28/01/2023

Dartford Warbler Galloways Road

1 of several Stonechats down Galloways Road

With little or no no change in the birds I decided on a long walk from home this morning, I walked down Dengemarsh Road, across to then down Galloways to the sea then along the beach to Dengemarsh Gully and back home along Dengemarsh Road approximately 12 Kilometres. Not that far for young fit people, unfortunately I could not be described as either young or fit. 

As I walked past Brett's Marina a Tit flock came noisy by containing Long-tailed, Blue and Great Tits and a single Goldcrest, further on a couple of Cetti's Warblers were squabbling. On the ranges the usual Stonechats and an elusive Dartford Warbler were the highlights. The walk along the beach saw a few distant Red-throated Divers, Auks and Gannets but no Common Scoter which have been very scarce this winter. Reaching Dengemarsh Gully A Peregrine was on the distant Pylons, 2 Ravens Flew over, another distant Dartford Warbler and a sun bathing Heron. At Springfield Bridge the usual wildfowl were joined by 2 Great White Egrets, while in the fields a handful of Linnets, Reed buntings and Pied Wagtails. It was while I was at Springfield Bridge news of the Spoonbill at Scotney came through , the first on e of the year, I continued my weary plod home got in the car and drove the mile to view the Spoonbill, ridiculous really as undoubtedly there will be several more before long.

Grey Heron enjoying the warm sun in the sheltered Dengemarsh Gully

Dartford Warbler Dengemarsh Gully

Raven over Dengemarsh Gully

Spoonbill at Scotney this afternoon, later relocating to Tanners Pool on the reserve

27/01/2023

Berts Folly at the end of the Willow Trail

Typically for the end of January a week of cold grey days, with very little hints of at the soon to come spring. The birds that were around Dungeness this time last week are the same this week. The Bewick and Whooper Swans are still in their chosen feeding areas as are the Egrets and Ibis's. I did a circuit of the reserve this afternoon seeing the resident Marsh Harriers and Great White Egrets, while hearing Cetti's warblers and Water Rails. The Hay Fields were virtually avian free apart from a a few Pied Wagtails, Meadow Pipits and Reed Buntings though I did get a brief view of a Stoat disappearing into a reed bed. The lakes held a couple of Goldeneye of any note at all.

 

24/01/2023

Another bitterly cold morning but at least the sea watch hide offered shelter from the biting NNW wind, I was joined mid way through by Owen and Brian.

08.00-10.00 from the sea watch hide.

Red-throated diver: 709E

Great-crested Grebe: 131E

Red-necked Grebe: 1E

Gannet: 295E

Cormorant: present n/c much lower numbers than the beginning of the year.

Turnstone: 2 on beach

Kittiwake: 78E

Black-headed Gull: present n/c

Mediterranean Gull: 1E

Common Gull: present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Lesser Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Auks: 3,310 E

Harbour Porpoise: 2

Around the peninsula there was again no change to the birds.

2 Whooper Swans were at the southern end of the ARC, the other 3 were out on the Lydd Fields. 

The 3 Glossy Ibis were again in the their favourite feeding paddock also 2 each of Cattle Egret & Little Egret there

3 of the 6 Cattle Egrets at Cockles Bridge

Some of the 59 Bewick Swans at Hawthorn Corner today. They can usually be found there or at Horses Bone Farm. If you haven't seen them yet now is the time as they usually depart early February.

3 Juvenile Bewick Swans

Siberian Chiffchaff? I photographed this last Friday at the ARC but forgot about it until I downloaded the image this evening.

19/01/2023

Common Buzzard on guard over Hanson before sunrise this morning

The Willow Trail was very bird early morning with several Water rails squealing, 2-3 Cetti's Warblers blasting out their song, Chiffchaffs, Goldcrests, Tits, Wrens, Robins and Blackbirds all singing.

The 3 Glossy Ibis in the fiery sunrise at the ARC, later they joined 4 Cattle Egrets Ian the Horse Paddocks.

