Gulls in The Mist!

1w Glaucous Gull around the power station this morning

A bright sunny start to the day but by the time I had walked down to The Patch the fog rolled in from the sea and persisted most of the day. There wasn't many Gulls at The Patch but the 1w Glaucous Gull flew in and then relocated to the power station giving good views. Offshore small numbers of Razorbills, Guillemots, Gannets, Red-throated Divers and Great-crested Grebes and no shortage of the black plague of Cormorants through the murk. A short wander around the bushes on The Point saw very little as the fog thickened, so an early lunch beckoned.

1w Glaucous Gull around the power station this morning

 The 1w Caspian Gull at the fishing boats early afternoon

Early afternoon at the fishing boats the 1w Caspian Gull flew in for it's feed of bread as I pulled up. On the sea there no change from this mornings sightings from The Patch. 

  The 1w Caspian Gull at the fishing boats early afternoon

Another damp drizzly morning at the fishing boats
08.30-09.30
Brent Goose: 1 up
Red-throated Diver: 18 up.   249 down including single flock of 198 put up by range boat
Great-crested Grebe: 232 on
Fulmar: 1 down
Gannet: 88 down
Cormorant: c1,000 around
Turstone: 4 on beach
Caspian Gull: regular 1w bird
Kittiwake: 216 down
Guillemot: 22 down. 78 on
Razorbill: 264 down.   8 on
Auk sp: 96 down

At The Patch a myriad of Gulls over the boil and more on the beach in the roost, despite an hour scanning back and forth I found nothing of note but did obtain a number of colour ring codes.
Late morning at Scotney the 2 Tundra Bean Geese were sleeping among the Greylags but no sign of the Whitefronts seen earlier by E.H & P.H. all the usual feral geese were present but little else of note.
This afternoon on the reserve of note 3 Smew, 7 Goosander, a Slavonian Grebe, 2 Great White Egrets and the 1w Glaucous Gull.
Late afternoon on the ARC from Hanson of note the Black-throated Diver still present, a Great White Egret, Cetti's Warblers calling and a close fly by of a Bittern at dusk coming into roost.

Another wet and very windy day on the peninsular.
07.30–10.30 joined by OL, PT & DW

Brent Goose: 148 up
Goosander: 1 down redhead
Red-throated Diver: 1 down
Fulmar: 10 down
Gannet: 264 down
Cormorant: c1,000 around
Caspian Gull: the regular 1w bird
Kittiwake: 317 down
Guillemot: 4,253 down
Razorbill: 9 down
Apart from a Little Gull feeding at The Patch nothing else was reported from Dungeness.

A day of Auks!

With such grim weather today, the only viable birding to be done was sea watching from the relative shelter of the fishing boats, very enjoyable it was to.

 Some of the 1,000s of Razorbills past the fishing boats today

08.15-11.30 from the fishing boats joined by OL & MH,

Brent Goose: 265 up    11 down
Common Scoter: 6 down
Red-throated Diver: 9 up. 13 down.  1 on
Great-crested Grebe: c30 around
Gannet: 108 down
Cormorant: 820 down/around
Oystercatcher: 2 up
Turnstone: 3 around
Great Skua: 1 around
Kittiwake: 404 down
Guillemot: c1,500 around/down
Razorbill: 2,300+ down 
Grey Seal: 1

 Some of the 1,000s of Guillemots past the fishing boats today

13.45-15.30 with MH

Brent Goose: 7 up
Red-throated Diver: 4 up.   1 down
Great-crested Grebe: c20 around
Fulmar: 1 down
Gannet: 64 down
Cormorant: c300 around
Little Gull: 1 adult down
Kittiwake: 335 down
Guillemot: 2,823 down
Razorbill 17 down

Just a single adult Little Gull past today

As I drove to the beach this morning the 35 Bewick swans flew out of there ARC roost to feed in the fields on Walland Marsh. At the fishing boats many birds tooing and froing offshore and feeding. 100s of Guillemots but just a handful of Razorbills, along with 100s of Great-crested Grebes and Cormorants, c150 Red-throated Divers moved into Rye Bay with c50 Kittiwakes and a few Gannets with singles of Common Scoter and Shoveler, a Great Skua flew into Lade Bay, on the beach the 1w Caspian gull put in a brief appearance.

At The Patch The 1w Glaucous Gull was joined by the 1w Caspian Gull, a Peregrine was perched high on the power station while offshore more Auks and Grebes.

 1w Glaucous Gull & 1w Caspian Gull at The Patch

A Dartford Warbler was at West Beach with another by Channel View with a Stonechat and Goldcrest.

 1 of several 100 Fieldfare on Walland this afternoon

This afternoon on Walland c1,000 each of Lapwing and Golden Plover, 100s of Fieldfare with smaller numbers of Redwing, 20+ Tree Sparrows, c50 Linnets with c20 Reed Buntings and 2 Great White Egrets. At the Harrier roost 8 Marsh Harriers came in and another 8 flew over towards Cheyne also a huge Saker type falcon caused havoc as it flew over Hooks Wall disappearing towards Fairfield.

Also around today were the Smew and Slavonian Grebe apparently showing well at Christmas Dell, the Black-throated Diver at the southern end of the ARC, the 2 Tundra Bean Geese on Scotney from the double bends, also the first Sooty Shearwater of the year past the fishing boats per MH.

Two Completely Different Days!

Friday dawned a beautiful if chilly winters morning on the peninsular. At the fishing boats not much change with the usual mix of Gannets, Kittiwakes, Cormorants, Great-crested Grebes and Auks, a single flock of 205 Red-throated Divers moving west was notable until the appearance of the range safety boat explaining their sudden appearance.   

