Tuesday 11/08/2020

AJG has persevered with the early morning sea watches from the fishing boats every day during this hot spell, unfortunately his efforts haven't as yet been rewarded. The paucity of Terns, Gannets and Cormorants feeding off shore leads me to believe that there is very little food in the bay.

I have spent the afternoons swimming in the sea on either Galloways Beach, Denge Marsh Beach or Dungeness Beach just keeping cool.  

Glossy Ibis when it first flew into the ARC Sunday evening

Juvenile I think?

Glossy Ibis at the ARC taken this morning

Juvenile Kittiwake at bottom of Dengemarsh Gully yesterday afternoon 

Lydd Church at sunset Sunday

Pied Flycatcher in Dave Bunneys garden this evening

Wheatear at Galloways yesterday, still only the odd Whinchat there

Southern Migrant Hawker by Lydd airport found by John Young

The normally rare Golden Twin Spots have been turning up in large numbers, I have recorded 11 so far.

Oak Processionary has also been abundant this year 

The lovely Jersey Tiger, there must be a breeding colony near me as I catch good numbers every year.

 I caught my first Tree Lichen Beauty the other day and have been catching them every day since.

Friday 07/08/2020

On Wednesday 05/08/2020 I joined CP and AJG in a very nice trip to Oare Marshes. It was very pleasant change to actually be able to see 100s of waders without peeping over fences and peering through vegetation. The Bonaparte's Gull shoed quite well in the Black-headed Gull roost, Many Redshank and Lapwing were roosting and feeding, along with smaller numbers of Avocets, Golden Plover, Dunlin, Whimbrel, and Common Snipe. The Black-tailed Godwit flock was as usual quite spectacular, I would guess in the region of 700+ though I'm probably way off the mark,  a good number of them seem to be sporting a variety of combinations of colour rings, just as well I took the wrong scope with me otherwise the CP & AJG would have had to drag me away to stop me spending all day trying to get the colour sequence. It was a pleasure to actually be able to sit in the hide and view the birds, everyone was behaving responsibly and surprise surprise every one has survived the experience so far. It is an excellent reserve that I would thoroughly recommend to anyone, as a bonus in this hot weather there is plenty of free fresh spring water to drink.

Reed Warbler at Galloways probably a local bird

Early this morning at Galloways10+ Wheatears were were the only signs of migrants. Common and Lesser Whitethroats, Stonechats and Meadow Pipits that were seen were probably all summer residents.

As it was so hot today I cycled back to Galloways this afternoon, where I took my first dip of the year in the sea which was surprisingly warm, It was so nice I spent nearly 2 hours there most of the time in the sea. 

Stonechat

Lesser Whitethroat

Wheatear fly catching on the guard house 

Sedge Warbler

In a lunchtime amble down the track opposite my house I came across a Sedge Warbler and several Reed Warblers, once again probably summer residents.

 Reed Warbler

I'm guessing the Stilt, Garganey and Black-necked Grebe are all still present on the ARC, though I've not heard anything today, it was probably too hot for any of the locals too bother too look. 

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

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

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