In and out

An early morning walk from Springfield Bridge to Hookers and back found plenty of Sedge, Reed and Cetti's Warblers singing along with several Common Whitethroats in the cold north wind, at least 1 Bittern was booming and a couple of Marsh Harriers were quartering the reed beds. In the hayfields a Ruff a Greenshank and 2 Whimbrel, Redshanks and Ringed Plovers displaying. The first broods of Greylags are out and about being eyed by a stoat. At Hookers my first Cuckoo of the year, a Lesser Whitethroat singing from its usual bush.

While having breakfast after a bit of painting a call from SB alerting me to a Red-Rumped Swallow over Burrowes Pit, I managed to get there in time to see it high over Burrowes and New Diggings with a mixed flock of House Martins, Sand Martins , Swallows and Swifts. Despite waiting c1hr it did not return so no pics were obtained but Mike Buckland managed a few good shots HERE but 2 Ravens, a Great White Egret, a Peregrine and 3+ Whimbrel were seen.
Early afternoon while doing more decorating a text from Mike about a Long-tailed Duck at Scotney, when I arrived an assortment of locals were there looking at a pale blob asleep on the spit, until it lifted its head to reveal its identity. This was presumably the bird reported last Sunday and the first on the peninsular this year apart from a couple of flybys seen by DW. It was still present this evening along with a Wheatear, 20+ Yellow Wagtails, 5 Whimbrel and a Marsh Harrier.

A Wash Out

First thing this morning sea passage was nil in the drizzle! I gave up after 45 minutes with grand totals of 12 Common Terns, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Swallow in and a few Gannnets off shore with a couple of Harbour Porpoises.

A Black Redstart on the power station wall and a Willow Warbler by the car park were the only birds of note on the way to the obs.

At the back of the obs was a Whinchat my first of the year, a wander around the southern part of trapping area and the desert in the increasingly heavy rain was virtually bird less. Back in the moat several Common Whitethroats and the Whinchat.

At the south end of the ARC a party of 21 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Whimbrel and the Spotted Redshank. A Great White Egret was sheltering under the bank, also another on New Diggings and 4 Swifts through.  

A brief dry spell early afternoon allowed a wander around the Willow Trail and up to the tower with King Squacco before the rain set in again.  In that time a Lesser Whitethroat was singing by the car park as were Common Whitethroats, Sedge Warblers and Cetti's Warbler which were found all along the walk, also plenty of Reed Buntings and a 3 Whimbrel. At the tower we just missed a male Hen Harrier but saw 2 Marsh Harriers and a Hobby another first of the year for me.

Living on the Marsh

View out to the ARC/RSPB reserve and power station from the small balcony of my new abode! (pity about the cables) Looking forward to all the raptors!

 Finally my move to the marsh has happened and we are now settled in. BT excelled themselves by installing a new phone line and Internet connection far speedier than estimated, so I am now back in blogland.

 First thing at The Point this morning the fog was so dense I could not even see the sea! A wander from the Old Lighthouse to the observatory produced only a Black Redstart. While at the Obs PT HERE text to say he had a Ring-necked Duck (Conningsbrook Bird?) on Lade South Pit. A few minutes later we were watching the duck in the foggy gloom. Myself and King Squacco were about to leave when the fog started to lift allowing better views of the duck while a few parties of Swallow flew through.

 Stopping at the south end of the ARC the Spotted Redshank swam out from behind the sedge very briefly a Greenshank flew in and was flushed immediately by a Marsh Harrier.  2 adult Mediterranean Gulls flew in to wash and preen and a couple more Swallows went through. On New Diggings 2 immature Great White Egrets.
Popped home for breakfast and then a wander round Dengemarsh where a Wood Sandpiper had been seen to drop into Hayfield 3 which was covered in a low mist and heat haze, Greenshank, Redshank, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Oystercatcher and Lapwing could be seen and a Raven and Peregrine flew over. After a spot of lunch and few chores I went back to the south end of the ARC, where 3 Whimbrel and the Spotted Redshank were showing well, until a pair of birders pulled up behind me and got out their car and flushed everything, not the first time this has happened. Please stay in your car if visit this site!

