1 pair of Common Terns on the islands, a Common Sandpiper was there along with 13 Black-tailed Godwits, a Little Ringed plover and a Ringed Plover, along with 100s of Greylag Geese several Little Egrets, the usual Yellow Wagtails, Corn Buntings and Tree Sparrows and 3 Little Owls. On the main lake another Common Sandpiper per DG and 2 Egyptian Geese along with 100s more Greylags.

 One of 3 Little Owls showing at Scotney today.

At The Patch 5+ Mediterranean Gulls and 6+ Juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls among the 100s of Herring and Black-headed Gulls, a Black Redstart was feeding along the perimeter wall and a Hummingbird Hawkmoth.

At the ARC 3 Little Ringed Plovers and a  Ringed Plover among c150 Lapwings, also a party of 5 Redshanks at the south end.

I spent the afternoon sky watching from Plodland with a supply of cold drinks whilst listening to the cricket, 3 Little Egrets, a Hobby, a Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, 2 Kestrels, a Sparrowhawk and a pair of noisy Oystercatchers all flew over the garden, a brilliant way to spend a hot summers afternoon. 

6 of the 9 Elephant hawkmoths in the Plodland trap this morning

Bird's wing from this mornings catch.