Quiet Days!

It has been a very quiet last couple of days, with long largely unproductive sea watches while basking in the gloriously warm sunshine, though today did produce a little quality in a single Sooty Shearwater early morning (AJG) and 4 Balearic Shearwaters mid morning with another 2 this afternoon, curiously though on a flat calm sea. As I sit on the patio typing (20.00) c40 each of Swifts and Sand Martins, along with numerous Starlings and Gulls are swirling high above snapping up the hordes of flying ants.

 Herring Gull with Whiting at the fishing boats

 Juvenile Yellow-legged Gull at the fishing boats

 Mute Swan  from the sea watch hide not often seen on sea watches!

Around the reserve it seems to be the same birds present for the last few days, Little Stint, Wood, Green and Common Sandpipers, Little Ringed Plovers, Greenshank and now 2 Great White Egrets (DB), Bearded Tits seem to be more in evidence at the ramp with the ever present Marsh Harriers and occasional fly pasts from Bitterns.

There was a just a handful of birds caught in the nets today, of note the first Garden Warbler I have seen in Britain this year. 

 Garden Warbler at the observatory

 Lime Hawkmoth

The Moth trap has been fairly busy, my first Lime Hawkmoth, a Four-spotted Footman, Small Mottled Willows, Privet, Poplar, Pine and Elephant Hawkmoths and few new for the trap micros.

Four-spotted Footman

On their way!

It only took a few minutes this morning to empty last nights meagre moth catch which contained nothing of note.

A short walk around the southern edge of the trapping area found it a migrant free zone, even with 8 nets up only a Blue Tit and Willow Warbler were caught. 

 Linnet track to Hanson

On the reserve from the viewing mound, a Green Sandpiper, several Bearded Tits, Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers, 2+ Marsh Harriers and a Little Egret, the Great White Egret was there yesterday so presumably hiding today. Burrowes was very quiet with little of note to be seen today, though the Little Grebe family were still performing well on the dipping pool. 

 Little Grebes on the dipping pool

From Hanson a Little Stint, 2+ Wood Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper, juvenile Redshank, 4 Little ringed Plovers, 4 Dunlin among c150 Lapwing.

 3 Sanderling at the fishing boats yesterday.

 Juvenile Common Gull at the fishing boats today

An uninspiring sea watch today, though the warm sun and light wind made it a very nice way to while away a couple of hours.

14.15-16.30 from the fishing boats with AJG.

Common Scoter: 18E      3W   1 on sea
Great Crested Grebe: 6 around
Gannet: 5E   11W
Cormorant: 12 around
Peregrine: 1 juvenile out presumably on a hunting expedition
Dunlin: 1W
Whimbrel: 7W
Yellow-legged Gull: 1 juvenile around
Common Gull: 1 juvenile W
Kittiwake: 3W
Sandwich Tern: 3E  54W
Common Tern: 34W
Swift c250 out  
Sand Martin: 29 out
Harbour Porpoise: 3+
Grey Seal: 1

Hummingbird Hawkmoth feeding on the garden Buddleia this evening

This evening 1,000s of Swifts over the garden with a small number of Sand Martins and Swallows, all of which appeared to be heading south, also 2 Hobby's over.
Right now  (20.10) there are c200 Sand Martins over the garden heading south.

Migrants at the ARC

A walk around the southern edge of the trapping area produced a couple of Willow Warblers, several Common Whitethroats, whilst over head a small passage of Swifts and Sand Martins, around the power station a very noisy family of Peregrines.

 Sedge Warbler ARC

I joined PW in Hanson where a Wood Sandpiper, a Ruff, a Greenshank, a Redshank, 3 Little Ringed Plovers were the highlights among the Lapwing and wildfowl.

 Sand Martin and Swallow ARC

Leaving Hanson we walked to the pines and back, in the Sallows Willow Warblers, Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers, Common Whitethroats, Lesser Whitethroats and Cetti's Warblers were all seen on the wires behind the screen Swallows and Sand Martins.

 Lesser Whitethroat ARC

 Cormorant about to swallow a huge Gurnard

The highlight of a very slow sea watch was watching a Cormorant  eventually manage to swallow a huge Gurnard.

