Thursday 12/12/2019

A thoroughly miserable day on the peninsular with heavy rain and gale force winds making birding impossible. After my sea watch I did have a couple of looks at Burrowes from Dennis's hide, where all one could see was 1,000s of Cormorants. At least I got some domestic stuff done.

The undoubted highlight of the sea watch was my first ever Coot on a sea watch, spotted by Owen as drifted eastwards with the tide very close in shore.

07.30-09.00 from the sea watch hide joined by OL:

Common Scoter: 1W     1E

Red-throated Diver: 20W    2E     2o/s

Great-crested Grebe: 7 o/s

Fulmar: 1W

Gannet: 547W            168E

Cormorant: Present n/c

COOT: 1 drifted E close inshore

Kittiwake: 12W           7E

Guillemot: 14W    3E       38 o/s

Razorbill: 2W

Auk sp: 77W        19E

Grey Seal: 1

Wednesday 11/12/2019

Adult Yellow-legged Gull in the Fish Shack roost early morning

08.35-09.35 from the sea watch hide with RW:
Grey Goose sp: 12E
Common Scoter: 6W
Red-throated Diver: 61W     6E
Great-crested Grebe: 3E    7 o/s
Fulmar: 1W
Gannet: 14W
Kittiwake: 71W
Mediterranean Gull: 27W     6E
Black-headed Gull: present n/c
Common Gull: present n/c
Herring Gull: present n/c
Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c
Lesser Black-backed Gull: present n/c
Guillemot: 12W   3E
Auk sp: 136W       22E
Common Seal: 1
Mid morning I joined DW at the fishing boats where a Shag (Scarce at Dungeness) had just swam close in shore past him, I managed a brief distant view of it, but the tide was moving faster than I could walk, apart from another Mediterranean gull and 12 Turnstone nothing else of note was seen.

Some of 2,774 Cormorants roosting on Burrowes Pit.

As there were very few Gulls present on Burrowes, probably due to the plague of Cormorants there I decided to count them, a grand total of 2,774 birds present. As I was walking to Firth a Bittern flew from under the hide over the track and out to the New Excavations. From Firth A lovely Firecrest and 2 Chiffchaffs, a drake Goldeneye was showing from Makepiece Hide.

Distant Whooper Swans at Dengemarsh

A quick look at Dengemarsh before lunch found the 2 Whooper Swans still in their usual field, they probably wont be there much longer as the Sheep will soon be moved to where they are grazing. A Great White Egret flew over the reed bed and several Marsh Harriers were quartering the area.
Back at Burrowes this afternoon 2 Yellow-legged Gulls and a yellow ringed 2w Caspian Gull came in to roost around 15.15, but it was already to dark to read the ring and the rain started again. 

Tuesday 10/12/2019

A chilly morning with a strong SSW wind blowing straight into the hide.
08.40-10.00 from the sea watch hide
Brent Goose: 1E
Shelduck: 2W
Common Scoter: 1W
Red-breasted Merganser: 2W
Red-throated Diver: 21E       1W
Great-crested Grebe: 4E     2 o/s
Fulmar: 3E     1W
Gannet: 143E       96W
Cormorant: present n/c
Great Skua: 1E
Kittiwake: 7E         109W
Mediterranean Gull: 1E
Black-headed Gull: present n/c
Common Gull: present n/c
Herring Gull: present n/c
Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c
Lesser Black-backed Gull: present n/c
Guillemot: 9E     3W
Razorbill: 1E    1W
Auk sp: 63E   12W
Harbour Porpoise: 1
The 2 Whooper Swans were still at Dengemarsh late morning, as far as I know the Glossy Ibis wasn't seen today but viewing was difficult in the weather conditions.
A couple of hours looking at Gulls in grim wet conditions on Burrowes Pit found nothing of note, the highlight was a single female Goldeneye. 

Sunday 08/12/2019

07:20-09:50 from the sea watch hide with RW, SO and AJG who kindly collated the numbers:
Brent Goose: 2W
Velvet Scoter: 9W   10E
Common Scoter: 3W
Red-throated Diver: 396W    2E
Fulmar: 5W
Great-crested Grebe: 47W
Gannet: 420W
Cormorant: Present n/c
Great Skua: 1W
Kittiwake: 27W
Black-headed Gull: present n/c
Common Gull: present n/c
Herring Gull: present n/c
Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c
Lesser Black-backed Gull: present n/c
Guillemot: 10W
Auk sp: 14W

 Caspian Gull

2 visits to a very wind swept Burrowes saw a minimum of 6 Caspian Gulls including a 1 legged 1w bird, also several Yellow-legged Gulls. I eventually caught up with the Glossy Ibis this afternoon found by Graham Parry late morning, which was presumably the bird seen flying along Walmer seafront earlier this morning.

