10/04/2024

What can only be described as an abysmal sea watch this morning for the time of year.

07.00-08.00 with RW, from the sea watch hide.  Wind W3 Temp 5°  

Common Scoter: 16E   

Great-crested Grebe: 1 present

Kittiwake: 2E      

Great Black-backed Gull: 2W

Herring Gull: present n/c

Sandwich Tern: 10E      15W

Common Tern: 1E

Auk Sp: 7E  

Red-throated Diver: 3E   1 present

Fulmar: 1W

Gannet: 2E   14W

Cormorant: 9W 

A wander out the back of Scotney produced 12+ Yellow Wagtails that were for some reason very camera shy, 16 noisy Avocets, a few Corn Buntings but little else notable. 

The Ring Ouzel was still at the top end of The Desert but elusive due mainly to dog disturbance. The Great Northern Diver is still asleep in the centre of Burrowes Pit where the Little gulls seemed to have moved on. The hay fields hosted 7 Avocet and Black-tailed Godwit of note. An Osprey flew across the peninsula per JY. There were 2 Cattle Egrets at Cooks Pool and a Great White Egret at the southern end of the ARC, a few more Swallows were in evidence today.

Lesser Whitethroat

Lesser Whitethroat

Lesser Whitethroat

Common Whitethroat

Common Whitethroat

This Great-crested Grebe spends much time catching tiddlers in front of Hanson Hide

09/04/2024

Peregrine flashing past the front of the hide this morning

A miserable and slow watch this morning

07.00-09.00 with RW, OL, DW, from the sea watch hide. Wind SW  7-9 Temp 9°  Drizzle

Brent Goose: 28E ( 4 parties)

Mallard: 2W (Donald & Daisy along the shore line)

Velvet Scoter: 2E

Common Scoter: 25E   

Great-crested Grebe: 1 present

Kittiwake: 1W      

Mediterranean Gull: 3E

Common Gull: 12E

Great Black-backed Gull: 3E     4W

Herring Gull: present n/c

Sandwich Tern: 14E      6W

Common Tern: 1E

Auk Sp: 4E     3W

Red-throated Diver: 1E   1 present

Gannet: 139W     26E

Cormorant: 4E     8W 

Peregrine: 1W along the beach presumed local bird

With the strong winds today, it was not surprising that nothing new was  on the peninsula.

Great-crested Grebe from Hanson this afternoon

The Ring Ouzel was still present this afternoon, this image taken a couple of days ago.

08/04/2024

  

Black-throated Diver

06.30-09.00 & 11.00-12.30 & 14.00-15.30 with RW,JY,TW,CP, from the sea watch hide

Wind SE  3-4 all day   Temp 11° 

Brent Goose: 17E 

Shelduck: 2W

Mallard: 2W

Garganey: 1E

Goldeneye: 2E

Common Scoter: 371E  

Red-breasted Merganser: 4E 

Great-crested Grebe: 13 present

Oystercatcher: 1E   3W

Whimbrel: 22E Over Power station per OL

Kittiwake: 6E   2W      

Black-headed Gull: 13E    2W

Mediterranean Gull: 5E

Common Gull: 25E

Great Black-backed Gull: 6E

Herring Gull: present n/c

Sandwich Tern: 571E 

Common Tern: 1E

Arctic Skua: 1E

Guillemot: 20E   4 present

Razorbill: 1 present

Auk Sp: 3E 

Red-throated Diver: 30E   1W

Black-throated Diver: 1E

Manx Shearwater: 1E

Gannet: 17E   21W

Cormorant: 34W 

Carrion Crow: 7S out to sea

Raven: 21 over The Point single flock

Harbour Porpoise: 2

The Redstart and Ring Ouzel were both still present in the Desert/Trapping area, also a few Wheatears and Common Whitethroats there. On the reserve 2 Little Gulls, the Great Northern Diver and a few Yellow Wagtails.

07/04/2024

A very poor sea watch this morning, hopefully better to come.

06.30-08.30 with TH, OL from the sea watch hide.  Wind SW 5-7   Temp 10°  

Brent Goose: 68E   (4 parties)

Common Scoter: 90E   

Great-crested Grebe: 2 present  

Kittiwake: 11E         

Black-headed Gull: 6E

Mediterranean Gull: 17E

Common Gull: 39E

Great Black-backed Gull: 17E

Herring Gull: present n/c

Sandwich Tern: 112E 

Common Tern: 3E

Auk Sp: 13E  

Red-throated Diver: 4E  

Fulmar: 1E  

Gannet: 8E  34W

Cormorant: 8 around

Carrion Crow: 20W

Swallow: 1W

Little Egret over the top of the Long Pits

A wander around the top of the Long Pits mid morning found several each of Willow Warbler and Blackcap with a few Swallows over.

