03/08/2026

A 90 minute sea watch with Richard and Owen was again rather poor, the conversation however was very enjoyable. 3 Gadwall East with 2 returning West a little while later was unexpected, a few Porpoises off shore and 6 Hummingbird Hawkmoths and 2 Black Redstarts behind the hide were noted.

Young Great Black-backed Gull trying to eat a very dried out and stiff Dogfish in front the sea watch hide

One of at least 3 Garganey present from Hanson this morning

From Hanson the usual throng of feral geese and many eclipse ducks along with the usual Egrets. Along the track to Hanson a large Warbler and Tit flock formed mainly of Willow, Reed and Sedge Warblers with a few Tits, both Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers.

A late morning visit to Scotney saw very little in the very hot and hazy conditions.

 Wood Sandpipers from Makepiece late this afternoonJuvenile Black Tern from Makepiece

01/08/2026

One of 4 Ravens at Galloways this morning

With news that there appeared to be an arrival of migrant birds in the bushes around The Point this morning and guessing that a few birders would be looking, I decided to go to Galloways Road, on arrival Common Whitethroats seemed to be popping up all over the Gorse and Bramble, Sedge Warblers were also much in evidence along with Willow Warblers, Stonechats was the only member of its family present, flycatchers were absent, also surprisingly Lesser Whitethroats were absent. It was still a very pleasant there.

Sedge Warbler glowing in the early morning sunshine

A bedraggled Sedge Warbler after bathing in the dew

Another Sedge Warbler

 

Willow Warblers at Galloways

Juvenile Common Whitethroat flycatching from the roof of the guardhouse

Common Whitethroat

Spoonbills with the water tower in the background as they came into Dengemarsh

Leaving Galloways there were several Yellow Wagtails feeding along the verge to Dengemarsh, as i got out of the car more or less the first birds I saw were 2 Spoonbills in the distance heading for Dengemarsh where they settled for the day apparently. Also there 2 Barnacle Geese among the throng of Canada and Greylag Geese.

Spoonbills among the Canada Geese on Dengemarsh

I checked on the Lydd Little Owl on my way home to Breakfast

Dutch ringed Black-headed Gull JK viewed from Firth

There were 3 Greenshanks viewed from the Dennis picnic area along 2 Common Sandpipers and 2 LRPs.

From Firth 6 Avocets, 3 LRPs and 2 more Common Sandpipers. A Wood Sandpiper was viewable from Makepiece.

Adult Common Gull with its newly fledged youngster on Burrowes Pit

30/07/2-26

A juvenile Pied Wagtail bathing at Scotney this morning

A visit to Scotney today found that most of the waders had cleared out overnight, also access to the back was limited due to farm work going on.

Pair of Garganey from Hanson Hide

Also at the ARC 3+ Little Ringed Plovers, a Dunlin, 3 Common Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper and a 4 Black-tailed Godwits per JY.

Spoonbills viewed from the Screen at the ARC

Juvenile Black Tern viewed from Firth

The waders had also cleared out from Burrowes today, hopefully a new group to drop in tonight.

Purple Marbled Moth the star of last nights catch

29/07/2026

The sea is still unproductive to those who have bothered to look.

Tree Sparrows Walland Marsh

Several cycle rides out around the back of Scotney Farm, found plenty of Tree Sparrows, though they have now split up into smaller feeding groups around Walland. Yellow Wagtails still in good numbers and Corn Buntings. Around the lakes up to 10 Common Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper, 24 Dunlin, 11 Avocets, the Curlew Sandpiper appears to have departed. At least 2 juvenile Marsh Harriers were quartering the fields.

Yellow Wagtails are still feeding young in the Bean fields at Scotney

Reed Bunting in the Bean Field

 

Some of the 14 Cattle Egrets on Boulderwall yesterday

There is still at least 1 juvenile Black Tern on Burrowes with plenty of Common Terns, along with up to 7 Common Sandpipers, a Turnstone,  2 Black-tailed Godwits, a Greenshank and Redshank. The ARC has been fairly quiet the last couple of days.

