Northern France 25/05/12

With thoughts of a 0300 alarm I was unable to sleep. At midnight I got up and drove as well as plodded round my Nightingale tetrads. I only heard 2 singing males which hopefully means all the other birds are paired up and breeding.

 At 0415 I met TG,MH and PT our chauffeur for the day, we then picked up CP en route to the chunnel. First stop Sailly Bray a superb area of wet meadows managed for hunting. Larson Traps were much in evidence and seemed very effective as few corvids were seen but passerines were numerous and much to our delight several Grey Partridges were present. The star birds here were at least 3 Bluethroats, 3+ Marsh Warblers, Serins, a reeling Savi's Warbler (which myself and CP could not here but seemed to deafen the other 3) 3 Fly over Black-winged Stilts, a Great white Egret (which I missed) a supporting cast of Stonechats, Cuckoo's, Turtle Doves, Yellow and White Wagtails, Corn Buntings, Yellowhammers, Skylarks and Reed buntings, also most the common Warblers.

Turtle Dove

Nest stop Le Crotoy where some road side pools with lots of Breeding Black-headed Gulls, a couple of fly over Mediterranean gulls, 4 White Storks flew over, 10+ Turtle Doves, 2 Garganey another Black-winged Stilt, a Common Sandpiper and a few other commoner ducks.
Next stop Marquenterre where in a single Pine tree a White Stork on its nest with Spoonbill, Grey Heron, Night heron, Little Egret and Cattle Egret  an marvellous sight. As this is a popular site we had a quick walk in the woods where we glimpsed a Tawny Owl thanks to a Jay, saw more Turtle Doves, heard a Nightingale and had good views of a Crested Tit.

Honey Buzzard

Our last stop was Crecy Forest. Where a Honey Buzzard gave superb views and at least 3 more were seen, as were several Common Buzzards and Hobby's. Also there 2+ Short-toed Treecreepers, 3 singing Melodious Warblers, more Garden Warblers and a nuthatch bringing our species tally for the day to a very respectable 96. A great day out in superb company.

A darker HB

Moths & Dragons

The Patch was very quiet today with only 6 Common Terns, 3 Sandwich Terns, 1+ Yellow -legged Gull and 5 Whimbrel and 2 Bar-tailed Godwits through.
Round The Point migrants were non existent. 2 resident Black Redstarts collecting food for separate broods and a Wheatear.

I had a pleasant hour at the obs where the moth trap seems to have done well last night. DB kindly  tried to educate me in moth ID as I am a complete moth Philistine.  Thanks to him I am starting to become interested in moths.

At the north end of the trapping area the only bird of note was a flyover Greenshank. Four-spotted Chasers, Hairy Dragonflys, Broad-bodied Chasers were much in evidence along with a number of Damselflys.

At the ARC Pit little of note.
A small group of us are off to Northern France tomorrow for a days birding which should be good.  

Eyed Hawkmoth

Light Brocade

Peppered Moth

Poplar Hawkmoth

White Spot

Four-spotted Chaser

8 Red Kites

After a call from Nick Green last night (http://theshadoxhurstgarden.blogspot.co.uk/) alerting me to 4 Red Kites that had been following a plough near Shadoxhurst, which is a very short journey from my home, had me on site at 07.45. Even as I parked I could 2 Red Kites sitting out in the ploughed field and 2 more in a tree in the middle of the field. As I watched them 2 more Red kites dropped out of the back of tree into the field  making 6.  (many thanks Nick) I called a couple of local birders but as often happens just before they arrived all 6 Kites just upped and flew off north. Just as MH and BP arrived another Red Kite (No.7) flew in from the south and continued northwards, at least there journey was not a  waste of time. We all decided to go back to Dungeness to spend some time on the viewpoint. As we turned into Boulderwall Farm another Red Kite (No.8) appeared being harrassed by a Marsh Harrier which it dwarfed. Most of the Kites were quite tatty individuals untagged and probably originating from the continent.

From the viewpoint we saw 4 Marsh Harriers, 3+ Hobby's, a Cuckoo, several flight views of Bearded Tits, a Common Tern fishing infront the veiwpoint, Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers singing around us, also a Lesser Whitethroat and the Bittern boomed several times.
The Little Stint was still at the south end of the ARC Pit and on the sea 4-500 Common Terns along with adult Iceland Gull untill the sea fog moved in and obscured The Patch.
On Walland Marsh plenty of Tree Sparrows at all the usual spots, a few Corn Buntings and Yellowhammers, 3 Turtle Doves and 3 Marsh Harriers.

