18-19/05/2020

As I cycled past Lydd Camp the Little Owl was sitting out enjoying the early morning sunshine, while I was photographing it a Black Redstart appeared on a nearby wall carrying food, so presumably a nest near by, also Common Buzzard dropped into the Pines carrying food. If you click on the image it should give you a bigger clearer image!

 The Lydd Camp Little Owl

By the flood the usual Corn bunting was singing and 3 Yellow Wagtails were nearby, the regular Wheatear seems to have deserted, probably the Stoat had something too with it. There are at least 3 Lapwing chicks in the hay fields, but I haven't seen any Redshank chicks, a drake Garganey showed very briefly.

 Too many predators

 Summer plumage Great white Egret over Dengemarsh with Bitterns still booming

 Lesser Whitethroat

Sedge, Reed and Cetti's Warblers along with Common and Lesser Whitethroats and Blackcaps are all still singing but getting more subdued by the day.

Sedge Warbler 

 Hairy Dragonfly munching on a Damselfly

 Four Spotted Chasers are numerous at the moment

Southern Marsh Orchid

I took a walk out along the causeway between Burrowes and the New Diggings, the Sallows and long grass were full of Damsel and Dragonflys, as well as warblers and something that started to eat me alive. As you can see from the above image Burrowes water level is still very high and the rafts ahave been taken over by Herring Gulls. The only waders there were the 14 Curlews on the island in front the raft, 2 Ringed Plovers and the usual Oystercatchers, every island that is exposed has a Herring Gull or Lesser Black-backed Gull nesting on it, there are perhaps 10 Common Terns present at the moment, 2 of the Common Gull nest boxes are being used.

 Hobbys are becoming more in evidence around Dengemarsh with up to 9 birds around

Sunday 17/05/2020

 Despite it being distinctly warmer this morning it was very quiet avian wise at Dengemarsh today. The Corn Bunting was still  present by the flood along with 2 Yellow Wagtails, a first today for me was a Bearded Tit collecting nest material, all the resident Warblers were singing but much subdued, a Bittern was booming, the 2 Great White Egrets were still present, a Garganey showed briefly. The Lapwings and Redshank were still chasing any predator that came over the hay fields, though they look like their fighting a losing battle. A couple of Whimbrel were still lingering, also 3 Black-tailed Godwits. The 3 Black Swans put in another appearance then headed off towards Scotney. A single Wigeon remains from the wintering birds, Hobbys are more evident though there seems to be precious little food for them yet. A confiding Stoat was todays highlight, though it was in the centre of what was a Wheatears territory and there was no sign of them.

Corn Bunting a scarce bird at Dengemarsh 

 A very distant drake Garganey

 Bearded Tit collecting nest material

 A single Wigeon left at Dengemarsh

The 3 Black Swans having a fly about before disappearing out towards Scotney

Still low numbers of Hobbys

 Stoat

Saturday 16/05/2020

The last couple of days have been very quiet around Dengemarsh, which meant walking several miles for very little reward. I did manage an evening sea watch from the end of the Gully with CT where we picked up a Pomarine Skua but unsurprisingly little else. Up to 5 Hobbys have been noted, hopefully more as the weather warms and more dragons start appearing. I managed to miss a stunning Blue-headed Yellow Wagtail seen and photographed by GP. The first 2 adult (black billed) Great White Egrets returned yesterday, presumably failed breeders. Bitterns are still booming and the warblers are all still singing though not as often or as loudly as couple of weeks ago. A few passage waders have been making brief appearances, Common, Green and Wood Sandpipers, along with Grey Plover, Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers, Knot, Sanderling, Dunlin, Turnstone, both Godwits, Whimbrel and Curlew. There are a very small number of Lapwing chicks, I have not seen any Redshank chicks yet but hopefully there will be some, whether they survive Gulls, Crows, Harriers and Stoats along with other predators only time will tell.

 My morning Yellow Wagtail

 Four-spotted Chaser

 Knot, Grey Plover & Turnstone

 Wood Sandpipers

Small Heath

Thursday 14/05/2020

Hopefully the last morning of the bitterly cold North East wind, most birds appeared to be hunkered down in the Reeds or bushes, the exception being Swifts, Swallows, House Martins and a few Sand Martins. c150 Swifts were fizzing around Dengemarsh and over to the other lakes, seemingly enjoying the cold windy conditions and giving photo opportunities. As I was leaving I noticed 3 Black swans come sailing out of the reeds, a first for me on the peninsular, though I have seen them at Scotney. 

 The unlikely highlight of my morning at Dengemarsh

 Swifts over Dengemarsh

 Electric fences are no defence against Herring Gulls

Wednesday 13/05/2020

The cold northerly winds continue seemingly killing spring migration at Dungeness. Yesterday Black Kite No. 4 drifted high north over Dengemarsh, I have now seen as many Black Kites as I have Willow Warblers this spring! For me no Flycatchers, Redstarts, Whinchat or Ring Ouzels only a few Blackcaps and just 2 Garden Warblers, though I'm told there are plenty inland. Waders have been very thin on the ground, although Whimbrel and Bar-tailed Godwits have been present most days but only in small numbers, I only saw my first Turnstones of the lockdown yesterday also my first Common Sandpipers, Grey Plover were represented by a pair over my house presumably the same on hayfield 3, a flock of c25 were one of the spring highlights, a single Wood Sandpiper, 3 Green Sandpipers, 7 Little Ringed Plovers, just 2 Ruff, 4 Black-tailed Godwits, though Greenshanks have been relatively common and 3 Spotted Redshanks are above average numbers. Lesser and Common Whitethroats, Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers are around and vociferous in good numbers, there are a minimum of 7 pairs of Bearded Tits, the Bitterns are still booming and Reed buntings are abundant. So far Hobby numbers have been very low.

 Reed Bunting

 Hobby

 Hobby

Swifts have arrived in numbers

 Cormorants are still adding to there nests

 Lapwings have hatched at least 5 young

 My first Common Sandpiper of the year

The other evening the wind dropped and the Dengemarsh was covered in millions of midges