04/10/2024

Wheatears behind the fishing boats

2 sea watches today and both were very poor especially with SE breeze blowing, at least they can only improve. The Desert was quite bird this morning with lots of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps but still no sprites. Very little of note around the reserve. 

Black Redstart on the perimeter wall

Whinchat in The Desert, quite probably the last I'll see this year

Common Redstart in The Desert

Bearded Tits over  The Desert

Juvenile Arctic Skua at the fishing boats

Little Grebe from Hanson

Black-tailed Godwit on one of the rapidly disappearing islands on the ARC

02/10/2024

Brent Geese going back east this afternoon. As is usual the first groups to arrive are all adults.

The sea watching continues to be very poor.

 07.45-09.00 from the Hide & 13.15-15.00 from the boats with RW
Brent Goose: 140W     164E

Wigeon: 18W      3E
Common Scoter: 5W    7E

Great-crested Grebe: 2 present
Dunlin: 2E

Common Tern: 22E
Sandwich Tern: 8W
Kittiwake: 2W
Little Gull: 1W   1 present 
Black-headed Gull: 16W
Mediterranean Gull: 6W
Common Gull: 7W
Herring Gull: present n/c
Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c
Lesser Black-backed Gull: present n/c  
Arctic Skua: 1W  2E 

Razorbill: 3E

Auk sp: 3E

Red-throated Diver: 1W    
Gannet: 65W   42E
Cormorant: 40W
Sand Martin: 1E
Swallow: 19E
House Martin: 5E
Raven: 4E
Grey Seal: 1
Harbour Porpoise: 2

Arctic Skua chasing a Sandwich Tern

Arctic Skua catches its prize mid air

The tables are turned

Common Tern at the fishing boats this afternoon

One of the two Black Terns on Burrowes this morning

Apart from the Black Terns there was little of note on Burrowes. There hay fields look good but this morning they're absolutely nothing there avian wise.

 Just a thought, as the fields were  allowed to completely become bone dry for at least a couple of months and no water being pumped on at all, would the drying out kill all the inverts the Ducks and waders feed on, hence no birds there now until food stocks replenished!🤷

At the ARC the Glossy Ibis , Garganey and Black-necked Grebe all still present per RW.

There were at least 30 Common Snipe in front of Christmas Dell Hide

01/10/2024

This Wheatear was still behind the fishing boats this morning

A very poor sea watch for the 1st October!
07.45-08.45 with RW from the fishing boats
Brent Goose: 8W
Common Scoter: 2E
Great-crested Grebe: 2 present
Common Tern: 1W
Sandwich Tern: 6W
Little Gull: 2W 
Black-headed Gull: 15W
Mediterranean Gull: 3W
Common Gull: 4W
Herring Gull: present n/c
Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c
Lesser Black-backed Gull: present n/c
Red-throated Diver: 1W         
Gannet: 34W    c40 present
Cormorant: 33 present
Merlin: 1 in off
Swallow: 12  out
House Martin: 14
Wheatear: 1 present
Grey Seal: 1
Harbour Porpoise: 2

Glossy Ibis at the ARC showing well from Hanson 

There are still good numbers of Shoveler and Gadwall present on what is left of the islands, the bushes held numerous Chiffchaffs, Cetti's Warblers were in good voice this morning around the ARC, a Raven flew over as did a few Golden Plover.

On Burrowes plenty of Lapwing, 2 Black Terns and a Common Tern and 100s of Hirundines. 23 Common Snipe were at Christmas Dell making use of the new islands.

At least 1 Garganey still present this morning

The Great-crested Grey is still feeding its demanding offspring

A lovely pristine Painted Lady by the track to Hanson 

Little Owl

Early afternoon I cycled down to the sandpit which is now rapidly filling with water and was devoid of waders. As I cycled past the Little Owls home it was out posing for me again, so again I took its photo.

Cycling past the main lake 2 Spoonbills flew by bringing me a sudden halt to snap them in flight, I watched them fly on the lake and land on the Herring Gull island. On my way back they had moved again to the eastern causeway. At the back of Scotney Farm 2 Green Sandpipers and 3 Wheatears were the highlights.

Spoonbills

Spoonbills on Herring Gull Island

Spoonbill feeding by the eastern causeway with the other roosting nearby with unsavoury company