04/04/2022

7C force 7 WSW with rain and poor visibility:
06.30-11.30 with JS:
Brent Goose : 522E (17 parties)
Wigeon: 5E
Velvet Scoter: 4E     2W
Common Scoter: 529E       7W
Red-throated Diver: 12E 
Great-crested Grebe: 3E  3on
Fulmar: 4E     3W
Gannet: 459W  
Cormorant: 184 around
Kittiwake: 7W
Black-headed Gull: present n/c
Mediterranean Gull: 2E
Common Gull: present n/c
Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c
Herring Gull: present n/c
Lesser Black-backed Gull: 4W
Sandwich Tern: c20 feeding 
Guillemot: 15W    4E       3 on
Auk sp: 14W      1E
House Martin: 1 in off
Swallow: 1 in off
Meadow Pipit: 690 in off
Linnet: 65 in off
Harbour Porpoise: 2+

Midday from the causeway 3 Swallows hawking the Sallows on the ARC. The 3 Cattle Egrets were in the sheep fields west of Boulderwall.

Early afternoon 3 Glossy Ibis were at Cooks Pool

Glossy Ibis at Cooks this afternoon

A short slo-mo video the Ibis can be seen HERE

Garganey from Hanson this afternoon

Little Egret from Hanson this afternoon

03/04/2022

Mediterranean Gull heading for The Patch this morning

 

This mornings sea watch was again rather poor, though not surprising as the temperature was -4 when I arrived, causing horrible haze out to sea.

07.00-09.00 joined by RW,

Brent Goose: 172E (13 parties)

Tufted Duck: 2 in off

Common Scoter: 14E     

Red-throated Diver: 12E   1W  

Great-crested Grebe: 1E   5on

Grebe sp: 1E    Slavonian/Black-necked

Gannet: 81E      

Cormorant: 136 on sea

Oystercatcher: 1E   

Kittiwake: 2E   

Black-headed Gull: present n/c

Mediterranean Gull: 4E

Common Gull: 19E

Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Lesser Black-backed Gull: 2E

Sandwich Tern: 4E    9W

Guillemot: 1E

Carrion Crow: 5 in off

Linnet: 1W

Harbour Porpoise: 4+

Grey Seal: 1

Immature male Marsh Harrier at Dengemarsh

There were a handful each of Swallows and Sand Martins seen this weekend, surprisingly no Sedge Warblers as they are usually singing around Dengemarsh by the 1st,, I guess the northerly winds have held them up along with the Yellow Wagtails that are usually present at Dengemarsh and Scotney by now. On The Point Black Redstarts, Wheatears and chiffchaffs can be found in small numbers. Hopefully with westerly and southerly winds forecast the sea watching may improve bringing the first of the Arctic Skuas for me.

White-fronted Goose on Dengemarsh

2 drake and a duck Garganey Hayfields

Another drake Garganey with a duck almost completely hidden behind it

Little Gull on Burrowes Saturday

Displaying Goldeneye on Burrowes

Yellow colour ringed Caspian Gull from Firth viewpoint, unfortunately to much wind shake even in the viewpoint shelter to read the ring.

There are still 5 Glossy Ibis around, but they are getting more elusive 

Nice to have the Greenfinches coming to back garden feeders regularly again

30/03/2022

Gannets passing the bouy this morning

A cool gloomy drizzly morning with just a little easterly movement

07.50-09.50 From the sea watch hide:

Brent Goose : 382E (13 parties)

Shelduck: 2E

Pochard: 1E drake

Common Scoter: 20E     1W

Red-breasted Merganser: 4E

Red-throated Diver: 19E 

Great-crested Grebe: 1E    2 on

Fulmar: 1W

Gannet: 71E   

Cormorant: 13 around

Kittiwake: 1E   

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: 18E

Guillemot: 3E

Razorbill: 1E

Auk sp: 5E

Common Seal: 1

Grey Seal: 1

One of the 13 small flocks of Brent Geese that passed East this morning

Garganey on the Hay Fields today

A brisk walk from Springfield Bridge in the hope of some Yellow Wagtails and Sand Martins failed on both counts, likewise a look at Scotney.

The smart Ruff still present

Yesterdays Avocet on the hay fields

At the fishing boats this afternoon a few Red-throated divers flew East, also a Little Gull, but the star was a posing 2nd calendar year Caspian Gull ringed in Poland.

Polish ringed 2nd calendar year Caspian Gull P:WJ7 at the fishing boats this afternoon, attracted by David and Jasons stale bread.

