The last few days

1 of 4 Tree Sparrows I came across in The desert on Sunday 

 The sea watch highlight on Sunday morning was a Sooty Shearwater that moved West at great speed, little else was seen. 10 Tree Sparrows had dropped into a private garden but soon left, so I was surprised when I was walking through The Desert to come across 4 feeding on Blackberries. Apart from Wheatears and handful of Willow warblers, Common and Lesser whitethroats and Blackcaps I saw little else. Late morning I received a call from PT saying that there was White Stork over the Beehives, I quickly went up stairs and set my scope up on the small balcony and spotted the bird almost instantly, it drifted around for a few minutes before seemingly heading off NE. Late afternoon a message on the local WhatsApp group from Dave Scott saying he had 30-40 White storks high over his house at Greatstone, once again I set my scope up on the balcony only this time it it took me an agonisingly long time to find them through the murk and heat haze over The lade Desert, although they were quite distant they were still a superb spectacle even if they are the Knepp birds. many thanks to Chis who got much better views and sent me his photographs. Thanks again to Dave for putting the news out on the local group enabling most the members to see them.

Most of the flock of White Storks that toured the peninsular late Sunday afternoon. Both these images were taken by Chris Philpot as they flew in front of his house at St Mary in The Marsh

This mornings sea watch was slight improvement than of late.

07.00-08.30 AJG who kindly kept the log.

Common Scoter: 2W

Great-crested Grebe: 1W

Gannet: 13E

Cormorant: 6W

Kittiwake: 1W   1E

Sandwich tern: 9E   c20 around

Great Skua: 1E

Arctic Skua: 3W     14E

Gret Seal; 1

Harbour Porpoise: 2

 

Wheatear in The Desert this morning

Black Kite over the fields in front of my house late morning, Honest!!!

When I finished going through the moths in my trap, I took the egg boxes a few 100 yds down the track opposite my house to empty the moths out. As I was doing this I noticed a large raptor coming towards 

me, thankfully as I wear my binoculars most of the time, I lifted them and immediately realised the bird was a Black Kite, I immediately called Colin T as he lives a few doors up from me and would easily see it, unfortunately for him he was not at home, I cursed at myself for carrying my camera, but tried with the phone, as you can see from the image above the results were woeful.

Pity this Clouded Yellow at The ARC was just out of focus

Great White Egret catching Marsh Froglets at The ARC early afternoon

Glossy Ibis on its usual island this afternoon

Another very poor sea watch

14.05- 15.05 MC

Common Scoter: 2E

Gannet: 5E

Cormorant: 2E    4W

Sandwich tern: 57E

Arctic Skua: 1W

Harbour Porpoise: 6

Cattle Egrets at the southern end of the ARC this afternoon

10/09/2021

AJG did the early sea watch for a very meagre return:

06.30-08.30

Common Scoter: 5W

Fulmar: 3W

Gannet: 31E

Kittiwake: 7E

Mediterranean Gull: 1E

Sandwich Tern: 27E

Arctic Skua: 3E

Grey Seal: 1

Harbour Porpoise: 2

A nice adult Yellow-legged Gull on the beach at the bottom of Dengemarsh Marsh Gully

This morning I wandered down to the bottom of Dengemarsh Marsh Gully from Springfield Bridge. Considering the date I saw very little apart from numerous Linnets, 2 Corn Buntings flew over, 4 Common Whitethroats and a single Chiffchaff were seen on the way down, a total of only 5 Wheatear were seen, a single Common Buzzard and Marsh Harrier were behind the converter station, the Yellow-legged Gull on the beach was the undoubted highlight.

A walk around the reserve was equally poor. The Firth viewpoint had as usual zero birds in front of it made worse by getting a soaking because the hide and  Makepiece hide aren't open or even being repaired.

I joined AJG at the fishing boats this afternoon 13.30-15.00

Common Scoter: 1E

Great-crested Grebe: 1W

Gannet: 8W

Kittiwake: 3W

Sandwich Tern: 31W

Swallow: 33SW out to sea

It can only get better!!!

I took the image above a few days ago, today it is still the same a view of overgrown Sallows. An example of money and volunteer time being spent on erecting signs promoting the reserve, then no follow up maintenance taking place, I know it is only a small thing but it is symptomatic of the run down image  Dungeness RSPB Reserve portrays to visitors, Just a few minutes with secateurs would resolve this small issue, but I doubt "The Team" have even noticed, or even walked past it. It is little wonder visitors feel the reserve is shabby, run down and un-loved. 

The view from the Firth Viewpoint, this image was taken a few days ago when the sun was shining, the lack of birds is clear to see, not even the Coots stay when the first visitor of the day walks onto the viewpoint.
 

09/09/2021

A poor sea watch this morning was mercifully cut short by the fog closing in very quickly:

07.40-08.15 

Fulmar: 1W

Gannet: 2E

Cormorant: 6W

Sandwich Tern: 12E   3W

Arctic Skua: 2W

Wheatear: 5 on the bund

One of the many Whinchats around the peninsular today, this one at The Patch

Around The Desert and trapping area very few migrants were seen, just singles each of Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler, 4 Common Whitethroats, 6 Wheatears in The Desert, another 8 around the new lighthouse but little else was seen.

