The Day After!

With clear skies, the short drive to The Point this morning was made with the forlorn hope that the Flycatcher would still be present. The approach road was lined with cars and there was a wall of birders staring into Dave Bunney's garden. Their demeanour told me instantly that the bird had not been seen nor probably would. I was disappointed for them, but especially for Mark who was due back from a Spanish sea watching trip this afternoon. Mark a Dungeness stalwart of many years, who when I moved to Kent 6 years ago made me feel welcome at Dungeness. In those years we have shared many good birds and laughs (Buff-breasted Sandpiper morphing into a Ruff at Scotney and then 2 Buff Breasts appear) to have been able to share the Flycatcher with him would have been the icing on the cake. I dare say tomorrow he will regale me with tales of legions of Pomarine and long-tailed Skuas, with waves of various Shearwaters and probably a few jokes. Mind you if he mentions some of the older Dungeness mega's!!!!!!!

When I reached the observatory I met AJG and walked a lap of The desert with him. It became obvious that there had been an overnight clear out of migrants, with just 4 Common Whitethroats, 4 Blackcaps, 2 Wheatears, a Stonechat, 5 Robins also a few Hirundines, Siskins, Reed Buntings and Meadow Pipits over.

Back at the observatory news of a Pallid Harrier and Red-footed Falcon at Worth Marshes came through. AJG who had not seen a Red-footed Falcon for some time suggested we go there, I was more than willing to accompany him there. An hour later we watching a superb juvenile Red-footed Falcon hawking Dragonfly's, amazingly we had the bird to our selves. We didn't see the Pallid Harrier , that would have been greedy.

Back at Dungeness a short sea watch this afternoon saw the usual 6+ Arctic Skua's beating up the Sandwich Terns, a Bonxie west and 3 Kittiwakes west.

Just realised that the Flycatcher is my 201st species for Dungeness this year, not a bad local patch!

juvenile Red-footed Falcon

Juvenile Red-footed Falcon

Juvenile Red-footed Falcon

Acadian Flycatcher!

I am lost for words!

A Quiet Day!

 A much quieter morning around The Point, though still some Hirundines and Meadow Pipits going through, a few Siskins, 3 Wheatears, a Common Redstart trapped along with a few Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs, a single Marsh Harrier hunting the area and Black Redstart on the perimeter fence.

  Brent Geese

14.10-16.10 from the fishing boats:
Brent Goose: 70W the first reasonable size flock of the autumn.
Common Scoter: 2E
Great-crested Grebe: 5 around
Gannet: 95W
Cormorant: 18 around
Arctic Skua: a minimum of 8 individuals loitering off shore
Kittiwake: 1W
Sandwich Tern: 94W
Common Tern: 27W
Swallow: 87 out
Harbour Porpoise: 3+

 Great Black-backed Gull swallowing a whole Plaice!

 Barred Sallow in the trap this morning

Large Wainscot NFY

Another Convolvulus Hawkmoth by the trap this morning!

Another good day!

 Goldcrest reluctant to leave the observatory

Another excellent mornings wander around The Desert:

Chiffchaff: 39

Willow Warbler: 2

Blackcap: 8

Lesser Whitethroat: 3

Common Whitethroat: only 2

Common Redstart: 1

Black Redstart: 1

Whinchat: 2

Wheatear: 3

Spotted Flycatcher: 2

Goldcrest: 2

Swallow/House Martin: 1,000s could be seen all day around the peninsular

Siskin: c100 most unseen over

Redpoll: 13 over

Skylark: 2 over

Grey Wagtail: 2 over

Meadow Pipit: c120 around

Tree Pipit: 1 over

Yellow wagtail: 5 over

Reed Bunting: 9 over

Wryneck: 1

Marsh Harrier: 2 out + 1 over

Sparrowhawk: 2 around

 The elusive Wryneck

 Willow Warbler

 Black Redstart at Lloyds

A couple of hours watching from the garden saw 5 Common Buzzards, 3 Marsh Harriers, a Hobby, more Siskins and Meadow Pipits over, 2 Yellow Wagtails over and numerous Hirundines.

