Dolphins put on a show!

9.75hrs of sea watching starting at 05.00 did not disappoint. The stars of the day were the 6+ White-beaked Dolphins that put on a brilliant show just 400 mts off shore. Many thanks to AJG for collating the numbers.

 Black Terns 6 of a party of 9

Brent Goose: 116E
Common Scoter:  345E
Red-throated Diver: 3E
Fulmar: 100E
Gannet:  192E   202W
Cormorant: 79 around
Oystercatcher: 29E
Knot: 25E
Sanderling: 32E
Greenshank: 1 in
Bar-tailed Godwit: 74E  1W
Whimbrel: 6E
Great Skua: 6E
Arctic Skua: 11E
Lesser Black-backed Gull: 7E
Little Gull: 7E
Kittiwake: 8E
Little Tern: 12E
Sandwich Tern: 253E
Common Tern: 1826E
Arctic Tern: 1E
Black Tern: 31E
Auk sp: 15E
White-beaked Dolphin: 6+
Harbour Porpoise: 5+

Black Terns, 5 of a party of 7

May 2nd!!!!!!!

6.5 hrs of sea watching with AJG between 05.00 and 17.30 produced the following:
Common Scoter: 38E  16W
Red-throated Diver: 2E
Black-throated Diver:  5E in a single flock!
Great-crested Grebe: 17 around
Fulmar:  4E  7W
Gannet:139E  8W
Cormorant: 27 around
Oystercatcher: 17E
Grey Plover: 2E
Turnstone: 2E
Dunlin: 2E
Bar-tailed Godwit: 36E
Whimbrel: 5E
Arctic Skua: 4E
Little Gull: 1E
Kittiwake: 49E
Little Tern: 12E
Sandwich Tern 561E
Common Tern 1862E
Guillemot: 3W
Razorbill: 1W
Auk sp: 12W
Swallow: 14 in
Crow: 1 in
Harbour Porpoise: 5+
Grey Seal: 1
Apart from scanning the Hirundines over the lakes I did not do much else as I was so cold a needed to sit in a hot bath to warm me up!

Spoonbills!

Yesterday (30/04/15) was so quiet at Dungeness that 3 of us went off to Somerset to see the Hudsonian Godwit. I wont embarrass my self by posting any images of the bird as they are all so poor.

 Painted Lady about the only notable thing at Dungeness yesterday.

This mornings sea watch was interesting for the number of Terns moving:

05.40-08.40 with AJG who collated the numbers.

Common Scoter: 10E   35W
Fulmar: 3W
Gannet: 174E
Peregrine: 1 in off the sea
Whimbrel: 8E
Bar-tailed Godwit: 1E
Dunlin: 18E
Oystercatcher: 16 E
Great Skua: 1E
Guillemot: 3W
Auk sp: 9W
Kittiwake: 4W
Sandwich Tern: 337E
Common Tern: 947E
Little Tern: 3 E
Swallow: 2 in

 At Scotney 5 immature Spoonbills located by CT & BH, but did not stay long, appearing to fly off towards Rye, were probably the 5 that were at Cuckmere Haven yesterday. Also at Scotney a Common Sandpiper, 8+ Avocet and the usual Yellow Wagtails and Corn Buntings.

 Spoonbills at Scotney

Bar-tailed Godwits past the fishing boats!

Another sea watch 15.00-17.00 from the fishing boats with MH and AJG:
Red-throated Diver: 2E
Gannet: 5 around
Oystercatcher: 4E
Bar-tailed Godwit:  406E
Whimbrel: 14E
Knot: 31E
Grey Plover: 2E
Common Tern: 38E
Sandwich Tern: 33E
Swallow: 4 in

A bit of movement!

A hectic day of sea watching and domestic stuff.  

4 separate watches 07.00-09.20, 11.00-12.00,  13.30-14.00,  17.00-18.00 as I have mislaid my notebook the the following numbers are from my failing memory. The majority of the birds were seen in the first watch.

Brent Goose: c250 E

Shelduck: 2 E

Eider: 2 W

Common Scoter: c200 E

Velvet scoter: 2 E

Red-throated Diver: 7 E

Black-throated Diver: 1 E

Great-northern Diver: 1 E

Fulmar: 2 E  2 W

Manx Shearwater: 2 E

Gannet: c50 E

Oystercatcher: c5 E

Whimbrel: c20 E

Great Skua: 8  E

Arctic Skua: 5 E

Little Tern: 2 E   2 W

Common Tern: c200 E

Sandwich Tern: c 100E

Auk: c50 E

2 Pomarine Skuas were seen by the very early starters.

2 Spoonbills were new in this morning on Burrowes, then on the ARC this afternoon but had gone by early evening. 100s of Hirundines on the lakes failed to produce a Red-rumped Swallow, a Great White Egret was on The New Diggings and 2 Cuckoo's and 3 Egyptian Geese were at the south end of the ARC. It would seem after no confirmed sightings of the Cattle Egrets for several days that they have departed.  

