21/02/2024

 The sea watching continues to be somewhat the same, plenty of birds but little variety.

07.45-09.15 with RW & Sue.  Wind SW 7, Temp 9°  overcast

Brent Goose: 20E

Common Scoter: 4W

Great-crested Grebe: 1E     1 on

Turnstone: 1E     

Kittiwake: 32W   

Black-headed Gull: Present n/c

Common Gull: Present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Guillemot: 42W  13E

Razorbill: 18W  2E

Auk sp: 425W       64E

Red-throated Diver: 12W      64E

Fulmar: 1W    1E   

Gannet: 154E      39W  

Cormorant: Present n/c

Harbour Porpoise: 3+

As this appalling weather continues I spent much time today scanning the fields from the comfort of home and racking up at least 42 species.

Mute Swan: 32

Mallard: 7

Barnacle Goose: 39

Greylag Goose: 326

Canada Goose: 9

Egyptian Goose: 2

Cormorant: No Count

Grey Heron: 2

Little Egret: 1

Great White Egret: 2

Moorhen: 1

Common Buzzard: 1

Marsh Harrier: 2

Kestrel: 1

Sparrowhawk: 1

Lapwing: No Count

Golden Plover: 20+

Curlew: 4

B H Gull: No Count

Common Gull: No Count

Herring Gull: No Count

Great Black backed Gull: 5

Stock Dove: 30+

Collared Dove: 2

Wood Pigeon: No Count

Feral Pigeon: TO MANY

Skylark: 1

Dunnock: 2

Wren: 1

Robin: 1

Blackbird:1

Blue Tit: 4

Great Tit: 4

Jackdaw: No Count

Rook: No Count

Carrion Crow:

Starling: No Count

House Sparrow: No Count

Goldfinch: 12

Greenfinch: 6

Chaffinch: 3

Reed Bunting: 1

20/02/2024

 

Some of the 6,000+ Guillemots and Razorbills that flew west past the hide while we were watching this morning.

Slow start, picked up with the arrival of range boat at 08.00, Auks kept on coming till 09.30 but still no small Auks.

07.40-09.40 with RW, OL & Sue.  Wind SW 5, Temp 9°  clear

Teal: 11E

Common Scoter: 8E    15W

Great-crested Grebe: 2E   4 on

Dunlin: 6W    

Kittiwake: 357W   

Black-headed Gull: Present n/c

Mediterranean Gull: 3W      1E

Common Gull: Present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Guillemot:  4,597W 

Razorbill:  1,532W

Red-throated Diver: 53E    242W

Fulmar: 3W   1E  

Gannet: 84W  

Cormorant: Present n/c

Harbour Porpoise: 1

I had to spend several hours at home today waiting for the delivery of my repaired Swarovski telescope, so spent some time watching the feeders.

One of at least 14 Goldfinches visiting my feeders, image taken through the windows

Nice to see at least 5 Greenfinches visiting

Great Northern Diver over Burrowes

It would appear that the wild Swans have left Walland Marsh for their long journey back to Russia. The Glossy Ibis is still elusive around ARC, Boulderwall and the horse paddocks. I couldn't find any Cattle Egrets today. The Black-throated Diver was still on the ARC and at least one Great Northern Diver remains on Burrowes. Nothing else of note was seen.

14/02/2024

Some of the several hundred Great-crested Grebes off the the sea watch hide this morning

A very slow sea watch this morning in thoroughly miserable conditions.

07.45-09.45  Wind SSW 6, Temp 10°  Rain, visibility 400-1,000 Mts

Shelduck: 1W

Wigeon: 6E

Common Scoter: 2E

Great-crested Grebe: Minimum of 356 present (I was bored)

Turnstone: 3W        

Kittiwake: 28W   

Black-headed Gull: Present n/c

Mediterranean Gull: 2W

Common Gull: Present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: 21W

Herring Gull: present n/c

Guillemot: 48W          9E

Razorbill: 3W  

Red-throated Diver: 5E    19W

Fulmar: 2W    

Gannet: 41W     7E

Cormorant: Present n/c

Harbour Porpoise: 2

Grey Seal: 1

The rest of the day was write off due to the weather.

Fulmar in the gloom this morning

Great Northern Diver on the ARC yesterday

12/02/2024

 An hours watch this morning from the sea watch hide was very disappointing.

