03/01/2023

Early morning the 2 Cattle Egrets and Glossy Ibis were in the horse paddocks as I drove past on my way to The Point, where at the sea watch hide there was plenty of activity off shore but no real movement. 100s of Auks and Kittiwakes were feeding along with smaller numbers of Gannets and Red-throated Divers and the 100s of Gulls.

Whooper Swans at the southern end of the ARC in this mornings brief sunshine

A  walk around the ARC added Chiffchaff and Goldcrest to the new year list, Cetti's Warblers were very vocal as were some Water Rails. On the lake with all the new islands now underwater many feral Geese presumably flushed onto the lake by the shooters, also many Wigeon with Gadwall, Shoveler, Teal, Pochard and Tufted Duck, also at least 4 Goldeneye but sadly no Smew or Goosander which are definitely a thing of the past.

Some of the White-Fronted Geese on the sward at Scotney late morning

Scotney was brimming with birds 1,000+ each of Lapwing, Golden Plover and Wigeon and at least 7 Ruff. Among the feral Geese some Greater White-fronted Geese, a couple Marsh Harriers and a Raven flew over but nothing unusual.

Some Ruff among the Lapwing, Golden Plover and Greylags on the sward at Scotney late morning

 A wander around a grim wet and windy Dengemarsh this afternoon  found it to be an avian Desert, the water levels are now higher there than I can remember. I was told that the Bewick Swans and Whooper Swans were still into on Walland Marsh today.

02/01/2023

Dartford Warblers at Scotney

A nice day weather wise for a change prompted me to have a wander around the Sussex end of Scotney this morning. The first surprise was flushing 9 Song Thrushes and several Blackbirds from the scrub as I walked up the western track, in the fields numerous Meadow Pipits with several singing Skylarks and at least 2 Marsh harriers quartering the ditches. Around and in the sand pit several Reed Buntings, Stonechats, Cetti's Warblers, Shelducks, 2 Ravens, a Great White Egret and 2 Dartford Warblers, disappointingly I did not see or hear a single Green Sandpiper which is usually guaranteed here, 1,000+ each of Golden Plover and Lapwing were wheeling around probably being displaced by raptors, a low flock of low flying Geese that dis appeared below a bund looked like Greater White-fronted Geese, a short while later when I was scanning the Sward at the from of the lakes I spied a party of Whitefronts among the many feral Greylags and Canada Geese, also 12 Barnacle Geese, 4 Brent Geese, several Curlews and 1,000+ Wigeon there. 

Greater White-fronted Geese at Scotney

A glance into the Horse Paddocks as I drove past to the beach saw the 2 Glossy Ibis and 2 Cattle Egrets there. 

From the fishing boats 100s of Kittiwakes with smaller numbers of Gannets feeding distantly off shore, reasonable numbers of Red-throated Divers, Guillemots, Razorbills, Great-crested Grebes were feeding and tooing and froing, along with the 1,000s of Cormorants, a couple of Mediterranean Gulls and the highlight a Black-throated Diver which flew West.

Out on Walland 53 Bewick Swans can usually be found in the Hawthorn Corner area, 3 Whooper Swans are usually in the field by Midley Cottages, 2 more Whoopers can usually be found at the south end of the ARC or in the fields at Cockles Bridge. I was going to look for the Green-winged Teal this afternoon but the reserve shut early as there was a problem with the water supply there, why this would necessitate the closure of the reserve I cannot fathom, 

Mediterranean Gull at the Fishing Boats

Some of the 53 Bewick Swans on Walland Marsh

2 Whooper swans at Cockles Bridge

31/01/2022

After spending Christmas in sunny Fueventura it was a bit of a body shock coming back to Dungeness and its usual cool, very damp and very windy climate. Yesterday I didn't leave the house, though I managed to see a flock of 12 Greater White-fronted Geese flying around Lydd Fields from the bedroom window. Today I at least made the effort to go out spending an hour with RW and OL at the fishing boats watching a stream of West bound Gannets, Kittiwakes, Red-throated Divers and Guillemots. Along the surf 100s of Gull and Cormorants including the odd Yellow-legged Gull and Caspian Gull but no White winged Gulls.

