Incredible day at Dungeness

I arrived at the sea watch hide at 06.55, to be regaled by TG of clouds of Waders and Terns passing  and Raptors and Passerines coming in off the sea. But things had now slowed. After going back to the car to get my binoculars that i'd forgotten (AGAIN) I settled in the hide and almost immediately a Common Whitethroat landed exhausted on the beach in front the hide and took advantage of the many midges on the ridge. Then the call came to say 2 White Storks were at Scotney.    

Newly arrived Common Whitethroat on beach in front hide 

 The hide was quickly vacated and shortly after I was pulling into the layby at Scotney followed by MB next to the Storks. Before we could get out of our cars they were off and appeared to land out on Walland Marsh. I went to look for them with no luck. Fortunately MB located them behind Bretts Agregates and reasonable views were had.

 AS it was obvious lots of migrants were dropping into Dungeness I went back. As I dropped DR off at the top of Long Pits a Turtle Dove flew over. Stopping at a private garden Common Whitethroats, Blackcaps, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs  were coming into the garden from the Broom scrub in huge numbers. Swallows and Sand Martins were coming over in waves and 2 Pied flycatchers and a Redstart were in the garden. Next the lighthouse garden which was jumping with warblers and another Redstart. The Station Gorse held another Pied Flycatcher, Redstart, Whinchat, Whitethroats, Blackcaps, Garden Warbler, Willow warblers and Chiffchaff.

Garden Warbler in Heligoland trap

Pollen covered Garden warbler

 The Moat was stuffed full of Warblers. Common Whitethroat probably in 3 figures(40 crossed the causeway in a couple of minutes). Large numbers of Blackcaps, Garden Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers (some Acredula) and 3+ Lesser Whitethroats, 4+ Whinchats, 3 Nightingales, 2 Wood Warblers, 3 Common Redstarts, a Spotted flycatcher, 3 Tree Pipits, 8+ Northern Wheatears,  2+Redpolls, 2+ Yellow Wagtails over and 2 Grey Partridges.

Blackcap bush

Chiffchaff

Willow Warbler (I don't like this shiny new ring)

Common Redstart

 My own rough totals for The Point were:
Pied Flycatcher: 5
Common Redstart: 8
Spotted Flycatcher: 7
Whinchat: 8
Northern Wheatear: 40+
Common Whitethroat: 150+
Blackcap: 40+
Garden Warbler: 14
Lesser Whitethroat: 3+
Willow Warbler: 100+
Chiffchaff: 40+
Wood Warbler: 2
Yellow Wagtail: 5
Tree Pipit: 3 (and i am deaf)
Swallow: several hundred
Cuckoo: 2
Merlin: 1
I am sure these totals are only a small percentage of the actual totals.

Wood Warbler

At the south end of the ARC this afternoon were 8 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Little Ringed Plovers and Hundreds of Swifts and hirundines over the pit
At Scotney loads of waders(Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwits, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Golden Plover, 1 Ruff, 3 Knot, 2 Turnstone, Dunlin and a Curlew Sandpiper 

Back to Northerlies

I spent most the day sea watching in the company of TG,MH,BB,PT. apart from an hour spent in the trapping area where I missed a Wood Warbler and a Montagu's Harrier which I missed by seconds.
The sea watching was predictably slow with leaden skies and light northerly winds, but a steady passage of Terns and some waders kept the interest going just!
Red-throated Diver: 1E
Black-throated Diver: 1E
Fulmar: 7E
Gannet: 207E
Common Scoter: 244E
Shelduck: 3E
Garganey: 1E
Knot: 85E
Sanderling: 25E
Grey Plover: 10E
Bar-tailed Godwit: 356E
Whimbrel: 16E
Oystercatcher: 2E
Arctic Skua: 2E
Great skua: 1E
Black Tern: 5E
Little Tern: 113E
Arctic Tern: 22E
Commic Tern: 1251E
Little Gull: 1E
Kittiwake: 6E
Swift: 3 in
Harbour Porpoise: 5+ off shore.
At the south end of the ARC Pit  1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Yellow Wagtails and 100s of Swifts and Swallows with lesser numbers of House and Sand Martins.
Scotneys flooded field looks excellent for waders and this early evening held 35 Whimbrel, 10 Bar-tailed Godwits, 15 Grey Plover, 5 Dunlin and a Ruff.
By the spoil heap in Tickners lane on Walland Marsh 6 Yellowhammers, 4 Corn buntings and a Cuckoo.

Mr Fox Goes Hungry

Arriving at the beach at 06.30, with a cold northerly blowing and leaden skies, did not bode well for sea watching. It started well with a Pomarine Skua passing as I arrived and another a little later, then the Terns started moving and passerines and hirundines started arriving. A Northern Wheatear landed in front the hide and rested for a few minutes before moving on. 40+ Little Terns, 15+ Arctic Terns, several hundred Commic Terns and 4 Red-breasted Mergansers passed when at c08.30 all passage stopped.

