Wednesday, 20 November 2024

20/11/2024

1˚ in NW wind this morning, so not surprising the watch was poor.  
08.00-09.00 from the Hide with RW 
Brent Goose: 15W
Shelduck: 5W
Common Scoter: 15W
Great-crested Grebe: 3E    2 present
Dunlin: 3W
Kittiwake: 3W.  38E
Black-headed Gull:  present n/c 
Common Gull:  present n/c
Herring Gull: present n/c
Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c
Guillemot: 1W
Auk: 7W.  8E   
Red-throated Diver: 1W    10E    2 on      
Gannet: 38W        9E
Cormorant:  383W         62E
Starling: 40W
Common Seal: 1
Grey Seal: 1
A very quiet days birding around the area, on the reserve the Grebes and and the Egrets still present, the only addition was a female Common Scoter on Denge Marsh.
Female Pochard from Hanson this morning, very little else of note there.
The local Little Owls were enjoying being out of the wind and in the sunshine

Polish ringed Black-headed Gull TJVV still at the fishing boats this afternoon in its 5th winter here.
 

Tuesday, 19 November 2024

19/11/2024

The Slavonian Grebe on Burrowes showed well this afternoon in the rain
Most of my day was spent doing domestic stuff due to the horrible weather, I eventually forced myself out it this afternoon and was rewarded with good views of the Slavonian Grebe and distant views of 2 Black-necked Grebes, a Red-throated diver and 5 Goldeneye.
On Boulderwall Fields 18 Cattle Egrets and a Great White egret were feeding among the Cows, also 100s of Lapwing present. Scotney was virtually birdless. 
 

Monday, 18 November 2024

18/11/2024

2 Whooper and a Bewick Swan early this morning from the causeway
France looked in touching distance this morning, flat calm sea and not a breath of wind
In this mornings calm conditions the sea watch was predictably poor.
7.45-09.00 from the Hide with RW & OL
Brent Goose: 30W
Shelduck: 1W
Common Scoter: 5W
Great-crested Grebe: 2E      3 present
Oystercatcher: 6E
Sandwich Tern: 3W     1E
Common Tern: 1E
Kittiwake: 1W
Black-headed Gull:  present n/c 
Mediteranean Gull: 1W
Common Gull:  present n/c
Herring Gull: present n/c
Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c
Auk: 5E   
Red-throated Diver: 3E      1W        1 on      
Gannet: 19W        3E
Cormorant:  217W         21E
Merlin: 1 in off
Common Seal: 1
Grey Seal: 1
Brent Geese passing the Bouy
A merlin landed on the beach
A late Common Tern from this mornings watch
 
Green Woodpeckers have been scarce on the peninsular this year so it was very pleasing to see these 2 behind the screen hide today.
The Bewick Swan leaving the ARC mid morning
A lunchtime visit to Scotney was unrewarding, though the Barnacle Goose flock had risen to 32 today
2 Cattle Egrets at Boulderwall fighting over a Newt this afternoon
Great White Egret at Firth
One of 3 Black-necked Grebes on Burrowes today also the Slavonian and Red-throated Diver sitll present
 

Sunday, 17 November 2024

17/11/2024

As the wind was blowing from the NW it was no surprise that the this mornings sea watch was again poor, but if you don't look you will never see.
7.45-09.115 from the Hide.

Great-crested Grebe: 2E      2 present
Sandwich Tern: 13W     2E
Kittiwake: 1W
Black-headed Gull: 7W 
Mediteranean Gull: 1W
Common Gull:  11W
Herring Gull: present n/c
Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c
Auk: 6W   70E   
Red-throated Diver: 2W      
Gannet: 268W           66E
Cormorant:  present n/c 
Harbour Porpoise: 1
Grey Seal: 3
After a late breakfast and some domestic stuff I cycled out to Scotney. A bit too breezy for the local Little Owls to be out and there was 2 Ravens very close by.
Scotney delivered all the usual species including 3 White-fronted Geese and Ring tail Hen Harrier that flew across the road and out onto the ranges. I only found a single Green Sandpiper at the back of the lakes. The monthly Harrier roost count again produced no roosting birds in my chosen reed bed in fact I saw very little at all there. As I got out of my car in the driveway of my house, I heard a familiar call from 2 Whooper Swans and a Bewick's Swan that could just about be made out in the dark heading for the ARC.
There were 3 Greater White-fronted Geese on the Scotney Sward early afternoon
Culew on the sward
A couple of Pintail on the main Scotney Lake. definitely not a daily occurrence

