Cap Gris Nez amazing vis mig

With North Westerly wind forecast for last night and this morning myself TG,DW and GH boarded the 06.40 ferry to Calais. After a full English breakfast we went out on deck for a sea watch and were pleasantly surprised to find birds which ever way you looked. Most numerous were 100s of Gannets, Kittiwakes and Auks, with 10s of Little Gulls, 9 Red-throated Divers, 4 Red-Breasted Mergansers, 2 Eiders, a Great Skua, 4 Brent Geese and 100s of the Commoner Gulls, a Peregrine just outside Calais harbour and a Shag at the entrance. There was a considerable delay in the harbour waiting for a berth which enabled us to see the first of 100s of Mediterranean gulls seen by us today. We eventually disembarked and I drove the short distance to Cap Gris Nez. As we got out of the car at the car park vis  mig was obvious with 100s of Thrushes, Starlings, Finches and Skylarks overhead. 

As we made our way to the top of cliff  1000s of Passerines were flying all around us on a scale that I cannot remember ever seeing. We set up our scopes for sea watching at the top of cliff rather than half way down so that we could enjoy the spectacle of this wonderful Passerine movement. Counting the birds was impossible because the numbers were overwhelming With 1000s of Fieldfares, 1000s of Redwing, and a few Blackbirds, Song Thrushes and even a Mistle Thrush. The Finches consisted of 1000s of Chaffinches, 100s each of Brambling, Greenfinches, Goldfinches and a few Siskins and Tree Sparrow. Skylarks were numbered in 1000s as were Starlings also at least 4 Woodlarks and 4 Waxwings with 1000+ Jackdaws. The vast majority of these birds were coasting westwards with few venturing out across the channel to England.  

The sea was also full of birds 1000+ each of Gannet and Kittiwake, 100s of Little Gulls, 20+ Red-throated Divers, a Black-throated Diver, a Sooty Shearwater, 5 Eider, 200+ Common Scoter, a Velvet Scoter,  10+ Red Breasted Mergansers, 200+ Brent Geese. The fishing boats off shore had 1000s of  the commoner Gulls and some Mediterranean Gulls. It was very difficult to concentrate on the sea with so much going on overhead.

 This afternoon we walked some of the fields and hedgerows at Gris Nez which were full of Birds.

Some Brambling posed for me and we also saw Black Redstart, Stonechat, Yellowhammer, a couple of Common Buzzards and more Mediterranean Gulls.

 A Hen Harrier was hunting some of the fields and flushed a covey of 8 Grey Partridges. The whole day we only saw 2 Magpies and a few Crows but on the downside we did come across a bloodied Sanderling.

 The wood round the gun emplacements was fairly quiet but we did find Chiffchaff, Goldcrest and a Short-toed Treecreeper. A brilliant days birding in good company.

Short-toed Treecreeper

Dipping

The Whoopers were still in the Kale field at Midley on Walland Marsh this morning also a Merlin there. A plod around The Moat, Lloyds, West Beach, Lighthouse Garden and the Station Gorse  found just 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, a Black Redstart and 3 Sparrowhawks. Overhead a few Chaffinches and c400 Starlings came in.

Just along the road at Lade north pit the Long-tailed Duck was still present also a single Goldeneye with Pochard and Tufted Duck flock. In the Sallows several Water Rails squealing 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Goldcrests and 3 Redpolls. Overhead a couple more Redpolls and 3 Siskins and 2 Swallows.

 Long-tailed Duck Lade north pit

 Great White Egret taken through glass at Firth hide

On the reserve 3 Great White Egrets round Burrowes, While I was in Makepiece hide c2000 Starlings in several flocks flew across Burrowes having just arrived. When I entered Scott Hide BB called telling me a Penduline Tit was showing well in front of Hanson. It only took me a few minutes to get there and as I walked into the hide the Tit dropped into the reeds, despite staring at the reed bed for a couple of hours it was not not seen or heard again today. Apparently it was ringed, so is probably the same bird that has turned up for the last 2 years at this time of year. To make things worse just before I arrived SB and others in the hide had a Shorelark fly over the ARC. Some consolation was a Bittern flying across the lake into the reeds on the other side of the hide, a couple of distant Common Buzzards, 2 Marsh Harriers and a couple of Snipe. While there news came through from SB of a Long-tailed Duck on Burrowes from Makepiece Hide. I made my way there curious to see if it was the Lade bird. When I saw it I could see immediately that it was a different bird as it was much whiter on the face. I finished the day at Galloways hoping for a Short Eared Owl but only saw 4 Red-legged Partridges.

