First Balearics of the year!

After emptying the MV this morning I went to the ARC where c100 Swifts and few each of Swallow, House and Sand Martin were hawking high over the lake. 3 Little ringed Plovers and 2 Redshanks were the wader highlights, the usual wildfowl were present but I could not find any Garganey. 

 juvenile Yellow-legged Gull

At The Patch 10 juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls among the c350 Herring Gulls, c300 Black-headed Gulls, 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 12 Great Black-backed Gulls, 4 Common Terns, 7 Cormorants and a Great-crested Grebe. The male Peregrine dropped a Pigeon into the eyrie and the 3 youngsters quickly tore it apart so they all had a piece. 

 3 of the 10 juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls at The Patch today

 Green ringed R17X, Mediterranean Gull

 Common Tern at the fishing boats this PM

13.15-16.30 from the fishing boats with LG, MH and AJG.
Common Scoter: 32 up  6 down
Great-crested Grebe: 1 around
Balearic Shearwater: 3 down
Gannet: 38 up  10 down
Cormorant: 6 around
Whimbrel: 1 down
Black-headed Gull: c15 around
Mediterranean Gull: 3 around
Common Gull: 1 around
Herring Gull: c30 around
Lesser Black-backed Gull: 2 around
Great Black-backed Gull: 9 around
Kittiwake: 6 down
Common Tern: 34 down
Swift: 5 out
Sandwich Tern: 71 down
Skylark: 1 singing behind boats
Pied Wagtail: 2 around
Wood Pigeon: 2 on beach
Harbour Porpoise: 1+
Grey Seal: 1

 Sandwich Tern at the fishing |boats this PM

Mediterranean Gull

Sand Martins herald the autumn migration!

 My alarm clock and raptor alert!

I had a late start this morning due to domestic stuff despite my avian alarm going off at around 04.30.

 1s Common Tern

On the reserve 7 Sand Martins heralding the autumn influx to Dungeness, the unseasonal Goldeneye was still present, also a Cuckoo still, 8 Swifts came and went with a few drops of rain and a 1s Common Tern was of some note.

 The unseasonal Goldeneye

As DW had seen 16+ juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls at The Patch I made my way there, a Fulmar flew around the power station, at least 9 Juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls were still present around The Patch but to distant to photograph, I'm sure within the next couple of weeks they will be coming to our offerings giving excellent views. The 3 young Peregrines in the power station eyrie were flapping there wings a bit today. 

 Fulmar at the Power Station

Early afternoon from Hanson in the company of MH a juvenile Garganey, 3 Little-ringed Plovers and a Redshank were the pick of the avian fayre there today.

 Common Scoter at the fishing boats

A mid afternoon sea watch from the fishing boats with MH gave us both the best views we have ever had of a Common Scoter:

15.45-17.00:
Common Scoter: 1 around
Great-crested Grebe: 2 around
Gannet: 24 up  7 down
Cormorant: 4 around
Black-headed Gull: 16 around
Mediterranean Gull: 5 around
Common Gull: 3 down
Herring Gull: c30 around
Lesser Black-backed Gull: 1 around
Great Black-backed Gull: 4 around
Common Tern: 2 up
Sandwich Tern: 29 up  8 down
Swift: 5 out
Pied Wagtail: 3 around
Skylark: 1 singing behind boats
Wood Pigeon: 5 on beach
Carrion Crow: 4 on beach
Harbour Porpoise: 1

 nr adult Mediterranean Gull at the fishing boats

Barn Owl at Boulderwall

Late afternoon on the way home I joined CT watching the remaining adult Barn Owl hunting around Boulderwall, holding our breathe every time it flew across the road.

 Napoleon's Column at Wimereux just outside Boulougne viewed from the fishing boats this morning

I joined AJG at the fishing boats this morning where in the superb visibility a constant stream of Gannets were the highlight. Thanks are due to AJG for collating the numbers:
06.25-08.25:
Common Scoter: 31 around
Great-crested Grebe: 1 on
Fulmar:7 down
Gannet: 477 down   240 up
Cormorant: just 2 on the sea (highlighting the lack if fish at the moment)
Curlew: 1 in
Kittiwake: 7 up    5 down
Razorbill: 1 up
Auk sp: 1 down
Swift: 3 in
Harbour Porpoise 1

 Hummingbird Hawk Moth power station by the perimeter wall

At The Patch the usual Black-headed and Herring Gulls and a single Mediterranean Gull was the only Gull of note. The Peregrines appear to have 3 young in the nest on the power station, they have the protection of the armed Nuclear Police, try training your scope on the nest site for more than a moment!

