Crecy and Le Crotoy!

This morning I met up with MH,CP and AJG then we caught the 05.45 chunnel train to Calais then drove straight to Crecy Forest. Although it was only 2C the sun was shining and just a mere zephyr of a breeze. Several Short-toed Treecreepers were seen, as were Nuthatches, many Marsh Tits, several Firecrests, Jays, a couple of Common Buzzards and a couple of Mediterranean Gulls flew over. At least 3 Middle Spotted Woodpeckers were heard as well as Green and Great spotted Woodpeckers, Redwings and Chaffinches were moving through the tree tops and Blackbirds were positively abundant. Unfortunately we were a little early for Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps.

We then drove through Sailly Braie seeing several Great White Egrets, 2 Avocets on a small pool, a flock of c70 Black-tailed Godwits put on a superb aerial display, also several more Common Buzzards, Mistle Thrush, Skylarks and 2+ Brambling among a flock of Chaffinches were seen. Great White Egrets were numerous in a scan of the Somme estuary from the sea wall, also 2 White Storks with another sitting on its nest.

In Le Crotoy harbour a flock of 171 Avocets, c100 Redshank c20 Dunlin, several Great-crested Grebes and 2 Little Grebes.

 Garganey at Le Crotoy pools

At Le Crotoy pools a gorgeous drake Garganey was sleeping, also there  Shoveler, Teal, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Pochard, more Redshank, several Snipe, a Mediterranean Gull, several White Wagtails, a Water Pipit, 4 more White Storks, Several Great White Egrets, Little Egrets, 2 Cattle Egrets and superb pale Common Buzzard. Once again I found myself wishing I had my DSLR.

The pale Common Buzzard also had completely white breast and white underwing with dark trailing edges. The photograph does not do it justice.

Great White Egret Le Crotoy pools

Crested Tit, Marquanterre

We moved on to Marquanterre for lunch where a Crested Tit performed for us and a Siskin flew over.

Making our way back towards the A16 we came across some Grey Partridges. A real treat to see these days.

Many thanks to CP for doing the driving, also to MH for supplying the transport and entertaining us with loads of jokes that we've only heard a couple of times before, also to AJG for just being there, he knows what I mean.  All in all excellent day out in great company with a respectable 89 species. 

Another day of cold north easterlies blasting across the Dungeness peninsula today. Before having my annual check up with the doctor I had a quick look at the New Diggings,where the 3 Black-necked Grebes were associating with c25 Tufted Duck and Coots, a single Slavonian Grebe was feeding under the bushes at the south end. At the south end of the ARC c100 each of Shoveler and Gadwall, c50 each of Tufted Duck and Pochard, a few Teal and 3 Goldeneye, also a Marsh Harrier hunting the railway line.
At Scotney 2 more Black-necked Grebes, the feral flock of Barnacle Geese still on the sward along with 2 Curlew and 3 Ringed Plover. Around the lakes c250 Wigeon with smaller numbers of Teal, Tufted Duck and Pochard.
Late morning at Cockles Bridge a Common Buzzard hunched on a post, 2 Red-legged Partridges, c100 Golden Plover and 200 Lapwing running around the fields and flock of 20 Stock Doves all being harassed by a couple of Marsh Harriers, also 2 Great White Egrets sheltering from the wind in the ditches.
From the visitor centre a drake Smew still, 4+ Goldeneye along with 100s of Shoveler and Gadwall sheltering under the far bank. From Dennis's a red head Smew.
A sea watch this afternoon from The Point in the comfort of my car:
14.20-15.50
Brent Goose: 281E    (flock of 250 at 14.40)
Common Scoter: 6E
Red-throated Diver: 5E
Great-crested Grebe: 12 on sea
Gannet: 44E    9W
Cormorant: present N/C
Dunlin: 1E
Snipe: 2E  (along the beach)
Auk sp: 1E   2W
Stock Dove: 2 in
Harbour Porpoise: 3+
   

 The strong bitter cold easterly yesterday made the peninsula virtually unbirdable so I gave up and got on with some over due decorating finishing it off this morning.
A midday wander around the hayfields and Dengemarsh failed to find any of the Garganey, though I dare say I will bump into them soon. A lone Black-tailed Godwit on hayfield 3 with 3 Ringed Plovers, 6 Lapwing, 4 Shelduck, 4 Teal, and 2 Gadwall. Around Dengemarsh 7 Barnacle Geese of unknown origin, 2 Great White Egrets, 3 Marsh Harriers, a Bittern. c150 Wigeon and c30 Gadwall. Plenty of Reed buntings seen but no Bearded Tits today.

3 Black-necked Grebes late afternoon

2 Slavonian Grebes early afternoon

I stopped at the south end of the New Diggings on my way to Greatstone and saw the 2 Slavonian Grebes and a red head Smew. Opposite Greatstone  caravan park, c150 Knot, c100 Dunlin, 20+ Sanderling, 9 Bar-tailed Godwits(my first this year) also several 100s of Oystercatchers all of which were showing well on the incoming tide.

A short sea watch this afternoon from the car was poor.
14.45-15.15

Common Scoter: 3E
Red-throated Diver: 3E
Great-crested Grebe: 26 on sea
Gannet: 4E
Kittiwake: 1E

As I drove back across the causeway I spotted 3 Black-necked Grebes tucked under the bank of the New Diggings. By the time I got the happy snapper onto them they were heading out to the centre of the lake. Apparently my DSLR and lens will take another 2 weeks to repair, so it was just as well I put them in for service early, otherwise I might not have had them for my up coming Moroccan trip.

Still Foggy!

Another very foggy morning on the peninsula. After a full English and emptying the Plodland MV of it's 2 Hebrew Character's, I made my way to the New Diggings where 1 Slavonian and 1 Black-necked Grebe could be seen through the lifting fog. A short wander around the shingle opposite Jarman's found a couple each of Skylark and Meadow Pipit but no Wheatears.

A mill pond calm Scotney still held 3 Black-necked Grebes, of note an adult Mediterranean Gull and 2 Great White Egrets were seen there but little else.

 A happy snapper image of 1 of this afternoons Common Buzzards.

On Walland this afternoon Common Buzzards seemed to be everywhere, a couple of Marsh Harriers were seen, 6 Mistle Thrushes and a few Fieldfare and Redwings are still around the marsh. At Baynham Farm 40+ Tree Sparrows and 4 Yellow Hammers otherwise the marsh was very quiet.

Tomorrow the Lydd  half marathon is taking place on the Walland Marsh lanes so expect delays if driving around there. 

This mornings 2 Hebrew Characters

A benign day!

Dense fog on the peninsula this morning, put paid to any thoughts of sea watching which was probably a mercy. As the fog lifted a wander around the bushes on The Point found very little, a smart male Sparrowhawk unsuccessfully swooped on the House Sparrows at West Beach. The Lighthouse garden seemed to be an avian free zone apart from Wood Pigeons, Magpies and a Crow.
Even the Black Redstarts were hiding from me today. A Peregrine was around the power station and apart from the resident Robins, Dunnocks and Blackbirds I saw very little.
On the New Diggings the 2 Black-necked Grebes were joined briefly by the drake and 2 duck Smew before they went back onto Burrowes to join 6+ Goldeneye and the usual wild fowl also a Great White Egret there.
A walk up the track from the ARC car park to the pines saw 3 Marsh Harriers, one of which tussled with a Bittern right in front of me (still no camera), a Snipe flushed from beside the path, a red head Smew on the top pit and a Chiffchaff was fly catching around the Bamboo.
Another plod around the Scotney complex found 3 Black-necked Grebes and a Goldeneye of note on the main lake. Around the back a Green Sandpiper, 2 Avocet, 4 Pintail, 6 Little Grebes and a few each of Skylark, Corn and Reed Bunting. On the sward 16 Ringed Plovers, 14 Dunlin, 4 Curlew, 3 Redshank,  6 Oystercatchers and 7 Brent Geese among the feral Barnacle Goose flock.
Springfield Bridge round to Dengemarsh this afternoon, saw a Bittern over the reed bed, 10+ Reed Buntings, c40 Lapwing on Hayfield 3 which must very soon host a Garganey, 2 Bearded Tits chasing along the ditches, 3+ Marsh Harriers and a Peregrine putting up all the Wigeon and Greylags.
This evening a Slavonian Grebe was on the New Diggings along with the Black-necked Grebes and the drake Smew again.
6 Great White Egrets and 26 Little Egrets roosted at the ARC this evening.

An Excellent Sea Watch!

I joined the new Dungeness Bird Observatory assistant warden David Campbell in the sea watch hide this morning for a cold, damp, windy but truly memorable sea watch. We were later joined by MH, PT and Barney.
06.25-11.30:
Brent Goose: 246E
Gadwall: 1E
Pintail: 12E
Shoveler: 4E
Teal: 2E
Eider: 11E
Common Scoter: 306E    1W
Red-throated diver: 45E   6W   2 O/S
Great-crested Grebe: present
Fulmar: 412E   3W (inc. 17 Blue Fulmar all E)
Gannet: 875E    3W
Cormorant: present
Oystercatcher: 71E
Avocet: 6E
Curlew: 14E
Dunlin: 1E
Great Skua: 2E   1W
Kittiwake: 718E
Mediterranean Gull: 5E
Sandwich Tern: 1E
Guillemot: 53E   2W
Razorbill: 1E
Auk sp: 156E   2W
Meadow Pipit: 2E
Starling: 6E
Harbour Porpoise: 1
Grey Seal: 1

Very frustratingly several of the Blue Fulmars came past very close but my camera is still being repaired.

