A foggy start at the observatory this morning with little avian activity, from Harry's Bench 10 Swifts and Peregrine. A superb Purple Cloud moth had been caught overnight at the Long Pits and was on show at the observatory.

On the reserve this morning  2 Avocets and a couple of Hobby's were noted. 

 Guillemot with a broken lower mandible

A watch from the fishing boats 14.05-14.35

Gannet: 17 down

Sandwich Tern: 12 down most carrying small fish

Common Tern: 5 feeding along the colour change

Guillemot: 3 around including the bird above.

The watch was cut short by a report of an Alpine Swift on the reserve at Hookers, I joined SG & MH at the viewing ramp but no sign of the Alpine Swift or who ever reported it. There were plenty of Common Swifts and 5+ Hobby's there. we moved over to the ARC where there were more Common Swifts and Hobby's, also 100+ House Martins and smaller numbers of Swallows.

 Bordered White a first for the Plodland MV

Purple Cloud caught at the Long Pits 

Distant Black Kite over Lydd from the garden

First thing this morning I went to Burrowes to see what goodies last nights thunder storms may have put down. 2 Hobby's were perched up by the entrance track, on Burrowes it quickly became apparent that nothing new had arrived on the reserve.

At the observatory it was also apparent that no new arrivals had been noted except for 2 Great White Egrets that flew west seen early morning by AJG.

As the morning warmed up I went home and set my scope up in the drive and spent next 3 hours scanning the sky in front my house hoping for a Honey Buzzard. It wasn't long before the usual resident Marsh Harriers started appearing, c18 Common Buzzards were seen over 3hrs some were more than likely migrants, 6+ Hobby's and while watching a couple of these over the airport pits I picked up a Red Kite going south east. I called SG & MH who were on the reserve to let them know, a short while later SG called telling me that a Black Kite was now heading in my direction, a scan of the sky in front of me found just Common Buzzard and Marsh Harrier, the next scan though picked up the Kite heading towards me, I grabbed my camera thinking I was going get to good images but for some reason the Kite veered away towards Lydd Wood, it gained height and began to circle roughly over the church allowing me to get very distant record images. In all I saw 8 species of raptor from the garden including the 2 Kites, Marsh Harriers, Common Buzzard, Hobby, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Peregrine, also Little Egret, Grey Heron, Mediterranean Gulls, Yellow Wagtails, S Skylarks and more, a thoroughly enjoyable morning.

 Mediterranean Gull Lydd over the garden

At Scotney this afternoon the Little Owl was in its usual spot, Yellow Wagtails and Corn Buntings were calling from the fence posts and crops, on the islands at least 10 Avocet chicks with attendant and very protective parents and another 11 birds that appeared to be sitting on eggs. Another set of Kite Surfers were on the main lake disturbing the nesting Gulls and wildfowl.

Firethorn Miner found in the MV

First thing this morning at The ARC a Bittern was booming, a Hobby was hawking Damselflys, 2 Cuckoo's chasing and calling, several Reed Warblers were chuntering, Sedge Warblers and Common Whitethroats were singing and parachuting, 2+ Lesser Whitethroats were rattling and a couple of Cetti's Warblers were shouting from deep cover.

 2nd year Iceland Gull at a very scummy Patch

 Iceland Gull over the scum at The Patch

Visibility was very poor at The Patch but the 2nd cal year Iceland Gull was still present this morning also 3 Mediterranean Gulls (adult, 1st Summer, 3rd cal year) 3 Harbour Porpoises were just outside the boil, Meadow Pipits were feeding young on the perimeter wall. 

 Rest Harrow 

A moth twitch late morning when a couple of Rest Harrow moths were found on the peninsula, a new moth for me. 

2 of 3 Avocets in front of Firth this evening

This evening again quiet on the reserve, 6 Sanderling from Dennis's and 3 Avocets at Firth were the highlights.

Curlew Sandpiper from Dennis's

I went to the reserve first thing this morning and saw a superb summer plumage Curlew Sandpiper unfortunately it had a damaged leg, it was still present this evening. Had I gone straight to the point I would probably have seen the Bee-eater which was flying around the point while I was looking at the Sandpiper, the second one I've missed this year.

The reserve was generally quiet with 6 Ringed Plovers, 6 Sanderling, 2+Hobby's, Marsh Harriers, and the usual Warblers and Hirundines.

an early Pine Hawkmoth in the trap this morning

Herring Gull Larder!

At Dengemarsh this morning the Herring Gull still sitting tight, now with a built in larder for when it's eggs hatch. There will be tasty fresh Tern eggs and chicks for the reserve visitors to watch being fed to the Herring Gull chicks.   

 Herring Gulls larder!

 Garganey

MH spotted the above Garganey that showed briefly on Dengemarsh, also there hopefully the first 2 of many returning Great White Egrets. 

 1 of 2 Great White Egrets

11.40-13.10 from the sea watch hide:

Common Scoter: 129 up
Gannet: 17 up
Oystercatcher: 2 up
Whimbrel: 1 up
Bar-tailed Godwit: 5 up
Mediterranean Gull: 1 1s around
Kittiwake: 5 up
Sandwich Tern: c15 around
Common Tern: 6 up
Swallow: 1 in
Harbour Porpoise: 5+
The Pom must have disappeared in the Beachy Head Triangle!

The MV catch has started to improve since the warmer weather arrived.

 Grass Rivulet scarce here first for my trap

Silver Hook scarce here for for my trap

The Somme!

