15/10/2021

Sea watching the last couple of days has been poor with very little movement off shore. 100+ Gannet feeding, with smaller numbers of Kittiwakes, Mediterranean Gulls and Sandwich Terns, a few Red-throated Divers, 40+ Razorbills and a handful of Guillemots.  

Very little on the land apart from Chiffchaffs, early mornings have produced a few flyover Brambling, Siskins, Tree Sparrows and Reed buntings , also several Jays which are scarce on the peninsular.

On the reserve the great Egrets and still at least 4 Cattle Egrets along with the 2 Glossy Ibis. ^00+ Golden Plover have been roosting on the islands on Burrowes along with c40 Common Snipe, 4 Dunlin, 6 Grey Plover and a Black-tailed Godwit. At least 1 Black-necked grebe and a Goldeneye there.

Record of yesterdays Slavonian Grebe found by DW on the ARC, the first record for Dungeness this year

Adult Yellow-legged Gull by the entrance track to the VC

Greater White-fronted Goose at Scotney today

A party of Red-throated Divers at the fishing boats this afternoon

The Glossy Ibis showing well today

 

13/10/2021

AJG & RW sea watch this morning and kindly sent me there sightings:

07.00-09.00 from the fishing boats

Brent Goose: 91W    22E

Wigeon: 30W     40E

Common Scoter: 7W      8E

Red-throated diver: 4 around

Great-crested Grebe: 4 around

Gannet: 58W     c75 feeding offshore

Cormorant: 13E

Merlin: 2 around

Oystercatcher: 4E

Kittiwake: 18W

Sandwich Tern: 3E

Great Skua: 1W

Guillemot: 5 around

Razorbill: 1W      4 around

Swallow: 3 out

Pied Wagtail: 7 on beach

Meadow Pipit: 17 over

Goldfinch: 33 over

Starling: 200 in

Grey Seal: 2 around

I walked around the bushes which were fairly quiet though at least 50 Chiffchaffs and a few Blackcaps were seen or heard, 40+ each of Brambling and Siskin flew NW, sadly Thrushes were or less absent just a handful each of Redwing, Blackbird and Song Thrush. The star was the Bittern that OL spotted sunning itself in the Sallows.

Bittern sunning itself high in the Sallows at the Long Pits this morning

Blackcap in the trapping area

Long-tailed Tit in the trapping area

13.00-15.45 from the fishing boats:

With AJG, RW, OL

Brent Goose: 64W      14E

Wigeon: 2W

Teal: 7W

Red-throated Diver:  4E    2W         4 on

Great-crested Grebe: 5 on

Sooty Shearwater: 1E

Gannet: 48W      c50 feeding o/s

Cormorant: 9 on

Kittiwake: c150 around

Mediterranean Gull: 66W

Sandwich Tern: 6 around

Guillemot: 11 on

Razorbill: 56 on

Auk sp: 16W  2E

Yellow Wagtail: 1 over 

Rock Pipit: 2 over

Grey Seal; 1

Harbour porpoise: 4+

Late afternoon at the reserve still at least 4 Cattle Egrets around, 500+ Golden Plover, 3 Dunlin and a Goldeneye of note.

Glossy Ibis's at the ARC yesterday

 

11/10/2021

AJG kindly sent me the highlights of his sea watch this morning:

07.00-08.00

Brent Goose: 13W

Red-throated Diver: 1E

Gannet: 33W

Peregrine:  1 in off the sea

Arctic Skua: 1 around

Birding on the land was just as poor, during a walk around the bushes small numbers of  Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps were seen or heard, a few Siskin and Reed Buntings over, 5 Swallow through, just a single Song Thrush flushed, the highlight being a flock of 17 Stock Doves NW. Late morning when I was at a very quiet Galloways I saw 3 Large flocks of Starlings numbering several 1,000s high up in the distance over The point coming in off the sea.

The reserve held the usual Egrets and 2 Ibis. On Burrowes 44 Common Snipe, 8 Grey Plover, 8 Dunlin and c200 Golden Plover were the highlights.

Around the hay fields late afternoon several Bearded Tits in the ditches, Hayfield 1, 2 and 3 look good for waders but alas I saw none.

Scotney sward held c400 Golden Plover but they wouldn't settle for a good look through, also 9 Curlew there.

Linnets at West Beach this morning

One of at least eight Cattle Egret present today 

The 2 Glossy Ibis this morning

2 Black Redstarts among the barbed wire at the Lydd Watchtowers today

The ARC car park scavenger eating bread this afternoon

A gorgeous Clouded Yellow at the ARC this afternoon

A Bloxworth Snout in my trap yesterday morning

 

09/10/2021

This mornings sea watch by RW, SO, CT and AJG who kindly sent me the log:

07.00-09.00 from the fishing boats:

Brent Goose: 88W

Wigeon: 9W

Shovellor:1W

Common Scoter: 34W

Red-throated Diver: 6 around

Great-crested Grebe: 5 around

Gannet: Present n/c

Cormorant: present n/c

Common Snipe: 2E

Kittiwake: 8E

Black-headed Gull: Present n/c

Mediterranean Gull: 2 around

Common Gull: Present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Herring Gull: Present n/c

Lesser Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Sandwich Tern: 8 around

Arctic Skua: 7 around

Auk sp: 16W

Swallow: 26 out

Meadow Pipit: 43 in off

Carrion Crow: 17E

Jackdaw: 11 around

Starling: 275 in off

Goldfinch: 60W

Brambling: 1 heard

I went for a wander around The Desert which for the time of year and weather was very disappointing Avian wise, though not really unexpected in this dire autumn.