Cattle Egret

      Dialectica Scalariella, a first for my trap. The only known breeding is on the shingle at Dungeness

27/07/2026

A 45 minute sea watch early this morning showed n improvement on the last few mornings.

Next was the ARC where my first Common Snipe of the Autumn was feeding at the back, 3 Great White Egrets and a single Dunli with 3 Common Sandpipers.

After breakfast I cycled out to Scotney complex and around the farm, where yesterdays Curlew Sandpiper was still present though somewhat distant, likewise 10 Avocet, 12 Dunlin, 2 Black-tailed Godwits and 12 Dunlin, a Green Sandpiper and at lest 6 Common Sandpipers, around the fields the usual Yellow wagtails and Tree Sparrows.

It was a pleasant surprise to go to the reserve late afternoon and find a Little Stint at Firth my first of the autumn associating with 2 Dunlin and a Turnstone, also 2  Black-tailed Godwits there. A few minutes later a juvenile Black Tern appeared also my first of the Autumn.

Little Stint (right) with 2 Dunlin at Firth

Little Stint at Firth

                                                    Little Stint (right) with 2 Dunlin over Burrowes

 

Juvenile Black Tern over Burrowes

Juvenile Black Tern with Common Terns at Firth

Black-tailed Godwit at Firth

Polish Ringed Black-headed Gull at Firth, I also recorded this bird in August 2023 and August 2024

When I got back from my cycle ride around Scotney early afternoon I found this lovely Striped Hawkmoth on my hedge 

26/07/2026

A rvery quiet day around the peninsula avian wise, despite a change in the weather.

Red-crested Pochard viewed from Hanson this morning

Green Sandpiper from Hanson this morning

 

Striped Hawkmoth in the trap this morning

A Lunar Thorn from this mornings catch

25/07/2026

After getting the moth traps sorted most of my day was taken up with domestic stuff, so didn't get out till this evening. Yesterdays Curlew Sandpiper at the ARC left overnight, but it or another was located at The Midrips per Sean O this afternoon.

The ARC held Common and Green Sandpipers, Greenshank and Black-tailed Godwits, there was similar fare on Burrowes per Neil B. A short sea watch by John Y was unproductive.

The 2 Garganey from Hanson this evening

A bit of a discussion about these 2 Garganey among the locals. My personal feelings are the left hand bird is and adult drake in eclipse and the left hand bird a an adult female in eclipse not a juvenile as I first thought, though I am happy to be corrected.

A Czech ringed Mediterranean Gull ZAN5 from Hanson this evening

 

24/07/2026

A n early morning visit to the ARC saw 2 Garganey despite the appalling light from Hanson hide in the mornings, other than 3 Common Sandpipers there was very little else of note there early on. A message from Richard a couple of hours later that he had found a Curlew Sandpiper from Hanson, enticed me back for a second look, the Curlew Sandpiper showed quite well but the morning light ruined any chances of a decent photograph.

A fresh juvenile Garganey at the ARC this morning

A worn adult female Garganey at the ARC this morning

Moulting adult Curlew Sandpiper descovered by Richard at the ARC this morning

This German ringed 2nd calendar year Mediterranean came into roost on the ARC for a while

One of 3 Great White Egrets from Hanson this morning

A near pristine Painted Lady was in the Willow Trail

A Dunlin on the Midrips

A cycle ride to The Midrips and Wickes this afternoon in the hope of finding a rare Sandpiper on the now virtually dried up pools was in vain. A few Dunlin, Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers,  Whimbrel, Yellow Wagtails, Mediterranean Gulls and Sandwich Terns was about as good as it got.

Apart fro 150 Common terns on Burrowes nothing else was reported on the peninsula.

Juvenile Ringed Plover

Little Ringed Plover

2 Whimbrel at the Midrips

Common Sandpiper playing with a feather at Scotney beside the cycle path