Another Missed Bee-eater

A family of  6 Ravens

This morning at The Patch the adult Iceland Gull still present, also 1st summer Little Gull, 1+ adult Yellow-legged Gulls and 600+ Common Terns. As there was a Reed Warbler new in on the sea wall at the back of The Patch, I decided to plod along the bottom of the sea wall to Dengemarsh Gully in the hope of something good. I found 2 pairs of Wheatears on the open ground west of the power station, a pair of Ringed Plovers, a Yellow Wagtail, 20+ Linnets and a family of 6 Ravens on the switching station. Just before I reached Dengemarsh Gully I got a text about a Bee-eater on wires by the station at least 20 minute walk away. I got to the station as quickly as possible but was to late. Apparently the bird w3as only on the wires for a few minutes before flying south.
I spent most the afternoon on the concrete road at The Point staring out to sea scanning for a Roseate Tern and enjoying the sun. Up to 100 Gannets off shore and a few Common and Sandwich Terns tooing and froing and a few Swallows trickling in but not the hoped for Roseate Tern.
At the south end of the ARC Pit a Little Stint, a Dunlin, a Little-ringed Plover, 3 Ringed Plovers, a Redshank, 2 Oystercatchers, a Cuckoo, 4 Hobby's hawking the railway bank and a Marsh Harrier.

Iceland Gull

A short visit to Scotney in a cold northerly wind this morning found a summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit, a Marsh Harrier hunting near the windmills, 3 Wigeon and  little else of note.
I had just arrived at the north end of the Long Pits when I received a text from OL to say DW was watching an adult Iceland gull at The Patch.
A few minutes later I was watching the gull roosting on the beach and later feeding in The Boil. Also there 400-500 Common terns and 2 Mediterranean Gulls. Later I went back to The Patch with MH and the Gull was still there, also a first summer Little Gull.

 On the beach near the Iceland Gull a Herring Gull with with identical black smudges on both sides of its face and round its throat. Presumably feeding stains.

From The Patch I went to the reserve which was decidedly wind swept. I spent a very pleasant hour at the viewpoint watching up to 8 Hobby's hawking over the reed beds. These were joined by numerous screaming Swifts, 3 Marsh Harriers, a Sparrowhawk, several Common Terns, 2 Bearded Tits, a Cuckoo and singing Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers. 

A very quiet day

 A damp start to the day at Galloways where the only birds of note were a family of Stonechats and a Red-legged Partridge.
At sea from The Point the local Common Terns and Gannets tooing and froing and 2 Harbour Porpoises. On the land the resident Common Whitethroats, Northern Wheatears and Linnets, the only new migrant was a Willow Warbler in the lighthouse garden.
The Desert was devoid of birds and the trapping area held just the residents.
At the ARC Pit 5+ Hobby's and little else of note.

Huskies providing some entertainment

Bee-eater

Dungeness Point this morning was very quiet. A plod around the trapping area in a vain hope of finding yesterdays Woodlark was fruitless. The highlight being a Common Buzzard drifting high west.
At the south end of the ARC Pit a summer plumaged Turnstone and a Little-ringed Plover.
At Dengemarsh 3+ Marsh Harriers and 6+ Hobby's. In front the hide the C15 pairs Common Terns are making them selves at home on the rafts. As I left the hide DW called to tell me a Bee-eater was on the wires viewable from the approach road to the lighthouse. I was at least 10 minutes from my car, with another 7 or 8 minutes drive to get there achieved in less than half that (the causeway is a blur at 100 MPH). Fortunately the bird stayed long enough for me to get there  and get record pictures of it  before it flew of North. As we watched it flying away we could hear it calling when it was the best part of a mile away. Had we not been following the bird with our binoculars we would have never located it from the call believing it to be much closer. A slow day with a brilliant ending, which shows if you put in the time the rewards will come.    

