Black Terns!

1 of the many Black Terns at Dungeness today

Even in the shelter of the crowded sea watch hide this morning it was very wet at times as the southerly wind drove the rain in, our optics needed regular cleaning as there was plenty to see. The first 2 Pomarine Skuas sailed past as only Poms can close to shore, on the downside knowing how wet the hide was going to be I left my camera safely locked up in the car.
05.15-13.00 with CP, AJG, CF, JTM et al
Teal: 2E
Common Scoter: 53E   47W
Red-throated Diver: 2E
Black-throated Diver: 1E
Great-crested Grebe: 14 around
Fulmar: 48E   4W
Manx Shearwater: 7E
Gannet: 518E   127W
Oystercatcher: 1E   1W
Ringed Plover: 1E
Bar-tailed Godwit: 11E
Knot: 8E
Dunlin: 5E   9W
Great Skua: 5E
Pomarine Skua: 5E
Arctic Skua: 4E
Kittiwake: 6E
Little Tern: 13E
Sandwich Tern: 390E
Common/Arctic Tern: 2,602
Black Tern: 92E
Guillemot: 1E
Auk sp: 7E   1W
Swift: 1 in
Swallow: 10 in
Grey Seal: 1
Harbour Porpoise: 1+
The rain today dumped many Black Terns on the reserve today, along with a few waders, Knot, Dunlin, Common Sandpipers, Bar-tailed Godwits, Whimbrel, Turnstone and Grey Plover.

At least 50 Black Terns graced Burrowes Pit today

 Many Common Terns are now to be seen on the reserve

A Brown Hare running along the beach this afternoon

Kentish Plover!

A 12 hour sea watch today with the undoubted highlight being the Kentish Plover

 A poor image taken through the heat haze from the pebbles of the Kentish Plover that flew in from the sea, landed briefly before departing West. (Could easily turn up at Rye Harbour LNR)

 05.30-17.30 joined throughout the day at various times by AJG, GH, OL, MH, CP, JTM, SM et al
Brent Goose: 12E
Shelduck: 4E     4in
Tufted Duck: 2E
Garganey: 2E
Common Scoter: 373E.  119W
Red-throated Diver: 11E
Black-throated Diver: 3E
Great-crested Grebe: 18 around
Fulmar: 4E.   2 around
Gannet: 343E   17W
Cormorant: 37 around
Oystercatcher: 14E.    8W
Kentish Plover: 1 adult male in then west 
Sanderling: 4E
Dunlin: 4 in then West
Bar-tailed godwits: 11E
Whimbrel: 21E
Great Skua: 5E
Pomarine Skua: 1E
Arctic Skua: 8E
Little Gull: 1E
Kittiwake:11E
Little Tern: 16E
Sandwich Tern: 384E   19W
Common Tern: 186E
Arctic Tern; 94E
Common /Arctic Tern: 2,075E
Black Tern: 5E
Guillemot: 3E
Auk sp: 29E.   6W
Sand Martin: 1 in
Swallow: 34 in
Carrion Crow: 3 in

As I drive the short distance to the beach this morning the car was bleeping ice warnings at me! Giving me a foreboding that this morning sea watch was going to be poor, it was not poor it was dire! especially considering that it is the 5th of May!
O5.30-08.00 with AJG, SO, MB et al
Shoveler: 1W
Common Scoter: 23W
Great-crested Grebe: 12 around
Fulmar: 2E
Gannet: 147E   43W
Cormorant: present n/c
Oystercatcher: 1W
Arctic Skua: 1E
Mediterranean Gull: 1E (1st Summer)
Common Gull: 18E
Kittiwake: 4W
Sandwich Tern: 158E   19W
Common Tern:107E
Common/Arctic Tern: 40E
Auk sp: 1E
Harbour Porpoise: 5+

Tree Sparrows at Scotney deciding which way to go

A Long walk out the back of Scotney was pleasant but cold in the a stiff NW breeze. As I walked towards the farm the remains of 2 Mute Swans and an Avocet were laying on the grass under the power lines.

 At the farm a female Yellow Wagtail was pulling cows hairs off the barb wire for nesting material.

