The cold northerly winds continue seemingly killing spring migration at Dungeness. Yesterday Black Kite No. 4 drifted high north over Dengemarsh, I have now seen as many Black Kites as I have Willow Warblers this spring! For me no Flycatchers, Redstarts, Whinchat or Ring Ouzels only a few Blackcaps and just 2 Garden Warblers, though I'm told there are plenty inland. Waders have been very thin on the ground, although Whimbrel and Bar-tailed Godwits have been present most days but only in small numbers, I only saw my first Turnstones of the lockdown yesterday also my first Common Sandpipers, Grey Plover were represented by a pair over my house presumably the same on hayfield 3, a flock of c25 were one of the spring highlights, a single Wood Sandpiper, 3 Green Sandpipers, 7 Little Ringed Plovers, just 2 Ruff, 4 Black-tailed Godwits, though Greenshanks have been relatively common and 3 Spotted Redshanks are above average numbers. Lesser and Common Whitethroats, Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers are around and vociferous in good numbers, there are a minimum of 7 pairs of Bearded Tits, the Bitterns are still booming and Reed buntings are abundant. So far Hobby numbers have been very low.
Reed Bunting
Hobby
Hobby
Swifts have arrived in numbers
Cormorants are still adding to there nests
Lapwings have hatched at least 5 young
My first Common Sandpiper of the year
The other evening the wind dropped and the Dengemarsh was covered in millions of midges
No comments:
Post a Comment