01/08/2020

Bar-tailed Godwit at The Midrips

An early morning walk along The Midrips and Wicks on Saturday was very pleasant in the warm breeze. There were still 23 Avocets present, all the young are now fledged which is good news, as is at least 16 fledged Black-headed Gulls. Not so good was the 6 adult Shelduck that don't appear to have succeeded in rearing any young, probably too many Foxes on the ranges these days. Lots of juvenile Yellow Wagtails were flitting around the sea wall, they seem to have done well all over Walland Marsh, even 3 pairs raising young in the field in front my house. Only a few migrant waders were there 2 Whimbrel, a Black and a Bar-tailed Godwit along with 5 Dunlin. Pulses of Sand Martins and Swallows were moving south.

Avocets at The Midrips

Great White Egret at Denge Marsh

At Denge Marsh all the usual species including all 3 Egrets species, 2 of the Cattle Egrets were young of this year. 

Juvenile Cattle Egret with just the tip of its bill still black

Juvenile Cattle Egrets at Denge Marsh

3 adult & 2 juvenile Cattle Egrets at Denge Marsh

Sand Martins at Denge Marsh 

1 of 2 Garganey seen at the ARC

Saturday evening at the ARC found 2 Garganey among the many wildfowl present. There are large numbers of Pochard and Gadwall there which I would normally count, but without access to hides to be able to see them all I'd be wasting my time. A single Black-necked Grebe could be seen and the Stilt was also present but distant. Oystercatchers seems to have nearly reared a chick despite the attention of the many resident Foxes.

Juvenile Oystercatcher behind a sleepy Garganey

My almost obligatory rubbish image of the Black-winged Stilt

Oystercatchers over the southern end of the ARC heading to roost on Burrowes

As dusk fell over the ARC Saturday night several 100s of Oystercatchers flew in over the southern end of the ARC from Lade Sands to roost on Burrowes. 5 Cattle Egrets, 9 Little Egrets and 3 Great White Egrets came to roost at the ARC.

Sunday morning sea watch from the fishing boats by AJG:

06.00-08.00:

Common Scoter: 1W  9E

Great-crested Grebe: 2W

Fulmar: 1E

Gannet: 142W

Dunlin: 12W

Kittiwake: 9W

Sandwich Tern: 4W

Common Tern: 51W

Chiffchaff: 1 foraging around fishing boats

A stroll around Galloways Sunday morning saw good numbers of fledged Stonechats, Linnets and Common Whitethroats but just a few Willow Warblers moving through and a lone Wheatear. 

Lesser Swallow Prominent a first for my trap 

Jersey Tiger in the garden

31/07/2020

06.00-08.00 from the fishing boats with CP & AJG who kindly collated the numbers:

Common Scoter: 96E       13W

Great-crested Grebe: 1 o/s

Fulmar: 1E

Gannet: 34E       22W

Cormorant: 3 0/s

Kittiwake: 21E

Sandwich Tern: 8W

Common Tern: 8W

Auk sp: 2E

Sand Martin: 5S

Swallow: 5S

Grey Seal: 1

Harbour Porpoise: 8+

A gorgeous juvenile Willow Warbler at the ARC this morning

The Black-winged Stilt was still present on the ARC this morning, along with a Little Gull, Ruff and a Common Sandpiper. Several Willow Warblers, Common and Lesser Whitethroats were feeding by the bridleway, also a Bittern the first I have seen for 3 weeks dropped into the Tower Pits.

Lesser Whitethroat at the ARC

2 Black Terns, Black and Bar-tailed Godwit, Green and Common Sandpiperswere all reported on Burrowes. 5 Cattle Egrets were seen around Dengemarsh.

Common Buzzard getting the Herring Gull treatment over my garden this afternoon

Thursday 30/07/2020

06.00-08.30 from the fishing boats, grateful thanks to AJG & OL for keeping the log:

Common Scoter: 90W.  18E

Great-crested Grebe: 2 o/s

Balearic Shearwater: 2W

Gannet: 154W

Cormorant: 3 o/s

Oystercatcher:1E

Dunlin: 30W

Kittiwake: 35W

Sandwich Tern: 28W

Common Tern: 56W

Sand Martin: 1S

Harbour Porpoise: 10+

Grey Seal: 1

c40 Willow Warblers along the Long Pits this morning

A stroll up the Long Pits and eastern desert found good numbers of Common Whitethroats, some Lesser Whitethroats and Blackcaps also c40 Willow Warblers the latter being migrants the rest probably local birds, a juvenile Marsh Harrier ventured over the top end of the pits but little else of note was seen.