Next stop Dengemarsh and Springfield Bridge with SB and CT. CT could see a wader at the far end of the Dengemarsh flood that puzzled him because of the heavy heat haze. The 3 of us looked there and all I could see was a Redshank but with new directions CT got me onto my first Wood Sandpiper of the year. The 3 of us walked down the side of the flood and the Sandpiper took no notice of us allowing fairly close approach with super scope views. We carried onto Hayfield 3 and the Sandpiper flew over in display flight. On the Hayfield a Greenshank and a pair of Garganey and another Peregrine flew through.

Taken at 21.25 25th April 2013

Many thanks to DW for ringing this evening to let me know of this stunning partial eclipse.
One of the reasons for moving to this particular house is The Big Sky view.

Alpine Swift Again

In a strong SW wind this morning a reasonable sea watch but by 09.45 passage had finished. Of note 54 Great Skuas, 10+ Arctic Skuas, 35+ Mediterranean Gulls and a Little Gull. By the car park 6+ Wheatears.

 A few minutes after leaving the beach news came through that yesterdays Alpine Swift had been relocated at Lade by PT of Plovers Blog. A few minutes we were watching it over the caravan park with a Common Swift and a few hirundines. It showed well all day as it moved at great speed in the near gale force wind over the site. Also a Serin was seen in the caravan Park per PT.

This will be my last post for at least a week as I am moving house on to the marsh tomorrow and BT say it will take this long to install the internet.

Alpine Swift

Driving along Hestia Way this morning I was surprised to see 3 Waxwings after a break of nearly 3 weeks. These are by far my latest Waxwings.

Arriving at a nearly full sea watch hide this morning at 08.00 it was clear on entering by the long faces that nothing much was happening on the sea. AJG had been there since 05.45 and the totals below are his sightings till 08.15.

Red Throated Diver 33  E

Gannet 77  E

Brent Goose 59 E , 4 W

Common Scoter 28 E

Whimbrel 7 E

Curlew 3 E

Sandwich Tern 277 E

Common Tern 112 E

Arctic Skua 4 E

Bonxie 2 E

Med Gull 4 around

Kittiwake 11 E

Swallow 1 in

Carrion Crow 12 in

A rather meagre total for the time and effort he put in.

I had a wander with AJG round The Point up to the north end of the Long Pits and back to the observatory seeing of note 1 Black Redstart, 1 Common Redstart, 2 Firecrests, several each of Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Swallows also 2 Common Whitethroat.

At the south end of the ARC the highlight was 16 Yellow Wagtails and 2 Little Egrets, also a Great White Egret on New Diggings. A wander around the Willow Trail and track to the pines found more Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs, Common Whitethroats, Sedge, Reed and Cetti's Warblers with a few Hirundines overhead.

At Scotney apart from a few Swallows little of note.

I was just climbing out out of the car at Springfield Bridge when SB phoned to say an Alpine Swift was over Boulderwall Farm heading for Hookers Pit. I immediately scanned over Dengemarsh to Hookers and a few seconds later the Alpine Swift came into view in front the viewing ramp where to people were sitting looking at Pochard totally unaware the Swift was right in front of them. It flew around Hookers for a very brief time before appearing to head back to Boulderwall not to be seen again by 18.00hrs as far as I know. A big thank you to Steve who found it and gave up his chance of photographing it, by phoning me and others, once again many thanks Steve.

Whilst making my way to the viewing ramp with AJG we saw 2 Garganey and a Greenshank in Hayfield 3, in the brambles more Sedge Warblers and Whitethroats. From the viewing ramp 3+ Marsh Harriers, 2+ Bearded Tits and more Hirundines, back at Springfield Bridge a Peregrine dashed through and a Raven went over. Another look at the sea from the fishing boats was disappointing but 8 Wheatears on the beach was good.  

