21/01/2021

Sea Watch  07.40-08.40 by AJG:

Common Scoter: 140W

Velvet Scoter: 4W

Red-throated Diver: 7W

Fulmar: 2W

Gannet: 26W

Cormorant: present n/c

Kittiwake: 7W

Black-headed Gull: present n/c

Common Gull: present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Auk sp: 242W

First Green Woodpecker of the year today from the garden

Slightly oiled Red-throated Diver, presumably the bird that was on Lade Pits.

Another hike today saw very little across the fields in the near gale force wind, small numbers of Lapwing were being disturbed by hunting Marsh Harriers, while Grey Herons and Great White Egrets were keeping low in the ditches. I didn't encounter any White-fronted Geese today and only very small numbers of Greylags, so I presume they were all out around Scotney.

The reserve was very quiet but a slightly oiled Red-throated Diver was new on the New Excavations. On Burrowes just 3 Goldeneye of note, most of the islands are now submerged, but on the bright side this meant there were only a small number of Cormorants present. Carrying my walk onto the New Diggings where the Black-throated Diver was showing well albeit in dreadful light conditions and the resumption of the rain, also 4 more Goldeneye there.

Slightly oiled Red-throated Diver

Black-throated Diver

Black-throated Diver

View from the left side of Dennis's Hide now that scrub and Sallow have been cut. The Tern raft has also been moved nearer to the viewpoint.

An extra viewpoint over hayfield 1 & 2 has been cut opposite the entrance to Christmas Dell hide
 

18/01/2021

Early morning sea watch by AJG 07.40-09.10:

Brent Goose:7E

Red-throated Diver: 57E

Gannet: 56E

Cormorant: 1,000s present

Black-headed Gull: present n/c

Common Gull: present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Auk sp: 1310E 

Some of the minimum of 326 Russian White-fronted Geese on Boulderwall Fields /Dengemarsh

Another wander around the area today found nothing new, though the sight and sound of 320+ Russian White-fronts flying around was a joy to behold. The usual Marsh Harriers and at least 6 Great White Egrets were seen, along with a party of 6 Bearded Tits. The  brighter weather encouraged several Chiffchaffs out, Cetti's Warblers were calling all around and Water Rails were squealing from the reed beds. The Black-throated Diver is still on the New Diggings with at least 7 Goldeneye for company. The islands on Burrowes have largely been submerged, those that are left are smothered in Cormorants, I dare say the expected rain in the next few days will engulf the rest of the islands.

Elsewhere the Long-tailed Duck is still at Scotney per CT. The Iceland Gull is still frequenting The Patch per DW.

Spooked by the Air-Sea Rescue Helicopter

Incoming to Boulderwall fields

Some on Lydd Fields

Black-throated Diver on the New Diggings being camera shy

 

17/01/2021

Being unable to sea watch from The Point as the Dungeness Estate is closed to visitors, I am grateful to 

AJG for sending me his sea watch totals:

07:40-09:10

Brent Goose: 30E

Common Scoter: 3E

Red-throated diver: 278W

Gannet: 98W

Cormorant: 1,000s present

Kittiwake: 22W

Black-headed Gull: Present n/c

Mediterranean Gull: 4W

Common Gull: Present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Herring Gull: Present n/c

Auk sp: 358W

hopefully in the next few months I might be able to join him, I won't hold my breath.

The X Between Dengemarsh and the Power Station

With the weather being so awful in the last few days and not being able to sea watch, I have been very good with the pandemic restrictions, as I couldn't be bothered to go out. This morning was different with the sun shining I made my down to Dengemarsh Gully. At Springfield Bridge a flock of 20 Corn Buntings, a Great White Egret and the ever present Marsh Harriers were the highlight. In the Gully just the usual Wrens, Robins, Dunnocks and a single Cetti's Warbler. From the Gully I walked along the beach to the X

constantly checking the sea, but only seeing flocks of Cormorants tooing and froing. At the X I chucked out some stale bread, at first the Gulls ignored it but after a few minutes some of the Herring Gulls took some interest, their cries attracted more Gulls and eventually the mass of Gulls at The Patch came down and joined them, including a 2nd calendar year Iceland Gull, although it was mostly into the sun which didn't help photography wise, it did show highlight its gorgeous almost transparent primaries.

Another disappointing Harrier count at Pigwell this afternoon with just 1 bird coming to roost, a noisy Little Owl was a bonus.

2nd calendar year Iceland Gull

2nd calendar year Iceland Gull

2nd calendar year Iceland Gull

2nd calendar year Iceland Gull

2nd calendar year Iceland Gull

2nd calendar year Iceland Gull

 

10-11/01/2021

1 of several Reed Buntings at Dengemarsh in the rime frost

In general it is very quiet at the moment, though  count of 340+ Russian White-fronted Geese at various sites around the peninsular today was the standout highlight, though I can't be 100% sure that some weren't double counted. The Black-throated Diver was still on the New Diggings along with 4 Goldeneye, a large Tit flock on the causeway held 2 Firecrests, 3 Goldcrests and at least 20 Long-tailed Tits. At the ARC I couldn't find either the Dusky Warbler or the Glossy Ibis though both could easily still be present, plenty of squealing Water rails and several unseen calling Bearded Tits.

