10/09/2021

AJG did the early sea watch for a very meagre return:

06.30-08.30

Common Scoter: 5W

Fulmar: 3W

Gannet: 31E

Kittiwake: 7E

Mediterranean Gull: 1E

Sandwich Tern: 27E

Arctic Skua: 3E

Grey Seal: 1

Harbour Porpoise: 2

A nice adult Yellow-legged Gull on the beach at the bottom of Dengemarsh Marsh Gully

This morning I wandered down to the bottom of Dengemarsh Marsh Gully from Springfield Bridge. Considering the date I saw very little apart from numerous Linnets, 2 Corn Buntings flew over, 4 Common Whitethroats and a single Chiffchaff were seen on the way down, a total of only 5 Wheatear were seen, a single Common Buzzard and Marsh Harrier were behind the converter station, the Yellow-legged Gull on the beach was the undoubted highlight.

A walk around the reserve was equally poor. The Firth viewpoint had as usual zero birds in front of it made worse by getting a soaking because the hide and  Makepiece hide aren't open or even being repaired.

I joined AJG at the fishing boats this afternoon 13.30-15.00

Common Scoter: 1E

Great-crested Grebe: 1W

Gannet: 8W

Kittiwake: 3W

Sandwich Tern: 31W

Swallow: 33SW out to sea

It can only get better!!!

I took the image above a few days ago, today it is still the same a view of overgrown Sallows. An example of money and volunteer time being spent on erecting signs promoting the reserve, then no follow up maintenance taking place, I know it is only a small thing but it is symptomatic of the run down image  Dungeness RSPB Reserve portrays to visitors, Just a few minutes with secateurs would resolve this small issue, but I doubt "The Team" have even noticed, or even walked past it. It is little wonder visitors feel the reserve is shabby, run down and un-loved. 

The view from the Firth Viewpoint, this image was taken a few days ago when the sun was shining, the lack of birds is clear to see, not even the Coots stay when the first visitor of the day walks onto the viewpoint.
 

09/09/2021

A poor sea watch this morning was mercifully cut short by the fog closing in very quickly:

07.40-08.15 

Fulmar: 1W

Gannet: 2E

Cormorant: 6W

Sandwich Tern: 12E   3W

Arctic Skua: 2W

Wheatear: 5 on the bund

One of the many Whinchats around the peninsular today, this one at The Patch

Around The Desert and trapping area very few migrants were seen, just singles each of Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler, 4 Common Whitethroats, 6 Wheatears in The Desert, another 8 around the new lighthouse but little else was seen.

A stop on the causeway at the ARC saw 2 Cattle Egrets, 2 Great Egrets, 3 Little Egrets and the Glossy Ibis.

Juvenile Hobby on the perimeter wall this morning. (A perimeter wall tick for me)

On Burrowes the 3 Spoonbills still present, c50 Golden Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Dunlin and a Ruff

all still present.

Sandwich Tern feeding at the fishing boats this afternoon

Very quiet sea watch again this afternoon but quite entertaining watching the Terns feeding.

15.00-16.00 from the fishing boats:

Gannet: 3W

Cormorant: 4W

Sandwich Tern: c15 feeding off shore

Common Tern: 1 feeding offshore

Arctic Skua: 1 chasing offshore

Wheatear: 5 around the fishing boats

Juvenile Arctic Skua at the fishing boats this afternoon

Juvenile Common Tern feeding at the fishing boats this afternoon

Marsh Mallow Moth a nationally scarce moth, was the highlight in my MV this morning

 

08/08/2021

Wheatear on the beach

Another very poor sea watch this morning but hopefully with the wind veering overnight tomorrow may be better. RW saw singles of Arctic and Great Skua off the fishing boats this afternoon.

Several Wheatears were on the beach with several more seen around The Point and Desert, also a single Whinchat. a Hummingbird Hawkmoth was basking on the perimeter wall. At least 3 Spotted Flycatchers, a Pied Flycatcher and a Redstart at the top of the Long Pits, 

After missing numerous fly over Spoonbills this year it was nice to catch up with the 3 that spent the day on Burrowes thanks to an alert from RW, also on Burrowes this afternoon a Ruff, Common Sandpiper, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, c50 Golden Plovers among the Lapwing, 2 Garganey and a very welcome juvenile/1w Caspian Gull thanks to DW for the call. On the ARC the Glossy Ibis still showing well on its chosen island, 2 Garganey and the usual Great and Little Egrets. 3 Cattle egrets were on the Boulderwall fields.