 Great-crested Grebe from the fishing boats this afternoon

12.45-14.30 from the fishing boats:

Common Scoter: 15 up

Great-crested Grebe: 2 on

Gannet: 26 up     21 down

Cormorant: 2 around

Black-headed Gull: c10 around

Mediterranean Gull: 5 around

Common Gull: 3 down

Herring Gull: c40 around

Lesser Black-backed Gull: 2 around

Great Black-backed Gull: 4 around

Sandwich Tern: c15 around

Skylark: 1 still singing behind the boats

Grey Seal: 1

Harbour Porpoise: 1

This Hummingbird Hawk Moth that I pulled out of the MV this morning has seen better days a bit like me!

Wipe Out!

A week ago the above raft contained 14 nests of Common Terns some with chicks but most with eggs about to hatch, also a pair of Herring Gulls with 2 young chicks. Today not a single Common Tern chick or egg as predicted. The Herring Gulls wiped them out! Potentially 30 Common Terns have been sacrificed so that 2 Herring Gull chicks could survive. This could easily have been avoided if the Herring Gulls eggs had been removed when they were first laid, they would have nested again elsewhere and the Common Terns would have had a chance. Some times I think the RSPB as an organisation has completely lost its way.  A policy of non intervention has been cited as a reason, if that's the case why spends £1,000s on electric fences to keep out predators? why shoot foxes if they breach the fence? why kill Mink in the winter? why put down herbicides to kill some plants so others thrive? its all intervention.
On a brighter note I managed to catch up with the unseasonal Goldeneye on Burrowes thanks to Pete, Pam and Colin. Also on Burrowes 2 Avocet, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Dunlin, 2 Little-ringed Plovers, 2 Ringed Plovers and Black-tailed Godwit. On the ARC 3 Little-ringed Plovers at least 1 sitting on eggs, a Common Sandpiper and a Green Sandpiper.

 A miserable day on the peninsular with strong winds and drizzle. Scotney was particularly exposed consequently there was little to be seen, though the Herring Gull chicks were struggling to stay on there feet, while being covered in spray and spume.

 1 of c70 Swifts at Dengemarsh

 Around the reserve Swifts filled the skies with probably 200+ around, a single Hobby and Cuckoo were seen from the entrance track. On Burrowes 1+ Little-ringed Plover,  2 Ringed Plovers, a Sandwich Tern was notable, 2 Avocets, plenty of eclipse Gadwall, Tufted Ducks and Pochard.

Common Tern from Makepiece

At Lydd Camp the adult Little Owls were both out showing but still no sign of the owlets.

First couple of hours this morning was spent trawling through another bulging MV but nothing unusual was found,

Driving to the Observatory this morning the sad sight of a dead Barn Owl in the road just a few 100  yds from Boulderwall Farm. 

AJG had been sea watching since early morning and had seen nothing to record for his efforts, its that time of year, but if you don't look you certainly wont see.

The reserve was predictably very quiet, made even more so by the strong wind today, Hobby's can still be seen and a few Swifts moved south, the Warblers are more difficult to see now they are busy feeding young or starting a second brood.

 Little Owl Lydd Camp

At Lydd Camp this afternoon the adult Little Owls were both sitting out but still no sign of the juveniles, it cant be long before they are all out.

Galloways was also very quiet, 2 broods of Stonechats and fleeting glimpses of Common Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler as they dive into their nests in dense cover.

On Scotney main pit lots of young Herring Gulls on the islands and several 100s of Greylag Geese there, a single Curlew on the sward.

 Stonechat at Galloways.

 Plutella xylostella have been found in good numbers in the MV

Grey/Dark Dagger, good numbers of these have appeared in the MV in the last 2 nights.

During the very hot weather this week I have been a little lazy, not putting in the time especially in the mornings. I spent the afternoons on the beach at the fishing boats sea watching in the sun and the cooling sea breeze, not seeing a great deal today was no exception.

14.50-16.30 from the fishing boats joined by PT & MH

Great-crested Grebe: 2 around

Gannet: 13 up    25 down

Cormorant: 4 around

Oystercatcher: 3 down

Black-headed Gull: 9 down

Mediterranean Gull: 2 up

Common Gull: 1 up

Herring Gull: c25 around

Great Black-backed Gull: 11 around

Kittiwake: 1 down

Little Tern: 2 down

Sandwich Tern: 6 up   42 down

Swift: 19 out

Grey Seal: 1

Harbour Porpoise: 3

I have spent the evenings wandering around the fields at the back of Scotney hoping to hear some Quail without any success. However the Barn Owls have been showing well catching lots of voles for their young, also the Little Owls have been on show every evening, add to that Yellow Wagtails, Corn buntings, Skylarks, Avocets, Hares and a family of Foxes they have been very interesting evenings.

The warm weather has also kept me very busy in the mornings with a bulging MV, being still new to mothing, it takes me along time to go through the traps and as far as I know I have not found anything exceptional for the area. Barry Banson had a superb Splendid Brocade yesterday.

 Little Owl, Lydd Ranges.

