Sheltering from the Weather!

 Wryneck posing in there drizzle this morning

Mid morning the long staying Wryneck was still in the Desert posing occasionally in the constant drizzle, a few Common Whitethroats were also seen there along with a flock of c150 Linnets and lots of Meadow Pipits.

 4 Cattle Egrets over a Great white Egret on the ARC this afternoon

I spent a couple of in Hanson hide sheltering from the rain,  over the lake 100s of Sand Martins and Swallows were hawking with at least 8 Black Terns and 1+ Arctic Terns, a Peregrine was sitting on fence post by the railway and a Hobby mad a few appearances, juvenile Curlew Sandpiper dropped in during a heavier shower but was soon flushed by a Marsh Harrier as was a juvenile Ruff, the 4 Cattle Egrets flew in, 3 Great White Egrets were present with several Little Egrets, 2+ Garganey and 2 Golden Plovers and a Common Sandpiper were on the islands, a first year Black-necked Grebe, 3 Pintail, 6+ Wigeon also present, in the reeds Water Rail were squealing and Cetti's Warblers chacking. 

 Curlew sandpiper from Makepiece this afternoon

 Another hour spent sheltering from weather in Makepiece hide this afternoon saw the same or another juvenile Curlew Sandpiper drop in briefly, also 2 Whimbrel, a Common Sandpiper and 12 Great White Egrets.

3 of the 12 Great White Egrets on Burrowes this afternoon 

Yellow-legged Gull at The Patch

First stop this was The Patch where an adult Yellow-legged Gull was posing in front the hide, further down the beach towards Denge Marsh a 1st calendar year Yellow-legged Gull was roosting among the Black-backed Gulls. Offshore an Arctic Skua was harassing Sandwich Terns that were passing along with a few Gannets.

Wryneck in The Desert

Around The Desert a Wryneck was the main attraction, also 2 Wheatears, 2 Common Redstarts, 2 Black Redstarts, 3 Common Whitethroats, a single Willow Warbler, 2 Sparrowhawks and few Hirundines over.

A walk around Scotney was very disappointing with nothing of note, though the strong westerly wind didn't help.
13.30-15.30 from the sea watch hide with AJG & joined by OL:
Red-throated Diver: 1 around
Manx Shearwater: 1E
Gannet: 32W
Arctic Skua: 3W   3E
Mediterranean Gull: 1E
Kittiwake: 1W
Sandwich Tern: 367W
Common Tern: 8W
Guillemot: 2W
Harbour Porpoise: 6+
Late afternoon at the ARC from Hanson was also disappointing for waders with just a Common Sandpiper seen, the Goldeneye was still present and up to 14 Black terns were hawking over the lake with many Sand Martins.

Another Wryneck!

 Wryneck

  Another very quiet day for migrants on the peninsular, the Wryneck was still present and joined by another in the High Gorse, also a Common Redstart there and Merlin dashed through. Around the peninsular a few Common and Lesser Whitethroats, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, Whinchats and Wheatears. An influx of Kestrels on the peninsular at the moment, 11 around The Desert, 8 at the ARC, 12 at Galloways etc.

 The 2 Wrynecks showing simultaneously in the high Gorse

 Whinchat eating Blackberries at Galloways

 Whinchat

This afternoon Mike Puxley found a Pectoral Sandpiper on Dengemarsh, which quickly disappeared and was relocated on the ARC, but only stayed there for a couple minutes before being flushed by 1 of the many Kestrels on the peninsular, fortunately it was again relocated on Dengemarsh where I managed to catch up with it.

This evening 4 Cattle Egrets, 11 Great White Egrets and 3 Little Egrets roosted on the ARC. 10+ presumed Black Terns, it was to dark for me check for White-winged Black Terns.

Garganey and Little Grebe from Hanson 

This morning many House Martins, Sand Martins and Swallows over the peninsular, the Wryneck was still just south of the trapping area today, at least 3 each of Common Redstart and Whinchat, 2 Tree Pipits over, 10+ Wheatears around and a few Blackcaps, Common and Lesser Whitethroats, Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers.

Wryneck

At The Patch 2 Black Terns and a 1st cal year Little Gull of note.