At Scotney the Long-tailed Duck is still on its favoured lake per JY.

The 2w Iceland Gull is still making intermittent appearances at The Patch per DW.

 Dengemarsh in the freezing fog

A new viewpoint has been cut into the brambles at Hookers

Gadwall on Ice at Hookers

Pintail at Hookers

Storm damage to Scott Hide

Black Redstart on the football club fence, year ticked from the garden.

Goldeneye on Burrowes

1 of at least 6 Great White Egrets around

At least 128 Russian White-fronted Geese on the Boulderwall Fields today

Another 23 White-fronts were in the Whimbrel field by the entrance track

At least another 86 white-fronts opposite Cockles Bridge

 There were at least another 90 White-fronts at Dengemarsh making a total of 340 today though there could be some double counting.

08/01/2020

It seems that today was my last look at the sea for sometime as the Dungeness Estate closed to cars this afternoon for the foreseeable future, perhaps I'll invest in an electric bicycle if it goes on to long.  

Highlights of this mornings freezing sea watch was a Red-necked Grebe flying East into Lade Bay, also a juvenile drake and 3 female  Eider flying West. There were still lots of Auks and Red-throated Divers but little else of note.  The Patch was disappointing with few Gulls present as it was barely bubbling.

A lovely metal ringed male Black Redstart was briefly by the old lighthouse before disappearing into the power station. The Black-throated Diver was still on the New Diggings. A half hearted count of the Cormorants on Burrowes arrived at a figure of c4,700, even the Great Black-backed Gulls have been pushed off the islands by the Cormorants. The ARC was very quiet, with again no sign of the Dusky Warbler, a party of Long-tailed Tits being the highlight for me as the freezing fog descended. 

While I was In the garden during a brief clear patch a flight of Russian White-fronted Geese flew low over me giving super views, I wasn't quick enough with the phone to record the lovely calls emanating from the flock.

Ringed Black Redstart by the old lighthouse

A superb Russian White-fronted Goose over the garden today

Part of the flock of Whitefronts flying back out onto Dengemarsh

6/7-01-2021

A sea watch yesterday with CP from the fishing boats in appalling weather conditions produced plenty of Guillemots, Razorbills, Red-throated Divers, Gannets, Kittiwakes and of course Cormorants but little else.

At the ARC in the rain these 3 Green Woodpeckers were probably the highlight.

Green Woodpeckers at the ARC

Black-throated Diver

Plenty of walking today eventually resulted in superb views of the long staying Black-throated Diver on the New Diggings in the lovely sunshine. A search of the ARC for the Dusky Warbler drew a blank, though party of 8 Bearded Tits were good compensation, all the usual wildfowl were present but still no Smew. A Kestrel was posing as I walked through the car park, in the Brambles a Firecrest and a Chiffchaff were feeding. 200+ Russian White-fronted Geese flew over and settled in the fields at Cockles Bridge, unfortunately not for long as 1 of the peninsulars guardians of the countryside soon arrived to chase off them off again. I don't know why they won't settle with the 100s of feral geese at Scotney where they would at least get some peace.

Black-throated Diver

Kestrel

A flock of 200+ Russian White-fronted Geese

Raven over the field in front of my house

Late afternoon at Scotney a Kingfisher sat in the orange glow of the setting sun, a drake and and duck Scaup were still on the eastern back lake along with the Long-tailed Duck. On the sward, 1,000+ each of Lapwing and Golden Plover along with 100s each of Wigeon and feral geese but I could find no wild birds among them. 

04/01/2020

A soggy Dusky Warbler 

A day of non stop rain and drizzle on the peninsular made birding challenging. First stop at The Patch was very disappointing with very few Gulls present compared to recent days and no White Wingers except Mediterranean Gulls.

At the ARC plenty of the usual wildfowl, but no sign of the Ibis or Black-throated Diver, I was fortunate enough to come across The Hamstreet Birder who just happened to be watching the Dusky Warbler. It was very active and always managed to keep twigs between it and my camera, considering the appalling weather I was surprised to get any images of it all, 2500 iso to get any shutter speed and light. Please note the ARC car park is closed at the moment.

I spent an hour sheltering behind a fishing boat this afternoon and racked up 3 Bonxies, 3 Fulmars, 270+ Kittiwakes, 650+ Guillemots (not a single Razorbill), 40+ Red-throated Divers, 40+ Mediterranean Gulls, Gannets and Great-crested Grebes.

2w Mediterranean Gull