Another day on the other side!

Today The Joker, Marshman and myself had a day trip to the Pas De Calais hoping to see Black Woodpecker. We met at The Jokers at 05.20 and caught the 06.15 train to Calais. On arrival we drove straight to Crecy Forest arriving around 08.30. The forest alive with bird song, numerous Chiffchaffs and Nuthatches were singing and calling, along with double figures of Short-toed Treecreeper were joined by Great, Blue, Long-tailed, Marsh, Coal and Crested Tits, Goldcrests, Chaffinches and Bramblings were seen, as were Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a pair of Middle Spotted Woodpeckers, Green Woodpeckers were heard and several Common Buzzards soared over head but no sight or sound of Black Woodpecker. That didn't really matter as there was so much else to look at.

Late morning we left Crecy for a short stop at Sailly Braie, which was quiet as we were probably a few weeks to early but I'm sure we will be back later. Next stop Le Crotoy harbour which was rapidly filling as the tide came in, there we saw 56 Avocet, 30+ each of Ringed Plover and Dunlin, 100+ Redshank a Great Crested Grebes and a Little Grebe.

We moved to the Le Crotoy pools where we saw Several Pintail, Shoveler, Teal, a couple of Wigeon and our first Garganey of the year, best of all a 3 Sand Martins, 2 House Martins and a Swallow flew through together.

 A brief stop at Marquanterre gave us superb views of White Stork one of which circled over the car park, also 10+ Spoonbills of note.

Coming back along the motorway I was as usual asleep. The Marshman woke me with a shout of Osprey which was being mobbed by a Common Buzzard. Pity we couldn't stop on the motorway. A fitting end to great day out in great company (I wont mention the jokes)  and many thanks to the Marshman for doing the driving.

A few more migrants.

A watch at The Patch this morning with DW a Polish ringed 1w Caspian Gull was in the roost, a Merlin came in, a few Red-throated Divers were tooing and froing, a Bonxie was off shore and a Harbour Porpoise was off shore, but little else of note. On the perimeter fence 2 Black Redstarts and a Wheatear by the sea watch hide.

A distant 1w Caspian Gull on shore line sporting a Polish green colour ring but to far to read.

Spot the Caspian Gull.

1 of 4+ Chiffchaffs in the lighthouse garden.

In the lighthouse Garden at least 4 Chiffchaffs, a Redwing and a Black Redstart.
The 1w Glaucous Gull was in the usual roost and another Wheatear was opposite Jarmans(this afternoon 8 Wheatears there per Dorothy).
Late afternoon now 6 Avocets at the Kent end of Scotney, then a visit to Galoways found it to be an avian free zone.

Kites and Harriers!

On the way to the beach the Black Throated Diver was on the New Diggings. A very short sea watch this morning as nothing was moving and nothing of note seen. On the power station fence at least 2 Black Redstarts and round The Point migrants were non existent. 

Red Kite by the water tower

My decision to wander up to the Water Tower paid off almost immediately as 4 Mediterranean Gulls flew over mewing, then I scanned of the airport pits and picked up 2 Red Kites with a Marsh Harrier. A few quick phone calls made sure most the locals connected with the Kites, indeed The Joker opened his back door took one step and Red Kite flew over him, a very short twitch.

While wandering round the pits another Red Kite flew north of the airport, then another Flew over Boulderwall Farm and appeared to land in a field.

Early afternoon sky watching from Plodland 2 more Red Kites flew distantly over the ARC Pit, up to 4 Marsh Harriers and 2 Common Buzzards were over the fields.

Late afternoon on Walland Marsh doing the Harrier Count I saw at least 30 Marsh Harriers but none roosted in my designated reed bed. However Water Rails were much in evidence vocally, 2 Common Buzzards flew through and a flock of 30+ Fieldfare were in the Hawthorns, my biggest flock this year. I picked up 18 very distant Greater White-fronted Geese at extreme range on the marsh, 2 Tundra Bean Geese were also present per PT and CP. Several Hares and 2 Foxes were in the fields and last thing a Bat sp. flew through.  

It's only March!

08.05-08.40 from the sea watch hide:

Red-throated Diver: 4W     2E

Fulmar: 3W   1E

Gannet: c25 off shore

Brent Goose: 92E

Peregrine: 1 in

Black Redstart: 2 behind hide on perimeter fence.

Harbour Porpoise: 1 off shore

The light house garden was seemingly devoid of avian life as was most of The Point.

Scotney turned up 4 Avocets at the Kent end, a visit to The Midrips saw a few Oystercatchers, 7 Redshank, a Dunlin and few pairs of Shelduck. Dengemarsh Gully was equally quiet. Most of the long stayers were reported on the reserve today, but the Hume's Leaf Warbler was no show for the second day in a row.

An hour or so in the Plodland garden sky watching saw 2 Marsh Harriers, a Common Buzzard and Grey Heron of note, but no Kites.  

Nothing came into my camera range today, and as there seems to be loads of pictures of the Pembroke Great Spotted Cuckoo on the net, I thought I'd join in by posting an image of one I took at Brooklands Park Lancing, West Sussex in April 2005.   

Fog and a Pink Foot!

A distant Pink Footed Goose in field by Boulderwall Farm.

A very foggy morning meant an extra in hour in bed and a full English before I left home for Scotney. Once there 2 Avocet at the Kent end were the highlights, but no sign of Long-tailed Duck which may have decamped to Burrowes Pit, joining the Black Necked and Slavonian Grebe and drake Scaup. News from BP about a Pink Footed Goose in the fields by Boulderwall farm delayed my lunch, as it is a scarce bird for Dungeness. As for its provenance who knows! While having lunch the fog returned with a vengeance so that was it for the day.   

