Summer Migrants

Sea passage was not quite so good this morning. In a couple of hours from the sea watch hide 300+ Red Throated Divers, 1000+ Brent Geese, 14 Little Gulls, smaller numbers of Red Breasted Mergansers, Common Scoter, Gannets, Dabblers, Common and Sandwich Terns all accompanied by 8+ Harbour Porpoises. Not bad for a supposed quieter day.

One of several first year Kittiwakes patrolling the beach.

On the land 2+ Ring Ouzels in the desert which I failed to see, my first Willow Warblers one of which was found its way into the Heligoland and onto the Dungeness ringing figures. Also there 6+ Chiffchaff, 6+ Goldcrest , 3+ Fieldfare, 4+ Song Thrush, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Merlin. Several Hares were seen here and on the reserve.
The south end of the ARC held 11 Smew still and a little Egret. 2 Great white Egrets on New diggings from the causeway.
On the reserve 2 Spoonbills and the 2 Penduline Tits which I also missed. A Swallow at Boulderwall was my first UK one this year. While looking for the Pendulines I saw the Black Necked Grebe at the back of Hookers and 400+ Golden Plover in the fields behind also a Great White Egret briefly, some in superb summer dress. At several places around the reserve Bearded Tits were pinging but unseen and more Chiffchaffs were seen, Marsh Harriers were displaying and a Whimbrel was in the fields by the entrance track as I made my way back to the car late afternoon. 

All at Sea!!

A photograph cannot convey the spectacle of migration

A brilliant sea watch today in the company of AJG, JRHC, MH, and RJ 05.55-15.30:
Thanks to AJG for collating the totals:

Red throated Diver 474 E
Great crested Grebe 30+ off shore

Red-necked Grebe 3 E, 1 W

Fulmar              12 E

Gannet            198 E

Greylag Goose    1E

Brent Goose     3179 E

Common Scoter  8240 E

Velvet Scoter      2 E

Mallard               10 E

Shelduck              2 E

R B Merganser       151 E

Shoveller          117 E

Pintail              210 E

Teal                   90 E

Gadwall             33 E

Wigeon             31 E

Scaup                 2 E

Tufted Duck       3 E

Curlew              35 E

Whimbrel            2E

Spotted Redshank 1 In

Dunlin                135 E

Knot                      6 E

Sanderling            1 E

Ringed Plover      3 E

Bar-tailed Godwit 9 E

Avocet                  2 E

Grey Plover          7 E

Oystercatcher     27 E

Bonxie          1 E

Meditteranean  Gull 2 W

Sandwich Tern 38 E

Common Tern 108 E

Little Gull 24 E

Kittiwake 8 E

Auk sp 24 E

M/Pipit 4 in

Skylark 4 coasting

Goldfinch 2 in

Peregrine, Resident male chased off an immature male

Harbour Porpoise: 4+ off shore

 On the land 2+Ring Ouzel and a fall of Goldcrests and Robins on The Point. At south end of the ARC still 10 Smew (2 drakes), 3 Goldeneye, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Gt Wt Egret, 1 Little Egret, 2 Marsh Harriers over and a few dabblers.
At the tower a Garganey and the first Sedge Warbler per PT.

Playing catch up!

                                             Presumed Leucistic Herring Gull

Another good day seawatching at Dungeness with AJG, MH : 05.45-11.30, 12.20-14.20, 15.45-16.30 totals:

Red throated Diver: 501E
Black Throated Diver: 2E
Fulmar: 5E
Gannet: 278E
Brent Goose: 2131E
Barnacle Goose: 1E
Shelduck: 11E
Common Scoter: 2103E
Velvet Scoter: 5E
Eider: 5E
Red Breasted Merganser: 50E
Pochard: 4E
Mallard: 8E
Garganey: 2E
Pintail: 118E
Wigeon: 11E
Teal:     99E
Gadwall: 14E
Shoveller: 111E
Oystercatcher: 23E
Grey Plover: 1E
Curlew: 15E
Bar-tailed Godwit: 1E
Knot: 6E
Dunlin: 22E
Sanderling: 1E
Arctic Skua: 1E
Little Gull: 2E
Kittiwake: 13E
Mediterranean Gull: 8E
Leucistic Herring Gull: around
Sandwich Tern: 101E
Common Tern: 3E
Meadow Pipit: 9 in
Carrion Crow: 3 in
Harbour Porpoise: 6+ off shore

 At the south end of the ARC a Yellow Wagtail with 5 Pied Wagtails, 1 White Wagtail, 6 Meadow Pipits, 1 Great White Egret, 1 Little Egret, 1 Curlew, 1 Black tailed Godwit and 12 Smew 2 drakes.

 From the screen hide the Spoonbill was showing quite well.

The Law of Sod!!!!!

As I predicted with me in Portsmouth this weekend the spring sea migration at Dungeness kicked off big time. Yesterday was good but today was exceptional.
Today's totals below: 05.50-15.20 with thanks to AJG for the info.

Red throated Diver 3171 up   A record day total for Dungeness!

