Tuesday, 4 August 2020

04/08/2020

06.00-0730 from the fishing boats: Numbers supplied by AJG
Common Scoter:33W in 7 small flocks
Fulmar: 1W
Gannet: 97W
Kittiwake: 44W   (3 Juveniles)
Mediterranean Gull: 2E both juveniles
Common Tern: 13 present
Sandwich Tern: 5 present
The highlight of this mornings sea watch
This morning around The Point, trapping area and Long Pits barely a Willow Warbler or Common Whitethroat to be seen. DW had 6 nets out and did not catch a single bird, pretty dire for early August.
At The ARC the Black-winged Stilt was still present but distant in front of Hanson, also the Ruff still present but little else of note could be seen in the terrible light and general all round poor viewing conditions. I'm practising what I preach tomorrow and going to Oare Marshes instead.
1 of the 2 juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls at the fishing boats this afternoon
14.30-16.00 from the fishing boats with AJG & CP,
Common Scoter: 14E
Great-crested Grebe: 1 o/s
Fulmar: 1W
Gannet: 14W
Cormorant: 7 o/s
Mediterranean Gull: 4W all juveniles
Kittiwake: 1W
Yellow-legged Gull: 2 around Juveniles
Sandwich Tern: 4E      19W
Common Tern: 38W
Auk: 2E
Harbour Porpoise: 4+
Juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls at the fishing boats this afternoon

Common Tern from the fishing boats this afternoon
Juvenile Mediterranean Gulls at the fishing boats this afternoon

Monday, 3 August 2020

03/08/2020

06.00-07.30 from the fishing boats: grateful thanks to AJG for supplying details. 
Great-crested Grebe: 2W 
Gannet: 48W
Whimbrel: 3W
Kittiwake: 33W
Sandwich Tern: 17E   5W
Common Tern: 28W
Sand Martin: 3S
Goldcrest: 1 in off the sea
Meadow Pipit still feeding young by the perimeter wall
A morning walk to The Patch produced a Black Redstart, 6 Pied Wagtails and 5 Linnets, a distinct lack of migrants. At The Patch just 14 Common Terns and a Mediterranean Gull of any note, off shore at least 6 Harbour Porpoises.
Another walk down Galloways and around Bretts Marina found no new migrants apart from pulses of Sand Martins and Swallows going South.
1 of Juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls at the fishing boats this afternoon
14.30-16.00 from the fishing boats with AJG:
Common Scoter: 2E
Great-crested Grebe: 1 o/s
Gannet: 4E       30W
Cormorant: 5 o/s
Kittiwake: 12W    including 1 juvenile from this year.
Yellow-legged Gull: 4x juvenile present
Sandwich Tern: 28W
Common Tern: 83W
Grey Seal: 1
Harbour Porpoise: 8+

At The ARC this evening The Black-winged Stilt was still present also 2+ Garganey, a Black Tern, a Ruff, 3 Common Sandpipers and a Black-necked Grebe of note, there still pulses of Sand Martins moving South this evening.
Oak Processionary a new moth for my trap
Rosy Footman always a welcome find in the trap

Sunday, 2 August 2020

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

Friday, 31 July 2020

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 July 2020

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

Wednesday, 29 July 2020

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.