Migrant Hawker

AJG thinking the idiot fishermens  bogged down car would make an excellent sea watch hide

13.00-15.30 from the fishing boats:

Common Scoter: 16W

Great-crested Grebe: 1W

Gannet 3 down

Cormorant: 1E

Kittiwake: 5E 

Yellow-legged Gull: 1 juvenile around 

Sandwich Tern: 6W

Common Tern: 3W

Sand Martin: 313S

Harbour Porpoise: 10+

Grey Seal: 1

Can't think why people need to climb the bank to see the birds, or perhaps I can.

The Black-winged Stilt is now entering its 6th week on the ARC, the islands are looking good for waders but viewing conditions are so poor, the chances of actually being able to pick out and identify a small peep are negligible. A Little Gull was hawking over the ARC and at least 2 Great White Egrets were present. A Black Tern continues to be seen on Burrowes.

Social distancing Black-winged Stilt in front of Hanson

29/07/2020

Copt Point early morning Mediterranean Gull roost on the beach at high tide, before the dog walkers and joggers flushed them all.

A nice early morning at Copt Point with AJG and Renaud Flamant, in 2hrs I managed to read 60 rings. 3 Common Sandpipers were on the rocks along with a few Sandwich Terns. As we arrived back at my car a pair of Bullfinches flew across the road, a very welcome year tick for us both as Bullfinches are sadly scarce at Dungeness.

Italian ringed bird blue ring marked OHCT centre preening breast

A blizzard of Mediterranean Gulls

Myself and AJG digiscoped by Renaud from across the bay

AJG did and early afternoon sea watch from the fishing boats recording just a handful of Common and Sandwich Terns. Just 27 miles across the channel Cap Gris Nez recorded 609 Balearic Shearwaters flying North this morning.

At the ARC the Black-winged Stilt was still present along with a Little Gull, a Garganey, several Little Ringed Plovers and a Common Sandpiper. Several Willow Warblers were at The Pines, with more along the Long Pits, The Moat, Trapping area and private gardens. Burrowes held another Little Gull and a Black Tern of note per RW.

First Jersey Tiger of the year in the the trap today but little else of note.

Raven at Dengemarsh Gully early evening also 3 Willow Warblers there.

26/27/07/2020

Sunday 26/07/2020

Early Sunday morning was sunny and almost windless so I visited The Midrips and Wicks to see how the Avocet and Black-headed Gull colony was faring. I was delighted to count 20 Black-headed Gull chicks in this newly established colony, there was also 13 of this years young Avocets still present with 8 Adults which I'm sure is record number for this site. On the pools 2 smart Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Turnstones, 4 Ringed Plovers and 3 Whimbrel on the beach. A Little Egret on the Pool was unusual due to the lack of food available to it at this site.

 1 of 2 Black-tailed Godwits at The Midrips

 Young Black-headed gulls

 Ever vigilant parent Avocet

 2 of 3 socially distancing Whimbrel

Little Egret an unusual sighting at The Midrips not surprisingly it didn't hang around

Monday 27/07/2020

The Black dot just in front of the bow of the ship is a Manx Shearwater

05.30-08.45 from the fishing boats AJG, CP & (MC 0745-08.45 only)
Common Scoter: 5E.   3W
Great-crested Grebe: 2 o/s
Manx Shearwater: 2W  (MC only
Sooty Shearwater: 1E. (CP & AJG only)
Gannet: 21E     46W
Cormorant: 4 o/s
Oystercatcher: 3E
Arctic Skua: 1W
Kittiwake: 28W
Yellow-legged Gull: 4 juveniles around
Common Tern: c40 o/s
Sandwich Tern: 28W
Auk sp: 1E
Sand Martin: 158S
Swift: 10S
Harbour Porpoise: 4+
Grey Seal: 1

 Aggressive juvenile Yellow-legged Gull

 A real bruiser of a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull

Another Herring Gull sentenced to a lingering death by a careless fisherman

13.30-18.30 DS, MH, AJG, CP, MC Many thanks to all contributers.
Common Scoter:13E     11W
Great-crested Grebe: 3 o/s
Fulmar: 4W      1E
Manx Shearwater: 1W
Balearic Shearwater: 2W  DS only
Gannet: 89W     13E
Cormorant: 4 o/s
Dunlin: 2W
Knot: 22W
Kittiwake: 83W
Mediterranean Gull: 1 juvenile around
Little Tern: 3W
Common Tern: 110W
Sandwich Tern: 53W
Swift: 573S

Black-winged Stilt still present today

Argyrestia brockeela a common micro but very attractive

Saturday 25/07/2020

I was a little late getting to the fishing boats this morning:

05.40-07.40 courtesy of JY, CP & AJG:

Common Scoter: 65W     19E

Great-crested Grebe: 2 o/s

Fulmar: 2W

Manx Shearwater: 1W

Gannet: 68W     24E

Cormorant: 8E

Ringed Plover: 2W

Dunlin: 1W

Whimbrel: 2W

Kittiwake: 8W

Mediterranean Gull: 2W

Little Tern: 1W

Common Tern: 112E.    39W

Sandwich Tern: 19W

Auk sp: 2E

Harbour Porpoise: 8+

Grey Seal: 1

A quick stop on the causeway on my back home for breakfast saw the Black-winged Stilt happily feeding in from of Hanson Hide. A quick count of Pochard got to 558 but there was large areas I could not see, also 100s of Sand martins hawking over the lake.

Adult male Marsh Harrier hunting the fields in front of my house

By late morning there was drizzle in the air so I checked out the fields in front of my house. There were many Sand Martins and a few Swallows hawking over the fields, the 5 members of the Corn Bunting Family were feeding along the track as were 14 Yellow Wagtails, a few Reed Buntings and 3 Skylarks. In the ditches Reed Warblers are still rattling out their song and a lone Sedge Warbler is still singing while Grey Heron stalks along the bank grabbing a Marsh Frog occasionally. The hedge around the football field is full of House Sparrows at the moment and attracting the attention of the local Sparrowhawk, which dived at full speed head long into the hedge and came out with its unfortunate quarry, it is amazing that the Sparrowhawks don't injure themselves in these attacks, there were at least 8 Greenfinches in the hedge as well.

By the time I had gone through last nights poor catch in my moth trap the rain had arrived, with no hides to sit in I spent the afternoon trying to identify many images of micro moths I have taken this year, that is still an ongoing job.

As I sit here typing 19.00 hrs the rain has stopped and the a little bit of brightness is shining through, I really should go out to see what birds the rain has dropped onto the lakes, but the reserve is so unwelcoming and frustrating not being able to view the lakes, I really can't be doing with the bother of having to park in lay by on the main road and trudge across the shingle to get poor views of Burrowes and the ARC, I doubt anyone else will either.   

23/24/07/2020

 The Black-winged Stilt  still doing its thing in front of Hanson hide

Once again there was very little on the sea early this morning, c40 Gannets were feeding a mile off shore presumably on a Mackerel shoal, also there a few each of Common Terns and Sandwich Terns, along with some Kittiwakes that all appeared to be catching White Bait, they joined by up to 10 Harbour Porpoises and a Grey Seal. In shore a single Great-crested Grebe and a few Cormorants. The Gull roost is getting nearer to Dengemarsh every day as hordes of anglers with there families descend on Dungeness in the hope of catching Mackerel or Bass. 

The trapping area was very quiet with the highlight being 2 fly over Crossbills, a few Willow Warblers in the Sallows with Common and Lesser Whitethroats and a couple of singing Blackcaps.

This evening  at the ARC the Stilt still present along with a Garganey and a Black Tern of note. 

Yesterday afternoon I walked around the newly opened trails, to be honest without access to the hides you can't view Burrowes(which is the main attraction avian wise this time of year) without climbing the banks which is not permissible. Undoubtedly human nature and curiosity will get the better of some people who will in frustration climb the banks. Burrowes can still be viewed from the causeway between it and the New Diggings, but views are very distant and weather dependant. I can't in all honesty advise anyone to travel any distance to visit the reserve to see birds, better to go to Rye Harbour or Oare Marshes.  

 This Marsh Harrier came over the garden while I was going through my moth trap this morning 

 Plumed Fan-foot is now an everyday occurrence in the Plodland trap

 The Pine Tree Lappet that Barry Banson caught at Littlestone last night

Hungarian Ringed Mediterranean Gull H1Y5

Yesterday morning after getting up at silly o.clock to try and photograph comet Neowise and failing miserably, I headed back to Copt Point where I met Renaud Flamant. Between us we read 84 Mediterranean Gull rings from a flock of c600 birds. Looking at Gulls legs is not too everyones taste but I find it interesting. The majority of the rings were Belgian and French, but we also had German, Czech, Polish, British, Italian, Hungarian and Norwegian. 

British Ringed Mediterranean Gull 2L89

Hungarian Ringed Mediterranean Gull H9A5 

Juvenile Mediterranean Gull 35KH ringed in Antwerp

Another Antwerp bird 3326

Juvenile Sandwich Tern resting with some of the Mediterranean Gulls

If your patient the Gulls allow close approach

Rock Pipit