From Hanson another 2 Black Terns, 3 Black-tailed Godwits and 4 Garganey among the wildfowl.

13 Great White Egrets on Burrowes Pit this afternoon per DC.

I arrived at the fishing boats this afternoon just as LH spotted an Osprey over Lade Bay.

14.00-15.45 from the fishing boats with LH,PH and AJG who collated the numbers:
Fulmar: 1W
Gannet: 43W
Osprey: 1 out
Kestrel: 1 out
Mediterranean Gull: 2W
Sandwich Tern: 423W
Common Tern: 102W
Swallow: 3 out

 1st calendar year Caspian Gull

1st calendar year Caspian Gull

Late afternoon Richard Smith was further along the beach feeding the Gulls, attracting 2 Caspian Gulls and 2 Yellow-legged Gulls.

 2nd calendar year Caspian Gull

2nd calendar year Caspian Gull

Ortolan!

This mornings Convolvulus Hawkmoth

This morning my fifth Convolvulus Hawkmoth of the year was on the wall above the moth trap, it is still in the same place as darkness falls.

 This morning

Early morning from Hanson saw 5 Great White Egrets, a Greenshank and 3 Pintail among the 100s of eclipse wildfowl. The hide was shut most of the day to allow the reserve staff and volunteers to clear the vegetation in front the hide, an excellent job they did to. 

This afternoon

 This morning

This afternoon

Reed Warbler nest in front of Hanson

As I drove along the approach road near the lighthouse my first 12 Brent Geese of the Autumn flew west. Around the area several Common Redstarts and Spotted Flycatchers were seen, along with a few Blackcaps, Common Whitethroats and Wheatears.

Wryneck in the Desert

A very slow early afternoon sea watch which produced 2 Balearic Shearwaters and a couple of Yellow-legged Gulls was interrupted by by news of a Wryneck south of the trapping area. The bird was soon seen though did not give good photographic views in the time I was prepared to stay with it, a party of 5 Tree Sparrows over were a bonus.

Whinchat in the Desert

15.00-16.20 from the fishing boats with AJG:

Balearic Shearwater: 1W
Gannet: 31W
Yellow-legged Gull: 1
Mediterranean Gull: 2 around
Sandwich tern: 437W
Common Tern: 70W
Arctic Tern: 1W
Sand Martin: 37 out
Swallow: 156 out
Ortolan Bunting: 1 flew over the fishing boats towards the Lighthouses.  
Harbour Porpoise: 5+
Grey Seal: 1
Common Seal: 1

Yellow-legged Gull at the fishing boats

06.00-09.30 from the sea watch hide with AJG who collated the numbers:
Teal: 23W
Wigeon: 5W
Common Scoter: 3E  4W
Fulmar: 2E
Gannet 330
Sanderling: 6W
Great Skua: 3W
Arctic Skua: 8W
Mediterranean Gull: 5E
Sandwich Tern: 1430 West from 0600 to 0700
Common Tern: 320 West from 0600 to 0700
Little Tern: 3W
Black Tern: 52W
Grey Seal: 1
Harbour Porpoise: 15+

A few Blackcaps, a Willow warbler and a Garden Warbler were trapped this morning even though the bushes appeared very quiet. 8+ Wheatears were along the beach and this afternoon a Pied Flycatcher more Willow Warblers and a Sedge Warbler were in a private garden.
A quick look at the Boulderwall fields saw 2 of the Cattle Egrets, though 4 were seen later by SM.
At the ARC from Hanson a fem/1w Goldeneye and 2 Pintail were my first of the Autumn, 5 Great White Egrets were present and 100s of Sand Martins with fewer numbers of House Martins and Swallows were feeding over the lakes.

13.15-14.45 from the fishing boats with AJG who collated the numbers:
Shoveller: 2W
Teal: 1W
Wigeon: 2E
Gannet: 70 around
Turnstone: 4E
Great Skua: 1W
Arctic Skua: 4W
Yellow-legged Gull: 2 around
Mediterranean Gull: 3E all 1st cal yr
Sandwich Tern: 212E
Common Tern: 38E
Harbour Porpoise: 10+
Grey Seal: 2
Common Seal: 1

Gulls!

