06/02/2023

No improvement in the morning sea watch today.

08.00-09.00 from the hide

Brent Goose: 2E

Shelduck: 2E

Shoveler: 10E

Great-crested Grebe: 43 on

Kittiwake: 9E   

Mediterranean Gull: 1E

Guillemot: 1E

Auk sp: 41E  

Red-throated Diver: 305E   4W 

Gannet: 32E   

Cormorant: present n/c

Harbour Porpoise: 3

The 5 Whooper swans on the ARC in front of Hanson Hide seemed very restless, perhaps preparing to leave.

A slog around the peninsula found a couple of Jack Snipe and few Common Snipe, 10 Redwing along with the usual Herons/Egrets and 5 Whooper Swans on the ARC. Lots of common wildfowl on the lakes at the moment but nothing unusual. The Bewick Swans are still in-situ on Walland Marsh.

Cattle Egrets at Cockles Bridge

There were still at least 3 Short-eared Owls on the ranges this afternoon but as usual distant

Golden Plover over the Ranges

White-fronted Goose on Boulderwall Fields

Possibly another Ermine Stoat at Springfield Bridge

01/02/2023

 As you can see from the list below the sea watching has definitely not improved.

07.45-08.45 from the hide with RW. 

Great-crested Grebe: 5 on

Kittiwake: 20W

Black-headed Gull: present n/c

Mediterranean Gull: 1W

Common Gull: present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Auk sp: 104E     

Red-throated Diver: 89E        

Gannet: 24E

Cormorant: present n/c

The 5 Whooper swans at Midley have made it into February

61 Bewick Swans on Walland today, 45 at Horses Bones Farm another 16 at Midley with the Whoopers

A long walk around Walland was pleasant enough but disappointing avian wise, along with the Swans, a few each of Fieldfare, Redwing, Song Thrush, Common Buzzard and Marsh Harrier were encountered, a Tit flock held 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Goldcrests  and the highlight nearby were 2 Yellowhammers.

An odd duck at Scotney today, Wigeon X Mallard perhaps? Thanks to the Brown family for the tip off.

30/01/2023

Another poor sea watch this morning.

07.45-08.45 from the sea watch hide:

Common Scoter: 2E

Great-crested Grebe: 3E

Kittiwake: 4W

Auk sp: 132W      27E

Red-throated Diver: 258E        17W

Gannet: 138W

Cormorant: present

As I drove past the horse paddocks early morning the 3 Glossy Ibis were already there feeding along with at least 4 Cattle Egrets.

After the sea watch and doing some domestic stuff I parked at Pigwell and walked the length of the Scotney lakes. No much to be seen at Pigwell apart from a fly over Grey Wagtail. The lakes are still holding good numbers of Wigeon with c1,500 Lapwing. c500 Golden Plover, 2 Ruff, 4 Redshank, a Curlew, 4 Ringed Plovers and the 2 Little Stints. Several each of Marsh Harrier and Common Buzzard were patrolling the north banks of the lakes and a Great White egret flew over.

A couple of hours at Galloways this afternoon found just a Dartford warbler of any note.

The Whooper Swans and the Bewick swans were reported as present in there usual places today, also the 1w drake Scaup was still at Camber.

2 Little Stints on the sward at Scotney today, one of which is ringed

 

c500 Golden Plovers on the Scotney sward

28/01/2023

Dartford Warbler Galloways Road

1 of several Stonechats down Galloways Road

With little or no no change in the birds I decided on a long walk from home this morning, I walked down Dengemarsh Road, across to then down Galloways to the sea then along the beach to Dengemarsh Gully and back home along Dengemarsh Road approximately 12 Kilometres. Not that far for young fit people, unfortunately I could not be described as either young or fit. 

As I walked past Brett's Marina a Tit flock came noisy by containing Long-tailed, Blue and Great Tits and a single Goldcrest, further on a couple of Cetti's Warblers were squabbling. On the ranges the usual Stonechats and an elusive Dartford Warbler were the highlights. The walk along the beach saw a few distant Red-throated Divers, Auks and Gannets but no Common Scoter which have been very scarce this winter. Reaching Dengemarsh Gully A Peregrine was on the distant Pylons, 2 Ravens Flew over, another distant Dartford Warbler and a sun bathing Heron. At Springfield Bridge the usual wildfowl were joined by 2 Great White Egrets, while in the fields a handful of Linnets, Reed buntings and Pied Wagtails. It was while I was at Springfield Bridge news of the Spoonbill at Scotney came through , the first on e of the year, I continued my weary plod home got in the car and drove the mile to view the Spoonbill, ridiculous really as undoubtedly there will be several more before long.