Wheatear in The Desert was the highlight

Few grounded migrants today I was reduced to photographing a Robin in The Desert

Chiffchaff in The Desert

Red-throated Diver

I joined RW who kindly kept the log at the fishing boats this afternoon 14.00-15.00

Brent Goose: 2E

Wigeon: 6W

Common Scoter: 7W    17E

Red-throated Diver: 2 around

Gannet: c50 feeding off shore

Kittiwake: 1E

Sandwich Tern: 20W    38E

Arctic Skua: 1 around

Razorbill: 5W

Auk sp: 32W

Grey Seal: 1

Harbour Porpoise: 2

Pectoral Sandpiper

After the sea watch we moved to Dennis's Hide on the reserve, while I was looking at Gulls legs Richard spotted a wader that turned out to be a Pectoral Sandpiper, whether it is the same bird that was present on the 06/10/2021 or a new bird I guess we will never know, it could have been hiding on the islands in front of Makepiece which are now near on impossible to view as the the is shut. 

Also from Dennis's the usual Golden Plovers and Lapwings, 5 Dunlin, a Ruff, 6 Grey Plover, an Avocet

and a Black-necked Grebe, also 2 Norwegian colour ringed Great Black-backed Gulls, both rings were read and details logged on the Norwegian web site.

Barry Bansons Radfords Flame Shoulder

 

07/10/2021

Brent Geese passing west today

 07.00-10.00 with AJG & CT,

Brent Goose: 290W        42E

Shelduck: 10W

Wigeon: 22W

Common Scoter: 104W     17E

Red-throated Diver: 1W

Great-crested Grebe: 4 around

Grey Heron: 9 in  7 + 2 in off 

Gannet: 142W

Cormorant: Present n/c

Sparrowhawk: 2 around

Turnstone: 1 around

Kittiwake: 38W

Black-headed Gull: Present n/c

Mediterranean Gull:15W

Common Gull: Present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Herring Gull: Present n/c

Lesser Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Sandwich Tern: 18W      4E

Great Skua: 1W

Arctic Skua: 9W  

Razorbill: 4W

Auk sp: 41W. 17

Kestrel: 1 in off

Swallow: 135 out

Pied Wagtail: 2  around     

Harbour Porpoise: 8

Grey Seal: 4

Common Seal: 1

Turnstone on the beach

Some of the many House Martins and Swallows that were around this morning

Chiffchaff in The Desert

Apart from a few Chiffchaffs and even fewer Blackcaps the bushes were very quiet, lots of House Martins and Swallows around this morning with the latter trickling through all day. A Goldeneye on the ARC was new in.

This afternoons sea watch was predictably quiet.

14.30-16.00 with AJG & CT

Brent Goose: 30W.  1 on

Common Scoter: 26E

Red-throated Diver: 2 on

Gannet: 159W

Sanderling: 2E

Kittiwake: 37W

Mediterranean Gull: 14W

Sandwich Tern: 61W

Arctic Skua: 2 around

Auk sp: 17W    8E

No sign of yesterdays Pectoral Sandpiper from Dennis's, though CT and myself did see a Stint or Peep on the islands in front of Makepiece viewed from Dennis's late afternoon, but we had to leave it as the reserve gates are locked at 17.00.😢

The Egret roost tonight held both the Glossy Ibis's, 10 Cattle Egrets but only 6 Great Egrets and even stranger only 2 Little Egrets.

2 Glossy Ibis coming into roost this evening

8 of the 10 Cattle Egrets that came into roost this evening

06/10/2021

With a strong cold North Westerly blowing across the peninsula I opted for a walk around the point rather than a cold sea watch, however AJG did watch and kindly sent me his sightings:

07.45-09.15

Sooty Shearwater: 1W

Gannet: 26W

Cormorant: present n/c

Black-headed Gull: Present n/c

Common Gull: Present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Herring Gull: Present n/c

Sandwich Tern: 4W

Arctic Skua 11 down

Auk sp: 2W

Hobby: 1 around

Swallow: 59W

Hose Martin: 3W

Linnet: 70W

Yellow Wagtail: 1W

Pied Wagtail:  7W

My walk around the point added Merlin, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk, 2 Wheatears, 11 Chiffchaffs, 6 Skylark, a few more Swallows, Meadow Pipits Linnets and Goldfinches.

At Boulderwall still all 3 Egret sp and the Glossy Ibis on Cooks Pool.

Lydd Fields held 100s of Gulls in the flood pools, along with the usual Reed Buntings, Wagtails and Pipits. 

