09/11/2021

AJG did the early morning sea watch and kindly sent me his numbers, whilst I wandered around seeing not much at all and getting a soaking for my trouble. 😂

07:00-08:45  

Brent Goose: 2W

Common Scoter: 19W

Red-breasted Merganser: 1W

Red-throated Diver: 1W

Gannet: 689W

Cormorant: present n/c

Kittiwake: 92W

Mediterranean Gull: 11W

Black-headed Gull: present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: 49W

Great Skua: 3W

Auk sp: 124W

I have been checking the Mute Swan herd daily, so it was nice to find a Whooper Swan had joined them today, though normally there are 2 of them, hopefully the other one is still on its way, but I fear the worst.

JR567 was ringed as a pullus in Langøya, Trysfjorden, Søgne, Vest-Agder, Norway on 04/07/2018

The Ibis was posing again today

A small bird came in off the sea this afternoon at the fishing boats, bringing back memories of Acadian Flycatcher, until it showed itself among the fishing boxes. 

14.00-16.00 with SP

Common Scoter: 18W    12E

Red-throated Diver: 5W      1 on

Great-crested Grebe: 2 around

Gannet: 310W

Cormorant: 86 around

Turnstone: 2 around

Kittiwake: 109W

Little Gull: 1W

Black-headed Gull: 69W

Mediterranean Gull: 1 around

Common Gull: present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Lesser Black-backed Gull: 2 around

Sandwich Tern: 8 feeding off shore

Guillemot: 2 6W    2 on

Razorbill: 10W     1 on

Auk sp: 24W       13E

Robin: 1 in off 

Grey Seal: 1

Red-throated Diver at the fishing boats this afternoon

1 of 8 Sandwich Terns feeding off the fishing boats this afternoon

I checked the Egret roost at the ARC this evening where 16 Cattle, 7 Great and 4 Little Egrets, along with the 2 Glossy Ibis came in to the roost.

08/11/2021

Brambling

A walk around The Desert and trapping area this morning saw but mostly heard several each of Brambling, Siskin and Redpoll, fortunately some found there way into the nets for closer admiration, 4 Swallow flew south along the Long Pits and 2 Bearded Tits flew North, as did a couple of Fieldfare, at least 2 Jays and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were present in the trapping area, along with a few thrushes and Chiffchaffs. A Lapland Bunting flew north at the beach per OL. On the reserve the Glossy Ibis, and all the Egrets are still present and showing well, This evening I think maybe 20 Cattle Egrets flew over my car as drove I out along the reserve entrance track.

Brambling

Very distant Black-necked Grebe at Scotney this morning

Green Sandpipers at Scotney today

Yestrerdays Black Brant. Sadly I was unable to locate it today even though the Brent flock was still present.

The Glossy Ibis are still showing well by the entrance track

This evenings Starling murmuration

 

06/11/2021

An uninspiring sea watch done by AJG & RW who kindly sent me there numbers:

07.00-08.45 

Brent Goose; 6W    1 around

Shelduck: 4W

Common Scoter: 2E

Red-throated Diver: 3E   2 on

Great-crested Grebe: 3W. 2 on

Gannet: 233W

Cormorant: present 92W

Kittiwake: 24W

Black-headed Gull: present n/c

Mediterranean Gull: 1W

Herring Gull: present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Lesser Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Guillemot: 3W

Razorbill: 3E

Auk sp: 61W

Pied Wagtail: 3 around

Siskin: 3 in

Linnet: 24W

After the last couple of mornings with reasonable numbers of Thrushes, Finches and Starlings flying over , todays walk around the trapping area was very disappointing, barely a Thrush to be seen, just a handful of Siskin and Redpolls over and no Brambling for me today or any more Woodcocks.

