Sparrowhawk!

I was watching several Goldfinches and Great Tits on my garden feeders as I drank my early morning coffee, when they all alarmed in a flurry of wings as a super male Sparrowhawk landed on the fence. For once my camera was right beside me, so I quickly got some half decent images through the patio window.

 Sparrowhawk on my garden fence this morning

At Cockles Bridge at least 6 Bewick Swans still present as i made my way to the beach. I'd barely settled in the hide when a call from DW alerted  us to the presence of the 1w Glaucous Gull. Stepping out of the sea watch hide myself AJG & PW were able to see the bird with other Gulls being thrown scraps by fisherman, though I am sure they were unaware they feeding a Glaucous Gull.

1w Glaucous Gull

                                                               1w Glaucous Gull

1w Glaucous Gull

2 x 2w Caspian Gulls

This afternoon 3 Caspian Gulls, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls and the Glaucous Gull came into Mick & Richards offerings. Offshore 100s each of Great-crested Grebe and Guillemot with a few Red-throated Divers and Kittiwakes on the sea, a party of c30 Wigeon flew west as did a Great Skua.

On the reserve the Long-eared Owl was still in situ and 10 Goosander were present per PB.

2w Caspian Gull

1w Caspian Gull

Glaucous Gull!

First thing this morning from the sea watch hide, c50 Gannets, 400+ Great-crested Grebes, 20+ Guillemots, a few each of Kittiwake and Red-throated Diver otherwise little of note. Only a few Gulls at The Patch and none on the beach probably due to disturbance from shingle moving plant.

1w Caspian Gull from Firth

On the reserve at least 5 Caspian Gulls today, 2 adults, 2 3w and a 1w. a few Pintail and Goldeneye and still no Smew. The Long-eared Owl was again just about visible if you know where to look.

On the ARC 4 Goosander and 2 Great White Egrets.

3w Caspian gull from Makepiece

Pintail from Makepiece

This afternoon DW found a brute of a 1w Glaucous Gull in the roost near the fishing boats, it hung around for a while before departing with the other Gulls as they went to roost. The regular 1w Caspian Gull also put in an appearance there.

The Long-tailed Duck and Slavonian Grebe were showing well on Lade Pits per JK, also at least 6 Bewick Swans were still opposite Cockles Bridge.

 1w Glaucous Gull near the Fishing Boats

1w Glaucous Gull near the Fishing Boats

1w Glaucous Gull near the Fishing Boats 

1w Glaucous Gull near the Fishing Boats 

1w Glaucous Gull near the Fishing Boats

1w Caspian Gull at the fishing boats same individual as from the reserve

Gulls in the Gloom!

In the very gloomy conditions this morning the islands on Burrowes were barely visible, those that were visible were avian free. 

As I had been meaning to have a walk along The Midrips and Wick's while there was no firing on the ranges, I thought today would be a good time to go there. Parking at Jury's Gap clambering over the sea wall and hopping from rock to rock until I reached the green wall. I walked to within a kilometer of Galloways and back and didn't record a single passerine nor a another human, the highlight being 12 Shelduck, c100 Wigeon, c30 Teal a few Redshank and Oystercatchers and a single Curlew.

Late morning back at the reserve the fog was marginally better allowing me to spot a 3w Caspian Gull and 2 Yellow-legged Gulls, also the Long-eared Owl which is really difficult to see even when you know exactly where to look. 

A lunchtime visit to the fishing boats found a 1w and 3w Caspian Gull, both of which showed well (see images below if you like Gulls otherwise don't bother).

Late afternoon back at the reserve more Gull watching another new 3rd or 4th cal yr Caspian Gull came in, unfortunately it was on the far islands as I have not one like this before, it was near adult but had retained it's shawl, a superb bird if you like Gulls, as dark fell a 1w and an adult came in and several colour rings were obtained.

 1w Caspian Gull by the fishing boats

  1w Caspian Gull by the fishing boats

  1w Caspian Gull by the fishing boats

  1w Caspian Gull by the fishing boats

  1w Caspian Gull by the fishing boats

 3w Caspian Gull by the fishing boats

 3w Caspian Gull by the fishing boats

 3w Caspian Gull by the fishing boats

 3w Caspian Gull by the fishing boats

 3w Caspian Gull by the fishing boats

 3w Caspian Gull by the fishing boats

 3w Caspian Gull by the fishing boats

A very dull and damp day on the peninsula, meant I spent most of the day in either Firth or Makepiece Hide, where a minimum of 7 Caspian Gulls (2 x ad, 2 x 3w, 3 x 1w) came into bathe or roost. 

The Long-eared Owl was once again doing its very best not be seen behind the Dipping Pool, but can be seen if you stand in the right place and know exactly where to look, also of note a Black-necked Grebe was noted from Makepiece only the second this winter as far as I know. A Great White Egret was on Cooks Pool.

AS I came out of Firth Hide a Badger ran across the path in front of me then up and over the bank flushing all the Gulls.

A scan of the New Diggings from the causeway found nothing unusual, though a pair of Goosander could be seen on the ARC from the causeway. 

 1w Caspian Gull from Firth

 Adult Caspian Gull from Firth

1w Caspian Gull 

 Gull flusher

 3w Caspian Gull

1w Caspian Gull

Cold and Frosty Morning!