Rather distant Pectoral Sandpiper out on the islands opposite Dennis's hide

I'd just finished lunch and was doing some domestic chores when CT called me to say he and LW had a Pectoral Sandpiper on the islands in front of Dennis's Hide, a few minutes later I was in the hide with them watching the bird, many thanks to both for the call. Also Burrowes of note c100 Golden Plover, 3 Ruff, 2 Curlew, 4 Dunlin, 4 Grey Plover, and a Black-necked Grebe.

Lapwing and Golden Plover

Curlew over Burrowes

Merlin in pursuit of a Linnet

A late afternoon walk down Galloways saw a Merlin and a Linnet giving a fantastic aerial display and the Linnet survived this time. Apart from Wrens, Robins, Dunnocks and Stonechats little else was seen.

After a minute of high speed twisting and turning the Merlin breaks off panting and hungry

05/10/2021

07.05-10.05 with CP, AJG, BW, GH, Dw

Wigeon: 2W

Common Scoter: 3W     4E

Red-throated Diver: 1W

Manx Shearwater: 1W

Balearic Shearwater: 1W

Great-crested Grebe: 3W   4 around

Gannet: 491W

Cormorant: 138W

Sparrowhawk: 2 around

Turnstone: 8 around

Kittiwake: 1W

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

Lesser black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Sandwich Tern: 446W

Common Tern: 48W

Great Skua: 4W

Arctic Skua: 46W  Tony recorded 59W

Guillemot: 1W

Razorbill: 24W

Auk sp: 62W

Kestrel: 1 around

Merlin: 1 around

Hobby: 1 around

Sand Martin: 2 out 

House Martin: 2 out

Swallow: 27 out

Pied Wagtail: 2W     

Meadow Pipit:14W

Goldfinch: 4

Grey Seal: 1

The flooded fields around the peninsular were covered in 1,000s of Gulls which were constantly being disturbed by raptors, Sparrowhawks and Peregrines mainly, while the Linnet and Pipit flocks were being hunted by Kestrel and Merlin. Great, Little and Cattle Egrets could all be seen at Boulderwall and Dengemarsh where at least six Yellow Wagtails were lingering.

On the ARC the Glossy ibis was feeding on its favourite island along with a Garganey, a Black-necked Grebe was out on the lake.  

                                          Yellow Wagtail at the Dengemarsh dung heap   

One of several Yellow Wagtails at Dengemarsh Flood 

Unobliging Kingfisher opposite Springfield Bridge

The ARC car park scavenger

Garganey and Shoveler on the ARC

04/10/2021

With the counting dearth of land birds sea watching is the main attraction

My first Little Gull of the autumn made a very brief appearance at the fishing boats before disappearing back into the bay

07.00-10.15 with AJG, DW et al

Common Scoter: 1W

Red-throated Diver: 1W

Great-crested Grebe: 3W     2 on

Gannet: 39W

Cormorant: 147 around

Turnstone: 2 around

Kittiwake: 3W

Black-headed Gull: Present n/c

Little Gull: 1 Juvenile around

Mediterranean Gull: 2E

Common Gull: Present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Herring Gull: Present n/c

Lesser black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Sandwich Tern: 203W

Common Tern: 2W

Arctic Skua: 28W

Guillemot: 1W

Auk sp: 35W

Swallow: 54 out

Pied Wagtail: 2 around

Meadow Pipit: 45W

Linnet: 85W

Harbour porpoise: 4

Grey seal: 2

Still at least 8 Cattle Egrets at Boulderwall today

A distant Black-necked Grebe on the ARC early afternoon

The Glossy Ibis back at its favoured island on the ARC early afternoon

14.00-16.00 with AJG & JC

Red-throated Diver: 1 on

Great-crested Grebe: 5 around

Gannet: 110W

Turnstone: 3 around

Sandwich Tern: 204W

Arctic Skua: 11W

Razorbill: 6W

Auk sp: 2W

Swallow: 96 out

03/10/2021

Red-throated Diver

07.00-10.30 from the fishing boats with CP, AJG, NB, JB, DW, CT, BW, GH et al

Brent Goose: 3W

Common Scoter: 22W     6E

Red-throated Diver: 12W

Balearic Shearwater: 1W

Great-crested Grebe: 4 around

Gannet: 741W

Cormorant: 64 around

Shag: 1W

Turnstone: 7 around

Kittiwake: 7W

Black-headed Gull: Present n/c

Mediterranean Gull: 22W

Common Gull: Present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Herring Gull: Present n/c

Lesser black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Caspian Gull: 2 around

Sandwich Tern: 402W

Common Tern: 3W

Great Skua: 4W

Arctic Skua: 57W     11E

Guillemot: 3W

Razorbill: 18W

Auk sp: 205W

Hobby: 1W

Swallow: 33 out

Pied Wagtail: 2W

Rock Pipit: 1W

Grey Seal: 1

Harbour Porpoise: 4+

I was a little slow spotting this Shag coming, still a scarce bird at Dungeness

Great Black-backed Gull about to swallow a Thornback Ray whole

There were still at least 5 Cattle Egrets at Boulderwall late afternoon

A brief visit to Dennis's Hide, saw c150 Golden Plover, 2 Dunlin and a Ruff among the Lapwings on the islands.