Friday, 15 November 2024

15/11/2024

As there was barely a breath of wind this morning I gave the sea watch a miss, instead I wandered out into The Desert and Trapping Area both of which were very quiet, a handful of Siskin and a couple of Redpolls flew over, a few Blackbirds and the odd Chiffchaff also a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the bushes and 3 Dartford Warblers in the Broome.
On the reserve there were 2 Black-necked Grebes, a Slavonian Grebe and the Red-throated Diver all on Burrowes per RW. 
A cycle ride out to Scotney in the drab conditions found the roving flock of 40+ Tree Sparrows, 5 Greater White-fronted Goose and another Black-necked Grebe, on the sward c1,000 Golden plover and 17 Barnacle Geese was about as good as it got.
A late afternoon visit to The Midrips was ver disappointing no Owls of any description, just 5 Avocet, c100 Teal and 30+ Shelduck were the highlights.
Tree Sparrows around Scotney

5 Greater White-fronted Geese at Scotney today
The Barnacle Goose flock has increased to 17 on the Scotney sward
Avocets at The Midrips
 

Thursday, 14 November 2024

14/11/2024

The northerly winds are not doing us any favours: 

07.40-09.10 from the Hide with OL, RW
Brent Goose: 2E    
Shelduck: 1E   2W
Common Scoter: 7E     
Great-crested Grebe: 4E     7W    2 present
Oystercatcher: 1W
Sandwich Tern: 2W
Kittiwake: 2W
Black-headed Gull: present n/c  
Mediteranean Gull: 2E
Common Gull:  present n/c 
Herring Gull: present n/c
Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c
Skua sp: 1E Probably juv Pom along the the shore back end view only.
Guillemot: 5E
Auk: 20E     3W
Red-throated Diver: 12E    1W    2 present 
Gannet: 23E       8W
Cormorant:  present n/c 
Kestrel: 1 in off
Harbour Porpoise: 2
Grey Seal: 1
My local Little Owl enjoying a little sun this morning
An hour in Denge Marsh Gully late morning offered just 3 Goldcrests along with the usual Wrens, Dunnocks, Robins and Great Tits, 2 Ravens flew over.
The Slavonian Grebe above and Black-necked Grebe below were a little distant today on Burrowes Pit, the Red-throated Diver was still present but spent all its time the other side of the lake whilst I was there.

Several Common Darters were still on the wing along the track between Makepiece and Scott.
An adult Caspian Gull from Denge Marsh hide
Another Black-necked Grebe with a Great White Egret from Hanson this afternoon.
2 Youtube videos links of tonights Starling murmuration at the ARC late this afternoon from Hanson Hide.  Link1 HERE  Link 2 HERE


Tuesday, 12 November 2024

12/11/2024

Shelduck passing East past the bouy this morning

07.30-10.30 from the Hide joined by OL. Cool northerly wind with drizzle turning to rain.

