01/02/2024

While having my early morning coffee in the garden 100s of feral Geese flew over out to the marsh to feed, most were Greylags, 29 Barnacle Geese were notable, 22 Egyptian Geese and just a handful of Canada Geese. Also over were a Common Buzzard and a Marsh Harrier, I also heard Green Woodpecker yaffling nearby a rare occurrence here recently.

An early morning walk around the ARC was quiet though at least a dozen Water rail were recorded and a few Cetti's Warblers  but no Snipe of any kind, a Great White Egret was in the Willow Trail.

At Cockles bridge 4 Cattle Egrets and 2 Little Egrets.

Scratch and Scratch sun bathing again today

Most of the Walland Marsh Bewick Swans

 A trip to Scotney saw 1,000s each of Golden Plover and Lapwing, with a few Dunlin and Redshank and the usual wildfowl. 

On Burrowes still a Great Northern Diver and Black-throated Diver, also at least 4 Goldeneye but little else around of note. 

On Walland 57 Bewick swans in their chosen field and 5 very distant Whooper Swans near the turbines.

A few flocks of Fieldfare were seen but just 2 Tree Sparrows probably my incompetence.

At the fishing boats this afternoon a few Auks and Red-throated Divers tooing and froing and only small numbers of Gulls present compared to recent days.

29/01/2024

Once again lots of birds off shore but very poor variety and little sign of migration.

08.00-09.00.  Wind SSW 3, Temp 8° Cloudy with fog

Brent Goose: 24E

Common Scoter: 2E

Great-crested Grebe: 3 present

Dunlin: 4W

Kittiwake: 4W

Black-headed Gull: Present n/c

Common Gull: Present n/c

Mediterranean Gull: 2W

Great Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Lesser Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Guillemot: 17W

Razorbill: 41W

Razorbill/Guillemot: 770W

Red-throated Diver: 426W       5E 

Fulmar: 2E

Gannet: 15W    

Cormorant: Present n/c

Harbour Porpoise: 1

When I came home from the sea watch the Pink-footed Geese were were feeding in the field in front my house. A from the garden year tick.

3 each of Cattle Egret and Little Egret were in the Cockles Bridge triangle, also 2 Fieldfare the first for the year on the peninsula for me. A Glossy Ibis flew over the road and disappeared into the private fishing lakes. A wander around the ARC was disappointingly quiet. On Burrowes The Divers were reported as still present. On Walland the Bewick Swan Herd was again in the field at the junction of Beacon Lane and Clubbs Lane.

2cy Caspian Gull

This afternoon at the fishing boatsin the company of DW, CG, MW & RS at least 4 Caspian Gulls, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls and an Argentatus Herring Gull were among the throng of Gulls feeding on the churned up shellfish. 90 Brent Geese flew East along with 9 Common Scoter, Plenty of Auks were tooing and froing offshore.

2cy Caspian Gull

2cy Caspian Gull

2cy Caspian Gull

Northern Argentatus Herring Gull

28/01/2024

 07.45-09.45 with OL.  Wind SSE 4, Temp 3° Partly Cloudy

Brent Goose: 1E

Pintail: 9E

Common Scoter: 1E

Great-crested Grebe: 1E

Oystercatcher: 15E

Dunlin: 1E

Kittiwake: 46E

Black-headed Gull: Present n/c

Common Gull: Present n/c

Mediterranean Gull: 8E

Great Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Lesser Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Guillemot: 1,942E

Razorbill: 37E

Razorbill/Guillemot: 1,230E

Red-throated Diver: 232E   6W  

Gannet: 132E    

Cormorant: Present n/c

3 Cattle Egrets were in the Cockles Bridge Triangle late morning

Black-throated Diver

On Burrowes today at least 1 Great Northern Diver along with the Black-throated Diver and several Goldeneye, still no Smew or Goosander. At the ARC no sign of yesterdays Scaup, plenty of Shoveler, Teal and Wigeon there. A single Glossy Ibis was seen late afternoon flying over the ARC per DB.

One of several Goldeneye present on Burrowes

Yesterdays Pink-footed Geese were back at Dengemarsh today, most of the time they were distant and half hidden by a Reed belt, late afternoon they flew into a the field opposite the Chicken Sheds joining a group of Greylag Geese but didn't seem to want to settle, after 15 minutes they flew off to Walland.

Pink-footed Geese

Elsewhere on Dengemarsh a flock of 21 Corn Buntings, 6 Bearded tits and a Raven of note

Raven over Dengemarsh

27/01/2024

 

My Velvet Scoter images aren't getting any better. 😄

08.00-09.30 with OL.  Wind S3, Temp 0° Partly Cloudy
Pintail: 6E
Velvet Scoter: 3E
Common Scoter: 19E
Great-crested Grebe: 5E
Kittiwake: 5E
Black-headed Gull: 100s E 
Common Gull: 100s SE out to sea
Mediterranean Gull:1E
Great Black-backed Gull: present 
Herring Gull: present n/c
Lesser Black-backed Gull: 4E
Guillemot: 521E
Razorbill: 7E
Razorbill/Guillemot: 186E
Red-throated Diver: 94E   11W  
Gannet: 6E    3W 
Cormorant: Present n/c
Harbour Porpoise: 1

Both the Great Northern and Black-throated Divers were reported on the reserve today, also a Glossy Ibis reported. A Puffin was reported past The Point at 16.10 per Bird Guides.