 Common Buzzard, Lydd Ranges

 Barn Owl, Scotney farm

 Little Owl, Scotney Farm

 Obscure Wainscot

 Shore Wainscot

Shoulder-striped Wainscot

 Avocet at Scotney

It's been a very quiet the last few days in the glorious summer weather. I have spent a couple of evenings looking for Quail on the marsh without success, though a couple each of Barn Owls and Little Owls were nice. Around the reserve the resident species are getting on with breeding, Little Ringed Plovers look as though they may on Burrowes and the ARC. A young Redshank on the ARC this morning was probably hatched locally, also 6 Black-tailed Godwits there.

 Starling keeping cool in the garden.

Dungeness beach to myself this afternoon

A sea watch/sun bathe this afternoon from the fishing boats was predictably slow but very pleasant sitting in the cool on shore breeze.

14.00-16.00:

Common Scoter: 16 up

Great-crested Grebe: 2 around

Gannet: 3 up   15 down

Cormorant: 3 around

Oystercatcher: 3 up   1 down

Black-headed Gull: 16 around

Mediterranean Gull: 1 x 1s up    3 x ad down

Common Gull: 2 down

Herring Gull: c50 around

Great black backed Gull: c10 around

Sandwich Tern: 6 up       32 down

Common Tern: 3 up

Grey Seal: 2

Harbour Porpoise: 2+

 White Spot an uncommon visitor to my MV

Moth numbers have much improved over the last few days and I am expecting large hauls over the next few days and hopefully a goody or two.

Barred Red a fairly frequent visitor

Quiet Times!

A very quiet morning around the reserve with most the resident species busy with breeding, a Little-ringed Plover was on show from Firth, in the hay fields a pair of Redshanks had 3 young, a Lapwing and at least 1 chick also an Oystercatcher with a chick. Over the reed beds 5+ Hobby's feasting on a glut of Dragonfly's and Damselfly's, the Herring Gull on Tern raft now has 2 young so time will tell if they demolish the Terns, though the Terns were frequently white washing the adult Herring Gull.

The 3 Mediterranean Gulls

A sea watch from the fishing boats this afternoon 14.30-16.00 in the company of MH & PT:

Great-crested Grebe: 1
Fulmar: 1 down
Gannet: 40 down
Cormorant: 16 around
Black-headed Gull: 14 around
Mediterranean Gull: 3 down
Herring Gull: c50 around
Great Black Backed Gull: 10+ around
Kittiwake: 2 down
Sandwich Tern: 53 down
Common Tern: 2 down
Swift: 2 in
Harbour Porpoise: 4+
Grey Seal: 1

Beautiful Hook-tip a first for the Plodland MV last night

 Young Kestrels at Pigwell

This morning I  spent some time wandering around Pigwell and the eastern side of Scotney, a pleasant walk but nowhere near the amount of birds as the western side of Scotney where the farmer is more sympathetic to wildlife leaving 5 mt margins and several rough areas, whereas the farmer responsible for Pigwell and the eastern side of Scotney has  ploughed right up to the fences and sprayed the hell out of the fields. On the bright side in an old open barn a pair of Kestrels have 3 young in a box. In the quarry there are at least 7 House Martin nests on the weigh bridge offices.

An early afternoon walk from Springfield Bridge to the viewing ramp saw a couple of young Bearded Tits, a nearly fledged Lapwing and Oystercatcher. 7+ Hobby's were hawking over the reed beds some stratospheric, the Herring Gull on the Tern raft has 2 chicks so I guess the Tern eggs will rapidly disappear, all the usual warblers were just about seen though they are now getting elusive as they get on with breeding.

 Sandwich Tern at the fishing boats this afternoon

14.45-17.00 from the fishing boats:

Common Scoter: 4 up
Great-crested Grebe: 3 around
Fulmar: 1 down
Gannet: 118 up   17 down
Cormorant: 6 around
Kittiwake: 14 up
Sandwich Tern: 51 up    18 down
Common Tern: 11 up
Guillemot: 1 down
Harbour Porpoise: 4+
Grey Seal: 1

Cynaeda dentalis a gorgeous micro that is regularly found in my MV 

Elegant Tern!

Squacco Heron

An early morning visit to the reserve before going twitching found the Squacco Heron still present. 

 Elegant Tern

A day away from Dungeness yesterday twitching the Elegant Tern in Pagham Harbour in the company of DW,GH and AJG. The Tern was showing almost as soon as we arrived and showed relatively well on several occasions while we there. It was good to see an apparently thriving Little Tern colony alongside the Sandwich and Common Terns.

 Little Tern

 1s male Red-footed Falcon

On our way home we stopped off at Frensham Common to see the 1s male Red-footed Falcon which showed well, the heat haze there made any chance of decent images impossible. While there a Woodlark sung from atop a tree a pair of Common Redstarts were feeding young.

 Common Redstart

Silver Studded Blue on Frensham common