The Ranges!

 Willow Warbler at Galloways

As the ranges were open today I decided to visit Galloways early this morning, it was predictably very quiet with a handful of Willow Warblers, Common Whitethroats, Meadow Pipits and Stonechats. At Lydd camp the 2 Little Owls were perched up in the usual Elder.

 young Fox at Galloways

 Dunlin at The Midrips

It seemed a good idea to visit The Midrips as well as the ranges wont be open for a while, a Little Egret was unusual there and 18 Dunlin were seen along with 3 Avocet, 5 Ringed Plovers, a Redshank, a Whimbrel and a Wheatear. Offshore a few Sandwich terns and few Sand Martins heading south. Looks like winter has arrived at Scotney as the feral Barnacle Goose flock has returned from it's summer location.

 Little Egret at The Midrips

A very short sea watch this afternoon due to lack of birds and large numbers of visitors.

Knot from Firth

At the ARC 2 Common Sandpipers, 3 Little ringed plovers and a Dunlin of note. While there I was told a Marsh Sandpiper had been reported from Makepiece. When I got there I could only see 2 more Common Sandpipers, though in front of Firth 6 Black-tailed Godwits, a Redshank and winter plumage Knot which was new in today. 

I joined AJG who kindly collated the numbers in the sea watch hide this morning.
05.40-09.40 from the sea watch hide:
Common Scoter: 15 up  10 down
Great-crested Grebe: 1 around
Fulmar: 2 down
Gannet: 542 down
Cormorant: present n/c
Turnstone: 4 down
Dunlin: 3 down
Sanderling: 3 down
Arctic Skua: 3 down
Mediterranean Gull: 1 down
Kittiwake: 72 down
Sandwich Tern: 762 down
Common Tern: 1,078 down
Black Tern: 2 down
Grey Seal: 1
Harbour Porpoise: 6+

Mediterranean Gull past the sea watch hide this morning

The reserve was predictably very quiet with the regular group of 12 Black-tailed Godwits, a few each of Dunlin, Common Sandpipers and Little Ringed Plovers. 2 Wood Sandpipers and Ruff were still on Denge Marsh per CT. 3 Little Stints were new in on the ARC. As is usual this time of year many Sand Martins and a few Swifts could be found hawking over all the pits.
Galloways opened early today but only produced 6 Stonechats and a couple of Common Whitethroats, nearby at Lydd Camp 2 Little Owls were sun bathing in the elders.

13.00-16.00 from the fishing boats(just as well the sun was shining) joined by AJG,CT,BH, PH & EH:

Common Scoter: 2 up

Great-crested Grebe: 1 around

Gannet: 46 down     5 up

Cormorant: 21 around

Oystercatcher: 1 around

Mediterranean Gull: 1 down

Kittiwake: 12 down

Sandwich Tern: 68 down    14 up

Common Tern: 21 down

Swift: 5 out

Sand Martin: 177 out

Linnet: 2 over

Grey seal: 1

Harbour Porpoise: 4+

Bright and Breezy!

I joined AJG and BC in the sea watch hide for a very uneventful hour this morning, an Arctic Skua being the highlight.

 Wood Sandpiper from Makepiece

On a wind swept Burrowes 100s of Sand Martins and a few Swifts were hawking over the lake. From Firth 14 Black-tailed Godwits, 17 Dunlin and a Common Sandpiper of note. From Makepiece a Wood Sandpiper and 2 Dunlin. Late morning at the ARC from Hanson 6 Dunlin, 3 Little Ringed Plovers, a Black-tailed Godwit and 2 juvenile Marsh Harriers were the highlights among the Lapwing, feral geese, Mute Swans and eclipse duck.

 Sand Martin from Makepiece

 Arctic Skua off the fishing boats

12.30-16.30 from the fishing boats with AJG:

Common Scoter: 6 up

Great-crested Grebe: 1 around

Fulmar: 3 down

Gannet: 121 down   27 up

Cormorant: 22 around

Arctic Skua: 2 down

Black-headed Gull:  17 down

Common Gull: 3 down

Herring Gull: c35 around

Lesser Black-backed Gull: 4 down

Great Black-backed Gull: c10 around

Kittiwake: 7 down    1 up

Sandwich Tern: 262 down     14 up

Common Tern: 252 down     6 up

Black Tern: 10 down  (flock of 8 + 2 singles)

Swift: 66 out

Grey Seal: 2

Harbour Porpoise: 4+

 Black Terns off the fishing boats

Common Terns off the fishing boats

Mackerel!

A few Gannets, Sandwich and Common Terns and Common Scoter at the fishing boats this morning. 

For a while the sea was boiling as a large shoal of Mackerel came in shore to feed on Whitebait, at the same time attracting the attention of the ever vigilant Gulls and providing them with excellent feeding opportunities.

 Herring Gull catching breakfast

 Mackerel chasing Whitebait

Kittiwake grabbing Whitebait

On the reserve work started on building up the islands at the north eastern end of Burrowes, while from Firth hide 12 Black-tailed Godwits, 19 Dunlin, 2 Redshank, a Common Sandpiper, 100s of Sand Martins and a few Swifts were the highlights before the rain closed in.

