04/04/2023

A biting force 4 Easterly wind and clear skies this morning didn't bode well for a classic sea watch, but it was an improvement than of late.

06.30 - 09.00 from the hide with RW, CP 

Brent Goose: 19E

Greylag Goose: 2 out   

Shoveler: 10E

Pintail: 1E

Garganey: 3E all drakes

Teal: 25E  

Common Scoter: 259E

Red-breasted Merganser: 17E

Great-crested Grebe:  3E    2 on

Oystercatcher: 5E

Curlew: 5E

Kittiwake: 8E

Mediterranean Gull: 4E

Common Gull: 57E

Sandwich Tern:21E    

Guillemot: 12E   

Auk: 41E     

Red-throated Diver: 43E   

Fulmar: 2E    

Gannet: 36E    43W  

Harbour Porpoise: 4+

Grey Seal: 1

Most of the rest of my day was taken up with waiting for parcels to be delivered. I did get out late afternoon to the ARC where the highlight was a confiding male Siskin at the Pines with a couple of Greenfinches. Several Sand Martins and Swallow flew through and 2 Goldeneye were present, but I missed the 2 Garganey that spent most of the day there.

The 2 Glossy Ibis are still around but it seems as though the Cattle Egrets have departed, there are still Great White egrets around, also a single Greater White-fronted Goose. The hay fields attracted there first Garganey of the year today and Red Kite flew over per BH.

It is not often a Siskin is seen well at Dungeness like this bird as they are usually flyovers. 

Nice to see a Greenfinch tucking into the conifer seeds

Yesterday the Penduline Tit showed well at the ARC, but the highlight for me was an Alpine Swift that powered through late afternoon, a self found tick for me, pity it didn't hang around for better photographs.

The Alpine Swift as it powered away from me

Penduline Tit

 

02/04/2023 The Weekend.

1 of 2 Alpine Swifts that spent Saturday afternoon hawking over the peninsula

 

This tatty Hooded Crow spent a couple of hours on the beach near the fishing boats Saturday morning

Todays Penduline Tit at the ARC was a little distant but a good find by Rick Smith

A relatively showy Water Pipit at the ARC was unusual today

Six distant Brent Geese over Luxury super yacht "SERENE" which purred past Dungeness early Saturday morning. Which was probably the highlight of the weekends very poor sea watching. 

31/04/2023

The sea watch hide was unsurprisingly rocking this morning in the force 8-10 SSW gale, add to that bands of heavy rain limiting visibility to a few hundred meters, it was no surprise that little was moving out at sea. 

07.45 - 10.00 from the hide with RW 

Brent: 77E    

Common Scoter: 395E     2W

Great-crested Grebe: 2E 

Curlew: 2E

Kittiwake: 1W

Mediterranean Gull: 1E       

Arctic Skua: 1E

Sandwich Tern: 19E  

Guillemot: 45E

Red-throated Diver: 3E  

Fulmar: 9E    2W

Gannet: 294E    12W  

Harbour Porpoise:2

1 of 20+ Sand Martins at the ARC late morning

Goldeneye from Hanson today

2 Common Terns at Burrowes late morning

Single adult Little Gull at Burrowes today

The Ibises were again in the pools by Boulderwall Farm. The Cattle Egrets were in the fields around the horse paddocks.

A Norwegian ringed 2nd calendar year Great Black-backed Gull

 

30/03/2023

I joined OL on a short trip to Hothfield where the Great Grey Shrike showed well 

 

Polish ringed 2nd calendar year Caspian Gull near the fishing boats late morning today

07.00 - 10.00 today from the hide with RW 

Brent: 148E     7W

Common Scoter: 181E     7W

Great-crested Grebe:  6 on 

Kittiwake: 11E

Black-headed Gull: 67E

Mediterranean Gull: 3E       1W

Common Gull: 129E

Lesser Black-backed Gull: 5E

Glaucous Gull: 1E  2nd cal yr  (Way to slow with the camera as it powered East)

Arctic Skua: 1E

Sandwich Tern: 26E  

Guillemot: 3E

Auk sp: 3E   14W

Red-throated Diver: 27E    1W  

Fulmar: 3E    1W

Manx Shearwater: 1E

Gannet: 26E      47W  

Wheatear: 1 behind hide

Meadow Pipit: 17 in 

Harbour Porpoise: 4

A trickle of migrants appearing now, mainly Chicffchaff, Firecrests, Wheatears and the odd Willow Warbler.

