An excellent days Sea Watching at Dungeness!

Arctic Skua

0-5.50-12.00 & 13.30-18.00
Brent Goose: 339 9E
Shelduck: 8E
Gadwall: 14E
Pintail: 6E
Shoveler: 23E
Teal: 8E
Common Scoter: 2,018E     17W
Red-breasted Merganser: 65E
Red throated Diver: 65E
Black-throated Diver: 2E
Great-crested Grebe: present n/c
Fulmar: 14E
Manx Shearwater: 16E
Gannet: 517E
Cormorant: present n/c
Oystercatcher: 15E
Ringed Plover: 1 around
Grey Plover: 6E
Knot: 8E
Whimbrel: 11E
Bar-tailed  Godwit: 7E
Sanderling: 3E
Dunlin 6 up
Marsh Harrier: 1 in
Peregrine: 1 around
Great skua: 1E
Arctic Skua: 26E     (24 DP  2 LP)
Mediterranean Gull: 7E   1W
Little Gull: 77E
Kittiwake: 51E
Iceland Gull: 1 (1w flew west early morning then reappeared at The patch briefly early afternoon)
Little Tern: 1E
Sandwich Tern: 937E
Common Tern: 311E
Arctic Tern: 2E
Guillemot: 1 on sea
Razorbill: 3E
Auk sp: 18E   10W
Swallow : 1 in
Yellow Wagtail: 1 in
Linnet:21 coasting

A brief early afternoon look at the New Diggings saw the 2 Slavonian grebes and a Black-necked Grebe. The only news from the reserve was that the Tundra Bean Goose is still present and that there are plenty of Sedge Warblers now in. The Pied Flycatcher and Redstarts were still at the north end of the Long Pits today.

Pied Flycatcher!

 White faced Brent Goose!

With a South Easterly blowing the usual suspects and myself arrived early at the sea watch full of expectation, we weren't disappointed.

05.55-10.00

Brent Goose:  875E
Shelduck: 3E
Pintail: 7E
Shoveler: 23E
Teal: 4E
Common Scoter: 1,022E
Velvet Scoter: 2E
Red-breasted Merganser: 7E
Red-throated Diver; 7E  1W
Black-throated Diver: 1E
Great Northern Diver: 1E
Great-crested Grebe: present n/c
Fulmar: 7E
Gannet: 55E
Cormorant: present n/c
Kestrel: 1 male  out
Oystercatcher: 1E
Arctic Skua: 5E  all DP
Mediterranean Gull: 6E
Kittiwake: 1E
Sandwich Tern: 1,039E
Common Tern: 189E
Guillemot: 1E
Auk sp:  23E   5W
Linnet: 21 in
Harbour Porpoise: 7+
Grey Seal: 1

Pied Flycatcher north end of the Long Pits.

At north end of the Long Pits a superb Pied Flycatcher was found by Sean O'donnell, also there 2+ Common Redstarts, several each of Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps, a Water Rail, Cetti's Warbler and a Stoat.

On the New Diggings still 2 Slavonian Grebes and a Black-necked Grebe. A White Stork flew over the reserve seen only by a lucky few. 

Another slower sea watch this afternoon 13.40-17.00 numbers kindly collated by AJG.

Brent Goose: 4E
Shoveller: 8E
Common Scoter: 321E   4W
Red-breasted Merganser: 2E
Red-throated Diver: 1E
Gannet: 12E    2W
Whimbrel: 4E
Sanderling: 5E
Dunlin: 2E
Knot: 1E
Great Skua: 1E
Mediterranean Gull: 3 around
Yellow-legged Gull: 1  2w around
Kittiwake: 2E
Sandwich Tern: 136E
Common Tern: 33E
Guillemot 1E
Auk sp 21 down
Swallow 1 in
Linnet 7 up

A few Skua's!

A reasonable sea watch halted due to rain and poor visibility 07.40-09.10:
Common Scoter: 53E
Red-throated Diver: 3E
Fulmar: 14E  2W
Manx Shearwater: 2E
Gannet: 47E    23W
Great Skua: 6E
Auk sp: 5E
Harbour Porpoise: 3+
A stop off on the causeway found 2 Black-necked Grebes on the New Diggings but no Hirundines there or over the ARC.

Vauxhalls latest all terrain vehicle. Driven by plonkers!

12.40-16.30 from the sea watch hide with AJG & DC.

