02/10/2025

In an early morning walk around The Desert. c50 Siskin, 10 (6+4) Crossbill, 2 Brambling, 4 Redpoll, c20 Reed Buntings, c350 House Martins, c50 Swallows and a single Great Spotted Woodpecker all flew over, on the deck still some Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Goldcrests, 2 Firecrests, Meadow Pipits, Stonechats and Skylarks, with Kestrel and Sparrowhawk  hunting.

I visited South View to see the Red-breasted Flycatcher which had moved next door by the time I arrived, though a little while later it came back to South View, where it remained for the rest of the day but was considerably more elusive than it was yesterday.

Another visit this afternoon found it still elusive, so with my knees playing up I joined Dave for a cup of tea and a chat in his front garden, while we were chatting the Flycatcher flew in for a drink by a small pond giving superb views, a Stonechat also came in. Again many thanks to Dave and Sheila for their hospitality. 

Red-breasted Flycatcher inspecting the small pool

Red-breasted Flycatcher taking a closer look

Red-breasted Flycatcher about to take a drink

Stonechat

 

01/10/2025

Not what I expected the DBO ringing team to trap in the TA, Many thanks to them for showing the bird

Linnet at the Dungeness Bird Observatory

In The Desert this morning lots of Siskins flew over mainly unseen along with Reed Buntings and at least a couple of Crossbill. In the Brambles Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Reed Buntings and Stonchats, a Marsh Harrier flew south along with a few Swallows, 2 Black redstarts were at West Beach. Jacob got brief but good enough views of a juvenile Pallid Harrier which hopefully hang around.

At Scotney the Buff-breasted Sandpiper continues to reside in its chosen field, but wasn't showing as I cycled past, though I did see several Wheatears, Yellow Wagtails and Golden Plover before I got distracted by news of the Red-breasted Flycatcher. Apparently there was very little of note on the reserve today which is not surprising with the amount of works that are taking place at the moment.

The superb Red-breasted Flycatcher in the garden of David and Sheila Bunney, many thanks to them for their hospitality without which these images would not be possible.

Crunching on a a big fat Bluebottle

29/09/2025

Raven over The Desert this morning

Chiffchaffs were the stars today with 100s and probably 1,000s of them across the peninsula, many were ringed today along with Blackcaps and a few Crests. Lots of Siskin overhead along with Skylarks and small numbers of Hirundines. Other bits included Spotted Flycatcher, Common Redstart, Firecrests and Hobbys. A Wryneck was found at the Teasel bank early afternoon but was typically elusive.

The Buff-breasted Sandpiper was still in its chosen field at Scotney. No news from the reserve today.   

Chiffchaff

A spotted Flycatcher in a private garden

28/09/2025

I have spent much time this weekend at the back of Scotney with the 1,000s of birds out there, large numbers of Meadow Pipits and Linnets, Golden Plovers, Lapwings, Wildfowl, Starlings not forgetting a constant stream of Hirundines all of which were attracting the attention of Merlins, Hobbys, Kestrels, Sparrowhawks, Marsh Harriers and Common Buzzards, but the star of the show has to be the Buff-breasted Sandpiper which was very confiding at times, a super stunning bird.  

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

 

Buff-breasted Sandpiper flushed by a Merlin allowing a flight image

A Black-tailed Godwit dropped in as well

Arctic Skua from the fishing boats

The sea watching has been poor for the last few days and I cant see much improvement until the end of the week. However I have high for passerines and Moths.

Brent Geese moving West

A drake Common Scoter

The USS Gerald R Ford Aircraft Carrier passing Dungeness yesterday

The USS Winston S Chuchill Destroyer passing Dungeness yesterday

26/09/2025

A very short sea watch this morning mainly because I overslept, but was still in time to watch a distant Osprey go out, thanks to Jacob for the heads up on that. Hirundines were pouring through the peninsula and lots of Siskin going over.

I again cycled out to the back of Scotney where after a bit of wait the Buff-breasted Sandpiper appeared with some Yellow Wagtails also there. The farmer was working in the AGP field so not surprising there was no sign of it. 

It was not surprising that there were no reports from the ARC today with Hanson Hide and track closed for maintenance, more surprising there no reports from Burrowes and just a single Glossy Ibis seen at Denge Marsh.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Some of 16 Ruff an the Scotney Sward

Chiffchaff

Every bush around the peninsula seemed to hold Chiffchaffs, any berry laden bush seemed to have at least 1 Blackcap in it, also the first time this Autumn I've seen lots of Goldcrests. 

                                                                    Blackcap                                                                         Goldcrest                                                                Wheatears at Galloways

25/09/2025

 This mornings sea watch was a re-run of the last couple of days, birds disappearing in the Sea Smoke.😀

As Richard was doing the main reserve and Hanson hide and track is closed for renovations for c2 weeks, I got my bike out and headed for Jurys Gap. On the way I diverted to check the scrub around the back of the Herons Park, lots of Chiffchaffs and a few Blackcaps and a Goldcrest.

On the Scotney sward 15 Ruff (18 late afternoon) among the hordes of Egyptian, Canada and Greylag Geese. 

A couple of Yellow Wagtails feeding around a Sheep

Further down towards Jurys Gap I noticed a bunch of Corvids obviously harassing something unseen behind a line of reeds on the far side of the lakes, a few yards further on I could make out a large brown bird that could only be a White-tailed Eagle, presumably one of the West Sussex birds. I had to cycle to Jurys Gap before I was able to head inland and try to re-locate the Eagle on the ground, I scanned from a vantage point inland of the old sand pit and could see nothing, until the Eagle rose up from behind the reeds and headed low away from me. An hour or so later it reappeared and appeared to land somewhere between Hook Wall and The Woolpack.

The setaside fields are full of Linnets, Meadow Pipits, Goldfinches, Starlings, Skylarks a few Tree Sparrows etc, this number of small birds also attracts Sparrowhawks, Kestrels, Merlins, Marsh Harriers and Common Buzzards, I'm sure it wont be long before they are Joined by a Hen Harrier or two and maybe Short-eared Owls or something better.

White-tailed Eagle

White-tailed Eagle with a Raven

At the back of the lakes I was checking the various fields and spotted 3 Wheatears 2 of which looked to be Greenland Wheatears, while looking at these a Buff-breasted Sandpiper came into view, before I could get an image of the bird it disappeared much to my frustration, while looking for it I found 4 Bar-tailed Godwits and 2 Knot at the waters edge, another scan and Sandpiper reappeared on a bank the other side of the inlet allowing me to get some awful record images, a Raven flew low through and flushed it and the Wheatears again to my frustration, I moved another 20mts along the field and suddenly it ran out from behind a hillock just a few yards away from me and commenced feeding seemingly oblivious of me.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper