Across the Channel!

Sea watching from the top of Cap Gris Nez.

Another brilliant day out in northern France with MH,CP and PT. We started with a surprisingly good sea watch at Cap Gris Nez in hazy, still, warm conditions.

Brent Goose: c150N

Garganey: 1N

Common Scoter: c100N

Red-breasted merganser: 7N

Red-throated Diver: 204N

Great-crested Grebe: c25 on sea
Fulmar: c30N

Gannet: c100N

Cormorant: present N/C

Curlew: 4N

Dunlin: 8N

Kittiwake: c100N

Mediterranean Gull: 5N

Little Gull: c30N

Sandwich Tern: 6N

Razorbill: 1N

Auk sp: 9N

Rock Pipit: several present

Yellowhammer: several present.

Harbour Porpoise: 4+

Grey Seal: 1

Several Grey Partridges seen in nearby fields.

Our next stop was Guinnes where in now gloriously warm sunshine we saw several each of Short-toed Treecreepers, Nuthatches, Marsh Tits, Long-tailed Tits a couple of Common Buzzards soared over the wood and Chiffchaffs were singing but woodpeckers were notable by there absence. Also 2 Hawfinches were seen by one of us, not me.  Nearby a Kingfish, Great-white Egret and more Short-toed Treecreepers and Chiffchaffs singing, a Water Rail scuttled along a ditch and others were calling. The ditches around the board walk held plenty of Toads and Frogs.

Next stop was Oye Plage, around the car park 5+ Chiffchaff, from the hide 5 Garganey and plenty of Teal, Gadwall, Wigeon, Pintail, and Mallard, c30 Common Snipe, 15+ Golden Plover, many Lapwing and Little Grebe. At The Escardines c70 Avocet, 2 Black-necked Grebes, 2 Spoonbills, c100 Pintail and more Wigeon, Teal and Shelduck.

 Another good day out in great company with a total of 100 species seen today.

Very little change in the birds around Dungeness in the last couple of days. The first Sand Martin appeared at the ARC this afternoon per BH, also this afternoon a Spoonbill flew around Dengemarsh being seen from the ramp by TH and from Springfield Bridge by RW. A Garganey was seen from the ramp per RO.

Slavonian Grebes and Black-necked Grebes can still be seen on the New Diggings,  5 Smew were on the Boulderwall Pools, also 2 Hares there and 3+ Great White Egrets could be seen. Yesterday by hayfield 3 7 Rock Pipits (4 Littoralis) a surprisingly scarce bird on the ground at Dungeness were feeding by the track. Bitterns, Bearded Tits and Cetti's warblers have been seen frequently around Dengemarsh, even some half hearted booming being heard. By Scott hide 4 Redpolls. 

While walking around Dengemarsh and Scotney today c500 Brent Geese moved east along the coast, 2 more Black-necked Grebes were on Scotney with 48 Dunlin, 12 Ringed Plovers, 2 Redshanks and a Curlew.

Rock Pipit, Dengemarsh

This mornings sea watch 08.00-0845:

Brent Goose: 475E

Tufted Duck: 1E

Common Scoter: 36E   3W

Red-throated Diver: 21E

Great-crested Grebe: present N/C

Gannet: 16E    2W

Harbour Porpoise: 2+

Black-necked Grebe, New Diggings

Yet another cold dull occasionally drizzly day in a brisk NE wind.
Still 2 Slavonian and 1 Black-necked Grebe on the New Diggings as I made my way to the beach this morning.
07.00-09.00 from the sea watch hide:
Brent goose: 1E
Common Scoter: 43E
Red-throated diver: 151E
Great-crested Grebe: present N/C
Fulmar: 12E  1W
Gannet: 64E
Cormorant: present N/C
Oystercatcher: 5E
Black-tailed Godwit: 7E
Mediterranean Gull: 1 around
Sandwich Tern: 4E
Auk sp: 5E
Starling: 1 in
Harbour Porpoise: 3+
After spending a few hours doing domestic stuff I joined SO at the fishing boats for another sea watch.
Probably the worst sea watch I have had at Dungeness:
14.00-15.30
Red-throated Diver: 1E
Great-crested Grebe: present N/C
Cormorant: Present N/C
Gannet: 7E
Oystercatcher: 3W
100+ Brent Geese moved east just before I arrived.

Black-necked Grebe on the New Diggings this morning

A walk this morning from the ARC car park to The Pines produced my first Bittern booming of the year near the water tower albeit half heartedly. A Great White Egret from the screen and 2 Marsh Harriers but no migrants.

On The New Diggings a single Black-necked Grebe, a single red head Smew and a single Slavonian Grebe(2 were present later in the morning).

I joined AJG and DC in the sea watch hide. They'd had quite a good session before I arrived, details can be seen on the DBO web site. We saw a male Black Redstart in the power station compound as we went back to the car park.

At Scotney 4 Black-necked Grebes on the main lake along with c100 Wigeon and few each of Tufted Duck and Pochard. On the sward 33 Dunlin, 12 Ringed Plover, Curlew and a Redshank.

Another sea watch from the Point this afternoon with AJG:

14.00-15.30

Brent Goose: 103E
Common Scoter: 4E
Red-throated Diver: 36E        3W
Great-crested Grebe:  18 on sea
Gannet: 40E
Cormorant: present
Kittiwake: 3E
Sandwich Tern: 1E
Guillemot: 1E      1 on sea
Meadow Pipit: 2 in
Harbour Porpoise: 3
Grey Seal: 1

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