Brent Goose: 456E

Shoveler: 2E

Common Scoter: 67E       8W

Velvet Scoter: 3E

Red-breasted Merganser: 1W  Drake

Red-throated Diver: 5E      2W

Black-throated Diver: 2E

Gannet: 96E

Sanderling: 5E

Great Skua: 8E

Arctic Skua: 3E    2 x DP      1 x LP

Kittiwake: 1E    

Mediterranean Gull: 2W   ads

Sandwich Tern: 208E

Common Tern: 21E

Harbour Porpoise: 3+

Another late afternoon stop on the causeway and still no Hirundines.

At Galloways no sign of the Whinchat for me but a rubicola Stonechat present. 

Hooded Crow!

With the a West wind blowing I decided to have a look around the hay fields first thing this morning for Water Pipits, I found none just a couple of Meadow Pipits. Marsh Harriers were over the reed beds but little else of note was seen.

While I was there David Campbell text me to say a Hooded Crow had flown West past the sea watch hide. As I arrived at the sea watch hide AJG & DC left as virtually nothing was passing. I settled in for a slow watch, which was mercifully cut short by news from OL that the Hooded Crow or another was on the beach at the Lifeboat Station heading towards the fishing boats, which is where I caught up with it, also a Wheatear on the beach by the boats.   

An uncooperative Hooded Crow on the beach.

 Yellow Wagtail and Corn Bunting at Scotney.

Around Scotney of note 8 Avocet and 4 Mediterranean Gulls on the back lakes, several each of Yellow Wagtail, Corn Bunting and Skylark but no sign of the 1w Iceland Gull.

Late afternoon on New Diggings still at least 2 Black-necked Grebes nearby 2 red head Smew on the Boulderwall Pools. There were still a few Willow Warblers and Firecrests around the Peninsula per DW & DB.

 Black-necked Grebe

A few Willow Warblers!

A walk around the scrub on The point this morning saw 8+ Willow Warblers, 5 Chiffchaffs, 3 Firecrests, 2 Goldcrests, a Continental Coal Tit, a great spotted Woodpecker and 40 Brent Geese moving east.

Walking along the High Street in New Romney after mid morning trip to the barbers, the local Gulls alerted me to the presence of a Red Kite sailing over.

At the ARC a couple of Sedge Warblers singing along with several Cetti's Warblers, 2 Common Terns over the lake and a male Marsh Harrier displaying high over the Water Tower.

Late morning at the northern end of the Long Pits phyloscs seemed to be in every bush, 40+ Willow Warblers & 30+ Chiffchaffs are probably conservative numbers, also 3 Blackcaps, a Firecrest and several Goldcrests, but no sign of any of the Common Redstarts seen earlier by others.

I've seen plenty of Chiffchaffs with black pollen on there faces, but this is the first Firecrest

 Firecrest lighthouse Garden

 Common Redstart Lighthouse Garden.

Late afternoon in the Lighthouse Garden 3+ Firecrests, 2+Goldcrests and a very elusive Common Redstart that gave the briefest of views before disappearing back into centre of the garden.

A late afternoon stop at the New Diggings found 3 Black-necked Grebes and 2 Slavonian Grebes, nearby on the Boulderwall Pool 5 Smew including 1 drake. In the Boulderwall Garden 5 Tree Sparrows and a female Brambling.

No sign of the Water Pipit at Springfield Bridge this evening. On my return home a Swallow was on the wires outside, 

Swallow at Plodland this evening

A late start at the sea watch hide for me this morning but still a reasonable watch 08.15-09.50:
Brent Goose: 495E
Common Scoter: 194E
Eider: 3E
Red-breasted Merganser: 2E
Red-throated Diver: 37E
Black-throated Diver: 1E
Great-crested Grebe: present n/c
Fulmar: 1E
Gannet: 4E
Cormorant: present n/c
Arctic Skua: 1E
Kittiwake: 3W
Little Gull: 13E
Mediterranean Gull: 2 around
Sandwich Tern: 63E
Common Tern: 2E

On the New Diggings 4 Black-necked Grebes & 2 Slavonian Grebes. On the Boulderwall Pools still 3 Smew 1 drake, 3 Little Egrets and Great White Egret.

 1w Iceland Gull Scotney back pit. bird sat in middle honest!

At Scotney late morning 19 Ringed Plovers, a Dunlin, 3 Redshank, 3+ Yellow Wagtails, 7+ Corn Buntings, a Black Redstart and a 1w Iceland Gull of note.

 Yellow Wagtail, Scotney.

 Going for quantity not quality Steve!

