Wednesday 29/01/2020

A cold morning with a raw NW wind was not going to make a great sea watch, but if you are not looking you wont see.
08:00-09:00 from the sea watch hide with RW:
Wigeon: 3E
Red-throated Diver: 5E     9W
Great-crested Grebe: 2 o/s
Fulmar: 2W
Gannet: 71W
Cormorant: C200 o/s
Kittiwake: 145W
Mediterranean Gull: 1W
Common Gull: 66W
Guillemot: 32W   9E
Razorbill: 6W
Auk sp: 112W       19E
Common Seal: 1
After Breakfast I decided to walk from home across the fields to the reserve, then around Dengemarsh and back via Dengemarsh Road. I managed to see 66 species not a bad total without really trying, these included Smew, Bittern, Great White Egrets, Bearded Tits, Marsh Harriers, 100s of Golden Plover, Lapwing, 54 Curlew, 2 Ruff, Raven, a flock of 76 Pied Wagtails in the field opposite Brick Wall Farm but no Linnets.
At the fishing boats it was good to catch up West Sussex stalwarts Bernie Forbes and Owen Mitchell, pity that there was very little bird wise there this afternoon.

Sheep or Calf?

About the only sighting of interest at the fishing boats was this gory sight, brought in by the hide tide.

The herd of Bewick Swans were still at Midley this afternoon and the 2 Whooper swans were still near the Woolpack per PT.

Monday 27/01/2020

07.55-10.05 from the sea watch hide:
Shelduck: 3W
Common Scoter: 4W
Red-throated Diver: 103W
Great-crested Grebe: 2 o/s
Fulmar: 7W
Gannet: 371W
Cormorant: c250 o/s
Kittiwake: 165W
Guillemot: 51W     3E      14 o/s
Razorbill: 11W
Auk Sp: 151W    9E
Grey Seal: 1
The weather and domestic stuff precluded any more birding.

Sunday 26/01/2020

Another very gloomy morning, but with a stiff SSW wind blowing I was hoping for a rather more interesting sea watch than of late, unfortunately I was to be disappointed.
08:00-09:00 from the sea watch hide with SO & RW,
Red-throated Diver: 24E   1W
Fulmar: 2E   1W
Gannet: 67E     29W
Cormorant: present n/c
Oystercatcher: 7E
Kittiwake: 55 feeding o/s
Mediterranean Gull:  1E
Guillemot: 51E      1W
Razorbill: 4E
Auk sp: 214E    9W
Grey Seal: 1

Female Bearded Tit at the screen hide

At the ARC from the Screen hide 2 Bearded Tits were joined briefly by a Cetti's Warbler, 2 Ravens flew over as did 8 Black-tailed Godwits and 4 Curlew, 2 Common Snipe were also seen along with the usual Marsh Harriers.

The male Bearded Tit was uncooperative

A walk from Springfield Bridge to Tanners Pool and back saw of note the male Smew, the usual flocks of Lapwing, Golden Plover and Wigeon, a few Curlews 3 Marsh Harriers and 2 Common Buzzards., the male Hen Harrier had moved on by the time I arrived. As the wind was picking up most birds were in hiding.

At Scotney I could only find a single Long-tailed Duck hauled out on the tree island, lots more Golden Plover and Lapwing, with at least 14 Redshanks.

On Walland 40 Bewick Swans with 2 juveniles and the return of the 2 Whooper Swans from Hook wall.

Friday 24/01/2020

A very still, cold, overcast gloomy day.
08:00-09:30 from the sea watch hide with AJG who kindly collated the numbers:
Common Scoter: 3W
Red-throated Diver: 163E   1W
Great-crested Grebe: 52 o/s
Fulmar: 1W
Gannet: 24 feeding o/s
Cormorant: 286 o/s
Pomarine Skua: 1W (2nd cal year)
Kittiwake: 44 feeding o/s
Guillemot: 4E      1W       4o/s
At Scotney 2 Long-tailed Ducks (ad female + juvenile) were at the Sussex end, the usual feral Geese were also present but much smaller numbers of Lapwing, Golden Plover and Wigeon than of late.
The first 2 Goosanders of the year flew through Burrowes per PB.
The drake Smew was still commuting between Hookers and Tanners Pool on the reserve today.

 The 40 Bewick Swans at Midley, only 2 juveniles.

An extensive search around the marsh for the 2 Whooper Swans that were seen in Caldecott Lane yesterday was unsuccessful, c300 Mutes and 40 Bewick Swans were found. 4 Yellowhammers at Old Romney were some compensation.

