Cormorant at Camber on Saturday

 Grey Plover & Dunlin at The Midrips

As Dungeness has been manic with birders since the new year I decided to go to The Midrips this morning. I spent the best part of 3 hours there without seeing another person, it has to be said that birds were pretty thin on the ground as well. The highlights being 11 Grey Plover, 23 Dunlin, 14 Redshank, 6 Oystercatchers, 120 Wigeon, 24 Shoveler, 16 Teal, 18 Shelduck, a Common Buzzard and the star bird a Rock Pipit. I also spent another hour at Camber waiting for Red-necked Grebe to give a close pass to no avail. 

 Rock Pipit at The Midrips

3 of 4 Pinkfeet on Scotney lunchtime

Next stop the double bends Scotney, on arrival the lake was devoid of Geese but after a few minutes a swirl of c400 Golden Plover and c1,000 Lapwing appeared by the windmills, these were quickly followed c1,000 Grey Geese many of which flew onto the lake. A Party of 10 Whitefronts landed by the Herring Gull island and swam towards the shore. Scanning through the Greylags I came across 2 Tundra Bean Geese also a singleton which were probably the same birds that were present on Thursday, these  were quickly followed by a party of 3 Pinkfeet which were presumably new in, later I came across another single Pinkfoot which was probably also a bird that was present on Thursday.

4 of 10 Whitefronts on Scotney at lunchtime

On my way to the beach this afternoon a quick stop on the causeway saw the 2 Slavonian Grebes, on the beach with Mick and Richard a 1w Caspian Gull put in a brief appearance as did a adult Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Mediterranean Gulls and few Guillemots off shore.

08.15-10.00 from the turning circle with DW:

Brent Goose:  37 up
Shelduck: 4 down
Goldeneye: 1 down
Common Scoter:  12 down
Velvet Scoter: 5 down
Red-breasted Merganser: 2 up
Red-throated Diver: 17 up    29 down
Great-crested Grebe: 6 around
Slavonian/Black-necked Grebe: 1 down
Fulmar:  1 down
Gannet: c70 o/s
Turnstone: 2 around
Great Skua: 1 around
Kittiwake: c20 around
Guillemot: c200 around
Razorbill: 3+ around
Grey Seal: 1 around
Harbour Porpoise: 2+ around

The Stejneger's Stonechat was again showing per RBA, 1+ Slavonian Grebes were on the the New Diggings. On the reserve the Ring-necked Duck was still on Cook's Pool but the Long-eared Owl was missing, 3 red head Smew and a Great Skua over the reserve per LH & PH.
At Scotney a Black-necked Grebe was on the lake behind the farm, the feral Barnacle Geese were by the main pit but no grey geese there today, I assume they were out on the marsh.

Not a bad day!

At Scotney first thing this morning 2 Tundra Bean Geese among the hordes of Greylag Geese, which by 08.30  had all flown off from the lake out on to the marsh.

 Stejneger's Stonechat 

As I drove across the causeway a Slavonian Grebe could be seen on the New Diggings close to the road, then a call from DW  alerted me 7 wild swans he had seen come in over the beach, I pulled over at the southern end of the ARC and scanned the skies to no avail.

When I arrived at Kerton Road there were a number of disappointed birders wandering around as the Stonechat had no been seen since an early morning report. I started to walk out towards what seems to be it's favoured area, after only a few steps I could see a pale blob on the perimeter fence. It still does not allow close approach and is very active. In the gorse by the fence a Dartford Warbler. 

 1w Caspian Gull

On my way to the beach I checked the Fish Hut roost  but there was only a handful of Gulls and nothing notable. A 30 minute wander among the containers and boats saw nothing of any note either on the land or the sea. Leaving the beach I could see that the Fish Hut roost had attracted more Gulls, as I pulled up I could see the large regular 1w Caspian Gull's gleaming white head.

 4 of the 7 Bewick Swans

Driving back across the causeway I could see a party of swans on the ARC, pulling over quickly I could see they 7 Bewick Swans presumably the same birds DW saw come in earlier.  

 The Ring-necked Duck was showing well on Cook's Pool

From Dengemarsh Road the Lapwing flock the leucistic bird was feeding with c100 Golden Plover, in the field by the farmhouse 2 Ruff among some more Lapwing.

feral Barnacle Geese at Scotney

An excellent afternoon at Scotney, the highlights being 3 Tundra bean Geese, a Pink-footed Geese, a Merlin, a Green Sandpiper, 2 Avocet, 14 Curlew, 3 Marsh Harriers, 2 Great White Egrets and a Little Owl.

After an early morning visit to Ashford, I came back via the lanes on Walland Marsh which on the whole were disappointing. I did manage to find a Yellowhammer, several Mistle and Song Thrushes, 30+ Tree Sparrows but no Fieldfares or Redwings, 25 Bewick Swans were at Horsesbones farm.

