April Showers

Seawatch from the hide 07.45-10.30:                              From the point 14.45-16.00:
Red-throated Diver: 2E                                                    Red-throated Diver: 4E
Black-throated Diver: 3E                                                 Black-throated Diver: 4E
Gannet: 114E                                                                   Gannet: 10+ off shore
Brent Geese: 33E                                                             Little Gull: 4E
Common Scoter: 126E                                                    Common Scoter: 6E
Red-breasted Merganser: 4E                                           Sandwich Tern: 14+ off shore
Little Gull: 6E                                                                  House Martin: 1 in
Sandwich Tern: 1000+ E
Common Tern: 124E
Kittiwake: 2E
Arctic Skua: 1E
Merlin: 1 in
Swallow: 9 in

 Around the reserve good numbers of Sedge Warblers singing, Bearded Tits and booming Bittern at Hookers pit along with displaying Marsh Harriers, The Ring-necked Duck still present on Dengemarsh(not seen by me) also 2 Garganey still. LRP on Burrowes and the Long-tailed Duck.  On the the entrance 4 Hares chasing one another and 2 Swallows over. At the south end of the ARC Pit 3 Yellow Wagtails and 2 LRPs.

Dungeness

Very little on the sea in short watch this morning. Highlight was an Arctic Skua chasing a tern. A walk around the bushes and the lighthouse with BB found 1 Chiffchaff and the Rubicola Stonechat.

Next stop the south end of the ARC Pit where the Long-tailed Duck was showing relatively close and 5 Little Egrets were on New Diggings. Moving on to Hanson Hide where a Swallow flew around the pit, a fine drake Pintail was resting out on the pit, 2 Common Snipe were flushed by Marsh Harrier on the far side. While we there MH got a call about a Ring-necked Duck on Hookers Pit from the viewing mound, so we quickly decamped to MH car and were very soon watching the superb Drake Ring-necked Duck in the company of some Pochard and Tufted Duck. Also from the mound singing Sedge Warblers, 2 Bearded Tits,  2+Cetti's Warblers, 3+ Marsh Harriers and the Bittern was booming. Another look at The New Diggings revealed a summer plumaged Slavonian Grebe.

By the main track to the reserve a Fox  was sleeping and just about managed to raise its head before going back to sleep taking no notice of the passing cars.

Round the reserve 4+ Sedge Warblers and 8+ Cetti's Warblers were singing, a Swallow was over Christmas Dell and on Dengemarsh 2 Garganey were showing and several Lapwing were displaying on the new floods.

 Another sea watch from the fishing boats 15.05-16.15 was slow with Highlights of:
Manx Shearwater: 1w
Red-throated Diver: 4E
Common Scoter: 30E
Kittiwake: 27w 1E
Sandwich Tern: c12 off shore
Common Tern: 3 off shore
Harbour Porpoise: 1 off shore
Stopping at the south end of ARC on the way home where CT and BH pointed out a Yellow Wagtail and 2 Little Ringed Plovers.

2w Iceland Gull

As I arrived at the car park TG phoned to say an Iceland Gull was on the beach by The Patch which I was soon watching even though I left my binoculars in the car. It was fairly distant and with the heat haze from the beach made pictures virtually impossible. The bird was soon flushed by fisherman but was later relocated on Burrowes Pit. Very little else on the sea the highlights being 1 Common Tern at The Patch , 8 Brent Geese moving east and a Common Buzzard in.

2w Iceland Gull on Burrowes Pi

From screen the Spoonbill could be seen in its usual pose asleep also 3 Little Ringed Plovers. The Long-tailed Duck was also reported from there.

In Dengemarsh Gully all I could find was 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Meadow Pipits, 1 Wheatear and 2 Ravens over.

Am off to the midlands tomorrow for rest of the weekend for a family get together so no posts till Tuesday.

Cold and Windy! it must be Dungeness

A slow sea watch from the hide 06.45-09.45 TG me from 08.00.
Red-throated Diver: 4W
Gannet: 16W
Fulmar: 3E
Brent Geese: 41E
Common Scoter: 57E
Red-breasted Merganser: 15E
Pintail: 2E
Teal: 5E
Shoveller: 2E
Curlew: 12E
Avocet: 4E
Sanderling: 8E
Knot: 38E
Dunlin: 7E
Grey Plover: 5E
Auk sp. 4E
Sandwich Tern: 5W

Warehorn Church feeding station

 As passerines were non existent at Dungeness I spent most the day plodding around the 2 tetrads I am covering for the Nightingale Survey looking for access to likely habitat especially on private land.

One of the paths took me Warehorn Church feeding station where dozens of Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, House Sparrows, Jackdaws, Collared Doves and at least 3 Tree sparrows were all making the most of the feeders.