Grey Heron enjoying the warm sun in the sheltered Dengemarsh Gully

Dartford Warbler Dengemarsh Gully

Raven over Dengemarsh Gully

Spoonbill at Scotney this afternoon, later relocating to Tanners Pool on the reserve

27/01/2023

Berts Folly at the end of the Willow Trail

Typically for the end of January a week of cold grey days, with very little hints of at the soon to come spring. The birds that were around Dungeness this time last week are the same this week. The Bewick and Whooper Swans are still in their chosen feeding areas as are the Egrets and Ibis's. I did a circuit of the reserve this afternoon seeing the resident Marsh Harriers and Great White Egrets, while hearing Cetti's warblers and Water Rails. The Hay Fields were virtually avian free apart from a a few Pied Wagtails, Meadow Pipits and Reed Buntings though I did get a brief view of a Stoat disappearing into a reed bed. The lakes held a couple of Goldeneye of any note at all.

 

24/01/2023

Another bitterly cold morning but at least the sea watch hide offered shelter from the biting NNW wind, I was joined mid way through by Owen and Brian.

08.00-10.00 from the sea watch hide.

Red-throated diver: 709E

Great-crested Grebe: 131E

Red-necked Grebe: 1E

Gannet: 295E

Cormorant: present n/c much lower numbers than the beginning of the year.

Turnstone: 2 on beach

Kittiwake: 78E

Black-headed Gull: present n/c

Mediterranean Gull: 1E

Common Gull: present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Lesser Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Auks: 3,310 E

Harbour Porpoise: 2

Around the peninsula there was again no change to the birds.

2 Whooper Swans were at the southern end of the ARC, the other 3 were out on the Lydd Fields. 

The 3 Glossy Ibis were again in the their favourite feeding paddock also 2 each of Cattle Egret & Little Egret there

3 of the 6 Cattle Egrets at Cockles Bridge

Some of the 59 Bewick Swans at Hawthorn Corner today. They can usually be found there or at Horses Bone Farm. If you haven't seen them yet now is the time as they usually depart early February.

3 Juvenile Bewick Swans

Siberian Chiffchaff? I photographed this last Friday at the ARC but forgot about it until I downloaded the image this evening.

19/01/2023

Common Buzzard on guard over Hanson before sunrise this morning

The Willow Trail was very bird early morning with several Water rails squealing, 2-3 Cetti's Warblers blasting out their song, Chiffchaffs, Goldcrests, Tits, Wrens, Robins and Blackbirds all singing.

The 3 Glossy Ibis in the fiery sunrise at the ARC, later they joined 4 Cattle Egrets Ian the Horse Paddocks.

The 5 Whooper Swans doing their early morning ablutions at the ARC

Having a look around the lake while trumpeting before flying out to feed

Photobombed by a drake Goldeneye

I was most surprised to encounter this beautiful White Ermine Stoat as I wandered around Dengemarsh this morning, definitely a first for me. Pity the images aren't particularly sharp, it was very quick and took me by surprise.

Diving into cover, despite patiently hiding behind some bushes I didn't see it again

Green Sandpiper at Cooks Pool this morning

1 of 2 Bitterns at Cooks Pool courtesy of a timely message from Chris Philpott

Despite the constant barrage of explosions from our local guardian of the countrysides gas guns, a couple of Great White Egrets were seen but the Golden Plover and Lapwing were not happy with it.

3rd Bittern of the day at Dengemarsh this afternoon

I wandered from Springfield Bridge down to the bottom of Dengemarsh Gully this afternoon, apart from c25 Reed Buntings, 2 Ravens and 4 Foxes I swa very little.

Long-tailed Tit at Galloways Road this afternoon the highlight of another wander up and down there.

18/01/2023

A very chilly but bright frosty morning at the ARC found 5 Whooper Swans viewed from Hanson Hide, also 4 Goldeneye. Around the Willow trail 4 Chiffchaffs, in mixed Tit flock along with 2 Goldcrests.

                                                Chiffchaff picking food off the ice

Goldcrests

Another visit late morning to Camber to see the 1w male Scaup, which often associates with a couple of Tufted Ducks.

A couple of 100 Curlews were roosting at Camber but frequently flushed by Marsh Harriers

On Walland Marsh the 59 Bewick Swans were joined by a Black Swan

A few Redwings and Fieldfare were found around the marsh but little else

Common Buzzard in flooded field at Dengemarsh, not much else due to the constant booming of the local guardian of the countrysides gas gun.