Friday 31/01/2020

Again this morning despite visibility being down to just a few 100 mts Razorbills dominated the watch, though the Cormorants were quite spectacular when they were flushed from the beach.
07.50-10.20 from the sea watch hide joined by Peter S:
Brent Goose: 27E
Wigeon: 23W
Common Scoter: 1W
Red-throated Diver: 13W 3E
Great-crested Grebe: 6 o/s
Fulmar: 13W
Gannet: 162W  17E
Cormorant: c1,000 around
Kittiwake: 108W
Common Gull: c300W
Guillemot: 346W
Razorbill: 1,347W
Auk sp: 604W
Rather stupidly I decided to walk from home to Scotney, I spent 3 hours peering through the drizzle and seeing very little but got a soaking. All the usual feral Geese were present , along with 100s of Lapwing, Golden Plover, Wigeon and a single Ruff, but no sign of the Long-tailed Ducks, though it was quite difficult to see the far side of the lake in the murky conditions.
15:00-16:00 from the fishing boats with CT & LW,
Red-throated Diver: 4W     1E
Gannet: 19W
Cormorant: c400 o/s
Turnstone: 10 on beach
Kittiwake: 36W
Black-headed Gull: c2,500 in a single flock feeding close inshore.
Guillemot: 23W
Razorbill: 28W
Auk sp: 61W
Grey Seal: 2
Harbour Porpoise: 2

Thursday 30/01/2020

The re-appearance of Razorbills moving West off shore was cut short as the drizzle and mist came in cutting visibility dramatically, also making watching from the hide uncomfortable as the brisk southerly wind blew the drizzle straight in through the flaps.
07.40-09.10 from the sea watch hide with CP & AJG who kindly collated the numbers:
Common Scoter: 4W
Red throated Diver: 17E    4W
Great-crested Grebe: 2E    3o/s
Fulmar: 5W
Gannet: 84W
Cormorant: c250 o/s
Oystercatcher: 1E
Kittiwake: 106W
Guillemot: 32W       7E
Razorbill: 334W   
Auk sp: 238W       18E

Wednesday 29/01/2020

A cold morning with a raw NW wind was not going to make a great sea watch, but if you are not looking you wont see.
08:00-09:00 from the sea watch hide with RW:
Wigeon: 3E
Red-throated Diver: 5E     9W
Great-crested Grebe: 2 o/s
Fulmar: 2W
Gannet: 71W
Cormorant: C200 o/s
Kittiwake: 145W
Mediterranean Gull: 1W
Common Gull: 66W
Guillemot: 32W   9E
Razorbill: 6W
Auk sp: 112W       19E
Common Seal: 1
After Breakfast I decided to walk from home across the fields to the reserve, then around Dengemarsh and back via Dengemarsh Road. I managed to see 66 species not a bad total without really trying, these included Smew, Bittern, Great White Egrets, Bearded Tits, Marsh Harriers, 100s of Golden Plover, Lapwing, 54 Curlew, 2 Ruff, Raven, a flock of 76 Pied Wagtails in the field opposite Brick Wall Farm but no Linnets.
At the fishing boats it was good to catch up West Sussex stalwarts Bernie Forbes and Owen Mitchell, pity that there was very little bird wise there this afternoon.

Sheep or Calf?

About the only sighting of interest at the fishing boats was this gory sight, brought in by the hide tide.

The herd of Bewick Swans were still at Midley this afternoon and the 2 Whooper swans were still near the Woolpack per PT.

Monday 27/01/2020

07.55-10.05 from the sea watch hide:
Shelduck: 3W
Common Scoter: 4W
Red-throated Diver: 103W
Great-crested Grebe: 2 o/s
Fulmar: 7W
Gannet: 371W
Cormorant: c250 o/s
Kittiwake: 165W
Guillemot: 51W     3E      14 o/s
Razorbill: 11W
Auk Sp: 151W    9E
Grey Seal: 1
The weather and domestic stuff precluded any more birding.

