Monday 14/10/2019

Early this morning while counting wildfowl on Burrowes from Firth hide with heavy rain falling, 146 Knot, 12 Dunlin, 2 Redshank and a Curlew dropped in. Before the Knot landed they seemed to dunk themselves into deep water in the middle of the lake, then come to land and preen, as soon as the rain eased they all departed. Other highlights on Burrowes were a Little Stint, a Garganey, a Common Tern, 2 Goldeneye, a Great White Egret, many Chiffchaffs in the bushes, 20 Swallows and 20 House Martins over    

 A German ringed 1w Caspian gull at the fishing boats today

 10.55-13.00 from the fishing boats with JTM & OL
Great-crested Grebe: 3 o/s
Gannet: 18E     21W
Cormorant: present n/c
Turnstone: 1 on beach
Great Phalarope: 1W
Arctic Skua: 2 o/s
Kittiwake: 4W
Little Gull: 2 o/s
Mediterranean Gull: c120 o/s
Caspian Gull: 2 x 1w on beach
Sandwich Tern: 8 o/s
Razorbill: 4E
Auk sp: 8E.      23W
Goldfinch: 40E

 1w Caspian Gull un-ringed at the fishing boats today

 A couple of the c120 Mediterranean Gulls

Late afternoon on the ARC from Hanson, the highlights were, a Little Stint, 4 Dunlin, 5 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Golden Plover, 3 Common Terns and a Water Rail.

Sunday 13/10/2019

Another day of sea watching in strong southerly winds with occasional showers and mizzle.
07.00-12.30 from the sea watch hide and 14.30-15.30 from the fishing boats:
Aided by AJG, SO, LH, PH, JTM, MH et al.

Brent Goose: 9W
Common Scoter: 4W   16E
Great-crested Grebe: 1W     6 o/s
Red-throated Diver: 3W    1 o/s
Leach's Petrel: 1W  seen only from the fishing boats this morning and not by me!
Sooty Shearwater: 8W
Manx Shearwater: 3W
Balearic Shearwater: 1W
Gannet: 893W
Cormorant: present n/c
Merlin: 1 in
Turnstone: 1W
Great Skua: 7W
Arctic Skua: 7W   4+ o/s
Kittiwake: 31W
Little Gull: 45W
Mediterranean Gull: 13W
Guillemot: 39W
Razorbill: 224W
Auk sp: 406W
Skylark: 4W
Swallow: 108 out
Meadow Pipit: 49 in
Rock Pipit: 1W
Chaffinch: 5W
Linnet: 108W
Harbour Porpoise: 2+

Friday 11/09/2019

 Yesterday I spent the afternoon at Copt Point reading rings on Mediterranean Gulls, there was only about 150 birds present  but I still managed to read 16 rings, one of which was a Hungarian bird. See map and life history below.
Mediterranean Gull Red ring marked H0A7
Date;              Place;                Country;                   Latitude;Longitude;         Name
2012.06.19.; ;Bugyi (Kavics Union);Hungary;     48;47.2038;19.135;     Privigyei Csaba;
2012.08.02.; ;Wissant (beach);France;                  07;50.8875;1.6583;     Renaud Flamant;
2013.08.19.; ;Wissant (Stubblefield);France;        07;50.8791;1.6697;     Jürgen Steudtner;
2013.10.14.; ;Strouanne (Cap Blanc-Nez);France; 07;50.9002;1.6758;    Jürgen Steudtner;
2013.10.15.; ;Strouanne (Cap Blanc-Nez);France; 07;50.9002;1.6758;    Jürgen Steudtner;
2017.04.21.; ;Antwerpen (Total-colony);Belgium; 20;51.2569;4.325;     Renaud Flamant;
2018.03.04.; ;Boulogne-sur-Mer;France;               07;50.7333;1.5833;    Eric Petit-Berghem;
2018.08.12.; ;Strouanne (Cap Blanc-Nez);France;   07;50.9002;1.6758;  Renaud Flamant;
2018.09.19.; ;Strouanne (Cap Blanc-Nez);France; 07;50.9002;1.6758;    Jürgen Steudtner;
2018.09.20.; ;Strouanne (Cap Blanc-Nez);France; 07;50.9002;1.6758;    Jürgen Steudtner;
2019.08.25.; ;Folkestone (Copt Point);    (UK);     51.0833;1.1833;         Renaud Flamant;
2019.08.29.; ;Folkestone (Copt Point);    (UK);     51.0833;1.1833;         Renaud Flamant;
2019.10.10.; ;Folkestone (Copt Point);   (UK);       51.0834;1.1993;        Martin Casemore;

As today was such a wet and windy day sea watching was thing to do today:
07.00-10.00 with PE and AJG who kindly collated the numbers:
Common Scoter: 5W   6E
Sooty Shearwater: 2W
Gannet : 1,761W
Cormorant: present n/c
Great Skua: 2W
Arctic Skua: 22W   2 around
Little Gull: 1W
Kittiwake: 21W
Sandwich Tern: 704W
Guillemot: 1W
Razorbill: 44W
Auk sp: 47W

A brief look at the Boulderwall Fields saw 3 Cattle Egrets and not much else.

13.45-16.45 from the fishing boats with CP & OL.
Red-throated Diver: 1 around
Great-crested Grebe: 7 around
Shearwater sp: 1W
Gannet: 233W
Cormorant: 57W
Arctic Skua: 12W    4 around
Kittiwake: 4W
Black-headed Gull: 142W
Common Gull: 6W
Sandwich Tern: 272W
Guillemot: 1W
Razorbill: 17W
Auk sp: 13W
Swallow: 3 out
Harbour Porpoise: 2+
Grey Seal: 1
Common Seal: 1

Wednesday 09/10/2019

07.00-10.00 from the sea watch hide with RW & AJG who kindly collated the numbers:
Mallard: 1W
Common Scoter: 1E
Red-throated Diver: 1E     1W
Great-crested Grebe: 2W
Gannet: 302W
Cormorant: present n/c
Grey Plover: 3W
Great Skua: 2W
Arctic Skua: 12W
Kittiwake: 43W
Mediterranean Gull: 22W
Sandwich Tern: 426W
Common Tern: 1W
Razorbill: 61W
Auk sp:  44W
Swallow: 25 out
Grey Seal: 2
Harbour Porpoise: 3+

 Ring Ouzel

A short wander around The Desert between showers was very quiet, but we did see 3 Ring Ouzels, a Blackcap and 4 Skylarks of note.

Late morning at Boulderwall the 3 Cattle Egrets and a great White Egret were feeding by Cooks Pool.

Great Black-backed Gull JJ767 at the fishing boats this afternoon. it was ringed as a pullus on 24.06 2019 at Flatøya, Bømlo, Hordaland, Norway  59°45'15"N 005°06'44"E. Today was the first sighting since it was ringed.
13.45-15.45 from the fishing boats with RW,AJG,PT, JTM
Red-throated Diver: 1 o/s
Great-crested Grebe: 7 around
Gannet: 61W   19E
Cormorant: present n/c
Turnstone: 2 around
Arctic Skua: 6 around
Kittiwake: 8W
Little Gull: 2W
Mediterranean Gull: 4E
Sandwich Tern: 236W    74E
Common Tern: 1W
Razorbill: 4W
Auk sp: 2W
Swallow: 47 out
Grey Seal: 2
Harbour Porpoise: 2+

2nd calendar year Great Black-backed Gull with a cable tie

Tuesday 08/10/2019

An uninspiring hour from the sea watch hide this morning:
08.00-09.00
Brent Goose: 5W
Gannet: 139W   6E
Cormorant: 18 around
Arctic Skua: 3W    2 around
Kittiwake: 26W
Black-headed Gull: present n/c
Mediterranean Gull: 1E
Common Gull: 17W
Herring Gull: present n/c
Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c
Sandwich Tern: c40 feeding o/s
Common Tern: 3W
Guillemot: 2W
Razorbill: 10W    1E
Auk sp: 32W   1E
Swallow: 22 out
Alba Wagtail: 3 in
Meadow pipit: 42 in
Harbour Porpoise: 3+

A lone Wheatear was probably the highlight of day for me

I spent most of the day around The Desert and trapping area for very little return. The Wryneck was still present but eluded me again, I saw at least 7 Ring Ouzels this morning but they moved on very quickly, there were still a few very skulking Song Thrushes around. I came across a single Firecrest at the old feeding station and 3 Blackcaps nearby, most of yesterdays Chiffchaffs seem to have gone over night. At least there were birds overhead in the form of 200-300 each of Swallow, House Martin and Meadow Pipit, this afternoon I found a lone Wheatear and 2 Stonechats.