Yellow Wagtails and Garganey

A slow sea watch this morning in the company of MH and BB 08.15 - 09.45:

Red Throated Diver: 5E

Gannet: 32E

Brent Geese: 54E

Common Scoter: 45E

Velvet Scoter: 3E

Oystercatcher: 10E

Great Skua: 4E

Kittiwake: 4E

Common Tern: 15+ off shore

Sandwich Tern: 10+ off shore

Auks: 4E

Swallow: 3 in

Harbour Porpoise 3+ off shore

A plod around the bushes in the mizzle was mercifully cut short after seeing just a couple of Chiffchaffs and a Sedge Warbler by a text from SB about 3 Garganey on Hayfield 3. Parking at Springfield Bridge with BB and making our way to Hayfield 3, we met BH who told us the Garganey had moved to Dengemarsh. On arrival there the birds were easily located and showed reasonably well and showed some signs of display.

With the drizzle worsening we made our back to the shelter of our cars. Next stop Dengemarsh Gully where I found just 2 Chiffchaffs. On the way back to the beach a stop off at the south end of the ARC where 8 Yellow Wagtails and 2 Little Egrets could be seen. On New Diggings 3 Great White Egrets of which only one has moulted to breeding plumage. 15 minutes at the fishing was enough to tell me that sea passage had not improved.

From the entrance track in the field by the Boulderwall Farm 30+ Yellow Wagtails, a Whimbrel by the corral, 3 Marsh Harriers over Hookers Pit also several Sedge Warblers singing. 

A Trickle of Migrants

Sea watch totals from the hide 05.40-09.10 thanks to AJG for collating them:

Red throated Diver 127 E

Gannet 147 E

Fulmar 3 E

Brent Goose 315 E

Eider 22 E

Pintail 2 E

Scoter 624 E

Velvet Scoter 13 E

Red Breasted Merganser 7 E

Oystercatcher 16 E, 5 W

Curlew 2 E

Great Skua 2 E

Arctic Skua 4 E

Mediterranean Gull 2 off shore

Little Gull 2 E

Sandwich Tern119 E

Common Tern 66 E

Carrion Crow 63 in

Swallow 6 in

In the bushes around the point 2 Whitethroats, 1 Sedge Warbler, 4 Northern Wheatears, 4+ Chiffchaffs, 4+ Willow Warblers, 4+ Goldcrests, 6+ Firecrests, 2 Black Redstarts, c20 Linnets and 2 Swallows over.
A report of a possible Dotterel over the reserve heading towards the hayfields found only several Ringed Plovers, 1 Redshank, 2 Dunlin, several Lapwings, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Brent Goose, and another Wheatear.
A Great White Egret and 2 Little Egrets were of note at the south end of the ARC.
Another watch from the fishing boats 14.20-15.30:

Red Throated Diver: 74E

Gannet: 5E

Brent Geese: 2E

Red Breasted Merganser: 3E

Common Scoter: 14E

Turnstone: 8 on beach

Arctic Skua: 2E

Kittiwake: 4+ odd shore

Common Tern: 10+ off shore

Sandwich Tern: 10+ off shore

Swallow: 1 in

A Few Migrants

 A wander around The Point this morning produced a migrants, 4 Swallows, 6+ Goldcrests, c10 Firecrest, 6+Willow Warblers, 6+ Chiffchaffs, 4 Wheatears, 2 Blackcap, a Ring Ouzel, 3 Song Thrushes, a Redwing and a flight view of male Serin which disappeared near the power station, also 2 Ravens over and 145 Brent Geese high along the beach.

Ring Ouzel distant in the heat haze

At the estate entrance a male Stonechat singing. On the ARC the oiled Red Throated Diver trying desperately to clean itself and 4 red head Smew. A single Great White Egret on New Diggings.

Dengemarsh Gully held 2 more Firecrests, 2 Willow Warblers and 2 Chifchaffs and then the rain came down.

