Late afternoon early evening at Scotney

No sign of any Buff Breasted Sandpipers this evening but 21 Ruff some of which were confiding with 1000+ Golden Plover. Still large numbers of Swallows moving east attracting the attention of a fem/juv Merlin giving a spectacular display, also a Sparrowhawk making a half hearted attempts at the Swallows. While scanning the  Goldies and Lapwings i came across an albino Lapwing the first i have ever seen, also a Rock Pipit and Little Stint running round the sheep field with the ever present Marsh Harrier over the fields at the back of the pit.

Buff-Breasted Sandpipers

As i was driving home i thought i would have a look at the Golden Plover at Scotney . 

When i pulled up Bob Smith and Keith Hackett were putting there scopes away. They told me they had seen a wader that they thought might have been a Buff-Breasted Sandpiper so we all had another look. I found a wader with my binoculars which was flushed almost immediately but was sure it was Buff-Breasted. We scoped the Kent side and we relocated the bird which was obviousely a Buff Breasted and whilst watching this one another appeared. We drove to the Kent side for better views and i got brief view before they were spooked again. Bob and Keith went off to Dungeness to see the Pec Sand and i went back to the Sussex end, where i relocated them and managed to get distant record shots of them both together  which  is probably unique for Sussex.

Also at Scotney were a flock of 16 Ruff, 1000+ Golden Plover, 8 Dunlin, 500+ Lapwing 4 Redshank and 3 Marsh Harriers aroun the wind turbines.



Good seawatch at Reculver

In a strong NNW wind a 2 hour seawatch (8.45-10.45) from the Tower produced 32 Bonxies, 11 Arctic Skuas,1 stunning  juvenile Sabines Gull, 274 Gannets some very slose inshore, 1 Shelduck, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 62, Wigeon, 3 Brent Geese, 40+ Dunlin and 6 Grey Plover. 1 Bonxie came in overhead of the tower (see photo). Unfortunately the Sabines was just to far photograph but gave great scope views.
On land around the tower migrants were noticeably absent but i did find the confiding Snow Bunting, a Rock Pipit and a Wheatear also a Marsh Harrier quartering the fields with 30+ hawking Swallows. Then the promised rain swept in obliterating the Swale and the fields.

Windy Morning at Dungeness

Hummingbird Hawk Moth





Pectoral Sandpiper

 A short sea watch at The Patch produced 4 Arctic Skuas, 2 Little Gulls, 2 Med Gulls, a Yellow-legged Gull, 20 Common Scoter W, 20 Wigeon W,6 G C Grebes E, 3 Brent Geese W, Numerous Meadow Pipits in off the sea and hundreds of Swallows and House Martins moving W. Round th Power Station were 1 Black Redstart, 15 Chiffchaffs and 10+ Song Thrushes. On the perimeter wall was a gorgeous Hummingbird Hawk Moth.
Stopping at the south end of the ARC Pit i was scoping a Spotted Redshank when to my surprise a Pectoral Sandpiper walked into the field of view. Also present was a Little Stint, 8 Dunlin, a Common Tern and a Little Egret. At the back of the pit were 2 hunting Marsh Harriers and 2 Common Buzzards soaring over Lade.



Hoopoe at the point

This Hoopoe was on the beach the best part of the day 14/09/2010 but not seen to feed.

The Point, Dungeness.

Northern Wheatear

The Lapland Bunting still hiding under the cars. Nearby 2 Wheatears fly catching and hundreds of Swallows moving west with a singl;e Yellow Wagtail amongst them.

Bushy Park coffee break

Roaring Red Deer

A coffe break in Bushy Park found this roaring beast in the bracken.
On the lake 14 Red-crested Pochards and 8 Egptian Geese(plastic) while in th trees 10+ Ring-necked Parakeets.
An evenings stroll around Dungeness RSPB produced 3 Marsh Harriers, 2 Wheatears, 12 Chiffchaffs several Bearded Tits and Cetti's Warbler heard and little else in the strong wind. Burrowes Pit has several islands now the water level has dropped a little, but not a single wader to be found not even a Lapwing tonight.

Another bright morning at Dungeness

Yellow-legged Gull

A short seawatch produced 4 Arctic Skuas, 8 Black Terns, 1 Kittiwake, 3 Auk sp, along with many Gannets, Common and Sandwich Terns. Also a steady stream of Swallows moving West with the odd Sand and House Martin.
On the land 1 Lapland Bunting still and a photogenic Yellow-Legged Gull roosting by the road. Also 20+ Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers, Blackcap and Whitethroat.

Couldn't resist taking more pictures of Lapland Buntings

Nearby at the ARC Pit 47, Golden Plover, 10 Black-tailed Godwits, 5 Bar-tailed Godwits, a Turnstone,  6+ Little Egrets, 2 Marsh Harriers and at least 2 Garganey along with many Pochard, Tufted, Shovellor, Gadwall, Wigeon and 3 Pintail.

A glorious morning at The Point Dungeness

A sunny windless morning at The Point produced 2 confiding  Lapland Buntings, 2 Black Redstarts, 1 Wheatear, 20+ Yellow Wagtails, 4 Blackcaps, Many Chiffchaffs. 100s of Meadow Pipits, Swallows and House Martins moving through. A quick look at the ARC Pit saw 1 Ruff, 1 Black Tern, 1 Garganey with the returning Wigeon,Shovellor, Teal,Gadwall and 4 Pintail.

Wilsons Phalarope Grove Ferry

A short visit to Grove Ferry gave good scope views of the Phalarope but always to distant for good photo's.

A Quiet Morning at Dungeness

Very quiet at the point this morning just a few Whitethroats and Lesser Whitethoats and the resident Black Redstart also 3 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Honey Buzzard and Marsh Harrier over and a Tree Pipit flew north. No sign of any Wrynecks today.