15.30-16.30 from the fishing boats with RW:

Gannet: 27W
Turnstone: 2 around
Pomarine Skua: 1 around
Arctic Skua: 2 around
Black Tern: 2W
Sandwich Tern: 46W
Common Tern: 14W
Swallow: c200 out
Wheatear: 3 on beach

Convolvulus Hawkmoth

A good weekend in the moth trap with a Convolvulus Hawkmoth, 3 Scarce Bordered Straws, Dark Swordgrass, Pearly Underwing, 54 Noctuella and the first Feathered Brindle of the year in the trap hiding among 100s of Setaceous Hebrew Characters.

Wilson's Phalarope

Redstart at Lloyds

A bird filled walk around The Point this morning, every bush and piece of scrub seemed to have birds
in Chiffchaffs were everywhere closely followed by Common Whitethroats, Robins, smaller numbers of Willow Warblers, Blackcaps, Lesser Whitethroats and Wheatears A Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Sparrowhawks, a Common Redstart and 5 Black Redstarts, while overhead 100s of Swallows, House Martins, smaller numbers of Yellow Wagtails, Siskins, Meadow Pipits, 2 Tree Pipits.
A quick look at the New Diggings saw 100s of Sand Martins over the lake and Great White Egret on the western shore.

Redstart at Lloyds

Wilson's Phalarope Panel Valley Scrape

I was just about to go down to the fishing boats for an afternoon sea watch when I received a call from Brian Murray to say he had just found a Wilson's Phalarope on the Panel Valley Scrape. A very quick change of plans, as I missed the 1987 bird at Sidlesham Ferry due to being on holiday in the old Yugoslavia. Within the hour I was getting very distant views of the Phalarope, it did come a little closer though not much. I was surprised at the neglected state of this once excellent site, the islands were all overgrown and the height of the reeds made viewing difficult. While there 4+ Hobby's were seen, a Peregrine, 2 Marsh Harriers, a Common Buzzard, Barn Owl, Whinchat, 2 Stonechats and 100s of Hirundines. Thanks again for the call Brian.

A short video of the Wilson's Phalarope

Wash Out!

 Sooty Shearwater past the fishing boats this morning

08.50-10.05 from the fishing boats:
Common Scoter: 5W
Great-crested Grebe: 4 around
Sooty Shearwater: 1W
Gannet: 194W      21E
Cormorant: 9 around
Turnstone: 5 on beach
Arctic Skua: 6 around
Sandwich Tern: 124W    73E
Common Tern: 15W
Swallow:  500+ out
Yellow Wagtail: 5 on beach
Meadow Pipit: 27W
Wheatear: 2 on beach
Grey Seal: 1
Harbour Porpoise 4+

Most of today was a wash out, giving me the chance to do some domestic stuff.

 Whinchat ARC

During a lull in the weather I made a quick visit to the ARC. The walk to the Pines found Chiffchaffs in every bush, also a few Common Whitethroats, Blackcaps and a Lesser Whitethroat, at the Pines a Whinchat more Chiffchaffs 2 Goldcrests and a constant stream of Swallows through, the islands on the lake have all but gone, though a few Lapwings were still roosting on what is left of them. Back at the car park a Spotted Flycatcher on the wires then the rain returned. The Great White Egrets and Cattle Egret were both reported as still being on the reserve today. The Wryneck was seen again today in the Gorse south of the trapping area.

A little better in the moth trap this morning with a Small Mottled Willow, Scarce Bordered Straw, 3 Noctuella's and 3 Silver Y.

Migration!

Whinchat, 1 of at least 9 around The Point

Despite no sign of the Wryneck there were still many birds around and over The Point this morning, including the beach up to the lifeboat station a minimum of 42 Wheatears, 9 Whinchats, 2 Stonechats, many Common Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs, smaller numbers of Reed Buntings, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap and Willow Warblers, lots of Siskins over though probably only 40-50 seen, many more Meadow Pipits, 3+ Tree Pipits, Grey and Yellow Wagtails, 100s of Hirundines, at least 3 Swifts, a Black Redstart, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2+ Sparrowhawks, a Hobby, a Goldcrest in the observatory garden.