Sunday 26/01/2020

Another very gloomy morning, but with a stiff SSW wind blowing I was hoping for a rather more interesting sea watch than of late, unfortunately I was to be disappointed.
08:00-09:00 from the sea watch hide with SO & RW,
Red-throated Diver: 24E   1W
Fulmar: 2E   1W
Gannet: 67E     29W
Cormorant: present n/c
Oystercatcher: 7E
Kittiwake: 55 feeding o/s
Mediterranean Gull:  1E
Guillemot: 51E      1W
Razorbill: 4E
Auk sp: 214E    9W
Grey Seal: 1

Female Bearded Tit at the screen hide

At the ARC from the Screen hide 2 Bearded Tits were joined briefly by a Cetti's Warbler, 2 Ravens flew over as did 8 Black-tailed Godwits and 4 Curlew, 2 Common Snipe were also seen along with the usual Marsh Harriers.

The male Bearded Tit was uncooperative

A walk from Springfield Bridge to Tanners Pool and back saw of note the male Smew, the usual flocks of Lapwing, Golden Plover and Wigeon, a few Curlews 3 Marsh Harriers and 2 Common Buzzards., the male Hen Harrier had moved on by the time I arrived. As the wind was picking up most birds were in hiding.

At Scotney I could only find a single Long-tailed Duck hauled out on the tree island, lots more Golden Plover and Lapwing, with at least 14 Redshanks.

On Walland 40 Bewick Swans with 2 juveniles and the return of the 2 Whooper Swans from Hook wall.

Friday 24/01/2020

A very still, cold, overcast gloomy day.
08:00-09:30 from the sea watch hide with AJG who kindly collated the numbers:
Common Scoter: 3W
Red-throated Diver: 163E   1W
Great-crested Grebe: 52 o/s
Fulmar: 1W
Gannet: 24 feeding o/s
Cormorant: 286 o/s
Pomarine Skua: 1W (2nd cal year)
Kittiwake: 44 feeding o/s
Guillemot: 4E      1W       4o/s
At Scotney 2 Long-tailed Ducks (ad female + juvenile) were at the Sussex end, the usual feral Geese were also present but much smaller numbers of Lapwing, Golden Plover and Wigeon than of late.
The first 2 Goosanders of the year flew through Burrowes per PB.
The drake Smew was still commuting between Hookers and Tanners Pool on the reserve today.

 The 40 Bewick Swans at Midley, only 2 juveniles.

An extensive search around the marsh for the 2 Whooper Swans that were seen in Caldecott Lane yesterday was unsuccessful, c300 Mutes and 40 Bewick Swans were found. 4 Yellowhammers at Old Romney were some compensation.

Male Hen Harrier this afternoon (taken with very high ISO)  

I joined CP out on the marsh this afternoon where saw 2 adult male Hen Harriers, a pity that it was such a gloomy afternoon. 

 Male Hen Harrier

 Male Hen Harrier

We also saw 15 Marsh Harriers, several Little Egrets, the 40 Bewick Swans going to roost and heard lots of squealing Water Rails.

Tuesday 21/01/2020

 Corn Bunting in full voice at Caldecott Lane this morning

A drive along Caldecott Lane this morning found no sign of any of yesterdays Cattle Egrets, a singing Corn bunting was nice compensation.

3 Long-tailed Ducks were at the Sussex end of Scotney.

The Patch was once again very quiet, not much more than a few bubbles coming up, so very few Gulls and none of note that I could find. Offshore a few Auks and Red-throated divers, Kittiwakes and Gannets were tooing and froing. 

Female Bearded Tit at Hookers

A walk out to and around Hookers noted a party of 54 Curlew, c30 Reed Buntings, the usual Great White, Little Egrets, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Wigeon and couple of Bearded Tits, including a rather cute female. Just as cute were the Long-tailed Tits Goldcrest and Firecrest, the latter 2 refused to pose for me. A couple each of Marsh Harrier and Common Buzzard were seen as well as Sparrowhawk and Kestrel.

 Long-tailed tit at Hookers

 A flying Fox dashing across the Boulderwall fields by Cooks Pool.

Great White Egret glowing in the early afternoon sunshine at the ARC

At the Egret roost at the ARC 15 Great White Egrets and 16 Little Egrets roosted but no Cattle Egrets.