This female Kestrel seems to be a regular around the reserve centre car park

One of the many Gannets passing the fishing boats this afternoon

13.45-15.15 with RW, OL and SP,

Brent Goose: 8W    1E

Common Scoter: 2W

Red-throated Diver: 1W    1 on

Great-crested Grebe: 5 around

Gannet: 158W         12E

Cormorant: 187 out of Lade Bay

Kittiwake: 2W        11E

Mediterranean Gull: 1W     1W

Yellow-legged Gull: 1 around (2w bird)

Sandwich tern: 9W

Guillemot: 9W       3 on

Razorbill: 14W  2 on

Auk sp: 15W    12E

Harbour Porpoise: 2

Late afternoon myself RW and SP went to Dennis's Hide for the Gull and Starling roost, we were not disappointed. We found at least 5 Yellow-legged Gulls, an adult Caspian Gull and 16 Cattle Egrets flew through Burrowes to roost, but to me these overshadowed by the Starlings. A conservative estimate by us thought at least 50,000 Starlings came to the Open Pit roost, where their murmurations was a fantastic sight. I don't know why the RSPB don't advertise it as I'm sure many people would like to witness one natures finest spectacles. The following link shows only some of the birds involved in the murmuration Starling Murmuration at Dungeness

Razorbills passing West at the fishing boats this afternoon

Razorbill at the fishing boats this afternoon

A few Sandwich terns still hanging around at the fishing boats

This Great Black-backed Gull at the fishing boats this afternoon was ringed as a pullus at Masseholmen Skjernøysund, Mandal, Vest-Agder, Noway on 25/06/2021

This Goldcrest yesterday was my first and only one of the Autumn so far

Dont you just hate it when this happens! 😂 

04/11/2021

Chiffchaff in the the trapping area

As I drove onto the estate this morningBlackbirds were coming across the shingle having just come across the channel, parking at the lighthouse at least 10 Blackbirds were in and around the the garden, with more being flushed as I walked past West Beach and Lloyds to the observatory. A wander around the Trapping area and bottom Long Pit found more Blackbirds, Song Thrushes and Redwing and eventually some Fieldfare, Siskin, Redpoll and Brambling were also seen and heard in small numbers, also 2 Common Snipe flushed from a damp area, but still no Ring Ouzel or Crest of any description for me.

Redwing over The Moat

From Dennis's Hide a Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Dunlin, a Ruff and some Golden Plover were the highlights from Burrowes. At least 15 Cattle Egret remain, along with the 2 Glossy Ibis, Great and Little Egrets.

Glossy Ibis at Cooks Pool

Glossy Ibis at Cooks Pool

Brent Goose by the puddles at the fishing boats this afternoon

14.00-15.00 from the fishing boats joined by OL

Brent Goose; 101W   2E   1 around

Red-throated Diver: 1W    1E    1 on

Gannet: 68W

Cormorant: present n/c

Kittiwake: 14W

Black-headed Gull: present n/c

Mediterranean Gull: 2W

Herring Gull: present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Lesser Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Guillemot: 1W

Razorbill: 4W

Auk sp: 17W

Stock Dove: 1 in off

Pied Wagtail: 2W

Harbour Porpoise: 2

A Stock Dove that came in off the sea and settled on the fishing boats Doreen T for a rest this afternoon
 

02/11/2021

AJG did the early morning sea watch and kindly sent me the numbers:

07:15-08:30

Brent Goose: 22W

Common Scoter: 4E

Red-throated Diver: 3W

Great-crested Grebe: 4W

Gannet: 41W

Cormorant: present n/c

Kittiwake: 11W

Black-headed gull: present n/c

Mediterranean Gull: 110W

Common Gull: present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Guillemot: 2W

Auk sp: 271W

I went straight out into the trapping area and met DW who was heading back to the observatory with some Chiffchaffs including a nice Siberian Chiffchaff, we then went back and found a gorgeous Pallas's Warbler in the net. Soon after releasing the Pallas's Warbler we heard a second Siberian Chiffchaff calling, although good views were obtained it was very difficult getting any images of it in the Sallows, my best effort below.

Several each of Brambling, Siskin and Redpoll were heard and seen as they flew over the trapping area.

While we were in The Moat a Woodlark was heard calling from the Power Station compound but not seen, sadly I could not even hear it. I'm still waiting to see a Crest of any description this autumn.