I have rarely bothered to photograph Robins, but this one posed for me even though Jacques or David had got to it before me. If Robins decline in the way most birds seem to be doing I need to get as many images now as possible.

Monday 07/10/2019

AJG kindly sent me the totals for an hours sea watch this morning from the hide 07.00-08.00:
Brent Goose: 3W
Shelduck: 7E
Common Scoter: 4E
Red-throated Diver:2E
Gannet: 467W
Arctic Skua: 4W
Mediterranean  Gull: 4E
Swallow: 18 out

Adult Ring Ouzel

I spent most of the day around The Desert and trapping area seeing 7 Ring Ouzels mainly in flight being flushed by the many dog walkers, many Chiffchaffs, c25 Song Thrushes, 5 Firecrests, 6 Goldcrests, 4 Blackcaps, a Common Whitethroat, 3 Wheatears, a Black Redstart, 15 Skylark, a Great-spotted Woodpecker, 2+ Sparrowhawks, plenty of House Martins and Swallows this morning, but missed the Wryneck.

 1st winter Ring Ouzel

 1st winter Ring Ouzels

Song Thrush in The Desert

LH & PH kindly sent me the totals for 30 minute sea watch14.30-15.00 from the fishing boats:

Teal: 5E

Tufted Duck: 1W

Great-crested Grebe: 3 around

Gannet: 15 fishing off shore

Arctic Skua: 3 around

Sandwich Tern: 10W

Razorbill: 3W

Auk sp: 1E

Sunday 06/10/2019

 Ring Ouzel over The Desert

 Song Thrush over The Desert

This morning saw a big arrival of mainly Song Thrushes at The Point c1,000 of them, also 30+ Ring Ouzels, very few Redwings and no Fieldfares or Mistle Thrushes, as the weather cleared and the sun came out most of the Thrushes moved on. There were also good numbers of Swallows and House Martins over, 20+ Skylarks in The Desert and in the bushes Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Goldcrests were noted.

 Ring Ouzels in The Desert

A short sea watch from the fishing boats late morning saw just 3 Arctic Skuas, 5 Common Scoter and a few Sandwich Terns and Gannets.

A check of the Gull roost by the track to the VC found 2 Yellow-legged Gulls of note, an adult and 3rd cal year bird.

A rather smart Pied Wagtail by the track to The Pines

As I was walking up to The Pines I met Graham Parry who had seen a Common Redstart there, a bird I normally get too excited about, but as there has been such a paucity of records this autumn on the peninsular I was keen to see this bird. Graham walked back up to The Pines to show me where he had seen the bird, within a few minutes it duly appeared for me, my first and probably only one this autumn.

From Hanson Hide late afternoon 2 Little Gulls, 5 Dunlin, 2 Marsh Harriers and the usual wildfowl but little else of note.

 Common Redstart at The Pines late this afternoon

Saturday 05/10/2019

06.50-09.50 from the sea watch hide with RW, SO & AJG who kindly collated the numbers:
Brent Goose: 613W
Shelduck: 4W
Mallard: 3W
Teal: 2W
Wigeon: 12W
Common Scoter: 98W
Red-throated Diver: 1E
Great-crested Grebe: 1W
Gannet: 499W
Cormorant: present n/c
Ringed Plover: 1E
Dunlin: 3W
Curlew: 1E
Great Skua: 1W
Arctic Skua: 12W
Kittiwake: 74W
Mediterranean Gull: 11E
Glaucous Gull: 1 adult east at 09.30 an unprecedented record for early October.
Auk sp: 52W
Swallow: 43 out
Meadow Pipit: 49 in
Goldfinch: 65E

A wander around the trapping area found good numbers of Chiffchaffs, a few Goldcrests, small number of Hirundines over, 13 Continental Song Thrushes, 6 Reed Buntings and a Sparrowhawk of note.