Monday 20/01/2020

 Some of the 18 Bewick Swans over my house before sunrise this morning

 Fiery sunrise over the ARC

5 of the 12 Great White Egrets that left the ARC just after sunrise

As it was such a nice calm day I went to Copt Point to read some Mediterranean Gull rings. On arrival the sun was shining, no wind and best of all very few people and dogs, a shame that there were only 9 birds present all roosting on the sea, after 2 hrs I gave up and back to Dungeness.

Early afternoon the sea was littered with Guillemots, Razorbills, Cormorants, a few each of Great-crested Grebes and Red-throated Divers, a single Brent Goose, a couple of Harbour Porpoises and Grey Seal, the birds flying were the 6 Common Scoter.

2 Black Redstarts and a Dartford Warbler were near Southview per Dave Bunney, I managed to see 1 of the Black Redstarts, the Dartford will have to wait for another day.

Some of the Bewick Swans on the New diggings including a juvenile

25 Bewick Swans were on the New Diggings and 2 on the ARC, an hour later there were 26 on the New Diggings but no juvenile.

All 26 Bewick Swans later joined by 3 more

The Swans spent a lot of time calling and and head bobbing leading me to believe they would leave, just after sunset 14 of them took to the air and headed off out to sea, a few minutes later 11 returned.

Some of the Bewick swans heading out to sea

This evenings Egret roost was a disappointment as only 8 Great White Egrets and 10 Little Egrets roosted, I was expecting the 3 Cattle Egrets found by MH in Caldecott Lane to come to roost, I'm guessing that they must be new birds to Dungeness rather than returnees. 

Sunday 19/01/2020

07:30-09:00 from the sea watch hide AJG kindly sent me these sightings:
Red-throated Diver: 27E
Gannet: 49 W
Cormorant: present n/c
Kittiwake: 71E
Black-headed Gull: present n/c
Common Gull: present n/c
Herring Gull: present n/c
Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c
Auk sp: 705E
The Patch was again disappointing with barely a ripple at the boil, several 100s of Herring Gull, Black-headed Gulls and Cormorants present there but the best I could find among them was an adult Mediterranean Gull and a Kittiwake.
Another hike around the back of the ARC saw little of note.
Scanning the fields from home I located 8 Ruff and a single Curlew among the 100s, of Golden Plover, Lapwing and Wigeon, a flock of c40 Stock doves were feeding among them, I saw at least 3 Common Buzzards, but strangely no Marsh Harriers or Egrets though 3 Grey Herons were in the ditches.
At Scotney I could only find the adult female Long-tailed Duck from the double bends, I think the other 4 may fly over the rear bank into the easternmost back lake. The usual Golden Plovers and Lapwings and a single Ruff were seen as well as the usual feral Geese.
The drake Smew was on Tanners Pool, 2 colour ringed Herring Gulls were the highlight for me on Burrowes this afternoon.
In this evenings Harrier count 5 Marsh Harriers roosted in my reed bed, the adult male Hen Harrier made a flyby appearance on its way to roost on the ranges, of note Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over the reed bed and 2 Brent Geese were in a a neighbouring field. As darkness fell 21 bugling/barking Bewick Swans flew over me heading towards the reserve, almost drowning out the at least 5 Water Rails that were squealing.

Saturday 18/01/2020

07:30-09:00 from the sea watch hide with SO, Brian, Russ & AJG who kindly collated the numbers:
Red-throated Diver: 14W  29E
Great-crested Grebe: 3E
Fulmar: 1W
Gannet: 133W
Cormorant: present n/c
Oystercatcher: 2E
Kittiwake: 627W
Black-headed Gull: present n/c
Mediterranean Gull: 1W
Common Gull: present n/c
Herring Gull: present n/c
Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c
Guillemot:160E   67W
Razorbill: 3E    24W
Auk sp: 263E    323W

Black Redstart Scotney Farm

I joined AJG and SO in wander around Scotney where on the main lake the 5 Long-tailed Ducks were viewed from the double bends along with all the usual feral geese that were grazing and resting on the sward. A Green Sandpiper was at the Kent end of the lake with a couple of Redshanks.

Around the back of the lakes Corn, Reed Buntings and Skylarks were noted along with 100s of Linnets and Chaffinches but sadly not a single Tree Sparrow was found, 1,000s each of Golden Plover,Lapwing and a few Curlew were being chivied by Common Buzzards, Marsh Harriers, Kestrels, a smart male Merlin and a Sparrowhawk.

