With the wind still in a NW vector today's early morning sea watch was predictably poor. A few each of Gannet and Sandwich Tern, a couple of Red-throated Divers and Common terns were the highlights.

A walk from the observatory to the top of the Long Pits and back with AJG found 3 Common Whitethroats, c6 Blackcaps, c10 Chiffchaffs, 3 Willow Warblers, 3 Swallows, a Cetti's Warbler and 2 Peregrines of note.

At Cook's Pool the Ring-necked Duck was showing particularly well and glowing in the sunshine while pursuing a female Tufted Duck. 

 Ring-necked Duck glowing in the morning sun

I joined MH at the viewing ramp where on arrival several Sedge Warblers and a couple of Cetti's Warblers were in full song, also our first Reed warbler of the year. In the field behind Denge Marsh the White-fronted Goose was associating with the Greylags, a couple of Marsh Harriers were high over Hooker's also a Common Buzzard.

This afternoon the Little Owl was in it's usual Elder at Lydd Camp. At Galloways a superb Rubicola Stonechat was the highlight of otherwise very quiet walk there. A single Wheatear at the bottom of Denge Marsh Gully, 3 more Wheatears and a Raven out by the Converter Station.     

Ring Ouzels in The Desert

Mid afternoon Lee found 2 male Ring Ouzels in The desert, both of which were very well behaved and showed nicely to all the grateful locals.

This evening 4 Swallows on the wires at Wraxhalls and another 8 at the chicken sheds, my walk around the hay fields was cold and unproductive. 

The sea watch this morning was a complete non event, just a few Brent Geese, Sandwich Terns and Gannets.

 Willow Warbler at the observatory

At the observatory Willow Warblers and lesser numbers of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps were dropping into The moat nets and Heligoland traps, later they were being caught in the trapping area. A Redwing and Goldfinch found there way into one of the nets, over a 100 birds were ringed the majority being Willow Warblers. A male Redstart was seen in the trapping area by OL with another being found late afternoon at the experimental station.

Pied Flycatcher by Scott Hide

The reserve was quiet, though the Ring-necked Duck was still on Tanners Pool, a nice male Pied Flycatcher was found by Pete and Pam by Scott hide and was the pick of the birds on the reserve.

Early evening 9 Swallows and 2 Sand Martins were on the wires by the Chicken sheds.

An Excellent Sea Watch!

1w Glaucous Gull disappearing into the gloom towards France!

An excellent sea watch today with good numbers of birds passing, the numbers would undoubtedly have been much higher if the fog hadn't been hampering the visibility all day.

06.00-12.30 & 14.45-16.30 with AJG who kindly collated the numbers, also PT,LH,PH and LG. 

Greylag Goose: 2 in

Brent Goose: 982 up

Shelduck: 19 up

Mallard: 1 up

Gadwall: 2 up

Shoveller: 25 up
Teal: 33 up
Scaup: 6 up
Common Scoter: 1,709 up
Velvet Scoter: 36 up
Goldeneye: 4 up
Red-breasted Merganser: 7 up

Great Northern Diver: 3 up

Black-throated Diver: 8 up
Red-throated Diver: 31 up
Great-crested Grebe: 5 on sea
Fulmar: 7 around
Gannet: 102 up
Cormorant: 88 around
Grey Heron: 2 coasting down
Oystercatcher: 5 up
Curlew: 1 up
Whimbrel: 18 up
Great Skua: 6 up
Arctic Skua: 2 up
Little Gull: 8 up
Kittiwake: 2up  13 down
Glaucous Gull: 1 1w at The Patch then flew out to sea.
Little Tern: 1 up
Sandwich Tern: 515 up
Auk sp: 1 up
Carrion Crow: 2 in

Harbour Porpoise: 8+ around

Whimbrel passing close inshore

It would appear that the reserve was relatively quiet this weekend, the Ring-necked Duck and Long-eared Owl still present, as was the Hooded Merganser, many Sedge Warblers singing around the reserve but few waders present, exacerbated by the dryness of the hay fields, appaently no more water can be pumped onto them as the current abstraction allowance has been used up.