Brent Goose: 15E    36W
Greylag: 2 in off
Shelduck: 16E
Pintail: 1W
Wigeon: 7E    18W
Teal: 1W
Common Scoter: 1E     4W
Red-breasted Merganser: 1W
Great-crested Grebe: 6E
Oystercatcher: 1E
Curlew: 1E
Dunlin: 8E
Woodcock: 1 in off
Little Egret: 4E. (Single flock)
Sandwich Tern: 10+ around
Common Tern: 1W/ around
Kittiwake: 86W
Black-headed Gull: present n/c  
Mediteranean Gull: 35W       6E
Common Gull: 18W
Herring Gull: present n/c
Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c
Lesser Black-backed Gull: present n/c 
Guillemot: 4E  2W
Razorbill: 15W
Auk: 188W       71E
Red-throated Diver: 18E    4W    2 present 
Gannet: 440E        158W
Cormorant: c350
Skylark: 36 in off  inc party of 24
Starling: 2,130 in off
Greenfinch: party of 8 in off
Chaffinch: 43 in off
Harbour Porpoise: 2
Grey Seal: 1
Woodcock coming in to the beach


Woodcock coming up the beach
Made it but exhausted
It gradually sidled up to the bundle of sticks becoming almost invisible. It sat there for at least 5hrs getting a well deserved rest.
A late Common Tern this morning was notable
One of at least ten Sandwich terns still hanging around Dungeness
One of six Greater White-fronted Geese at Scotney this afternoon
Great Sotted Woodpecker in the reserve car park
A short video of the Starlings roosting at the ARC last night
PLEASE TURN YOUR VOLUME UP TO HEAR THE STARLINGS


Sunday, 10 November 2024

10/11/2024

A nice spot by TH a Long-eared Owl
A few hours wandering around The Point this morning in the once again very gloomy weather, saw 21 Brambling including a party of 12 that alighted briefly and is probably the biggest party I have seen on The Point. Chaffinches, Redpolls and Siskins were going over mostly unseen. There appeared to be less Thrushes than yesterday though I did see another Mistle Thrush, a Ring Ouzel and 8 Fieldfare. Goldcrest numbers seemed lower but I did see 2 Firecrests and singles of Dartford Warbler and Black Redstart and of course the lovely Long-eared Owl.
A cycle out to Scotney early afternoon and still no wild Geese, in fact very few feral Geese were present.

Saturday, 9 November 2024

09/11/2024

1 of at least 3 Dartford Warblers on The point today
Lots of Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs around today including a Siberian Chiffchaff, I saw 2 Woodcock but probably at least 6 individuals on The Point also at least 2 Firecrest and a male Blackcap. 4 Lapwing in The Desert were notable also 2 Common Snipe, a Golden Plover, a Curlew and an Oystercatcher over. At least 7 Brambling flew over along with Chaffinches, Siskins and Redpolls. Good numbers of Redwing, Song Thrushes and Blackbirds around The Point this morning. The highlight of a very brief look at the sea was 2 Red-throated Divers and a handful of Gannets.
Plenty of Redwings around this morning
Slavonian Grebe from Dennis's this afternoon, but little else was seen in the increasingly persistent drizzle.
Another lovely male Brambling courtesy of the DBO yesterday
 

Thursday, 7 November 2024

07/11/2024

Scarface J99AM Great Black-backed Gull on beach in front the hide this morning
0745-08.45 from the Hide with OL 
Brent Goose: 5W    2E
Great-crested Grebe: 2 present
Sandwich Tern: 9E
Kittiwake: 3E
Black-headed Gull: present n/c  
Common Gull: 19E
Herring Gull: present n/c
Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c
Lesser Black-backed Gull: present n/c 
Arctic Skua: 1W  
Guillemot: 12E  
Auk: 86E
Red-throated Diver: 1E      1 present 
Gannet: 198E
Cormorant: present n/c
Merlin: 2 (male in off with prey, female type 1 out to sea)
Harbour Porpoise: 3 
Black Redstart: 3 on perimeter wall
Black Redstart on the perimeter wall
Barnacle Geese at Scotney
A couple of hours cycling around Scotney in the dreary weather was not very productive, the only non feral goose I found was a single Brent Goose in the fields at the back with the Golden Plover and Lapwing. The sand pit is still filling up, all I could find were a few Teal, Shoveler and Mallard there.
On the reserve the Red-throated Diver, Slavonian Grebe and Black-necked Grebe were still on Burrowes today.