An average day at Dungeness!

Around the Desert area this morning 16 Common Whitethroats, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Whinchats, 3 Wheatears, 3 Black Redstarts, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Sparrowhawks and many Hirundines.

1 of 3 Black Redstarts at Lloyd

 Common Whitethroat

 Whinchat

 House Martin over the Desert

A drive down the track to the visitor centre saw the Red-backed Shrike and another 2 Whinchats.

Late morning while emptying the Plodland moth trap the local Herring Gulls started kicking off, I looked up and saw to large raptors overhead, I ran to the car to grab my binoculars then remembered the keys were indoors, by the time I got my binoculars onto them the first one was disappearing into the sun, fortunately I got long enough views of the second bird to see that it was a Honey Buzzard. Knowing that MH was at Dengemarsh I phoned him, while speaking to him he saw both birds, confirming 1 bird as a Common Buzzard the other as a Honey Buzzard. 

 Cattle Egret

Midday at Springfield Bridge the Cattle Egret found by MH earlier popped up on top a bush in front of Dengemarsh hide for a few minutes before flying towards and around me. While there 3+ Hobby's could be seen along with a Peregrine, several more Common Buzzards,, 3 Sparrowhawks, 3 Kestrels, 3+ Marsh Harriers, 3 Great White Egrets, 3+ Little Egrets, 15+ Yellow Wagtails, 100s of Sand Martins and more, just another day at Dungeness.

Cattle Egret

A very worn Hobby

Yellow Wagtails

This afternoon from Hanson c100 Golden Plover, 7 Knot, 5 Ruff, 6 Dunlin, 2 Redshank c200 Lapwing all trying to cram in on what is left of the islands, another Hobby, a White-winged Black Tern, 100s more Sand Martins, House Martins and Swallows as well as all the usual wildfowl. Round the car park, a mixed flock of Tits joined by Willow, Reed and Sedge Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Common Whitethroats and a Lesser Whitethroat, also a couple of Cetti's Warblers calling.

Tomorrow we're off to Cap Gris Nez hopefully for a good sea watch.

Barn Owl makes the day for me!

 First stop this morning was on the causeway to rescue a Mute Swan that was waddling down the carriageway, it was the third one this year I have rescued from the road. I think they land on it when it is wet thinking that it is a body of water.
Further down the causeway a quick look at the ARC saw one of the White-winged Black terns and 2 Black Terns.
I parked at the lighthouse and made my way to the obsevatory, seeing on the way 100s of Swallows, lesser numbers of Sand Martins and House Martins, a few Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Common Whitethroats, Blackcaps, a Whinchat and a Black Redstart.

 One of 2 Tree Pippits that alighted on the observatory roof

While I was at the obsevatory a Spotted Flycatcher and a few Willow Warblers were caught also 2 Tree Pipits landed on the roof.  

 My next stop was at the top end of the Long Pits which was quite busy with Willow Warblers, Common Whitethroats, Blackcaps, a couple of Chiffchaffs and 2 more Spotted Flycatchers. As I turned into the ride cut a couple of years ago by OL and his volunteers, I was amazed to see a Barn Owl asleep just a few feet in front of me, I fired off a couple of images and I guess the shutter noise woke the Owl which promptly flew away towards the trapping area. This is the first Barn Owl I have seen in the official DBO recording area.

 A Stunner!!!

 At lunch time just as I finished emptying the Plodland MVwhich contained a Large Thorn new for me and another 7 Vestals, also 133 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, I received a message from The Birding Gardener about a Wryneck at the southern edge of the trapping area he had found. I made my way there and got a brief flight viewbefore it seemed to disappear. While waiting for it to appear I got another message from PT this time about a Red-backed Shrike on the reserve, as my time was limited I gave up on the Wryneck and was very soon watching the Red-backed Shrike.

 Red-backed Shrike against a thundery background!

A distant White-winged Black Tern

Not a bad day!

From the causeway this morning the 2 White-winged Black Terns and 3 Black Terns could be seen hawking, along with many House and Sand Martins and a few Swallows. 

Willow Warbler in the Station Gorse

A wander around the Desert area with AJG saw a few each of Willow Warblers and Common Whitethroats, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Redstart, a Spotted Flycatcher, 4 Whinchats, 5 Wheatears, c20 Meadow Pipits and 2 each of Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers. Overhead many House Martins and Swallows with a few Sand Martins and a few Yellow Wagtails.

