27/12/2020

Some of the 1,000s of Guillemots and Razorbills past the fishing boats on each the past few days 

Today was another for sea watching, with huge numbers of birds passing

My thanks to AJG, CP, RW and OL for helping to keep count:

08.00-12.00 from the fishing boats:

Brent Goose:16E

Velvet Scoter: 1W

Common Scoter: 97W

Red-breasted Merganser: 1W

Red-throated Diver: 117W     4E        4 on

Fulmar: 13W

Gannet: 1,069W

Cormorant: Present n/c

Turnstone: 7 on the beach

Kittiwake: 2,702W

Black-headed Gull: Present n/c

Little Gull: 1W juvenile

Mediterranean Gull: 11W

Common Gull: Present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Herring Gull: Present n/c

Great Skua: 3W

Guillemot: 5,592W

Razorbill: 8,388W

Grey Seal: 1

                                                Velvet Scoters past the fishing boats yesterday

Eider past the fishing boats yesterday

Red-throated Divers past the fishing boats a couple of days ago

100s of Gannets being seen most days

Juvenile Little Gull at the fishing boats today

Bonxie at The fishing boats. 3+ being seen daily

2w Caspian Gull at the fishing boats yesterday

There was 3 x 1w Caspian Gulls and a 3w Yellow-legged Gull on Burrowes this afternoon viewed from the new Firth viewpoint, also a couple of Goldeneye but still no Smew. The Glossy Ibis is still present but elusive, not so the the 100+ Greater White-fronted Geese frequenting Dengemarsh.

1w Iceland Gull at the fishing boats yesterday

A minimum of 4 Iceland Gulls have been around The Point the last few days possibly as many as 6.

2w Iceland Gull at the fishing boats yesterday

2w Iceland Gull at the fishing boats

2w Iceland Gull at The Patch

2w Iceland Gull at The Patch

2w Iceland Gull at The Patch

1w Iceland Gull on the beach at The Patch

1w Iceland Gull over The Patch

Marsh Harrier at Boulderwall

 

23/12/2020

2 busy sea watches today, though the majority of the birds went through in the morning. Great Skuas seem to be a daily occurrence this December, the juvenile Pomarine Skua gave nice views while attacking a Kittiwake. Although no Sandwich Terns were recorded from The Point today, 2 continue to linger in Lade Bay per PT.

70+ Greater White-fronted Geese continued to feed in the field opposite my garden until this morning when the farmer put up a scarecrow, which may fall down over night. On the ARC the Black-throated Diver is still present. A long circular walk yesterday around around Scotney Gravel Pits found the female Scaup at the Sussex end, 3 Green Sandpipers in the westernmost working pit but no sign of the Long-tailed Duck. The Bewick and Whooper swans can still be found on Walland Marsh. 

Adult Yellow-legged Gull on the beach yesterday along with a juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull below

Black-throated Diver on the ARC yesterday

 

18/12/2020

Polish ringed 1w Caspian Gull P:UV1 at the fishing boats yesterday

Known life history of Caspian Gull P:UV1

1w Caspian Gull P:UV1

Female Scaup at Scotney, Yesterday Still present today

Black-throated Diver at the ARC, Yesterday, Still present today as well as the Dusky Warbler.

Greater White-fronted Geese at Scotney, Yesterday

Red-throated Divers past the fishing boats this morning

 The sea watching is still dominated by Auks, Gannets, Kittiwakes, Cormorants and Red-throated Divers, with the odd Bonxie, Fulmar, Merganser and BTD.

Guillemot at the fishing boats

How they float amazes me every time one is towed passed Dungeness

Goldeneye on the ARC today. Still no Smew or Goosander around

Some of the 1,000s of Golden plover at Scotney today

565:U Czech ringed 1w Caspian Gull on Burrowes this afternoon

A yellow ringed 1w Caspian Gull on Burrowes this afternoon, sadly I was unable to read the ring

 

16/12/2020

This mornings sea watch was again dominated by large numbers of Guillemots and Razorbills mainly feeding close inshore, c100 Gannets were feeding in the bay and Kittiwakes were trickling through, of note several parties of Brent Geese moved east. Late morning 2 Pomarine Skuas were seen per AJG & OL, while early afternoon a Great Northern Diver and Black-throated Diver were seen per DH.

The White-fronted Geese flock was in the Lydd fields again with the Greylags and Mute Swans.

The Black-throated Diver and Dusky Warbler were still present yesterday but I heard of no reports of them today, though the weather made for very difficult conditions.

A wander around a gale lashed Dengemarsh was unsurprisingly very quiet, the only surprise was a Black redstart at Brick Wall Farm. 

White-fronted Geese coming into the Lydd Fields

                                         White-fronted Geese coming into the Lydd Fields

                                   White-fronted Geese coming into the Lydd Fields

Bath time for the Barnacles at Scotney yesterday

White-fronts over Scotney yesterday

 

14/12/2020

This morning sea watch is becoming some what repetitive, with Auks, Cormorants and Kittiwakes dominating the numbers. Though some Brent Geese heading back East was different.

07.30-09.00 from the fishing boats:

Brent Goose: 187E

Common Scoter: 1W

Red-throated Diver: 67W

Fulmar: 1W

Red-necked Grebe: 1W

Great-crested Grebe: 2W 1 o/s

Gannet: 378W

Cormorant: c3,200W from Lade Bay into Rye Bay

Kittiwake: 1070W   

Guillemot: 3,200W   many more feeing o/s

Razorbill: 1440W many more feeing o/s

Auk sp: 430W

I was unable to locate the Black-throated Diver or the Dusky Warbler at the ARC, though I didn't try to hard and looking into the low sun and brisk breeze didn't help, they are probably both still around. 

Female Scaup in usual pose at Scotney

A walk along the front of the main lake found the female Scaup at the Sussex end with some Tufties and Pochard,. A single Greater White-fronted Goose and the Blue phase Snow Goose was with the feral Greylags, as was the feral Barnacle flock. On the sward c400 Golden Plover allowed inspection, but alas I could find nothing unusual among them, 4 Ruff and a Raven flew through. The long-tailed Duck was also hiding from me. 

Greater White-fronted Geese and Greylags coming into Lydd Fields, it is a real treat to have these lovely Geese literally on my doorstep.

Greater White-fronted Geese and Greylags, Lydd Fields

Great White Egret over the hay fields

From the brightness of this morning to very dull walk around Dengemarsh this afternoon. 3 Great White Egrets, several squealing Water Rails and tacking Cetti's warblers were the highlights. A flock of c500 Lapwing on Hayfield 3 was nice but soon disturbed by Marsh Harriers. Between Dengemarsh hide and Makepiece Hide very little was seen or heard.

Clearing the Sea Buckthorn between Firth and Makepiece Hide. I believe a viewing platform in this area is proposed.