First Swallows

White Wagtail

In between sea watches today 2 Black Redstarts and  a Chiffchaff around the lighthouse, the Long-tailed Duck still on Burrowes Pit, 3 Snipe, 3 Goldeneye and White Wagtail at the southern end of the ARC Pit.
0800-1000 from the sea watch hide:                      1415-1700 From fishing boats:
Red-throated Diver: 6E                                           Red-throated Diver: 9E
Gannet: 15E                                                            Gannet: 9E
Brent Geese: 231E                                                  Brent Geese: 595E
Shelduck:5E                                                            Fulmar: 2E
Mallard: 4E                                                             Common Scoter: 29E
Teal: 5E                                                                   Red-breasted Merganser: 2E
Common Scoter: 32E                                              Curlew: 3
Merlin: 1 in off.                                                       Sandwich Tern: 151E
Curlew: 12E                                                            Common Tern: 7E
Oystercatcher: 6E                                                    Little Gull: 10E
Guillemot: 2 on sea                                                 Barn Swallow: 1 in off
Barn Swallow: 1 in off                                            Harbour Porpoise 3+
Harbour Porpoise: 5+

Back to Sussex

On the way to West Sussex to visit mum I made a short stop a Newhaven to have another look at the 2w Iceland Gull which was posing on its usual post. Unfortunately early morning is not the time to photograph it as it is straight in to the sun,

On the way home I stopped off at one of the commons to have a look for some Woodlarks. They were very easy to find right beside the car park. I was unable get near them as they were constantly flushed  by all the dog walkers. Over the road in the castle grounds a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker  drumming and calling, c10 Crossbills over, a couple of Siskins over and 2 Common Buzzards. Nearby at Coldwaltham 2+ Short Eared Owls, 3 Common Buzzards and 5 Little Egrets.   

Back to the Woods

Dungeness sea watch hide 08.00-10.20:
Red-throated Diver: 6E 2w
Gannet: 8+ fishing off shore
Merlin: 1 in off
Brent Geese: 34E
Common Scoter: 10E
Curlew: 8E
Dunlin: 4E
Kittiwake: 5E
Mediterranean Gull: 2E
Great Skua: 1E
Sandwich Tern: 32E 17W
Small number of Meadow Pipits and Linnets in off.
2+ Harbour Porpoise.
With few grounded migrants and cold NE wind blowing across The Point I moved inland to Orlestone Forest where it was at least 10c warmer and I spent a few hours plodding around 2 hours of which was spent watching a pair of Nuthatches nest building. It appeared that one of the pair did all the building while the other kept guard and called encouragement. At one point it called frantically while the other bird dived into the nest cavity as a Sparrowhawk dashed through. I still cant find any Marsh Tits there nor the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker today. Good numbers of butterflies were on the wing Brimstones, Peacocks, Small Tortoiseshells and a Comma.
 

First Arctic Skua of the year

08.30-10.00 from the sea watch hide:
Red-throated Diver: 23E 2w
Gannets: 12E
Merlin: 1 in off
Brent Geese: 34E
Shoveler: 7E
Common Scoter: 41E
Shelduck: 1E
Red-breasted Merganser: 10E 4w
Oystercatcher: 2E
Curlew: 2E
Mediterranean Gull: 1E
Arctic Skua: 1E
Razorbill: 1E
Harbour Porpoise: 6+ off shore
Around the lighthouse 1 Northern Wheatear, 1 Black Redstart, 2 Chiffchaff and a few Meadow Pipits and Linnets. With the birding so quiet today an early finish to do the garden chores and collect Brownie points.

Melecta Albifrons

Many thanks to Roger Haggar for enlightening me on the id of yesterdays Bee's. Roger tells me they are a Melecta Albifrons a species of Cuckoo Bee that use the nests of the Flower Bee ( Anthophora Plumipes).

Today from sea watching hide  07.30-11.30:

Red-throated Diver: 1w                                      Shoveller: 30E

Gannet:  47E                                                       Tufted Duck: 3 in off

Greylag Goose: 4w                                             Common Scoter: 15E

Brent Geese: 868E                                              Red-breasted Merganser: 11E

Shelduck: 5E                                                      Oystercatcher: 6E

Wigeon: 12E                                                       Bar-tailed Godwit: 1E

Teal: 38E                                                             Curlew:: 6E

Mallard: 20E                                                        Mediterranean Gull: 5E

Pintail: 6E                                                            Kittiwake: 4E

1 Skylark and a few Meadow Pipits and Linnets in off.

Round the lighthouse 2 Chiffchaffs and a Black Redstart. Also 3 Small Tortoiseshells and 2 Peacock butterfly's. Not much else probably in part due to the sheer number of birdwatchers around (two huge parties) the area. 

Newly arrived showing the black Olive Tree  pollen

At south end of the ARC Pit 1 Curlew, 3 Common Snipe, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Little Egret and 2 Goldeneye.
A stroll from the ARC car park to the pines produced 13 Tree Sparrows, 100+ Golden Plover over, 2+ Marsh Harriers, 2 Chiffchaffs and 3 Cetti's Warblers.

Showing my ignorance!

Dungeness sea watch from the hide 08.00-11.30:

Red-throated Diver: 14E

Gannet: 42E

Fulmar: 1E

Brent (dark bellied): 576E

Brent (pale bellied): 1E

Shelduck: 7E

Pintail: 1E

Wigeon: 3E

Common Scoter: 36E

Eider: 2E

Red-breasted Merganser:  6E

Oystercatcher: 5E

Curlew: 13E

Sandwich Tern: 71E 23W

Common Buzzard: 1 in off.

