28/03/2023

Velvet Scoter with Common Scoters this morning

Hope were high of a good sea watch this morning with a strong southerly blowing, the first couple of hours were good but slowed down as the rain front stared to come through.

06.30 - 12.00 from the hide with OL, DW, RW, SM et al

Brent Goose: 359E  in 19 parties 

Shelduck: 5E

Shoveler: 11E

Pintail: 15E 

Velvet Scoter: 6E

Common Scoter: 983E     2W

Red-breasted Merganser: 8E

Black-necked Grebe: 1E

Great-crested Grebe: 22  on  

Oystercatcher: 1E

Grey Plover: 3E

Sanderling: 1E

Curlew: 2E

Kittiwake: 38E

Little Gull: 12E

Mediterranean Gull: 21E

Lesser Black-backed Gull: 4E

Sandwich Tern: 108E

Common Tern: 1E  (first of the year)

Great Skua: 1E

Guillemot: 37E    

Auk sp: 15E    

Red-throated Diver: 174E    

Fulmar: 12E   1W 

Gannet: 109E    75W

Cormorant: present n/c

Harbour Porpoise: 5

Very little other news today apart from the the Camber Scaup relocating to Scotney viewed from the double bends.

Black-necked Grebe among the raft of Great-crested Grebes offshore this morning

Grey Heron on my neighbours trampoline this afternoon

Black Redstarts behind the sea with hide yesterday

Glossy Ibises at Cooks Pool yesterday

26/03/2023

The sea watching and birding in general has been very poor for the last few days. The sea watching highlight was undoubtedly the White-beaked Dolphins that swam east past the hide and Bouy.

The huge White-tailed Eagle that turned up this morning on the Boulderwall and Lydd Fields in the appallingly wet weather, it hung around for a couple of while before eventually heading off over Lydd towards Scotney and Walland Marsh. While watching it a Bittern, Great White Egret and the 2 Glossy Ibis were seen, along with the usual wildfowl including a Black Swan. I've not seen the the Cattle Egrets for a few days, but at least 4 were seen at Cockles bridge this afternoon by DB, the Camber Scaup is still present per BH.

 

21/03/2023

SW5-7 with frequent rain/drizzle. 

A thoroughly miserable morning often with very poor visibility. 

07.00 - 11.00 from the hide joined by JY

Brent Goose: 222E (23 parties)

Common Scoter: 141E     4W

Red-breasted Merganser: 1E

Great-crested Grebe: 8  on  

Kittiwake: 17E

Black-headed Gull: 51E single flock

Sandwich Tern: 13E     3W

Guillemot: 28E   

Auk sp: 21E  

Red-throated Diver: 127E      6W      

Fulmar: 1W 

Gannet: 127E   14W    

Cormorant: present n/c

Harbour Porpoise: 3

White-beaked Dolphin: 4E

Todays Black-necked Grebe on the ARC

Glossy Ibises at Cooks Pool

Goldeneye from Dennis's Hide this afternoon

20/03/2023

A force 5-7 South Westerly wind this morning gave the promise of a reasonable watch but was very disappointing.

06.55 - 09.00 from the hide : 

Brent Goose: 11E  1W

Common Scoter: 14E     3W

Great-crested Grebe: 4  on  

Oystercatcher: 1E

Kittiwake: 20E

Mediterranean Gull:1E

Sandwich Tern: 2E      5W

Guillemot: 37E     5W

Auk sp: 24E  

Red-throated Diver: 21E  3W     2 on    

Fulmar: 2E   1W 

Gannet: 127E   14W    

Cormorant: present n/c

Harbour Porpoise: 4

Grey Seal: 1

The Ibises and Egrets were still present on the peninsula today as was a Water Pipit and the first Willow Warbler of the year per JY. In the calmer weather over the weekend Firecrests, Dartford Warblers, Wheatears, Woodlark and Woodcocks were seen.

