12/01/2022

Bewick Swans leaving the ARC at 07.38 this morning viewed from the garden

I joined RW in wander down to The Patch this morning where a 1w Little Gull was showing nicely, we also picked out a 1w and a 2w Caspian Gull neither of which hung around, 5 Gadwall flew west, a single Common Scoter went East and a few Red-throated Divers and Auks were toing and froing. Once again the 2w Iceland Gull didn't show.

Jack Snipe at The Long Pits very little else was seen in my walk up there.

1 of 2 Dartford Warblers around the peninsula today, this one was courtesy of a message from DB.

1 of 5 Ruff in the flooded field at Dengemarsh, but again no Geese. 

I spent the afternoon on Lydd Ranges to make the most of the lovely weather and light. After a long walk out along the green wall I made myself comfortable in the hope that a Short-eared Owl would be out hunting. While waiting a couple of Ravens were seen along with 2 Marsh Harriers, a Common Buzzard, a Little Egret, 3 Stonechats, a Grey Plover, a few Redshank and 1,000s of distant Lapwing and Golden Plover. After about an hour a I spotted a distant Short-eared Owl, a few minutes later another appeared and started hunting towards me giving superb views in perfect light.

Surveying its domain

Diving for Voles

This second bird kept its distance

11/01/2022

08.10-10.10 from the sea watch hide and The Patch with OL.

Wigeon: 3W

Common Scoter: 7W   4E

Red-throated Diver: 78W     31E     2 on

Great-crested Grebe: 3 on

Gannet: 78W     42E

Cormorant: present n/c

Fulmar: 2W

Oystercatcher: 3E

Kittiwake: 85W     27E

Little Gull: 1 feeding off shore

Black-headed Gull: present n/c

Mediterranean Gull: 2W      1E

Common Gull: present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Caspian Gull: 1 1w at The Patch

Bonxie: 1W     1E

Guillemot: 129W        c200 present 

Razorbill: 776W    

Auk sp: 370W     260E

Bewick and Whooper Swans on ARC early morning High ISO in near dark conitions

Whooper Swans leaving ARC

Bewick Swans leaving the ARC

A very recognisable Bewick Swan with a kink in its neck

Bewick Swan on Walland

Bewick Swans on Walland

Whooper Swan playing hide and seek on Walland

Yellowhammer on Walland, sadly now quite scarce

A grim afternoon weather wise, as well as the Swans a hunt around Walland found a few Yellowhammers, Tree Sparrows and winter Thrushes. Late afternoon on the reserve saw just a few Goldeneye of note and the Cattle Egrets flying to roost as I was leaving.

Tree Sparrows on Walland take some searching out

There were 12 Ruff among the Lapwings at The double bends at Scotney

2w Iceland Gull and 1w Caspian Gull at The Patch yesterday but not seen today as far as I know

 

07/01/2022

I had a very enjoyable morning at The Patch with DW looking at 100s probably 1,000s of Gulls, the Iceland Gull was present throughout and we found at least 5 1w Caspian Gulls among the throng. A Bonxie flew through the back of the The Patch, uncharacteristically very few Gulls reacted to it, normally they would all alarm and scatter. there was also a couple of Northern Argentatatus Herring Gulls present, they always look mean(the Ray Winstone of Herring Gulls). Surprisingly with the many Gulls present we only located a single colour ringed Herring Gull.

Offshore a trickle of Red-throated Divers, Gannets, Kittiwakes and Auks.

Elsewhere the Cattle Egrets were still around the Horse Paddocks and there were 24 Bewick Swans at Marshlands. I was unable to find any wild Geese at Dengemarsh or Scotney, or the Smew at the ARC. 

2w Iceland Gull

2w Iceland Gull chasing Black-headed Gull

2w Iceland Gull and 1w Caspian Gull

Bonxie fly through

1w Caspian Gull

1w Caspian Gull

1w Caspian Gulls

Argentatus Herring Gull, always look mean

 

06/01/2022

A visit to The Patch first thing where I was joined by DW was disappointing despite 100s of Gulls being present we could find nothing more notable than a Mediterranean Gull among them. A Grey Wagtail was calling from inside the compound and a Black redstart was on the perimeter wall. Offshore many Auks were feeding along with some Gannets, a few Red-throated Divers were tooing and froing.

I was just on my way home for breakfast when I got a call from JY telling me an Iceland Gull was bathing on Burrowes, a few minutes late I was watching the bird which was definitely the same bird I saw at The Patch a couple of days ago, unfortunately it did not hang around, it bathed, preened then flew off over the converter station towards Dengemarsh Gully.

After brunch I drove to the bottom of the Gully stopping off on the way adding Corn and Reed Bunting, Skylark and Reed Bunting to the list. At the bottom of the Gully there were many Gulls, but the wind had picked up and the rain started making viewing difficult and uncomfortable. Thankfully I received another call from JY to say he had just located a red head Smew on the ARC from the screen, with the weather deteriorating rapidly at the Gully I was back in the car and soon ticking off the Smew, the first I have seen for nearly 2 years. A drake Goosander was also seen on the ARC but not by me or JY.

Today there were 24 Bewick Swans at Marshlands.