The 2 Whooper Swans were still at Dengemarsh, but the 4 Bewick Swans have relocated to Walland Marsh. The Slavonian Grebe is still at Scotney on the 1st pit west of the entrance to Brett's batching plant.

Saturday 07/12/2019

07:15-09:45 from the sea watch hide with RW, CP and AJG who kindly collated the numbers:
Common Scoter: 3W
Red-throated Diver: 388W    1E
Great Northern Diver: 1W
Fulmar: 1W
Great-crested Grebe: 18E   4 o/s
Gannet: 226W
Cormorant: 1,275W into Rye bay
Grey Plover: 1W
Turnstone: 1W
Great Skua: 1W
Kittiwake: 27W
Little Gull: 2W
Mediterranean Gull: 10 o/s
Black-headed Gull: present n/c
Common Gull: present n/c
Herring Gull: present n/c
Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c
Lesser Black-backed Gull: present n/c
Guillemot: 92W
Razorbill: 34W
Auk sp: 260W     8E
Harbour Porpoise: 1
Grey Seal: 1

 German colour ringed 2w Caspian Gull XCUC

Early afternoon from Dennis's Hide there were 3 Caspian Gulls (adult + 3W + 2W) the latter a German ringed bird, also 3 Yellow-legged Gulls (2 x adult + 2W). The 2 drake Goosander had flown off before I arrived.

The 2 Whooper Swans were still in the same field at Dengemarsh today but no Bewick Swans today.

 A very sad end for a beautiful bird

On Lydd ranges this afternoon with CP, AJG & DG a Short-eared Owl was hunting for most of the time we were present, also a Merlin, 2 Common Buzzards and a male Marsh Harrier. Just a few yards from my home Chris picked a very recently killed Barn Owl, another road casualty.

05/12/2019

An early call from AJG told me not to bother with the sea as visibility was minimal in the freezing conditions. This day last year saw probably the best sea watch of the winter with 7 Puffins, Black Guillemot, 3 Diver species, Long-tailed Duck and more what a difference.

Most of my morning was taken up with domestic stuff, late morning I got out onto Walland Marsh to look for Wild Swans and Grey Geese. Fieldfares seemed to be abundant feeding on the Hawthorns, a few Redwings, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes were with them. A party of 10+ Yellowhammers by the model airfield were very nice. A single Bewick Swan was in with a herd of Mute Swans in the Kale field near The Woolpack, viewed from Hook Wall but no wild Grey Geese. On my way home I thought I'd check the Dengemarsh Mute Swans and was pleased to find 2 Whooper Swans and 4 Bewick Swans with them.

 The 4 Bewick Swans at Dengemarsh today

Presumably the 2 returning Whooper Swans from last winter at Dengemarsh today

Early afternoon on the reserve 3 Caspian Gulls and 3 Yellow-legged Gulls were roosting on Burrowes and a few G.B.B.Gull rings were read, a nice drake Goldeneye was present and a Firecrest was in the scrub at Dennis's.

Late afternoon at Pigwell a party of 20 Corn Buntings, a Stonechat and a flyover male Marsh Harrier were the highlight as no Owls were seen. Nearby the Slavonian Grebe was still on the lake to the west of the entrance to Bretts batching plant.

Wednesday 04/12/2019

 1 of 2 Jack Snipe seen this morning

This morning I joined AJG and RW in a pleasant walk around the trapping area, Desert and Long Pits, where wellingtons are now essential for accessing large areas. We did not see many birds but we did see of note 2 Jack Snipe, a Common Snipe and heard Water Rails. 

 Adult Caspian gull from Dennis's this afternoon

As is usual this time of year I am spending a large part of the day looking at Gulls on the reserve. Today I saw at least 5 Caspian Gulls and 3 Yellow-legged Gulls also a fine drake Goldeneye.