3+ Harbour Porpoises off shore.

Lighthouse Garden held 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Black redstart. A Raven was on the pylons.

At the south end of the ARC Pit 1 Avocet and 1 Curlew.

Curlew ARC Pit

Wood Mouse

On the reserve 4 Goldeneye seen from the centre, but billions of midges round Burrowes Pit again made the walk to Scott Hide uncomfortable. 40 Golden Plover over Christmas Dell, 3+ Bearded Tits and 2 Marsh Harriers from Hookers Viewpoint and a Wood Mouse on the return trail were of note.  Showing my ignorance, on the sandy bank beside the path to Dennis's Hide, 100s of some kind of what i think may be a Miner Bee sp. (see images below). I would be grateful if anyone can enlighten me.

Miner Bee sp. ???

In burrow entrance

Dunge then Rye

From the sea watching hide 08.00-08.40:

Red-throated Diver: 2E
Gannet: 108E
Sandwich Tern 4E 3W
Merlin in off.
With very little of note in the way of migrants to be seen at Dungeness today, I made the short drive to Rye to see the improvements that have been made to the reserve.
The walk along the bank towards the Ternery Pool once a dry partially arable field is now a mass of channels and pools that will soon be alive with birds. Already today Avocet, Redshank, Lapwing and Ringed Plover were busy feeding and soon probably nesting.
The Ternery Pool with its newly built up islands and extra islands already hold c200 Sandwich Terns, several hundred Black-headed Gulls,  c50 Mediterranean Gulls(probably alot more), c200 Oystercatcher, 4+ Little Grebes, 6 + Tufted Duck, 2 Ringed Plover and the nesting season has not even started yet.
The Quarry has also had more islands put in and looks excellent for nesting Terns and Gulls. Now that the water levels can be regulated by the new sluice, I am sure the reserve will just get and better and is a credit to the wardens and all those who have contributed to the improvements to it.
I know I will be regular visitor in the future.

Sandwich Terns, 2nd year Mediterranean Gull and Oystercatchers

Fog and Sun

Very slow sea watch 08.00 till the fog rolled in at 08.35 from the sea watch hide:
Red-throated Diver: 9E
Gannet: 8E
Common Scoter: 4W
Kittiwake: 3E 2W
Sandwich Tern: 9E 6W
Harbour Porpoise 2
Due to the fog I moved to the ARC Pit which was also very quiet with 1 Little Egret, 12 Goldeneye, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Water Rail, 1 Marsh Harrier.
On the reserve also quiet but very warm with huge swarms of midges round Burrowes Pit, where a Ruff was on one of the islands, the seemingly ever present Long-tailed Duck and a Common Buzzard stirring up the Gulls. A pleasant hour at Hookers viewing ramp enjoying the warm sunshine listening to the Bittern booming and another fly through, Bearded Tits pinging, Water Rails squealing, a pair of Great-crested Grebes in front the mound, Cetti's Warblers in full voice, up to 4 Marsh Harriers displaying, a Sparrowhawk dash through, 4 Curlews over and 7 feral Snow Geese that flew into Dengemarsh fields.
Having problems uploading images today.

Bits and Pieces

Slim pickings at The Point this morning where I could only find 2 Northern Wheatears, 1 Black Redstart, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Stonechats and 2 Sparrowhawks.
Moving on to the ARC Pit 5 Dunlin, a Curlew and 4 Avocets over at the south end. 2 Bearded Tits by the path to Hanson Hide, 2 Marsh Harriers over and 3 Goldeneye from the hide. 2 Chiffchaffs in the Willow Trail also 2 Cetti's Warblers, a squealing Water Rail and a Common Lizard cloud bathing on the boardwalk.

 On the reserve on Burrowes Pit 4 had become 5, 3 Goldeneye, 2 Marsh Harriers , 5 Dunlin, 6 Ringed Plover and the Long-tailed Duck.

A lazy day in the sun

On arrival at The Point I was advised not to waste time looking at the sea as that is all I would see.
A plod around the research station and both lighthouses found just 1 female Northern Wheatear, 1 Black Redstart, the Rubicola Stonechat and its mate and 2 Chiffchaffs. In the Gorse behind the railway station another Chiffchaff and photogenic Firecrest. Moving out across The Desert to the trapping area found another Firecrest and a Sparrowhawk displaying overhead.
At the southern end of the ARC Pit 2 White Wagtails with a couple of Pied and little else of note.
From the track to Hanson hide 5 Common Buzzards, 3 Marsh Harriers displaying and 2+Cetti's Warblers singing. From the hide still 4 Goldeneye but nothing else of note.
With most of the winter birds gone and summer ones not yet arrived I spent several hours plodding around the reserve enjoying the beautiful spring weather. From the picnic site the Long-tailed Duck, 22 Bar-tailed Godwits and 3 Goldeneye. From Makepiece 6 Ringed Plovers and a Sandwich Tern. The 3 fields inside the predator proof electrified fence (I can vouch for that) have now been partially flooded and look excellent for migrant waders, dabblers and wagtails. They should also provide a relatively safe nesting area for Lapwing and Redshank a pair of the latter were already displaying there today. An hour at the viewpoint raced by watching up to 4 Marsh Harriers displaying, a pair of Great-crested Grebes displaying, 2 Bearded Tits, a Bittern booming occasionally and several Cetti's Warblers singing.