Wind and Rain

With the rain lashing down and the wind howling, where else would I be but sitting in my car sea watching at The Point on Dungeness beach. At times the car felt as if would be blown over in some of the squalls. In 2.5 hrs  150+ each of Gannets and Kittiwakes moved west, also 3 Red-throated Divers, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Sandwich Terns, c40 Auks, c30 Starlings in, a Merlin just offshore and 2+ Harbour Porpoises. As I drove back across the causeway a Great White Egret and 2 little Egrets were sheltering on the New Diggings.

 A soggy Glaucous Gull in its favoured puddle.

 Merlin just off shore

 At midday the wind seemingly strengthening I called it a day and headed over Walland, where the Whooper Swans were feeding reasonably close to the road. Little else was seen due to the wind.

A record shot of the Crossbill that Mike Buckland kindly informed me about at the pines yesterday taken in virtual darkness. This is the only Crossbill that I have seen on the peninsular that was not a fly over. 

Long-tailed Duck

The Whooper Swans were still at Midley as I drove across the marsh to Dungeness. A Marsh harrier hunted the field behind and 2 Swallows were hawking along the roadside ditch.

At the north pit Lade a Long-tailed Duck which kept its distance, a Goldeneye, a few each of Pochard and Tufted Duck, some dabblers, Great-crested and Little Grebes. In the Sallows several Water Rails squealing 3 Cetti's Warblers and 2 Chiffchaffs.
A sea watch from The Point in constant rain was poor with the usual Gannets off shore, 5 Red-throated Divers west, 4+Kittiwakes off shore with 3 Mediterranean Gulls 2 of which were robbing the kittiwakes. On the beach by the fishing boats the Glaucous Gull and a Yellow-legged Gull.

More of the same

Driving across Walland this morning the 2 Whooper Swans still present at Midley with Mute Swans, 2 Marsh Harriers hunting the fields, the Hawthorn hedges were full of Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Redwings and a few each of Fieldfare and Mistle Thrushes. In the bushes opposite the feeders a mixed flock of finches including 10+ Tree sparrows.

 In 2 visits to the fishing boats, 6 Red-throated Divers moving west, as were 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 26 Common Scoter, 14 Kittiwakes, 1 Sandwich Tern, 1 Bonxie and few Gannets. On the beach the 3w Glaucous Gull and an adult Yellow-legged Gull.

At the entrance to the reserve Boulderwall Farm held 10+ Tree Sparrows. In the Gull roost by the track another adult Yellow legged gull and on Burrowes 4 Great White Egrets, 7 Little Egrets, a Marsh harrier over and a Goldeneye among the usual wildfowl. At the ARC from Hanson 2 more Goldeneye and c300 Wigeon with other dabblers. 2 Chiffchaffs were in the reeds by the hide. On New Diggings a Great White Egret (a 5th bird or one of the 4)

Quiet

The 2 Whooper Swans were still at Midley this morning as I crossed the marsh on my way to Dungeness. From The Point the sea passage was disappointing 5 Common Scoter, 4 Red-throated Divers, 2 Teal, 7 Kittiwakes, 3 Guillemots, 2 Razorbills, a few Gannets and a Merlin in 2 visits this morning and lunchtime.
On the reserve 3 Great White Egrets on Burrowes and an adult Yellow-legged Gull in the roost by the entrance track. The ARC was quiet with of note 2 Goldeneye, 2 Marsh Harriers, 40+ Golden Plover, 7 fly through Dunlin and the usual Wildfowl. Looking at the forecast there wont be much change this week.

Egrets

The 2 Whooper Swans were still with the Mute Swan herd at Midley as I drove across Walland to Dungeness this morning. As I parked on the beach a Merlin flashed by after a Meadow Pipit. A plod along the beach towards the Lifeboat Station found the 3w Glaucous Gull and 2 adult Yellow Legged Gulls on the beach. 3 Red-throated Divers flew west and 26 Common Scoter east. 3 Guillemots were on the sea, a few Auk sp and Gannets were tooing and froing off shore. Highlight was a 1w Arctic Tern moving west. When I got back to the car the wind had got up and showers were threatening to come ashore.