 3w Caspian Gull from Dennis's this morning

 2w Caspian gull from Dennis's this morning

 German ringed X86C 1w Caspian Gull from Firth this afternoon

Dungeness RSPB visitor centre at sunset this evening, taken from the causeway

Late afternoon I watched the Egret roost but only 5 Great White Egrets and 5 Little Egrets came into roost. At the same time the Marsh roost was being watched by CP who recorded 8 Great White Egrets and 10 Little Egrets, he also recorded 2 Whooper Swans perhaps last years returning birds.

Tuesday 03/12/2019

I over slept this morning so AJG did this mornings sea watch on his own and kindly sent me his numbers:

07.30-09.00

Common Scoter: 11W

Red-throated Diver: 12W   43E

Great-crested Grebe: 4W    11E

Gannet: 34E

Cormorant: 1,010 E into Lade Bay

Auk sp: 4E

I went back to Copt Point again today after going there yesterday seeing c3,00 Mediterranean Gulls and not reading a single ring, as the birds refused to land on the rocks to roost but stayed on the sea. When I arrived there were just a few birds on the sea, after short wait Mediterranean Gulls started streaming in from far out in the the channel where presumably they had been feeding, once again they all settled on the sea, after another hour some birds started to fly onto the rocks enabling me to read some rings. I had just read the fifth ring of the day a new Hungarian bird when the birds on the rocks were flushed by Dogs, there owners had even stopped to ask me what I was looking at but still let there dogs run riot all over the rocks! Needless to say I was less than happy and the dog owners learnt some Anglo Saxon!

Phonescoped image of 2 Caspian Gulls from Dennis's

This afternoon back at Dungeness on Burrowes Pit at least 9 Caspian Gulls came into roost, also a Swedish colour ringed Great black-backed Gull a new ringing scheme for me, hopefully I will have the life history of this bird very soon.

There are at least 3 Caspian Gulls including yellow ringed X86C in this image taken as the sun set 

The Slavonian Grebe was still at Scotney today, on the pit to the West of the road to Brett's batching plant. The Cattle Egrets and Great White Egrets are still present around the reserve.

Sunday 01/12/2019

08.15-10.00 from the sea watch hide:
Eider: 1E then drifted west
Velvet Scoter: 4E  (party of 3 and singleton)
Red-throated Diver: 89E       11W
Great-crested Grebe: 27E       9 o/s
Gannet: 549E       73W
Cormorant: Present: n/c
Oystercatcher: 6E
Kittiwake: 4E
Guillemot: 42E
Razorbill: 1E
Auk sp: 39E
By the time I arrived at The Patch mid morning most of the roosting Gulls on the beach had been flushed by walkers,  DW had already seen at least 10 Caspian Gulls there before they were flushed, but I still managed to see at least 3 including the regular German ringed bird X86C.
This afternoon from Dennis's Hide at least 5 Caspian and 3 Yellow-legged Gulls came in, very few birds came in until it was nearly dark and too late. Driving out of the reserve 2 Cattle Egrets flew over on their way to roost.
The Burt family found 4 Bewick Swans near The Woolpack on Walland Marsh, hopefully there will be plenty more.

Saturday 30/11/2019

Digiscoped image of X86C Caspian Gull at The Patch this morning

08.45-10.00 from The Patch
Brent Goose: 4E
Shelduck: 5W
Common Scoter: 28W
Red-breasted Merganser: 4W
Red-throated Diver: 16E   27W
Great-crested grebe: 12E
Gannet: 49W    26E
Cormorant:  present n/c
Kittiwake: 51E
Mediterranean Gull: 7W
Black-headed Gull: c400 present
Common Gull: c20 present
Caspian Gull: 2 x 1w present including X86C
Herring Gull: c250 present
L.B.B.Gull: 4
G.B.B.Gull: 12 on beach many off shore

Guillemot: 1E      2 o/s

Auk sp: 22W    6E

Digiscoped image of Presumed Caspian Gull X276 on Burrowes this afternoon, I should have the life history of the bird in the next couple of days.

At least 6 Caspian Gulls on Burrowes this afternoon from Dennis's, I must have missed many more that came in late afternoon to the islands in from of Firth Hide.

 1st and 3rd Cal year Caspian Gulls on Burrowes

 1 of at least 6 Yellow-legged Gulls on Burrowes late afternoon. Also JWZ34 G.B.B.Gull.

 Caspian Gull G0UT from last weekend. It's life history below.

Many thanks to Paul Roper for the life history. Double click the map to enlarge.