21/03/2026

 Unsurprisingly this mornings sea watch a non event, it was still good to be able to sit in front the hide in the early morning sunshine and importantly out of the biting NE wind. Soon after I left 3 Red Kites flew across The Point. As far as I am aware there was nothing else apart from Black Redstarts and Peregrines.

On the way home for breakfast I stopped on the causeway for a quick scan of the ARC, I soon spotted 2 Black-necked Grebes far out on the lake, also a couple of Goldeneye still present.

Presumably yesterdays Black-necked Grebes still on the ARC this morning

A walk around Dengemarsh saw a Couple of Water Pipits, a Ruff, 3 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, a Redshank and 3 White-fronted Geese of any note.

A Ruff from Dengemarsh Hide

A couple of Water Pipits on Dengemarsh Flood being as usual elusive

After announcing yesterday that the Lesser Whitethroat had gone as I had not seen it since the 17th, I was putting the moth trap out late this afternoon and the Lesser whitethroat popped out of bush in front of me🙄😆

20/03/2026

Hopes for a good sea watch this morning after yesterdays reasonable one, where the first Garganey and Arctic Skua of the spring were recorded, were quickly dashed as soon as I looked out of the bedroom window this morning to see dense fog. After an extra coffee I went to Dengemarsh for a wander despite the fog, lots of singing Reed Buntings and a few Bearded Tits were heard, 3 White-fronted Geese sailed out of the gloom in front of me but little else.

Back home for breakfast and domestic stuff after which I cycled to Scotney, where the sun was beggining to clear the fog. A couple of Little owls found a sheltered warm spot.

Little Owl

Little Owl

By the time I reached the back of Scotney the worst of the fog had cleared, so I visited the Tree Sparrow nest boxes put up by the Wednesday Birders Club, (many thanks to Paul Trodd for making and repairing the boxes). Last year 25 boxes were occupied by the Tree Sparrows we now have 36 boxes up and waiting for the Tree Sparrows to move in. While there I saw several Tree Sparrows along with Corn Buntings and Skylarks.

Further round the lakes 2 Avocets flew over, at least 4 Marsh Harriers and 2 Common Buzzards were also there, unfortunately the fog came down again and the temperature plummetted.

As I approached the end of flat pit the 3 Whooper Swans appeared out of the gloom, the tractors were out spraying and quickly flushed them giving me a very close flyby before they settled on the old sand pit.

Whooper Swans in the gloom

Whooper Swans giving me a close flyby

Whooper Swans on the old sand pit

One of two Little Gulls on Burrowes this afternoon, where I also saw my first Sand Martin of the year thanks to Johns sharp hearing.

Blossom Underwing a scarce early spring visitor my trap

17/03/2026

Most of the days interest was in the sea watching, unfortunately I missed the Smew and Black-throated Diver by leaving early to see a Wheatear and get a cup of tea.

There were a few more Chiffchaffs and Firecrests around today. At Cockles Bridge 19 Cattle Egrets and the 2 Whooper Swans were still present though the Swans look very fidgety and could well go overnight.

There was nothing new from the reserve. The 3 Dartford Warblers remain around the DMG. The Lesser Whitethroat was still around today though very elusive.

Some of the Brent Geese from today

A flock of 72 Pintail passing the sea watch hide

 

15/03/2026

There has been little improvement in the sea watching apart from a nice flock of 7 Black-necked Grebes that drfted slowly East in front of the sea watch hide this morning, Sandwich Tern numbers are improving but wildfowl numbers remain very low. however I have high hopes for later this week providing the weather forecast doesn't change.

The Cockles Bridge Whooper Swans are still insitu as are the family of 3 at the Jurys Gap sand pit, the former came into the ARC to roost last night at 18.45, also 2 Bitterns seen there. The reserve remains very quiet but I'm confident the new Boulderwall flood will come good.

2 of the 3 Dartford Warblers in the Dengemarsh Gully yesterday

The Lydd Little Owls sunbathing yesterday

One of the 17 Cattle Egrets at Cockles Bridge yesterday

This Great Spotted Woodpecker is becoming a regular visitor to my feeders, it is only the second I have seen in my garden in 16 years.

The Lesser Whitethroat still present but becoming more elusive each day

13/03/2026

This mornings sea watch was as expected with a due West wind very poor, but one has to keep on trying.