The 5 Whooper Swans doing their early morning ablutions at the ARC

Having a look around the lake while trumpeting before flying out to feed

Photobombed by a drake Goldeneye

I was most surprised to encounter this beautiful White Ermine Stoat as I wandered around Dengemarsh this morning, definitely a first for me. Pity the images aren't particularly sharp, it was very quick and took me by surprise.

Diving into cover, despite patiently hiding behind some bushes I didn't see it again

Green Sandpiper at Cooks Pool this morning

1 of 2 Bitterns at Cooks Pool courtesy of a timely message from Chris Philpott

Despite the constant barrage of explosions from our local guardian of the countrysides gas guns, a couple of Great White Egrets were seen but the Golden Plover and Lapwing were not happy with it.

3rd Bittern of the day at Dengemarsh this afternoon

I wandered from Springfield Bridge down to the bottom of Dengemarsh Gully this afternoon, apart from c25 Reed Buntings, 2 Ravens and 4 Foxes I swa very little.

Long-tailed Tit at Galloways Road this afternoon the highlight of another wander up and down there.

18/01/2023

A very chilly but bright frosty morning at the ARC found 5 Whooper Swans viewed from Hanson Hide, also 4 Goldeneye. Around the Willow trail 4 Chiffchaffs, in mixed Tit flock along with 2 Goldcrests.

                                                Chiffchaff picking food off the ice

Goldcrests

Another visit late morning to Camber to see the 1w male Scaup, which often associates with a couple of Tufted Ducks.

A couple of 100 Curlews were roosting at Camber but frequently flushed by Marsh Harriers

On Walland Marsh the 59 Bewick Swans were joined by a Black Swan

A few Redwings and Fieldfare were found around the marsh but little else

Common Buzzard in flooded field at Dengemarsh, not much else due to the constant booming of the local guardian of the countrysides gas gun.

15/01/2023

 It's no wonder I've lost my Mojo lately, walking around the reserve in the appalling weather basically seeing nothing away from Boulderwall, at least we used to be able to sit in the dry and out of the wind in the relative comfort of Firth and Makepiece Hide, but now the hides have been removed there is nowhere to view most of Burrowes Pit. Trying to view the far side of the lake from the Firth Viewpoint, or the Makepiece Viewpoint in the current weather conditions which are not unusual at Dungeness is impossible,  the screens offer little or no worthwhile shelter and in my opinion are White Elephants, I know the Makepiece screen is temporary until a new hide which is due to be installed later this year, but as far as I am aware the new hide is to be placed c30 mts further on overlooking the newly constructed islands, this sounds all good until you factor in that as the reserve has become 09.00-17.00 hrs opening meaning that on a clear day you will be staring into the sun for the majority of the day, it will also be close to the new islands which sounds good, but looking at the planned hide the front of which has large glass opening  windows to view from, I'm guessing any birds on the islands will see people moving about in the hide, let alone the noise of opening the windows consequently no birds. The island close in front of the visitor centre was  constructed so that the the Terns would nest there and be enjoyed by the public, we know how that turned out.

It's not just the reserve that is depressing and unwelcoming, Walland Marsh, where "the guardians of the countryside" have grubbed out most the hedgerows, those that are left have been flailed to sticks, then they ploughed right up to the very edges of the ditches now that this government have reversed just about all legislation.

The 59 Bewick Swans and 5 Whooper Swans are still around, as are the 2 Glossy Ibis, 5 Cattle Egrets and several Great White Egrets.

1st winter drake Scaup on the first pool west of Camber today

1w Caspian Gull at the fishing boats

5 Whoopers on The ARC 

09/01/2023

At the fishing boats today at least 5 Caspian Gulls but not a great deal else in todays WNW wind. Highlight being a Great Northern Diver that flew East at 13.00. There were 5 Whooper swan s at the southern end of the ARC this afternoon, presumably the Medley 3 have met up with the resident 2. With all the islands at the ARC now under water there was very little of interest from Hanson on the ARC. 3 Chiffchaffs were the highlight of a wander up to the pines. A wander along the front of the main Scotney lake saw the usual Lapwing, Golden Plover, Wigeon and feral geese with no sign of any wild geese.                                          

                                                    The Yellow ringed Polish Bird

                                                               2w Caspian Gull

                                                            1w Caspian Gull