Breskens 18/05/2012

Breskens vis mig viewpoint

 After picking up TG,DW and GH we drove the short distance to Dover and got the 21.20 ferry to Calais then drove the c120 miles to Breskens arriving at c01.00. On arrival a Nightingale and a Grasshopper Warbler were singing. We tried to get a few hours asleep which I was unable to do.
c04.00 dawn broke and we climbed the bank to the viewpoint. 2 Long-eared Owls were quartering the fields by my car and already a trickle of Swifts were moving along through, a Green Sandpiper dropped into the field and the first of the Yellow Wagtails came through.
Very quickly the trickle of Swifts became a flood with Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins joining them. Waders and Terns were moving along the shore and Herons,Storks and Raptors started moving. There were literally migrant birds all around a brilliant experience and this was not an exceptional day by Bresken's standards. In all 106 species were seen by us today. The highlights were:
Great-White Egret: 2
Spoonbill: 30+
White Stork: 10+
Purple Heron: 4
Honey Buzzard: 3
Common Buzzard: 7
Black Kite: 1
Marsh Harrier: 10+
Hen Harrier: 3
Montagu's Harrier: 1
Hobby: 4
Wood Sandpiper: 4
Black Tern: 6
Turtle Dove: 8+
Long_eared Owl: 2
Short-eared Owl: 1
Swift: 6000+
Swallow: 1000+
Tree Pipit: 4+
 Blue Headed/ Grey Headed Yellow Wagtail: 300+
Icterine Warbler: 1
Grasshopper warbler: 1
Hawfinch: 1
For a full species account go to: http://www.trektellen.nl/trektelling.asp?telpost=1

Purple Heron

Honey Buzzard

Spoonbills

 A nearby wetland held 18+ pairs of Black-necked Grebes, breeding Black-tailed Godwits, Ruff, Common Sandpipers and this small Canada Goose

Richardsons Canada goose?

Late Again

After a family day in the midlands yesterday (42 Red Kites on M40) I had a short lay in this morning. So no surprise that I missed the best birds on the sea watch (1 Pomarine Skua E, 2 Arctic Skua's E and 3 Black Terns) in fact the most interesting thing I saw on the sea was the above ship.
I could find no migrants around the point just the resident Black Redstarts, Stonechats and Wheatears.
At the ARC Pit and New Diggings squadrons of Swifts hawking along with a few Swallows, House Martins, Sand Martins and 4+ Hobby's. Also a single Greenshank flew around and disappeared towards Lade.
At Scotney 2 Dunlin and some Ringed Plovers, also 2 Bar-headed Geese.
Opposite Lydd Gold Club the Turtle Dove was back on the wires and further along the road the Little Owl was on the derelict sheds, 2 Hobby's hawking over the Rape and a Marsh Harrier.
The best I can say about the Bee-eater is I missed it by a few minutes.
With favourable E to SE winds forecast, a car load off us are off to Breskens, Holland tonight for a dawn start hoping for some spectacular vis mig. 

Black Kite

With a cold north wind blowing in very heavy hail and rain showers, the sea was once again unproductive. In a 30 minute sea watch there were a few Gannets and Common Terns off shore, 6 Common Scoter moved east, also a Common Seal and 2 Harbour Porpoises off shore.

At the back of the hide on the power station wall a Black redstart trying to gather enough insects to feed its young. Nearby 2 male Wheatears displaying.

With seemingly no new migrants on The Point I went to the south end of the ARC Pit which held 2 Little Ringed Plovers and scores of Swifts hawking over the causeway and the pits. From there I moved on to the reserve where the car park was empty. Many more Swifts and a few each of Swallow, House and Sand Martin hawking over Burrowes Pit but little else of note. At Christmas Dell the Lesser Whitethroat still singing along with Common Whitethroats, Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers. At Dengemarsh hide met MH and RP who were on there way out trying to dodge to weather. Once inside the hide the heavens opened and for the next half hour I was marooned there. The new Tern raft seems to be success by attracting more Terns and 2 Marsh Harriers braved the deluge. On the return trail 2 Hobby's and 2 Cuckoo's but little else of note.

Back at the ARC Pit half hour in Hanson Hide having lunch and seeing little. As I was walking back to the car park a large raptor passed me. Initially I ignored it assuming it was a Marsh Harrier I lifted my bins and **** Black Kite. I watched it flying towards Lydd before I put my brain in gear and lifted my camera, hence the very poor heavily cropped images. After dashing to Cockles Bridge to see if I could see it again I went back to Boulderwall Farm, where fortunately an RSPB working party had also seen the Kite.
Another half hour spent at the Water Tower hoping the Kite might come back found up to 6 Hobby's hawking over the pits.

Very poor heavily cropped image of a Black Kite