23/02/2021

The stunning resident Glossy Ibis

Cetti's Warblers, Reed Buntings and Chiffchaffs were singing all around the reserve today, on Boulderwall Fields several 100 Wigeon fed with c200 Russian White-fronted Geese, 26 Curlew, 8 Dunlin, at least 4 Ruff, 1,00s of Lapwing and at least 2 Great White Egrets, all being flushed from time to time by Marsh Harriers and Common Buzzards. Sadly it now looks as though this will be the first winter on record that no Smew were recorded at Dungeness, although it is not late for one to turn up, but I seriously doubt one will, 

My first of hopefully many Red Kites this year from the garden. Thanks to Graham for the heads up that it was on its up the peninsular towards me, where it circled Lydd Wood.

My first Avocet of the year feeding on the hay fields

At least 6 singing Chiffchaffs around the reserve today

The amazingly early Wheatear at Galloway's on Sunday afternoon

There were still at least 28 Bewick Swans on Walland yesterday afternoon

Peregrine behind The Patch 

2nd calendar year Iceland Gull is still frequenting The patch

 

20/02/2021

There are still 3-400 Russian White-fronted Geese around the peninsular, though with the arrival of warmer weather they will doubtless soon depart. They are usually to be found on the fields between Cockles Bridge and the Airport  or at the back of Dengemarsh

A long slog this week in strong winds and leaden skies to The Patch via Dengemarsh Gully was rewarded with nice views of a Bonxie causing mayhem among the Gulls over The Patch, also the long staying 2nd calendar year Iceland Gull showed well there, at least 2 1w Caspian Gulls were in the roost. Lots of Auks were toting and frying off shore with a few Gannets, Kittiwakes and Red-throated Divers.

2nd calendar year Iceland Gull

2nd calendar year Iceland Gull

Great White Egrets are now regular in Dengemarsh Gully, this one was tackling a large Eel

As soon as the snow and ice disappeared most of the Wigeon, Common Snipe, Jack Snipe and Woodcock disappeared,  Curlew numbers on Boulderwall fields are increasing but the reserve is generally very quiet avian wise, though there are still c1,000 Lapwings around with at least 6 Ruff and c100 Golden plover accompanying them.

2-3 Kingfishers can be seen around Hookers 

A walk out Scotney was disappointing though not surprising as the wind was near gale force, the Long-tailed Duck was still present along with all the usual feral Geese, a flock of 40 Dunlin and 8 Ringed Plovers were on the sward.

Scrub clearance looking back to the ARC car park from the screen hide

 

15/02/2021

Its been great to see all the Redwings during the cold weather, but most had departed this morning 

As with the Redwing I only saw a handful of Snipe today, compared to the several dozens recent days, also no Jack Snipe or Woodcock today. 

Peregrine yesterday over the Hay fields

Redshank at Scotney

The frozen sward at Scotney produced a few Ringed Plovers, Dunlin, Redshank, Golden Plover and a Lapwing, also a couple of Green Sandpipers in the ditches. The long-tailed Duck is still present but I couldn't find the Scaup, though wildfowl numbers were generally low. There were at least 3 Great White Egrets there.

Ice shelf at Scotney

Barn Owls at Pigwell sewage works, but no Grey Wagtail there among the many Pied Wagtails.

Russian White-fronted Geese in the field in front of my house

A from the garden year tick in the form of a Brent Goose that joined the Greylags and Whitefronts 

The 2 Goosander keeping their distance on the New Diggings today, though they were the highlight of an otherwise very much under par walk around the reserve today. At dusk the Glossy Ibis flew across the ARC to roost.
 

12/02/2021

Black-throated Diver

With the bitter cold weather continuing, it has been hard work walking around Dengemarsh and the reserve. Very little new has arrived, though it is very nice to still be seeing large numbers of White-fronts and Wigeon, also the winter thrushes, Snipe along with the odd Jack Snipe and Woodcock. On Burrowes the Black-throated Diver skin in residence though it does get lost among the several 1,000s of Cormorants there. There are still no Smew at Dungeness despite hours spent scouring every lake and pool.

Redwing

My usual view of a Woodcock, this one exploded from below a bush next to me at Dengemarsh

Russian White-fronted Geese

Geese on Dengemarsh

Wigeon and White-fronts over Dengemarsh

 The last time I managed to spot a Woodcock on the ground December 2012 in the Willow Trail

 

Wednesday 10/02/2021

Glossy Ibis at Boulderwall this morning. A short video can be seen HERE

A wander around the ARC first thing this morning found 30+ Common Snipe and a single Jack Snipe, but very little else in the biting cold wind. The Russian White-fronted Goose flock was still on the Lydd Fields today.

 Goosanders on the New Diggings today

The Black-throated Diver has relocated to to Burrowes

This lovely bird always welcomes you at Dennis's view point

Some of the many Redwings around today, also good numbers of Fieldfare and Common Snipe.

My first Knot of the year feeding on the causeway at Scotney this afternoon with c60 Dunlin and 35 Ringed Plover. Very little else was seen there.

Lapwing in a snow shower at Scotney this afternoon

While at Scotney I got a brief distant view of an Egret flying over the ranges, I suspected it might be a Cattle Egret, this awful image showed me it was a Cattle Egret my first of the year.

Early February

Some of the 30 Bewick Swans wintering on Walland Marsh still present on the 2nd Feb

Part of a huge flock of at least 392 Russian White-fronted Geese that have taken up residence on the Lydd Fields/Dengemarsh area.

The White-fronts and Greylags photographed from my little balcony

Lapwings hunkered down in the Lydd Fields as the snow fell, also taken from my balcony 

Some of the 100+ flock of Stock Doves in the Lydd Fields

Mute Swan over the garden

The Glossy Ibis still around Boulderwall today despite the cold weather

Dunlin on the Hayfields today

The partially frozen Hay Fields attracted a small flock of Dunlin, a Water Pipit, c20 Common Snipe, also a frustrating close bobbing Jack Snipe that CT spotted that was mainly obscured  by a line of reeds, no matter where we should we could not get a clear view of it because of the swaying reeds, hence no image.

All the birds were flushed by a Peregrine that glided over the field, putting up a party of 4 Jack Snipe that I was slow getting onto and disappeared into Christmas Dell. There were several each of Fieldfare and Redwing there, a Missile Thrush at Hookers but still no Smew, Goosander or scarce Grebes.

Marsh Harrier by the entrance track today

The 9 Ruff that have been wintering around Boulderwall

A dead young Badger on the reserve, no outward signs of trauma, so may have succumbed to the weather and starvation.