13.45-15.15 from the fishing boats with AJG, RW et al:

Brent Goose: 193W    6E
Teal: 54W    1E
Wigeon: 1W
Common Scoter: 90W   7E
Red-throated Diver: 1W    1 on
Great-crested Grebe: 2 around
Gannet: 17W    3E
Great Skua: 1W
Arctic Skua: 1W    4 around
Little Gull: 1W adult
Kittiwake: 4W   1E
Mediterranean gull: 8 around
Sandwich tern: 10W    20E
Common Tern: 1 around
Razorbill: 3W
Auk sp: 4W    2E
Harbour Porpoise: 3+
Grey Seal: 1

This evening at the ARC Egret roost 8 Great White, 3 Cattle and 13 Little Egrets came in. 2 Merlins flew out towards the Open Pits, along with c500 Jackdaws. c200 Hirundines dropped into the ARC at last light and appeared to roost in the reeds in front of the screen hide.

Friday 04/10/19

08.00-09.00 from the sea watch hide with RB & BB:
Brent Goose: 25W
Common Scoter: 2W   7E
Red-throated Diver: 2W    1E
Great-crested Grebe: 1 around
Gannet: 84W    23E
Cormorant: 21 around
Great Skua: 1W
Arctic Skua: 3W     1E
Sandwich Tern: 39W
Auk sp: 4W
Swallow: 63 out
Meadow Pipit: 14 out
Pied Wagtail: 2 out
Harbour Porpoise: 1

 Little Gulls at the ARC

Mid morning from Hanson 3 Little Gulls, 3 Cattle Egrets, 2 Great White Egrets, a Garganey, a Goldeneye, a single Golden Plover, 4 Dunlin, 100s of Swallows and House Martins, 2 Marsh Harriers and several calling Water Rails of note.

 Great White Egret from Hanson this morning eating tiddlers

Cattle Egrets from Hanson this morning

A check of the Gull roost by the entrance track to the VC found an adult Yellow-legged Gull.

14.00-15.00 from the fishing boats with AJG. BB & RB:

Brent Goose: 39W
Mallard: 1W
Common Scoter: 1W
Great-crested Grebe: 4 around
Red-throated diver: 1E
Gannet: 32W
Turnstone: 2 around
Great Skua: 2W
Arctic Skua: 1W    2 around
Mediterranean Gull: 5E
Sandwich Tern: 42W    18E
Razorbill: 1W
Swallow: 6 out
Late afternoon at Scotney, a Curlew and a Redshank on the sward with all the usual feral Geese, a few each of Swallow and House Martin over the lakes but generally very quiet avian wise.

Thursday 03/10/2019

Around The Point and trapping area many Chiffchaffs, of which good numbers were caught and ringed at the observatory, also present were fewer numbers of Blackcaps and Goldcrests. The Desert was very quiet but did hold my first continental Song Thrush of the autumn.

 Chiffchaff by the the Lighthouse Garden

 House Martin

 Swallow about to swallow an insect

On the wires around the station good numbers of hirundines, including high numbers of Sand Martins for this time of year.

 Sand Martin

 Sand Martin

A poor image of 10 Avocets passing the fishing boats this afternoon

13.30-16.00 with AJG who kindly collated the numbers:
Brent Goose: 217W
Teal: 3W
Common Scoter: 86W
Red-throated Diver: 2W
Great-crested Grebe: 2 around
Gannet: 62W
Cormorant: present n/c
Avocet: 10W
Knot: 16W
Dunlin: 8W
Great Skua: 1W
Arctic Skua: 5W
Kittiwake: 63W
Mediterranean gull: 2W
Sandwich Tern: 57W
Razorbill: 7W
Auk sp: 72W   16E
Sand Martin: 2 out
House Martin: 4 out
Swallow: 113 out
Harbour Porpoise: 2

 Brent Geese past the fishing boats this afternoon (a definite lack of juveniles)