On the reserve the Ring-necked Duck and Long-eared Owl were insitu, a few Godeneye and a Smew. A couple of Chifchaffs were in front of Dennis's Hide, but the star was a very showy Water Rail from Scott Hide.

 Water Rail from Scott Hide

Chiffchaff from Dennis's

As I drove across the causeway a Slavonian Grebe was still on the New Diggings. In the gorse by the Kerton Road Quarry a Dartford Warbler was flitting about in the now persistent drizzle.
A look around the beach area this afternoon failed to find any interesting Gulls.
Late afternoon from Hanson another Water Rail made a brief appearance along with a couple of Cetti's Warblers and a Sparrowhawk. 4 Bewick Swans came into roost. As I walked back to the car park a further 28 Bewick Swans flew in to roost.

Bean Geese and a fine Red-necked Grebe!

 Slavonian Grebe New Diggings

With the builders starting work at home today my time was limited to a quick run around the Peninsular. On the ARC 3 Goosander at the south end from the causeway, on the opposite side of the road a Slavonian Grebe was  showing nicely. On the reserve the Ring-necked Duck was still on Cook's Pool. The Long-eared Owl was missing today, just a single Smew on Burrowes of note.

A short watch from the garden late morning saw Great White Egret, Little Egret, Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Golden Plovers and Lapwings. As I was in the garden RH,BE and KH pulled up and showed me back of the camera images of 5 Bean Geese taken at Pett Level, although distant and heavily cropped they looked good for Taiga Bean Geese. 

A call to MH ended with us going to Pett where we saw the 5 Bean Geese distantly which looked good for Taiga's long necked, long billed, but they were just too distant to clinch the ID for certain. However all the Geese were flushed landing closer to us, while searching through the Greylags and Canada's we came came across a party of 4 Tundra Bean Geese, as we were cold and thinking we had made a mistake we left for home. As we approached Camber we spotted a Red-necked Grebe on the small lake immediately west of the village. I called Paul James who arrived shortly, chatting about the Bean Geese he had seen the 5 Taiga's where we had. Hopefully all 9 Bean Geese will be present tomorrow.

 Red-necked Grebe, Camber.

This 1w Caspian Gull joined us at the Fishing Boats this morning

08.15-09.45 from the fishing boats joined by SO and AJG:

Brent Goose: 31 up           24 down
Shelduck:   2 up                  13 down
Gadwall:     2 up
Wigeon:      2 up                  3 down
Teal:            35 down
Common Scoter:   2 up      5 down
Red-throated Diver:  186 up
Great-crested Grebe:  c150 up
Fulmar:    1 down
Gannet: c50 around
Oystercatcher:  4  up
Turnstone: 4 on beach
Mediterranean Gull: 1 down
Caspian Gull:  2 x 1w (1 on beach + 1 at Fish Hut)
Kittiwake: c10 around
Guillemot: c600 up
Razorbill:  3 up
Snow Bunting:  1 over

I made a short stop at Kerton Road where the Stejneger's Stonechat was still showing.

I headed for the reserve but didn't make it to the visitor centre as the entrance track was a sea of cars, hopefully things will return to normal tomorrow. I opted for a walk at the back of Scotney, there I saw 2 Peregrines, Common Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, 10 White-fronted Geese, 15 Egyptian Geese and a party of Corn Buntings of note.

CONDEMNED TO DEATH BY CARELESS FISHERMAN!!!

This afternoon I joined Mick and Richard on the beach but no Caspian Gulls came to the offerings while I was there.

Late afternoon 15 Great White Egrets came into the ARC roost, the Bewick Swans were already on the lake when I arrived.

Glaucous Gull!

Waking up to a thoroughly miserable day on the peninsular didn't encourage me to get out early. As I drove past Kerton Road I could see a few birders braving the horrible conditions looking for the "Stonechat" I left them to it.  When I finally arrived at The Point OL & MH were already there watching from the shelter of the car. 2 Great Skuas were fairly close inshore beating up some Herring Gulls, a 1w Glaucous Gull arrived and settled on the sea only to be attacked by the Skua's and disappear around The Point. Plenty of Guillemots, Red-throated Divers and Gannets were tooing and froing but just a handful of  Razorbills were present, 4 Fulmars moved past down channel as did 4 Brent Geese and 2 super Velvet Scoters.

JC417 at the puddles this afternoon

This afternoon at the puddles conditions were even more challenging, I joined Mick, Richard and David who were surrounded by 100s of Gulls attracted by their offerings, a 1w Caspian Gull was there and  another came in as we were leaving.

 Late afternoon 5 Goosander were on the ARC from the causeway, the Ring-necked Duck was still on Cook's Pool and the Long-eared Owl was showing in the gloom and rain at the dipping pool. Hopefully the weather will be better tomorrow and I might have a look for the Stonechat.