Northern Wheatear resting infront the sea watch hide

 By 09.00 I was plodding around The Point, where in the Lighthouse Garden 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Blackcaps and the now resident Common Whitethroat. At west beach Gorse a Garden Warbler was singing and another Willow Warbler. In the Station Gorse a Chiffchaff and a Willow Warbler, nearby the "Rubicola" Stonechat and a 10+ Northern wheatears, also a Black Redstart singing on the power station fence. Next stop south end of the ARC Pit where a Greenshank dropped in to join the 2 Little Ringed Plovers and Cetti's warbler and Lesser Whitethroat were both singing. Over the pit hundreds of Swifts and Swallows with smaller numbers of House Martins and Sand Martins. From Hanson very little to be seen as all the islands are now under water, but plenty of Reed, Sedge and Cetti's warblers singing and 6+ Tree Sparrows in the car park bushes.

 On the reserve very few islands left on Burrowes, those that are have been taken by the Herring gulls and Cormorants. From Makepiece Hide a Common Sandpiper on the tiny bit of shingle left in front the hide, a Peregrine could be seen sitting on the railings above its nest on the power station and presumably its Youngs heads could be seen bobbing up occasionally.

 At Christmas Dell a couple of Northern Wheatears, a Garden Warbler was singing along with many Sedge, Reed, Cetti's and Whitethroats and 5 Black-tailed Godwits flew over. Just past the Dell a Mallard with newly hatched ducklings found the downside to the shiny new predator proof fencing, as a fox stalked them. Though the ducklings could get through the fence to the safety of the reeds and ditch she could not. As the Fox started his attack in her panic she got her neck stuck in the fence. Fortunately I was able to deter the Fox and extricate her from the fence, then drop her the other side where her brood quickly joined her quite unafraid of me or the Fox.

 Further on at Dengemarsh 6 Yellow Wagtails seemed to like the fence when they were not feeding round the cows. Also from the side of the track I flushed a Short-eared owl, further still towards hayfield No 3 4 Bearded Tits in the reed lined ditch. At the bottom of the field I could see a drake Garganey (PT had 2) 3 more Black-tailed Godwits, several Wheatears and a Whinchat. At Hookers the Lessser Whitethroat has returned to his bit of scrub on the bend, a Bittern flew in front the ramp, a Hobby and 4+ Marsh Harriers there. A Spotted Flycatcher was in the bushes with the Tree Sparrow nest boxes in, it was still there a couple of hours later when I returned with MH with the addition of a Cuckoo. At Scotney 18 Whimbrel and 8 Bat-tailed Godwits and 2 Marsh harriers.

Far to slow with the camera

Terns and the Lighthouse Garden

Sea Watch totals for this morning  myself and TG et al:

Red-throated Diver: 2E

Black-throated Diver: 13E

Fulmar: 7E

Gannet: 92E

Brent Geese: 2E

Tufted Duck: 4E

Gadwall: 1E

Common Scoter: 674E

Velvet Scoter: 16E

Whimbrel: 21E

Bar-tailed Godwit: 27E

Little Tern:12E

Commic Tern: 3372E

Arctic Tern: 41

Sandwich Tern:42E

Black Tern:  12E

Little Gull: 6E

Great skua: 1E

Arctic Skua: 12E

Pomarine Skua: 12E

The Terns were passing so fast and on such a broad front, low and high that probably many were missed and separating Common and Arctic was near impossible. 

The Lighthouse garden was full of migrants this morning including a singing Melodious Warbler found by DW. Also in there was a male Common Redstart, a Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers, a Sedge Warbler, 3+ Blackcaps and Common Whitethroat.
Around The Point 14+ Northern Wheatears, 2 Whinchats, 2 Pied flycatchers, 2 Spotted flycatchers, 4+ Common Redstarts, 2 Black Redstarts, 4+ Yellow Wagtails over and a few Hirundines.

A good day on The Point

Star of the day was undoubtedly the Ortolan bunting found by DW and NG. A smart bird though quite flighty, never really allowing close approach. Other grounded migrants included a bright male Redstart, 12+ Wheatears, 3+ Willow Warblers and a Whinchat a rarity in spring now. Sea watch totals below.