Crossing nearby fields 4 Mistle Thrushes, 2 Corn buntings, 4 Yellow Hammers and 2 Common Buzzards.

Faggs Wood and the surrounding woodland make up the biggest part of the 2 tetrads, last year there were lots of Nightingales in this area. Today whilst plodding around the paths of the area, Crossbills were very much in evidence with one flock of c100 birds and several smaller flocks. Also seen were all 3 Woodpeckers, 5 species of corvid, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, several Nuthatches and Treecreepers, Blue, Great, Coal and Long-tailed Tits, Goldcrests, 6 Bullfinches, 4 Redwing  and Tawny Owl heard  

Part of a flock of C100 Common Crossbill at Faggs Wood

Slow going at Dungeness

Sea watching this morning and again this afternoon was very poor with nothing of note.

Round the Lighthouse 2 Wheatears and 2 Black Redstarts.

At the ARC Pit 5 Marsh Harriers over the car park and 10+ Tree Sparrows in the surrounding bushes. A singing Sedge Warbler by the track to Hanson. From the hide the Spoonbill was distant as was 3 Little Ringed Plovers, 3 Curlews and 4 Little Egrets. On the Willow trail 2 Chiffchaffs, a Water Rail and 2 Green Woodpeckers also at least 6 Cetti's Warblers singing around the pit.

On the reserve the Long-tailed Duck still on Burrowes Pit and 3 Chiffchaffs and a Willow Warbler in the adjacent bushes. From the viewpoint 6 Marsh Harriers displaying, Bearded Tits calling in the reeds and 2 of another 6 Cetti's Warblers heard around the reserve, On Dengemarsh 3 Garganey (2 drakes) and a White Wagtail on the hayfield flood.



More Brent Geese

07.30-09.00 from the sea watch hide:                              13.30-16.00 from the fishing boats:

Red-throated Diver: 43E  1w                                            Red-throated Diver:  3E  1w

Gannet: 16E                                                                      Gannet: 34E

Fulmar: 2E                                                                        Fulmar: 1w

Brent Geese: 399E                                                            Brent Geese: 263E

Mallard: 2E                                                                       Common Scoter: 137E

Teal: 2E                                                                             Red-breasted Merganser: 4E

Shoveler: 2E                                                                      Oystercatcher: 6E

Wigeon: 6E                                                                        Mediterranean Gull: 2w

Eider: 10E  7+3                                                                                                                               

Common Scoter: 54E 2w                                                   Kittiwake: 2w

Red-breasted Merganser: 6E                                              Bonxie: 1E               

Oystercatcher: 15w                                                            Sandwich Tern: 82E   26w

Sandwich Tern: N/C numerous off shore                          Harbour Porpoise: 3+

Round the lighthouse 4+ Northern Wheatear, 4+ Black Redstart, 12+ Chiffchaff and 1 Redwing. The Spoonbill still on ARC Pit from Hanson.

Slow day at Dungeness

Sea watch from the hide 08.00-0845:
Red-throated Diver: 26E
Sandwich Tern: 5E
Around the lighthouse 4 Northern Wheatear, 4+ Black Redstart, the "Rubicola" Stonechats and a Redwing.
At Galloways just 9 Red-throated Divers on the sea.
Dengemarsh Gully just 1 Northern Wheatear, 1 Black Redstart and good numbers of Linnets.

On the ARC Pit the Spoonbill from Hanson Hide, 1 Marsh Harrier and some very vocal Marsh Frogs.

At the south end 2 Little Ringed Plovers.

Marsh Frog

From the fishing boats 14.00-16.00:

Red-throated Diver: 20+E

Gannet: 6E

Eider: 13E

Common Scoter: 4E

Sandwich Tern: 65E

Mediterranean Gull: 2E



First adult Pom of the year

This morning a short sea watch from the hide 08.00-08.45:
Red-throated diver: 12E 1w
Fulmar: 1E
Gannet: 11E
Shelduck: 2w
Red-breasted Merganser: 2E
Sandwich Tern: 6E
Mediterranean Gull: 2E
Common Seal: 1 off shore.
Around the lighthouse 2 Wheatears and a Black Redstart and little else of note.
The walk to Dengemarsh produced 2 Chiffchaffs, several Cetti's Warblers and numerous Reed Buntings, the highlight was 4 Bearded Tits and a Raven that flew over but I missed the 2 Garganey. At the viewing point more Cetti's Warblers and 4 Marsh harriers putting on display of aerobatics also a Bittern which I missed.  

 On the path to Dennis's Hide several Bee Flys. From the hide the Long-tailed Duck.

An Afternoon sea watch from the fishing boats with TG 13.30-16.10:
Red-throated Diver: 11E   1w
Gannet:32E
Common Scoter: 61E
Red-Breasted Merganser: 6E
Pomarine Skua: 1E full adult
Mediterranean Gull: 2w
Kittiwake: 6E
Sandwich Tern: 57E
Common Tern: 1E
Guillemot: 1 on sea
Harbour Porpoise: minimum of 3 off shore.