 All 23 of the Bewick Swans at Midley this afternoon

The Bewick Swans were showing well at Midley, Walland Marsh this afternoon, as well as many Fieldfares but no Redwings and very little else. I walked out from the Woolpack to the wind turbines and found it to be virtually an avian free zone.

 Many Fieldfares in the fields near Midley

8 Ruff coming into Burrowes to roost after sunset this evening

Late afternoon and early evening on the reserve the Smew was at the end of Tanners Pool along with 2 Great White Egrets, On Burrowes * Ruff and 14 Black-tailed Godwits came into roost, disappointingly few Gulls came in and nothing of note among the few that did.

2 Little Owls were by the watch towers at Lydd Camp viewed from Galloways Road per SO.

Friday 17/01/2020

Apart from Kittiwakes and Auks very little was seen on this mornings sea watch. Its probably the first time I can remember only seeing just a single Gannet in a 90 minute sea watch at Dungeness.
07:45-09:15 from the sea watch hide with AJG:
Common Scoter: 3W
Red-throated Diver: 11W    5E
Great-crested Grebe: 4W
Gannet: 1E
Cormorant: present n/c
Kittiwake: 571W
Guillemot: 418W    74E
Razorbill: 40W   4E
Auk sp: 772W        12E
Grey Seal: 1
Most of the rest of the day was taken up with domestic stuff, judging by reports from other locals I didn't miss much.
11 years ago today I photographed this King Eider at Pett, I day dream of seeing another flying past Dungeness on a sea watch.

King Eider, Pett 17th January 2009

Thursday 16/01/2020

  Kittiwake at the fishing boats this afternoon

7.30-09.30 from the hide with CP & RO
Brent Goose: 2E
Red-throated Diver: 29E   19W
Great-crested Grebe: 3E
Fulmar: 4W    2E
Gannet: 13W    56E
Cormorant: present n/c
Kittiwake: 367W      c100 o/s
Mediterranean Gull: 11W    3W
Guillemot: 338E       72W        c100 o/s
Razorbill: 6E
Auk sp: 376E    108W
At The Patch this morning all I could find was 2 North Thames ringed Herring Gulls of ant note.
At Scotney still 5 Long-tailed Ducks present, 2 at the Sussex end and 3 tucked up under the bank at the Kent end. All the usual feral Geese were present but I could find no other Grey Geese among the 1,00s of Greylags. Still 1,00s each of Lapwing and Golden Plover and at least 6 Ruff.
The regular Great White Egret was at southern end of the ARC from the Causeway today.

 Fulmar passing the fishing boats this afternoon

Some of 1,000+ Guillemots past the fishing boats this afternoon

13.30-15.40 from the fishing boats:
Red-throated diver: 4W       2E
Fulmar: 1W
Gannet: 11W
Kittiwake: 191W
Mediterranean Gull: 1W
Guillemot: 1127W.  (No Razorbills seen)
Auk sp:137W
Grey Seal: 1
The drake Smew was still present at the back of Hookers per RO. Burrowes was very quiet this afternoon.

Wednesday 15/01/2020

A wet and stormy sea watch this morning as the strong wind drove the rain into the hide.

08.00-10.00 from the sea watch hide with RW & OL,

Velvet Scoter: 2W

Common Scoter: 52W

Red-throated Diver: 60W

Great-crested Grebe: 2 o/s

Gannet: 265W

Cormorant: c400 o/s

Kittiwake: 37W

Guillemot: 212W

Razorbill: 43W

Auk sp: 47W

The regular Great White Egret at the end of the ARC when the rain cleared

14.00-15.30 from the fishing boats with RW, OL & AJG
Red-throated Diver: 19W   5E
Fulmar: 1W
Gannet: 27W    2E
Kittiwake: 303W
Black-headed Gull: 699W (It seemed like a good idea to count them)
Mediterranean Gull: 2W
Guillemot: 42W      3E
Auk sp: 109W  22E
The 5 Long-tailed Ducks were at the Sussex end of Scotney today per JY.

