Dull at Dungeness

An afternoon visit to the fishing boats in very dull drizzly conditions, with the fog horn blasting away the whole time  found less birds on the sea than yesterday, though still good numbers of Razorbills, Guillemots, Great Crested Grebes and Red Throated Divers. Gannets and Kittiwakes seemed more numerous  and 25 Common Scoter flew west in an hour. The 2w Glaucous Gull brightened up an otherwise gloomy beach.
On the ARC from the causeway viewing conditions were poor but I could still see 3 Smew including the adult drake.
On Walland at Midley the Bewick Swan herd has increased again, now 53 birds there including 5 juveniles, also 2 very bedraggled Marsh Harriers sitting in the same field.

Sea of Birds

First stop the fishing boats Dungeness. There was only 1 gull in the roost the Capian Gull. After taking a few more pics it was time to look at the sea. Wow the sea was carpeted with birds 2000+ Razorbills, several hundred each of Guillemots and Great Crested Grebes, 100+ Kittiwakes were patrolling up and down the beach and probably as many Red Throated Divers up and down off shore. Surprisingly few Gannets were at sea. The same Velvet Scoter made 3 fly pasts, 2 Red Breasted Mergansers west and 35 Brent Geese east.  

1w Caspian Gull

At the ARC 2 red head Smew, 10+ Goldeneye, 2 Marsh Harriers, a Kingfisher near the screen hide, 2 Chiffchaffs and 2 Goldcrests in the pines and 4 Tree Sparrows in the car park.
At Scotney 3 Greater White-fronted Geese  at the Sussex end along with 2 more Marsh Harriers.
Back at the beach this afternoon not quite so many Auks on the sea, the Velvet Scoter did another fly past as did a few Common Scoters, the 2w Glaucous Gull was following a fishing boat and Pomarine Skua chasing gulls close in shore disappeared to the west.  

Sheppey

Distant record of bird with black neck collar with white "K" and SY on side

The forecast was for a clear still sunny day perfect for a visit to Sheppey. I parked at Muswell Manor and walked down the track (about half a mile) to the raised bank between the RSPB fields. A little way down the bank I heard the first Lapland Bunting in with some Skylarks. A little further on a large mixed flock of Lapland Buntings and Skylarks got up from the middle of one field and wheeled around high dropping into the middle of the next field. This was the general pattern for the next hour and I estimate that there was around 30 present. Occasionally a Lapland Bunting could be seen briefly scuttling in the field but only through the telescope. While I was watching them a Great White Egret flew past, a Merlin  perched on some ironwork, a ring tail Hen Harrier sat in a field and 3-4 Marsh Harriers were hunting.
A long plod out to the Swale NR to look at the Geese was rewarded with good but distant scope views of c150 Greater White-fronted Geese but no Tundra Bean. Also seen along the bank another ring tail Hen Harrier, 1 Short-Eared Owl and 3 more Marsh harriers.
From the Harty raptor viewpoint 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Short-Eared Owl, 1 ring tail Hen Harrier, 1 Merlin, 4 Marsh Harriers and 1 Ruff.
    

Harrier Roost

From the fishing boats this morning in brisk south easterly still plenty of Guillemots, Razorbills, Red Throated Divers and Great Crested Grebes on the sea, though it did not seem as many yesterday but counting was difficult in a choppy sea. Kittiwakes and Gannets were milling around off shore and 127 Brent Geese flew east. The 2w Glaucous Gull was in the roost as was the 1w Caspian Gull later.
On the ARC from the causeway the Long Tailed Duck, 2 red head Smew, 14 Goldeneye and a Marsh Harrier were at the south end.
In 2 hour plod around the reserve the highlights were 2 Tree Sparrows, 2 Marsh Harriers and 200+ Golden Plover at the back of Hookers.
On Walland still 48 Bewick Swans including 5 juveniles. At dusk a minimum of 18 Marsh Harriers came into the marsh over the reed bed I was watching but none roosted there. No Hen Harriers were seen this evening.
  

Frosty Walland

On very frosty Walland Marsh this morning 2 Mistle Thrushes with 50+ Fieldfare, 2 Green Woodpeckers and a Common Buzzard in the hedges and fields at the northern end of the marsh. In the bushes opposite the feeders 15+ Tree Sparrows and in the field opposite a Hen Harrier (prob 1st fem) quartering the dykes though always distant. At Midley the Bewick Swan herd has increased to 48 including 5 juveniles also 2+ marsh harriers there.

 A watch from the fishing boats 10.35-11.35 was productive with 109 (3,46,6,44,1,2,7) Brent Geese moving east. A single flock of 92 Red Throated Divers flew west out of Hythe Bay with many more s on the sea and toing and froing. Several 100s Guillemots and Razorbills of shore in more or less equal numbers, also 100+ Kittiwakes, 50+ Gannets 1000+ Great Crested Grebes off shore, 3 Sanderling and a Dunlin flew west and the 2w Glaucous Gull appeared grabbing a small flat fish when the fishing boat came ashore.