Balearics & Sand Martins!

 Sand Martins at the fishing boats

 Sand Martins at the fishing boats

I joined AJG on his vigil from the sea watch hide this morning, many thanks to him for collating the numbers.
05.45 to 10.00:
Common Scoter: 40 up    85 down
Fulmar: 1 down
Balearic Shearwater: 16 down  1 up
Gannet 1008 down
Cormorant: 17 around
Peregrine: 1 juvenile around
Oystercatcher: 5 down
Sanderling: 2 down
Whimbrel: 1 down
Arctic Skua: 4 down
Kittiwake: 31 down
Sandwich Tern: 44 down
Common Tern: 443 down
Guillemot: 1 on
Auk sp: 5 down
Sand Martin: 449 coasting down
Yellow Wagtail: 2 out

The islands on the ARC from Hanson were covered Greylags and Canada Geese, along with Mute Swans, Lapwings and assorted eclipse duck, the only quality I could find was a juvenile Garganey.

A lunch time visit to Denge Marsh saw of note the Spoonbill, Great White Egret, 3 Ruff and 3 Golden Plover among the Lapwings, a Hobby was chasing Sand Martins and 3 Marsh Harriers were seen.

 Peregrine at the fishing boats

Oystercatchers  past the fishing boats

I joined AJG at the fishing boats this afternoon, once again thanks are due to him for collating the numbers.

12.15-15.45:

Common Scoter: 41 up   11 down

Balearic Shearwater: a flock of 6 down at 12.45

Gannet: 76 down

Cormorant: 8 around

Peregrine: 2 around

Oystercatcher: 7 down

Dunlin: 3 down

Arctic Skua: 2 around

Kittiwake: 11 down

Sandwich Tern: 296 down

Common Tern: 112 down

Sand Martin c1100 out 

Swift: 3 out

 Sand Martins at the fishing boats

 Sand Martins at the fishing boats

Quiet!

 Willow Warbler

Several Willow Warblers, Common Whitethroats and 3 Black Redstarts of note around the bushes on The Point this morning.
Burrowes was disappointing with 5 Black-tailed Godwits, 14 Dunlin, 5+ Common Sandpipers and 4 Little-ringed Plovers.
The ARC was equally disappointing with 5 Dunlin and 5 Little-ringed Plovers of any note.

13.45-16.00 from the fishing boats joined by RW &  MH:
Gannet: 54 down   8 up
Cormorant: 9 around
Dunlin: 4 down
Sanderling: 10 down
Black-headed Gull: 5 around
Herring Gull: c25 around
Great Black-backed Gull: 9 around
Sandwich Tern: 66 down   11 up
Common Tern: 95 down
Sand Martin: 182 out
Harbour Porpoise: 6+
Grey Seal: 2
It can only get better!
Late afternoon on Denge Marsh 3 Great White Egrets, 4 Golden Plover, 3 Ruff, 4 Golden Plover and a Hobby were noted. At Galloways the usual disappointment.

2 Jersey Tigers were the pick of the catch last night

Colour Rings in a Deluge!

06.15-10.10 with AJG from the sea watch hide who kindly collated the numbers:
Common Scoter: 35 up
Great-crested Grebe: 3 up
Fulmar: 5 down
Manx Shearwater: 5 down
Balearic Shearwater: 7 down
Gannet: 1,002 down
Peregrine: 4 around
Turnstone: 1 down
Arctic Skua: 2 down
Kittiwake: 15 down
Sandwich Tern 57 down
Common Tern: 109 down
Guillemot: 2 down

13.55-15-40 from the sea watch hide with AJG who collated the numbers:

Common Scoter: 17 up

Great-crested Grebe: 1 down

Balearic Shearwater: 4 down

Gannet: 86 down

Kittiwake: 1 down

Common Tern: 5 dow

Sandwich Tern: 52 down

 Yellow-billed Teal from Firth

 Black-tailed Godwit

An interesting couple of hours in Firth hide late afternoon where Yellow-billed Teal spent the time

feeding in front the hide, during one of the frequent deluges 30 Black-tailed Godwits including a multi colour ring and flagged individual dropped in (probably part of a French scheme). Also present 17 Dunlin, an aberrant Ringed Plover, 10+ Common Sandpipers, a Little Stint, 3 Little Ringed Plovers, a colour ringed Great White Egret and many Swifts and Sand Martins over the lake, but no sign of the Pectoral Sandpiper this afternoon.

 Black-tailed Godwits from Firth in a deluge

 Bickering Black-tailed Godwits

 Dunlin sheltering in front of Firth

 An aberrant Ringed Plover

 Common Sandpiper

 Egyptian Goslings sheltering from the deluge

1 of this years Great White Egrets from Ham Walls Somerset (colour ring red AAH) 

Pectoral Sandpiper!