Grey Partridges on The Point

A grey drizzly morning at The Point found a thin scattering of migrants including my first Willow Warblers (2) of the year, several Chiffchaffs, 4 Northern Wheatears, 2+ Black Redstarts, with singles of Brambling, Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush. A Ring Ouzel was reported. Best of all 2 Grey Partridges now very rare on the peninsular flushed from behind the railway station. Thanks to everyone keeping me updated on the Spoonbill, due to prior commitments I was unable to see it, hopefully tomorrow.

Brents Keep On Coming

Brent Geese are still moving east in good numbers making the bulk of the sea watching records. Where are they all coming from?

Dungeness Sea Watch Hide 0715-1000:                Fishing Boats 1415- 1600
Red-throated Diver: 9E 2w                                     Red-throated Diver: 28E
Gannet: 54E                                                            Black-throated Diver: 1E
Brent Geese: 226E                                                  Gannet: 9E
Shelduck: 2E                                                           Brent Geese: 444E
Mallard: 5E                                                             Common Scoter: 14E
Shoveler: 6E                                                            Red-breasted Merganser: 5E
Common Scoter: 33E                                              Curlew: 6E
Red-breasted Merganser: 9E                                   Sandwich Tern: 83E
Sanderling: 14E                                                       Common Tern: 1E
Mediterranean Gull: 4E
Sandwich Tern: 14E
The reserve was an avian desert today apart from the Long-tailed duck and 4+ Marsh Harriers also little of note on the ARC Pit.

A brilliant walk in the woods

A very poor sea watch from the hide 0715-0830 produced:

Red-throated Diver: 12E

Gannet: 32E

Mallard: 1E

Common scoter: 27E

Mediterranean Gull: 2E

Sandwich Tern: 8E

6+ Harbour Porpoise off shore.



 A look around the Lighthouse revealed just the RubicolaStonechat. Next stop the obs where Ray Turley's memorial has been erected in the front garden.

 As not much avian movement around the obs TG and myself decided on woodland walk in Orlestone Forest. As we walked out of the car park we met BH and CT who joined us on our ramble through the woods. A lesser Spotted Woodpecker was heard but not seen where I saw them a couple of weeks ago, we eventually saw one c1 mile further on. Also seen were Great and Green Woodpeckers, Nuthatches, Treecreepers, Blue, Great, Long-tailed and Coal Tits, Bullfinches, Goldcrests, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, 2 Woodcocks, Thrushes and Corvids, Tawny Owl and Common Buzzards were heard as were Redpolls and CT saw a Brambling. Also a Wood Mouse, a Weasel, 6+Brimstones, several Peacocks an Orange Tip, also several Orange Underwings

 On the way back to to the beach we saw a Little Ringed Plover(First for the year) at the south end of the ARC Pit.
An hour watching the sea this afternoon:

Brent Geese: 217E
Sandwich Tern: 58E
5+ Harbour Porpoises off shore.

Harbour Porpoises

First Swallows

White Wagtail

In between sea watches today 2 Black Redstarts and  a Chiffchaff around the lighthouse, the Long-tailed Duck still on Burrowes Pit, 3 Snipe, 3 Goldeneye and White Wagtail at the southern end of the ARC Pit.
0800-1000 from the sea watch hide:                      1415-1700 From fishing boats:
Red-throated Diver: 6E                                           Red-throated Diver: 9E
Gannet: 15E                                                            Gannet: 9E
Brent Geese: 231E                                                  Brent Geese: 595E
Shelduck:5E                                                            Fulmar: 2E
Mallard: 4E                                                             Common Scoter: 29E
Teal: 5E                                                                   Red-breasted Merganser: 2E
Common Scoter: 32E                                              Curlew: 3
Merlin: 1 in off.                                                       Sandwich Tern: 151E
Curlew: 12E                                                            Common Tern: 7E
Oystercatcher: 6E                                                    Little Gull: 10E
Guillemot: 2 on sea                                                 Barn Swallow: 1 in off
Barn Swallow: 1 in off                                            Harbour Porpoise 3+
Harbour Porpoise: 5+

Back to Sussex

On the way to West Sussex to visit mum I made a short stop a Newhaven to have another look at the 2w Iceland Gull which was posing on its usual post. Unfortunately early morning is not the time to photograph it as it is straight in to the sun,

On the way home I stopped off at one of the commons to have a look for some Woodlarks. They were very easy to find right beside the car park. I was unable get near them as they were constantly flushed  by all the dog walkers. Over the road in the castle grounds a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker  drumming and calling, c10 Crossbills over, a couple of Siskins over and 2 Common Buzzards. Nearby at Coldwaltham 2+ Short Eared Owls, 3 Common Buzzards and 5 Little Egrets.   