Tuesday 14/01/2020

07.30-09.00 from the sea watch with OL & AJG who kindly collated the numbers:
Velvet Scoter: 4W
Common Scoter: 272W
Red-throated Diver: 172W
Great-crested Grebe: 3 o/s
Fulmar: 3W
Gannet: 359W
Cormorant: c200 present
Kittiwake: 219W
Guillemot: 468W     35E
Razorbill:  112W       6E
Auk sp: 75W       55E
As the rain set in, I turned my attention to domestic stuff, plus an afternoon at the pictures.
All 5 long-tailed Ducks are still at Scotney per OL.

Monday 13/01/2020

AJG kindly sent me his sea watch sightings today as was I doing the WEBs count on the reserve.

07.30-09.00

Eider:1W (drake)

Red-breasted Merganser: 3W

Red-throated Diver: 8W    12E

Fulmar:4W

Gannet: 339W

Cormorant: 700W into Rye bay

Kittiwake: 259W

Guillemot: 87W   c150 o/s

Auk sp: 57E    37W

The WEBs count on Burrowes and New Excavations were a disappointment, I recorded no Moorhens, no Mallard, no Grebes of any description, no Water R and very low numbers of all the other wildfowl. After the count I joined CT in wander around the back of Hookers where we located the drake Smew. 

Drake Smew at Hookers late morning

Only 3 Bewick Swans at Midley this afternoon

As the weather closed in this afternoon a quick check at Scotney found 3 Long-tailed Ducks at the Kent end (4 were reported earlier) and the usual feral Geese. On a very barren Walland I only found 3 Bewick Swans at Midley and saw precious little elsewhere on the marsh.

Sunday 12/01/2020

A drizzly morning with wind gusting SW 8
08.10-09.10 from the sea watch hide:
Brent Goose: 10E    2W
Common Scoter: 2W
Red-throated Diver: 2W
Great-crested Grebe: 2 o/s
Fulmar: 6W
Gannet; 80W  12E
Cormorant: c250 into Rye Bay
Kittiwake: 38W
Black-headed Gull: 2,000+ at The Patch
Guillemot: 73W    14E
Razorbill: 7W  2E
Auk sp: 116W    58E
At Scotney at least 2 Long-tailed Ducks still present this morning, they were very difficult to spot in the among the waves at the Sussex end that were being whipped up by the gale. 1,000s each of Lapwing and Golden Plover were seen wheeling around over the lake and out to the wind turbines.

Smew at Hookers this afternoon

Around Hookers this afternoon a couple of Bearded Tits calling remained unseen, the elusive drake Smew was moving between the pits via the linking channels, but eventually showed well.

A Grey Heron uncharacteristically posed for the camera at Hookers

Late afternoon from Dennis's the usual hordes of Cormorants, 8 Black-tailed Godwits flew through and a Firecrest was in the brambles. Only a few Gulls had come in by the time I left, I saw nothing unusual among them.

9-10/01/2020

Thursday

On Thursday a thoroughly miserable day with constant drizzle and some heavy rain blown in on a strong SW wind.
08.20-10.20 from the sea watch hide joined by OL:
Common Scoter: 2W
Red-throated Diver: 34W   4E
Fulmar: 3W   2E
Gannet: 452W
Cormorant: present n/c
Great Skua: 2W
Kittiwake: 57W
Mediterranean Gull: 2W
Guillemot: 559W
Razorbill: 43W
There were a pair Peregrines over the power station and a female Sparrowhawk over the car park.
No sign of the Smew on Tanners Pool, but it"s probably still around the back of Hookers, but I wasn't going to venture out around there in the poor weather.
As I drove to Scotney a Merlin whizzed across the road right in front of me, at Scotney the usual many Lapwing, Golden Plover and Wigeon but I couldn't find any of the Long-tailed Ducks. With the weather getting worse the lure of a cup of tea was enough for me to give up for the day.

Friday

With builders work going on at home to today my time out was limited. An early morning walk down the Lydd to Dungeness footpath to view the Geese sadly found no Tundra Bean Geese, just several 100s of Greylag, Egyptian, Canada, 2 Brent and a Barnacle Goose. Marsh Harriers and a Merlin were spooking the Lapwing and Golden Plover.

At Scotney I did find 2 of the Long-tailed Ducks, though 3 were seen by SM, the usual Wigeon flock, Golden Plover, Lapwing and feral Geese were also there.

Late afternoon 9 Great White Egrets went to roost at the ARC along with 14 Little Egrets.