2w Iceland Gull on Burrowes briefly today

Red head Smew on the ARC my 100th species in the 5 mile circle this year

The Cattle egrets were still showing well at Cockles Bridge today

 

05/01/2022

A bright frosty morning with a biting NW wind, so I chose to have a drive around Walland Marsh in the warmth of the car. First stop was the 19 Bewick Swans at Marshlands, then a brief walk along Caldicott lane for a failed attempt at finding Tree Sparrows, but added Mistle Thrush to the year list.

Next stop the model airfield where 5 Whooper and 2 Bewick Swans could be seen distantly, apparently late morning they flew out over the wind turbines per DG & BB. A wander around a now decimated Midley was virtually birdless, I eventually caught up with a few Fieldfare, Redwing and Song Thrushes along Ashentree Lane. The local guardians of the countryside have decimated many hedges and road side trees are now just stumps.

At Dengemarsh c40 Russian White-fronted Geese were feeding with the Greylags viewed from the chicken sheds.

Some of the 19 Bewick Swans in the field at junction of Dennes Lane/Caldicott Lane

5 Whooper with 2 Bewick Swans very distant, viewed from opposite the model aircraft field

Probably the highlight of an hour at the fishing boats lunchtime was these 5 Shoveler coming in off the sea
 12.00-13.00 high tide at the fishing boats saw the usual 100s of Cormorants and Auks toting and froing, along with some Red-throated Divers, a flock of c100 Kittiwakes was loafing off shore, 5 Common Scoter flew west and 5 Shoveler came in off the sea.

This afternoon at Galloways no sign of any Owls. A Marsh Harrier flushed what would have been the best birds of the day 3 Partridges, unfortunately they were just silhouettes so remain unidentified.

04/01/2022

As there was a cool NW breeze blowing this morning, also  much activity with excavators at the fishing boats I gave the morning sea watch a miss and went to The Patch. Although there were many Gulls present I could not find anything unusual until I was thinking of packing up, then a 2w Iceland Gull flew in and landed on the beach in front the hide. I took a handful of images before trying to contact the locals. DW was only a few minutes away but before he could arrive all the Gulls spooked, despite us scanning intensively we  were unable to relocate the bird , but we did find 3 1w Caspian Gulls. There were a few Red-throated Divers, Gannets, Auks, and Kittiwakes off shore but small numbers. On the walk back to the car we saw a party of 19 Meadow Pipits, a nice male Black Redstart, Pied Wagtails and Chaffinches.

At Cockles Bridge 3 Cattle Egrets but no sign of yesterdays Bewick Swans. There were 26 Bewick Swans and 3 Whooper Swans opposite the entrance to the model aircraft field on Walland late afternoon per CT.

41 White-fronted Geese were reported at Dengemarsh.

2w Iceland Gull at The Patch

1w Caspian Gull at The Patch

1w Caspian Gull at The Patch

1w Caspian Gull (Probably) at The Patch

Cattle Egrets at Cockles Bridge today

 

03/01/2022

Many thanks to AJG, RW, CP, DW for collating the numbers:

08.15-10.30

Brent Goose: 2E

White-fronted Goose: 3E

Shoveler: 1W

Common Scoter: 1E     4W

Velvet Scoter: 3W

Red-throated Diver: 30W

Great-crested Grebe: 2 on

Fulmar: 19W      2E

Gannet: 145W

Cormorant: present n/c

Shag: 1W

Turnstone: 7 around

Kittiwake: 234W     

Black-headed Gull: present n/c

Mediterranean Gull: 1W

Common Gull: present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Great Skua: 2W    1E

Guillemot: 484W   

Razorbill:47W    

Auk sp: 56W  74E

Grey Seal: 1

Common Seal: 1

Harbour Porpoise: 1

Gannet feeding off the fishing boats

Shag passing the fishing boats, a scarce bird at Dungeness

 Guillemot

Razorbill

2 Bewick Swans viewed from Cockles Bridge

2 Bewick Swans appeared with Mute Swans in the fields between Cockles Bridge and the Airport,

. The Pink-footed Goose reappeared at Scotney on the sward, also several Ruff there among the Golden Plover and lapwings but little else notable. On a very dreary afternoon a 1w Caspian Gull was at Burrowes on islands in front of Firth. 24 more Bewick Swans were on Walland per PB.

Pink-footed Goose on the Scotney sward

 

Happy New Year

 08.20-10.00 from the hide with OL, CT & CP

Brent Goose: 23E

Common Scoter: 6W        1E

Red-throated Diver: 324W      9E

Great-crested Grebe: 2 around

Fulmar: 5W

Gannet: 172W

Cormorant: present n/c

Kittiwake: 560W     

Black-headed Gull: present n/c

Common Gull: present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Guillemot: 148W   

Razorbill: 73W    

Auk sp: 428W  

As Dungeness was inundated with visitors yesterday, I was very laid back and kept out of the way.

Todays miserable weather kept visitor numbers down, but also kept the birds down. I did manage to see all the Egrets and the 2 Ibis, along with Caspian Gull, Jack Snipe and a few other bits and pieces, roll on Tuesday when some sort of normality will return to the peninsular.

Jack Snipe from yesterday

Cattle Egrets moving to the ARC this morning

Near adult Caspian Gull from Dennis's Hide this afternoon

Another Jack Snipe this afternoon

My 5 mile perimeter where I'm sure 99% of my birding will take place this year, though I have promised myself I will make a few trips to Orlestone Forest.