 Spoonbills on Burrowes from Makepiece

 The same Spoonbills on the Cormorant Island ARC

Egyptian Geese south end of the ARC

Cuckoo!

As I parked by the power station this morning, DW was standing by the red and white gates looking less than enthusiastic, as he had checked the bushes for migrants and drawn a blank. As we started to walk to the sea watch hide, the door opened and AJG came out which told us all we needed to know about today's off shore passage.

I decided to wander around The Desert where a few Common Whitethroats, 2 Sparrowhawks, a Kestrel, several Swallows and an over flying Greenshank were of any note.

On the beach opposite Jarmans at least 6 Wheatears, another 7 Swallows and 2 Skylarks were seen.

At the south end of the ARC I was sifting through the Hirundines, when a Cuckoo flew in and landed in some Sea Buckthorn, where it ate a minimum of 43 Brown-tail Moth caterpillars in about 15 minutes, before it flew off to the other side of the lake. 

Cuckoo swallowing another Brown-tail!

 Next stop Springfield Bridge where I walked around the Hayfields seeing a Greenshank, 2 Ringed Plovers on 3, 2 flyover Mediterranean Gulls and 2 Bearded Tits. On the approach to Dengemarsh Hide a Reed Bunting and a Cetti's Warbler posed briefly and Bittern Boomed. From inside the hide where MH was already ensconced, the 2 Tundra Bean Geese flew in (their credibility a cause for some debate), 2 more Cuckoo's, 3+ Marsh Harriers and several Swifts of note. On the return to the car a Great White Egret flew over reed bed and a Raven flew over.

 Reed Bunting

 Cetti's Warbler

 A sea watch at The Point this afternoon was very disappointing with nothing of note.
I then joined MH in Hanson to check the Hirundines again but they were all at the south end, so we abandoned that idea and went to Scotney where 2 Ruff were the highlights. A drive around Galloways failed to locate the Cattle Egrets but we did see 2 Stonechats.

The Weekend

Both the early morning sea watches were very poor, with small numbers of Gannets, Terns, Divers, Brent Geese and Scoter. The highlight was a pod of at least 8 White Beaked Dolphins that passed up channel on Saturday.

Around the ARC a Bittern was booming both days near the tower, also the Marsh Harriers were displaying, a Cuckoo there this morning with plenty of singing Sedge, Reed and Cetti's Warbler with the occasional Yellow Wagtail over. This afternoon 100s of Hirundines over the lake, despite much searching no sign of a Red-rumped Swallow but 3 Common Sandpipers flew through.

At Scotney an adult Little Gull was hawking over the eastern pits, a couple Egyptian Geese flew in and several Whimbrel could be seen, while around the farm at least 16 Corn Buntings and c20 Yellow Wagtails, on the back lake a pair of Little Ringed Plovers and possibly 10 pairs of Avocet, there was probably more waders there but visibility was very poor. 

 1 of at least 16 Corn Buntings at Scotney Farm

 Little Gull, Scotney eastern most pit.

The 2 Tundra Bean Geese at Dengemarsh.

On the reserve w Whimbrel by the entrance track, a Grey Plover and Wood Sandpiper flew over Dennis's hide, a Wheatear was at Christmas Dell, at Dengemarsh the 2 Tundra Bean Geese still present with 8 Egyptian Geese, a Peregrine, 3+ Marsh Harriers, 2+ Hobby's, 8+ Swifts, another Cuckoo from the ramp, where a Bittern was booming and several Bearded Tits could be seen. The Hayfields have now been re-flooded and look good, a Greenshank was on 3 this afternoon.

Baie de Somme! 23/04/2015

Another brilliant day across the channel with Tony and Trevor.

This Bluethroat was posing buy one of the hides being ignored by most the visitors.

Arriving at Calais around 06.00, I drove straight to the Parc de Marquanterre arriving soon after 07.00 despite getting a puncture on the A16 motorway. We then walked around the woods outside the park hoping and failing to see Black Woodpecker, though there were plenty of other birds to occupy us until the park opened at 10.00.
Inside the park it is very well laid out and managed, with apparently knowledgeable nature guides in most hides, though the design of the viewing holes in the hides leave alot to be desired. This probably does not matter to most the visitors and there are many of them, as very few seem to have binoculars or have much interest  However you can get good views of the birds, of which there are plenty.

This Stork nest is right beside the footpath!

Storks and Black-winged Stilts were plentiful, as were Spoonbills, all 3 Egrets, Greenshanks also seen Spotted and Common Redshanks, Common Sandpipers, Little Ringed Plovers, Garganey, a Smew, a Common Crane. In the bushes along the footpaths, Blackcaps, Common and Lesser Whitethroats, Willow Warblers, Sedge, Reed and Cetti's Warblers. A super reserve which we will definitely visit again. 

This Black-necked Grebe was posing on the roadside pools at La Bassee along with 6 Little Gulls, more Garganey, nesting Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls.

By the time we got home we had clocked up 100 species with out really trying to hard.

One of 2 reeling Savi's Warblers we found around the Baie de Somme!