Tree Sparrows and Yellow Wagtail feeding in the hay

The regular Little Owl was in its usual spot on the crates having been missing the last few times I looked for it. A Hobby zipped across the farm yard in pursuit of a Swallow that was far too agile for it.

Tree Sparrows and Yellow Wagtails were seemingly all around the yard and Swallows were prospecting for nest sites.

On the back lakes at least 34 Avocets were present with 16 looking like they were on eggs, hopefully the Badgers wont be able to get out to them and there is enough of them to deter the Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. My first Common Sandpiper of the year was with a Ringed Plover on another island, but disappointingly no other waders were present.

 As I continued my wander Yellow Wagtails and Swifts were numerous as were Reed Buntings and Linnets, just small numbers of Corn Buntings, another Little Owl, several Common Buzzards, 2 Marsh Harriers were seen. 
Another sea watch this afternoon from the fishing boats was vast improvement to this mornings watch.
13.40-16.40 with AJG who collated the numbers:
Shelduck: 2E
Common Scoter: 60E  5W
Red-throated Diver: 5E
Great-crested grebe: 16 around
Fulmar: 4E
Gannet: 73E
Cormorant: Present n/c
Shag: 1E  a scarce bird at Dungeness.
Bar-tailed Godwit: 8E
Great Skua: 3E
Arctic Skua: 3E
Little Gull: 8E
Kittiwake: 3E
Little Tern: 17E
Sandwich Tern: 218E
Common Tern: 24E
Arctic Tern: 11E
Common/Arctic Tern: 117E
Guillemot: 1W
Auk sp: 3W
Swallow 1 in

The Somme 30/04/2019

 Turtle Dove at Saille-Bray

 1 of the White Storks at Saille-Bray

Tuesday 30th April CP picked myself, MH and AJG up at 04.30 and headed for the Eurotunnel. WE arrived at Saille-Bray around 07.00. Song Thrushes were everywhere singing and many with beaks full of food for their young, a Savi's Warbler was reeling and showing well for the scope out in the reed bed but for the first time we didn't see any Bluethroats even though 4 were seen a couple of weeks ago, Blackcaps, Garden Warblers and Common Whitethroats were singing, a couple of Grey Partridges were seen, as well as all 3 Egrets, Storks, Marsh Harriers, Black-tailed Godwits, Ruff,  Black-winged Stilts, White and Yellow Wagtails and a lovely Turtle Dove and much more.

 4 Black-winged stilts at Saille-Bray

 White and Yellow Wagtails at Sailly-Bray

 At Least 22 Black-winged Stilts mating at the pools near Saint Valery-sur-Somme

At the pools near Saint Valery-sur-Somme more Black-winged Stilts, 2 Wood Sandpipers, 2 Green Sandpipers, Avocets, many Greenshanks, many Great White and Little Egrets, Spoonbills, Storks, Yellow Wagtails, Little Ringed Plovers, Hobby and the common Warblers. 

 Black-winged Stilt and Wood Sandpiper near Saint Valery-sur-Somme

 100+ Whimbrel in Le Crotoy Harbour

A cooffee stop at Le Crotoy Harbour saw 100+ Whimbrel, 100+ Redshanks, many Greenshanks, more Egrets, singing Nightingales and the only Lesser Black-backed Gulls of the day.

 8+ Black-winged Stilts at La Basse Pools

La Basse Pools as usual gave us superb views of more Black-winged Stilts, Cattle and Great White Egrets, Common Sandpipers, Little Ringed Plovers, Storks, Common Buzzards etc.

At a nearby car park 6 Nightingales were singing around us and a Tree Pipit was seen.

 10s several Cattle Egrets at La Basse pools

 Great White Egret at La Basse pools

 Reeling Savi's Warbler near Le Crotoy

We finished the day at a reed bed near Le Crotoy where 3 reeling Savi's Warbler were located, a reeling Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Bluethroats, Water Rail, more Egrets, Storks, Yellow Wagtails, Greenshanks as well as Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers. A superb end to a great day out with many thanks to Chris for doing the driving.

Black Redstart in the usual garden at Nolette

Warblers!

Male Stonechat guarding his newly fledged brood by the path to the sea watch hide this morning

05.30-07.30 & 12.50-17.50 from the sea watch hide with AJG and JTM.

