30/10/2026

Fieldfare in the ARC carpark

At sunrise in the ARC carpark I heard the distinctive call of Fieldfare, it was sat in the top of Sycamore glowing rosy in the sunrise my first one of the Autumn. From Hanson I could just make out the 3 Whooper Swans, the bright morning sunshine in my eyes making virtually impossible to see anything else, I really should know better by now not to go to Hanson first thing in the morning.

In a short wander around The Desert, a Brambling overhead was the highlight, 2 juvenile Marsh Harriers flew out to sea.

Another cycle ride down to the sandpit where there was still 30+ Little Gulls feeding, a flock of 15 Tree Sparrows flew over. Checking the lakes on the way found only 2 Green Sandpipers of note.

With news around lunchtime of a Desert Wheatear at Rye Harbour LNR had me calling Colin Turley to see what info he had on the bird, he had none, he made a call and found where it was and picked me up 15 minutes later, shortly after we were watching the bird which showed well despite the hordes of half term holiday makers. While we were watching it a shout from Linda as Glossy Ibis flew over.

The only news from Dungeness RSPB was of a Black-necked Grebe on Burrowes ffom John Young.

Desert Wheatear at Rye Harbour LNR

This Glossy Ibis was a bonus as it flew over the river at Rye, thanks to Linda for the shout.

 

 

29/10/2026

An early morning wander around The Point was as expected in the flat calm conditions fairly unproductive. Apart from Pigeons, Starlings and Chaffinches there was very little overhead migration and not a great deal in the way of grounded migrants, highlight for me was 3 Dartford Warblers and a Brown Hare, a Siberian Chichaff was found in the mist nets unfortunately my knees were playing up so I didn't stride across The Desert to see it.

A visit to the ARC in the company of John Young where the 3 Whooper Swans were still present, an elusive Garganey, 2 Bitterns and the usual wildfowl, also some Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Goldcrests and a Firecrest in the Sallows. After we left the Glossy Ibis reappeared.

Whooper Swans

Bittern

 

Garganey (left)  Teal (right)

Pintail

Firecrest

This afternoon I cycled to the Jurys Gap Sandpit where I spent 2 hours just sitting on the edge of the lake just enjoying the company of 35+ Little Gulls absolutely magical, also apart from a distant tractor driver I didn't see another person. 

Little Gulls at the Jurys Gap Sandpit

Golden Plovers, Lapwing and Dunlin on a Scotney island

27/10/2026

An excellent day spent mostly at the fishing boats seeing 100s of Little Gulls, a reasonably close Leach's Petrel, a Grey Phalarope, 5+ Arctic Skuas, and 2 Caspian Gulls and more.

Leach's Petrel passing the fishing boats this morning

Leach's Petrel passing the fishing boats this morning

Leach's Petrel passing the fishing boats this morning

Leach's Petrel passing the fishing boats this morning

Leach's Petrel passing the fishing boats this morning

 

Grey Phalarope feeding off the fishing boats this afternoon

Grey Phalarope with a Little Gull feeding off the fishing boats this afternoon

Grey Phalarope feeding off the fishing boats this afternoon

Grey Phalarope feeding off the fishing boats this afternoon

Grey Phalarope feeding off the fishing boats this afternoon

Grey Phalarope feeding off the fishing boats this afternoon

26/10/2026

 I opted for the comfort of the sea watch hide this morning due to the rain and wind, to be later joined by James. The radios were very handy for keeping in touch with the more hardy watchers at the fishing boats, our thanks to Steve and Jacob for giving us advance warning of birds on there way to our position. I didn't see all the birds and missed the Grey Phalarope, but we saw birds they didn't as well, I also missed the Puffin and Leach's Petrel because I popped home for lunch.😡 

Sooty Shearwater approaching the Dungeness Bouy

Another Sooty Shearwater approaching the Dungeness Bouy

And another Sooty Shearwater approaching the Dungeness Bouy

A 1w Common Gull harassing an adult Little Gull

A 1w Little Gull

Juvenile Gannets

There was still at least 110 Little Gulls on Burrowes today, the image above was taken yesterday

24/10/2026

Great Northern Diver off the fishing boats this morning, shame about the appalling morning light there.

I wasn't expecting to be at the fishing boats long this morning due to weather conditions and the appalling early morning light. Although there was not much sea passage going on there was some visible migration of Finches, Pipits and a few Larks notably 3 Wood Lark thanks to Steve Gales timely radio message. Off shore a Great Northern Diver was feeding close in which is quite unusual here, also at least 4 Red-throated Divers were feeding among the many Cormorants and a single Great-crested Grebe, 66 Gannets moved west with 8 Kittiwakes and a Little Gull, a few Auks were tooing and froing along way out. while 8 Turnstone were gleaning the shoreline, 2 Swallows departed out to sea.

Great Northern Diver

Great Northern Diver

Great Northern Diver

Red-throated Diver

As I arrived at Hanson hide this afternoon the apocalyptic rain started, so i decided to count the Shoveler, I got to 532 though there must have been many more I could not see, a Bittern gave a brief flight view and the colour ringed Wigeon was still present. On Burrowes 2 Godeneye and a Greenshank were the highlights.