At the ARC I spent an hour on my own in the empty Hanson hide staring at the Bull Rushes hoping that a Penduline Tit might appear. No luck with a Penduline but 2 Bearded Tits dropped into the reed bed frustratingly staying on the outside out of sight most the time and couple Water Rail were squealing. A Kingfisher made 4 fly pasts once attempting to perch on reed by the hide without success. (Oh for some perches to be strategically placed but that seems to be against RSPB rules). A party of 4 Goldeneye was round the Cormorant Island and C100 Golden Plover, c200 Lapwing, c400 Wigeon with smaller numbers of the usual wild fowl regularly being spooked by 2 Marsh Harriers and Sparrowhawk.

On the reserve 4 Great White Egrets and 3+ Little Egrets also a drake Goldeneye per CT and BH. From Firth Hide one the Great White Egrets often comes quite close allowing photo opportunities pity about the light. With the weather deteriorating I gave Dengemarsh and Hookers Pit a miss and went back to the ARC  for another look for a Penduline Tit, no luck, but another glimpse of the Kingfisher flashing by.

At Scotney the feral Barnacle Geese flock still present, c150 Golden Plover, 8 Dunlin and a Redshank on the flood and 2 Marsh Harriers hunting the fields at the back of the pit.

Coming back across Walland the 2 Whooper Swans showing well close to the road, 10+ Tree Sparrows, a Marsh Harrier and a Common Buzzard.

Walland Whoopers

Thanks to a text from Neil this morning I picked up on the 2 Whooper Swans he located with Mute Swan herd near Midley Drying Barns, both were still present late this afternoon.

 A stroll along the beach from the fishing boats to the Lifeboat station hoping for a Little Auk  or better on flat calm sea drew a blank. 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls were near the fishing boats. While searching the Gull flock for a Caspian Gull and failing the Glaucous Gull flew in landing a few feet from me hence another picture of it. 3 Swallows flew along the beach and 20+ Stock Doves came in.

 On the reserve there was 4 Great White Egrets on Burrowes and 6 Little Egrets, 4 Swallows flew south over Christmas Dell where there were many Blackbirds and Song Thrushes. Cetti's Warblers were calling all around the reserve. At Hookers 2 Stonechats, 4 Bearded Tits, 2 Marsh Harriers and several young Smooth Newts crossing the path.

Not Today

With the forecast of strong NNW wind and very cold with it I did not hurry out this morning. After domestic duties and a full English breakfast I made my way to Dungeness. On arrival TG and DW were already on site staring out to sea with the news that I had missed nothing good. I stayed after they left but saw nothing much of note. A short visit to the ARC was fruitless. Back at the beach the Glaucous Gull was on the beach also 2 Yellow-legged Gulls but still little of note passing off shore. A windswept Walland was only notable for the lack of avian activity.

Divers

08.00-14.00 A windy, chilly, damp and rewarding sea watch from the car on the concrete road with TG, later joined by DW, BB and MH.

Great Northern Diver: 1E  (very scarce at Dungeness)    Dunlin: 42E

Black-throated Diver: 2w                                                Curlew: 6E

Red-throated Diver: 6E  2w  4 on the sea                        Oystercatcher: 2E

Red-necked Grebe: 1 on sea                                             Yellow-legged Gull: 2 on beach

Brent Goose: 1408w   64E                                               Knot: 6E

Common Scoter: 69w  57E                                               Ringed Plover: 1 On beach

Velvet Scoter: 1E                                                             Turnstone: 4+ on beach

Wigeon: 132w  15E                                                          Bonxie: 2w

Teal: 33w  2E                                                                   Kittiwake:39w  4E

Pintail: 4w  2E                                                                  Little Gull: 2w   1E  

Red-breasted Merganser: 10w                                          Mediterranean Gull: 5w

Shelduck: 4w                                                                    Starling: 400 in

Merlin: 1 out   1 in off                                                       Goldfinch: 80+E

record of  todays Red-necked Grebe(will be glad to get my 7d back next week)

 Of note on the ARC from Hanson was c150 Golden Plover, 1 Marsh Harrier and the usual wildfowl. In the Willow Trail 2 Chiffchaffs and 2 Goldcrests with the Tit flock. On the reserve c25 Tree Sparrows at Boulderwall Farm and the 3 Great White Egrets on Burrowes being harassed by Grey Herons.

2w Male Hen Harrier

 As I drove out of Lydd on to Walland a superb 2w male hen harrier hunting a Kale field but staying distant. Further on 20+ Redwings at Hawthorn Corner and 10+ Tree Sparrows at Midley.