 Belgian ringed Mediterranean Gull 3739

Very little in the way of migrants this morning around the point, so I spent most my time around The Patch. Up to 5 Black Terns and 7 Mediterranean Gulls (all 1st cal yrs) were feeding around The Patch, 3+ Arctic Skuas were chasing the Terns, 11 Teal flew east then back west. On the beach I managed to read 2 colour rings both Mediterranean Gulls, 1 a Belgian the other a Czech Republic bird. 15+ Harbour Porpoises were offshore.

Czech ringed Mediterranean Gull ZHT2

These 2 provided some light entertainment at The Patch, note there fleece life vests!

Early afternoon the 3 Cattle Egrets were still in the Boulderwall Fields. From Hanson hide 4 Great White Egrets, 147 Golden Plover, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Common Snipe, 2 Garganey and a Black-necked Grebe.

 1st cal yr Caspian Gull

At the fishing boats this afternoon:

Wigeon: 1 on sea

Common Scoter: 5E

Gannet: c40 around

Arctic Skua: 1 around

Mediterranean Gull: 16E all 1st cal yr birds

Yellow-legged Gull: 1 around

Caspian Gull: 1 around

Kittiwake: 5E

Sandwich tern: c100 around

Common Tern: c20 around

Grey Seal: 1

Harbour Porpoise: 8+

 Hooked bill Herring Gull by the fishing boats

Great Black Backed Gull JZ435 by the fishing boats

I didn't spend much time in the field today as the peninsular appeared to be taken over by visitors enjoying the beautiful weather. I did spend several hours sky watching from home, the Gulls in the field opposite were very helpful in alerting me to the presence of a raptor, with there help I managed to spot a mega high Honey Buzzard drifting SW, also 16 Common Buzzards, 4+Marsh Harriers, 2+ Hobby's, 3 Kestrels and a Sparrowhawk, also a steady stream of Hirundines going south.

 1,000s of mainly Black-headed Gulls following the tractor in the fields opposite my house

 Blizzard of Gulls every time a raptor came over

 1 of 16 Common Buzzards seen from the garden

 Kestrel tucking into a Great Green Bush Cricket by the entrance track this evening

An evening visit to to Burrowes saw a juv/1w Caspian Gull, 3 Black Terns, 18 Redshank, 4 Dunlin, 4 Knot, a Little Ringed Plover 

16 of 18 Redshank present this evening

 Short-eared Owl by the entrance track this evening

 Cattle Egrets on the old Cormorant Island

Marsh Mallow Moth 2nd record for the Plodland trap

Centre Barred Sallow new for the trap

Cattle Egrets at Boulderwall taken yesterday

First thing this morning at Boulderwall at least 6 Cattle Egrets were still present, as yesterday they were always distant.

While walking around The Desert with SG seeing very little, news of a Terek Sandpiper being seen  by BW flying around the reserve but now lost in the Dengemarsh area came through. As the reserve and ARC were going to be searched others I decided to check The Midrips for the Terek. Yellow Wagtails were calling all around and a stream of Swallows were coasting eastwards. On the pools 34 Teal, 12 Shelduck, 15 Mallard and a Shoveler were feeding with 7 Greenshanks, 3 Spotted Redshanks, a poor video of 2 of Spotted Redshanks can be seen HERE also 2 Common Redshanks, 3 Dunlin, a Grey Plover, 15 Oystercatchers, a Whimbrel and 6 Curlew. 2 Common Buzzards and 2 Marsh Harriers flew through but no sign of the Terek Sandpiper. 

 Many thanks to Dave Bunney for inviting me into his private garden to see this very confiding Pied Flycatcher this afternoon, also a Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Reed Warbler.

Chiffchaff

Late afternoon I met AJG at the fishing boats where he had seen 2 Black Terns, a few Sandwich Terns, a Great Skua and Swallows leaving our shores. We decided to have a look around the back of Scotney for the Terek Sandpiper but only saw more Yellow Wagtails, a Little Owl and a couple each of Common Buzzard and Marsh Harrier but not a single wader.

When I got home a kettle of 14 Common Buzzards was overhead, MH and SG had seen 37 nearby over Dengemarsh this afternoon.

Cetti's Warbler trapped at the obs yesterday 

 A beautiful Orache caught by Barry Banson last night

Common Darter