PLODDINGBIRDER

Wednesday 15 November 2023

15/11/2023

The Slavonian Grebe was somewhat distant on Burrowes today

The only island left at Makepiece taken over by the Cormorants

A wander right around the reserve was a little disappointing. Burrowes held the usual wildfowl including a Pintail and a single Goldeneye, the hayfields are basically just lakes at the moment, several Bearded Tits, Water Rails and Cetti's Warblers were heard but remained unseen, a Chiffchaff showed briefly at Dengemarsh, 2 Common Snipe flushed from the side of the path, 8 Dunlin flew around Burrowes but finding no where to land carried on the their journey West. 3 Brent Geese were among the feral geese on Boulderwall Fields.

A Great White Egret at Dengemarsh

On my wander around the reserve I saw several Common Darrters enjoying the warm autumn sun.

For the last hour of light I sat in the screen hide at the ARC. A Great White Egret was hunting in the reeds there, a couple of Bearded Tits called unseen and a couple of Water Rails were squealing at one another also unseen, overhead 4 Marsh Harriers made their way to roost, at last light the 4 Glossy Ibis went to roost and 55 Brent Geese flew South over the ARC.

Marsh Harriers tussling before going to roost

The 4 Glossy Ibis flying down the ARC to roost at dusk

Tuesday 14 November 2023

14/11/2023

As the weather has been so atrocious lately most of my time has been spent staring out to sea watching and counting storm blown sea birds, from the relative shelter of the fishing boats and of course the sea watch hide. At the ARC all the islands are now submerged and the Willow Trail is only passable wearing wellingtons, the boardwalk is still and should remain dry, though the track to Hanson is understandably a little muddy, the entrance to the ARC carpark is flooded but passable with care.

Burrowes has become just a large lake with the few islands remaining that are usually commandeered by the Cormorants, the new islands at Makepiece are still above water, but as I expected very little appears to use them, what does is immediately flushed as soon as anybody walks by. Firth Lookout is absolutely useless in this weather. Our Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has just appointed Esther McVey minister for common sense and to put an end to wokery, perhaps she should start at the RSPB and tell them people want to sit in dry wind proof hides to birdwatch, not stand behind a slatted fence in gale force wind which drives the rain through soaking visitors and their optics.

There still seems to be 30+ Cattle Egrets around along with the 4 Glossy Ibis, I was unable to find the Whooper Swans today but hopefully they are still around, also hopefully soon to be joined by Bewick swans. There was no sign of yesterdays Slavonian Grebe looking from Dennis's but it could easily be up at Firth or Makepiece, I certainly wasn't going to walk up there and stand exposed in todays weather.

Adult Sabine's Gull, 2 of these beauties have been entertaining us.

Sabine's Gull feeding on the abundance of storm washed shellfish

They are absolutely super stunning birds

Juvenile Arctic Skua

We have been treated to some close fly pasts by a few Skuas recently

Great Skua

Juvenile Arctic Skua

100s of Little Gulls have passed The Point in the last few days

Some Little Gulls like this juvenile lingered to feed

This juvenile Arctic Tern has been lingering off The Point for over a week now

Juvenile Arctic Tern having a rest on the beach

One of several Velvet Scoters that passed The Point

A 1w Caspian Gull was feeding along the tide line

Saturday 11 November 2023

11/11/2023

Yellowhammer and Tree Sparrow

As it was a light NW breeze this morning I gave the usual sea watch a miss, instead I took the opportunity to wander out onto Walland Marsh in the beautiful sunshine. I found 10+ Tree Sparrows and 20+ Corn Buntings, also a pair of Yellowhammers that were un expected, the fields were full of Skylarks, Lapwing and Golden Plover, alas despite the abundance of Haw berries I did not see a single Thrush of any description and very few Finches, Several each of Ravens and Common Buzzards were seen, a confiding Chiffchaff was in a lone patch of Bramble.

Tree Sparrow

Yellowhammer

Tree Sparrow

Corn Bunting

Skylark

Chiffchaff

A Short-eared Owl that came in off the the sea at the fishing boats this afternoon

An adult Sabine's Gull late afternoon at The Patch

Sabine's Gull over The Patch this afternoon

10/11/2023

An afternoon trip to Rye Harbour LNR to see the confiding Grey Phalarope. Despite the rain it performed admirably, probably because of the rain I had it all to myself for the hour I was watching.

Consuming a nice juicy worm

It took this posture on a couple of occasions when a juvenile Peregrine came over

It spent much of its time picking food from the stems of Bramble and Grasses

Thursday 9 November 2023

09/11/2023

One of several Little Gulls at the fishing boats this morning

An uninspiring sea watch this morning in constant Rain and drizzle.

07.45-08.45 with Richard

Common Scoter: 1W

Great-crested Grebe: 8W

Kittiwake: 30W

Little Gull: 8W 1 present

Mediterranean Gull: 3W 2 present

Great Black-backed Gull: 14W

Guillemot: 8W

Razorbill: 71W

Auk sp: 140W

Red-throated Diver: 2W 1 on

Gannet: 411W

Cormorant: present

Starling: 30 in off

Goldfinch: 40 in off

Harbour Porpoise: 1

It now seems that there areas many as 45 Cattle Egrets around the peninsula. There was c1,000 Golden Plover at Scotney today along with the long staying Black-necked Grebe. The trapping area is as good as no go area due to the depth of water there.

Whooper Swans in Lydd Fields best viewed from Dengemarsh Road opposite the waterspouts centre

The 4 Amigo's on what's left of the ARC islands from Hanson

Little Grebe from Hanson

The long staying Arctic Tern at the fishing boats this afternoon

Wednesday 8 November 2023

08/11/2023

The long staying juvenile Sabine's Gull

A 1w Caspian Gull in the sunshine Monday

A very damp sea watch today, in force 8 South Westerly

07.45-10.15 from the fishing boats with DW, RW, DS et al

Brent Goose: 23W

Common Scoter: 18W

Great-crested Grebe: 4W

Dunlin: 1W

Kittiwake: 46W

Little Gull: 3W 2 present

Mediterranean Gull: 3 present

Great Black-backed Gull: 22W

Sandwich Tern: 1W

Arctic Tern: 1 present

Arctic Skua: 1E

Guillemot: 17W

Razorbill: 48W

Auk sp: 155W

Leach’s Petrel: 1E

Sooty Shearwater: 1W

Gannet: 1,247W 148 present

Cormorant: present

Starling: 480 in off

Elsewhere on the peninsular, up to 41 Cattle Egrets, 4 Glossy Ibis, 2 Whooper Swans, a Water Pipit, a late Whinchat, several Merlins, the usual Great and Little Egrets and a Black-necked Grebe at Scotney.