06.00-11.00 from the sea watch hide with So,SM,AF & AJG who collated the numbers:
Brent Goose: 191 up
Shelduck: 10 up
Pintail: 15 up
Shoveller: 13 up
Common Scoter: 238 up
Red-breasted Merganser: 11 up 1 down
Red-throated Diver: 11 up
Fulmar: 5 up
Gannet: 87 up
Cormorant: present n/c
Oystercatcher: 6 up
Curlew: 10
Great Skua: 2 up
Arctic Skua: 4 up
Mediterranean Gull: 3 up
Kittiwake: 19 up
Common Tern: 11 up
Sandwich Tern: 281 up
Guillemot: 3 up
Auk sp: 4 up
Sand Martin: 1 in

 Black Redstart in the lightouse garden  + Willow warbler there.

Brent Goose showing a white trailing edge this afternoon

14.20-16.20 from the fishing boats joined by AJG, EW and SO.

Brent Goose: 54 up

Shelduck: 4 up

Pintail: 1 up

Common Scoter: 48 up

Red-throated Diver: 5 up

Great-crested Grebe: 5 on

Fulmar: 4 up

Gannet: 5 up

Oystercatcher: 3 up

Curlew: 1 up

Whimbrel: 1 up

Great Skua: 1 up

Mediterranean Gull: 2 up

Sandwich Tern; 37 up     9 down

Harbour Porpoise: 8+

Northern France!

As a NW wind was forecast for Friday AJG and myself  decided on a day out in Northern France. We picked Trevor up in Dover and caught the 04.20 ferry to Calais.

At 07.00 we were in Crecy Forest where we were greeted by a cacophony of bird song, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps were positively abundant, joined by Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Chaffinches, Blue and Great Tits, Nuthatches, also seen Firecrests, Green, Great and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers, Yellowhammers, Common Buzzards and more.

 Crested Tit at Marquanterre

We next visited a reed bed between St Valery and Le Crotoy where we saw 3 Bluethroats, 3 Savi's Warblers, numerous Sedge Warblers, Bearded Tits and Water Rail were calling, overhead  a flushed Jack Snipe was chased by a Hobby but got away, several Great White Egrets and Little Egrets were on the marsh also several White Wagtails. 

 Bluethroat

At La Basse pools 4 Garganey, a photogenic Scaup, 3 Cattle Egrets, 6 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, and the usual wild fowl.

 Scaup

Next stop Marquanterre an excellent reserve with lots to see and is always busy. Spoonbills, White Storks, Great White, Little and Cattle Egrets are easy to see here, Avocets were plentiful as were Pintail, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler and Garganey. Sedge Warblers were singing all over as were Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps, another Bluethroat was seen and more. The only downside to this reserve is the dire design of the hides. 

White Stork Marquanterre

This one of the better hides at Marquanterre, most have much narrower viewing slits than this one!

Coming back we just had time for a quick look at Oye Plage where we found 8 Whimbrel, a Red-crested Pochard, Black-necked Grebe, Sandwich Terns and Avocets. As we boarded the ferry to come home we had managed 90 species, on the crossing we added, Common Tern, Turnstone, Fulmars, Great Skua, Kittiwakes, Gannets, Guillemots, Common Scoter and a Sooty Shearwater finishing on 99.  

 Great White Egret over Denge Marsh

Little-ringed Plovers on Hay Field 3

After a day of domestic stuff it was good to get out for an hours or so this evening. 2 Swallows on the wires by the chicken sheds, a Great-white Egret over Denge Marsh reed bed, also 2 Marsh Harriers  and a Common Buzzard, on the lake 4 Egyptian Geese among the Greylags, a few Wigeon, Tufted Duck and Pochard. On Hay Field 3 2 Little-ringed Plovers on the small pool by the gate, further out in the field 8 Lapwing and 2 Redshank hopefully looking to breed, also a Common Snipe there. By the hide 3 Sedge Warblers and a Cetti's Warbler singing.