1w Caspian Gull by the fish hut

08.30-10.20 from the turning circle joined by OL, AJG & PW:
Brent Goose: 26 up
Wigeon: 6 down
Teal: 1 down
Common Scoter:  1 up     8 down
Red-throated Diver: 11 up   19 down
Great-crested Grebe: 30+ around
Fulmar:  1 down
Gannet: 205 down        67 up
Oystercatcher: 3 up
Turnstone: 5+ around
Great Skua: 3 up   2 down   (minimum of 2 individuals involved)
Mediterranean Gull: 1 down
Kittiwake:  43 down      5+ around
Guillemot: c 200 around
Razorbill: 4+ around
1w Caspian Gull at the fish hut.

A quick look at Cook's Pool on my way home for breakfast saw the Ring-necked Duck sleeping there.

I joined PW in walk out the back of Scotney, the Little Owl was on it's usual barn though difficult to see, no sign of the Black-necked Grebe on the the back lake, the Geese were all very distant at the Sussex end , I could only find 3 Brents in front of the Greylags, though the range I was viewing them at, the gloomy conditions and Reeds obscuring my view a few Whitefronts could easily have been among them. A party of 16 Egyptian Geese were much closer, also a flock of c40 Corn Buntings were in the hedgerows and a few Skylarks in the fields.

Late afternoon at the ARC Egret roost I only saw 9 Great White and 12 Little Egrets come into the roost, some may well have come in before I arrived as it was so gloomy today. In the 40 minutes I was there 4 Marsh Harriers, a Common Buzzard, a Peregrine, a Merlin, 2 Sparrowhawks and a Kestrel flew over all towards the Open Pits, 5 Goosander were on the lake (2 drakes) and a red head Smew, but the Bewick Swans hadn't come in by the time I left when it was dark.

Elsewhere the Long-eared Owl was back behind the Dipping Pool and the Stejneger's Stonechat was in the Kerton Road quarry area, as far as I know there were no reports of any Dartford Warblers there today.

A beautiful crisp sunny morning making viewing conditions very difficult staring into a low bright sun.

08.10-08.40 from the turning circle 

Brent Goose: 820 up

Shelduck:    3 up

Common Scoter:  3 up

Red-throated Diver: 15 up     4 down

Great-crested Grebe: 9 around

Gannet: c30 feeding

Cormorant: many present n/c

Black-headed Gull: many present n/c

Common Gull: present n/c

Herring Gull: many present n/c

Lesser Black Backed Gull: present n/c

Great Black Backed Gull: many present n/c

Turnstone: 3 on beach

Great Skua 1 down

Kittiwake: 5 around

Guillemot: c50 around

Razorbill: 2+ around

The Ring-necked Duck was still showing on Cook's Pool, a Bearded tit posed there as well. No Long-eared Owl at the Dipping Pool again but a Chiffchaff there.

Bearded Tit a Cook's Pool this morning

The 29 Bewick Swans were still at Horses Bones farm though distant, close enough to read the white neck collars 534X & 536X.

Brent Geese passing The Point

13.30-15.30 from the turning circle

Brent Goose: 1,760 up
Common Scoter: 1 up
Red-throated Diver:  21 up    4 down
Great-crested Grebe: present n/c
Gannet: 87 up   26 down
Oystercatcher: 2 up
Turnstone: as this morning
Great Skua:  1 up      4 down (2 flew down together)
Kittiwake: as this morning
Guillemot: as this morning

An excellent end to the day at the Egret roost. In the 40 minutes between sunset and last light 13 Great White Egrets joined 22 Little Egrets in the roost, a Merlin, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel all tried catching Starlings going to roost, 2 Goosander dropped into the lake, the Bewick Swans came into roost and 5 Marsh Harriers flew over.

The Stejneger's Stonechat was still present at Kerton Road per RBA, also a Dartford Warbler there per GH.

08.15-09.45 from the turning circle

Brent Goose: 5 up

Shelduck:  5 up

Scaup:   2 up

Common Scoter: 1 down

Velvet Scoter: 2 down

Red-throated Diver: 124 up   6 down

Great-crested Grebe: 36 around

Fulmar: 1 up

Gannet:  211 down      37 up

Cormorant: many present n/c

Black-headed Gull: many present n/c

Common Gull: present n/c

Herring Gull: many present n/c

Lesser Black Backed Gull: present n/c

Great Black Backed Gull: many present n/c

Kittiwake:  38 down

Guillemot:  200+ around

Razorbill:  20+ around

On the reserve the Ring-necked Duck still present on Cooks Pool also a Great White Egret over.

The Long-eared Owl was missing today from the Dipping Pool. From Firth a single 1w Caspian Gull of note. On New Excavations a red head Smew.

 Smew on the New Excavations

News this afternoon that the Stejneger's Stonechat was still present at Kerton Road cut short my plans to go out onto Walland Marsh. On arrival the Stonechat was  along the fence line on the Western edge of the quarry with 2 Common Stonechats, also a Dartford Warbler there, presumably the bird has been feeding out of sight in the quarry.

Stejneger's Stonechat, by Kerton Road quarry