Fighting over a pebble

Would have been my favourite pic of the Caspian Gull had I not chopped its wing tip

28/03/2022

4 of this mornings Mediterranean Gulls

This mornings sea watch was fairly quiet one, except for the mewing of passing Mediterranean Gulls.

08.30-10.00 from the hide

Shoveler: 12E

Teal: 2E   2W

Pintail: 5E

Common Scoter: 82E   

Red-throated Diver: 13E 

Great-crested Grebe: 1E   2 on

Gannet: 7E     

Cormorant: present n/c

Oystercatcher: 1E     

Black-headed Gull: present n/c

Mediterranean Gull: 40E

Common Gull: present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Sandwich Tern: 5E

Skylark: 1E

Carrion Crow: 7 in

Linnet: 2E

Linnet collecting nest material in the car park

Peregrine over the power station

Black Redstart at the observatory thanks to Jacob and David

House Sparrow at West Beach, a beautiful bird that I don't photograph often enough

Stock Dove at Jarmans, another beautiful bird I more often than not ignore much to my shame

White Wagtails around Dengemarsh

There have been up to 30 White Wagtails around Dengemarsh, but I've still not found a Yellow Wagtail but they have been reported. Garganey seem to be in view just about every time you lift your binoculars at Dengemarsh and Boulderwall, at least 12 today, also 5 Glossy Ibis that are being a little camera shy, the 4 Cattle Egrets seem to have moved to Boulderwall for last 2 days. Little Egret numbers seem to be building  but as is usual this time of year the Great White Egrets seem to be moving on. I guess with the onset of cold weather spring will be put on hold.

1 of 2 Garganey in the ditch that runs parallel to the conveyor at Scotney today

Garganey at Cooks Pool today

Garganey on Hayfield 1

Garganey on Hayfield 2

Little Ringed Plovers on Hayfield 1

Dunlin with Little Ringed Plovers

 

26/03/2022

Same NE wind and clear skies as yesterday but slightly better sea watch, bringing the spring sea watch total of Garganey past The Point to 94 birds!

06.50–09.00 RW, RB, PT, OL, SM, DW et al

Brent Goose: 8E

Garganey: 4E

Common Scoter: 13E     9W

Red-throated Diver: 23E 

Great-crested Grebe: 2E    6 on

Gannet: 152E       9W

Cormorant: present n/c

Oystercatcher: 34E     

Kittiwake: 2E   

Black-headed Gull: present n/c

Mediterranean Gull: 3E

Common Gull: present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Sandwich Tern: 6E

Guillemot: 3E

Auk sp: 7E

Merlin: 2 in off

Peregrine: 1 around

Jackdaw: 3 in

Carrion Crow: 7 in

Siskin: 1 in

Harbour Porpoise: 6+

At the ARC 13 Little Egrets and 2 Great White Egrets on the far bank. At Boulderwall 5 Glossy Ibis and at least 2 Garganey reported there along with the usual wildfowl and Harriers.

At Dengemarsh this afternoon 6+ White Wagtails were the highlight, also several Corn Buntings. 2 Swallows and 4 Garganey earlier in the day per RW. 

White Wagtail at Dengemarsh

Corn Buntings at Dengemarsh

 

25/03/2022

Probably the poorest sea watch this year.

06.30-08.30 from the hide AJG

Brent Goose: 18E

Red-throated Diver: 1W

Great-crested Grebe: 11 on

Gannet: 56E       8 feeding

Oystercatcher: 18E

Sandwich Tern: 4E

Carrion Crow: 7 in off

Pied Wagtail: 7 in off

Harbour Porpoise: 3

At the observatory 3 Peregrines tussling around the power station, also some unseen Siskins calling as they flew over and a Brambling.

A quick check of the ARC found 2 Great White Egrets and 10 Little Egrets in front of Hanson, viewed from the screen and at least 2 Goldeneye still. At Cooks Pool at least 2 Glossy Ibis and at Cockles Bridge 4 Cattle Egrets still. 

At Scotney still good numbers of Wigeon, 20, Avocet, Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Tree Sparrows, and the usual feral geese.

At cool Dengemarsh this afternoon still at least Garganey present, plenty of Teal and Shoveler still, also Cetti's Warblers, Bearded Tits and Bittern which boomed half heartedly as I was leaving, most unusual was a Fieldfare at Springfield Bridge.

I'm guessing this bird lost the argument

The winner perhaps

3 of the Garganey at Dengemarsh this afternoon

Fieldfare at Springfield Bridge