At Lloyds a Firecrest and Black Redstart and a couple more Willow Warblers. Also between the obsevatory and the Old lighthouse I flushed 9 Vestals, 

 Wheatear in the Desert

In Dengemarsh Gully 4 each of Willow Warbler and Common Whitethroat, a Whinchat, my first Chiffchaff of the autumn, 2 Ravens and a Peregrine.

At Scotney 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Common Sandpipers, c10 Yellow Wagtails and the best part of 1,500 feral Geese but once again no sign of the Spoonbills.

A sea watch from near the boats 13.45-15.00:

Teal: 8W
Balearic Shearwater: 1W
Gannet: 6W
Turnstone: 1 on beach
Common Sandpiper: 1 on beach
Arctic Skua: 1W
Black Tern: 2 around
Sandwich Tern: 17W   c20 around
Common Tern: 22W  c20 around
Arctic Tern: 1W juvenile
Harbour Porpoise: 6+
Teal: 8W

Common Sandpiper from Firth

On the reserve the Icterine Warbler was seen again (not by me). 4 Black-necked Grebes, 3 from Dennis's and 1 from Makepiece, 4 Common Sandpipers, a large mixed flock of Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits, with several each of Reed, Sedge, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Common and Lesser Whitethroats and Chaffinches.

This evening from Springfield bridge 2 Great White Egrets, 4 Marsh Harriers and a Bittern of note before the rain came again. 

 Black-necked Grebes from Dennis's

 Another Jersey Tiger in the Plodland MV also 6 Vestals

Dytiscus sp. in the trap this morning

Icterine Warbler!

On my way to the beach this morning I stopped on the causeway, seeing that the 2 juvenile White-winged Black Terns were still present, also 3 Black Terns and many Sand Martins and Swallows hawking over the lake.

The sea was very quiet this morning, I was thankful that after 20 minutes of watching it started raining giving me the excuse to leave and visit the observatory fridge to look at some bugs.

Back at the ARC from Hanson of note c100 Golden Plover, 7 Ruff, 7 Black-tailed Godwits, a Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, the Marsh Terns and a Bittern that dropped into the reeds near the hide.

A call from MH telling me of an Icterine Warbler found by SB by the visitor centre on the reserve.

I arrived just as the heavens opened, the bird had disappeared and was forced to shelter in the VC then in Firth hide. From the hide a Great White Egret showed well, also 2 Ruff and 2 Redshank in front the hide, on the distant islands several Common Sandpipers, 2 Avocets and Spotted Redshank.

When the rain stopped 2 Hobby's spooked the hirundines on Burrowes and a Swift flew through, but still no sign of the Icterine Warbler. 

I went back to the reserve after it closed and was quiet, I met CT and SO there and we manged to locate the Icterine Warbler at c18.45 in the Sallows at the back of the dipping pool where it showed on and off till c19.00 and presumably roosted there. 

 Image does not do the bird justice, but it shows the pale wing panel of an Icterine Warbler.

 Great White Egret from Firth

Ruff from Firth

Honey Buzzards and 2 White-winged Black Terns!

At Galloways area this morning several each of Whinchat, Stonechat, Wheatear, Common Whitethroat, Yellow Wagtail, Meadow Pipit also a Hobby and Marsh Harrier there.

 Yellow Wagtail Galloways.

 1 of 5 Honey Buzzards seen from the garden today 

I spent a few hours sitting in the garden sky watching 100s of Swallows and Sand Martins moving through, Yellow Wagtails were calling as they flew over and fed in the field opposite. 3+ Hobby's, 4+ Marsh Harriers, 4 Kestrels, a Peregrine, a Sparrowhawk 5+ Common Buzzards and at least 5 Honey Buzzards.

This evening there were 2 White-winged Black Terns (6 this year at Dungeness) on the ARC, they appeared to go to roost on whats left of the islands in front of Hanson hide, along with 4 Black Terns and a Common Tern. 

 2 of the 5 Vestals in the MV this morning + a Jersey Tiger and Bordered Straw, mercifully only 119 Setaceous Hebrew Characters today.

Pine Hawkmoth in the MV this morning

Moths!

No proper birding done today as I had a day of domestic stuff, I did manage c20 Yellow Wagtails from the garden , also a Tree Pipit over and the usual Marsh Harriers and Common Buzzards.