Great White Egret Hay Field 3

Early afternoon at Dengemarsh found more Swallows and a Yellow Wagtail. A Great White Egret on Hay Field 3 was a surprise as I thought they had all gone, I assume this bird is non breeder as still has a yellow bill. At Hookers a Nightingale was singing half heartedly on the island, several Willow Warblers were there, also a Lesser Whitethroat and plenty of Sedge Warblers.

In coming Ring Ouzel

This lovely bird was found in the Desert by the DBO assistant warden Tom Wright

Probably a Greenland Wheatear in The Desert

European Wheatear in The Desert

06/04/2024

 

A very distant Black-throated Diver photo bombing a sail training ship this morning

A few migrant passerines turned up on the peninsula as promised by the SE wind, but they were very few. The Common Redstart was again by the Polish Memorial, while on the reserve The Great Northern Diver was still present, a showy Firecrest in the car park but little else of note.

06.00-11.00 & 13.20-15.20 with RW,JY,SO,CP,DW from the sea watch hide. Wind SSE7-8    Temp 13°  

Brent Goose: 272E   (11 parties)

Shelduck: 9E

Mallard: 1W

Gadwall: 9E

Shoveller: 22E

Wigeon: 1E drake 

Pintail: 25E

Common Scoter: 420E   10W

Red-breasted Merganser: 5E 

Great-crested Grebe: 2 present  

Oystercatcher: 8E

Whimbrel: 43E (8 parties)

Kittiwake: 9E         

Little Gull: 6E

Black-headed Gull: 25E

Mediterranean Gull: 14E

Common Gull: 118E

Great Black-backed Gull: 20E

Herring Gull: present n/c

Lesser Black-backed Gull: 5E

Sandwich Tern: 641E 

Common Tern: 49E

Arctic Tern: 1E

Arctic Skua: 12E

Guillemot: 9E   2 present

Auk Sp: 15W  

Red-throated Diver: 70E  2W

Black-throated Diver: 2E 

Fulmar: 2E    4W

Gannet: 166E   603W

Cormorant: 32 around

Carrion Crow: 3E

Harbour Porpoise: 2

A small flock of Shoveler passing this morning

One of the 12 Arctic Skuas that passed today

Some of the Brent Geese that passed by this morning

A flock of 9 Gadwall passed this afternoon, an unusual occurrence

05/04/2024

Some of the 100s of Gannets that passed West this morning

A relatively entertaining sea watch this morning, though a disappointing number of species.

06.20-10.20 with RW, JY, PE from the sea watch hide. Wind SW6-7  Rain  Temp 12°  

Brent Goose: 78E   (7 parties)

Common Scoter: 242E    

Great-crested Grebe: 2E  

Avocet: 1E

Dunlin: 3E

Kittiwake: 4E    8W     

Little Gull: 7E

Black-headed Gull: 6E

Mediterranean Gull:3E

Common Gull: 51E

Great Black-backed Gull: 14E

Herring Gull: present n/c

Sandwich Tern: 307E 

Common Tern: 53E

Great Skua: 1E

Arctic Skua: 2E

Guillemot: 5E   

Red-throated Diver: 21E   

Fulmar: 2E    14W

Manx Shearwater: 1W

Gannet: 52E   714W

Cormorant: 17 around

Meadow Pipit: 27 in

Grey Seal: 1

Most of the rest of the day was taken up with domestic stuff, so I didn't get a chance to look for the male Redstart found at the Polish memorial by PE this morning.

I did get out for a couple of hours this evening, parking at Springfield Bridge I walked to Firth and back, I encountered at least 5 Sedge Warblers around Denge Marsh but little else. On Burrowes still at least 4 Little Gulls and the Great Northern Diver but again nothing new.

A 1st summer Little Gull from Makepiece this evening

I couldn't resist image of a Mallard at Dengemarsh his evening

04/04/2024

One of several Swallows over the ARC this morning, also a Willow Warbler singing in the Willow Trail.

Yet another very uninspiring sea watch this morning! There is a distinct lack of spring migrants around the peninsular.