 Wheatear, 1 of at least 42 around The Point

At the north end of the Long Pits at least 3 Spotted Flycatchers, many Sylvia Warblers and Chiffchaffs, a Cetti's Warbler, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Green Woodpecker, more Siskins, Meadow Pipits and Hirundines over, also another Hobby.

 Spotted Flycatcher north end of the Long Pits

At lunchtime Dengemarsh Gully was surprisingly quiet except for the steady stream of Swallows leaving for the continent. The hedges in Denge Marsh Road did however hold lots of Common Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs, in the fields more Wheatears, 2 more Whinchats and Yellow Wagtails. A short visit to Springfield Bridge saw the usual Marsh Harriers but not a single Egret, though Great White, Little and the Cattle Egret were seen by others around the reserve.

Juvenile Gannet passing the fishing boats

The main event this afternoon was the spectacle of countless Swallows streaming out to sea over and either side of me, as far as I could see. ere the main event this afternoon, I started counting them but could not keep up, so I sat back and enjoyed the spectacle.

14.20-16.20 from the boats:

Great-crested Grebe: 4 around
Gannet: 62W
Oystercatcher: 2W
Turnstone: 2 on beach
Knot: 1W
Arctic Skua: 1W
Mediterranean Gull: 1W (1stW)
Sandwich Tern: 492W
Common Tern: 15W
Auk sp: 1W
Swallows: 2,000-3,000 out (probably a very conservative estimate)
Harbour Porpoise: 3+

Turnstone on the beach this afternoon

A good day despite the weather!

Meadow Pipit resting on the beach this morning

Another thoroughly miserable day on the peninsular. In the partial shelter of the fishing boats with CP 08.05-10.45:

Common Scoter: 16E  1W
Great-crested Grebe: 3 around
Fulmar: 2W
Gannet: 41E  6W
Ruff: 1 in
Arctic Skua: 9E
Sandwich Tern: 165E   17W
Common Tern: 3E
Swallow: 31 out
Yellow wagtail: 4E
Meadow Pipit: 51E
Linnet: 22 around
Siskin: 32 out
Harbour Porpoise: 2+
Common Seal: 1around
Grey Seal: 1 around
I missed a Pomarine Skua and a Great Skua which were seen by AJG and BC who were in the sea watch hide.

I only left the boats because the rain was making viewing very difficult, also the lure of a hot cup of coffee and full English at home was irresistible. On the way back 2 Great White Egrets could be seen on the New Diggings, a brief look at the fields at Boulderwall saw the Cattle Egret through the gloom. 

After breakfast and a warm up at home, the rain eased around midday. I decided to go back to the beach, on the way DW tweeted a Wryneck at the south end of the trapping area, a few minutes later I was at the area where the Wryneck was last seen. The rain started up again, a Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap and Whitethroat were seen, fortunately I almost trod on the Wryneck so got a brief flight view of it as it disappeared into some Sallows. The rain was now very heavy so I wimped out and made my way back to the observatory.

A party of 4 Balearic Shearwaters off the fishing boats this afternoon

It was either go home, or go to the relative shelter of the fishing boats for another sea watch, the boats won!

13.45-17.00 joined later by PT, AJG and BM:

Brent Goose: 1W
Wigeon: 4W
Common Scoter: 3W
Great-crested Grebe: 5 around
Fulmar: 3W
Manx Shearwater: 1W
Balearic Shearwater: 12W
Gannet: 492W
Cormorant: 17 around
Dunlin: 8W
Great Skua: 5W
Arctic Skua: 10W
Kittiwake: 4W
Yellow-legged Gull: 1 on beach
Black Tern: 3 around
Sandwich Tern: 626 W
Common Tern: 25W
Swallow: 1,413 out
Grey Seal: 1
Harbour Porpoise:  3+

Yellow-legged Gull on the beach this afternoon

Hard Work

I joined AJG this thoroughly unpleasant morning in the relative comfort and shelter of the sea watch hide 08.00-09.20, it was hard work with the hide shaking in the strong winds and visibility down to a few yards at times, when the frequent squalls came through driving the rain into the hide. Thanks to AJG for collating the numbers.  

