Sandwich

While I was sea watching at The point this morning, I was mercifully saved from what was  a very boring watch by the arrival of  DW and GH  who suggested we go to Sandwich Bay to see the Marsh Heleborine's.  

 100s of Marsh Heleborine's at Sandwich Bay

 Marsh Heleborine

 5 Spot Burnet, Sandwich Bay

 Small Copper, Sandwich Bay

 Marbled White, Sandwich Bay

The Plodland MV  was quite busy this morning

 Oncocera semirubella

 Argyresthia brockeella

Vapourer

1st Yellow-legged Gull of the Summer!

Had a very frustrating morning waiting in for the delivery of my new camera, whilst knowing that the elusive Glossy Ibis was showing well in the hay fields just a few minutes away. The camera duly arrived just before lunch. Without unpacking the new one I grabbed my old camera jumped on my bike and started off towards the hay field. By the entrance to the go cart track the bike juddered to a halt with a puncture in the rear wheel! I pushed the bike back home acquired a new inner tube and fixed the bike ready to have another try. Fortunately AJG pulled up and saved me from myself by driving me to the hay field.

 The Ibis duly showed quite well enough for us to be able to see that it's leg was injured. Around Dengemarsh a couple of Hobby's were hawking, A Marsh Harrier over the reed beds and some Common Terns feeding young on the Tern raft.

 Glossy Ibis hobbling around the field

 In Dengemarsh Road a Grass Snake slithered across the road in front of us, AJG caught it giving us a chance to view it up close.

Juvenile Yellow-legged Gull 1st one this summer

 14.30-16.00 from the fishing boats with MH & AJG,

Gannet: 3E      14W

Cormorant: 7 around

Whimbrel: 4W

Kittiwake: 4W

Mediterranean Gull: 8 feeding along the colour change

Black-headed Gull: 13W (2 juveniles)

Yellow-legged Gull: a single juvenile

Herring Gull: 6 around

Great Black Backed Gull: 4 around

Sandwich Tern: 13W

Auk sp: 1E

Swift: 18S

Sand Martin: 3S

Harbour Porpoise: 2+

 Juvenile Yellow-legged Gull

Lime Hawk Moth in the MV last night

At The Patch this morning very few birds, not a single Common Tern and just 1 Sandwich Tern noted passing off shore, 2 Mediterranean Gulls on the beach were the only of notable Gulls.

On the reserve all the usual eclipse wildfowl. 2 Common Sandpipers on Burrowes later on per MH.

A Glossy Ibis was seen in Hayfield 2 but there was no sign late afternoon when I was looking for it. Dengemarsh seems to be awash with young Greylags and Canada Geese, lets hope all the birds have done as well. 

An hour mid afternoon at the fishing boats in the company of MH, was probably the slowest sea watch I have had at Dungeness. Just 3 Gannets, 11 Common Scoter that flew east and were probably nearer Cap Gris Nez, 13 Black-headed Gulls flew west and just 2 Sandwich Terns.

1 of several Goldfinches visiting the Plodland feeders.

The MV was much fuller of late but contained nothing unusual.

Mediterranean Gulls!

A short watch at The Patch this morning:

Common Scoter: 8W

Gannet: 16W    2E

Cormorant: 14 around

Mediterranean Gull: 3  (1ad + 2  3rd cal yr)

Black-headed Gull: c150    6 juveniles

Herring Gull: c200

Lesser Black Backed Gull: 5

Great Black Backed Gull: 26

Sandwich Tern: 2 o/s

Harbour Porpoise: 2+

 Dunnock collecting nesting material in front of Dennis's hide yesterday

Yesterday afternoon I spent a little time in Hanson hide with MH. At the moment just the old Cormorant Island has any exposed beach, hopefully this weather will continue for a while and help more islands to appear in time for the autumn wader passage. While we there the lake was covered in Coots, Gadwall, Mute Swans, Tufted Ducks and eclipse Pochard, the highlight was nice views of a Bittern flying across the lake. 

This afternoon 14.30-16.00 I joined MH at the fishing boats where we sat soaking up the glorious sunshine while having an unexpectedly interesting sea watch. Mediterranean Gulls are relatively common at Dungeness, 23W is very unusual especially as we only had a single Black-headed Gull go west.

