A short sea watch first thing this morning produced my first Merlin and Brent Geese of the Autumn, a few Gannets, Sandwich and Common Terns and an Arctic Skua.
100s of House Martins around the new lighthouse
Around The Point 1,000s of Swallows and House Martins, I only saw 4 Sand Martins. A walk in the Desert saw 2 Sparrowhawks, a Raven, 7 Kestrels, c30 Meadow Pipits, 2 Stonechats, 3 Black Redstarts, 3 Common Whitethroats and 4 Chiffchaffs. A the observatory I saw my first Firecrest of the Autumn also a super Clifden Nonpareil moth caught by GH at Tenterden.
Firecrest
Clifden Nonpareil
A late morning visit to the ARC was disappointing with just 1 Ruff and c150 Golden Plover of note.
Meadow Pipit bathing in the fishing boat puddles
Brent Goose: 12W
Wigeon: 9W
Red-throated Diver: 1W (first of the Autumn for me a super summer plumaged bird)
Gannet: 16E
Grey Plover: 3W
Mediterranean Gull: 1W
Kittiwake: 2W
Sandwich Tern: 107W
Common Tern: 15W
Razorbill: 1 on sea
Auk sp: 1W
Harbour Porpoise: 6+
Osprey over the ARC water tower with some of its tormentors
As I was heading back to the reserve an Osprey flew over the causeway being harassed by several corvids, by the time I was able to stop and raise the camera the Osprey was over the ARC water tower heading towards the Mirrors. About half an hour later I was in the ARC car park when a message from PT alerted to an Osprey sitting on a telegraph pole on the north bank of the ARC being viewed from Hanson hide. The bird was quite distant from the hide but enjoyable as most Ospreys at Dungeness seem to fly through very quickly, usually only seen by a couple of people.
A late afternoon visit to the reserve found a minimum of 7 Great White Egrets, 3 Little Stints, 3 Rull, 4 LRPs, 3 Ringed Plovers and 2 Dunlin. 2 Whinchats were by the entrance track near Boulderwall Farm. The Osprey was still sat on its pole when I left the reserve at 17.30, not sure if 2 birds were involved.
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