15.00-16.30
Great-crested Grebe: 1
Gannet: 7E   24W
Cormorant: 14 around
Oystercatcher: 5E
Turnstone: 1W
Mediterranean Gull: 1W  juvenile
Kittiwake: 13W
Sandwich Tern: 9W
Common Tern: 29W
Sand Martin: 28 out
Grey Seal: 1
Harbour Porpoise: 4+

Painted Lady on the garden Buddleia

The garden Buddleia was alive with butterflies late afternoon and joined by a Hummingbird Hawkmoth.

Eastern Promise unfullfilled!

 Red-legged Partridge, Cockles Bridge.

First thing this morning as I headed for the beach, as I pulled into Cockles Bridge to watch a couple of Marsh Harriers, a Red-legged Partridge landed on a shed roof remaining just long enough for me to grab the camera for a couple of shots, which is more than the Marsh Harriers did.

At The Patch a couple of juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls were over the boil, but not a single Tern or Mediterranean Gull.

The ESE wind did not bring the hoped for fall of migrants, in a walk around the trapping area found 7+ Willow Warblers, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, a few Common Whitethroats, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a Green Woodpecker, a Peregrine and couple of groups of Hirundines moving over.

 Little Grebes on the dipping pool

On the reserve a family of Little Grebes were showing well on the dipping pool, another juvenile Yellow-legged Gull  was over the lake and a Wood Sandpiper from Firth, which eventually showed well this evening. Also this evening the Great White Egret was on Dengemarsh ,also a Bittern and a couple of Bearded Tits. Across the road on the ARC another Wood Sandpiper, a Common and Green Sandpiper, a Little Stint and a 2 Little Ringed Plovers all from the Screen.

 Wood Sandpiper, Firth.

This afternoon while I was soaking up the gloriously warm sunshine, with a supply of cold drinks in my garden listening to England beating the Aussies, AJG was at the fishing boats and got his just rewards.

14.15-15.15 AJG

Common Scoter: 8W

Gannet: 3W

Pomarine Skua Light phase with partial tail: 1E
Yellow-legged Gull: 4 Juveniles W
Mediterranean Gull: 2W
Sandwich Tern: 3W
Back Tern: 1E

Small Mottled Willow

A quiet night for moths with Kent Black Arches and Small Mottled Willow the highlights.

Swifts

A very quiet day on the peninsular, where first thing it was much colder than of late. It took  just a few minutes to clear last nights poor moth catch, though a Brown-line Bright-eye was new and overdue. At the ARC  9 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Little-ringed Plovers, 2 Dunlin and Common Sandpiper were the highlights, among the usual Lapwing and wildfowl.

 Willow Warbler in The Moat

A walk around The Moat found just 2 Willow Warblers and another 4 in the trapping area also a Peregrine. A movement of Swifts and Hirundines today, c250 Swifts over the trapping area and 30+ Sand Martins.

 The windmills at Bolougne as seen from the fishing boats this afternoon.

The Swift movement continued this afternoon during a 90 minute sea watch from the boats where 300+ left for the continent. The visibility was amazing with french coast clearly visible, Napoleons Statute and Bolougne windmills could easily be seen, through the scope cars and lorries travelling on the A16 could be seen. The trouble with such good visibility there are usually few sea birds to be seen and today was no different, with barely a handful of Gannets and Terns. 

Hummingbird Hawkmoth in the garden

Late afternoon while sitting in the garden listening to the cricket, 1,000+ Swifts head south along with c400 Sand Martins and 150 Swallows. The Budleia attracted a Hummingbird Hawkmoth, several each of Painted Lady, Peacock, Red Admiral, Meadow Brown, Large White  and a large Skipper.

Bee-eater jinx broken!

First thing this morning I was pleasantly surprised to find plenty of moths in the trap, even more surprised to find my first Black Arches, a superb looking beastie and quite scarce on the peninsular.

First Black Arches in the Plodland trap

 A few seconds later and the Bee-eater was gone!

