2024

My personal favourite of 2024

I came across these 2 stunning Bee-eaters on the morning of 31/05/2024 in the Willow Trail at the ARC, it was a horrible very wet and windy day, they hawked Bees and Damsels until mid afternoon allowing many birders to see them, then the weather cleared and they went on there way.

Not the best year for numbers at Dungeness, but there were certainly there were many quality days birding had, My pesonal tally for the year at Dungeness was 223 species.

Other Highlights from the Dungeness Peninsula in 2024

Great Northern Diver with a Black-throated Diver from Dennis's Hide. Burrowes Pit, January 2024

A confiding Hoopoe at Greatstone on 12/04/2024

Iberian Chiffchaff trapped at the Dungeness Bird Observatory 12/05/2024

Melodious Warbler in The Moat on 15/05/2024

Woodchat Shrike on the reserve on the afternoon of the 19/05/2024

Also in May several Long-eared Owl territories were located

On the morning of 09/07/2024 I walked into Hanson Hide at the ARC and could scuffling in the hide, I kept around expecting to find maybe a Stoat, then 4 black shapes whited past me to the other end of the hide, I then realised they were Water Rail chicks, I managed to shepherd 3 of the out of the door to freedom, but 1 kept running back and forth across the length of the hide, eventually I removed my fleece jacket and as it scuttled past me I trapped in the jacket allowing me to safely release it to join its siblings.

On 26/07/2024 I had a magical encounter with a Leveret

On 17/08/2024 a Temminck's Stint and a Pectoral Sandpiper were in the Sand Pit

One of several Ospreys that visited Dungeness, this one on 23/08/2024 was ringed as a chick in the nest in  central  Scotland just a few weeks earlier.

White-winged Tern on the 01/09/2024

01/09/2024 a very memorable day was made even better when this female Honey Buzzard flew along the Long Pits and directly over my head.

Again on 01/09/2024 one of my favourite images of the year was this Spotted Redshank that was flying around Burrowes Pit early evening.

Red-necked Phalarope and Wood Sandpiper on 13/09/2024 in the Sand Pit

on 14/09/2024 Neil and Janet Burt found an American Golden Plover on Burrowes, which was enjoyed by many birders.

On 22/09/2024 Dave Bunney found this Western Bonnelli's Warbler in his garden, it showed beautifully to all visiting birders, our thanks are again extended to to Dave and Sheila Bunney for there hospitality to all.

The only Leach's Petrel I saw this year on the 20/10/2024

2 lovely Yellow-browed Warblers caught by the assistant warden Tom Wright on 012/11/2024, 

The amazing sight of a Humpback Whale off The Point at Dungeness on 30/11/2024

The Hume's Warbler found by David Walker by the observatory in mid December

31/12/2024

With a force 6 SW blowing I went to the sea watch hide this morning, there was lots of birds but very little variety, but still easily the most productive sea with for a couple of weeks. By 10.30 frequent showers of drizzle were making the hide uncomfortable. 

08.15-10.30  with Chris Gillard, Rob Lee.

Brent Goose: 24E        1W

Shelduck: 3W

Wigeon: 7W

Red-breasted Merganser: 1W (female)

Great-crested Grebe: 1E      2 present

Oystercatcher: 5W

Kittiwake: 192W     5E

Black-headed Gull:  Present n/c

Common Gull:  Present n/c

Herring Gull: Present n/c

Yellow-legged Gull: 2W (both near adults)

Great Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Lesser Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Guillemot: 227W     

Razorbill: 3W

Auk: present n/c

Red-throated Diver: 193W   89E  

Great Northern Diver: 2W

Fulmar: 2W

Gannet: 591W    82E      

Cormorant: 1,000+ around

Grey Seal: 1

After the sea watch I went to the reserve and spent a short while in Dennis's as the weather worsened, the Great Northern Diver was still present also at least 3 Caspian Gulls. I think the weather curtailed any other news from the area.