Whooper Swans still at the southern end of the ARC this morning

A drive over Walland Marsh saw a flock of 47 Bewick Swans (18 Juveniles) best viewed from opposite the model aeroplane field entrance, as the rain was horizontal from the West I was unable to open the car window enough to get any images of them. A Fieldfares were seen but little else. Speaking to other locals this morning the Green-winged Teal would appear to have moved on, but could still be sheltering under the bushes, to be honest in this weather I'm not inclined to wander around the reserve with little shelter looking for it. My 2022 total for Dungeness peninsula was 218 with notable absence of Bean Goose, Glaucous Gull, Hooded Crow, Melodious Warbler and Red-backed Shrike, though I did finally see a Dungeness Caspian Tern and few other scarce birds. Hoping for a better 2023. Happy New Year to everyone.

3 Whooper Swans at Midley this morning

 

18/12/2022

White-fronted Geese with 2 Whooper Swans in the background at Cockles Bridge

In this dismal weather The 2 Whooper Swans can usually be seen at southern end of the ARC or from Cockles Bridge, where up to 12 White-fronted Geese and a Cattle egret has been residing.

On Burrowes the Green-winged Teal can usually be found as well as 6+ Caspian Gulls with the odd Yellow-legged Gull. Surprisingly during this cold spell not a single Goosander has been reported at Dungeness let alone a Smew now a rarity I'm afraid. Out on Walland up to 44 Bewick Swans can be found but it seems the Pink-footed Geese have moved on.

Birding around the peninsula is generally very hard work at the moment, a few Egrets and Bittern if your are lucky, Bearded Tits can generally be heard and seen, likewise Common Snipe. Plenty of Marsh Harriers around and Bothe Ring Tail and Grey male Hen Harriers have been reported. Eared Owls are non existent, likewise scarce Buntings.

2w Caspian Gull

Adult Caspian Gull

 

15/12/2022

Lots of Gulls at The Patch this morning, sadly I was unable to find any Gulls of note. 2 small parties of Red-throated Divers flew east totalling 12 birds but little else.

The 2 Whooper Swans seem to have made there winter home at the southern of the ARC, they seem to be wary of anybody walking along the road to view them, so I usually pull up briefly after 09.00 when the wacky racers are all at work in the power station. From Hanson what is left of the islands were covered by the black plague (100s of Cormorants) There were a few Shoveler, Wigeon and Pintail there, several Water Rails were heard all around the ARC and Tower Pits.

Just a single Cattle Egret at Cockles Bridge today along with a posing Lapwing, the 2 Glossy Ibis were in the horse paddocks.

There were 44 Bewick Swans today on Walland Marsh at Baynham Farm with an impressive 17 juveniles. Nearby in a sheep field a flock of c50 Common Snipe, Thrush numbers on Walland today seem to be down on recent visits. The only Geese on the sward at Scotney were injured birds, I presume the main flock must have been at the back of the lakes.

This afternoon the Green-winged Teal finally showed itself to me in decent light and reasonably close, all my other sightings of this bird has been in dismal light and usually distant.

A 2w and 1w Caspian Gull came into the roost on Burrowes this afternoon

12/12/2022

Golden Plover behind the boats this morning

A short and  not unexpectedly poor sea watch this morning

09.00-09.45 from the boats:

Red-throated Diver: 2W       22 on sea

Great-crested Grebe: 47 on

Gannet: c30 feeding 

Cormorant: c1,000 around

Turnstone: 2 on beac

Golden Plover: 1 feeding on road at turning circle behind the boats

Kittiwake: 2 feeding

Guillemot: 4 on sea

The Whooper Swans gleaming in a brief sunny spell at the ARC this morning

From Hanson this morning the usual wildfowl, Herons and Marsh Harriers, a ring tail Hen Harrier was seen before I arrived. 

A couple of visits to Cockles Bridge today failed to find the Dotterel among the Golden plovers and Lapwings, probably due to my incompetence. 4 Cattle Egrets were present.

The glossy Ibis and the Green-winged Teal were still present today per JY.

The Bewick Swans are still on Walland Marsh, also reasonable numbers of Thrushes in the hedgerows there.

On the sward at Scotney I found no wild Grey Geese, just 3 Brent Geese and 12 Barnacle geese of any note.

