19/06/2021

AJG & SO did an early morning sea watch 06.00-08.00

Gannet: 6W

Mediterranean Gull: 1W

Sandwich Tern: 2W

Common Tern: 3W

Swift: 640W 

Apart from the Swifts a very quiet watch.

2 Young Black Redstarts that have been frequenting the power station perimeter wall

This week has been fairly slow avian wise, though all the usual Herons except the Cattle Egrets which have disappeared can be seen, along with the usual raptors, reed bed dwellers and wild fowl. A White Wagtail was feeding young on the hay fields was interesting to see. At Dengemarsh both Yellow Wagtail and Corn Bunting have bred and are feeding youngsters. Moth numbers have dropped now the cooler weather has arrived.

Nearby at Greatstone around the car park opposite the Jolly Fishrman PH the Hooded Crow continues its stay, it can be frustratingly elusive disappearing into the housing estate and making sots along to Littlestone. At Scotney hordes of Greylags, Canada, Egyptian and now even Barnacle Geese have raised young, among them all a single Greater White-fronted Goose. Now there are 3 Black Swans which are frequenting Dengemarsh, The ranges and the back fields of Scotney.

The Glossy Ibis is almost a permanent fixture on the ARC gorging on medicinal Leeches 

The Rosy Starling by the coral, the 4th I've seen at Dungeness this spring

A White Wagtail in the hayfield feeding young

A Yellow Wagtail waiting to feed its young at the hay fields. Appears to be mainly Hoverflies.

A family of Bearded Tits at Dengemarsh

A fresh looking Painted Lady in my garden this afternoon

Lime Hawkmoth from

 this mornings catch

 

Marsh Warbler

Marsh Warbler

Last Saturday evening I received a text from Dave Bunney say ing he thought he had a Marsh Warbler in his garden, a few minutes later I was on site speaking to Dave, he told me it could only really be seen from inside his lounge and invited me in to view. The bird showed almost immediately and several more times in the time I was there, allowing to get some images showing some of the salient features. Alas the bird disappeared overnight.

All these images were taken through the double glazed window

Its fairly quiet around Dungeness at the moment, though there is still plenty to see. The Glossy Ibis is still showing well on the ARC. Around the reserve plenty of Bearded Tits, occasional sightings of the Bitterns, lots of Reed, Sedge and Cetti's warblers and plenty of scruffy moulting wildfowl.

On the sea a few Mediterranean Gulls and Gannets, Terns are very scarce this year. 

2 Beautiful Marbled in the trap yesterday morning

 

Another Rosy Starling

Yesterday the 3rd Rosy Starling I have seen at Dungeness this spring turned up, at least 2 more have been seen on the reserve both of which I managed to miss. The weekend was very quiet avian wise, though there were many human visitors.

This bird was very mobile and disappeared into the power station complex

Corn Bunting at Scotney today

A morning walk around the reserve was very pleasant but typically quiet for the time of year. The usual reed bed warblers and Tits were all seen and heard, a glimpse of a Bittern, a Hobby and hunting Marsh Harriers and Common Buzzards.The Common Terns on Burrowes are pairing upland will hopefully pick a Herring Gull free island to nest on. The Glossy Ibis was on its usual Island on the ARC. 

A circuit of Scotney this afternoon, found 14 Avocets attempting to nest again, this time on an island so hopefully the Badgers won't get them, 4 Little-ringed Plovers, 4 Ringed Plovers and all the usual feral wild fowl. The fields were appeared to hold plenty of Skylarks, Corn Buntings and Yellow Wagtails.

Barnacle Goose with at least 2 goslings at Scotney today

 

10-12/06/2021

The last image I took of a Collared Pratincole before they all departed

The Greatstone Hooded Crow which took me 5 attempts to see it. It seems now that if you throw some bread out in the car park opposite the Jolly Fisherman PH, there is a good chance it will come into feed.

The Glossy Ibis is still strutting around the island on the ARC gorging itself on Medicinal Leech's. Marsh Harriers are much in evidence around the peninsular hunting for their young. Hobby's are having much better time now the warmer weather has arrived. A few more Common Terns have arrived on Burrowes and the ARC and look to be thinking about nesting. Reed, Sedge and Cetti's warblers are feeding young all around the reserve, as are Common and Lesser Whitethroats, Bearded Tits are much in evidence, but the Bitterns are keeping a low profile.

The Cormorant colony on the ARC can be a little noisy at the moment

The Boulderwall Barn Owls come out at all times of the day now they have young to feed

There are good numbers of Yellow Wagtails breeding around the peninsular, this one is in the field opposite my house.

A gorgeous visitor to my garden this morning, it represents the 150th species that I have seen from or in the garden. I think I'll put it on the pending list. I fear such a colourful bird won't last long in the wild. A Golden Oriole was reported within sight of my garden yesterday😳

This morning we had a super encounter with a Hare that totally ignored us.

Hares playing

A very washed out Painted Lady at Hookers today