07.45-08.45 with RW 

Wind NW1 Temp 3° Clear and sunny

Wigeon: 2E

Great-crested Grebe: 14 on     

Kittiwake: 11W      

Black-headed Gull: Present n/c

Mediterranean Gull: 7W

Common Gull: Present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Guillemot: 12W  5E  10 on

Razorbill/Guillemot:17W

Red-throated Diver: 16W   12E 

Gannet: 8E   3W

Cormorant: Present n/c

Harbour Porpoise: 1

Glossy Ibis in the horse paddock today

The 2 Great Northern and Black-throated Diver were all together on Burrowes also several Goldeneye but little else of note. Around the ARC 3 Great White Egrets  and a single Common Snipe, in the bushes 2 Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest but generally quiet.

One of the Lydd Little Owls sun bathing today

Most of the 58 Bewick Swans wintering on Walland Marsh

A drive around the marsh found a few Tree Sparrows and Yellowhammers, good numbers of Fieldfare but just a handful of Redwing and very little else.

Bewick Swans

Bewick Swans

Bewick Swans

Great White Egret at the ARC this evening

These images help to explain the lack of passerines on Walland Marsh. Good to know our guardians of the countryside are on the case.💩

11/02/2024

The best part of the day was spent sea watching, the 2 adult Little Gulls that flew East were the highlight, hopefully the the fore runners of spring migration.

07.50-09.30 with RW & OL & 13.00-15.30 from the sea watch hide.

Wind S3 Temp 9° Cloudy with Heavy rain at times.

Brent Goose: 29E

Shelduck: 3E

Great-crested Grebe: 1E   2 on

Oystercatcher: 6E        

Kittiwake: 34E       124W    

Black-headed Gull: Present n/c

Little Gull: 2E adults

Mediterranean Gull:  4W    6E

Common Gull: Present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Caspian Gull: 1 present 2 cy

Guillemot: 31W  10E  13 on

Razorbill: 2W

Razorbill/Guillemot:316W     147E

Red-throated Diver: 125W   24E

Fulmar: 3W      

Gannet: 344W   163E   

Cormorant: Present n/c

Harbour Porpoise: 2

Grey Seal: 1

Some of the 39 Barnacle Geese of unknown origin that were feeding in the field in front my house this morning.

The Great Northern Diver with the deformed bill was still on the ARC, thanks to NB for the info. The great Northern and Black-throated Diver was still on Burrowes today, thanks to RW for the info. The Bewick Swans are still at Clubbs Lane, Walland Marsh probably not for much longer. The Glossy Ibis is still around and Bitterns seem to be more in evidence. On The Point a Woodlark was heard yesterday and a Dartford Warbler was seen.

07/02/2024

1w Caspian gull on the beach in front the sea watch hide this morning

08.00-09.30 with RW & OL.   Wind NE4, Temp 5° Cloudy with drizzle.

Brent Goose: 2W

Shelduck: 1W

Great-crested Grebe: 8W   1E

Oystercatcher: 1E        

Kittiwake: 7W      

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 present 2 cy

Lesser Black-backed Gull: 1 present

Guillemot: 108W   7E

Razorbill/Guillemot: 146W    

Red-throated Diver: 64W   3E

Fulmar: 2W      

Gannet: 20W   

Cormorant: Present n/c

Harbour Porpoise: 1

No change on the reserve, the Divers are still on Burrowes with another on the ARC. The Glossy Ibis is still present but very elusive. The winter Swans are still at Clubb's Lane, Walland Marsh, no wild geese have been reported for a few days.

Just a Leucistic Herring Gull at the fishing boats

Leucistic Herring Gull

Leucistic Herring Gull

A small East bound movement of Brent Geese this afternoon

05/02/2024

Great Northern Diver on the ARC always distant

Todays sea watch carried in the same poor vein as the last few days.

07.45-09.45 with RW & OL.   Wind SW 7, Temp 10° Cloudy with poor visibility.

Brent Goose: 118E 

Shelduck: 1W     

Pintail: 17W

Common Scoter: 1W     5E         

Great-crested Grebe: 1W

Oystercatcher: 6E

Kittiwake: 51W      

Black-headed Gull: Present n/c

Common Gull: Present n/c

Mediterranean Gull: 1E

Great Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Guillemot: 211W   31E

Razorbill: 44W      3E

Razorbill/Guillemot: 105W      23E

Red-throated Diver: 21W      247E

Fulmar: 1W       6E

Gannet: 46W     11E   

Cormorant: Present n/c

Stock Dove: 1 in off

Harbour Porpoise: 1

Cattle Egret playing with its food at Cockles Bridge

The long stayers were all still present today, but nothing new around the area today, even the Gulls seem to have dispersed.