07.45-10.00 from the sea watch hide with AJG

Common Scoter: 4 up

Great-crested Grebe: 1 around

Fulmar: 1 down

Gannet: 597 down

Cormorant: 16 around

Arctic Skua: 2 up

Kittiwake: 5 down

Sandwich Tern:37 down

Common Tern: 28 down

Auk sp: 2 down

Sand Martin: 13 out

Swift: 28 out

Swallow: 1 out

Harbour Porpoise: 8+

Grey Seal: 1

Distant Pectoral Sandpiper

Whilst I was on the reserve Pam and Pete found a Pectoral Sandpiper which always kept its distance like the Temminck's Stint they found, hopefully their next find will be in front of Firth on the close pools. Also on Burrowes, a Wood Sandpiper, a Little Stint, 4+ Common Sandpiper, a Black-tailed Godwit and a Bar-tailed Godwit which flew through of note.

The ARC was very quiet  though a Great White Egret was notable there.

15.00-16.00 from the fishing boats with AJG & MH

Great-crested Grebe: 1 around

Manx Shearwater: 1 up

Balearic Shearwater: 2 down

Gannet: 41 down   13 up

Cormorant 11 around

Sanderling: 1 on beach

Arctic Skua: 1 around

Kittiwake: 1 down

Sandwich tern: 31 down

Common Tern: 19 down

Swift: 1 out

Wood Sandpiper with 1 of the many 100s of Sand Martins around

 Black-tailed Godwit from Firth

 Yesterdays juvenile Yellow-legged Gull

 Yesterdays juvenile Yellow-legged Gull

 Yesterdays juvenile Yellow-legged Gull

 Yesterdays juvenile Yellow-legged Gull

 A very distant Bittern on Dengemarsh this morning

Around the reserve today including the ARC 20+ Dunlin, 1+ Little Stint,  3 Golden Plover, 5 Ruff, 4+ Redshank, a Greenshank, 2+ Common Snipe, 8+ Little Ringed Plovers, 7+ Ringed Plovers, a Black-tailed Godwit, 200+ Lapwing, a Turnstone,  2 Great White Egrets, a Bittern, 5+ Marsh Harriers, several 100s each of Sand Martins and Swifts and much more all on a quiet day.

 Juvenile Sandwich Tern at the fishing boats this afternoon

 Grey Seal

14.15-16.00 from the fishing boats:

Common Scoter: 14 Down          31 up

Gannet: 70 down

Cormorant: 27 around

Dunlin: 2 down

Kittiwake: 11 down

Sandwich Tern: 73 down

Common tern: 32 down

Swift: 36 out

Harbour Porpoise: 2+

Grey Seal: 1

 Adult Little Stint with Dunlin from Firth this afternoon

 Adult Little Stint with Dunlin from Firth this afternoon

 Little Egret from Firth this afternoon

Little Owl Lydd Camp early evening

Temminck's stint!

 Juvenile Marsh Harriers

After going through a disappointing MV this morning I went to the ARC where 2 juvenile Marsh Harriers were doing there best to clear the islands of all other birds. What was left on the islands was 2 Dunlin, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, a Ringed Plover, a Turnstone, 2 Common Sandpipers, a single Black-tailed Godwit, c 50 Lapwing, the usual Greylags, Mute Swans, Cormorants and eclipse duck. Overhead 100s of House Martins, Sand Martins and Swifts with a few Swallows.

 Common Sandpiper

On Burrowes 3 Common Sandpipers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Little Ringed Plovers along with their chick, another Turnstone, 4 Dunlin, a Redshank and a flighty Greenshank. Burrowes was also covered in Sand Martins with many Swifts overhead.

 Juvenile Yellow Wagtail

From Makepiece a juvenile Yellow Wagtail fed on the bank by the hide, unfortunately on the side that for some unknown reason since it's repair has no opening shutters, consequently the images were taken through dirty glass windows. A Common Sandpiper was more helpful feeding in front the hide where the shutters open. 

At Denge Marsh a Great White Egret, 3 Little Egrets, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Common Snipe, 2 juvenile and an adult Redshank, a Green Sandpiper, and 2 Golden Plover among the Lapwings, once again many Sand Martins and Swifts were over the lake. In 2 more visits to Denge Marsh today at lunch time and this evening 2 Ravens and a Peregrine flew over lunch time, while this evening a Sandwich Tern was noted there.

 A 45 minute sea watch from the fishing boats was mercifully ended by a call from Pete Burness saying he was sure there was a Temminck's Stint on Burrowes seen distantly from the picnic area by Dennis's Hide.
14.15-15.00 from the fishing boats with AJG:
Common Scoter: 27 up     9 down
Fulmar: 1 up
Gannet: 7 up     5 down
Cormorant: 7 around
Sandwich Tern: 28 up    9 down
Common Tern: 1 up   1 down
Harbour Porpoise: 3+
Common Seal: 1

Moulting adult Temminck's Stint 

Back at Burrowes the Temminck's Stint was giving good scope views but to far for any decent photographic images, many thanks to Pete and Pam for the call. While watching the Stint Sand Martin's were swirling around with a few Swifts, a Green Sandpiper could be seen on the far bank also 2 Whimbrel dropped in had a bath and were off again. A quick look from Firth revealed nothing new though 2 Black-tailed Godwits appeared to drop into one of the islands.