A lunchtime stop at the southern end of the New Diggings found 3 Black-necked Grebes and 2 Slavonian Grebes.

At the fishing boats this afternoon normal service resumed:
14.05-15.30
Common Scoter: 1E
Red-throated Diver: 1W
Gannet: 2E
Oystercatcher: 10E
Mediterranean Gull: 1W ad
Guillemot: 3E
Auk sp: 3E

2 Slavonian Grebes, 2 Black-necked Grebes and 2 red head Smew seen on The New Diggings this morning while on my way to the beach. 

Black-necked Grebe, New Diggings taken with the happy snapper this morning.

In 2 sea watches today 07.45-09.00 & 13.50-15.40:
Brent Goose: 47E
Common Scoter: 12E     6W
Velvet Scoter: 3E
Eider: 3E
Red-throated Diver: 32E      3W     2 on sea
Great-crested Grebe: 105 on sea
Gannet: 19E      2W
Cormorant: present N/C
Oystercatcher: 8E
Kittiwake: 10E     3W
Guillemot: 8E       15 on sea
Auk sp: 67E     2W
Black Redstart: 2 on perimeter fence
Harbour Porpoise: 4+
A wander around Scotney found 2 Great White Egrets on the back lakes, also 2 Avocet, 4 Pintail and a few Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall and Shoveller. On the fields several each of Skylarks, Corn Buntings, Reed Buntings and a Marsh Harrier.
Another Great White Egret from the entrance track of the reserve, while on Burrowes 3 more Smew, 8+ Goldeneye, 100s of Shoveler, Teal, Tufted Duck and Pochard.

1 of 3 around the car park

Another day of cold Northerly winds with sleet, hail and rain showers. A stop at the New Diggings on my way to the beach saw both Slavonian and both Black-necked Grebes.

At The Patch the bulk of the c1,000 Gulls was made up of Black-headed Gulls, I was unable again to find any of the more unusual Gulls. On the sea the usual Great-crested Grebes and Cormorants, with a few Red-throated Divers and Gannets tooing and froing. Back at the car park 3 Black Redstarts were chasing around. At least 1 was ringed so they probably resident birds. Very little in the lighthouse garden though 2 Blue Tits dropped out of the sky pausing briefly before heading off north along the peninsula.

A walk from the ARC car park to the pines saw of note 2 Marsh Harriers, 4 Common Snipe, 3 Cetti's Warblers, a Chiffchaff and a red head Smew on the top tower pit. 

At a bleak Scotney a few Ringed Plovers and Meadow pipits on the sward was a poor highlight. 

Most the rest of the day was taken up with domestic stuff, though a short visit to Dennis's hide saw 7 Goldeneye, 3 Smew including the drake and a couple of Marsh Harriers.

 Still showing well.

A quick spin around the reserve this morning the Long-eared Owl was still insitu at the Dipping Pool, on Burrowes 4 Smew including the drake and 10 Goldeneye, Great White Egret at Christmas Dell, another at Dengemarsh and another at Boulderwall, 3+ Marsh Harriers, 2 Common Buzzards and a Peregrine probably accounted for the lack of waders and wildfowl in the fields. Cetti's Warblers were singing all around the reserve also 2 Chiffchaffs noted.

 Missing my proper camera & lense!

On the new Diggings the 2 Slavonian Grebes were showing well by the causeway this morning, this afternoon the 2 Black-necked Grebes were there as well.

Herring Gull U5NT

This morning and again this afternoon the northerly winds meant the sea was very quiet. The usual Grebes and Cormorants, with a few each of Guillemot and Gannet. A North Thames ringed Herring Gull U5NT was a new bird for me.

An early afternoon walk around Scotney was pleasant in the sunshine, avian wise it was very poor, there were 4 more North Thames ringed Herring Gulls on the eastern causeway, unfortunately just to far away to read in the windy conditions. 

Another day of cold North Westerlies. As expected nothing moving at sea but still plenty of Great-crested Grebes and Cormorants with a sprinkling of Red-throated Divers off shore.

Very quiet still around the trapping area, a single Firecrest seen and 2 Song Thrushes of note. Around the power station a Peregrine and a male Black Redstart.

At the south end of the New Diggings 2 Slavonian Grebes and a Black-necked Grebe of note.

A Peregrine sitting on the Sward at Scotney meant that there were no waders or wildfowl there.

A walk along the sea wall from Jurys Gap to Galloways and back was bracing and not very productive, c70 Wigeon, 32 Shelduck, 14 Shoveler, 8 Teal, 3 Pintail, 17 Mallard and 6 Redshank on the Midrips/Wicks. Passerines were few and far between with only 4 Meadow Pipits, 3 Reed Buntings and 5 Pied Wagtails. A Marsh Harrier livened up a very damp walk back.

The new sea defences from Jurys Gap to Camber.