An excellent party of Goldeneye on Burrowes this morning

2w Caspian Gulls

29/12/2024

In the continuing still and foggy conditions sea watching is not something I want to do, so my time is being spent around the reserve, where the Long-tailed Duck and Great Northern Diver on the New Diggings are continuing to attract admirers, though the views are usually distant and not great for photography. We located a second Great Northern Diver on Burrowes today along with a minimum of 10 Caspian Gulls, 2 drake Pintail were a bonus. 

Early afternoon 5 Bewick Swans appeared out of the fog over the ARC, then circled the reserve before coming back to the ARC to rest for a short time before moving off towards Lydd.

At Cockles Bridge there were 2 Cattle Egrets that were photogenic, apparently another 6 were in the horse paddocks per DB.

Out on Walland another 26 Bewick Swans and 2 Whooper Swans but no reports of any wild Geese.

Great Northern Diver on New Diggings, another has arrived on Burrowes Pit

There 8 Goldeneye on the New Diggings, this one saying hi to the GND

Long-tailed Duck still present on the New Diggings, always distant.

The first Pintail I've seen for a couple of weeks on Burrowes

 

2w Caspian Gull

1w Caspian Gull

1w Caspian Gull

1w Caspian Gull

1w Caspian Gull

Cattle Egrets at Cockles Bridge on my way home for lunch

Bewick Swan coming out of the fog directly over my head 

Bewick swans circling the ARC in the fog

Bewick Swans

The Bewick Swans getting fidgety, constantly calling and neck bobbing

The Bewick Swans leaving the ARC after a short rest

27/12/2024

Fog bound Burrowes taken from Dennis's Hide

I am quite pleased with this image of a near adult Caspian Gull considering the distance and the fog
 The peninsula was unsurprisingly very quiet today avian wise, I walked out into the trapping area first thing and saw 2 Chiffchaffs, a Great spotted Woodpecker and 4 Ravens of note. 

The Great Northern Diver was on Burrowes today with an assortment of Gulls, and 5+ Goldeneye.

The long-tailed Duck was still on the New Diggings per JY.

I walked the length of the Scotney lakes seeing very little, a female Goldeneye on the East lake was the highlight.

26/12/2024

 I made the short trip up the M20 to New Hythe with Owen today to see the gorgeous Yellow Warbler found by dedicated patch watcher Glenn Honey, an absolutely first class find that patch birders dream of.

Yellow Warbler certainly lives up to its name

Yellow Warbler

Yellow Warbler

A quick look around the reserve late afternoon, saw the Long-tailed Duck and Great Northern Diver in the failing light and fog. There are apparently now 7 Bewick Swans (1 juvenile) on Walland Marsh, also 2 Whooper swans per BH. As the reserve is effectively shut until at least 30/12/2024, although the toilets remain open the entrance gates remain firmly locked, so the only way to the toilets and Burrowes is by foot, because of this  I doubt much birding news will be heard for a few days, though I and and I'm sure another local will do our best to cover the reserve.

The Long-tailed Duck and Great Northern Diver both taken with ridiculously high iso

24/12/2024

 With very a light WNW wind and overcast this morning I gave the sea watch a miss and drove straight to the ARC car park. I decided on a wander right around the reserve without being burdened by a heavy camera and lense thinking that due to the gloomy weather I wouldn't use it, so I  headed off towards Dengemarsh. The usual feral Geese were on Boulderwall fields, along with a couple of Great White Egrets, some Lapwing and Wigeon, a Swan that had recently died was being torn open by crows. Marsh Harriers drifted over as did a Common Buzzard. By the time I reached Dengemarsh there was bright sunshine, Bearded Tits were seen and heard from the ramp, along with Cetti's Warblers and a Chiffchaff.

