30/08/2023

Spotted Redshank & Garganey from Hanson

After yesterdays influx of Balearic Shearwaters, the sea watching today returned to being rather poor.

There were a few Willow Warblers, Common and Lesser Whitethroats with a few Blackcaps at the top of the Long Pits, though even these seemed to melt away rather quickly. 100s of Swallows have been feeding over the half cut Lydd fields, joined by a few House and Sand Martins, I guess feeding on the disturbed insects. Several visits to Hanson today where the Spotted Redshanks were new this morning and a Black-necked Grebe was new this evening, The 2 Glossy Ibis were still present along with 2+ Garganey, Dunlin, Ringed Plovers, Golden Plover, Great White Egrets and the usual Herons and wildfowl. The 2 Black Terns were still on Burrowes and a Greenshank was at Dengemarsh also a Hobby.

Spotted Redshanks from Hanson

Glossy Ibis from Hanson

Greenshank, hayfield 2

Wheatear on the beach

27/08/2023

Spotted Flycatchers were found at the Long Pits and the ARC

Sea watching remains very poor at Dungeness this week, some consolation is the Willow Warblers, Common and Lesser Whitethroats, Reed and Sedge Warblers with small numbers of Blackcaps and Garden Warblers, Spotted Flycatchers, Whinchats and 2 Pied Flycatcher, Wheatears are scarce at the moment. A Wryneck was present round private gardens but very elusive so much so most people never saw it including my self.

Adult Lesser Whitethroat at the Long Pits

                                         Juvenile Lesser Whitethroat at the Long Pits

Great White Egret at the ARC where there are still 4 + Garganey, 2 Glossy Ibis, a few Common Sandpipers, Dunlin, Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers, up to 120 Golden Plovers and a single Ruff.

Black Tern on Burrowes

Apart from 2 Black Terns on burrows today the main reserve has been very poor avian wise. Only 1 hay field has been flooded and I could see no waders on there today, though it is impossible to view the all the of that hay field, why the hay field has not been flooded I have no idea as the pump is in place. As is now usual there is absolutely nothing to look at from the Firth fence due to the disturbance by the visitors to walk in front the fence. The new are islands by the old Makepiece hide are as expected White Elephants, attracting the odd Gadwall and Gull which duly flush as soon as anyone walks by. 

Fox enjoying the abundance of Blackberries and Rose Hips on the peninsula

25/08/2023

This Little Tern is one of several that have flown past the fishing boats, along with a handful of Black Terns, Arctic Skuas, Sandwich and Common Terns but in very low numbers.

Adult and juvenile Garganey at the ARC which has once again been the place on the reserve where a few birds have been seen, but little quality over and above the usual suspects.

Up to 120 Golden Plover have been dropping into the ARC during the day lately

Black Tern on Burrowes for the last couple of days was the highlight there this week

3 Wood Sandpipers on the hayfield 2 though no sign today

Autumn Lady's Tresses at the Long Pits today were the highlight of an almost avian free walk 

21/08/2023

The Pied Flycatcher in The Moat today 

There were a small number of Willow Warblers, Lesser and Common Whitethroats around the area today but the Pied Flycatcher in The Moat was the highlight.

Juvenile Little tern at the fishing boats this afternoon

2 sea watches today saw 2 Balearic Shearwaters, 5 Arctic skuas, 22 Little Terns and 100s of Sandwich and Common Terns.

Juvenile Little tern at the fishing boats this afternoon

1 of 4 Garganey at Hanson this evening

At Hanson This evening the usual Garganey, Egrets and Glossys but very few waders, surprising as 6 Wood Sandpipers were on Hayfield 2 with 2 more on Cooks pool during the morning.

Cattle Egret this evening

                                                Glossy Ibis and Little Egret this evening

Porter's Rustic although a very rare moth in the UK, it is very underwhelming 

19/08/2023

The sea watching at Dungeness continues to be abysmal, Skuas and Shearwaters are very scarce so far this autumn and only small numbers of Terns off shore. Probably due to the seemingly lack of fish.

This bird made me double take when it came onto the beach. It's definitely got some Caspian in it, but probably a hybrid with Yellow-legged or Herring Gull.

Norwegian ringed Great Black-backed Gull J40CM

Norwegian ringed Great Black-backed Gull J62AR

1 of 2 Spotted Flycatchers at the Long Pits during the week. There are still a few Willow Warblers, Common and Lesser Whitethroats around but only small numbers.

Up to 4 Lesser Emperors were showing well from Hanson Hide during the week, The Glossy Ibis are still there as is the Wood Sandpiper and up to 5 Garganey, hopefully very soon there will be some new birds arriving at the ARC, Burrowes has been abysmal with just the Greenshank, Whimbrel and Common Sandpiper. It is increasing looking like a new milestone in the decline of Dungeness RSPB will be passed this year,  for the first time in its history no Terns bred on the reserve. I have not seen any evidence that the Bitterns and Marsh Harriers were successful on the reserve, though this could be attributed to very high water levels which the RSPB have no control over.

a Spinnach Moth, despite being a relatively common moth, this is the first to come to my trap.

Cydia Amplana a suspected migrant, Though with the numbers being recorded it could be breeding locally

15/08/2023

 Egyptian Goose passing the fishing boats this morning. You know the sea watching is poor when this is the highlight!

Avian wise around the peninsula what was seen last week is still now with very little additions.

There has been reasonable numbers of Willow Warblers around the Long Pits this week, Busily feeding up for the next leg of their journey to Africa.

Possibly the last Swift I'll see this year

Autumn Lady's-tresses at the Long pits

Lesser Emperor Dragonfly from Hanson today

Many Common Lizards along the Willow trail boardwalk

 

12/08/2023

Wheatears are appearing just about anywhere on the peninsula, though they are easier to see on the beach, say there is no improvement to the sea watching.

Willow warblers have started arriving in reasonable numbers, this one was basking in the sun by the Long Pits, also there to be found are good numbers of Common and Lesser Whitethroats, Reed and Sedge Warblers, also a few Blackcaps and Garden Warbler, today also brought in 4 Spotted Flycatchers and a Redstart.

1 of 4 Spotted Flycatchers at the Long Pits today 

Reed Warbler at the Long Pits

Great White Egret from Hanson

Hanson Hide is still providing the most avian interest on the reserve, with daily occurrences of Great, Cattle and Little Egrets, 2 Glossy Ibis, Wood, Green and Common Sandpipers, Dunlin, Redshank, Greenshank, Golden plover, Lapwing, Ringed and Little Ringed Plover, Garganey, Mediterranean Gulls as well as all the expected species.

Redshanks from Hanson

Glossy Ibis from Hanson

Swallows gathering on the road at Dengemarsh this evening. All week 1,000s of Sand Martins have been moving South and West through the peninsula, this afternoon 43 Swifts flew south out to sea, hopefully not the last I'll see this year.