19/11/2024

The Slavonian Grebe on Burrowes showed well this afternoon in the rain

Most of my day was spent doing domestic stuff due to the horrible weather, I eventually forced myself out it this afternoon and was rewarded with good views of the Slavonian Grebe and distant views of 2 Black-necked Grebes, a Red-throated diver and 5 Goldeneye.

On Boulderwall Fields 18 Cattle Egrets and a Great White egret were feeding among the Cows, also 100s of Lapwing present. Scotney was virtually birdless. 
 

18/11/2024

2 Whooper and a Bewick Swan early this morning from the causeway

France looked in touching distance this morning, flat calm sea and not a breath of wind

In this mornings calm conditions the sea watch was predictably poor.

7.45-09.00 from the Hide with RW & OL

Brent Goose: 30W

Shelduck: 1W

Common Scoter: 5W

Great-crested Grebe: 2E      3 present

Oystercatcher: 6E

Sandwich Tern: 3W     1E

Common Tern: 1E

Kittiwake: 1W

Black-headed Gull:  present n/c 

Mediteranean Gull: 1W

Common Gull:  present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Auk: 5E   

Red-throated Diver: 3E      1W        1 on      

Gannet: 19W        3E

Cormorant:  217W         21E

Merlin: 1 in off

Common Seal: 1

Grey Seal: 1

Brent Geese passing the Bouy

A merlin landed on the beach

A late Common Tern from this mornings watch

 

Green Woodpeckers have been scarce on the peninsular this year so it was very pleasing to see these 2 behind the screen hide today.

The Bewick Swan leaving the ARC mid morning

A lunchtime visit to Scotney was unrewarding, though the Barnacle Goose flock had risen to 32 today

2 Cattle Egrets at Boulderwall fighting over a Newt this afternoon

Great White Egret at Firth

One of 3 Black-necked Grebes on Burrowes today also the Slavonian and Red-throated Diver sitll present
 

17/11/2024

As the wind was blowing from the NW it was no surprise that the this mornings sea watch was again poor, but if you don't look you will never see.

7.45-09.115 from the Hide.

Great-crested Grebe: 2E      2 present

Sandwich Tern: 13W     2E

Kittiwake: 1W

Black-headed Gull: 7W 

Mediteranean Gull: 1W

Common Gull:  11W

Herring Gull: present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Auk: 6W   70E   

Red-throated Diver: 2W      

Gannet: 268W           66E

Cormorant:  present n/c 

Harbour Porpoise: 1

Grey Seal: 3

After a late breakfast and some domestic stuff I cycled out to Scotney. A bit too breezy for the local Little Owls to be out and there was 2 Ravens very close by.

Scotney delivered all the usual species including 3 White-fronted Geese and Ring tail Hen Harrier that flew across the road and out onto the ranges. I only found a single Green Sandpiper at the back of the lakes. The monthly Harrier roost count again produced no roosting birds in my chosen reed bed in fact I saw very little at all there. As I got out of my car in the driveway of my house, I heard a familiar call from 2 Whooper Swans and a Bewick's Swan that could just about be made out in the dark heading for the ARC.

There were 3 Greater White-fronted Geese on the Scotney Sward early afternoon

Culew on the sward

A couple of Pintail on the main Scotney Lake. definitely not a daily occurrence

15/11/2024

As there was barely a breath of wind this morning I gave the sea watch a miss, instead I wandered out into The Desert and Trapping Area both of which were very quiet, a handful of Siskin and a couple of Redpolls flew over, a few Blackbirds and the odd Chiffchaff also a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the bushes and 3 Dartford Warblers in the Broome.

On the reserve there were 2 Black-necked Grebes, a Slavonian Grebe and the Red-throated Diver all on Burrowes per RW. 

A cycle ride out to Scotney in the drab conditions found the roving flock of 40+ Tree Sparrows, 5 Greater White-fronted Goose and another Black-necked Grebe, on the sward c1,000 Golden plover and 17 Barnacle Geese was about as good as it got.

A late afternoon visit to The Midrips was ver disappointing no Owls of any description, just 5 Avocet, c100 Teal and 30+ Shelduck were the highlights.

Tree Sparrows around Scotney

5 Greater White-fronted Geese at Scotney today

The Barnacle Goose flock has increased to 17 on the Scotney sward

Avocets at The Midrips

 

14/11/2024

The northerly winds are not doing us any favours: 

07.40-09.10 from the Hide with OL, RW
Brent Goose: 2E    
Shelduck: 1E   2W
Common Scoter: 7E     
Great-crested Grebe: 4E     7W    2 present
Oystercatcher: 1W
Sandwich Tern: 2W
Kittiwake: 2W
Black-headed Gull: present n/c  
Mediteranean Gull: 2E
Common Gull:  present n/c 
Herring Gull: present n/c
Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c
Skua sp: 1E Probably juv Pom along the the shore back end view only.
Guillemot: 5E
Auk: 20E     3W
Red-throated Diver: 12E    1W    2 present 
Gannet: 23E       8W
Cormorant:  present n/c 
Kestrel: 1 in off
Harbour Porpoise: 2
Grey Seal: 1

My local Little Owl enjoying a little sun this morning

An hour in Denge Marsh Gully late morning offered just 3 Goldcrests along with the usual Wrens, Dunnocks, Robins and Great Tits, 2 Ravens flew over.

The Slavonian Grebe above and Black-necked Grebe below were a little distant today on Burrowes Pit, the Red-throated Diver was still present but spent all its time the other side of the lake whilst I was there.

Several Common Darters were still on the wing along the track between Makepiece and Scott.

An adult Caspian Gull from Denge Marsh hide

Another Black-necked Grebe with a Great White Egret from Hanson this afternoon.