The drake Smew was at Hookers per PB.

Tuesday 07/01/2020

Due to domestic stuff I didn't make it to the sea watch this morning but AJG kindly sent me his and DW sightings:

07.30-09.00 from the sea watch hide:

Red-throated Diver: 42W

Fulmar: 6W

Gannet: 18 around

Kittiwake: 52W

Mediterranean Gull: 1W

Guillemot: 41W

Razorbill: 5W

Auk sp: 136W    14E

Poor image of the 5 Long-tailed Ducks at Scotney this morning

I did get to Scotney mid morning where I was pleasantly surprised to find the Long-tailed Ducks had increased to 5, which easily the biggest party I have ever encountered on the south coast. The usual feral Geese, Golden Plover, Lapwing and Marsh Harriers were also present.

The drake Smew was seen on Tanners Pool per DS but I have heard of no reports of the Tundra Bean Geese today. The miserable weather late afternoon precluded looking for yesterdays hooded Herring Gull in the roost today.  

Sunday 05/12/2020

This mornings sea watch is basically a repeat of the few days.
07.45-09.30 from the sea watch hide with AJG & RW:
Brent Goose: 25E
Wigeon: 2W
Common Scoter: 6E
Red-throated Diver: 79E    3W
Great-crested Grebe: 2E    1W    3 o/s
Fulmar: 1W
Gannet: 174E
Cormorant: 251 o/s
Oystercatcher: 2E
Great Skua: 2W
Kittiwake: 14E     451W
Guillemot: 446E     242W
Razorbill: 18E    11W   
Auk sp: 378E      211W
Harbour Porpoise: 2
We managed to find the 2 mobile Tundra Bean Geese at Dengemarsh with a party of c100 Greylags trying to hide behind some reeds, then a quick visit to Scotney where we located 1 of the 3 Long-tailed Ducks, 3 Goldeneye and 5 Pintail of note.
I spent late morning/early afternoon wandering around the back of the water tower, which was long slog for very little return, 3 Common Snipe being the highlight.
2 Bewick Swans were showing nicely on the ARC viewed from the causeway.

Bewick Swans on the ARC from the causeway

Late afternoon on the Burrowes an adult Yellow-legged Gull was the only notable Gull I saw come into roost.

The drake Smew was again very elusive today, unlike the herd of Bewick Swans at Midley.

The male Hen Harrier came into the roost on the ranges and 2 Short-eared Owls were present per JY.

Saturday 04/01/2020

07.30-09.30 from the sea watch hide with John, RW & SO
The first hour very busy I must have missed a lot, probably more Razorbills than I recorded as so much going on I clicked the Guillemots in 10s.
John had a Great Northern Diver go east high which I missed.
Shelduck: 1W
Common Scoter: 4W
Red-throated Diver: 379E     3W
Great-crested Grebe: 23E    2W
Gannet: 47E    26W
Cormorant: c2,500E (the flock stretched back to RYE, so presumably roosted there)
Oystercatcher: 3E
Curlew: 1W
Great Skua: 1W
Kittiwake: 7E   119W
Guillemot: 2,690E     140W
Razorbill: 21E       15W
Auk sp:  estimated 150E      40W
Late morning on a very busy reserve 2 Red-crested Pochards from Dennis's picnic area courtesy of PB. 100s of Lapwing, Golden Plover and Wigeon on the Boulderwall Fields.

Mistle Thrush an early afternoon surprise in Lydd, now a scarce bird here.

The regular Little Owl at Lydd camp early afternoon

At Scotney I could only find 1 Long-tailed Duck, also despite searching through all the feral Geese there I could find no wild Geese, 3 Marsh Harriers were hunting along the far bank.

Early afternoon the drake Smew reappeared at Tanners Pool and 2 Tundra Bean Geese were found at Dengemarsh. Being to lazy to walk out to Dengemarsh hide I tried to locate them from Dengemarsh Road, but they were playing hide and seek and winning, while we were looking for them we were distracted by the male Hen Harrier which suddenly appeared fairly close to us, as tried to get my camera up I knocked the focus points out, by the time I had reset them the Harrier had flown down to couple of hundred yards from house then disappearing towards the airport and out of camera range, while I was still cursing myself we spotted the Tundra Bean Geese also heading towards my house, we saw them land a few hundred yards away from the house with some Lapwing and Golden Plover, so we made our way back to the cars and headed towards them, before we got there they were all spooked by something, probably a Common Buzzard and lost. with the light fading I went home. Hopefully I will get the Hen Harrier on garden year list in the next couple of weeks along with the Tundra Bean Geese.