A poor image of the second Siberian Chiffchaff in the trapping area today

Siberian Chiffchaff in the hand showing its cold tones, after being caught in the first net round

This gorgeous Pallas's Warbler was a big surprise in the next net round 

There were 4 Black Redstarts around the Polish memorial lunchtime

Cattle Egrets doing what Cattle Egrets do in the hay fields late afternoon

31/10/2021

A thoroughly miserable morning weather wise, but lots of birds piling out of Lade Bay, even during the heavy squally rain and gale force wind which curtailed visibility down to 200mts at times. I was joined at the fishing boats by CT, RW, NB and JB

 06.30-10.00 

Shelduck: 1W

Gadwall: 4W

Common Scoter: 9W

Red-breasted Merganser: 1W

Red-throated Diver: 2W       1 on

Great-crested Grebe: 5 around

Fulmar: 2W

Gannet: 1,219W

Cormorant: c150 around

Kittiwake: 841W

Black-headed Gull: 487W

Little Gull: 4W

Mediterranean Gull: 5W

Common Gull: present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Lesser Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Sandwich Tern: 73W

Guillemot: 61W

Razorbill: 339W

Auk sp: 494W

Skylark: 1 out

Harbour Porpoise: 2+

Grey Seal: 1

Hooded Crow coming in off the sea . A magnifying gala might help. 😂

When the rain stopped I went back to the fishing boats. The passage had finished but there were odd bits to keep us amused. The star was the Hooded Crow spotted by Neil which seemed to make landfall at Lydd on Sea, 2 or 3 Merlins including a superb adult male and a juvenile that came in off the sea carrying prey. 

2.45-15.00 with NB, JB, RW

Common scoter: 3W

Red-throated Diver: @w  1 on

Great-crested Grebe: 5W.   9 on

Gannet: 52W     8E

Curlew: 1W

Turnstone: 2 around

Kittiwake: 3W

Mediterranean Gull: 8W

Yellow-legged Gull: 1 adult around

Arctic Skua: 1W

Guillemot: 4W

Razorbill: 1W

Auk sp: 17W

Merlin: 2+ adult male + a juvenile or 2

Wood Pigeon: 1 in off the sea

Hooded Crow: 1 in off the sea between Lifeboat and Pilot.

30/10/2021

Razorbills and a Guillemot passing this morning

07.15-0945 till the rain set in with CT, PT, RW,DW,AJG

Common Scoter: 2W

Red-breasted Merganser: 3W

Red-throated Diver: 2W    

Great-crested Grebe:  4 on

Gannet: 417W

Cormorant: present n/c

Kittiwake: 108W

Black-headed Gull: present n/c

Mediterranean Gull: 2W

Common Gull: present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Lesser black-backed Gull: present n/c

Sandwich Tern: 137W

Arctic Skua: 1-2 around

Guillemot: 165W

Razorbill: 581W

Auk sp: 783W

Linnet: 150  AJG

Harbour Porpoise: 2

Grey Seal: 1

A loitering Arctic Skua photo bombed by a Harbour Porpoise

Some of the c800 Golden Plover at Scotney early afternoon but little else there

At the fishing boats this afternoon a single Arctic Skua hanging around, c30 Mediterranean Gulls drifted west along with a few Gannets, Kittiwakes and Sandwich Terns.

At Least 10 Cattle Egrets from the reserve entrance track today

From Dennis's late afternoon a Black-necked Grebe and an adult Yellow-legged Gull were the highlights. 

29/10/2021

Red-breasted Mergansers past the fishing boats in this mornings gloom

07.00-10.30 with CT, PS, DW, AJG, PT from the fishing boats:

Brent Goose: 2W

Wigeon: 1W

Gadwall: 3W

Common Scoter: 10W    3E

Red-breasted Merganser: 3W

Red-throated Diver: 2W       2 on

Great-crested Grebe: 2E         4 on

Gannet: 320W

Cormorant: present n/c

Dunlin: 16W

Curlew: 1w

Kittiwake: 177W

Little Gull: 2W

Black-headed Gull: present n/c

Mediterranean Gull: 2W

Common Gull: present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Lesser black-backed Gull: present n/c

Sandwich Tern: 218W

Guillemot: 234W

Razorbill: 698W

Auk sp: 1,051W

Starling: 960 in

Harbour Porpoise: 2

An uninspiring watch, but withe dearth of passerines around the peninsular at least the Auks were something to look at. Only 2 more days left in October for me to see a Firecrest or Goldcrest, am I going to go the whole Autumn without seeing a Crest?

Adult Yellow-legged Gull behind the fishing boats this afternoon

Shoveler past the boats this afternoon

14.00-15.00 from the fishing boats:

Shoveler: 17W

Gannet: 17W

Turnstone: 1 around

Sandwich Tern: 9W

Guillemot: 4W

Razorbill: 3W

Auk sp: 9W

1 of at least 7 Cattle Egrets at Boulderwall this afternoon, also the 2 Glossy Ibis still at top of Cooks Pool