After clearing the moth trap I went straight to the ARC, I walked up to the pines finding my first 3 autumn Willow Warblers, several Lesser and Common Whitethroats, a Blackcap, a Chiffchaff, and 2 Marsh Harriers, in the screen hide the Swallows were busy feeding there second brood. I then made my way to Hanson, either side of the track several Cetti's Warblers were chacking and Reed Warblers chuntering. From the hide rather disappointingly just 2 Black-tailed Godwits, a little-ringed Plover and a Dunlin among c150 Lapwing along with usual wildfowl. As I got back to the car park I met Pete and Pam, while chatting I noticed a bird sitting on the wires the other side of the car park and said whats that, Pete who was not even looking in that direction said Bee-eater, I raised my binoculars and said it is a Bee-eater, I'm not sure who was more surprised. I raised the camera to get some record shots and saw it fly off as I looked through the view finder, a few seconds after spotting it and it was gone, but at least I broke my terrible run of missing Bee-eaters at Dungeness, 11 opportunities last year and 3 this year. We had look around for it seeing 2 Hobby's a Sparrowhawk, a Marsh Harrier and dead juvenile Kestrel.

Departing Bee-eater

My first Willow Warbler of the Autumn 

Sparrowhawk over the ARC

Painted Lady at the ARC

A lunchtime visit to Scotney found 3 Little Owls around the farm, the 2 Spoonbills were still present and were actually awake and feeding, also 6 Avocets, a Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Common Sandpipers, many Yellow Wagtails and Linnets a few Corn Buntings and some Skylarks.

A sleepy Little Owl

1 of the 2 Scotney Spoonbills awake at last

1 of many Yellow Wagtails at Scotney today

I joined AJG for a sea watch from the fishing boats this afternoon 13.45-15.15:

Common Scoter: 12E
Great-crested Grebe: 5 around
Gannet: 33W
Cormorant: 17 around
Sandwich Tern: 3W
Common Tern: 36W
Sand Martin: 27W

Fish Fight!

First thing this morning at The Patch 3 juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls and 15 Common Terns among the usual Herring and Black-headed Gulls.

The ARC from Hanson saw 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Little Ringed Plovers, a Dunlin and a Common Sandpiper of note, a Reed Warbler was still singing in front the hide and a few Swifts and Sand Martins were over the lake.

On Burrowes another each of Little-ringed Plover, Dunlin and Common Sandpiper also 2 Knot.

 Juvenile Yellow-legged Gull

A sea watch this afternoon from the fishing boats 14.00-16.30 was very slow though a Juvenile Yellow-legged Gull and Great Black-backed Gull gave me some entertainment in a one sided battle for a flat fish:

Common Scoter: 5E
Great-crested Grebe: 16 around
Fulmar: 1W
Gannet: 9E      61W
Cormorant: 21 around
Dunlin: 3W
Sanderling: 2W
Yellow-legged Gull: 3+ juveniles around
Kittiwake: 1W
Sandwich Tern: 3W
Common Tern: 15W
Swift: 7 out
Sand Martin: 3 out
Harbour Porpoise: 3+

 Juvenile Yellow-legged Gull

1st Summer Great Black-backed Gull the victor

Juvenile Yellow-legged Gull the vanquished.

A few hours at the boats!

From the fishing boats:

07.45-10.00 when the rain closed visibility. 

Common Scoter: 9E   2W

Great-crested Grebe: 4 around

Fulmar: 16W

Manx Shearwater: 1W

Balearic Shearwater: 2W

Gannet: 89E   319W

Peregrine: 2 came in off together, probably returning from a hunting expedition. 

Dunlin: c100W

Sanderling: c50W

Arctic Skua: 1 Light Phase chasing Terns

Mediterranean Gull: 1 juv around

Yellow-legged Gull: 2+ juveniles around

Kittiwake: 12E

Black Tern: 3W

Sandwich Tern: 26W

Common Tern: 103W

Guillemot: 2W   1 on sea

Auk sp: 1E

Sand Martin: 97 out

Harbour Porpoise: 7+

Grey Seal: 1

 Dunlin

 juvenile Peregrine coming in off the sea

 Gannets

At the ARC from Hanson no real change, the Little Gull still, 5 LRPs, 6 Dunlin, 3 Redshank, Green and Common Sandpiper.