A stop on the causeway at the ARC saw 2 Cattle Egrets, 2 Great Egrets, 3 Little Egrets and the Glossy Ibis.

Juvenile Hobby on the perimeter wall this morning. (A perimeter wall tick for me)

On Burrowes the 3 Spoonbills still present, c50 Golden Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Dunlin and a Ruff

all still present.

Sandwich Tern feeding at the fishing boats this afternoon

Very quiet sea watch again this afternoon but quite entertaining watching the Terns feeding.

15.00-16.00 from the fishing boats:

Gannet: 3W

Cormorant: 4W

Sandwich Tern: c15 feeding off shore

Common Tern: 1 feeding offshore

Arctic Skua: 1 chasing offshore

Wheatear: 5 around the fishing boats

Juvenile Arctic Skua at the fishing boats this afternoon

Juvenile Common Tern feeding at the fishing boats this afternoon

Marsh Mallow Moth a nationally scarce moth, was the highlight in my MV this morning

 

08/08/2021

Wheatear on the beach

Another very poor sea watch this morning but hopefully with the wind veering overnight tomorrow may be better. RW saw singles of Arctic and Great Skua off the fishing boats this afternoon.

Several Wheatears were on the beach with several more seen around The Point and Desert, also a single Whinchat. a Hummingbird Hawkmoth was basking on the perimeter wall. At least 3 Spotted Flycatchers, a Pied Flycatcher and a Redstart at the top of the Long Pits, 

After missing numerous fly over Spoonbills this year it was nice to catch up with the 3 that spent the day on Burrowes thanks to an alert from RW, also on Burrowes this afternoon a Ruff, Common Sandpiper, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, c50 Golden Plovers among the Lapwing, 2 Garganey and a very welcome juvenile/1w Caspian Gull thanks to DW for the call. On the ARC the Glossy Ibis still showing well on its chosen island, 2 Garganey and the usual Great and Little Egrets. 3 Cattle egrets were on the Boulderwall fields.

This evening I went to The Midrips and Wickes but got my timings wrong and arrived just as the sun was setting. I still managed to see a Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Little stints, c20 Dunlin,  a Knot, Black-tailed Godwits, 4+ Spotted Redshanks, a Greenshank, Redshank, Ringed Plover, Curlew, Knot and Oystercatcher, countless  Wheatears and Yellow Wagtails were along the Green Wall beach and ranges.

Spoonbills feeding from the Firth Viewpoint

The 3 Spoonbills having a fly around this afternoon before settling back on the islands

Juvenile/1w Caspian Gull found by DW on Burrowes this afternoon

Dunlins, Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper taken in near darkness this evening

 

The Weekend

The Midrips

As there is virtually no wader habitat at Dungeness this autumn I visited The Midrips this weekend for my wader fix. I saw13 species of wader including Curlew Sandpipers and a Little Stint, I also stumbled across a Grasshopper Warbler as walked along the green wall. There was a steady Easterly movement of Sand Martins and Swallows, also c150 Yellow Wagtails,  c30 Wheatears, 2 Whinchats and a few Terns off shore.

Visiting The Midrips can be problematic, especially at the moment with huge amouts of beach defence work being carried out seemingly 7 days a week, early morning is undoubtedly the best time before the contractors start work. 

Barge loads of shingle being imported for flood protection

Avocet with Black-tailed Godwits at The Midrips

Curlew Sandpiper at the Midrips

Black-tailed Godwit at the Midrips

Yellow Wagtails at The Midrips

A definite first for me was spotting this Grey Squirrel at The Patch on Saturday

Willow Warbler at Lighthouse Garden this morning

We seem to be in a form of Groundhog Day at the moment with the same birds all still present with the exception of the Wryneck that hasn't been seen for 2 days, though even that can easily be overlooked. Hopefully from tomorrow onwards the sea will start producing birds and new birds found on the land.

Ravens over the power station this morning

Glossy Ibis on its usual island at the ARC this afternoon

 

03/09/2021

Great White Egret at the ARC screen hide yesterday, without the hide these views would not be possible

Many Wheatears around the peninsular in the last few days, the Wryneck is quite elusive, the Pear Tree in the scrub south of the trapping area seems quite a reliable place to see it providing you want to put the time in. Whinchats can be found all around the peninsular, common warblers are in very short supply. A Spotted Flycatcher was down near The Patch per DG, while a Honey Buzzard flew south over Burrowes  per PT, little was seen on the reserve.

Only the second Redstart I've seen this Autumn

One of c6 Harbour Porpoises off the fishing boats this afternoon

This poor guy not only has a deformed leg, it has also swallowed a fishing hook. It does seem to be able to feed itself even with the birds nest of fishing line hanging from its bill blowing about in the wind.

The Glossy Ibis on its usual island at the ARC

A Cattle Egret in the pre roost with 2 Little Egrets. Last night 7 Great White, 14 Little and 2 Cattle Egrets  

came to roost along with the Glossy Ibis. At least 2 Merlins including a lovely adult male were hunting Starlings around the roost.

The next Cormorant on the Long Pits raft will hopefully be a Pygmy.🙏