06.50-09.00 with PT, RW, DW from the sea watch hide.  Wind SW 6-7 Temp 12° 

Brent Goose: 25E    

Common Scoter: 12E    8W  

Great-crested Grebe: 1E

Black-headed Gull: 2E     3W

Mediterranean Gull: 2E

Common Gull: 31E

Great Black-backed Gull: 7W

Herring Gull: present n/c

Sandwich Tern: 60E    13W

Common Tern: 9E

Arctic Skua: 1E

Guillemot: 2E

Auk sp: 3E 

Red-throated Diver: 5E    1W  

Gannet: 29E   22W

Cormorant: 29 around

Black Redstart on the perimeter wall behind the sea watch hide this afternoon

The long staying Great Northern Diver on Burrowes today, also at least 3 Little Gulls still present

Tufted Duck at Burrows, just because they are very smart looking birds

Its good that I now regularly get 8+ Greenfinches visiting my garden feeders, they seem to be showing signs of a come back from the catastrophic decline of recent years.

02/04/2024

 As expected todays watch was a slow affair.

07.00-09.00 with RW, OL, TW  from the sea watch hide. Wind SW 5-6 Temp 10°  

Brent Goose: 2E    

Common Scoter: 156E  

Great-crested Grebe: 2E.   2 present 

Mediterranean Gull: 4E

Common Gull: 28E

Great Black-backed Gull:18E

Herring Gull: present n/c

Lesser Black-backed Gull: 4E

Sandwich Tern: 31E  8W

Arctic Skua: 5E

Guillemot: 3E

Auk sp: 2E   3W

Red-throated Diver: 7E    1W  

Fulmar: 2E   1W 

Gannet: 46E   48W

Cormorant: 27 around

Mid morning 8 Ravens flew West over The Point, A willow Warbler dropped into a private garden and a Brown Hare was foraging by the estate road.

1st summer Little Gull photobombing the Great Northern Diver on Burrowes 

There were 5+ Little Gulls on Burrowes today with the long staying GND, when the drizzle arrived it dropped a few Swallows and Sand martins there. A wander around the hayfields was hard work for little reward in todays strong wind. Hopefully things will improve as the month progresses

Pair of Avocets on the Hay Fields

Grey Heron With tasty Marsh Frog at Denge Marsh today

This Peacock Butterfly found a sheltered spot to sun bathe at Denge Marsh

One of at least 5 Water pipits around Denge Marsh today

31/03/2024

I don't see many Avocets on sea sea watches at Dungeness

A couple of relatively close Red-breasted Mergansers

A much better watch than yesterday, not huge numbers but nice number of species.

06.45-10.00 with TH,JY, SO,CP from the sea watch hide.  Wind E 4  Temp 7°  

Brent Goose: 86E (4 parties)

Shelduck: 63E (4 parties)

Shoveler: 22W

Teal: 8E

Pintail: 1E

Eider: 5E

Common Scoter: 643E   18W

Red-breasted Merganser: 4W     

Great-crested Grebe: 2E   7 present 

Oystercatcher: 10E

Avocet: 1E

Dunlin: 1E

Curlew: 7E

Bar-tailed Godwit: 1E

Kittiwake: 1E      

Black-headed Gull: 6E

Little Gull: 2E (ad + 1w)

Mediterranean Gull: 5E

Common Gull: 10E

Great Black-backed Gull: 26E

Herring Gull: present n/c

Lesser Black-backed Gull: 4E

Sandwich Tern: 37E 

Common Tern: 5E

Guillemot: 21E  

Auk sp: 4E  

Red-throated Diver: 17E    4W   

Fulmar: 1W

Gannet: 24E 

Cormorant: 56 around

Peregrine: 2 out to sea together, presumed local birds hunting.

Carrion Crow 7 SW out to sea

Harbour Porpoise: 7

Grey Seal: 1

Eider passing this morning

One of four flocks of Shelduck that came through this morning

At least 1 Great Northern Diver was still on Burrowes late afternoon

10+ Little Gulls were hawing over Burrowes today, they weren't all this obliging

Another tasty morsel

Apart from a couple each of Chiffchaff and Sedge Warbler and long staying Water Pipits I found very little sign of migrant passerines on my plod around the reserve. I was hoping for an LRP at Christmas Dell, which now looks very good due to the habitat creation works done over the winter, I will be very surprised if they don't breed there and probably Garganey. I'm guessing that when the storms clear in Iberia and Southern France there will be a rush of migrants.🤞

One of the three Avocets on Hayfield 2/1

Black-tailed Godwit on Hayfield 2/1