A second calendar year Caspian Gull at the double bends at Scotney today

The first Black-necked Grebe of the year on the peninsula located by Owen  at the far side of Scotney GP 

Marsh Harrier at Cooks Pool about to lose its meal to a Great Black-backed Gull

A very wet morning watch that produced my first Arctic Skuas of the year. This afternoon was very slow in the bright sunshine.

The Cattle Egrets and Glossy Ibises were reported as being present, despite there being a number of observers around the peninsula nothing else of any note was reported.

 06.30 - 11.00 & 14.00-16.00 from the hide with CP, RW, SM.
Brent Goose: 412E 
Mute Swan: 2E
Shelduck: 2E
Teal: 3E  
Velvet Scoter: 2E
Common Scoter: 433E     17W
Red-breasted Merganser: 6E
Wood Pigeon: 1E in off
Great-crested Grebe: 6  on  
Oystercatcher: 12E
Kittiwake: 194E
Little Gull: 10E
Mediterranean Gull: 7E
Lesser Black-backed Gull: 12E
Sandwich Tern: 42E
Great Skua: 1E
Arctic Skua: 2E
Guillemot: 471E     8W
Razorbill: 8E
Auk sp: 437E     36W
Red-throated Diver: 105E  6W    
Fulmar: 6E   1W 
Gannet: 679E    
Cormorant: present n/c
Harbour Porpoise: 7
Grey Seal: 1

The drake Scaup was still at Camber yesterday

16/03/2023

Brent Geese passing today

The sea watching is gradually improving, with my first Velvet Scoters and Little Gulls of the year.

06.30 - 10.00 & 13.30-15.30 from the hide withCP, OL, PE, RW, MH

Brent Goose: 1,999E  in 33 parties 

Shelduck: 8E

Shoveler: 2E     3W

Teal: 21E  

Pochard: 3E  (all drakes)

Common Scoter: 184E        13W

Velvet Scoter: 2E

Red-breasted Merganser: 4W (all drakes)

Great-crested Grebe: 79E    110 on  

Oystercatcher: 4E

Curlew: 8E

Kittiwake: 51E

Little Gull: 19E

Mediterranean Gull: 15E

Sandwich Tern: 41E

Guillemot: 211E     3W

Auk sp: 250E   

Red-throated Diver: 163E  19W     1 on 

Fulmar: 6E   1W 

Gannet: 107E      7W  

Cormorant: present n/c

Wood Pigeon: 1E in off

Carrion Crow: 1E in off

Harbour Porpoise: 3

No reports of any Wheatears or Swallows on the peninsula today, 11 Cattle Egrets were seen by the airport road today by CP, the Glossy Ibises are still around, as are a couple of Dartford Warblers but very little else migrant wise.

The lone Greater White-fronted Goose is still hanging around

15/03/2023

The first Wheatears of the year arrived on the peninsula today. A Merlin was hunting very nearby.

Brent Geese over the bouy

07.10 - 10.00 & 13.45-15.30 from the hide with OL

Brent Goose: 253E  in 13 parties

Tufted Duck: 13E  (7 + 6)

Common Scoter: 27E

Great-crested Grebe: 52 on  

Egret sp: 1E ou to sea

Oystercatcher: 10E     2W

Kittiwake: 10E

Mediterranean Gull: 2E

Guillemot: 12E    10 on

Auk sp: 40E   

Red-throated Diver: 94E   11W 

Great Northern Diver: 1E

Gannet: 3E     2W 

Cormorant: present n/c

Jackdaw: 1W

Harbour Porpoise: 11

1 of at least 11 Harbour Porpoises offshore today

How times have changed, an hours sky watching from my little balcony for a Red Kite saw 2 Glossy Ibis, 7 Cattle egrets, 3 Great White Egrets, several each of Little Egret and Grey Heron, Ravens, Peregrine, Common Buzzards and Marsh Harriers but no Red Kite.