Back to the Woods

Dungeness sea watch hide 08.00-10.20:
Red-throated Diver: 6E 2w
Gannet: 8+ fishing off shore
Merlin: 1 in off
Brent Geese: 34E
Common Scoter: 10E
Curlew: 8E
Dunlin: 4E
Kittiwake: 5E
Mediterranean Gull: 2E
Great Skua: 1E
Sandwich Tern: 32E 17W
Small number of Meadow Pipits and Linnets in off.
2+ Harbour Porpoise.
With few grounded migrants and cold NE wind blowing across The Point I moved inland to Orlestone Forest where it was at least 10c warmer and I spent a few hours plodding around 2 hours of which was spent watching a pair of Nuthatches nest building. It appeared that one of the pair did all the building while the other kept guard and called encouragement. At one point it called frantically while the other bird dived into the nest cavity as a Sparrowhawk dashed through. I still cant find any Marsh Tits there nor the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker today. Good numbers of butterflies were on the wing Brimstones, Peacocks, Small Tortoiseshells and a Comma.
 

First Arctic Skua of the year

08.30-10.00 from the sea watch hide:
Red-throated Diver: 23E 2w
Gannets: 12E
Merlin: 1 in off
Brent Geese: 34E
Shoveler: 7E
Common Scoter: 41E
Shelduck: 1E
Red-breasted Merganser: 10E 4w
Oystercatcher: 2E
Curlew: 2E
Mediterranean Gull: 1E
Arctic Skua: 1E
Razorbill: 1E
Harbour Porpoise: 6+ off shore
Around the lighthouse 1 Northern Wheatear, 1 Black Redstart, 2 Chiffchaff and a few Meadow Pipits and Linnets. With the birding so quiet today an early finish to do the garden chores and collect Brownie points.

Melecta Albifrons

Many thanks to Roger Haggar for enlightening me on the id of yesterdays Bee's. Roger tells me they are a Melecta Albifrons a species of Cuckoo Bee that use the nests of the Flower Bee ( Anthophora Plumipes).

Today from sea watching hide  07.30-11.30:

Red-throated Diver: 1w                                      Shoveller: 30E

Gannet:  47E                                                       Tufted Duck: 3 in off

Greylag Goose: 4w                                             Common Scoter: 15E

Brent Geese: 868E                                              Red-breasted Merganser: 11E

Shelduck: 5E                                                      Oystercatcher: 6E

Wigeon: 12E                                                       Bar-tailed Godwit: 1E

Teal: 38E                                                             Curlew:: 6E

Mallard: 20E                                                        Mediterranean Gull: 5E

Pintail: 6E                                                            Kittiwake: 4E

1 Skylark and a few Meadow Pipits and Linnets in off.

Round the lighthouse 2 Chiffchaffs and a Black Redstart. Also 3 Small Tortoiseshells and 2 Peacock butterfly's. Not much else probably in part due to the sheer number of birdwatchers around (two huge parties) the area. 

Newly arrived showing the black Olive Tree  pollen

At south end of the ARC Pit 1 Curlew, 3 Common Snipe, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Little Egret and 2 Goldeneye.
A stroll from the ARC car park to the pines produced 13 Tree Sparrows, 100+ Golden Plover over, 2+ Marsh Harriers, 2 Chiffchaffs and 3 Cetti's Warblers.

Showing my ignorance!

Dungeness sea watch from the hide 08.00-11.30:

Red-throated Diver: 14E

Gannet: 42E

Fulmar: 1E

Brent (dark bellied): 576E

Brent (pale bellied): 1E

Shelduck: 7E

Pintail: 1E

Wigeon: 3E

Common Scoter: 36E

Eider: 2E

Red-breasted Merganser:  6E

Oystercatcher: 5E

Curlew: 13E

Sandwich Tern: 71E 23W

Common Buzzard: 1 in off.

3+ Harbour Porpoises off shore.

Lighthouse Garden held 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Black redstart. A Raven was on the pylons.

At the south end of the ARC Pit 1 Avocet and 1 Curlew.

Curlew ARC Pit

Wood Mouse

On the reserve 4 Goldeneye seen from the centre, but billions of midges round Burrowes Pit again made the walk to Scott Hide uncomfortable. 40 Golden Plover over Christmas Dell, 3+ Bearded Tits and 2 Marsh Harriers from Hookers Viewpoint and a Wood Mouse on the return trail were of note.  Showing my ignorance, on the sandy bank beside the path to Dennis's Hide, 100s of some kind of what i think may be a Miner Bee sp. (see images below). I would be grateful if anyone can enlighten me.

Miner Bee sp. ???

In burrow entrance