Enjoying the sunshine!

 2 adult Harbour Porpoises with a calf off the fishing boats yesterday

 1 of 2 juvenile Redshank from Makepiece

Early this morning at The Patch lots of Gulls including 2 juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls, though not a single Tern. There were no Gulls on the beach as our far eastern friends were fishing there for non existent Mackerel. 

 Common Tern

On the reserve islands are beginning to show, I'm sure a few more days of this glorious weather will be enough to get some islands on the ARC as well as Burrowes. The only waders I saw were a couple of Redshanks, a Whimbrel and a Curlew, apparently 5 Black-tailed Godwits flew in after I left. I spent a bit of time watching the Common Terns fishing in the mill pond like New Excavations, although they only caught tiddlers it seems they are catching enough to raise young on the Tern rafts on Dengemarsh. As I walked towards Christmas Dell a Brown Hawker was posing and a Little Egret flew over. At Dengemarsh I met MH and we wandered around the hay fields where c20 Yellow Wagtails were feeding, a Raven and a Hobby flew over and a couple of Water Rails were squealing. From Dengemarsh hide 3 Marsh Harriers and 2 Bearded Tits were the highlights.

This afternoon at The ARC the only notable things were the Swallows nesting in the screen hide and the Gulls an Lapwings actually standing in the water where the islands should be.

I met MH again at the fishing boats this afternoon where in 45 minutes just a single Gannet flew west, 2 Cormorants were fishing a single Great Black Backed Gull sat on the beach and several Herring Gulls loafed, got to be the worst sea watch I have had at Dungeness! But hey sitting basking in the glorious sunshine sure beats the hell out of working. Retirement rocks!! 

 Common Tern

 Common Tern

 Common Tern

 Common Tern

 Brown Hawker

Little Egret

The last few nights the moth trap has been very busy, a lot of my time has been spent going through the 100s of moths, nothing very unusual so far. A few of them below.

 Dingy Footman

 Coleophora trifoli

 Lozotaeniodes formosana

 Batia lambdella

Bordered Beauty

Mainly Moths!

Cynaeda dentalis a stunning micro!

Last night was the best night of the year so far for moths in the Plodland MV. It took me the best part of the morning to go through them all, then take those I couldn't ID to the observatory for DW to enlighten me.

A wander around the reserve this afternoon was typically quiet for the time of day and year, A few islands on Burrowes attracted a Little Stint, 3 Dunlin, 3 Redshank including a partial albino juvenile, 3 Ringed Plovers and a Turnstone. Elsewhere on the reserve a Hobby 3 Marsh Harriers, 5+ Little Egrets and few singing warblers.

This evening at Scotney, 7 Common Sandpipers, 23 Curlews, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Little Owls, a distant Barn Owl, a few pulses of Sand martins heading west, a few each of Yellow Wagtails and Corn Buntings and 3 Marsh Harriers.

Barn Owls!

One of this evenings Barn Owls at Scotney

 Commom Terns at Dengemarsh

After being tied up with domestic stuff for the best part of a month it was good to get out today and return to some semblance of normality.

First thing this morning I walked from Springfield Bridge around the hay fields to Dengemarsh and Hookers. Among the Cows on Dengemarsh Flood, 30+ Yellow Wagtails mostly juveniles were busy feeding along with a few Meadow Pipits, Pied Wagtails and Reed Buntings. A family of Bearded Tits were in the adjacent ditch. No sign of the Glossy Ibis or Cattle Egret but 4+ Little Egrets in hay field 3 with regular pulses of Sand Martins heading into the NW wind. On Dengemarsh the Common terns were busy feeding chicks, while over the reed bed 2 Marsh Harriers were hunting. From the viewing ramp another party of Bearded Tits, lots of Reed Warblers and Reed Buntings, also a couple of Cetti's Warblers could be heard chacking as could a couple of squealing Water Rails.

Goldfinches taking advantage of fresh water at Plodland

 2nd year Great Black Backed Gull with an anglers discard.

Another uneventful sea awtch this afternoon 15.00-16.15 from the fishing boats,
Common Scoter: 12W
Gannet: 17E       8W
Cormorant: 7 around
Oystercatcher: 11W
Dunlin: 1E
Black-headed Gull: 23W
Common Gull: 4W
Herring Gull: N/C
Great Black Backed Gull: N/C
Sandwich Tern: 7W
Common Tern: 3W
Late afternoon at the ARC some islands are almost appearing so hopefully no rain in the near future. The Swalllows have started laying in the Screen Hide hopefully they will be successful again.

