Bittern over Boulderwall

First thing this morning as I drove into the reserve a Bittern flew over Boulderwall and 2 Cuckoo's flew over the entrance Track. From Dennis's many Swifts and House Martins could be seen over Burrowes, New Diggings, ARC and Lade. On Burrowes 2 Avocets still and 2 Ringed Plovers, in the Sallows, Reeds and scrub Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers were singing along with Common and Lesser Whitethroats.

 Bearded Tit Denge Marsh

At Denge Marsh a family of Bearded Tits were by the path, the Common Terns could be heard screaming as they dive bombed the Herring Gull that is on the Tern raft. Around the hay fields breeding Redshanks, Oystercatchers and Lapwings gave me a hot reception.

 Redshank by the hay fields
I have tried enlarging the image to read the ring.

 Oystercatcher by the hay fields

 Common Tern at Denge Marsh

Around the ARC 10+ Hobby's, the usual Marsh Harriers and 1+ Little Ringed Plover along with all the warblers that can be seen all over the reserve.

 1 of 2 Little Terns feeding off shore this afternoon

15.00-16.15 from the fishing boats with AJG:

Great-crested Grebe: 2 around

Gannet: 15 up   12 down

Arctic Skua: 1 up  pale phase

Little Tern: 2 feeding off shore

Sandwich Tern: 12 feeding off shore

Common Tern: 4 down   6 feeding off shore

Grey Seal: 1

Birds Wing from today's catch

A couple of more images of The Midrips Stilts.

After emptying the Moth Trap this morning I took a stroll around Scotney. The main lake and sward were quiet, just the usual feral Geese, on the back lake islands, 30+ Avocet with at least 7 young, a single pair of Common Terns and 4 pairs of Herring Gulls. In the fields plenty of Yellow Wagtails, Skylarks and Corn Buntings.

Common Tern Denge Marsh

The Burrowes was quiet, though 7 Avocets there was new, the usual Reed, Sedge and Cetti's could be seen and heard all round the reserve as could Common and Lesser Whitethroat. At Denge Marsh the Common Terns were still trying to move the Herring Gulls off the raft. The Herring Gulls eggs will be hatching very soon, I guess the Terns nests will be wiped out by them. Hobby's were showing well from the ramp.

On the ARC many House Martins and Swallows with a few Swifts were hawking very high over the lake, also a few more Hobby's there and a Little Ringed Plover. 

Hobby from the ramp

After an excellent spring of sea watching (228 Pomarine Skuas) we are now in the summer doldrums, so this afternoon at the fishing boats it was no surprise that there were just a few Common and Sandwich Terns feeding off shore along with a few Gannets, at least 4 Harbour Porpoises and a Grey seal were there.

Whimbrel taken at The Midrips

Barred Red

The MV has been bulging in the last couple of days but little of note was found.

Rosy Starling & Black-winged Stilts!

Barn Owl by the entrance track to VC Thursday

Hobby over the ramp Thursday

Turtle Dove, Dengemarsh Thursday

Rosy Starling Thursday evening behind the Corrall, it took me most of the day to find it. 

 Dungeness first for me, not a single bird over The Patch this morning!

After visiting an avian free Patch this morning seeing of note just a single Swallow resting on the power station fence, I went to the reserve where the Avocets were still in front of Firth but little else. From the ramp 3+ Hobby's a family of Bearded Tits but no sign of yesterdays Rosy Starling. Apart from another Bee-eater seen by a lucky few, me not included the peninsular was very quiet.

A visit to The Midrips this afternoon however provided an unexpected bonus in the form of 2 Black-winged Stilts, most of the locals managed to see them despite the difficulties gaining access to this site. Also there 14 Avocets, a Whimbrel, several Mediterranean Gulls, and a couple of broods of Shelducklings.

Honey Buzzard!

 Avocets from Firth Hide

After sorting through a very full MV finding only a Shoulder Striped Wainscot of any quality, I went straight to the reserve. From Dennis's 3 of the nest boxes were occupied by Common Gull and another by an Oystercatcher. From Firth and Makepiece the 2 Avocets still also a Ringed Plover and 2 Hobby's there. A walk up to Christmas Dell found the usual species but nothing of note. 

 Oystercatcher taking over a nest box

At the ARC from Hanson 2 more Avocets, a Little Ringed Plover, c50 House Martins, 2 Cuckoo's and 2 more Hobby's. As I walked back to the car park and was admiring some Southern Marsh Orchids, when a Crow alerted me to the presence of a large raptor that I immediately lost sight of as it flew behind Boulderwall Farmhouse, fortunately it reappeared and came straight and low over the car park heading towards the Water Tower and lost to view behind the water works.

As the fog rolled in late morning I spent a couple of hours sky watching from home where I saw 8+ Common Buzzards, squadrons of Hobby's were hawking high over the fields and the usual Marsh Harriers were hunting the ditches. 

An early evening visit to the reserve was pleasant but saw little of note.

 Honey Buzzard over the ARC car park

 Honey Buzzard

 Honey Buzzard

 Southern Marsh Orchids

Shoulder Striped Wainscot

A foggy start at the observatory this morning with little avian activity, from Harry's Bench 10 Swifts and Peregrine. A superb Purple Cloud moth had been caught overnight at the Long Pits and was on show at the observatory.

