Kites!

 The last fews days have seen an unprecedented influx of Kites over Dengemarsh with a minimum of 35 Red Kites and 2 Black Kites, where they are from and where they are going has led to much speculation. All the Great White Egrets appear to have all left the reserve, leaving a few Little Egrets. At least 2 Bitterns are booming and giving intermittent flight views. Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers, along with Common and Lesser Whitethroats and Reed buntings are all still singing, Cuckoo's and Yellow Wagtails can be seen and heard all over, as well as screaming Terns, Common Gulls and Water Rails. Oystercatchers, Lapwings and Redshanks are still very vocal, with a few Whimbrel and Curlew passing through. Swifts, House Martins and Swallow are now a common sight but Hobby's are disappointingly scarce.

 Black Kite over Dengemarsh Saturday 09/05/2020

Black Kite over Dengemarsh Sunday 10/05/2020

 Just some of the 35+ Red Kites over Dengemarsh in the last few days

 Bearded Tit

 Bittern

 Pied Wagtail

 Pochard

 Great Tit with tasty morsel 

 Common Gull

Tufted Ducks

 Baby Grass Snake on the road 

 Baby Grass Snake(fortunately CT was on hand to catch it and move it to safety)

 Marsh Frogs are very vocal at the moment

 Spawning Carp

 There are plenty of Yellow Wagtails around Dengemarsh

Wednesday 06/05/2020

 Red Fox stalking Rabbits

A bright sunny day but still a cold North East wind blowing, though not as strong as yesterday. Around the fields there were just a handful of Whimbrel with a single Bar-tailed Godwit and a couple of Curlew, Redshank and Lapwing numbers appear to have declined, which could be due to high water levels or Cattle? There were at least 3 Cuckoo's around the reed beds where the Reed, Sedge and Cetti's  Warblers are all still singing. Bearded Tits have gone very quiet presumably nesting, a Bittern was still booming and there are at least 2 pairs of Marsh Harriers around Dengemarsh along with a pair of Common Buzzards. I only saw a maximum of 3 Hobby's this morning but still plenty of Yellow Wagtails and a couple of pairs of Wheatears. There were at least 8 different Lesser Whitethroats singing with numerous Common Whitethroats and Reed Buntings, a single Corn bunting was at Springfield Bridge. Once the morning warmed up Swifts were more in evidence but few Hirundines, Common Terns can be seen all around Dengemarsh, Mediterranean Gulls are still passing over in small numbers. A black tern and 2 Little Gulls were on the the ARC per JY & RW also a Barn Owl was seen there. To finish my morning I came across a showy Water Rail in a small pool as I made my home.

 Whimbrel

 Bar-tailed Godwit & Whimbrel

 Lesser Whitethroat

 Common Whitethroat

 Sedge Warbler

 Showy Water Rail

The last few Days

It seems that all the summer migrants are now in and busy singing and nesting, Swifts have arrived in good numbers also Swallows and House Martins, the number of Hobbys is increasing daily, heaven knows what they are feeding on as there are very few Damsel Flies and Dragonflies about yet. Common Terns have arrived seemingly in much larger numbers than usual, they can be heard screaming from high over the lakes, but will they stay? as water levels are very high so no islands for them and no rafts on Dengemarsh. I counted 42 Terns resting on the raft at the ARC with many more flying around. This morning a Garden Warbler which is scarce bird at was singing unseen in some Sallows at Dengemarsh, I doubt that there are any more than a handful of pairs on the peninsular. Wader passage in general seems to have been poor, I've still not found a Common Sandpiper on the peninsular, on the plus side Common and Lesser Whitethroats, Reed and sedge warblers seem to be abundant, Lapwings and redshank numbers appear to be up on last year. There seems to be at least 2 Bitterns booming also a Common Snipe still drumming at Boulderwall and at least 2 pairs of Wheatears around. 

 My Regular early morning Yellow Wagtail pair

 Another pair at Dengemarsh

 The Greylags hatched at there nest at the ramp with 11 Goslings

One day it will be a Night Heron perched out in the open

 This pair had there nest predated

A poor recording of a Garden Warbler, a scarce bird at Dengemarsh

 Poor image of one of the mixed flocks of Whimbrel and Bar-tailed Godwits that have been on the reserve

 Whimbrels on a shingle ridge

Displaying Redshank 

More bartails and Whimbrel

I spotted this distant Great White Egret over the converter station as it came in off the sea, then carried on over Dengemarsh towards Scotney

 Hobby waiting for the sun to being out the insects

 Hunting Hobby

 Feeding Hobby

Greenfinch at Dengemarsh

 Starling nesting in my neighbours central heating vent

Chaffinch in my garden with Fringilla papillomavirus I think. A horrible disease.