First Skua Passage

 Another good sea watch this morning at Dungeness considering the regular showers and poor visibility 06.45-10.15 Totals kindly collated by AJG.

Red throated Diver 98 E

Gannet 177 E

Fulmar 12 E   1 W

Red-necked Grebe 1 E

Brent Goose 516 E

Common Scoter 659 E

Gadwall 2 E

Eider 3 E

Red Breasted Merganser 16 E

Great Skua 42E

Arctic Skua 7 E

Mediteranean Gull 1 E

Little Gull 2 E

Kittiwake 17 E

Sandwich tern 6 E

Common Tern 133 E

Curlew 2 E

Auk 13 E  Mainly Guillemots

Swallow 1 in

                                        North Thames Herring Gull JZ1.T on the beach

                                                    Oiled Red-throated Diver

 On the ARC an oiled Red-throated Diver, 5 Smew, and 3 Goldeneye among the very few common wildfowl that has not left.

Around the reserve a few migrants, 8+ Willow Warblers, 4 Chiffchaffs, 6 Goldcrests, 2 Firecrests, 2 Swallows, 2 Sand Martins and a House Martin. Round Hookers 4 Marsh Harriers, a flight view of a Bittern and 4 Bearded Tits were of note. I was unable to locate any of the 3 Black Necked Grebes that were present yesterday.

A short afternoon watch from the fishing boats was not particularly productive with a few Common and Sandwich Terns, 2 Red Throated Divers and a Red Breasted Merganser. 

King Squacco Awakes!!!

Had a day out with King Squacco today, he has finally come out of his winter hibernation and had a target of a Smew and Garganey on the same day preferably in the same field of view, not much to ask for. After learning that the sea passage was very quiet we decided to start at the ARC pit. From the track to Hanson we managed to see the only red head Smew of the day(though 9 Smew were reported on Twitter this evening). A stroll around the Willow Trail found couple each of Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Goldcrest, several Reed Buntings, a Water Rail squealing, Cetti's Warbler chattering  and a brief flight view of a Bittern.

From the hide 4 Goldeneye among very few common wildfowl, a Great White Egret that dropped in front the Screen, a Raven flew over the pit and a Marsh Harrier patrolled the railway bank.

 Along the track to the pines and around the pits more Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers and Goldcrests, a Redwing, Green Woodpecker and 2+ Marsh Harriers.  

 Next stop Dengemarsh Gully. At the bottom a flock of c100 Brent Geese flew east but little else. On the way back up we stopped at the windmill and walked the Gorse where several more Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests were seen also a Firecrest, 4 Blackcaps and another Raven sighting. Parking at Springfield Bridge we made our way out to the Hayfield's where we failed dismally in our search for Garganey despite the fields looking excellent habitat, but we did see a few Ringed Plovers, Dunlin, Lapwing, Redshank and a Grey Plover. Reaching Hookers SB spotted a House Martin first of the year for me and more Marsh Harriers were seen displaying. At the back of Hookers the Black Necked Grebe was still present and several Cetti's Warblers were singing, 2 very high flying Marsh Harriers were calling and displaying, our first Sedge warbler of the year was singing by the track and some Tree Sparrows were calling in the copse. A Whimbrel  was in the field by the entrance track from where we saw 3 Great White Egrets, 2 Little Egrets and 2 Grey Herons that had been flushed from New Diggings flying together.

From Christmas Dell a Red-throated Diver could be seen, along the track yet more Cetti's Warblers, Reed Buntings, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests. On New Excavations 2 more Black Necked Grebes among the Tufted Duck. Another search of the Hayfield's on the way back to the car again failed to find Garganey but did see 2 Swallows.
We ended the day at the fishing boats where 30+ more Brent Geese were seen, 3 Red Breasted Mergansers, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 3 Sandwich Terns, a few Red Throated Divers, Kittiwakes, Gannets and 2 more Swallows came in off the sea. Coming off the beach 2 Northern Wheatears and 2 Skylarks were noted. The quest for Garganey and Smew the same day continues!