Whooper Swans at Cockles Bridge today

Cattle Egrets at Cockles Bridge today

 Elsewhere the first Wheatear of the year was found at Greatstone Beach by Kevin, apart from a White Wagtail at Burrowes nothing else was noted.

A record count today of 26 Greenfinches around my garden feeders. unfortunately several birds were suffering with Trichomonosis.

The Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) still in the garden for day 75

11/03/2026

Some of the 6,000+ Brent Geese that moved East past The Point yesterday, but little else apart from Gulls.

The survey vessel spent all up and down in front of the power station.

Gannets and Cormorants around the bouy early morning today

Some of 1,000+ Brent Geese that moved East today, but again little else of note.

 The 2 Whooper Swans and 15+ Cattle Egrets were still around Cockles Bridge today. A walk around the ARC and the main reserve was again very quiet with very little sign of spring migration.

The Lesser Whitethroat still in the garden today for its 72nd day

07/03/2026

Black Redstart on the perimeter wall yesterday

Sea watching is still a little slow, an early morning and an afternoon sea watch produced:

Great-crested Grebe: 6 present

Sandwich Tern: 22E

Kittiwake: 3E  

Black-headed Gull: Present

Common Gull: present

Herring Gull: present

Great Black-backed Gull: present

Guillemots: 29E    1W

Auk sp: 9E      5W

Red-throated Diver: 66E     9W

Fulmar: 1E 

Gannet: 148E      

Cormorant: present no count

Harbour Porpoise: 6 present

Grey Seal: 1 present

A wander around the ARC and reserve was as expected unproductive in todays  gloomy weather.

The American Wigeon was again seen in the Scotney complex.

15 Cattle Egrets still at Cockles Bridge

 

2 Whooper Swans at Cockles Bridge and still the family of 3 at the sand pit, though starting to get fidgety.

The Lesser Whitethroat still present today for its 68th day

Greenfinch with a severe case of Trichomonosis on my 

feeder today

05/03/2026

The morning sea watch was uneventful with just the usual Red-throated Divers, Auks, Gulls, Gannets etc.

At Cockles Bridge the 2 Whooper Swans were still present along with 15 Cattle Egrets.

Chiffchaff at Bretts Marina

A late morning visit to Dengemarsh Gully via Bretts Marina by bicycle in search of Wheatears, Black Redstarts etc was interrupted by message that the American Wigeon had been re-found at Scotney. It was still showing when I eventually arrived. Marsh Harriers seemed to be displaying high over all the reed beds, 2 Red Kites flew through which I missed. The family of 3 Whooper Swans were still around the old sandpit at Jurys Gap.

American Wigeon at Scotney

Lesser Whitethroat(halimodendri) still present in the garden today

04/03/2026

 

Large Tortoiseshell

As  Dungeness was fog bound all day, we had a Wednesday club day out to Orlestone Forest which was bathed in warm sunshine, primarily to hopefully see Large Tortoiseshell butterflys was ver successful. We also had super views of Crossbills and a Goshawk and got a few year ticks we don't see at Dungeness on the shingle like Nuthatch, Coal Tit, Jay, Treecreeper, Bullfinch etc. The trip ended in the usual manner with Tea and cake provided by Owen.

Large Tortoiseshell

Large Tortoiseshell. Wings closed.

Male Crossbill

Male and Female Crossbills

03/03/2026

An hours sea watch this morning in flat calm conditions was as expected unproductive avian wise, 26 Harbour Porpoises were counted off shore.

At Cockles Bridge the 2 Whooper swans and 15 cattle egrets were still insitu. The ARC held little maybe due to a digger working there. Between the VC and Scott at least 3 Firecrests and 3 Chiffchaffs, a single Common Snipe at Christmas Dell were the other highlights. 

The new Boulderwall Flood is definitely attracting the birds

2 White-fronted Geese at the back of the Boulderwall flood

The family of 3 Whooper Swans still in the field behind the Jurys Gap sand pit East Sussex

The first Comma of the year to visit my garden

A new male Sparrowhawk visited my garden today

Also 2 Marsh Harriers and 3 Common Buzzards over.

The Lesser Whitethroat(halimodendri) still in the garden todat, but far more elusive in the warmer weather