Gannet: 28W   3E
Cormorant: 13 around
Dunlin: 2 in
Kittiwake: 1W
Mediterranean Gull: 23 W   ( 19 ad  + 4   3rd cal yr)
Black-headed Gull: 1W
Herring Gull: 4 on beach    ( c40  at the fish hut)
Great Black Backed Gull: 2E     (8 at the fish hut)
Sandwich Tern: 4 o/s
Harbour Porpoise: 2+
Grey Seal: 1

 2 of this afternoons Mediterranean Gulls

Late afternoon at Scotney, 5 Black-tailed Godwits over was the highlight. To visit Scotney, park just off the main road inside the entrance to Scotney farm on the strip off rough ground on the right hand side of the concrete road immediately in front of the old wheel wash.  

Evergestis limbata in the Plodland trap this morning

Although the weather has warmed up I am still getting very low numbers of moths in the MV. 

A quiet Weekend

A very quiet weekend bird wise. Yesterday I parked up at Jury's Gap and walked along The Midrips to Galloways and back in the vain hope of locating some Grey Partridges. It seemed a good idea at the time even though the wind was rather stronger than I anticipated. Avian wise it was a very poor with just 2 Wheatears seen both adults, 7 Avocets, 6 Redshanks, 2 Curlew and 4 Ringed Plovers. Meadow Pipits with beak fulls of caterpillars were frequent along the sea wall and a couple of Skylarks were seen, off shore a few Sandwich and Common Terns feeding. I'm sure had I been into wild flowers it would have been a very rewarding hike, but as my knowledge of wild flowers is very limited it was lot of effort for a very poor return.
After yesterdays disappointment I dusted of my bike and cycled down to Dengemarsh, where 3 Hobby's were hawking dragonflies, Marsh Harriers were quartering the reed beds, a few Swifts and Swallows were over the hay fields, a Bittern flew over the reed bed the first I've seen in a while and 2 Yellow Wagtails were at Springfield Bridge. Reed Buntings seem to have had a good year as there appears to be plenty of youngsters around.
Early afternoon I cycled out to Scotney then out towards the wind turbines. No sign of the Spoonbill today nor yesterday, at the back of Scotney plenty of Yellow Wagtails, Corn Buntings and Reed Buntings. A pair of Tree Sparrows were seen also a Barn Owl, Little Owl, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Little Egrets and all the usual feral Geese.
Good to see the Gull boys (Mick & Richard) back at Dungeness today, the Yellow-legged Gulls cant be far away.
Early evening at the fishing Boats 17.40-18.40 very quiet:
Great Crested Grebe: 1 o/s
Gannet: 4E    29W
Cormorant: 3 around
Sandwich Tern:  3 o/s
Common Tern: 1 o/s

Sponbill on the Scotney causeway today

Most of my morning was taken up with domestic stuff, though I did brave the wind and drizzle to look at Scotney where the Spoonbill is still in residence along with the Cormorants and feral geese, over the lakes c150 Swifts hawking insects.

Driving across the causeway at the ARC a Cuckoo flew across the road towards the reserve, also many Swifts hawking over the ARC and The New Diggings.

With the weather so poor sea watching was the only viable option, though by the time I arrived I had  already missed c500 Gannets and 20+ Manx Shearwaters.

12.45-15.45   with AJG & MH:
Manx Shearwater: 10W
Gannet: 293W      42E
Cormorant: n/c
Oystercatcher: 1W
Whimbrel: 1W
Kittiwake: 2W
Common Tern: 4 around
Sandwich Tern: 9 around
Auk sp: 2W
Swift: 69 out
Harbour Porpoise: 3+
Grey Seal: 1

18.10-19.10 from the fishing boats
Great Crested Grebe: 1 around
Gannet: 32W    26E
Oystercatcher: 2E
Arctic Skua: 1 pale phase chasing Terns
Kittiwake: 11W
Sandwich Tern: 6 around
Harbour Porpoise: 6+

Balearic Shearwaters and Swifts!

 A cool breezy SW ind this morning at The Point.
07.35-09.05

Great-crested Grebe: 2 around
Balearic Shearwater: 8W   (5 at 07.48  +  3 at 08.02)
Gannet: 51E   47W
Cormorant:  8 around
Marsh Harrier: 1 over beach then NW
Oystercatcher: 3E
Arctic Skua: 1W
Mediterranean Gull: 1W   3rd cal yr  
Black-headed Gull: 17W
Herring Gull: present n/c
Lesser Black Back Gull: 2 on beach
Great Black Backed Gull: 19W   6 around
Swift: 7 in
Sand Martin: 3S
Stock Dove: 2 on Beach
Wood pigeon: 5 on beach
Linnet: 4 on beach

 The first 5 Balearic Shearwaters (a little imagination needed)

and 3 makes 8

Where's those Shearwaters!