Male Hen Harrier this afternoon (taken with very high ISO)  

I joined CP out on the marsh this afternoon where saw 2 adult male Hen Harriers, a pity that it was such a gloomy afternoon. 

 Male Hen Harrier

 Male Hen Harrier

We also saw 15 Marsh Harriers, several Little Egrets, the 40 Bewick Swans going to roost and heard lots of squealing Water Rails.

Tuesday 21/01/2020

 Corn Bunting in full voice at Caldecott Lane this morning

A drive along Caldecott Lane this morning found no sign of any of yesterdays Cattle Egrets, a singing Corn bunting was nice compensation.

3 Long-tailed Ducks were at the Sussex end of Scotney.

The Patch was once again very quiet, not much more than a few bubbles coming up, so very few Gulls and none of note that I could find. Offshore a few Auks and Red-throated divers, Kittiwakes and Gannets were tooing and froing. 

Female Bearded Tit at Hookers

A walk out to and around Hookers noted a party of 54 Curlew, c30 Reed Buntings, the usual Great White, Little Egrets, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Wigeon and couple of Bearded Tits, including a rather cute female. Just as cute were the Long-tailed Tits Goldcrest and Firecrest, the latter 2 refused to pose for me. A couple each of Marsh Harrier and Common Buzzard were seen as well as Sparrowhawk and Kestrel.

 Long-tailed tit at Hookers

 A flying Fox dashing across the Boulderwall fields by Cooks Pool.

Great White Egret glowing in the early afternoon sunshine at the ARC

At the Egret roost at the ARC 15 Great White Egrets and 16 Little Egrets roosted but no Cattle Egrets.

Monday 20/01/2020

 Some of the 18 Bewick Swans over my house before sunrise this morning

 Fiery sunrise over the ARC

5 of the 12 Great White Egrets that left the ARC just after sunrise

As it was such a nice calm day I went to Copt Point to read some Mediterranean Gull rings. On arrival the sun was shining, no wind and best of all very few people and dogs, a shame that there were only 9 birds present all roosting on the sea, after 2 hrs I gave up and back to Dungeness.

Early afternoon the sea was littered with Guillemots, Razorbills, Cormorants, a few each of Great-crested Grebes and Red-throated Divers, a single Brent Goose, a couple of Harbour Porpoises and Grey Seal, the birds flying were the 6 Common Scoter.

2 Black Redstarts and a Dartford Warbler were near Southview per Dave Bunney, I managed to see 1 of the Black Redstarts, the Dartford will have to wait for another day.

Some of the Bewick Swans on the New diggings including a juvenile

25 Bewick Swans were on the New Diggings and 2 on the ARC, an hour later there were 26 on the New Diggings but no juvenile.

All 26 Bewick Swans later joined by 3 more

The Swans spent a lot of time calling and and head bobbing leading me to believe they would leave, just after sunset 14 of them took to the air and headed off out to sea, a few minutes later 11 returned.

Some of the Bewick swans heading out to sea

This evenings Egret roost was a disappointment as only 8 Great White Egrets and 10 Little Egrets roosted, I was expecting the 3 Cattle Egrets found by MH in Caldecott Lane to come to roost, I'm guessing that they must be new birds to Dungeness rather than returnees. 

Sunday 19/01/2020

07:30-09:00 from the sea watch hide AJG kindly sent me these sightings:
Red-throated Diver: 27E
Gannet: 49 W
Cormorant: present n/c
Kittiwake: 71E
Black-headed Gull: present n/c
Common Gull: present n/c
Herring Gull: present n/c
Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c
Auk sp: 705E
The Patch was again disappointing with barely a ripple at the boil, several 100s of Herring Gull, Black-headed Gulls and Cormorants present there but the best I could find among them was an adult Mediterranean Gull and a Kittiwake.
Another hike around the back of the ARC saw little of note.
Scanning the fields from home I located 8 Ruff and a single Curlew among the 100s, of Golden Plover, Lapwing and Wigeon, a flock of c40 Stock doves were feeding among them, I saw at least 3 Common Buzzards, but strangely no Marsh Harriers or Egrets though 3 Grey Herons were in the ditches.
At Scotney I could only find the adult female Long-tailed Duck from the double bends, I think the other 4 may fly over the rear bank into the easternmost back lake. The usual Golden Plovers and Lapwings and a single Ruff were seen as well as the usual feral Geese.
The drake Smew was on Tanners Pool, 2 colour ringed Herring Gulls were the highlight for me on Burrowes this afternoon.
In this evenings Harrier count 5 Marsh Harriers roosted in my reed bed, the adult male Hen Harrier made a flyby appearance on its way to roost on the ranges, of note Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over the reed bed and 2 Brent Geese were in a a neighbouring field. As darkness fell 21 bugling/barking Bewick Swans flew over me heading towards the reserve, almost drowning out the at least 5 Water Rails that were squealing.