Brent Goose: 9E
Eider: 3E
Common Scoter: 52E
Red-throated Diver: 5E
Black-throated Diver: 1E
Great Northern Diver: 1E
Great-crested Grebe: 32 around
Fulmar: 1E
Gannet: 211E  28W
Hobby: 1 in
Oystercatcher: 9E  2W
Whimbrel: 21E
Bar-tailed Godwit: 12E
Great Skua: 2E
Arctic Skua: 4E
Kittiwake: 4E
Little Tern: 3E
Sandwich Tern: 469E  37W
Common Tern: 68E
Swallow: 6 in
Carrion Crow: 5 in
Auk sp: 37E
Harbour Porpoise: 6+
Large Bat sp: 1 in

Cetti's Warbler at the Observatory this morning

Today was the first day this spring I have walked around the trapping area hearing lots of birds singing, Willow Warblers, Blackcaps, Whitethroats, Lesser Whitethroats, Garden Warblers, Chiffchaff and of course the lovely Wood Warbler.

Wood Warbler in the trapping area

Wood Warbler in the trapping area

Wood Warbler in the trapping area

 

Reed Bunting in the trapping area

 Another beautiful Wood Warbler at the top of the Long Pits late morning, singing constantly and sometimes giving its full song, also a Red Kite high over.

 A tatty Red Kite over the top end of the Long Pits late morning

Wood Warbler!

As todays Wood Warbler was camera shy, this image was taken by me at Dungeness in 2012. 

A bit of lay in after a long day birding around The Somme estuary yesterday was cut short by calls from JTM & AJG with news of Wood Warbler singing in the trapping area, sadly now a very scarce bird here. While getting brief views of the bird I also saw my first Garden Warbler of the year and also my first Jay of the year on the peninsular. Apart from those 3 birds land birds were very few and far between. There are now apparently 4 Cattle Egrets in the hay fields and lots of Common Terns on Burrowes.
08.20-10.00 & 10.40-17.30 with AJG, OL, MH, JTM, RW, JC, DS, DC, Charles & Anna et al.
Common Scoter: 457E  4W
Red-throated Diver: 8E
Black-throated Diver: 1E
Red-breasted Merganser: 1E
Great-crested Grebe: 53 around
Fulmar: 6E   4W
Gannet: 75E. 26W
Cormorant: 27 around
Oystercatcher: 9E   2W
Grey Plover: 1W
Whimbrel: 509E
Bar-tailed Godwit: 684E
Knot: 1E
Little Gull: 6E
Mediterranean Gull: 2E
Kittiwake: 5E
Black Tern: 8E
Little Tern: 2E
Sandwich Tern: 276E
Common Tern: 65E
Commic Tern: 859E
Great Skua: 1E
Pomarine Skua: 3E
Arctic Skua: 12E
Auk sp: 5E. 4W
Swallow: 11 in
Grey Seal: 1
Harbour Porpoise: 16+

06.20-08.20 &13.00-18.00 from the sea watch hide joined by CF, JTM & NG
Shelduck: 4W
Common Scoter: 44E.   48W
Red-throated Diver: 3E
Black-throated Diver: 1E
Great-crested Grebe: 7W   3 on
Fulmar: 1W   2E
Gannet: 63E    21W
Cormorant: present n/c
Hobby: 1 in
Oystercatcher: 1E
Curlew: 2E.  1W
Whimbrel: 19E
Bar-tailed Godwit: 1,173E
Great Skua: 1E
Pomarine Skua: 1E @16.40
Arctic Skua: 3E
Kittiwake: 2W.  5E
Common Gull: 27E
Little Tern: 2E
Sandwich Tern: 165E    45W
Common Tern: 528E
Arctic Tern: 23E
Guillemot: 1E
Razorbill: 1E
Auk sp: 10E
House Martin: 4 in
Swallow: 19 in
Carrion Crow: 1 in
Harbour Porpoise: 10+
Grey Seal: 1
The Cattle Egret continues its stay at Dengemarsh and a Spoonbill flew over the reserve per PT.
Migrant passerines are still scarce but there are plenty of Common and Lesser Whitethroats, Blackcaps, Sedge and Reed Warblers on territory around the peninsular.

It can only get better!

