Spurn & Dungeness

An excellent day trip to Spurn for the Siberian Accentor with DW, AJG, OL and GH who did all the hard work driving us there and back. The Accentor was on show from the time we arrived though frustratingly it was in the gas terminal feeding along the fence line in heavy shade for most of the time before flying deeper into the terminal. As news of an Isabelline Wheatear nearby came through we left the Accentor hoping that it would come back. The Isabelline Wheatear was a bonus also a Yellow-browed Warbler, Bean Geese, Brambling, Tree Sparrows, Ring Ouzels and birds in every bush and every field and on return to the gas terminal the Accentor was back on show.  

 Siberian Accentor

 Isabelline Wheatear

Brambling & Tree Sparrow

Back at Dungeness this morning I joined AJG in a wander around Trapping area and Desert where we saw Yellow-browed Warbler with a Tit flock along the Pilot Path and there was up to 3 Ring Ouzels present but very little else. Normally I would have been very satisfied seeing a Yellow-browed Warbler but after yesterdays avian extravaganza at Spurn I found it difficult to motivate myself. I did spend more time looking among the sea containers seeing just a Wren. The sea was very unproductive though not surprising given the wind direction. Dengemarsh Gully held just a Wheatear of any note, on Burrowes from Dennis's Hide 8 Great White Egrets and another from Hanson Hide on the ARC but very quiet in general. 

With North West winds forecast for tomorrow I'm off to Cap Gris Nez with most of the Dungeness regulars to hopefully have a good sea watch, time will tell. 

More Ouzels, an Osprey, a Caspian Gull and a couple of Owls!

 Some of the Ring Ouzels around The Point today

 A tardy start this morning at the Old lighthouse where 2 Ring Ouzels flew out of the garden as I got of the car, a few Goldfinches, Linnets and Swallows flew over as I wandered around the bushes which contained a few Chiffchaffs, a Goldcrest and more Ring Ouzels which popped up onto the fence posts right in front of me. A quick look at the sea saw plenty of Gannets but little else.

This one found it's way into the Heligoland Trap

 Osprey over Lade south 

 After a trip to the garage for new tyre I dropped into Lade just as BB tweeted that the Osprey was fishing over Lade south. Although I have seen it several times it has always been very distant, so it was nice to get good views of it , pity about the awful light. While I was there a Great White Egret flew in, c20 Swallow were seen, a Kingfisher flashed across north lake, a few Chiffchaffs and Cetti's Warblers were in the Sallows, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Common Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk were also seen.

Wheatear among the sea containers, not what I was hoping to find.

2 visits to the sea containers failed to find a Siberian vagrant, no doubt I'll try again tomorrow.

 Polish ringed 1w Caspian Gull at the fishing boats

A message from the gull boys Mick and Richard alerted me to a Polish ringed 1w Caspian Gull that was performing well at the fishing boats. Fortunately I was only a few hundred yards away and was there in a couple of minutes, while there an adult Yellow-legged Gull came into the beach.

Late afternoon just as the first spots of rain started I joined Steve G to hopefully see the 3 Short-eared Owls he found in the Desert earlier. 2 of the birds were located just as the rain started in earnest and sought the shelter of my car. 

Yellow-legged Gull at the fishing boats

Ouzels!

07.20-09.05 with PW and AJG who collated the numbers:

Teal: 2W

Pintail: 3W

Wigeon: 30W

Common Scoter: 2E

Red-breasted Merganser: 1E

Gannet: 71E

Grey Plover: 6E

Dunlin: 1E

Pomarine Skua: 1W

Kittiwake:1E

Mediterranaen Gull: 3+ around

Razorbill: 3E

Guillemot: 1 on sea

Auk sp: 51E

Swallow: 124 out

Sand Martin: 3 out

Pied Wagtail: 51E

Grey Wagtail: 1E

Linnet: 44E

Goldfinch: 20E

Ring Ouzel 1 of c30 around today

Around The Point this morning c 30 Ring Ouzels over and in the bushes also a few Song Thrushes, a steady trickle of Linnets, Goldfinches and Meadow Pipits over, 18 more Swallows, a few Skylarks but little else. A Black Redstart was by the Station and a Firecrest was in the Lighthouse Garden. Another wander around late afternoon found nothing extra. 

A 45 minute sea watch this afternoon:

Brent Goose: 10E

Wigeon: 40W

Gannets: c20 around

Little Egret: 1E

Mediterranean Gull: 4+ around

Egrets!