Distant Little Owl on Walland Marsh

A walk out to the wind turbines at Scotney was very nice but virtually avian free, a distant Little Owl was the highlight among 2 Peregrines, a Marsh Harrier, a Common Buzzard, a few Skylarks and a single Song Thrush.

As I returned to the car the Greylag flock flew in from the back fields with the 2 Tundra Bean Geese.

 Tundra Bean Geese, Scotney

  Tundra Bean Geese, Scotney

 Tundra Bean Geese, Scotney

Stonechat, Dengemarsh

At Dengemarsh the Black-throated Diver was showing very well, also at least 4 Great White Egrets there, c200 Golden Plover with c50 Stock Doves and the usual Wigeon and Lapwing in the fields behind the marsh.

 Black-throated Diver, Dengemarsh

Black-throated Diver, Dengemarsh

Little Owl, Lydd Camp

A quick visit to Lydd camp saw the Little Owl sunbathing by the watch towers thanks to CT for the message. On the reserve the 1w Glaucous Gull came into roost on Burrowes but few other Gulls, a drake Goosander and 2 Smew there. As the light faded 35 Bewick Swans flew into the ARC to roost.

Coming home from a night out last night a Barn Owl was hunting by the road at Belgar Farm near Lydd Gold Club. 

Today was completely different, it was raining at first light and still raining at last light. I did manage to locate the Slavonian Grebe on the New Diggings this morning and the 1w Glaucous Gull on Burrowes late morning but the rest of the day was a wash out. 

It seems the Black-throated Diver has relocated to the ARC also the Bewick Swans came in to roost there again late afternoon per RW.

Grey Partridge!

A breezy start to the day this morning at the fishing boats:

08.05-09.05

Red-throated Diver: 9up   7 down

Great-crested Grebe: 10+ around

Fulmar: 3 up .  2 down

Gannet: c100 down mainly distant

Caspian Gull: the regular 1w bird around

Kittiwake: c150 down mainly distant

Auks: 300 mainly distant up and down

At The Patch mid morning nothing of note among the very few Gulls present.

2 visits to Scotney produced 2 Ringed Plover, 6 Redshank, a Dunlin, c100 Golden Plover and c300 Lapwing among the usual feral Geese.

 Part of a covey of 15 Grey Partridge

A message from Owen about some Grey Partridges in Caldecott lane just a couple of minutes from home. When I arrived 15 birds were sun bathing on the rail way the first I have seen here in nearly 3 years! Also there c50 Fieldfare with a few Redwing.

1 of 4 Great White Egrets on Dengemarsh

An early afternoon walk around Dengemarsh saw the Black-throated Diver distantly and at least 4 Great White Egrets, a flock of c50 Linnets was notable.

Late afternoon on the reserve the 1w Glaucous Gull was roosting among the Great Black-backed Gulls, a drake and duck Goosander flew in as did a drake and duck Smew.

Last thing from the screen hide 5+Great White Egrets flew into to roost along with 7 Little Egrets, at 17.08 35 Bewick Swans flew in to roost.

Gulls!

First thing this morning at the fishing boats in strong and very cold west wind, there were masses of Gulls feeding along the tideline on the large amount of Sea Mice, Sponges, Shellfish and numerous Dog Fish that were being washed ashore, among the Gulls the braying of the regular 1w Caspian Gull could be readily heard but sadly I was unable to find any white wingers, maybe tomorrow when the wind is expected to be even stronger.

Off shore Guillemots and Razorbills were tooing and froing, as were Red-throated Divers and Great-crested Grebes, Numerous Kittiwakes were feeding on the horizon with many Gannets and at least 2 Great Skuas were in  attendance. This afternoon there was no change from this morning.

 The 1w Caspian Gull stealing a meal

On the reserve late morning the 1w Glaucous Gull was on the islands on Burrowes, among the Great Black-backed Gulls which contained at least 5 Norwegian ringed individuals. Also of note a drake and duck Smew and a drake Goosander along with at least 6 Goldeneye there. Another duck Smew was on Tanners Pool and the Black-throated Diver was still present on Dengemarsh.

A thoroughly miserable morning with a brief break in the weather this afternoon.

The regular 1w Caspian Gull joined us at the fishing boats this afternoon

4.00-15.00 from the fishing boats with MH:
Gadwall: 1 down
Red-throated Diver: 33 down
Great-crested Grebe: c50 around
Fulmar: 1 down
Gannet: 38 down
Cormorants: c300 down
Caspian Gull: the regular 1w bird
Kittiwake: c20 around
Auks : c250 down   60/40  in favour of Guillemots
Late afternoon on the reserve the 1w Glaucous Gull and a another 1w Caspian Gull came into roost.

A quieter Day!

What a difference this morning at the fishing boats, after yesterdays plethora of birds, this morning there was very little by comparison. Just a few Auks and Cormorants feeding off shore with a small number of Gannets and Kittiwakes, though there were large numbers c1,500 Great-crested Grebes this afternoon.

 White-fronted Geese dropping into Scotney

At Scotney the 2 Tundra Bean Geese and 20+ White-fronted Geese were on the sward viewed from the double bends. Nearby at Jury's Gap 3 Velvet Scoter on the sea and Male Black Redstart there.

1w Caspian Gull at the fishing boats this afternoon

This afternoon back at the fishing boats the regular 1w Caspian Gull came to Mick & Richards offerings, the 1w Glaucous Gull appeared but flew straight through.

The reserve was apparently very busy today and all the usual birds were seen with the exception of the Long-eared Owl which usually roosts elsewhere if the wind is from the East.