Black-throated Diver 9 up

Great Northern Diver 1 up

Fulmar 55 up

Gannet 443 up

Brent Goose 5612 up

Scoter 1166 up

Velvet Scoter 13 up

Eider 24 up

Merganser 18 up, 2 down

Shelduck 18 up

Wigeon 8 up

Pintail 8 up

Shovellor 8 up

Teal 5 up

Gadwall 1 up

Marsh Harrier 2 in

Common Buzzard 1 in

Peregrine 1 about

Curlew 159 up

Whimbrel 1 up

Oystercatcher 41 up

Sanderling 3 up

Knot 9 up

Auk sp113 up

Little Gull118 up

Kittiwake 202 up

Med Gull c25 around?????

Sandwich tern 455 up

Meadow Pipit 6 in

Carrion Crow 2 in

Herring Gull 1 albino

Black Headed Gull and Herring Gull: many 1000s feeding off shore and on the beach.

No doubt tomorrow when I am back at Dungeness things will be back to normal. Hey ho!!!!!!!

Another thoroughly miserable day!!

08-15-10.00 from an empty sea watch hide in rain/sleet and snow and strong north easterly winds:

Red Throated Divers: 204E

Great Crested Grebe: 76 on sea

Fulmar: 9E

Common Scoter: 11E

Red Breasted Merganser: 4E

Bar-tailed Godwit: 1E

Sandwich Tern: 1E

Kittiwake: 65E

Auks: 19E

Harbour Porpoise: 2+

It was still raining hard when I left the hide, by the time I reached the car I was very wet and some what fed up with this thoroughly miserable weather.

From the comfort of a warm car on the causeway 14 Smew(1 drake) was the only birds of note on the ARC. 2 Great White Egrets still on New Diggings.

Driving back across the marsh still plenty of Winter Thrushes and on the fields opposite Midley Barn 27 Ruff with c100 Golden Plover and c100 Lapwing.
As I will be in Portsmouth for the weekend for family stuff I have no doubt that the sea watching at Dungeness will be brilliant and the reserve will be full of rare and scarce migrants.

The Winter Continues

Arriving at the sea watch hide at 08.30 in another snow/sleet shower and a fierce north easterly. I had the hide all to my self, not surprising considering how cold it was in the hide, by 09'30 I'd had enough.

Red Throated Diver: 120+ on the sea 38E

Great Crested Grebe: 60+ on sea

Gannet: 117E

Brent Geese: 4E

Common Scoter: 33E

Shoveler: 7E

Wigeon: 2E

Oystercatcher: 3E

Bar Tailed Godwit: 1E

Knot: 9E

Kittiwake: 21E

Sandwich Tern: 1E

Common Tern: 1E  my first of the year

Auks sp: 26E

Harbour Porpoise: 4+ off shore

After a warm up I had look around the bushes on The Point and finding just 1 Black Redstart and a Raven overhead of any note.

The south end of the ARC from the causeway 5 red head Smew still but little else. 2 Great White Egrets still on New diggings,

Scotney G P was virtually bird less apart from the Herring Gulls on there nesting island. As another snow shower swept in and my house move to the coast imminent I called it a day to get some domestic stuff done.

Last of the Summer Wine Crew in Northern France

Myself, MH,CP,AJG and PT our driver for the day had a superb day in Northern France today in search of Black Woodpeckers and Middle spotted Woodpeckers. We went over early via Eurotunnel and drove straight to Crecy Forest seeing several pairs of Grey Partridges on the way and my first Swallow of the year over the motorway.

In the forest we parked up and wandered along one of the tracks having brief views of Red Kite and Hawfinch. Nuthatches were calling all around and several Marsh Tits were seen. It was not long before we heard a Woodpecker calling which then flew over us, as soon it landed CP got onto it immediately identifying it as a Middle Spotted Woodpecker. It eventually showed well to all of us along with its mate. Being buoyed with our success we drove onto another part of the forest for Black Woodpecker. As we got out the car the forest floor appeared to rise up as 100s possibly 1000s of Redwing took off moving to the canopy. For a few minutes the cacophony of sound from calling Redwing, something which I have never experienced and recalled a large Starling roost resounded through the forest. While watching and listening to this we heard another pair of Middle Spotted Woodpeckers which also showed well Fantastic! While in the forest we also had good views of several Short-toed Treecreepers which were busy calling and chasing one another, Firecrests and more Marsh Tits. Although we did not achieve our prize of Black Woodpecker we had a truly amazing time in the forest. 

                                   Middle Spotted Woodpeckers Crecy forest

                                   c50 miles as the Woodpecker flies from Dungeness!!!!

 We move on to Sailly Bray, on arrival the wind had increased so the chances of seeing the Bluethroats were not good and weren't surprised not to see any. However at the entrance a fine male Black Redstart, a White Wagtail, several Chiffchaffs, a Sand Martin and 12 Swallows greeted us. 2 Stonechats were along the fence line, 2 Great White Egrets, 2+ Marsh Harriers, a ringtail Hen Harrier, 2+ Common Buzzards were over the marsh, as we leaving another Red Kite and Goshawk gave us brief views.

