Saturday 27/06/2020

Gull-billed Tern

Although the Gull-billed tern and the Black-winged Stilt are the stars there is plenty of other birds to be seen around Dungeness in June. Admittedly it is much harder work finding them, but they are there to be found and you never know what else you might find. If your'e not out in the field looking then you will never find or see anything. The Lydd Camp Little Owls can usually be seen by the watch towers, Barn Owls can be seen at Scotney, Cheyne and Boulderwall, with a little effort Turtle Doves and Tree Sparrows can be found on Walland. 

Gull-billed Tern

Black-winged Stilt

Ruff with Redshanks

Green Sandpiper

Honey Buzzard getting a hot welcome from the local Herring Gulls

1 of a family of 6 ravens around Dengemarsh

Meadow Pipit on the perimeter wall

Jay a local scarcity in Lydd

Red Fox

Gull-billed Tern and a Stilt!

Black-winged Stilt still present at the ARC this afternoon

Gull-billed Tern at the ARC this afternoon

Monday 22/06/2020

 Little Gull hawking over Dengemarsh this morning

It was nice to see the first returning Sand Martins today and the first Little Gull for a few weeks. No sign of any Cattle Egrets today but at least 2 Great White Egrets were present, also 2 Hobbys and the usual Warblers, a Bittern made some half hearted grunts but otherwise it was fairly quiet. This evening I visited the ARC where I came across a Black-winged Stilt which was happily feeding until flushed by a Marsh Harrier and last seen heading high west. Hopefully I will get round to counting the usual summer build up of Pochard as there are already several 100s present.

The first Sand Martin of hopefully many 1,000s to be seen around Dungeness the next few weeks

Black-winged Stilt on the ARC this evening before being flushed by a Marsh Harrier

Feeding on the floating New Zealand Pygmy Weed(Crassula)

Little Egret at the ARC

Summer Lull!

The local Barn Owl is still putting a great show

The summer lull has arrived at Dungeness but there are still things to see and hear and the odd goody turning up (see below). All 3 Egret species can easily be seen, Bitterns can be heard but seldom seen along with all the other reed bed specialists. Cuckoo's are still in evidence and Yellow Wagtails, Corn Buntings can both be seen and heard around Dengemarsh. The odd Chiffchaff, Blackcap and both Lesser and Common Whitethroat are still singing, though most are feeding young or on second broods. I've seen Marsh Harriers doing the odd food pass over 2 possible nest sites. Hobbys can still be seen but are getting more elusive as is usual when they settle down to breed. It looks like the Common Gull nests have all failed but it is difficult to be sure at long distance from the causeway, hopefully trails at least will open up soon if not the hides.

1 of at least 2 Great White Egrets present at Dungeness. This one on the ARC strutting around the small Black-headed Gull colony.

Curlew resting and feeding on the mat of New Zealand Pygmy Weed on the ARC

This Fox was showing no fear of me at the ARC 

1 of several Yellow Wagtail around Dengemarsh

1 of the 2 Cattle Egrets at Dengemarsh

A freshly fledged Long-tailed Tit at Dengemarsh

c40 Swifts over the lakes today

Loafing Sandwich Terns today, presumed failed breeders

The 2nd Whiskered Tern of the year at Dungeness discovered by Richard W on Wednesday 17/06/2020 but only stayed for the day.

Whiskered Tern

Whiskered Tern

Probably my most favourite micro moth Cynaeda dentalis a frequent visitor to my MV 

Six-belted Clearwing at The Point courtesy of Owen Leyshon and his pheremone lure

Magical!

Watching over Dengemarsh from viewing ramp on the fine still evenings this week, have epitomised the reason I moved here. Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers singing all around, Bitterns booming, Bearded Tits and Reed Buntings flitting through the reeds, Water Rails, Moorhens and Coots squealing and squawking, Marsh Harriers floating over the reed beds, Common Terns fishing the open water, Great White and Little Egrets, along with Grey Herons Common Buzzards, Lapwings, Oystercatchers flying and calling over the fields, Hobbys hawking all around and Cuckoo's still calling, then as the sun sets millions or probably billions of insects rise out of the reed beds there wings buzzing absolutely magical! I tried to photograph the scene but none did it any justice, I wish I was more articulate and able to describe the magical scene but alas I'm not. 

The local Barn Owls have been particularly busy this week feeding rapidly growing young, at the moment there appears to be no shortage of rodents with which to feed them.