An afternoon sea watch from the fishing boats was slow.
14.40-16.00:
Brent Goose: 5E
Common Scoter: 5E
Red-throated Diver: 30E
Gannet: 7E     2W
Oystercatcher: 1E
Kittiwake: 2E    1W
Sandwich Tern: 24E
Linnet: 1 in
Harbour Porpoise:  2+

Herald moth my 1st of the year in the Plodland MV last night

A stop off at the New Diggings on the way to the beach saw 3 Black-necked Grebes and a Slavonian Grebe among the Coot.
07.45-11.40 from the sea watch hide
Brent Goose: 681E
Shelduck: 7E
Pintail: 9E
Shoveler: 2E
Teal: 2E
Eider: 1E
Common Scoter: 413E    1W
Red-breasted Merganser: 20E
Red-throated Diver: 35E
Black-throated Diver: 7E
Fulmar: 6E
Gannet: 62E     2W
Great Skua: 1E
Arctic Skua: 7E
Kittiwake: 12E
Little Gull: 40E
Mediterranean Gull: 4E    +  2 x 1w on The Patch
Sandwich Tern: 131E
Common Tern: 17E
Auk sp:  11E
Harbour Porpoise: 4+

The reserve was busy but 5 Smew including 1 drake were still on the Boulderwall Pools as was 3 Little Egrets and a Great White Egret. 10+ Little Gulls were on Burrowes, also still 4+ Goldeneye hanging on.
Late afternoon 4 Wheatears opposite Jarmans.

2 Excellent Sea Watches!

Great Skua past the hide

Combined totals for 2 excellent sea watches today: 06.15-10.30 + 13.40-15.40
Brent Goose: 654E   2W
Shelduck: 2E
Common Scoter: 896E
Velvet Scoter: 14E  (flocks of 8 + 6)
Red-breasted Merganser: 18E
Red-throated Diver: 71E    2W
Black-throated Diver: 4E
Great Northern Diver: 2E
Great-crested Grebe: 14 on sea
Fulmar: 10E   1 around
Gannet: 199E   5W
Oystercatcher: 4E
Great Skua: 4E
Arctic Skua: 4E
Kittiwake: 26E
Mediterranean Gull: 6E
Little Gull: 90E
Sandwich Tern: 532E
Common Tern: 42E
Guillemot: 1E
Auk sp: 5E
Wheatear: 2 on beach
Linnet: 2 out
Harbour Porpoise: 5+

Brent Geese past the hide

Keeping up the Wheatear count! 1 of 4 opposite Jarmans this afternoon.

Late afternoon at least 3 Black-necked Grebes and a Slavonian Grebe on the New Diggings.

 Still a few Firecrests around The Point and Long Pits today but not a great deal else, seemingly very little overhead migration. 2 Black-necked Grebes still on the New Diggings. At the ARC a male Brambling by the car park, 2 Chiffchaffs, several singing Cetti's Warbler, numerous Reed Buntings, 3 Marsh Harriers, also a Bittern booming regularly.

Black-necked Grebe

Brambling ARC car park

As the breeze picked up from a southerly vector I thought I'd try a sea watch this afternoon. At least it was warm sitting in the sunshine and the shelter of the boats.
14.00-16.30 From the fishing boats:
Brent Goose: 31E  (6+2+23)
Common Scoter: 7E
Red-throated Diver: 7E
Great-crested Grebe: 6 present
Gannet: 2E
Oystercatcher: 1E
Kittiwake: 3 present
Sandwich Tern: 12E
Harbour Porpoise: 4+ around

Black-necked Grebe!

Much quieter around The Point today, but still a few Firecrests, Chiffchaffs, Goldcrests and Wheatears around. A Brambling flying over the observatory was my first for the year.

On the New Diggings 2 Slavonian Grebes and 2 Black-necked Grebes and a Swallow through. At the back of Scotney my first 2 Yellow Wagtails of the year, also of note a couple of Corn Buntings, some Skylarks, 2 Common Buzzards and Peregrine. On the walk back 2 more Yellow Wagtails flew over.

 Yellow Wagtails, Scotney.

An afternoon wander around Dengemarsh from Springfield Bridge saw of note, 2 Rock Pipits, a White Wagtail, 4 Bearded Tits, another Swallow and a Great White Egret.

Late afternoon following a tip off from Tony and Brenda I got superb views of a Black-necked Grebe on the reserve, also my 150th patch species this year a Merlin.

Keeping the Wheatear count up for Mr Gale!