PLODDINGBIRDER

Saturday, 28 May 2022

28/05/2022

The end of May and it surprising the amount of birds still singing around Dengemarsh, Sedge, Reed and Cetti's Warblers, Common and Lesser Whitethroats all around, Blackcaps and even a Garden Warbler near the Pines at the ARC. Corn Buntings singing at Dengemarsh Flood, lots of squeaks and peeps from the Coots, Moorhens and other young wildfowl and even the high pitched calls of displaying Marsh Harriers that are stratospheric, the forlorn cries of Lapwings and Redshanks desperately trying to fend off predators of there young.

Garganey escaping the attentions of a bullying Coot

Ring-necked Duck inusual pose

Coming back in for another sleep

High flying Glossy Ibis over Boulderwall Fields

5 Cattle Egrets dropping into Dengemarsh Flood

Cattle Egrets

Corn Bunting

Common Whitethroat

Great White Egret

New visitors to the the garden feeders

Trichophaga tapetzella (Tapestry Moth). This is the first record of this species in the Dungeness area since July 1957. It is apparently quite rare in the UK now having previously been quite common.

27/05/2022

Another trip away from Dungeness, this time in the company of Owen and Jacques to see the superb Eleanors's Falcon and a bonus female Red-footed Falcon at Worth Marshes. An excellent afternoon in excellent company and 2 brilliant birds.

Eleonora's Falcon

Female Red-footed Falcon

Thursday, 26 May 2022

26/05/2022

The Glossy Ibis from Hanson Hide in the last glow of the sun last night

I spent a lovely morning at the excellent Rye Harbour LNR, where despite the near gale force wind excellent views of the birds were had from the comfort of the hides. I will no doubt be making more frequent visits in future.

Black-headed Gull and young

The hides at Rye Harbour LNR afford super close views of the birds

Turnstone in smart summer dress

Redshank

The larger stones around the edges of the island helps to prevent erosion, maybe an idea Dungeness could use next time they build up the islands.

Winter plumage Turnstone

Excellent number of pairs of Avocet at Rye Harbour, with loads of chicks

Common Sandpiper

Common Terns

Sandwich Terns with an Avocet

Moments after I took this image of a duck Shoveler and her brood a Common Gull swooped in and took one of her ducklings

Common Gull taking a Shoveler Duckling which it swallowed whole

Wednesday, 25 May 2022

25/05/2022

AJG has kept up the early morning sea watching, but has had little rerun for his time and effort. The highlights have been a few Fulmars, Gannets, Sandwich terns, Oystercatchers and Common Scoter, so I feel vindicated in my laziness.

The current unsettled weather has at least produced a few Swifts, Swallows and Sand Martins over the lakes. The Ring-necked Duck that is currently favouring the ARC seems to spend much time asleep on the small island to the left of Hanson Hide, where excellent views can also be obtained of Great-crested Grebes catching Sticklebacks, also of Pochard and Tufted Ducks. Marsh Harriers are usually seen and invariably I manage to see a Kingfisher flashing across the lake. Another Kingfisher is often seen from Dennis's hide carrying fish for its young.

As I wandered across the shingle early morning 2 Hobby's were out swooping into the lee of bushes catching Damselflys, from Dennis's Hide 22 Curlew, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits and 2 Ringed Plover, by Christmas Dell 2 Lesser Whitethroats still singing also Common Whitethroats, Cetti's, Reed and Sedge Warblers. Walking towards hay field 3 a Bittern boomed and several young Bearded Tits were feeding along the ditch, at the hay field the Glossy Ibis was busy feeding, I couldn't see only young Lapwings but they were probably sheltering from the gale if they are still alive. At Hookers a Bittern flew over the track and dropped in but little else was seen.

At the Egret roost last night 4 Cattle Egrets which were presumably the same four seen by JY at Boulderwall this morning, when I finally arrived I could only find 2, but the vegetation is quite tall there.