29/09/2025

Raven over The Desert this morning

Chiffchaffs were the stars today with 100s and probably 1,000s of them across the peninsula, many were ringed today along with Blackcaps and a few Crests. Lots of Siskin overhead along with Skylarks and small numbers of Hirundines. Other bits included Spotted Flycatcher, Common Redstart, Firecrests and Hobbys. A Wryneck was found at the Teasel bank early afternoon but was typically elusive.

The Buff-breasted Sandpiper was still in its chosen field at Scotney. No news from the reserve today.   

Chiffchaff

A spotted Flycatcher in a private garden

28/09/2025

I have spent much time this weekend at the back of Scotney with the 1,000s of birds out there, large numbers of Meadow Pipits and Linnets, Golden Plovers, Lapwings, Wildfowl, Starlings not forgetting a constant stream of Hirundines all of which were attracting the attention of Merlins, Hobbys, Kestrels, Sparrowhawks, Marsh Harriers and Common Buzzards, but the star of the show has to be the Buff-breasted Sandpiper which was very confiding at times, a super stunning bird.  

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

 

Buff-breasted Sandpiper flushed by a Merlin allowing a flight image

A Black-tailed Godwit dropped in as well

Arctic Skua from the fishing boats

The sea watching has been poor for the last few days and I cant see much improvement until the end of the week. However I have high for passerines and Moths.

Brent Geese moving West

A drake Common Scoter

The USS Gerald R Ford Aircraft Carrier passing Dungeness yesterday

The USS Winston S Chuchill Destroyer passing Dungeness yesterday

26/09/2025

A very short sea watch this morning mainly because I overslept, but was still in time to watch a distant Osprey go out, thanks to Jacob for the heads up on that. Hirundines were pouring through the peninsula and lots of Siskin going over.

I again cycled out to the back of Scotney where after a bit of wait the Buff-breasted Sandpiper appeared with some Yellow Wagtails also there. The farmer was working in the AGP field so not surprising there was no sign of it. 

It was not surprising that there were no reports from the ARC today with Hanson Hide and track closed for maintenance, more surprising there no reports from Burrowes and just a single Glossy Ibis seen at Denge Marsh.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Some of 16 Ruff an the Scotney Sward

Chiffchaff

Every bush around the peninsula seemed to hold Chiffchaffs, any berry laden bush seemed to have at least 1 Blackcap in it, also the first time this Autumn I've seen lots of Goldcrests. 

                                                                    Blackcap                                                                         Goldcrest                                                                Wheatears at Galloways

25/09/2025

 This mornings sea watch was a re-run of the last couple of days, birds disappearing in the Sea Smoke.😀

As Richard was doing the main reserve and Hanson hide and track is closed for renovations for c2 weeks, I got my bike out and headed for Jurys Gap. On the way I diverted to check the scrub around the back of the Herons Park, lots of Chiffchaffs and a few Blackcaps and a Goldcrest.

On the Scotney sward 15 Ruff (18 late afternoon) among the hordes of Egyptian, Canada and Greylag Geese. 

A couple of Yellow Wagtails feeding around a Sheep

Further down towards Jurys Gap I noticed a bunch of Corvids obviously harassing something unseen behind a line of reeds on the far side of the lakes, a few yards further on I could make out a large brown bird that could only be a White-tailed Eagle, presumably one of the West Sussex birds. I had to cycle to Jurys Gap before I was able to head inland and try to re-locate the Eagle on the ground, I scanned from a vantage point inland of the old sand pit and could see nothing, until the Eagle rose up from behind the reeds and headed low away from me. An hour or so later it reappeared and appeared to land somewhere between Hook Wall and The Woolpack.

The setaside fields are full of Linnets, Meadow Pipits, Goldfinches, Starlings, Skylarks a few Tree Sparrows etc, this number of small birds also attracts Sparrowhawks, Kestrels, Merlins, Marsh Harriers and Common Buzzards, I'm sure it wont be long before they are Joined by a Hen Harrier or two and maybe Short-eared Owls or something better.

White-tailed Eagle

White-tailed Eagle with a Raven

At the back of the lakes I was checking the various fields and spotted 3 Wheatears 2 of which looked to be Greenland Wheatears, while looking at these a Buff-breasted Sandpiper came into view, before I could get an image of the bird it disappeared much to my frustration, while looking for it I found 4 Bar-tailed Godwits and 2 Knot at the waters edge, another scan and Sandpiper reappeared on a bank the other side of the inlet allowing me to get some awful record images, a Raven flew low through and flushed it and the Wheatears again to my frustration, I moved another 20mts along the field and suddenly it ran out from behind a hillock just a few yards away from me and commenced feeding seemingly oblivious of me.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

24/09/2025

This mornings sea watch with Richard was poor, not just because of the low number of birds nut due to the poor visibility. The cold air over a relatively warm sea caused a horrible haze, I'm sure there is a proper name for this phenomenon which escapes my memory, hopefully someone can enlighten me. Even with better visibility at the fishing boats this afternoon there was little passing, a couple of Arctic terns and 3 Little Gulls were the highlight.

While I was looking at the local Little Owl, I had a chat with the owner of the shed this morning when he came by, a very nice chap who gave me permission to explore the area.

The American Golden Plover at Jurys Gap was more distant today and there was no sign of the Buff-breasted Sandpiper.

I went right out the back towards the wind turbines where there is a huge mixed flock of Buntings, Finches and Sparrows, also a huge flock of Starlings with at least 2 Sparrowhawks, a Merlin, 2 Kestrel, a Hobby, 2 Marsh Harriers and 2 Common Buzzards attending them.

There was a dearth of news today. Richard went around the reserve and found nothing notable.

Back at Jurys Gap 9 Glossy Ibis flew NE towards Lydd

Some of the 16 Ruff on the Scotney Sward today

 

23/09/2025

This Fox slowly made its way along the beach in front of the sea watch hide this morning

I spent an hour in the sea watch hide this morning for very little reward, hopefully things will improve in the next few days.

There were at least 14 Glossy Ibis and 6 Cattle Egrets around the reserve today, of note a party of 17 Grey Herons were on Denge Marsh.

The Buff-breasted Sandpiper and the American Golden Plover were still in the ploughed field at Jurys Gap this morning.

These 4 Glossy Ibis came in from the south and settled on Denge Marsh

 Glossy Ibis on the island in front of Christmas dell hide

I watched these 4 Glossy Ibis come in from the sea over the switch station, they then flew around Burrowes before landing on one of the Makepiece islands to preen and rest.

Cattle Egrets at Springfield Bridge

Marsh Harrier at Christmas Dell

22/09/2025

Today is the 10th anniversary of my finding the Acadian Flycatcher at the fishing boats

This mornings sea watch with Richard and Owen was as expected with NNW wind very unrewarding.

A quick visit to Hanson before breakfast saw just a Black-tailed Godwit and 3 Pintail among the Shoveler and Gadwall.

After breakfast I was out on my bicycle birding around the Scotney GPs gradually making my way down to Jurys Gap to check on the American Golden Plover, when I received a message that Colin Holter had found a Buff-breasted Sandpiper in the same field as the AGP, a few minutes later I was on site watching the juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpiper with Colin, many thanks to him for his timely report of the bird.

On the Scotney sward 12 Ruff were of note along with several Yellow Wagtails.

Juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpiper spooked by a Sparrowhawk

Juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpiper with a Golden Plover

Juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpiper coming back into the field

Juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpiper

 Moulting adult American Golden Plover

Some of the 12 Ruff on the Scotney Sward

The Red-backed Shrike on the east side of the Long Pits