O5.00-16.15 Myself +TG+JHRC+DW et al With an hours break to admire the Ortolan:
Red-throated Diver: 8E
Black-throated Diver: 13E
Gannet: 48E
Fulmar: 36E
Shelduck: 17W
Common Scoter: 243E
Bar-tailed Godwit: 98E
Whimbrel: 26E
Curlew: 1E
Grey Plover: 32E
Dunlin: 10E
Arctic Skua: 14E
Pomarine Skua: 22E (1,5,1,15)
Great Skua: 3E
Black Tern: 1 on The Patch
Commic Tern: 1298E
Sandwich Tern: 547E
Swift: 21 in off
Swallow: 64 In off

Elusive Migrants

On the ARC Pit and New Diggings this morning Hundreds of Swallows, House Martins, Swifts and a few Sand Martins. At the south end 2 Little Ringed Plovers, a Wheatear, 4+ Yellow Wagtails and at least 1 Channel Wagtail. An hour and half in the sea watch hide produced very little of note apart from a Black Tern on The Patch. After hearing that a Nightingale had been seen in the lighthouse garden I made my way there. Shortly after arriving at the garden I heard the Nightingale and got a very brief view of it. While trying to get a better view a male Pied Flycatcher briefly appeared and then disappeared as soon as I called DW and DB. While waiting for it to reappear, a bird flew out of the hedge at the back of the garden straight towards us over our heads out into a patch of Gorse. A Wryneck! Which disappeared completely. In the same patch the "Rubicola" Stonechat and mate were flit6ting around. In the lighthouse garden the Pied Flycatcher showed several more times briefly right at the back. Also seen 2 Willow Warblers, a Blackcap, a Common Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat and male Common Redstart flew out to the Gorse. 

 4 Pomarine Skuas which I missed looking for the Pied gave TG the incentive to sea watch from the fishing boats. Shortly after arriving at the boats he called to say to more Poms had just gone past. A few minutes later I joined him 15.25-16.55:
Black-throated Diver: 1E
Fulmar: 22W
Gannet: 80W
Common Scoter: 7W
Avocet: 4E
Bar-tailed Godwit: 174E
Whimbrel: 1E
Great Skua: 1E
Pomarine Skua: 3E  2 of which I missed!
Arctic Skua: 14E
Little Gull: 1E
Common Tern: 226E
Kittiwake: 114E
Swallow: 5 in off

Cute Killer

Trawling through thousands of pictures today, came across this one I missed first time round taken in Antarctica last year. Got to be the cutest Killer!

Channel Wagtails of Blue Headed Wagtails

With the rain battering the bedroom window when the alarm went this morning, I could not raise my spirits high enough to get up. When I did rise the rain got heavier with strong NE winds  I was going nowhere today. Besides Mondays forecast looks good with a return to southerlies.
Sorting through yesterdays pictures I came across the 2 below. Pit about the quality the heat haze was terrible yesterday honest.

 Record of Channel or Blue Headed Wagtails 3of at least 5 present

Record of Channel or Blue Headed Wagtails 3 of at least 5 present yesterday. The left hand bird was displaying.

Nightingale Survey and Dungeness

05.00 at the Military Canal at Warehorne plodding around the tetrad looking for Nightingales. Two hours  and no Nightingales, but seems to be more Blackcaps, Whitethroats and Lesser Whitethroats.
Joined TG in a full sea watch hide at 07.30. These are the totals recorded by TG from 05.30-09.30 and from the fishing boats 14.15-16.45:
Red-throated diver: 5E
Black-throated Diver: 2E
Fulmar: 5W
Gannet: 207W
Brent Geese: 14E
Common Scoter: 139E
Whimbrel: 12E
Bar-tailed Godwit: 12E
Turnstone: 7 on beach
Little Gull: 1 off shore
Kittiwake: 14W
Common Tern: 593E
Sandwich Tern: 61E
Great Skua: 32E
Arctic Skua: 29E
House Martin: 2 in off
Swallow: 12 in off
At the south end of the ARC Pit 5 Channel Wagtails, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 1 White Wagtail, 2 Little Ringed Plovers and 3 Swifts over.

 At Scotney 3 Little Gulls,6 Whimbrel, 8 Dunlin, 1 Redstart, 2 Willow Warblers, 1 Cuckoo and 2 Marsh Harriers. At Boulderwall Farm 10+ Tree Sparrows, 9 Swifts overhead, 4 Whimbrel beside the entrance track and 4+ Marsh Harriers.

Another Great Days Sea Watching

Another great days sea watching. Not as busy as yesterday but certainly alot more comfortable.
06.00-11.45 from the sea watch hide and 14.00-17.00 from The Point:
Red-throated Diver: 10E
Black-throated diver: 16E
Fulmar: 27W
Manx Shearwater: 2W
Gannet: N/C some off shore
Brent Goose: 62E
Pochard: 4E
Goldeneye: 2E
Common Scoter: 675E
Red-breasted Merganser: 3E
Merlin: 1 in off
Whimbrel: 21E
Bar-tailed Godwit: 45E
Dunlin: 2E
Sanderling: 5E
Oystercatcher: 6E
Great Skua: 66E
Arctic Skua: 44E
Kittiwake: 16 W
Mediterranean Gull: 4+ off shore
Yellow-legged Gull: 1 off shore
Little Tern: 6 off shore
Commic Tern: 148E + c250 on The Patch
Sandwich Tern: 95E
Tawny Pipit: 1 in at The Point and flew west (TG,MC)
This evening 2 Blue-headed Wagtails at south end of the ARC Pit per TG