1 of 4 Cattle Egrets at Cockles Bridge today

The Bewick Swans have relocated back to Baynham Farm where they spent last winter

11/12/2022

The Bewick Swan herd on Walland has increased to 35 including 17 juveniles an excellent number, hopefully more will arrive in the coming days. The family of 6 with adult with the crooked neck that left the ARC the other afternoon  has joined the herd

The Swans in the background are Mutes

Despite the winter weather the juvenile Dotterel was still opposite Cockles Bridge today, usually associating with c200 Golden Plover, the 2 Whooper Swans were at the southern end of the ARC today and the Green-winged Teal was also still present today on Burrowes, where 2 1w Caspian Gulls could be seen. Still no Smew or Goosanders and only small numbers of Goldeneye. With the wind picking up from the east this week hopefully more birds will arrive and the sea watching might be worthwhile.

I was down Galloways before dawn today looking for Owls with my thermal imager but I failed to find any, though I did locate 4 Jack Snipe and numerous Common Snipe.

2 1w Caspian Gulls

A French ringed Cormorant M 16

09/12/2022

 The Whooper Swans on the ARC in the freezing fog early this morning

One of three Cattle Egret at Cockles Bridge this morning

Little Owl on Walland Marsh this afternoon, I would never have spotted it if I hadn't been using my thermal imager

There were 19 Bewick Swans on Walland this afternoon, with at least 5 Pink-footed Geese but all were very distant. The freezing conditions seems to have bought an influx of Thrushes, as Fieldfares, Redwings, Blackbirds and a few Song Thrushes were evident on Walland and at the back of Scotney. 60+ Corn buntings, 20+ Tree Sparrows, 100+ Skylarks were around the back fields of Scotney, also still 3 Little Gulls and 3 Green Sandpipers on the western back lake, with another of each on the main lake. The large Greylag flock now has 14 Brent Geese with it and the Barnacles have increased to 12 but I saw no other Grey Geese there. I went to Galloways from just before sunset to dark, apart from 2 Ravens I saw nothing else of note. Apparently there were still some White-fronts at Dengemarsh today.

This Little Owl was easier to spot, but this is as close as I could get to it

The Whooper Swans in yesterdays glorious sunshine

4 White-fronted Geese with Greylags at the back of Dengemarsh yesterday

Family of Bewick Swans that spent yesterday on the ARC, moving off late afternoon

one of the adult Bewick Swans

Song Thrush a bird I seldom see these days

07/12/2022

Whooper Swans at the ARC today

Goldeneye at the ARC today

A Swan and Goose hunt on Walland Marsh today was relatively successful in that I found at least 8 Bewick Swans and 10 Pink-footed Geese along Hooks Wall, though they were all very distant and mostly hidden behind bushes and reeds. Small numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare were found and a single Missile Thrush but not much else. This afternoon the 2 Whooper Swans were at at the southern end of the ARC.

From Hanson 2 Goldeneye, 8 Black-tailed Godwits along with usual wildfowl and Black Plague.

7 White-fronted Geese were at the back of Dengemarsh presumably the same birds as yesterday, there was no sign of the Dotterel today, though I may have unknowingly seen it last night when I was out around Dengemarsh using a thermal imager, the fields were alive with feeding Lapwing and Golden Plover, also many Rabbits, 4 Foxes, 2 Badgers a Barn Owl and a Grey Heron were spotted with the thermal imager.

 

04/12/2022

Whooper and Bewick Swans back on Walland Marsh,  hopefully more will join them in the coming days forecasted Arctic blast.

I've not been sea watching for a few days but hope to remedy that in the coming days, though those who have spent time sea watching found it rather underwhelming.

There were still at least 16 Little Gulls on Scotneys western most back pit which is all in East Sussex, the sand pit also East Sussex held 2 Green Sandpipers and a Common Sandpiper. 2,000+ each of Golden Plover and Lapwing with at least 8 Ruff can be found at the back of Scotney, along with Ravens, Common Buzzard, Merlin, Marsh Harriers and a ring tail Hen Harrier that has been touring the peninsula, 100s of Greylag, Canada and Egyptian Geese, with 4 Brent and 6 Barnacle Geese, so far just the 11 Pink-footed Geese have joined them but I expect more in the coming days.

A poor image of the Green-winged Teal on Burrowes Pit, hopefully better will be achieved in the coming days

Newly arrived Pink-footed Geese at the back of Scotney GP