Wednesday/Thursday 25-26/03/2020

On my now daily plod down to Dengemarsh and back (I'm not complaining because I do get to see birds). At the moment sea watching is off my daily agenda as the estate is closed to visitors, also it definitely too far for me walk, especially carrying the monster telescope.

Brown Hare

Yesterday morning I'd only walked a few yards when Hare bolted in front of me, as I neared Hookers a Bittern was booming, Reed Buntings were abundant and Cetti's Warblers were shouting from seemingly every bush.

Around Dengemarsh several Bearded Tits were calling and showing well. Marsh Harriers and Common Buzzards were displaying, at least 3 Great White Egrets were around but there was no sign of any spring migrants apart from a couple of Chiffchaffs. A Red Kite drifted in from the ranges and was seen over Lydd as it continued North. The hay fields were very disappointing as they weren't full of the hoped for Garganey and Spoonbills, i've still not seen any Hirundines. As I walked passed the dung heap there were still several White Wagtails present.

 Bearded Tit

  Bearded Tit

  Bearded Tit

 This Grey Heron flushed fro a ditch beside me

A return to the bone numbing North Easterlies today made a huge difference in the birds seen on exactly the same walk. A few Cetti's Warblers were still singing along with a couple of Chiffchaffs but little else was seen until I reached the dung heap. I was counting the White Wagtails when the call alerted me to the presence of my earliest ever Yellow Wagtail, a superb bright yellow male. While doing my BWKMO watch a Pergrine strafed the Gulls following the a tractor in the field opposite the house.

 My earliest ever Yellow Wagtail at the dung heap

 White Wagtails at the dung heap

Reed Bunting at the dung heap

Cetti's warbler by the dung heap

Tuesday 24/03/2020

Day 1 of the lock down and I'm already going stir crazy, at least I have a small garden and a balcony with a view over Dungeness RSPB reserve, I cannot imagine what it must be like to be stuck in a flat. For Sally its worse as she recently had a Kidney transplant so she is not allowed out for at least 12 weeks! As I am her carer I have to get the shopping for her which is a new experience for me, there's me thinking the fridge stocked itself. 

No surprises from the balcony today 4+ Marsh Harriers including a lovely male displaying high over the fields, only 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Sparrowhawks again 1 displaying high over Lydd Wood, the pair of Ravens heading towards the power station with their crops full, 2 distant Great White Egrets, Grey Herons back and forth to the Heronry, a single Little Egret, at least 2 Cetti's Warblers shouting from the ditches with seeping Reed Buntings, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits singing during their display flights, the usual Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Starlings, Blue and Great Tits, House Sparrows, Dunnocks, Wren, Robin and Blackbird around the feeders, Jackdaws have mastered the feeders, even a single Rook manages to hang on to the feeder spilling most the seed, which the Wood Pigeons, Feral Pigeons, Collared Doves and Magpies rapidly hoovered up.

 White Wagtail at the dung heap

For my exercise walk I crossed the road and cut across the fields which were all being sprayed by the farmer, making my way to Hookers Pit, where several Bearded Tits made themselves heard but remained unseen, Cetti's Warblers seemed positively abundant today, but that may be the warmer weather or the fact that without aircraft noise and very little road noise they could be heard for some distance, Reed Buntings were also everywhere.

On Dengemarsh the usual wildfowl, the highlight being a Black-necked Grebe which kept itself at the far side of the lake. I could only find a single Water Pipit today on the hay fields, where a couple of pairs of Lapwings and some Redshanks were displaying, from Springfield bridge a Bittern boomed half heartedly. I walked back up the road to home passing the dung heap where there was still at least 4 White Wagtails present. A very pleasant couple of hours exercise walk, I only encountered 1 other person on foot and apart from the tractors just a few vehicles as I walked home.

Sunday 22/03/2020

The freezing NE wind continued to blast across the peninsular today, once again making it a very cold day despite the bright sunshine.
07.30-09.30 The patch and fishing boats:
Shoveler: 7E
Common Scoter: 37E   5W
Red-throated Diver: 17E     2W
Great-crested Grebe: 14 o/s
Fulmar: 2E
Gannet: 13E
Cormorant: present n/c
Oystercatcher: 1E
Glaucous Gull: 1 regular bird
Carrion Crow: 3 in

Roosting 2nd calendar year Glaucous Gull

 Colour ringed Dunlin at Scotney mid morning. (I haven't located the scheme it belongs to yet)

 A small Ringed Plover still in 1w plumage at Scotney this morning

Alate morning/early afternoon walk around the hay fields was as expected very quiet. 4+ Water Pipits were still present, as were the 2 Curlew and 6+ Redshank, a Great White Egret and a Marsh Harrier flew over but little else of note was seen. 

Great White Egret over the hay fields early afternoon

 White Wagtails at the Dengemarsh dung heap

 At least 32 White Wagtails were present this afternoon feeding around the dung heap, along with 40+ Pied Wagtails and a few each of Reed Bunting and Meadow Pipit.

Common Scoter passing the fishing boats this afternoon

14.00-15.30 from the fishing boats with RW:
Brent Goose: 28E
Common Scoter: 16E 1W
Red-throated Diver: 2E   2W
Great-crested Grebe: 18E
Gannet: c20 o/s
Oystercatcher: 1E
Black-tailed Godwit: 1E
Sandwich Tern: 2E

Brent Geese passing the fishing boats this afternoon

Monfrague March 2020

We spent a day in the superb Monfrague National Park. As we were arrived at the Castillo quite early the crowds had not arrived, so for a small donation we were able to drive and park at the top. The views were superb even with the misty drizzle. As this was my first visit I was unprepared for the stunning views we would get of Griffon and Black Vultures, absolutely amazing. Apart from the Vultures a couple of Hawfinches flew over, a Blue Rock Thrush was present with the Chaffinches and Great Tits, also Chris picked out a distant Black Wheatear.

 Griffon Vulture

 Castillo de Monfrague

 Views from the Castillo de Monfrague

Chris & Tony eye balling the vultures

 Griffon Vulture

 Griffon Vulture

 Griffon Vulture

 Griffon Vulture

 Griffon Vulture

 Black Vulture

 Black Vulture

 Black Vulture

 Black Vulture

 Black Vulture

 Black Vulture

Griffon and Black Vultures

Below the Castillo Rock Bunting posed for us, also some Iberian Long-tailed Tits.  Also seen were Spanish Imperial Eagles, Egyptian Vulture and of course Serins and Azure Winged Magpies.

 Rock Bunting

 Rock Bunting

 Iberian Long-tailed Tits

Spanish Imperial Eagle

We stopped at the Riberos Del Almonte a superb peaceful valley that was full of birds

 Riberos Del Almonte

It is an idyllic valley, I can only imagine what must through in April. As it was there was Cirl Bunting, Blue Rock Thrush, White Wagtails, Chiffchaffs, Sardinian Warblers, Fan-tailed Warblers, Corn Buntings, Crested Larks, Crag Martins, Swallows, House Martins, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Hawfinch, Serin, Griffon and Black Vulture, Short-toed Eagles, Black Storks and more.

 Numerous Serins were in the valley

 6 Short-toed Eagles flew over

 Several Black storks flew over

A pair of Lesser kestrels were in residence

Crag Martins roosting on the bridge