Thursday 02/01/2020

Some of the 100s of Guillemots past Dungeness today

08.15-10.00 from the sea watch hide with DW
Brent Goose: 6E
Red-throated Diver: 89E       296W
Great-crested Grebe: 5 o/s
Fulmar: 5W
Gannet: 120E      17W
Cormorant: c200 around
Oystercatcher: 1E
Great Skua: 1W
Kittiwake: 6W    1E
Mediterranean Gull: 1E   1W
Guillemot: 543E       291W
Razorbill: 2E      5W
Auk sp: 98E  42W
Common Seal: 1

Bewick Swans at Midley today

A drive around Walland Marsh today found that the herd of 30 at Midley had reduced to 18, but found a new party of 5 at Newlands Farm with another juvenile. Only a few winter thrushes were found. I will have to get out of the car and venture into the marsh on foot to try and locate some winter Geese  and hopefully some more Swans.

The 4 Long-tailed Ducks were still present today at Scotney but little else of note.

I finally caught up with the drake Smew, getting very distant views on Tanners Pool, also the usual Great White Egrets there.

1 of the few Razorbills seen among the 100s of Guillemots today

Half an hour at the fishing boats this afternoon saw 100s more Guillemots, a black slick of Cormorants more Red-throated Givers and Gannets, also 26 Brent Geese moved east and 40 Kittiwake were lingering off shore.

  Gannets at the fishing boats this afternoon

This image does not convey the numbers of Cormorants at the fishing boats this afternoon

The late afternoon Gull roost on Burrowes was disappointing, despite many Gulls coming to roost I and even DW was unable to find any Caspians or Yellow-legged Gulls. 12 roosting Black-tailed Godwits were the highlight.

Wednesday 01/01/2020

On the way to the beach this morning a Great White Egret was in its usual spot at the South Eastern end of the ARC, another 4 were seen around the area today.

From the sea watch hide with OL, SO & BB a Great Skua was the highlight, also seen 100s of Guillemots, with smaller numbers of Red-throated Divers, Great-crested Grebes and Gannets, a single Mediterranean Gull, several Kittiwake and a single Common Scoter, plus the usual Gulls and the black slick of Cormorants.

 Bittern with a Jack Pike this morning

From the sea we went to the ARC where a Bittern showed well catching a Jack Pike in front the screen hide was the highlight. We saw the rear end of Woodcock that flushed in front of us at the pines, a Chiffchaff nearby and the usual dabbling ducks as well as some Goldeneye.

 We saw the Long-tailed Ducks at Scotney, a singleton at the Kent end the 3 at the Sussex end, but it wasn't till this afternoon that we realised that there are 4 birds present, the usual feral Geese and wild fowl were seen there along with clouds of Lapwing and Golden Plover.

 Bewick Swans at Midley

A brief drive onto Walland saw 30 Bewick Swans with 1 juvenile at Midley, several each of Corn bunting and Yellowhammer in Clubbs lane but no Tree Sparrows.

 Short-eared Owl at Galloways in the gloom

A very gloomy afternoon at Galloways was surprisingly productive, with 2 Short-eared Owls. While I was watching a S.E.O. another bird flew past me very close, it took me a while to realise that it lacked a white trailing edge to the wing making it a Long-eared Owl by which time it had disappeared along the bank and behind the reeds. A male Hen Harrier has been seen in the area the last 2 days, first by CP then yesterday by CT, so we were very happy to see it the this afternoon albeit distantly over Galloways and again later at South Brooks roost. Unfortunately for us as there was no firing today, the rescue helicopter took the opportunity for some low level practise, where it spent 10 minutes hovering just a few feet over the Harrier roost site, pretty much ensuring no other Harriers would roost there today. We also saw a Merlin, Peregrine, Common Buzzard and Raven on the ranges.  

 A Raven in the gloom

A very distant male Hen harrier over the ranges