24/12/2021

 Early morning at the fishing boats, the sea was black with 1,000s of Cormorants feeding on what must have been a huge shoal of fish, 100s of Guillemots and Razorbills, smaller numbers of Red-throated Divers, Great-crested Grebes and Gannets joined the throng, while Kittiwakes, Black-headed Gulls and Common Gulls cleared the scraps and Great Black-backed Gulls and Herring Gulls robbed them all.

               A Dutch ringed Caspian Gull scratching its head, a red ring marked KT just visible

From Dennis's Hide 4 Caspian Gulls today 3 x 1w and a 2w bird, also and adult Yellow-legged Gull there.

On the lake 3 Goldeneye, a few Pintail and 2 Great Egrets were the pick of the bunch, sadly still no Smew, it is now looking like that 2021 will be the first calendar year on record without a Smew sighting at Dungeness. 

 2w Caspian Gull

There were 6 Cattle Egrets at Cockles Bridge today

Cattle Egrets at Cockles Bridge

9 Russian White-fronted Geese on Scotney 

Early afternoon at Scotney found 9 Russian White-fronted Geese among the hordes of feral Geese, several 100s of Wigeon, c1,000 each of Lapwing and Golden Plover and 3 Curlew.

At Dengemarsh the 5 Tundra Bean Geese very distant at the back of the field behind the White-fronts

The Pink-footed Goose was no closer even at the front

22/12/2021

A bitterly cold sea watch this morning, the obvious highlight being the Slavonian Grebe that flew in and settled by the bouy. (only the second one I've seen this year) 

Before going home for breakfast I stopped at Cockles Bridge where the 3 Cattle Egrets were still feeding in the horse paddocks, then I joined CT at the dung heap where the Bean Geese could be seen with some White-fronts, although I did not see the Pink-footed Goose it was still present per CT & RW  also at least 2 Great Egrets there.

After a quick coffee and scrambled eggs I went to Scotney where another 16 White-fronts were grazing by the puddles on the sward with the Greylags, Barnacles, Canada's and a couple of Brent Geese. There were 100s of Wigeon on the lake and a Green Sandpiper geeing along the far bank, but no sign of yesterdays reported Slavonian Grebe on any of the lakes.

White-fronted Geese

White-fronts with Barnacle Geese

A very obliging White-front

As I was driving towards the ARC I spotted 8 Swans flying quite high that definitely were not Mute Swans, my apologies the occupants of the car behind me as I swerved up onto the verge to get the Swans in the binoculars, I was fairly sure they were Bewick Swans and fortunately they seemed to go down onto the ARC allowing me to get there and confirm the identification.

Bewick Swans on the ARC this afternoon

This afternoon on the reserve on Burrowes Pit 2 1w Caspian Gulls were the highlight, another look late afternoon at Galloways failed to see any Short-eared Owls.

 

21/12/2021

First thing this morning at the beach the sea was again very busy with lots of Red-throated Divers, Auks, Cormorants etc, I did not stay long as the fishing boats were out at sea so no shelter, also a combination of a bitter east wind a very low sun and serious vibrations from the several diggers moving shingle made viewing almost impossible.

At Boulderwall the 2 Ibis were at the far end of Cooks Pool, also 2 Ruff there, A wander around the ARC was disappointing with a Chiffchaff as the highlight. A stop at Cockles Bridge found 3 Cattle egrets but no wild Swans.

Cattle Egrets at Cockles Bridge this morning

Tundra Bean Geese

At Dengemarsh the 5 Bean Geese, the Pink-footed Goose and the Russian White-fronted Geese were still near the dung heap (if yo go there, please make sure when you park, that your vehicle is right off road, unlike some parked there today, upsetting the local farmer).

A visit to Scotney once again found all the feral geese, with 100s of Lapwing and Wigeon but nothing notable. Late afternoon at Galloways a Short-eared Owl eventually appeared as dark was falling, 2 Ravens flew over there, a Common Buzzard, a Marsh Harrier and 2 Stonechat were notable there.

Pink-footed Goose

Tundra Bean Geese being flushed by an aeroplane

Short-eared Owl at Galloways late afternoon

Short-eared Owl at Galloways late afternoon

 

A very busy 2 hours at the fishing boats this morning despite it being so cold and grey in a brisk ESE wind. As I was on my own this morning I'm sure I missed many birds, especially high flying and those along the tideline.

07.45-09.45 from the fishing boats

Brent Geese: 16E

Shelduck: 9E

Shoveler: 2W

Wigeon: 26E

Teal: 15W

Red-throated Diver: 547E     4W

Great-crested Grebe: 14E     4 on

Fulmar: 2E

Gannet: 242E

Cormorant: c5,000 Probably a very conservative estimate

Oystercatcher: 3E

Turnstone: 2 on the beach

Kittiwake: 19E

Mediterranean Gull: 2E

Guillemot: 1,784E

Razorbill: 218E

Auk sp: 766

Black Redstart: 1  by the compound

Whooper Swans viewed from Swamp Road, Walland Marsh

 Late morning I joined Colin, Pete and Pam on Walland Marsh where the 5 Whooper swans were showing nicely, however we were unable to find any Bewick Swans, though they were probably at the back of Scotney. Also on Walland 2 Mistle Thrushes were nice to see as not a common bird on the peninsular these days, also good numbers of Common Buzzards.