 This evening I decided to cycle to Scotney and around the tracks at the back of the lakes. Yellow Wagtails were every where, also a few Corn Buntings, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Greenshank, a Curlew and a Whimbrel. 2 Barn Owls gave superb views and a Little Owl was in the usual spot. The island in the western back lake was bird less, I would like to think that all the Avocets, Oystercatchers and Black-headed Gulls have fledged there young, but in reality I believe the Badgers have swum out and taken them all as they did last year.

 Stunning views of the Barn Owls

 Corn Bunting

 Little Owl

Whimbrel coming in to roost at last light

Ibis again!

This morning I had a walk around the hay fields, over Dengemarsh at least 150 Sand Martins and 30 Swifts were feeding over the lake,  as I reached Springfield Bridge the Glossy Ibis flew across Dengemarsh and settled in hay field 3. A couple of minutes later as I arrived at the entrance to the field the Ibis was busy feeding with a Little Egret in the open water near the gate. I took a few images but as the light was  awful I moved on to Dengemarsh hide where at least 10 Tern chicks were seen on the raft. Walking back to the car the Ibis was still in hay field 3 though the weather was closing in as the drizzle started.

 Glossy Ibis. In one end out the other!

 Feeding well despite its injured leg.

 Glossy Ibis and friend

 Common Terns at Dengemarsh

As the drizzle cleared I joined MH at the fishing boats for a sea watch. Both of sitting in our chairs in the middle of July in fleeces, hats and gloves.
15.00-16.00:
Great-crested Grebe: 1 o/s
Gannet: 49W   3E
Cormorant: 11 around
Kittiwake: 1W
Black-headed Gull: 16W
Sandwich Tern: 14W       4 o/s
Swift: 52S
Skylark: 1 singing behind beach
Harbour Porpoise: 3+
Hummingbird Hawkmoth: 1 in

Below a few images of Moths from last nights catch at Plodland.

 Pine Hawkmoth

Catoptria pinella

Ethmia bipunctella

Sandwich

While I was sea watching at The point this morning, I was mercifully saved from what was  a very boring watch by the arrival of  DW and GH  who suggested we go to Sandwich Bay to see the Marsh Heleborine's.  

 100s of Marsh Heleborine's at Sandwich Bay

 Marsh Heleborine

 5 Spot Burnet, Sandwich Bay

 Small Copper, Sandwich Bay

 Marbled White, Sandwich Bay

The Plodland MV  was quite busy this morning

 Oncocera semirubella

 Argyresthia brockeella

Vapourer

1st Yellow-legged Gull of the Summer!

Had a very frustrating morning waiting in for the delivery of my new camera, whilst knowing that the elusive Glossy Ibis was showing well in the hay fields just a few minutes away. The camera duly arrived just before lunch. Without unpacking the new one I grabbed my old camera jumped on my bike and started off towards the hay field. By the entrance to the go cart track the bike juddered to a halt with a puncture in the rear wheel! I pushed the bike back home acquired a new inner tube and fixed the bike ready to have another try. Fortunately AJG pulled up and saved me from myself by driving me to the hay field.

 The Ibis duly showed quite well enough for us to be able to see that it's leg was injured. Around Dengemarsh a couple of Hobby's were hawking, A Marsh Harrier over the reed beds and some Common Terns feeding young on the Tern raft.

 Glossy Ibis hobbling around the field

 In Dengemarsh Road a Grass Snake slithered across the road in front of us, AJG caught it giving us a chance to view it up close.

Juvenile Yellow-legged Gull 1st one this summer

 14.30-16.00 from the fishing boats with MH & AJG,

Gannet: 3E      14W

Cormorant: 7 around

Whimbrel: 4W

Kittiwake: 4W

Mediterranean Gull: 8 feeding along the colour change

Black-headed Gull: 13W (2 juveniles)

Yellow-legged Gull: a single juvenile

Herring Gull: 6 around

Great Black Backed Gull: 4 around

Sandwich Tern: 13W

Auk sp: 1E

Swift: 18S

Sand Martin: 3S

Harbour Porpoise: 2+

 Juvenile Yellow-legged Gull

Lime Hawk Moth in the MV last night

At The Patch this morning very few birds, not a single Common Tern and just 1 Sandwich Tern noted passing off shore, 2 Mediterranean Gulls on the beach were the only of notable Gulls.

On the reserve all the usual eclipse wildfowl. 2 Common Sandpipers on Burrowes later on per MH.