2 Youtube videos links of tonights Starling murmuration at the ARC late this afternoon from Hanson Hide.  Link1 HERE  Link 2 HERE

12/11/2024

Shelduck passing East past the bouy this morning

07.30-10.30 from the Hide joined by OL. Cool northerly wind with drizzle turning to rain.

Brent Goose: 15E    36W

Greylag: 2 in off

Shelduck: 16E

Pintail: 1W

Wigeon: 7E    18W

Teal: 1W

Common Scoter: 1E     4W

Red-breasted Merganser: 1W

Great-crested Grebe: 6E

Oystercatcher: 1E

Curlew: 1E

Dunlin: 8E

Woodcock: 1 in off

Little Egret: 4E. (Single flock)

Sandwich Tern: 10+ around

Common Tern: 1W/ around

Kittiwake: 86W

Black-headed Gull: present n/c  

Mediteranean Gull: 35W       6E

Common Gull: 18W

Herring Gull: present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Lesser Black-backed Gull: present n/c 

Guillemot: 4E  2W

Razorbill: 15W

Auk: 188W       71E

Red-throated Diver: 18E    4W    2 present 

Gannet: 440E        158W

Cormorant: c350

Skylark: 36 in off  inc party of 24

Starling: 2,130 in off

Greenfinch: party of 8 in off

Chaffinch: 43 in off

Harbour Porpoise: 2

Grey Seal: 1

Woodcock coming in to the beach

Woodcock coming up the beach

Made it but exhausted

It gradually sidled up to the bundle of sticks becoming almost invisible. It sat there for at least 5hrs getting a well deserved rest.

A late Common Tern this morning was notable

One of at least ten Sandwich terns still hanging around Dungeness

One of six Greater White-fronted Geese at Scotney this afternoon

Great Sotted Woodpecker in the reserve car park

A short video of the Starlings roosting at the ARC last night

PLEASE TURN YOUR VOLUME UP TO HEAR THE STARLINGS

10/11/2024

A nice spot by TH a Long-eared Owl

A few hours wandering around The Point this morning in the once again very gloomy weather, saw 21 Brambling including a party of 12 that alighted briefly and is probably the biggest party I have seen on The Point. Chaffinches, Redpolls and Siskins were going over mostly unseen. There appeared to be less Thrushes than yesterday though I did see another Mistle Thrush, a Ring Ouzel and 8 Fieldfare. Goldcrest numbers seemed lower but I did see 2 Firecrests and singles of Dartford Warbler and Black Redstart and of course the lovely Long-eared Owl.

A cycle out to Scotney early afternoon and still no wild Geese, in fact very few feral Geese were present.

09/11/2024

1 of at least 3 Dartford Warblers on The point today

Lots of Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs around today including a Siberian Chiffchaff, I saw 2 Woodcock but probably at least 6 individuals on The Point also at least 2 Firecrest and a male Blackcap. 4 Lapwing in The Desert were notable also 2 Common Snipe, a Golden Plover, a Curlew and an Oystercatcher over. At least 7 Brambling flew over along with Chaffinches, Siskins and Redpolls. Good numbers of Redwing, Song Thrushes and Blackbirds around The Point this morning. The highlight of a very brief look at the sea was 2 Red-throated Divers and a handful of Gannets.

Plenty of Redwings around this morning

Slavonian Grebe from Dennis's this afternoon, but little else was seen in the increasingly persistent drizzle.

Another lovely male Brambling courtesy of the DBO yesterday

 

07/11/2024

Scarface J99AM Great Black-backed Gull on beach in front the hide this morning

0745-08.45 from the Hide with OL 

Brent Goose: 5W    2E
Great-crested Grebe: 2 present
Sandwich Tern: 9E
Kittiwake: 3E
Black-headed Gull: present n/c  
Common Gull: 19E
Herring Gull: present n/c
Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c
Lesser Black-backed Gull: present n/c 
Arctic Skua: 1W  
Guillemot: 12E  
Auk: 86E
Red-throated Diver: 1E      1 present 
Gannet: 198E
Cormorant: present n/c
Merlin: 2 (male in off with prey, female type 1 out to sea)
Harbour Porpoise: 3 

Black Redstart: 3 on perimeter wall

Black Redstart on the perimeter wall

Barnacle Geese at Scotney

A couple of hours cycling around Scotney in the dreary weather was not very productive, the only non feral goose I found was a single Brent Goose in the fields at the back with the Golden Plover and Lapwing. The sand pit is still filling up, all I could find were a few Teal, Shoveler and Mallard there.

On the reserve the Red-throated Diver, Slavonian Grebe and Black-necked Grebe were still on Burrowes today.

04/11/2024

A superb male Brambling trapped today

Good numbers of finches were moving over the peninsular this morning, with some dropping into the trapping area and finding the mist nets, along with plenty of Crests and Thrushes.

A male Firecrest

A male Redpoll

 
As I started off on my bike ride I heard a once familiar rattle, a Mistle Thrush was being pursued by a Crow across the field in front of my garden, the first I have recorded from the garden for 4 years. As I headed for Scotney the local Little Owl was sheltering from the East wind, further along the track an adult female Sparrowhawk was flushing 100s each of Lapwings and Golden Plover. The 3 Barnacle Geese were still on the Scotney Sward but very little else.

Little Owl

Adult female Sparrowhawk

Female Brambling

On the reserve a female Brambling was frequenting the feeders at the visitor centre car park. Fro Dennis's A Black-necked Grebe and a Slavonian Grebe still present.

As dusk fell from Hanson hide 18 Cattle Egrets dropped in before going to roost

Yesterday a young Song Thrush came in off the sea at the fishing boats exhausted, immediately diving under a boat to rest and recover, eventually it came out and made its way in land. 

A Northern Wheatear on the reserve yesterday, quite possibly the last I'll see this year.