21/01/2022

This mornings sea watch was quite busy despite a very cold but light North Westerly breeze. The bright low sun made viewing hard work and no doubt I missed quite a few things being on my own.

08.30-10.00 from the the hide.

Brent Goose: 6E

Shelduck: 2E

Wigeon: 2E

Common Scoter: 1E

Red-throated Diver: 206E      2W

Great-crested Grebe: 9E        48 on

Fulmar: 1E

Gannet: 84E

Cormorant: 1,000s feeding off shore

Kittiwake: 89E     

Black-headed Gull: present n/c

Common Gull: present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c  

Caspian Gull: 1 x1w at The Patch

Guillemot: 147E   

Razorbill: 29E     

Auk sp: 2,110E

Peregrine: 1 around

Black Redstart: 1 around

Common Seal: 1

Grey Seal: 2

Harbour Porpoise: 2

After stopping off at Cockles Bridge I visited Scotney, where 36 White-fronted Geese could be seen feeding at the back viewed from the double bends, a Green Sandpiper was feeding along the edge, all the usual feral Geese were present but no surprises.

The Cattle Egrets at Cockles Bridge were quite photogenic today, if you go there please be mindful that you do not block the road, as you will upset the farmer and horse owners. The Glossy Ibis were also there today but very uncooperative, then flew back to Cooks Pool. 

A family of Bewick's Swans coming into Dennes Road, 36 in this field.

2 of the 5 Whoopers at Baynham Farm,, also 7 Bewick's Swans there

A Marsh Harrier has taken to catching Coot on the ARC. The red head Smew was still present this afternoon at the southern end.

Polish ringed Black-headed Gull TJVV still at the fishing boats

18/01/2022

As I drove along the causeway this morning I passed OL who was staring across the ARC intently, moments later he called me to say that there were 2 Slavonian Grebes there. After I had seen them we made our to the sea watch hide. The 5 mile list moves onto 122.

 09.15-10.15 from the the hide with OL

Brent Goose: 12E

Shoveler: 1E

Wigeon: 27E      3W

Teal: 2W

Red-throated Diver: 123E

Great-crested Grebe: 4 on

Fulmar: 1E

Gannet: 7E

Cormorant: 1,000s feeding just a few mts off shore

Kittiwake: 48E     20 around

Black-headed Gull: present n/c

Mediterranean Gull: 1E

Common Gull: present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c  single Argentatus on beach

Lesser Black-backed Gull: 2 on beach

Guillemot: 21E     50+ on

Razorbill: 6E     10+ on

Auk sp: 143

2nd calendar year Great Black-backed Gull J37EU ringed as a pullus in Southern Norway on 21/07/2021

1 of 4 Cattle Egrets at Cockles Bridge this morning

Common Buzzard feasting on a Fox carcas

2 of 5 Whooper Swans taken into the low afternoon sun at Baynham Farm

3 of 5 Bewick's Swans taken into the low afternoon sun at Baynham Farm

Mistle Thrush a Dungeness scarcity at Dennes Road this afternoon, there was still 36 Bewick Swans there.

Kestrel with its late lunch

Tree Sparrows from around the marsh

Great Black-backed Gull with a large Eel at Scotney Scotney today. At the back of Scotney but just visible from the double bends a flock of at least 36 White-fronted Geese.

There are at least 3 Green Sandpipers wintering around Scotney

5 of the 7 Cattle Egrets that roosted at the ARC along with the 2 Glossy Ibis

14/01/2022

A predictably slow sea watch this morning due to the very still conditions. 

08.15-09.15 with OL

Brent Goose: 2E

Shelduck: 1E

Teal: 13E

Common Scoter: 6E

Red-throated Diver: 123E

Great-crested Grebe: 3E          15 on

Gannet: 7E

Cormorant: 100s feeding off shore

Kittiwake: 16W

Black-headed Gull: present n/c

Common Gull: present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Auk sp: 79E    12W   All Auks distant.

Black Redstart: 1 present

Grey Seal: 1

At 07.30 the Bewick Swans left the ARC including "Kinky" for the Dennes Road, Lydd feeding field,  I did not see any Whoopers this morning so presumably they roosted on one of the farmers reservoirs as they were once again feeding at Baynham Farm today.

The Cattle Egrets left the roost immediately after the Swans

As I wandered along the track to Hookers the 2 Glossy Ibis flew over after being flushed by the wildfowlers. Though the weather was lovely I saw very little, the usual Egrets, were more in evidence probably due to the noise of shotguns, Cetti's warblers were chattering unseen, at least 10 Ruff were flying around with the many Lapwing and Golden Plover.

A walk around the marsh this afternoon, found a few winter Thrushes and Tree Sparrows but was disappointing.

12/01/2022

Bewick Swans leaving the ARC at 07.38 this morning viewed from the garden

I joined RW in wander down to The Patch this morning where a 1w Little Gull was showing nicely, we also picked out a 1w and a 2w Caspian Gull neither of which hung around, 5 Gadwall flew west, a single Common Scoter went East and a few Red-throated Divers and Auks were toing and froing. Once again the 2w Iceland Gull didn't show.

Jack Snipe at The Long Pits very little else was seen in my walk up there.

1 of 2 Dartford Warblers around the peninsula today, this one was courtesy of a message from DB.

1 of 5 Ruff in the flooded field at Dengemarsh, but again no Geese. 

I spent the afternoon on Lydd Ranges to make the most of the lovely weather and light. After a long walk out along the green wall I made myself comfortable in the hope that a Short-eared Owl would be out hunting. While waiting a couple of Ravens were seen along with 2 Marsh Harriers, a Common Buzzard, a Little Egret, 3 Stonechats, a Grey Plover, a few Redshank and 1,000s of distant Lapwing and Golden Plover. After about an hour a I spotted a distant Short-eared Owl, a few minutes later another appeared and started hunting towards me giving superb views in perfect light.

Surveying its domain

Diving for Voles

This second bird kept its distance

11/01/2022

08.10-10.10 from the sea watch hide and The Patch with OL.

Wigeon: 3W

Common Scoter: 7W   4E

Red-throated Diver: 78W     31E     2 on

Great-crested Grebe: 3 on

Gannet: 78W     42E

Cormorant: present n/c

Fulmar: 2W

Oystercatcher: 3E

Kittiwake: 85W     27E

Little Gull: 1 feeding off shore

Black-headed Gull: present n/c

Mediterranean Gull: 2W      1E

Common Gull: present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Caspian Gull: 1 1w at The Patch

Bonxie: 1W     1E

Guillemot: 129W        c200 present 

Razorbill: 776W    

Auk sp: 370W     260E

Bewick and Whooper Swans on ARC early morning High ISO in near dark conitions

Whooper Swans leaving ARC

Bewick Swans leaving the ARC

A very recognisable Bewick Swan with a kink in its neck

Bewick Swan on Walland

Bewick Swans on Walland

Whooper Swan playing hide and seek on Walland

Yellowhammer on Walland, sadly now quite scarce

A grim afternoon weather wise, as well as the Swans a hunt around Walland found a few Yellowhammers, Tree Sparrows and winter Thrushes. Late afternoon on the reserve saw just a few Goldeneye of note and the Cattle Egrets flying to roost as I was leaving.

Tree Sparrows on Walland take some searching out

There were 12 Ruff among the Lapwings at The double bends at Scotney

2w Iceland Gull and 1w Caspian Gull at The Patch yesterday but not seen today as far as I know