Pink-footed Goose viewed from the Dung Heap in Dengemarsh Road, 

On the sward at Scotney early afternoon the usual feral geese, many Wigeon and  Lapwing, a small number of Golden Plover and a couple each of Curlew and Redshank of note.

Mid afternoon and the light was already fading at Dengemarsh, so it was nice discover a Pink-footed Goose among the many Greylag Geese which was my first of the year, also 5 Tundra Bean Geese though somewhat distant which were also my first of the year, then in the same flock and also distant 23+ Russian White-fronted Geese, hopefully they will hang around till the new year. As dark fell OL called me to say a Short-eared Owl was out hunting at Galloways just around the corner, a very nice way to end the day. 

Tundra Bean Geese viewed from the Dung Heap in Dengemarsh Road, 

Russian White-fronted Geese and Tundra Bean Geese viewed from the Dung Heap in Dengemarsh Road, 

17/12/2021

Part of a large feeding frenzy off the fishing boats this morning

07.00-09.45 many thanks to AJG for collating the numbers:

Shelduck: 8E

Gadwall: 5E

Wigeon: 107E

Common Scoter: 8E    21W

Red-throated Diver: 479E   6W

Great-crested Grebe: 2E      7 present

Gannet: 328E   84W

Cormorant: c2,500 off shore

Kittiwake: 47E     8W

Black-headed Gull: Present n/c.  Yellow ring Polish bird present

Mediterranean Gull: 3E

Common Gull: Present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Herring Gull: Present n/c

Lesser Black-backed Gull: 3 present

Guillemot: 248E   19W

Razorbill: 207E    4W

Auk sp: 539E      758W

Black Redstart: 1 present

Dungeness Wallcreeper on th perimeter wall this morning

Every island on Burrowes was covered in Cormorants leaving only the the few shallows for the Gulls, 100s of Teal, Wigeon, Gadwall and Shoveler on the lake also 3 Goldeneye but still no Smew. Around the peninsula both Ibis still present along with at least 3 Cattle Egrets, 5 Great White Egrets and the usual Marsh Harriers and a coup[le of Common Buzzards. The hay fields were as seems to be the case most days devoid of bird life, even a Peregrine powering over failed to flush anything.

Glossy Ibis at Boulderwall this morning

Great White Egret by the VC car park this morning

1w Caspian Gull on Burrowes this morning

Jack Snipe Lydd fields today

15/12/2021

This mornings sea watch was more or less a repeat of the last few days, with Guillemots, Razorbills, Red-throated Divers, Gannets and Kittiwakes all tooing and froing off shore, also the odd Fulmar, Brent Goose and Scoter, but dominated by the 1,000s of Cormorants. A Black Redstart was behind the sea watch with a few Meadow Pipits and Chaffinches.

Jack Snipe at the Long Pits

Jack Snipe, ARC

From Dennis's Hide just a single adult Caspian Gull this morning, 4 Goldeneye and 6 Pintail of any note

Glossy Ibis, Boulderwall

Cattle Egret, Cockles Bridge

An hour mid afternoon at Galloways failed to see a Short-eared Owl or anything else much in the dreary conditions. The Starling murmuration was performing well last Dengemarsh.

12/12/2021

AJG was kept very busy this morning  counting the huge numbers of Cormorants coming out of Lade Bay 

Apart from the spectacle of all the Cormorants, this distant Bonxie was the highlight of the sea watch

There were still 2 Cattle Egrets in the horse paddocks late morning. Of note both Ibis were still around Cooks Pool, at least 4 Great Egrets were around the reserve and 7 Goldeneye.

An adult Caspian Gull from Dennis's hide late morning, another was present this afternoon

One of two Jack Snipe found this afternoon in the company of JY

Amazing camouflage

 

10/12/2021

I was up well before dawn this morning, not realising just how cold and strong the North West wind was, so when I went out to the car I did an about turn and had a nice cooked breakfast and more coffee and did some domestic stuff. It was still bitterly cold when I ventured out to the reserve, where to my dismay last nights heavy rain on top of all the rest of this weeks rain had submerged 2 more of the Gull islands, the rest being taken over by Cormorants, in 2 visits to Dennis's  today I did not find a single Caspian or Yellow-legged Gull, nor any colour ringed Great Black-backed Gulls, the highlight for me was colour ringed Cormorant, which I'm still trying to find the owner of the scheme.

Around the peninsula there are still at least 4 Great Egrets, at least 2 Cattle Egrets, the usual Little Egrets, the 2 Ibis, 5+ Goldeneye but little else. It's looking like 2021 will be the first calendar year on record without a Smew being recorded, though I'm ever hopefull the last half of the month will surprise me.

I very rarely twitch birds, but it is very frustrating because of a mixture Brexit and Covid, I can't just jump in the car and go through the Chunnel to Calais and twitch the lovely juvenile Ross's Gull at Dunquerque, which I believe is now there for its 5th day. It is only 67miles as the Gull flies from Dungeness.

The 2 Glossy Ibis can still be seen regularly around Cooks Pool

At least 2 Cattle Egrets still hanging around, these ones in the Horse Paddocks

The Little Egrets are also enjoying the Horse Padocks at the moment

A Kittiwake checking out the bread offerings this afternoon

The Polish Black-headed Gull has been the first in the bread queue the last couple of days