On Monday myself AJG & LG had a day trip to the Somme. Starting at Sailly Braie a Black Redstart, several Song Thrushes and the first of several Turtle Doves. On the marsh there 3 Bluethroats, 3 Stonechats, Black-winged Stilts, Avocets, Great White, Little and Cattle Egrets, White Storks, Marsh Harriers, Common Buzzards and a superb Honey Buzzard, White Wagtails, Grey Partridges a singing Melodious Warbler and much more, LG put us on to a distant singing Savi's Warbler and AJG located 2 singing Marsh Warblers. 

 Cattle Egret

 Grey Partridges

 Black-winged Stilt

 Bluethroat

 Honey Buzzard

 Blue-headed Wagtail

On a marsh near Le Crotoy we found another Savi's Warbler, White Storks, Blue-headed and White Wagtails and more Egrets.

 Garganey

At La Basse pools a pair of Garganey showed well, a Scaup, 2+ Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Black-winged Stilts, lots of breeding Black-headed Gulls, a Mediterranean Gull more Cattle Egrets and a Musk Rat, while there many of the large Carp were spawning.

 Scaup

 Musk Rat

 Peek a boo

At Marquanterre a Crested Tit showed nicely by the very packed car park also a Short-toed Treecreeper. Inside the usual showy White Storks, Spoonbills, Egrets and Avocets. Willow Warblers, Garden Warblers, Blackcaps, Lesser Whitethroats and a Nightingale were singing around the trail. Several Black-necked Grebes were seen but few waders as most have gone through.

 White Stork

 Spoonbill

 Avocet

 Black-necked Grebe

A short visit to to Crecy Forest in the afternoon showed us 2 more Melodious Warblers, Firecrest, Short-toed Treecreeper, Marsh Tit, Bullfinch and 2+ Honey Buzzards.
With an hour to spare before the ferry sailed we visited a beach near Calais, there we found Little and Sandwich Terns, Dunlin, Kentish and Ringed Plovers, a Hobby, Skylark, Stonechat and more Spoonbills. An excellent day out where in great company we managed 116 species, finally many thanks to AJG who did all the driving.

Very poor visibility out to sea this morning so no sea watch. A walk down to The Patch found just a 1s Mediterranean Gull of note with no sign of the Iceland Gull. 

The bushes were around the lighthouse were avian free. On Burrowes a late Common Sandpiper of note, otherwise just a couple of Common Terns and a few loafing and nesting Gulls.

 Common Sandpiper, Makepiece hide

 Marsh Harrier in front of garden

As Red Kites were being reported in good numbers at various sites I spent 2 hrs sky watching from the garden. Highlights were 16+ Hobby's, 14+ Common Buzzards, 5 Marsh Harriers, a Peregrine, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrels, a Little Egret and 2 Yellow Wagtails.

 Bittern at the tower pit

This afternoon at The ARC a Bittern flew from the Tower Pit towards Boulderwall, 10+ Hobby's some which gave good close views, A Cuckoo, a Little Ringed Plover and a Black-tailed Godwit. Also some Southern Marsh Orchids.

 Hobby at the ARC

Southern Marsh Orchid

One of the Little Owls could be seen at Lydd Camp, at Denge Marsh more Hobby's and Marsh Harriers.

05.45-07.45 + 08.30-09.45 with AJG who collated the numbers:
Shelduck: 2 up
Common Scoter: 554 up
Velvet Scoter: 3 up
Great-crested Grebe: 8 around
Fulmar: 7 up
Manx Shearwater: 1 up
Gannet: 126 up
Oystercatcher: 21 up
Ringed Plover: 6 up
Sanderling: 72 up
Iceland Gull: 1 1s around
Kittiwake: 29 up
Sandwich Tern: 48 up
Common Tern: 5 up
Guillemot: 1 up

 Common Gull making use of 1 of the nest boxes on Burrowes

A quick look at Burrowes from Dennis's saw of note a single Grey Plover, a Ringed Plover, 6 Hobby's, a Marsh Harrier and a Common Buzzzard.

 Yellow Wagtail Scotney

At Scotney plenty of Yellow Wagtails and corn Buntings, 40+ Avocets with at least 17 still sitting, also at least 6 young. The Little Owl was in it's usual spot.

 Corn Bunting Scotney

 Little Owl Scotney

Not so welcome the new addition to the Dungeness RSPB breeding list!

Around Dengemarsh 10+ Hobby's, Egyptian Geese with a youngster, several pairs of Lapwings and Redshanks in the hay fields though not sure if they are breeding. 6+ Corn buntings were in the set aside.

 Swallows over the ARC early morning

A very quiet morning around Dungeness today. Early morning saw 100s of Swallows over the ARC though they dispersed very quickly as did 50+ Swifts hawking over Burrowes. 3 Avocets in front of Firth but little else of note. There are few puddles on the hay fields, a little late to attract migrant waders. A fox was upsetting the Shelduck  by the hay fields but seemed unable to get through the fence which is good. A couple of Lapwing were dive bombing it so I assume and hope they had at least 1 young bird nearby. 

 Avocets from Firth early morning

 eyeing up breakfast

Mid morning at the Observatory the Death's Head Hawkmoth was on display, a really impressive beauty. Apparently a sea watch by AJG this morning was very poor.

 Yellow Wagtail Scotney Farm

At Scotney this afternoon the usual Yellow Wagtails, Corn Buntings and Little Owl by the farm. On the back lake probably 17 pairs of Avocets some with young others still sitting, lets hope the Badgers don't get to the island this year. Also there a Bar-headed Goose.

 Avocet at back of Scotney

This evening on Burrowes and the ARC no change from this morning except someone having a swim. Only a pair of Common Gulls were disturbed briefly, though I fear the swimmer may be a little disturbed to even want to get into the very cold lake. 

Swimmer in Burrowes