Saturday 18/01/2020

07:30-09:00 from the sea watch hide with SO, Brian, Russ & AJG who kindly collated the numbers:
Red-throated Diver: 14W  29E
Great-crested Grebe: 3E
Fulmar: 1W
Gannet: 133W
Cormorant: present n/c
Oystercatcher: 2E
Kittiwake: 627W
Black-headed Gull: present n/c
Mediterranean Gull: 1W
Common Gull: present n/c
Herring Gull: present n/c
Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c
Guillemot:160E   67W
Razorbill: 3E    24W
Auk sp: 263E    323W

Black Redstart Scotney Farm

I joined AJG and SO in wander around Scotney where on the main lake the 5 Long-tailed Ducks were viewed from the double bends along with all the usual feral geese that were grazing and resting on the sward. A Green Sandpiper was at the Kent end of the lake with a couple of Redshanks.

Around the back of the lakes Corn, Reed Buntings and Skylarks were noted along with 100s of Linnets and Chaffinches but sadly not a single Tree Sparrow was found, 1,000s each of Golden Plover,Lapwing and a few Curlew were being chivied by Common Buzzards, Marsh Harriers, Kestrels, a smart male Merlin and a Sparrowhawk.

 All 23 of the Bewick Swans at Midley this afternoon

The Bewick Swans were showing well at Midley, Walland Marsh this afternoon, as well as many Fieldfares but no Redwings and very little else. I walked out from the Woolpack to the wind turbines and found it to be virtually an avian free zone.

 Many Fieldfares in the fields near Midley

8 Ruff coming into Burrowes to roost after sunset this evening

Late afternoon and early evening on the reserve the Smew was at the end of Tanners Pool along with 2 Great White Egrets, On Burrowes * Ruff and 14 Black-tailed Godwits came into roost, disappointingly few Gulls came in and nothing of note among the few that did.

2 Little Owls were by the watch towers at Lydd Camp viewed from Galloways Road per SO.

Friday 17/01/2020

Apart from Kittiwakes and Auks very little was seen on this mornings sea watch. Its probably the first time I can remember only seeing just a single Gannet in a 90 minute sea watch at Dungeness.
07:45-09:15 from the sea watch hide with AJG:
Common Scoter: 3W
Red-throated Diver: 11W    5E
Great-crested Grebe: 4W
Gannet: 1E
Cormorant: present n/c
Kittiwake: 571W
Guillemot: 418W    74E
Razorbill: 40W   4E
Auk sp: 772W        12E
Grey Seal: 1
Most of the rest of the day was taken up with domestic stuff, judging by reports from other locals I didn't miss much.
11 years ago today I photographed this King Eider at Pett, I day dream of seeing another flying past Dungeness on a sea watch.

King Eider, Pett 17th January 2009

Thursday 16/01/2020

  Kittiwake at the fishing boats this afternoon

7.30-09.30 from the hide with CP & RO
Brent Goose: 2E
Red-throated Diver: 29E   19W
Great-crested Grebe: 3E
Fulmar: 4W    2E
Gannet: 13W    56E
Cormorant: present n/c
Kittiwake: 367W      c100 o/s
Mediterranean Gull: 11W    3W
Guillemot: 338E       72W        c100 o/s
Razorbill: 6E
Auk sp: 376E    108W
At The Patch this morning all I could find was 2 North Thames ringed Herring Gulls of ant note.
At Scotney still 5 Long-tailed Ducks present, 2 at the Sussex end and 3 tucked up under the bank at the Kent end. All the usual feral Geese were present but I could find no other Grey Geese among the 1,00s of Greylags. Still 1,00s each of Lapwing and Golden Plover and at least 6 Ruff.
The regular Great White Egret was at southern end of the ARC from the Causeway today.

 Fulmar passing the fishing boats this afternoon

Some of 1,000+ Guillemots past the fishing boats this afternoon

13.30-15.40 from the fishing boats:
Red-throated diver: 4W       2E
Fulmar: 1W
Gannet: 11W
Kittiwake: 191W
Mediterranean Gull: 1W
Guillemot: 1127W.  (No Razorbills seen)
Auk sp:137W
Grey Seal: 1
The drake Smew was still present at the back of Hookers per RO. Burrowes was very quiet this afternoon.