This afternoon I joined MH, CP & PT in the shelter of the fishing boats arriving just after 2 Manxies went through but in time to see swarms of Swifts going south.

14.30- 16.30 from The Fishing boats. With MH, CP & PT.
Manx Shearwater: 2W
Gannet: 32W     5E
Kittiwake: 1W
Common Tern: 3 o/s
Sandwich Tern: 6 o/s
Swift: 1,764 out

This evening at Scotney the Spoonbill was sheltering from the strong westerly wind below the causeway bank, as 100s of Swifts were moving towards the sea.
Looking out of my window now at 20.45 I can see many more Swifts heading south through the driving drizzle.

Leaping Shark!

Sea watch this morning from The Point on a mill pond like sea, was greatly enlivened by the fantastic sight of shark sp breaching vertically about 3-4 feet from the sea, this was the first time I have ever seen this.

07.30-08.30

Great-crested Grebe: 3 around

Gannet: 21E     134W

Cormorant: 23 around

Sandwich Tern: 2E   5W

Black-headed Gull: 17W

Herring Gull: c100 feeding around fishing boat at sea

Great Black Backed Gull: 6 around

Auk sp: 1W

Swift: 6N

Meadow Pipit: 2 on beach

Pied Wagtail: 2 on beach

Linnet: 4N

Harbour Porpoise: 6+

Grey Seal: 2

Shark sp: 1 breached vertically fully clear of the sea 4 times c500mt off shore

 Mid morning at Scotney the Spoonbill was showing well along with several Egyptian Geese, which now seem to be resident at Scotney.

Spoonbill brightens the day!

A cold strong westerly wind was blowing which didn't inspire me as I  wandered down to The Patch this morning.  

 08.05-09.10 saw a very meagre fayre:

Great-crested Grebe: 1

Gannet: 28E   6W

Cormorant: 21 around

Peregrine: 1 around

Black-headed Gull: c200

Herring Gull: c150

Lesser Black Backed Gull: 3

Great Black Backed Gull: 14

Common Tern: 1

Sandwich Tern: 3

Harbour Porpoise: 2

On Burrowes from Dennis's Hide c100 Swifts over the lake in drizzly weather, though all had gone by lunch time as weather cleared, also the eclipse drake Wigeon still there, a Hobby and 3 Ringed Plovers  but little else as the islands seem to be disappearing again.

From the ARC car park 3 more Hobby's and several Tree Sparrows of note.

Early afternoon at Scotney found a Spoonbill on the causeway between the 2 eastern lakes, still present at 17.00. At the back of the lakes at least 5 sitting Avocets, also the usual Yellow Wagtails and Corn Buntings, an Oystercatcher took offence to me walking along the path as its young was hidden several metres away. Around the barns a Little Owl was in its usual spot, also a Tree Sparrow was notable there. The farmers are already cutting the grass for silage so no doubt many Skylarks and Meadow Pipits nest will be destroyed. 

 Another sea watch from the fishing boats this afternoon in the company of MH was very slow. Though it gave us the chance to ponder the folly of Brexit
14.00-15.30
Gannet: 18E   2W
Cormorant: 6 around
Kittiwake: 2W
Common Tern: 6W     6E
Sandwich Tern: 14W
Harbour Porpoise: 1+
Grey Seal: 1

Good to be back!

After being in West Sussex for most of the last 3 weeks, it was good to be back out in the fresh air of Dungeness even nursing a hangover.
09.10-10.10 at The Patch
Gannet:  26W       2E
Cormorant: 16 on beach
Mediterranean Gull: 2  1st summer + 3rd cal yr
Black-headed Gull: c150
Herring Gull: c150
Great Black backed Gull: 7
Lesser Black backed Gull: 3
Common Tern: 3
Swift: 2 in
Harbour Porpoise: 3+
Grey Seal: 1

Late morning at Scotney a Little Owl at the barns also 2 Yellow Wagtails. I didn't get round the back as rain storm forced me back to the shelter of the car.

Early afternoon at Dengemarsh c50 House Martins and a few Swifts and Swallows over the lake, 5+ Hobby's and the usual Marsh Harriers. No sign of the Cattle Egret in the hay fields though several could hide in the tall vegetation of hay field 3. A Yellow Wagtail at Springfield Bridge and another by the Go Cart entrance.

Another sea watch from fishing boats late afternoon was also very quiet.

16.00-17.00 

Gannet: 7W   4E

Cormorant: 5 on sea

Kittiwake: 1 feeding o/s

Sandwich Tern: 4 feeding o/s

Harbour Porpoise: 4+