I sat in Dengemarsh Hide for a while studying the Gulls but found nothing unusual, so moved onto Christmas Dell Hide which was more birdless than usual, I have no idea why birds shun Christmas Dell as it does look to have great habitat. I carried on wandering around to Makepiece where I flushed c500 Cormorants the moment I stepped onto the concrete pad to view the lake, as they flushed they took just about everything else that was on the lake with them, I still can't fathom where the RSPB got the idea that viewpoints are better than hides. I moved onto Dennis's Hide where 4 Goldeneye were the highlight. I checked the car park feeders but needless to say they were all empty, I guess they will remain that way until the new year when the VC opens again, if it ever does, I have my doubts as the gates were supposed to be unlocked at 09.00 today but remained firmly shut all day, much to the chagrin of several elderly birders I met on my way out who were unable to walk the mile to the Burrowes, I doubt the RSPB really care about those people because they are already members. Leaving the car park I walked along the Outland track to the New Diggings, a little way along the track I regretted my decision not to bring the camera, when a Brown Hare casually sauntered along it towards me coming to an abrupt hale about 10mts away when it realised I was blocking the track, it sat motionless for about 15 seconds before sauntering off 

to the side of the track and hiding in some brambles.

When I reached the New Diggings the Long-tailed Duck was very close to roped off area and in excellent light giving me the best best views I have had of it, causing me another moment of regret at not bringing the camera, the Great Northern Diver was as usual distant. By the time I arrived back at the car park it was again overcast and the fog was rolling in off the sea.

Darford Warbler

As I didn't use the camera today, here are some images of Dartford Warbler taken in May when it was nesting on The Point, the first record of Dartford Warblers breeding on The Point.

Darford Warbler

Darford Warbler

21/12/2021

Due to over sleeping and the weather I didn't make the sea watch this morning, Richard made a great effort to do this mornings watch unfortunately for a very poor return.

A couple of hours sitting in Dennis's Hide sheltering from the wind and rain, saw at least 3 Caspian Gulls and a Yellow-legged Gull, along with 7 Goldeneye and a couple of flybys of the Long-tailed Duck.

Adult Caspian Gull

2w Caspian Gull

2w Caspian Gull

                            2w Caspian Gull being chased by a 2w Yellow-legged Gull

2w Caspian Gull chasing a 2w Yellow-legged Gull

Goldeneye

Goldeneye

Goldeneye

 

19/12/2024

A chilly WNW force 4-5 wind today that brought lots of birds but little variety.

08.00-09.30  with RW from The Hide

Brent Goose: 3W

Egyptian Goose: 2W

Great-crested Grebe: 4 present

Kittiwake: 166W

Black-headed Gull:  c50 W

Common Gull:  c100 W

Herring Gull: present

Great Black-backed Gull: present  

Guillemot: 242W     69E

Razorbill: 4W

Auk: 227W      41E      

Red-throated Diver: 576W   7E     

Gannet: 452W       

Cormorant: 2,000+ around

Grey Seal: 1

On the reserve the Long-tailed Duck was back on the New Diggings but we were unable to locate the Great Northern Diver, there were a handful of Goldeneye on Burrowes but little else of note. It is looking increasingly likely that another year will pass without me seeing a Smew at Dungeness, it would also seem I will be able to say the same about Goosanders!

A pirate Great White Egret turning in to attack at the ARC

Ready pounce

Piracy failed and leaving empty beaked

Little Grebe at the ARC

The Bewick and Whooper swans were still insitu on Walland Marsh per SM & BH. Also White-fronted geese numbers have increased to 21 but no sign of any Pinkfeet. per SM

18/12/2024

A day of high winds and drizzle, after sea watching most of my day was taken up with Domestic stuff.

07.45-0945 with RW,CP,OL from The Hide

Brent Goose: 15E

Great-crested Grebe: 2E    2 present

Kittiwake: 129W

Black-headed Gull:  100s W

Mediterranean Gull: 2W

Common Gull:  100s W

Herring Gull: present

Great Black-backed Gull: present  

Guillemot: 61W     5E

Razorbill: 1W

Auk: 15W       3E      

Red-throated Diver: 11W        

Gannet: 1,059W       

Cormorant: Minimum 2,000 W into Rye Bay

Grey Seal: 1

The Great Northern Diver was reported as still present and the Long-tailed Duck appeared to have moved to Burrowes per ROR. On Walland the Whooper and Bewick's were still insitu.