 8 Great White Egrets at Scotney first thing this morning

First thing this morning at Scotney I was surprised to see 8 Great White Egrets together in an unfrozen corner by the causeway. 800+ Cormorants on and around the lake was also unusual. More usual was the 100s of feral Geese and no wild Geese. A Marsh Harrier and a Common Buzzard flew over the lake towards the ranges, a Green Sandpiper and several Redshanks fed along the northern shore among 56 Shelduck, while in the bays many Wigeon,Teal, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Pochard and a few Pintail and 100s of Coot.

13 Bewick Swans were still viewable from Cockles Bridge.

The Point was very quiet except for a Dartford Warbler and Stonechat. I found nothing notable among the few Gulls that were around.

Goosander on Burrowes this afternoon

In 2 visits to the reserve today the Long-eared Owl was just about visible behind the Dipping Pool, 3 Caspian Gulls came into the islands (Ad + 3w +1w), also an adult Yellow-legged Gull and 3 Goosander. All the usual wild fowl could be found but still no Smew.

2nd cal yr Caspian Gull from Firth very late afternoon

This evenings gorgeous sunset

 Kestrel at Scotney

First light at Scotney the lake was covered in 100s of Geese, the only wild Geese I could find among them were 2 dark bellied Brent Geese. A Green Sandpiper and 2 Redshank were feeding along the north shore and a Kingfisher flew into the sluice ditch. A Kestrel, Common Buzzard and Green Woodpecker were at the copse. A Marsh Harrier could be seen distantly near the wind turbines along with many Lapwing and Golden Plover.

 1w Caspian Gull near the fishing boats

In hour at the fishing boats mid morning a 1w Caspian Gull was in the roost. On the sea c50 Red-throated Divers flew down channel along with c20 Gannets, a few Guillemots and Kittiwakes and the usual Great-crested Grebes on the sea.

                                                 1w Caspian Gull near the fishing boats

 On the reserve the Long-eared Owl was again just about visible and 2 more Caspian Gulls were on the islands, a Great White Egret was on the ARC with another on the New Diggings seen from the causeway. Elsewhere 13 Bewick Swans were opposite Cockles Bridge and the Long-tailed Duck was again on Lade south pit, but otherwise it was very quiet day despite the beautiful sunny weather.

Sea watching at Dungeness in the last few days has produced small numbers of Red-throated Divers, Gannets, Guillemots and Kittiwakes, a count of 522 Great-crested Grebes, a singles each of Black-throated Diver, Goosander, Merlin and Mediterranean Gull. A new 1w Caspian Gull has been seen around The Point for last couple of days. At least 1 Dartford Warbler is still present around the new lighthouse area.

1w Caspian Gull at the fishing boats

16 Bewick Swans were opposite Cockles Bridge yesterday but I could only find 13 today, though the others may have been obscured by reeds.
The now seemingly resident 3w Caspian Gull seems to be living on an island viewable from Makepiece and is usually joined by other Caspian and Yellow-legged Gulls in the late afternoon roost. The long-eared Owl was just about showing today deep inside the bushes behind the dipping pool, a male Brambling was coming to the feeders in the reserve car park today. 6 Goosander (3 drakes & 3 Ducks) dropped into Burrowes this afternoon and were joined by a 4th drake a little later but still no Smew. Nearby at Lade the Long-tailed Duck and Slavonian Grebe are still present.
Scotney is still very quiet with just the usual feral geese to be seen, a Green Sandpiper or 2 can also usually be seen but so far no sign of any wild geese.

Brambling on the visitor centre car park feeders

AS I made my way to the beach this morning the & Bewick Swans (3 adults + 4 Juvs) were in there chosen field opposite Cockles Bridge.

08.00-09.00 from the sea watch hide:

Brent Goose: 5 down
Common Scoter: 4 down
Velvet Scoter: 1 down
Red-throated Diver: 158 down.   7 up
Great-crested Grebe: 56 down
Fulmar: 2 down
Gannet: 119 down
Great Skua: 1 down
Kittiwake: 37 down
Guillemot: 26 down

Auk sp: 38 down. 17 up

I joined PT in a wander around the lighthouses and Brittania but drew a blank on the Dartford Warblers and Stonechats.

By the fishing boats plenty of Gulls to look at including an adult and 1w Caspian Gull, also 2 Yellow-legged Gulls an adult and a 3w and several colour ringed Gulls.

 Adult Caspian Gull at the Fishing Boats

 Pitsea colour ringed Herring Gull

 3w Yellow-legged Gull with an injured wing

 Adult Yellow-legged Gull

Scotney was again very quiet with just the usual feral Barnacle Geese, 61 Shelduck, a Marsh Harrier and a few Tufted Duck and Pochard. In the distance Golden Plover and Lapwing could be seen wheeling around the wind turbines.

In the fields opposite Herons Park 4 Egyptian Geese with a Brent Goose, more Golden Plover and Lapwing, Stock Doves and Starlings all being flushed by a very low flying Helicopter inspecting the power lines.

 Long-tailed Tit from Makepiece

In a morning and afternoon visit to the reserve at least 4 Caspian Gulls were seen (adult, 2 x 3w, 2w) also 4 Yellow-legged Gulls including the bird with injured wing seen this morning at the fishing boats. The Long-eared Owl was reported but I failed to find it.

From Hanson the Bittern again showing out to the left of the hide per GP. Still no sign of any Smew.

 3w Caspian Gull from Firth

2w Caspian Gull from Firth