This evening I went to The Midrips and Wickes but got my timings wrong and arrived just as the sun was setting. I still managed to see a Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Little stints, c20 Dunlin,  a Knot, Black-tailed Godwits, 4+ Spotted Redshanks, a Greenshank, Redshank, Ringed Plover, Curlew, Knot and Oystercatcher, countless  Wheatears and Yellow Wagtails were along the Green Wall beach and ranges.

Spoonbills feeding from the Firth Viewpoint

The 3 Spoonbills having a fly around this afternoon before settling back on the islands

Juvenile/1w Caspian Gull found by DW on Burrowes this afternoon

Dunlins, Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper taken in near darkness this evening

 

The Weekend

The Midrips

As there is virtually no wader habitat at Dungeness this autumn I visited The Midrips this weekend for my wader fix. I saw13 species of wader including Curlew Sandpipers and a Little Stint, I also stumbled across a Grasshopper Warbler as walked along the green wall. There was a steady Easterly movement of Sand Martins and Swallows, also c150 Yellow Wagtails,  c30 Wheatears, 2 Whinchats and a few Terns off shore.

Visiting The Midrips can be problematic, especially at the moment with huge amouts of beach defence work being carried out seemingly 7 days a week, early morning is undoubtedly the best time before the contractors start work. 

Barge loads of shingle being imported for flood protection

Avocet with Black-tailed Godwits at The Midrips

Curlew Sandpiper at the Midrips

Black-tailed Godwit at the Midrips

Yellow Wagtails at The Midrips

A definite first for me was spotting this Grey Squirrel at The Patch on Saturday

Willow Warbler at Lighthouse Garden this morning

We seem to be in a form of Groundhog Day at the moment with the same birds all still present with the exception of the Wryneck that hasn't been seen for 2 days, though even that can easily be overlooked. Hopefully from tomorrow onwards the sea will start producing birds and new birds found on the land.

Ravens over the power station this morning

Glossy Ibis on its usual island at the ARC this afternoon

 

03/09/2021

Great White Egret at the ARC screen hide yesterday, without the hide these views would not be possible

Many Wheatears around the peninsular in the last few days, the Wryneck is quite elusive, the Pear Tree in the scrub south of the trapping area seems quite a reliable place to see it providing you want to put the time in. Whinchats can be found all around the peninsular, common warblers are in very short supply. A Spotted Flycatcher was down near The Patch per DG, while a Honey Buzzard flew south over Burrowes  per PT, little was seen on the reserve.

Only the second Redstart I've seen this Autumn

One of c6 Harbour Porpoises off the fishing boats this afternoon

This poor guy not only has a deformed leg, it has also swallowed a fishing hook. It does seem to be able to feed itself even with the birds nest of fishing line hanging from its bill blowing about in the wind.

The Glossy Ibis on its usual island at the ARC

A Cattle Egret in the pre roost with 2 Little Egrets. Last night 7 Great White, 14 Little and 2 Cattle Egrets  

came to roost along with the Glossy Ibis. At least 2 Merlins including a lovely adult male were hunting Starlings around the roost.

The next Cormorant on the Long Pits raft will hopefully be a Pygmy.🙏

 

01/09/2021

There were 6 Wheatears on the Bund by the sea watch hide early morning

I joined AJG & RW at the sea watch hide this morning, the list tells its own story!

06.30-08.15

Wigeon: 3W

Gannet: 44E

Cormorant: 7 present

Mediterranean  Gull: 3E

Sandwich Tern: 15 around

Common Tern: 2W

Arctic Skua: 1E

Wheatear: 6 present

Yellow Wagtail: 42E 

Grey Seal: 1

Harbour Porpoise: 3+

Common Whitethroat giving the Wryneck some grief this morning

The elusive Wryneck was still present this morning sunning itself in the Pear Tree

An arrival of Wheatears today with 40+ around The Point another 20 at Galloway's and another 15 at Dengemarsh Gully. Whinchat numbers were less with only 2 that I saw on The Point, 4 at Galloway's and 2 at Dengemarsh Gully. At least 1 Pied Flycatcher was around The point.

Whinchat in the scrub south of the trapping area.

Juvenile Hobby at Galloway's

Wheatear at Galloway's

An afternoon sea watch with AJG and RW who kindly kept the log:

14.00-15.30

Common Scoter: 9E

Fulmar: 1E

Gannet: 44E

Cormorant: 1W

Sandwich Tern: 94E     25W

Common Tern: 2E

Arctic Skua: 1E

Harbour Porpoise: 4+

2 Garganey at The ARC

The Garganey and Ibis were showing well at the ARC this afternoon, a Black-necked grebe was a little more distant.

The Glossy Ibis at the ARC

On Burrowes from Dennis's Hide singles of Black Tern, Common Tern, Little Stint and Dunlin, 2 Ruff and 2 Black-necked Grebes.