East Kent

Water Pipit

 A still bright morning at Grove Ferry was only spoilt by the lack of birds. Although some good birds were seen numbers of them and the common ones were poor or non existent.  An hour sat in Marsh Hide produced 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Redshank, 1 Greylag Goose, 1 Water Pipit, 1 Marsh Harrier in front the hide. Harrisons Drove had 1 Grey Heron. David Feest hide held 40+ Teal, 6 Gadwall, 12 Shoveler and 4 Tufted Duck. 4 Cetti's warblers were heard, 3 Bearded Tits, 1 Ring Tail Hen Harrier and 3 Marsh Harriers were seen from the paths between the hides. From the viewing ramp 2 Ruff and 100+ Lapwing.

 The afternoon was spent at Oare Marshes where good numbers of Black Tailed Godwits, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Snipe, Redshank, Dunlin a few Avocet and Ringed Plovers were roosting along with many Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler and Pintail. From the sea wall 200+ Avocet were on the Swale, on the wall and salt marsh 50+ Reed Buntings, 30+ Skylark, 20+ Meadow Pipits and 2 Rock Pipits. From the sea wall the adult Rough Legged Buzzard could be seen with 2 Common Buzzards and 2+ Marsh Harriers over Mocketts Farm. At the east end of the reserve 2 showy Water Rails performed.

Out and About

In Orlestone Forest this morning a distant Tawny Owl was calling as I got out the car and things went downhill from then. After an hour and half's plod just a few Great and Blue Tits, the only finches were a few Chaffinches and fly over Siskin, a Nuthatch calling deep in the wood and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. It was time to cut my losses and try and find the Purple Sandpipers at Hythe that I have heard so much about. This time I was not disappointed as I could see them as I parked the car. These were the first I have seen since moving from Shoreham in West Sussex. On closer inspection there was 7 Purple Sandpipers on the rock groyne also 18 Turnstones that flew off when disturbed by a dog, fortunately the Sandpipers were very confiding taking no notice of the dog or me.     

Just lately the birds on the beach at Dungeness is like Ground Hog day and today was no different.
On New Diggings it looks like the shooters that were seen on Tuesday in the boats presumably paid for by DEFRA were very efficient. Nice to know our taxes are being used efficiently.
On the ARC the Drake Smew and 2 red Head Smew with the Long Tailed Duck.
On Walland Marsh a flock of 15 Corn Buntings at Hawthorn Corner my first this year also 4 Mistle Thrushes there. The Bewick Swan herd at Midley has risen to 45 including 5 juveniles, 20+ Tree Sparrows round the feeders and 50+ Fieldfare in the hedges. The Woolpack Harrier roost was very disappointing with a maximum 6 Marsh Harriers seen and only 1 adult male roosted also 2 Common Buzzards there. 

More of the same

From the fishing boats this morning still lots of activity off shore with good numbers of Razorbills, Guillemots, Kittiwakes, Gannet, Red Throated Divers and 7 Common Scoter coming and going but no real movement.
On New Diggings from the causeway 2 red head Smew and 1 Great White Egret and on the ARC 4 Marsh Harriers, 1 red head Smew, the Long Tailed Duck and a Common Buzzard could be seen perched on the Listening Ears.
4 Stonechats and a Raven between Dengemarsh and Galloways.
At Scotney 500+ Golden Plover, 3 Marsh Harriers, 2 more Stonechats but little else.
Still 1 Whitefronted Goose with Greylags and Canada Geese at Pigwell, 36 Bewick Swans at Midley and 100+ Fieldfare nearby. 

No Change

Caspian Gull

 The Caspian Gull was on the beach near the fishing boats along with hundreds of other gulls.

Kittiwake

The sea was very busy with many Kittiwakes, Guillemots, Razorbills,Gannets, Red Throated Divers and Great Crested Grebes all toing and froing off shore with no real movement. Later in the morning the 2w Glaucous Gull joined them.

 On New Diggings 2 red head Smew, 4 Little Egrets, 2 Marsh harriers and a Great White Egret.
On the ARC from Hanson the Long Tailed Duck, 3 Smew including a superb drake, 12+ Goldeneye including 6+ males some displaying, 2+ Marsh Harriers, 2 Peregrines,several hundred Golden Plover and Lapwing, a lone Redshank and 3 Chiffchaffs were in the bushes next to the hide.


Greater White-fronted Geese

 A walk round the pits at the back of Lydd was rewarded finding 6 Greater White-fronted Geese in mixed flock of c400 Greylags and Canada Geese

The Bewick Swan herd on Walland has now increased to 36 but still only 2 juveniles. At the Harrier Roost this evening a minimum of 18 Marsh Harriers arrived but only 3 stopped to roost, also 2 Common Buzzards were around. 

Over the Border

As an overcast virtually wind less day for a change dawned I thought I might try Pett Bay and levels.
Being unable to locate any Scoter on the sea and just a few Red Throated Divers, Auks, Great Crested Grebes, 1 Eider and a few fly by Gannets, I took a walk up the Canal from which the 4 Pinkfeet, 12 Whitefronted Geese, 2 Brent Geese, the Bar Headed Goose with Greylags and Canada Geese could be seen. Passerines were few and far between and raptors non existent.
A stop at Northpoint G.P. on the back found the pit virtually devoid of wild fowl but 30+ Snipe, 4 Redshank and 20 Ringed Plover on the saltings. A large flock of Golden Plover and Lapwings could be seen in the distance over Rye Harbour.
At Scotney nothing of note and on Walland a Merlin over Midley Barn, nearby the Bewick Swan herd has increased to 34.