A dull damp start at Dunge this morning started with an hour and half sea watch which produced 356 Brent Geese, 12 Pintail, 8 R.T.Divers, 1 B.T Diver, 6 Diver sp, 46 Common Scoter, 1 Fulmar , 3 Kittiwake, 6 Auks sp, 50+ Gannets and a Sparrowhawk in. Behind the seawatching hide a Meadow Pipit(ringed) sang from the wire. In the scrub 4 Stonechats
new in and in the lighthouse garden a Firecrest. The Glaucous Gull was in its usual spot on the beach. On the ARC Pit from the road 2 Slavonian Grebes starting to get there summer plumage. From Hansen hide 5 red head Smew, 1 of which was very confiding fishing in amongst the reeds so close that i could not focus on it, along with a drake Pochard. Also present 12 Goldeneye, 4 of our American friends and 2 Marsh Harriers. As i walked up towards the screen hide a Bittern was flushed by a Harrier and flew into the reeds on the fishing lakes. In the bushes near the Water Tower a Firecrest was singing and whilst unsuccessfully trying to photograph it a stunning male Black Redstart appeared and was far more obliging. In the same bushes were 2 singing Chiffchaffs and 6 Reed Buntings. No sign of any Bewick Swans on Walland presumably on there way to Russia.
A dull damp start at Dunge this morning started with an hour and half sea watch which produced 356 Brent Geese, 12 Pintail, 8 R.T.Divers, 1 B.T Diver, 6 Diver sp, 46 Common Scoter, 1 Fulmar , 3 Kittiwake, 6 Auks sp, 50+ Gannets and a Sparrowhawk in. Behind the seawatching hide a Meadow Pipit(ringed) sang from the wire. In the scrub 4 Stonechats
new in and in the lighthouse garden a Firecrest. The Glaucous Gull was in its usual spot on the beach. On the ARC Pit from the road 2 Slavonian Grebes starting to get there summer plumage. From Hansen hide 5 red head Smew, 1 of which was very confiding fishing in amongst the reeds so close that i could not focus on it, along with a drake Pochard. Also present 12 Goldeneye, 4 of our American friends and 2 Marsh Harriers. As i walked up towards the screen hide a Bittern was flushed by a Harrier and flew into the reeds on the fishing lakes. In the bushes near the Water Tower a Firecrest was singing and whilst unsuccessfully trying to photograph it a stunning male Black Redstart appeared and was far more obliging. In the same bushes were 2 singing Chiffchaffs and 6 Reed Buntings. No sign of any Bewick Swans on Walland presumably on there way to Russia. 
Good stuff Martin,
ReplyDeleteSadly, although I got as close as Lydd to watch my youngest play a football match, I never got to Dungee this weekend. So my first wheatear is on hold for now. Still, the best is to come, hopefully we will hear the Bitterns booming on the reserve very soon.
Happy birding!
Nick