On the reserve this morning  2 Avocets and a couple of Hobby's were noted. 

 Guillemot with a broken lower mandible

A watch from the fishing boats 14.05-14.35

Gannet: 17 down

Sandwich Tern: 12 down most carrying small fish

Common Tern: 5 feeding along the colour change

Guillemot: 3 around including the bird above.

The watch was cut short by a report of an Alpine Swift on the reserve at Hookers, I joined SG & MH at the viewing ramp but no sign of the Alpine Swift or who ever reported it. There were plenty of Common Swifts and 5+ Hobby's there. we moved over to the ARC where there were more Common Swifts and Hobby's, also 100+ House Martins and smaller numbers of Swallows.

 Bordered White a first for the Plodland MV

Purple Cloud caught at the Long Pits 

Distant Black Kite over Lydd from the garden

First thing this morning I went to Burrowes to see what goodies last nights thunder storms may have put down. 2 Hobby's were perched up by the entrance track, on Burrowes it quickly became apparent that nothing new had arrived on the reserve.

At the observatory it was also apparent that no new arrivals had been noted except for 2 Great White Egrets that flew west seen early morning by AJG.

As the morning warmed up I went home and set my scope up in the drive and spent next 3 hours scanning the sky in front my house hoping for a Honey Buzzard. It wasn't long before the usual resident Marsh Harriers started appearing, c18 Common Buzzards were seen over 3hrs some were more than likely migrants, 6+ Hobby's and while watching a couple of these over the airport pits I picked up a Red Kite going south east. I called SG & MH who were on the reserve to let them know, a short while later SG called telling me that a Black Kite was now heading in my direction, a scan of the sky in front of me found just Common Buzzard and Marsh Harrier, the next scan though picked up the Kite heading towards me, I grabbed my camera thinking I was going get to good images but for some reason the Kite veered away towards Lydd Wood, it gained height and began to circle roughly over the church allowing me to get very distant record images. In all I saw 8 species of raptor from the garden including the 2 Kites, Marsh Harriers, Common Buzzard, Hobby, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Peregrine, also Little Egret, Grey Heron, Mediterranean Gulls, Yellow Wagtails, S Skylarks and more, a thoroughly enjoyable morning.

 Mediterranean Gull Lydd over the garden

At Scotney this afternoon the Little Owl was in its usual spot, Yellow Wagtails and Corn Buntings were calling from the fence posts and crops, on the islands at least 10 Avocet chicks with attendant and very protective parents and another 11 birds that appeared to be sitting on eggs. Another set of Kite Surfers were on the main lake disturbing the nesting Gulls and wildfowl.

Firethorn Miner found in the MV

First thing this morning at The ARC a Bittern was booming, a Hobby was hawking Damselflys, 2 Cuckoo's chasing and calling, several Reed Warblers were chuntering, Sedge Warblers and Common Whitethroats were singing and parachuting, 2+ Lesser Whitethroats were rattling and a couple of Cetti's Warblers were shouting from deep cover.

 2nd year Iceland Gull at a very scummy Patch

 Iceland Gull over the scum at The Patch

Visibility was very poor at The Patch but the 2nd cal year Iceland Gull was still present this morning also 3 Mediterranean Gulls (adult, 1st Summer, 3rd cal year) 3 Harbour Porpoises were just outside the boil, Meadow Pipits were feeding young on the perimeter wall. 

 Rest Harrow 

A moth twitch late morning when a couple of Rest Harrow moths were found on the peninsula, a new moth for me. 

2 of 3 Avocets in front of Firth this evening

This evening again quiet on the reserve, 6 Sanderling from Dennis's and 3 Avocets at Firth were the highlights.

Curlew Sandpiper from Dennis's

I went to the reserve first thing this morning and saw a superb summer plumage Curlew Sandpiper unfortunately it had a damaged leg, it was still present this evening. Had I gone straight to the point I would probably have seen the Bee-eater which was flying around the point while I was looking at the Sandpiper, the second one I've missed this year.

The reserve was generally quiet with 6 Ringed Plovers, 6 Sanderling, 2+Hobby's, Marsh Harriers, and the usual Warblers and Hirundines.

an early Pine Hawkmoth in the trap this morning

Herring Gull Larder!

At Dengemarsh this morning the Herring Gull still sitting tight, now with a built in larder for when it's eggs hatch. There will be tasty fresh Tern eggs and chicks for the reserve visitors to watch being fed to the Herring Gull chicks.   

 Herring Gulls larder!

 Garganey

MH spotted the above Garganey that showed briefly on Dengemarsh, also there hopefully the first 2 of many returning Great White Egrets. 

 1 of 2 Great White Egrets

11.40-13.10 from the sea watch hide:

Common Scoter: 129 up
Gannet: 17 up
Oystercatcher: 2 up
Whimbrel: 1 up
Bar-tailed Godwit: 5 up
Mediterranean Gull: 1 1s around
Kittiwake: 5 up
Sandwich Tern: c15 around
Common Tern: 6 up
Swallow: 1 in
Harbour Porpoise: 5+
The Pom must have disappeared in the Beachy Head Triangle!

The MV catch has started to improve since the warmer weather arrived.

 Grass Rivulet scarce here first for my trap

Silver Hook scarce here for for my trap