                                                                      Wheatear

                                                                    Chiffchaff

Firecrest

28/03/2023

Velvet Scoter with Common Scoters this morning

Hope were high of a good sea watch this morning with a strong southerly blowing, the first couple of hours were good but slowed down as the rain front stared to come through.

06.30 - 12.00 from the hide with OL, DW, RW, SM et al

Brent Goose: 359E  in 19 parties 

Shelduck: 5E

Shoveler: 11E

Pintail: 15E 

Velvet Scoter: 6E

Common Scoter: 983E     2W

Red-breasted Merganser: 8E

Black-necked Grebe: 1E

Great-crested Grebe: 22  on  

Oystercatcher: 1E

Grey Plover: 3E

Sanderling: 1E

Curlew: 2E

Kittiwake: 38E

Little Gull: 12E

Mediterranean Gull: 21E

Lesser Black-backed Gull: 4E

Sandwich Tern: 108E

Common Tern: 1E  (first of the year)

Great Skua: 1E

Guillemot: 37E    

Auk sp: 15E    

Red-throated Diver: 174E    

Fulmar: 12E   1W 

Gannet: 109E    75W

Cormorant: present n/c

Harbour Porpoise: 5

Very little other news today apart from the the Camber Scaup relocating to Scotney viewed from the double bends.

Black-necked Grebe among the raft of Great-crested Grebes offshore this morning

Grey Heron on my neighbours trampoline this afternoon

Black Redstarts behind the sea with hide yesterday

Glossy Ibises at Cooks Pool yesterday

26/03/2023

The sea watching and birding in general has been very poor for the last few days. The sea watching highlight was undoubtedly the White-beaked Dolphins that swam east past the hide and Bouy.

The huge White-tailed Eagle that turned up this morning on the Boulderwall and Lydd Fields in the appallingly wet weather, it hung around for a couple of while before eventually heading off over Lydd towards Scotney and Walland Marsh. While watching it a Bittern, Great White Egret and the 2 Glossy Ibis were seen, along with the usual wildfowl including a Black Swan. I've not seen the the Cattle Egrets for a few days, but at least 4 were seen at Cockles bridge this afternoon by DB, the Camber Scaup is still present per BH.

 

21/03/2023

SW5-7 with frequent rain/drizzle. 

A thoroughly miserable morning often with very poor visibility. 

07.00 - 11.00 from the hide joined by JY

Brent Goose: 222E (23 parties)

Common Scoter: 141E     4W

Red-breasted Merganser: 1E

Great-crested Grebe: 8  on  

Kittiwake: 17E

Black-headed Gull: 51E single flock

Sandwich Tern: 13E     3W

Guillemot: 28E   

Auk sp: 21E  

Red-throated Diver: 127E      6W      

Fulmar: 1W 

Gannet: 127E   14W    

Cormorant: present n/c

Harbour Porpoise: 3

White-beaked Dolphin: 4E

Todays Black-necked Grebe on the ARC

Glossy Ibises at Cooks Pool

Goldeneye from Dennis's Hide this afternoon

20/03/2023

A force 5-7 South Westerly wind this morning gave the promise of a reasonable watch but was very disappointing.

06.55 - 09.00 from the hide : 

Brent Goose: 11E  1W

Common Scoter: 14E     3W

Great-crested Grebe: 4  on  

Oystercatcher: 1E

Kittiwake: 20E

Mediterranean Gull:1E

Sandwich Tern: 2E      5W

Guillemot: 37E     5W

Auk sp: 24E  

Red-throated Diver: 21E  3W     2 on    

Fulmar: 2E   1W 

Gannet: 127E   14W    

Cormorant: present n/c

Harbour Porpoise: 4

Grey Seal: 1

The Ibises and Egrets were still present on the peninsula today as was a Water Pipit and the first Willow Warbler of the year per JY. In the calmer weather over the weekend Firecrests, Dartford Warblers, Wheatears, Woodlark and Woodcocks were seen.

A second calendar year Caspian Gull at the double bends at Scotney today

The first Black-necked Grebe of the year on the peninsula located by Owen  at the far side of Scotney GP 

Marsh Harrier at Cooks Pool about to lose its meal to a Great Black-backed Gull