04/02/2023

08.00-09.30 with RW. Wind WSW 6, Temp 11° Overcast with poor visibility.

Brent Goose: 3E 

Shelduck: 1W     

Mallard: 4W

Wigeon: 3W         

Great-crested Grebe: 2E   1W

Kittiwake: 33W      14E

Black-headed Gull: Present n/c

Common Gull: Present n/c

Mediterranean Gull: 3E

Great Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Guillemot: 107E   28W

Razorbill/Guillemot: 119E      64W

Red-throated Diver: 82E   483W   

Gannet: 122E    

Cormorant: Present n/c

Harbour Porpoise: 1

As today was yet another dreary day I didn't bother with the camera. At Scotney the usual Golden Plover. Lapwing and feral Geese on the sward, on the lake 100s of Wigeon with smaller numbers of Tufted duck and Pochard. Scarce Grebes are just that this winter with not a single Slavonian, Black-necked or Red-necked Grebe being reported. On Burrowes still the Great Northern Diver and Black-throated Diverwith a handful of Goldeneye of any note. At the ARC this afternoon another Great Northern Diver staying obstinately over by the far bank, also the Glossy Ibis dropped in before going to roost Late afternoon. A mid afternoon walk from the ARC to Springfield Bridge found 5 Chiffchaffs and a Goldcrest in a small Tit flock by Hookers. A single Great White Egret was seen on Dengemarsh along with 3 Marsh Harriers. In the hay fields a few Gadwall and Teal but none of the hoped for Pipits.

AS far as I'm aware the Wild swans are still present on Walland Marsh.

02/20/2024

 

One of the flocks of west bound Pintail this morning

07.45-10.00 with RW & OL.    Wind SW 3, Temp 7° Cloudy with poor visibility at times.

Brent Goose: 11E       1W

Gadwall: 5W

Pintail: 116W

Common Scoter: 5E    2W

Great-crested Grebe: 6 present

Oystercatcher: 3E

Kittiwake: 74W

Black-headed Gull: Present n/c

Common Gull: Present n/c

Mediterranean Gull: 1E

Great Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Lesser Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Guillemot: 126E    9W

Razorbill: 23E     2W

Razorbill/Guillemot: 745E      136W

Red-throated Diver: 268E   129W       8 on

Fulmar: 1W         1E

Gannet: 165E    

Cormorant: Present n/c

The nearest I've come to finding a white winger so far this winter

White-tailed Eagle (G542) from my garden at lunchtime. Although it is part of the re-introduction scheme it is still a magnificent bird. Many thanks to Alan Cooper and Bernard Boothroyd for getting the news out so quickly.

Adult Polish Caspian Gull P:64K at the fishing boats this afternoon

The Divers were still on Burrowes today but generally very quiet. The Glossy Ibis is still being very elusive. 4 Cattle egrets were around Cockles bridge today and the usual Swans were out on Walland Marsh.

Sanderling at the fishing boats this afternoon

01/02/2024

While having my early morning coffee in the garden 100s of feral Geese flew over out to the marsh to feed, most were Greylags, 29 Barnacle Geese were notable, 22 Egyptian Geese and just a handful of Canada Geese. Also over were a Common Buzzard and a Marsh Harrier, I also heard Green Woodpecker yaffling nearby a rare occurrence here recently.

An early morning walk around the ARC was quiet though at least a dozen Water rail were recorded and a few Cetti's Warblers  but no Snipe of any kind, a Great White Egret was in the Willow Trail.

At Cockles bridge 4 Cattle Egrets and 2 Little Egrets.

Scratch and Scratch sun bathing again today

Most of the Walland Marsh Bewick Swans

 A trip to Scotney saw 1,000s each of Golden Plover and Lapwing, with a few Dunlin and Redshank and the usual wildfowl. 

On Burrowes still a Great Northern Diver and Black-throated Diver, also at least 4 Goldeneye but little else around of note. 

On Walland 57 Bewick swans in their chosen field and 5 very distant Whooper Swans near the turbines.

A few flocks of Fieldfare were seen but just 2 Tree Sparrows probably my incompetence.

At the fishing boats this afternoon a few Auks and Red-throated Divers tooing and froing and only small numbers of Gulls present compared to recent days.