Pas De Calais 11th March 2014

Presumed 1w male Snowy Owl

 Another cross channel twitch in the company of DW and GH who very kindly did all the driving. We caught the 06.00 ferry to Calais allowing us to have a full beakfast, arriving at Le Maisnil at 09.00 the bird was easy to find by the crowd of 1 french birder watching it, we stayed till about 12.30  during which time the Owl did what Snowy Owls do, nothing! it sat on the pollarded tree the whole time we were there. 2 locals joined the throng of 4 and admired the Owl through my scope for a few minutes and later 3 more french birders arrived but didn't stay long as it was lunch time. When we left site no one was there. The bird is in a field between the D141B(Rue Haut Loge) and the D141(Rue de la Feterie, Le Maisnil. The field is accesed by a muddy track that runs between the 2 roads, though the bird can seen distantly from the D141. If you go please park sensibly and respect the residents privacy.

 From Le Maisnil we went to a forest immediately north of Valenciennes where we found a pair of Middle Spotted Woodpeckers, Black Woodpecker calling, lots of Crested Tits, Short toed Treecreepers, Nuthatches, Marsh Tits and more. A very enjoyable day in great company.

Short-toed Treecreeper

Wheatears!

 Driving along the road to the point I stopped and chatted to Wendy and Doug, who informed me that they had seen a Wheatear opposite Jarmans. I parked up by the fishing boats and wandered back along the beach, taking time out to snap a distant pic of the 1w Glaucous Gull in the roost, further along the beach a Black Redstart was darting around the old winches and overhead a Skylark was singing. Then a fine male Northern Wheatear popped into view allowing a dodgy photo opportunity which I promise not to repeat again till next year.

 On the New Diggings the 2 Black-throated Divers still present, over the road on the ARC from the causeway a Great White Egret, 2 red head Smew and 2 Goldeneye.

Late morning I parked at Springfield Bridge and plodded round the hayfields to Makepiece. 2 Peregrines were causing havoc over Dengemarsh, feeding on the flood detritus by hayfield 3 perimeter fence my first Fieldfare of the year on the local patch, this time last year there were 100s feeding in the fields opposite plodland. Feeding with the Fieldfare was a Scandinavian Rock Pipit which disappeared to the other side of Dengemarsh. From Makepiece 9 Goldeneye, 2 red head Smew, a Black-necked Grebe, a Slavonian Grebe and a drake Scaup but no sign of the Green Winged Teal.
At the bottom of Dengemarsh Gully another Wheatear and another Black Redstart.
Late afternoon back at Firth and Makepiece still no sign of the Green Winged Teal.
The Long-tailed Duck has reappeared on Scotney per  BC.  

Hume's Leaf Warbler!

07.45-08.45 from the sea watch hide:

Red-throated Diver: 7E   4W

Great Crested Grebe:  c50 off shore

Gannet: 6E

Brent Goose: 64E

Kittiwake: 7E

1w Glaucous Gull: 1 around

Guillemot: c15 on the sea

Black Redstart: 1 behind the hide

Kestrel opposite Lloyds.

In the trapping area the Hume's Leaf Warbler, was calling frequently and showing occasionally, but it is still a photographic challenge. Also in the area 2 Chiffchaffs and a Firecrest, along with several Small Tortoiseshells and Peacock Butterfly.

At least 1 Black-throated Diver was still on the New Diggings but little else of note.

Late afternoon at Dengemarsh 2 Marsh Harriers were quartering the reed bed, several Reed Buntings were in song and a Stonechat was fly catching from the fence.    

1w Glaucous Gull still present!

 1w Glaucous Gull cruising along the the sea wall this morning!

07.30-09.00 from the sea watch hide with DW:

Red-throated Diver: 9W 2E 2 on sea

Diver sp. 1E

Fulmar: 1W 1E

Gannet: 59E

Brent Goose: 214E

Teal: 26E

Shoveller: 4E

Gadwall: 2E

Mallard: 2E

Wigeon: 6E

Pintail: 8E

Common Scoter: 63E 15W

Oystercatcher: 4E

Kittiwake: 64E

Mediterranean Gull: 7E

1w Glaucous Gull: 1 around

Guillemot: c20 on sea

A small Arrival!

This morning 07.20-08.20 from the point:

Red-throated Diver: 5W    2E   2 on sea

Great Crested Grebe: c50 off shore

Fulmar: 1W

Gannets: 37E    6W

Brent Goose: 3E   (almost stratospheric)

Shoveller: 5E

Common Scoter: 70W      8E

Merlin: 1 over beach

Oystercatcher: 3E     1W

Sandwich Tern: 1E

Guillemot: c50 off shore

Driving off the beach at c08.30 the lifeboat car park was already full and with wall to wall sunshine expected today The Point and reserve was going to get busy, so I stayed away for the rest of the day.

From the causeway 2 Great white Egrets and 2 Little Egrets at the south end of the ARC, at least 1 Black Throated Diver still on the New Diggings. Once again I did not see the Glossy Ibis in the field with the Emu/Rhea whichever, but it was reported there later in the day. At Scotney the 3 duck Scaup still present but no sign of the drake, the Black-necked Grebe was still present.    

 In Dengemarsh Gully early afternoon 4 Firecrests (2 more around the lighthouse and West Beach per DG) 2 Chiffchaffs and 2 Stonechats also in the Gully. By the power station 2 ravens could be seen. 4 more Stonechats around Galloways.

                           The local Little Owl was sun bathing on the chicken shed roof.