Fulmar: 2W

Gannet: 79W

Grey Plover: 1W

Arctic Skua: 3E

Black Tern: 1W

Sandwich Tern: 33W

At Scotney the usual feral Geese joined by 3 Egyptian Geese, on the turf 21 Curlew and singles of Whimbrel, Redshank and Dunlin, also 6 Yellow Wagtails and c50 Linnets, in the bay a newly arrived flock of 50+ Wigeon. Over the lake many House Martins, Sand Martins and Swallows, a Marsh Harrier was struggling in the wind on the north bank.

 Whimbrel at Scotney

By Brett's another 8 Yellow Wagtails and a Whinchat and many more Hirundines over the lake.

A walk from Springfield Bridge to Hookers and back saw 20 Yellow Wagtails and 10 Meadow Pipits feeding around the Bull, the hayfields held 4 Snipe and 5 Lapwing though that was after a Marsh Harrier had made a low pass over the fields. I just made it to the hide before another squall came over. From the hide many more Hirundines, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Little Egrets and a Cetti's Warbler, little was seen around Hookers as it seemed most birds were keeping well hidden from the weather.

Sand Martin Dengemarsh

This afternoons sea watch 13.15-16.00 was a slow but you have to be there to see the goody, if the goody does come past.

Great-crested Grebe: 4 around

Balearic Shearwater: 1W

Gannet: 29E    16W

Cormorant: 8 around

Arctic Skua: 1 around

Sandwich Tern: 73E     581W

Commic Tern: 4E  25W

Harbour Porpoise: 3+

Common Seal: 1

Stormy Day

06.15-08.45 from the seawatch hide with AJG who collated the numbers.

Brent Goose: 40E

Teal: 1E  3W

Common Scoter: 14E   3W

Fulmar: 2W

Balearic Shearwater: 1W

Gannet: 466W

Great Skua: 3E
Arctic Skua: 7+ around

Kittiwake: 5W

Little Gull: 1E 

Black Tern: 1 out

Sandwich Tern: 428 out

Common Tern: 7 out

Swallow: 228W

At The Patch of note another Black Tern, a 1w Mediteranean Gull, a Wheatear and a Peregrine.

The ARC was again covered in many Sand Martins, a Greenshank flew over but with virtually no islands carried on west.
Denge Marsh Gully was very windswept, consequently I saw not a single bird there.

Black Tern Denge Marsh

A walk from Springfield Bridge to Hookers and back saw several Bearded Tits in the reedy ditches, 5 Yellow Wagtails in the field with the Bull, Hayfield 3 looks excellent for waders but only held 17 Lapwings. Over the Denge Marsh lake whilst sitting out a squall in the hide, a Black Tern was hawking, 3 Great White Egrets with 2 Little Egrets were sheltering under the reeds in one of the inlets, a constant stream of Sand Martins seemed to be moving west and 3 Marsh Harriers were seen.

A Cetti's Warbler was shouting by the hide though little else was seen or heard due to the wind and rain. 

At Scotney still 100s of feral Greylag Geese, Canada Geese and Barnacle Geese, 18 Curlew, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits and the usual wildfowl.

This afternoon from the fishing boats 13.45-16.00 joined by AJG and BM.

Common Scoter: 4W
Great-crested Grebe: 3 around
Balearic Shearwater: 1E  1W
Gannet: 228W
Cormorant: 13 around
Arctic Skua: 18W
Mediterranean Gull: 1W
Black Tern: 1W
Sandwich Tern: 709W
Common Tern: 17W
Swallow: 111 out

Harbour Porpoise: 3+