A slow sea watch first thing this morning in the company of AJG who kindly collated the numbers:
07.10-09.40
Brent Goose: 6W   1E
Shelduck: 2E
Teal: 1W
Wigeon: 17E
Red-throated Diver: 3E
Peregrine: 1 flew out to sea
Sandwich Tern: 8E
Arctic Tern: 1E
Mediterranean Gull: 11E
Razorbill: 11E  2W
Auk sp: 5W
Pied Wagtail: 2E
Swallow: 10 out.
A flock of c200 Fieldfare flew North over The Point towards Lade.

Great White Egrets viewed from Hanson Hide

At the ARC 15 Sand Martins and 6 Swallows over the car park several Chiffchaffs, Goldcrests and Cetti's Warblers were alongside the track to Hanson also a Bearded Tit. From the hide 10 Great White Egrets and 2 Snipe but no sign of yesterdays Jack Snipe.

At Scotney c500 Golden Plover and 2 Ruff along with all the usual feral Geese.

Another c100 Golden Plover in fields opposite Herons Park entrance, Dengemarsh Road, also the injured Ruff still present, a Mistle Thrush over and 8 Swallows.

At Dengemarsh the Linnet flock and some Reed Buntings still in the Sunflower field despite the attentions of 2 Kestrels, a Sparrowhawk and a Ring Tail Hen Harrier, also there up to 4 Marsh Harriers, 2 Common Buzzards, a Raven and another Mistle Thrush.

Hen Harrier!

 Chiffchaff at West Beach

First thing this morning grounded migrants were thin on the ground around The Point. Small numbers of Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests, fewer Song Thrushes, 2+ Ring Ouzels, a Mistle Thrush, a Fieldfare, 2 Stonechats, a Grey Wagtail, a Merlin, c20 Swallows and 2 Woodlark overhead. Other migrants overhead were mostly stratospheric.

 Goldcrest at Lloyds

At the ARC 8 Great White Egrets, c100 Golden Plover and a Dunlin among the Lapwings and usual wildfowl. In the bushes there 2 Blackcaps, a few each of Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests and several Cetti's Warblers.

At Scotney c500 Golden Plover, a Ruff and all the usual feral Geese.

A very slow hour at the fishing boats this afternoon produced 14.15-15.15

Brent Goose: 2E

Common Scoter: 3E

Gannet; 5E    7W

Sandwich Tern: 1E

Auk sp: 1E

Fox, Dengemarsh Gully

Late afternoon in Dengemarsh Gully a few more Chiffchaffs, 2 Stonechats, a Goldcrest and a Fox basking in the warm sunshine.

Hen Harrier at Dengemarsh very late afternoon

While checking the bushes at Brett's Marina very late afternoon, DW called me to say the Hen harrier that has been around for a while but has steadfastly eluded me was showing well at Springfield Bridge. \A couple of minutes later I was there but no Harrier. After c30 minute wait the Harrier reappeared and showed very well in the failing light.

A very distant Osprey

Fairly quiet in the bushes and overhead around The Point this morning, 2 Ring Ouzels were the highlights. An Osprey discovered by PT fishing the Lade Pits tempted myself and SO. On arrival the bird was fishing the North Pit while we were at the South, a quick drive to the North ensued only to find no sign of the Osprey.

Local Sparrowk in the lighthouse garden

Early afternoon at Scotney c500 Golden Plover, 2 Wheatears, 6 Curlew and the usual feral Geese, all of which flushed when the probable Saker appeared.
14.15-16.15 from the fishing boats:
Wigeon: 30W
Shoveler: 6W
Common Scoter: 4E
Balearic Shearwater: 1 lingered for a few minutes before heading into Lade Bay.
Gannet: c20 around
Mediterranean Gull: 3 around
Sandwich Tern: 5 into Lade bay
Razorbill: 2 into Lade Bay
Guillemot: 1W
Auk Sp: 2W
Grey Seal: 1
Harbour Porpoise: 2
Late afternoon at the ARC 5 Great White Egrets, c100 Golden Plover and a Black-tailed Godwit among the Lapwing and usual wildfowl.  

Yellow-browed Warbler at the observatory 

A Yellow-browed Warbler was virtually the first bird I saw at the observatory this morning. A wander around the bushes and Desert saw 3 Ring Ouzels,, 2 Black Redstarts, 5 Wheatears, 6 Stonechats, 6 Redwings, a Fieldfare, a Mistle Thrush, several each of Song Thrush, Blackbird, Blackcap, Goldcrest and Skylark, 30+ Chiffchaffs, 16 Swallows, 5 Brambling, 4 Tree Sparrows, a Grey Plover over, along with Meadow Pipits, Gold Finches and Linnets.

 Lunchtime watch from home saw 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Marsh Harriers and a Great White Egret of note.