 Next stop was Le Crotoy ponds which can be viewed easily from the road or if you are feeling lazy you need not leave the warmth of the car.

 At Le Crotoy we saw a pair of Garganey, 2 Spoonbills, 2 more Great White Egrets, 5 White Storks flew over, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 more superb White Wagtails, 3 Little Ringed Plovers, 7 Common Snipe and at least 2 stunning Water Pipits. More about our day out can be seen HERE

Our last stop of the day was at Sangatte where AJG picked out a Stone Curlew despite the freezing and now blasting wind. A superb end to a brilliant day in Northern France with 87 species seen without really trying. I am sure the The Last of the Summer Wine Crew will be back in Northern France a few more times this year having loads more laughs and superb birding.

A Black Day

An hour at the sea watch hide this morning was not particularly  productive with c60 Red-throated Divers Divers east, c40 Gannets feeding off shore and very small numbers of Common Scoter, Sandwich Terns and Auks.

A walk around The Point in increasingly strong winds produced a male Black Redstart, a Stonechat and 4 Meadow Pipits a very poor total for April.

The south end of the ARC there were 4 Black-tailed Godwits, 8 Smew (2 drakes) and 3 Goldeneye. New Diggings held 2 Great White Egrets and a red head Smew.

From Hanson and the Screen another Great White Egret and a Chiffchaff  by the track.   

 By lunch time the NE wind had strengthened further making the land virtually unbirdable. In Dengemarsh Gulley a Black Restart and a Wheatear were struggling to perch in the wind, overhead a Peregrine and a Raven made light of the wind. Parking at Springfield Bridge I plodded around the hayfields seeing little of note. Round Hookers 3 Marsh Harriers put on a marvellous aerial display and the Black-necked Grebe shone in the sun.

Lazy Day

Waking up at 05.30 and seeing the trees swaying in the the easterly gale I went back to bed. When I finally surfaced I made my way to Dungeness seeing a new bird for the year in the form of 2 Mandarin Ducks chasing round over some gardens near Shadoxhurst. (Were you looking up Pete and Pam). On the Lydd road at Belgar Farm the Barn Owl was hunting, this time away from the road  with no photo opportunities.   

An earlier shot of the same bird as today 

As I am a year older today I had family things to do so couldn't stay at Dunge to long, so decided to park at the ARC and wander out to the back of Hookers to look for yesterdays Bluethroat.
I joined the Burt family on the walk there seeing Tree Sparrows at Boulderwall, at least 3 different Marsh Harriers, Curlews, Wigeon and Stock Doves of note. At Hookers the Black Necked Grebe was still present, 2+ Bearded Tits, Cetti's Warblers shouted, Water Rails squealed but no sign of the Bluethroat.   

North Easterly still blowin!

With the NE wind still blowing and occasional snow/sleet showers heralded yet another bitterly cold day on the peninsular. An hour from the sea watch hide 08.20-09.20 was not particularly inspiring:

Red-throated Diver: 37E

Great-crested Grebe: 100+ on sea

Fulmar: 1E

Gannet: 40+ feeding off shore

Brent Goose: 7E  2W

Common Scoter: 2E   9W

Oystercatcher: 4E

Little Gull: 2E

Arctic Skua: 1E

Auk sp: 14E

Carrion Crow: 4 in off

Meadow Pipit: 8 in off

Harbour Porpoise:  4+ off shore

In a snow shower around the lighthouse 3+Black Redstarts but little else.

At the south end of the ARC 3 Smew still (1 drake), 3 Goldeneye, 5 Pied Wagtails, 1 Black Redstart, 3 Meadow Pipits, 1 Redshank, 1 little Egret and the usual Shoveler, Gadwall, Teal, Tufted Duck and Pochard.

On New Diggings 2 Great White Egrets and a Little Egret.

 The Little Ringed Plover was still on its muddy patch down Dengemarsh Road. Parking at Springfield Bridge I walked round the hay fields and once again failed miserably in my quest to find some Garganey there, but I did have 2 flight views of Bitterns, a Raven and a Peregrine over and 3 Pintail on the flood.
At firth hide 2 red head Smew and 3 Goldeneye were the pick of the wildfowl, behind the hide 3 Chiffchaffs but no sign of the Penduline Tits.
Wandering back up to Dengemarsh 4 Marsh Harriers were displaying and another Bittern and great white Egret dropped into the New Excavations.
Wandering round Hookers 3 more Chiffchaffs, several Cetti's warblers chattering, 4 Bearded Tits, another Bittern, 50+ Stock Doves. On the shooting pool another Great white Egret and 100+ Wigeon, among the feral Geese.
At the back of Hookers a Black Necked Grebe with the Coot and Tufted duck but stubbornly staying as far away as possible and into the light. While watching the Grebe the Marsh harriers continued hunting the ditches and fields, putting up another Great White Egret out towards Lydd. In the reeds more Bearded Tits were pinging and a Peregrine flew through.
Wandering back to the car the Raven came through again as did a Peregrine.
Apparently soon after I left Hookers someone found a male Bluethroat, life can be a bitch sometimes! Hey Ho! (I would be grateful if anyone has any more information on this bird).