Another watch from the fishing boats this afternoon when the rain cleared briefly was not as productive as this morning, though DW had 15 Black Terns and an Arctic Tern feeding there this afternoon.
13.10-15.30 with MH,  joined by AJG and PT:

Fulmar: 1W
Manx Shearwater: 1W
Gannet: 201W      76E
Yellow-legged Gull:  presumed same 2 juveniles
Kittiwake: 4W
Little Tern: 1E
Sandwich Tern:  36W
Common Tern: 35W
Swift: 44 out

 Juvenile Yellow-legged Gull

Last nights catch in the moth trap was average, with Buff Arches probably the best.

Buff Arches

Spruce Carpet

Balearic Shearwater!

 First thing this morning I once again assisted Barry Banson with the 2 Boulderwall Farm moth traps, both were very busy with the quality being yet another Splendid Brocade and 2 Small Mottled Willows. The Plodland trap was not as busy but did yield it's first Four-spotted Footman and a Short Cloaked Moth.
From Hanson a Wood Sandpiper, 3+ Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper, Knot, Dunlin and 6 Whimbrel of note.
A short sea watch this morning was unproductive, another this afternoon until the rain arrived provided the first Balearic Shearwater of the autumn, 10s each of Gannets, Sandwich and Common Terns feeding, a Mediterranean Gull, c20 Common Scoter, a grey Seal and several Harbour Porpoises.

 First Balearic Shearwater of the Autumn off the fishing boats

 A superb Lowestoft sailing trawler past The point this afternoon

 The first Four-spotted Footman in the Plodland trap

The first Short-cloaked Moth in the Plodland trap

Moths and a Gull!

An early start this morning to empty my moth trap, then join Barry Banson at Boulderwall Farm to assist him with the 2 traps on the reserve. I'm glad I didn't have to do them on my own because I'd still be there, 300+ macros of 69+ species, as for the micros!!!!!

While emptying the reserve traps Tree sparrows were chipping in the bushes, Marsh Harriers overhead and Hobby over. 

Over the road at Hanson hide a near summer plumage Knot, 5+ Little Ringed Plovers, 1st summer little Gull, Green Sandpiper, (3 this evening + 2 Black-tailed Godwits) a Water Rail was Squealing right outside the hide and a Reed Warbler was chuntering in front the hide. Burrowes was disappointing despite it looking really good for waders with the single long staying Greenshank, 3 Common Sandpipers, 4 Redshanks, 2 Dunlin(13 this evening) and 2 Ringed Plovers.

 At the back of Scotney the 2 Spoonbills still on the island at the Sussex end of the western back lake, 2 Little Owls on the barn, lots of Yellow Wagtails and Corn Buntings, 5+Avocets, 5 common Sandpipers, 3 Egyptian Geese and lots of Sand Martins.

Little Owl, Scotney.

Fishing line tangled around the wings!

While settling down for an afternoon sea watch I noticed a 2nd year Herring Gull in distress almost submerged at times, I knew instantly it was caught in an anglers line having seen this happen several times. As I went to help the bird another man was also trying to help it. The angler was more concerned with losing his weight and hook and actually put his foot on the Gulls head, which caused me and the other helper to threaten to do like wise to the angler, he backed off and we cut the line and untangled the gull, even saving the ignorant anglers weight and hook. I carried the Gull back along the beach away from his lines, checked it over and released it seemingly none the worse for its adventure.

Safe but some what bedraggled!

13.45-16.00 from the fishing boats joined by AJG and MH
Gannet: 12E     37W
Cormorant: 9 around
Oystercatcher: 1W
Dunlin: 9E
Whimbrel: 3W
Kittiwake: 5W
Sandwich Tern: 7E  29W
Common Tern: 19W
Sand Martin: 76 out
Grey Seal: 2
Harbour Porpoise: 6+

The usual view of a Harbour Porpoise

juvenile Redshank in the superb evening light from Firth Hide,

Platytes alpinella a new micro for the Plodland trap.