A Glossy Ibis was seen in Hayfield 2 but there was no sign late afternoon when I was looking for it. Dengemarsh seems to be awash with young Greylags and Canada Geese, lets hope all the birds have done as well. 

An hour mid afternoon at the fishing boats in the company of MH, was probably the slowest sea watch I have had at Dungeness. Just 3 Gannets, 11 Common Scoter that flew east and were probably nearer Cap Gris Nez, 13 Black-headed Gulls flew west and just 2 Sandwich Terns.

1 of several Goldfinches visiting the Plodland feeders.

The MV was much fuller of late but contained nothing unusual.

Mediterranean Gulls!

A short watch at The Patch this morning:

Common Scoter: 8W

Gannet: 16W    2E

Cormorant: 14 around

Mediterranean Gull: 3  (1ad + 2  3rd cal yr)

Black-headed Gull: c150    6 juveniles

Herring Gull: c200

Lesser Black Backed Gull: 5

Great Black Backed Gull: 26

Sandwich Tern: 2 o/s

Harbour Porpoise: 2+

 Dunnock collecting nesting material in front of Dennis's hide yesterday

Yesterday afternoon I spent a little time in Hanson hide with MH. At the moment just the old Cormorant Island has any exposed beach, hopefully this weather will continue for a while and help more islands to appear in time for the autumn wader passage. While we there the lake was covered in Coots, Gadwall, Mute Swans, Tufted Ducks and eclipse Pochard, the highlight was nice views of a Bittern flying across the lake. 

This afternoon 14.30-16.00 I joined MH at the fishing boats where we sat soaking up the glorious sunshine while having an unexpectedly interesting sea watch. Mediterranean Gulls are relatively common at Dungeness, 23W is very unusual especially as we only had a single Black-headed Gull go west.

Gannet: 28W   3E
Cormorant: 13 around
Dunlin: 2 in
Kittiwake: 1W
Mediterranean Gull: 23 W   ( 19 ad  + 4   3rd cal yr)
Black-headed Gull: 1W
Herring Gull: 4 on beach    ( c40  at the fish hut)
Great Black Backed Gull: 2E     (8 at the fish hut)
Sandwich Tern: 4 o/s
Harbour Porpoise: 2+
Grey Seal: 1

 2 of this afternoons Mediterranean Gulls

Late afternoon at Scotney, 5 Black-tailed Godwits over was the highlight. To visit Scotney, park just off the main road inside the entrance to Scotney farm on the strip off rough ground on the right hand side of the concrete road immediately in front of the old wheel wash.  

Evergestis limbata in the Plodland trap this morning

Although the weather has warmed up I am still getting very low numbers of moths in the MV. 

A quiet Weekend

A very quiet weekend bird wise. Yesterday I parked up at Jury's Gap and walked along The Midrips to Galloways and back in the vain hope of locating some Grey Partridges. It seemed a good idea at the time even though the wind was rather stronger than I anticipated. Avian wise it was a very poor with just 2 Wheatears seen both adults, 7 Avocets, 6 Redshanks, 2 Curlew and 4 Ringed Plovers. Meadow Pipits with beak fulls of caterpillars were frequent along the sea wall and a couple of Skylarks were seen, off shore a few Sandwich and Common Terns feeding. I'm sure had I been into wild flowers it would have been a very rewarding hike, but as my knowledge of wild flowers is very limited it was lot of effort for a very poor return.
After yesterdays disappointment I dusted of my bike and cycled down to Dengemarsh, where 3 Hobby's were hawking dragonflies, Marsh Harriers were quartering the reed beds, a few Swifts and Swallows were over the hay fields, a Bittern flew over the reed bed the first I've seen in a while and 2 Yellow Wagtails were at Springfield Bridge. Reed Buntings seem to have had a good year as there appears to be plenty of youngsters around.
Early afternoon I cycled out to Scotney then out towards the wind turbines. No sign of the Spoonbill today nor yesterday, at the back of Scotney plenty of Yellow Wagtails, Corn Buntings and Reed Buntings. A pair of Tree Sparrows were seen also a Barn Owl, Little Owl, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Little Egrets and all the usual feral Geese.
Good to see the Gull boys (Mick & Richard) back at Dungeness today, the Yellow-legged Gulls cant be far away.
Early evening at the fishing Boats 17.40-18.40 very quiet:
Great Crested Grebe: 1 o/s
Gannet: 4E    29W
Cormorant: 3 around
Sandwich Tern:  3 o/s
Common Tern: 1 o/s