Cattle Egrets back at Cockles Bridge

13/03/2023

If you take away the Brent Geese numbers today was a very modest sea watch considering the wind was force 7-9 South Westerly.

07.10 - 10.00 from the hide with RW, OL. 

Brent Goose: 953E  in 15 parties

Shoveler: 3W

Teal: 3E  1W

Common Scoter: 14E

Great-crested Grebe: 4 on  

Oystercatcher: 1E

Curlew: 6E

Knot:18W

Dunlin: 1W

Kittiwake: 41E

Black-Headed Gull: 72E

Mediterranean Gull: 13E

Common Gull: 43E

Guillemot: 48E     4 on

Auk sp: 31E   

Red-throated Diver: 37E  1 on 

Fulmar: 2E    

Gannet: 273E   

Cormorant: present n/c

Skylark: 7 in

Harbour Porpoise: 2

As it was so windy today was the day to get domestic stuff done.

Yesterdays very brief 2nd calendar year Iceland Gull that flew west past the sea watch hide

The Cockles Bridge Cattle Egrets seem to have relocated to the airport road, the Ibises are still present but elusive. There are up to 3 Water Pipits present between Boulderwall and the hay fields but also elusive and easily flushed by people on the footpaths around the hay fields, the lakes are holding a few Goldeneye but little else of note, though it is very difficult to look properly with out Firth, Makepiece and Scott hides.

A couple of the long staying Ruff at Dengemarsh yesterday

08/03/2023

One of flocks of Pintail past the sea watch hide today in the rain

An excellent 6 hrs sheltering in the sea watch hide from the biting East wind and rain produced a decent movement of Pintail and Brent Geese, a surprise 75 Bar-tailed Godwits and highlights of 2 Long-tailed Duck that came past with 4 Common Scoter.

08.00 - 14.00 from the hide with RW, OL. Many thanks to Owen for the Coffee and Chocolate.

Brent Goose: 1,223E  in 18 parties

Shelduck: 3E

Shoveler: 7E

Wigeon: 28E 

Pintail: 128E in 9 parties

Teal: 10E  

Common Scoter: 14E

Long-tailed Duck: 2E  both 1w/female

Great-crested Grebe: 21 on  

Oystercatcher: 8E

Grey Plover: 3E

Ringed Plover: 4E 

Bar-tailed Godwit: 75E     

Sanderling: 2E

Dunlin: 121E in 13 parties

Common Snipe: 1E

Kittiwake: 3E

Mediterranean Gull: 3E

Sandwich Tern: 1E

Guillemot: 19E  6 on 

Auk sp: 66E   

Red-throated Diver: 81E  17W     4 on 

Fulmar: 2E   1W  

Gannet: 262E   

Cormorant: present n/c

Harbour Porpoise: 5

Grey Seal: 2

Some of the closer Brent Geese

Gannets making light of the weather conditions

Wigeon

Brent Geese and Pintail

Another party of Pintail

06/03/2023

The 7 Cattle Egrets still at Cockles Bridge today

A slight improvement with the first Eider and Avocet past this year. 

07.30-09.30 & 13.40-15.00 with RW & OL

Brent Goose: 321E   3W

Teal: 13E

Wigeon: 15E

Eider: 3E all adult drakes

Common Scoter: 52E     1W

Great-crested Grebe: 37on  

Avocet: 1E

Ringed Plover: 3 present

Kittiwake: 38E  

Guillemot: 58E     7WE   8 on

Auk sp: 75E  30W 

Red-throated Diver: 67E  19W     2 on   

Gannet: 88E   

Cormorant: present n/c

Perergrine: 1 in off

Reed Bunting: 1 behind hide

Harbour Porpoise: 3

Grey Seal: 1

A look around the marsh today found no wild Swans, so I assume they have now all gone, hopefully returning in November. Apart from a flock of c200 Fieldfare with a few Redwing there was little else to be seen on the marsh. The Sward and main lake at Scotney were both very quiet, just a handful of Wigeon and some injured feral geese.