Headed Straight to the sea watch hide this morning thinking the sea would produce after the yesterdays wipe out due to the fog. As I approached the hide a Great White Egret coasted up channel but that was  about as  good as it got.

06.30-07.50

Brent Goose: 27 up

Common Scoter: 10 down

Red-throated Diver: 6 up

Great-crested Grebe: present n/c

Fulmar: 1 up

Gannet: 47 up   26 down

Cormorant: present n/c

Great White Egret: 1 up

Oystercatcher: 14 up

Little Gull: 5 uo

Kittiwake: 1 down

Sandwich Tern: 239 up

Guillemot: 1 on sea

In the lighthouse garden 3 each of Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff. At the observatory at least 10 of each caught in The Moat. Around the trapping area at least another 9 Willow Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap, a Siskin and Fieldfare over, also a Grey Heron getting a hot reception from the local Herring Gulls as it came in off the sea.

A wander around Scotney found at least 10 Yellow Wagtails by the farm. At the back 14 Avocet, 4 Ringed Plovers, 4 Dunlin, 2 Redshank, 9 Oystercatchers, 2 Mediterranean Gulls among the Black-headed Gulls. On the fields there seemed to be good numbers of Skylarks and Corn Buntings.

 Yellow Wagtail at Scotney

Ring-necked Duck

This afternoon on Cook's Pool the Ring-necked duck was showing well, for the first time in it's stay I saw it fly a short distance. A Sedge Warbler was singing from the brambles there.

3 Black-necked Grebes and a Slavonian Grebe in near summer plumage are still on the New Diggings.

A short sea watch this afternoon from the turning circle was very slow, just a few Sandwich Terns tooing and froing and a few Gannets feeding.

Early evening on Walland 40+ Tree Sparrows, 4 Yellowhammers, 2 Green Woodpeckers and a Great- spotted Woodpecker at Midley, elsewhere 2 Marsh Harriers and 2 Common Buzzards. 

This mornings sea watch was very poor by recent standards with a single Eider, a few Red-throated Divers, Common Scoter, Sandwich Terns and Gannets. As the bushes at The Point by all accounts were devoid of migrants, myself AJG and LG went to Rye Harbour for a change of scenery. On the way LG spotted a Red Kite over the fields north of Northpoint GP.

At Rye Harbour Grey Plovers, Dunlin, Black and Bar-tailed Godwit, Avocets, Ringed Plovers, Mediterranean gulls, Sandwich Tern, Skylarks, Wheatears and more.

 Red Kite nr Northpoint GP

 Wheatear at Rye

 Sandwich Tern at the Ternery Pool

 Mediterranean Gull at the Ternery Pool

 Yellow Wagtail at Scotney

Early afternoon at Scotney my first 3 Yellow Wagtails of the year, 6 Avocets, 4 Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Ringed Plovers, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Marsh Harriers, several each of Skylarks and Corn Buntings.

 Ringed Plover at Scotney

Mid afternoonThe Ring-necked Duck was on Tanner's Pool. On Burrowes a Black-necked Grebe and 3 Goldeneye were the highlights. 2 more Black-necked Grebes and a Slavonian Grebe still on the New Diggings.  

White-fronted Goose at Springfield Bridge

Late afternoon no sign of any Water Pipits on the hay fields, but the White-front was  still showing well at Springfield Bridge.

An interesting watch this morning with a good range of species:

06.45-09.45 from the sea watch hide in the company of BB,BC,LG,DW and AJG.