 Some of the 247 Setaceous Hebrew Characters in the Plodland MV this morning.

 Scarce Bordered Straw a first for the Plodland MV

 Crescent another first for the Plodland MV this morning

 Old lady, an infrequent visitor

Cynaeda dentalis one of the most attractive micros 

Another excellent Day at Dungeness!

06.00-10.30 + 14.15-15.55 from the fishing boats with AJG who collated the numbers DW,MH,SO,

Shelduck: 11W

Great-crested Grebe: 20+ around

Fulmar: 6W

Balearic Shearwater: 50W

Sooty Shearwater: 2W

Gannet: 468W

Grey Heron: 1 out

Oystercatcher: 1W

Ruff: 2 in

Turnstone: 4 around

Pomarine Skua: 2W

Arctic Skua: 19W 2 around

Kittiwake: 2W

Mediterranean Gull: 1 juv/1w

Black Tern: 19W

Sandwich Tern: 271W

Common Tern: 223W

Arctic Tern: 1 down

Swift: 3 out 

Grey Seal: 1
Harbour Porpoise: 4+

Arctic Skua

Balearic Shearwaters

Ruff a first for me on a sea watch at Dungeness

1w Mediterranean Gull

White-winged Black Tern with Black Terns

At the ARC the 5th White-winged Black Tern of the year dropped in with c25 Black Terns after a heavy rain shower. The Temminck's Stint was still present along with a Little Stint, a Wood Sandpiper, c 50 Golden Plover, 2 Red-crested Pochards, c15 Swifts, many Hirundines and a Spotted Flycatcher. Sadly the islands are greatly diminished due to the recent rain.

 White-winged Black Tern

Sptted flycatcher from Hanson

Sickle-bearing Bush Cricket found by David Walker in The Desert

Excellent Sea watch!

Black Tern

08.15-14.20 + 17.10-18.40 from the fishing boats and Point
Common Scoter: 3E
Great-crested Grebe: 7 around
Fulmar: 10W
Balearic Shearwater: 66W
Sooty Shearwater: 8W
Gannet: 394W
Turnstone: 1 on beach
Great Skua: 3W
Arctic Skua: 18W
Pomarine Skua: 5W
Kittiwake: 13W
Black Tern: 12W
Sandwich Tern: 597W
Common Tern: 431W
Arctic Tern: 5W
Grey Seal: 1
Harbour Porpoise: 3+

Some migrant moths from the Plodland MV 

 Convolvulous Hawkmoth

 Vestal

Bordered Straws

Well it's probably a Wader!

A thoroughly miserable day at Dungeness. I joined DW and AJG at The point for a sea watch: The numbers below were kindly collated by AJG from the time he started at 05.45-08.10

Common Scoter: 18E  1W

Fulmar: 3E

Gannet: 249E

Dunlin: 25E

Arctic Skua: 4 around

Sandwich Tern: 57E

Common Tern 22 down

Black Tern: 2 around

Arctic Tern: 1W

Yellow Wagtail: 302 coasting East

From a very wet Hanson 2 Wood Sandpipers, 3 Little Stints, 3 LRPs, 28 Golden Plover(no juveniles) a Greenshank, 2 Redshank, Ruff, 3 Black Terns and 100s of Sand Martins. In a break in the weather a walk saw  to the pines a few each of Willow Warblers, Lesser Whitethroats, Common Whitethroats, Reed Warblers and Sedge Warblers with large Tit flock. From the pines the 2 Red-crested Pochards could be seen also c20 Yellow Wagtails there.

In the light house garden a Pied Flycatcher was showing quite well and more Yellow Wagtails over.

Taken at 260x Digital when the rain cleared and the light improved.

A message from Dan to say he thought there was a Temminck's Stint on the Cormorant island persuaded me to go back there. On arrival through a curtain of rain a Little Stint, Common Sandpiper and what appeared to be Temminck's Stint could be seen on the Cormorant Island. I alerted the locals, a seed of doubt was sown in my mind when when Least Sandpiper was mentioned. The bird was certainly considerably smaller than the Little Stint adding to my doubts and causing confusion over it's identity. Still it wouldn't be a proper Autumn if I didn't mess up a Peep or 2, there is plenty more time left for more mistakes.

Black Tern bathing at the ARC