A day on the beach!

After a great day in the Baie de Somme yesterday, I spent most of today sea watching. Although slow at times it was by no means a poor day for passage. 

 Eider passing in the gloom!

Brent Goose: 1,272E

Eider: 13E

Common Scoter: 409E

Red-throated Diver: 5E

Fulmar: 8W     6E

Gannet: 27E    7W

Oystercatcher: 2E  3W

Turnstone: 1 on beach

Bar-tailed Godwit: 18E

Whimbrel:28E  4W

Curlew: 1E

Great Skua:  8E      2W

Arctic Skua:  13E

Mediterranean Gull: 4E

Kittiwake: 4E

Little Tern: 2E

Sandwich Tern:  51E

Common Tern: 214E

Guillemot: 5E

Auk sp: 19E

Swallow; 4 in

Common Seal: 1

Harbour Porpoise: 6+

 Common Seal!

Bonxie!

First Cuckoo!

A very poor early morning watch with AJG who collated the numbers:

05.45-08.00 from the sea watch hide.

Brent Goose: 8 E

Shelduck: 3 E

Common Scoter: 79 E

Red-throated Diver: 1 E

Fulmar: 2 E

Gannet: 8 E

Whimbrel: 24 E

Kittiwake: 3 about

Little Gull: 13 E

Mediterranean Gull: 2 E

Commic Tern: 22 E but much tooing and frowing( c50 on patch)

Auk sp: 5 W

A wander around the trapping area found virtually no new migrants other than a couple of Swallows over, the Wryneck was still present in the scrub south of the trapping area but very flighty.

A walk from the ARC car park to the Hayfields saw of note 5 Tree Sparrows and 3 Little Egrets at Boulderwall, several Marsh Harriers, 2 Common Buzzards, numerous Sedge, Cetti's and Reed Warblers singing, my first Cuckoo of the year (170 for peninsular) 8 Egyptian Geese, a Brent Goose, Whimbrel, Curlew, 2 Common Terns and a Booming Bittern. The Hayfields were disappointing as they are now drying out rapidly, there were 4 Dunlin on hayfield 3 and a couple of hopefully sitting Lapwings.     

Bar-tailed Godwits past the fishing boats.

Basking in the afternoon sun in the shelter of the fishing boats sea watching with AJG:
13.30-14.30:
Brent Goose: 173 E
Common Scoter: 82 E
Red-throated Diver: 4 E
Great-crested Grebe: 13 around
Gannet: 42 E
Turnstone: 1 on beach
Oystercatcher: 7 E
Bar-tailed Godwit: 99 E  (7 flocks)
Whimbrel: 8 E
Arctic Skua: 1 W
Kittiwake: 11 E
Little Gull: 3 E
Sandwich Tern; 18 E
Commic Tern: 59 E
Guillemot: 9 E   6 W
Swallow: 10 in

Harbour Porpoise: 4+

 Brent Geese passing the fishing boats.

Winter plumage Turnstone at the fishing boats.

Black Tern and Barwits!

Another meagre sea watch this morning enlivened by a super summer plumage Black Tern.

06.00-07.45 from the sea watch hide with AJG who collated the numbers.

Brent Goose: 28 E

Common Scoter: 25 W   6 E

Red-breasted Merganser: 3 E

Fulmar: 5 E

Gannet: 6 E

Whimbrel: 36 E

Oystercatcher: 1 E   3 W

Curlew: 1 E

Kittiwake: 4 E

Mediteranean Gull: 2 E

Sandwich Tern: 28 E

Common Tern: 27 E  (c75 at The Patch)

Black Tern: 1 on The  Patch

Carrion Crow: 28 in off the sea

Swallow: 8 in

A walk around the Trapping area and the Long Pits found 17 singing Common Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Reed Warblers, 7 Swallows and the Wryneck still present but very elusive.

 Swift over the ARC

From the causeway 3 Swifts with a flock of Hirundines hawking over the ARC, while watching them a party of 6 Dunlin and 3 Bar-tailed Godwits flew over the New Diggings, quickly followed by a Greenshank, 2 Whimbrel and a Curlew.

 Part of the flock of c70 Bar-tailed Godwits this afternoon

While driving to the beach this afternoon 2 Red-legged Partridges ran across the road into the north end of the Long Pits.
13.40-14.50 from the fishing boats:
Great-crested Grebe: 5 on sea
Gannet: 5E     3W
Turnstone: 1 on beach
Bar-tailed Godwit: c70E one flock
Whimbrel: 5E
Sandwich Tern: 7E
Wheatear: 4 on beach behind boats.
Swallow: 7 in

 Turnstone moulting to summer plumage on the beach this afternoon.

 1 of 4 Wheatears behind the boats this afternoon

Wood Pigeon on the Plodland bird table

The big news is that an island has begun to appear on Burrowes per MH, though the downside is that the hayfields are rapidly drying out. 6 Garganey and the 2 Tundra Bean Geese at Dengemarsh per MH. A Cattle Egret still present at Brickwall Farm this afternoon per SB.