 An abysmal weekend birding wise at Dungeness in the cold strong West to North West winds. Even sea watching which should be good at this time of year was abysmal, the highlight being a flock of 16 Manx Shearwaters Saturday morning. Todays early morning sea watch figures listed below show how bad today was.
05.35-07.35 kindly collated by AJG:
Common Scoter: 92W
Great-crested Grebe: 7W
Fulmar: 3W
Gannet: 142W
Oystercatcher: 9W
Arctic Skua: 1E
Sandwich Tern: 2E
Common Tern: 3W
Guillemot: 3W
Auk sp: 6W
Swifts arrived this weekend along with Hobby's, but wader passage has been poor. On Burrowes this morning 16 Dunlin, 4 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 5 Ringed Plovers and a Garganey. On Boulderwall fields 6 Whimbrel and a Curlew, the remaining Cattle Egret is still around the Hay Fields.
A Serin spent the afternoon in the lighthouse area but was flighty and disappeared for long periods, Black Redstart, Stonechats and Peregrines were also to be seen in this area.   

 Not my best ever image of a Serin!

A Currant Pug on the wall at home

Eider passing the marker Bouy this morning

Sandwich Terns passing the fishing boats this afternoon

In today's SW wind the sea was not very productive.
06.00-08.30 & 13.40-16.40
Brent Goose: 2E
Eider: 15E
Common Scoter: 188E     31W
Red-throated diver: 14E
Fulmar: 9E   8W
Gannet: 107E   93W
Cormorant: present n/c
Peregrine: 1 around
Hobby: 1 in
Oystercatcher: 2E
Whimbrel: 2E
Mediterranean Gull: 2E
Kittiwake:  4E    10W
Sandwich tern: 368E   379W
Commic Tern:  8E  21W
Great Skua: 4E
Arctic Skua: 4E
Auk sp:67E
Swallow: 4 in

Harbour Porpoise at the fishing boats today

Common Whitethroat at Denge Marsh

There was no sign of the Common Crane in Caldecott Lane today, but the Little Owl, Corn Buntings and Yellow Wagtails were still present.
At Dengemarsh no sign of the Blue-headed Wagtail, but summer plumage Cattle Egret was still present and at least 2 Garganey though not seen by me, also plenty of Common Whitethroats, Sedge, Reed and Cetti's Warblers, as well as Reed buntings and Bearded Tits. There were plenty of raptors at Denge Marsh despite the cool weather including 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Hobby's, 3 Common Buzzards, a Kestrel and a Peregrine.

Reed Bunting nest building at Denge Marsh

Small Coppers at Denge Marsh

Meadow Pipit feeding young on the beach

Wheatear on the beach

Another day at the Seaside!

I dragged myself away from the sea watch hide just long enough to see the Yellow-browed Warbler, a surprise find in The Moat

05.30-19.30 from the sea watch hide with AJG, CP, OL, DW, JTM, SM, MH et al

Brent Goose: 51E

Shelduck: 7E
Shoveler: 2E
Teal: 2E
Common Scoter: 1,010E   319W
Velvet Scoter: 18E
Red-breasted Merganser: 1E
Red-throated Diver:42E
Black-throated Diver: 7E
Great-crested Grebe: 57 around the Bouy
Fulmar: 29E   5W
Manx Shearwater: 9E   72W
Gannet: 1,046E    84W
Cormorant: Present n/c
Peregrine: 1 around
Oystercatcher: 7E
Whimbrel: 9E
Bar-tailed Godwit: 64E    37 in
Dunlin: 2E
Sanderling: 5E
Great Skua: 45E
Pomarine Skua: 9E
Arctic Skua: 54E
Little Gull: 114E
Mediterranean Gull
Kittiwake: 26E   7W
Black Tern: 5E
Little Tern: 11E
Sandwich Tern: 955E    73W
Common Tern: 190E
Arctic Tern: 49E
Common/Arctic Tern: 1,323E
Guillemot: 9E
Razorbill: 3E
Auk sp: 194E    17W
Dolphin sp: c10
Harbour Porpoise: 10+
Grey Seal: 1

A poor image of the aberrant Common Scoter that was tracked from Portland today

A quick look for the Blue-headed Wagtail at Denge Marsh this evening ended in failure, though a summer plumage Cattle Egret was some consolation.