Brent Goose: 64 up

Gadwall: 2 up

Pintail: 11 up

Shoveler: 8 up

Common Scoter: 264 up

Velvet Scoter: 2 up

Red-breasted Merganser: 4 up

Red-throated Diver: 98 up

Great Northern Diver: 1 up

Great-crested Grebe: present n/c

Fulmar: 4 up      1 down

Gannet: 39 up     4 down

Cormorant: present n/c

Osprey: 1 up

Merlin: 1 out

Great Skua: 1 up

Arctic Skua: 2 up

Mediterranean Gull: 4 up

Iceland Gull: 1 1w over The Patch

Little Gull: 9 up

Kittiwake: 7 up   5 down

Sandwich Tern: 144 up

Guillemot: 1 up

Auk sp: 11 up

Harbour Porpoise: 3+

The White-fronted Goose was still at Denge Marsh this morning. A Water Pipit was seen on hay field 1, a bird that I have not managed to see at Dungeness before, so I was very happy when it was still present when I arrived albeit but very elusive in the long grass. Another visit this evening found 3 Water Pipits there, but they were all still very elusive. I only managed to get a terrible record image.

 The smudge is a Water Pipit

Another sea watch from the fishing boats this afternoon was very pleasant in the warm sunshine, although not much was passing:

4.15-16.00 from the fishing boats with AJG & MH
Shoveler: 2 up
Common Scoter: 9 up
Red-throated Diver: 6 up
Great-crested Grebe: 6 around
Gannet: 1 up  3 down
Turnstone: 3 on beach
Sandwich Tern: 113 up
Skylark: 1 singing behind beach
Late afternoon on the New Diggings 2 Black-necked Grebes and a Slavonian Grebe. On Tanners Pool the Ring-necked Duck still and a Sedge Warbler there. At Cook's Pool a Water Rail present along with usual wildfowl.

Sunset at Dengemarsh

This evening's walk around Denge Marsh found the Whitefront still and the 3 Water Pipits, also 2 Common Buzzards over  and the usual Little Egrets and Marsh Harriers.

2 Little Owls were showing at Lydd Camp.

This morning from the sea watch hide with LG, BB, JHRC and AJG who kindly collated the numbers:

06.40-09.00

Brent Goose: 71 up

Pintail: 1 up

Teal: 1 up

Common Scoter: 76 up    17 down

Velvet Scoter: 2 down

Red-Throated Diver 63 up

Great-crested Grebe: 12 around

Fulmar: 1 up

Gannet 43 up

Cormorant: present n/c

Oystercatcher: 1 up

Mediterranean Gull: 1 up

Sandwich Tern: 24 around

Auk: 1 up

At least 1 Black-necked Grebe still on the New Diggings. The Ring-necked Duck was still showing at the far end of Tanners Pool. One of the Long-eared Owls was showing very well behind the Dipping Pool. On Burrowes 5 Goldeneye were the highlights but the islands are starting to look good for migrant waders, there is even mud in front of Firth Hide.

 Long-eared Owl showing well at the Dipping Pool

A pleasant but slow afternoon  sea watch from the fishing boats with MH & AJG,
14.30-16.00
Brent Goose: 1 down
Mallard: 2 up
Common Scoter: 8 up    4 down
Red-throated Diver: 25 up
Great-crested Grebe: 14 around
Gannet: 3 up     1 down
Cormorant: present n/c
Turnstone: 2 on beach
Mediterranean Gull: 1 up
Sandwich Tern: 18 up
Sand Martin: 1 in
Meadow Pipit: 1 in
Grey Seal: 1

Russian White-fronted Goose at Springfield Bridge this evening

A stroll around the hay fields this evening which appear to be drying out very quickly, saw a White-fronted Goose of note at Springfield Bridge, a Raven over, the usual Marsh Harriers and Little Egrets, 10 Lapwings on No.3 and 4 on No.2. At least 3 pairs of Great-crested Grebes were displaying on Denge Marsh.

9 moths of 5 species in the MV last night, 2 Powdered Quakers, 2 Common Quakers, a Small Quaker, 2 Double Striped Pugs and 2 Hebrew Characters.