12/04/2023

After yesterdays excellent sea watch see https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/2389/20230410 todays was very poor, with just a handful of Common Scoter, Red-throated Divers, Sandwich Terns and Gannets.

Around the peninsula new arrivals were thin on the ground, just a handful of Wheatears and Sand Martins. Sedge Warbler numbers are increasing, but I didn't hear any Reed Warblers today, though that could be weather related. The now resident Glossy Ibises, Marsh Harriers, Bitterns and Bearded Tits can all be seen with patience along with usual species.

The drake Scaup still hanging out with Pochards at Scotney today

Brown Hare at Dengemarsh

Skylark at Dengemarsh

 

06/04/2023

Some of the Brent Geese that passed in todays gloomy conditions

A force 4 SSW with constant drizzle made for quite a good sea watch today.

06.45- 1130 from the hide with CP,RW, JY, PT.

Brent Goose: 1,024E

Shoveler: 4E     4W

Teal: 2E

Garganey: 1E

Eider: 11E      1 on

Common Scoter: 1,138E

Velvet Scoter: 2E

Red-breasted Merganser: 2E 

Great-crested Grebe: 1E   2 on

Oystercatcher: 2E     

Whimbrel: 1E 

Curlew: 1E

Dunlin: 3W

Kittiwake: 15E

Little Gull: 6E

Mediterranean Gull: 2E    

Sandwich Tern: 78E     32W  

Arctic Skua: 1E  

Guillemot: 6E 

Auk: 12E     

Red-throated Diver: 71E    

Great Northern  Diver: 1E

Fulmar: 2E    1W   

Gannet: 187E    27W  

Swallow: 1 in off

Harbour Porpoise: 4+

A close look will reveal 3 Series in the above image, taken by the Dungeness approach road just before dusk yesterday.

The first Willow Warbler of the year to ringed at Dungeness. Courtesy of Dungeness B.O.

This afternoon I managed very poor views of 2 male Redstarts in the recording area, also some Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers and a Swallow there. There was very little news from elsewhere apart from the Ruff still present at Boulderwall. The drake Scaup was still on Scotney from the double bends yesterday.

04/04/2023

A biting force 4 Easterly wind and clear skies this morning didn't bode well for a classic sea watch, but it was an improvement than of late.

06.30 - 09.00 from the hide with RW, CP 

Brent Goose: 19E

Greylag Goose: 2 out   

Shoveler: 10E

Pintail: 1E

Garganey: 3E all drakes

Teal: 25E  

Common Scoter: 259E

Red-breasted Merganser: 17E

Great-crested Grebe:  3E    2 on

Oystercatcher: 5E

Curlew: 5E

Kittiwake: 8E

Mediterranean Gull: 4E

Common Gull: 57E

Sandwich Tern:21E    

Guillemot: 12E   

Auk: 41E     

Red-throated Diver: 43E   

Fulmar: 2E    

Gannet: 36E    43W  

Harbour Porpoise: 4+

Grey Seal: 1

Most of the rest of my day was taken up with waiting for parcels to be delivered. I did get out late afternoon to the ARC where the highlight was a confiding male Siskin at the Pines with a couple of Greenfinches. Several Sand Martins and Swallow flew through and 2 Goldeneye were present, but I missed the 2 Garganey that spent most of the day there.

The 2 Glossy Ibis are still around but it seems as though the Cattle Egrets have departed, there are still Great White egrets around, also a single Greater White-fronted Goose. The hay fields attracted there first Garganey of the year today and Red Kite flew over per BH.

It is not often a Siskin is seen well at Dungeness like this bird as they are usually flyovers. 

Nice to see a Greenfinch tucking into the conifer seeds

Yesterday the Penduline Tit showed well at the ARC, but the highlight for me was an Alpine Swift that powered through late afternoon, a self found tick for me, pity it didn't hang around for better photographs.

The Alpine Swift as it powered away from me

Penduline Tit

 

02/04/2023 The Weekend.

1 of 2 Alpine Swifts that spent Saturday afternoon hawking over the peninsula

 

This tatty Hooded Crow spent a couple of hours on the beach near the fishing boats Saturday morning

Todays Penduline Tit at the ARC was a little distant but a good find by Rick Smith

A relatively showy Water Pipit at the ARC was unusual today

Six distant Brent Geese over Luxury super yacht "SERENE" which purred past Dungeness early Saturday morning. Which was probably the highlight of the weekends very poor sea watching.