Common Buzzard over Plodland 

At Boulderwall this afternoon a Kingfisher, a Cattle Egret and a couple of Whitefronts of note.

This evening 11 Great White Egrets and 18 Little Egrets roosted at the ARC this evening.

Ouzels and a Dove!

 Ring Ouzel

I drove straight to the observatory this morning where I met DW who was scanning over the peninsula from The Moat and picked no less than 5 Great White Egrets in the distance over the reserve, at one time that would have been a remarkable sighting, how times change. The rest of the morning I spent plodding around the The Point, The Desert and trapping area. Several 100s of Swallows moved through, along with c60 House Martins and c20 Sand Martins. 20+ Ring Ouzels dropped in bringing with them 6 Redwing, 20+ Song Thrushes and a few Blackbirds.   6 Stonechats were seen with 5 Wheatears, 40+ Chiffchaffs, countless Robins, 9 Blackcaps, 4 Redpolls, 120+ Goldfinches, 25+ Reed Buntings, a few Goldcrests, 3 Black Redstarts, 3 Sparrowhawks. With Yellow-browed Warblers seemingly everywhere, all I managed was 1 calling a couple of times at the northern end of the Pilot Path. However bird of the day was a Turtle Dove on the wires by the lighthouse.

After this afternoons rain I went back to the lighthouse in the vain hope that a Yellow-browed or 2 would have made it into the garden. 

 Ring Ouzel

 Awful images of yesterdays probable Saker

East Wind still Howling!

07.15-09.45 from the sea watch hide with AJG who kindly collated the numbers:

Brent Goose: 178W   7E

Shelduck: 1E

Mallard: 2E

Pintail: 16E

Wigeon: 31W

Teal: 1W

Shoveller: 3E

Velvet Scoter: 1E Drake

Common Scoter: 38W    6 E

Great-crested Grebe: 3 around

Gannet: c50E

Cormorant: present

Merlin: 1 in

Oystercatcher: 3E

Curlew: 1E

Arctic Skua: 4+ around

Sandwich Tern: 46E

Common Tern: 1E

Mediterranean Gull: 10E

Swallow: 241 out

Meadow Pipit: 54E

Linnet: 40E

Harbour Porpoise: 4+

Around the lighthouse area several each of Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs and 2 Wheatears.

At the ARC 9 Great White Egrets, 2 Dunlin and the usual wildfowl. Around the Willow Trail, Goldcrest, Chiffchaff, Cetti's Warblers and a Water Rail. While I was in the car park a party of c25 Greater White-fronted Geese flew over the first of the Autumn.

 horrible shot of the White-fronted Geese

On the reserve the Cattle Egret was performing at Boulderwall Farm, while on Burrowes 2 Avocets, 6 Ringed Plovers, 6 Dunlin, a Common Sandpiper, a Goldeneye, a Yellow Wagtail and another Great White Egret. A Tundra Bean Goose was on Dengemarsh per MH.

 1 of several Mediterranean Gulls off the fishing boats this PM

14.05-15.35 from the fishing boats with AJG
Brent Goose: 30E    7W
Eider: 1W
Common Scoter: 5E   2W
Bar-tailed Godwit: 2E
Arctic Skua: 4 around
Mediterranean Gull: 5+ around
Sandwich Tern: 51E
Arctic Tern: 1 around
Guillemot: 1 on sea
Rock Pipit: 1 around
Grey Seal: 1
Harbour Porpoise: 5+

 Brent Geese past the fishing boats this PM

Raven beating a Crow over Dengemarsh late afternoon

An Ouzel, some Herons and a new battery!

 Ring Ouzel at West Beach

First thing this morning no sign of any Yellow-browed Warblers in the Lighthouse area, a few Chiffchaffs, Goldcrests, Song Thrushes, a Ring Ouzel, Black Redstart, 2 Wheatears a trickle of Swallows and Meadow Pipits and plenty of Robins.

I drove down to Dengemarsh Gully where I unintentionally spent a couple of hours waiting for recovery because my car refused to start. While there a couple of Chiffchaffs, a Wheatear, 2 Stonechats, more Robins, a Raven and a Peregrine kept me entertained.

 Curlew at Scotney

This afternoon at a very windswept  Scotney all the usual feral Geese, 4 Curlews, a Marsh Harrier and what was probably a very distant Osprey putting everything on Walland Marsh up. 

 Cattle Egret at Boulderwall

Late afternoon on the ARC from Hanson 9 Great White Egrets, 5 Dunlin, the usual wildfowl, a Water Rail and couple of Cetti's Warblers.

Over the road at Boulderwall the Cattle Egret, 2 Glossy Ibis's, a Garganey, 2 Stonechats and c100 Swallows.