The above image of 4 of 6  Pink-footed Geese present at Dengemarsh this afternoon, was taken and sent to me by Dave Clark immediately before they flew off NW. As far as I know they were only seen by Dave and Mark Hollingworth but could be still in the area. Many thanks to Dave for letting me use his image.

My 1st and 2nd Yellowhammers of the year on the local patch

Some of the 57 Bewick Swans I saw on the marsh today, no sign of the Whoopers though

Cattle Egret at Cockles Bridge early afternoon

2 Ruff on the Scotney sward with the Golden Plover, Lapwing, Coot and Wigeon mid afternoon

A late afternoon walk along The Midrips with Owen saw several 1,000s of Gulls along the beach, but again we could interesting Gulls, a flock of 100+ Sanderling was good to see. Around the pools 100s of Lapwings and Golden Plover with a few Curlew, we saw no Owls there today. 

26/01/2024

1,000s of Gulls all-around the shore on the peninsular, sadly the only white wingers have been Med Gulls

08.00-09.30 with OL.   Wind NW4, Temp 8° clear

Brent Goose: 42E

Wigeon: 2W

Pintail: 6W

Teal: 3W

Great-crested Grebe: 1W

Kittiwake: 106W  Minimum

Black-headed Gull: present n/c (1,000s along the surf)

Common Gull: present n/c (1,000s along the surf)

Mediterranean Gull:5W

Great Black-backed Gull: present 50+

Herring Gull: present n/c (1,000s along the surf)

Lesser Black-backed Gull: present 3+

Razorbill/Guillemot: 1,000+ Tooing and Froing offshore

Red-throated Diver: 26W  

Gannet: 14W  

Cormorant: c1,000 present Minimum

Black-headed Gull gorging on storm washed Shellfish

Mediterranean Gull gorging on storm washed Shellfish

Mediterranean Gull 

2 Greater White-fronted Geese on the sward at Scotney courtesy of Owen

A wander around the back of Scotney Farm found of note 2 Green Sandpipers, 3 Avocet, several each of Corn Bunting and Tree Sparrow and 10+ Skylark.

I'm assuming the Divers are still on Burrowes today, I have heard no reports to the contrary.

Scritch and Scratch sunbathing

24/01/2024

 

I'm getting really good at these really bad record shots of Velvet Scoter

08.00-09.30 with RW, Wind W7, Temp 10° 

Velvet Scoter: 1W

Common Scoter: 6W   

Great-crested Grebe: 1W 

Kittiwake: 19W  

Black-headed Gull: present n/c 

Common Gull: present n/c

Mediterranean Gull: 1W

Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Lesser Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Guillemot: 525W

Razorbill: 32W

Razorbill/Guillemot: 164W     47E

Red-throated Diver: 95W   1E

Gannet: 9W   3E

Cormorant: present

No sign of the Cattle Egrets at Cockles Bridge this morning, but 2 Little Egrets present

On Burrowes a Great Northern Diver and the Black-throated Diver still present lunchtime but little else off note.

A pleasant wander along the front of Scotney this afternoon in pleasant conditions, shame about the number of birds present. 10 Brent Geese, 2 Ruff and 76 Dunlin were the highlights. 

2 Ruff with 3 Dunlin and Lapwing over the Scotney sward

A Barn Owl at the back of Lydd caravan park late afternoon

The dog walker must have had superb views of the Barn owl

22/01/2024

Poor image of 3 of todays Velvet Scoters

A surprisingly busy sea watch this morning with Richard, though still not a great deal of variety.

08.00-10.00 with RW,   Wind W 8, Temp 9° 

Brent Goose: 5E
Pintail: 3W
Velvet Scoter: 7W
Common Scoter: 64W    1E
Great-crested Grebe: 3W 
Kittiwake: 16W  
Black-headed Gull: present n/c 
Common Gull: present n/c
Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c
Herring Gull: present n/c
Caspian Gull: 1W   2cy
Lesser Black-backed Gull: present n/c
Great Skua: 1W
Guillemot: 70W
Razorbill: 44W
Razorbill/Guillemot: 89W     7E
Red-throated Diver: 591W   1E
Fulmar: 6W
Gannet: 144W 
Cormorant: present

A flock of Red-throated Divers passing by the fishing boats this afternoon

Some of the herd of 47 Bewick Swans at Hook Wall early afternoon

Great Northern Diver on Burrowes late morning, also Black-throated Diver still present

This Herring Gull has been visiting Dungeness for at least 7 Years

20/01/2024

Lots of birds in this mornings sea watch but little Variety or quality.

07.45-09.45 with RW & SO.   Wind SW 4, Temp 3° 

Common Scoter: 1E

Great-crested Grebe: 1E

Oystercatcher: 17E 

Curlew: 4E 

Kittiwake: 48E   

Black-headed Gull: present n/c 

Mediterranean Gull: 2E

Common Gull: present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Lesser Black-backed Gull: 3E

Auk sp: 870E    49W  

Red-throated Diver: 481E   39W

Fulmar: 3E       2W

Gannet: 712E  

Cormorant: present

Harbour Porpoise: 1

A very quiet day around the peninsular with little news. The Divers were still insitu on Burrowes, the 21 Barnacle Geese also still on Boulderwall Fields, the usual Egrets were still present but no reports of any Glossy Ibis. Bearded Tits and Bitterns both seen but little else.

Cattle Egret early yesterday morning in Lydd

 An alert Little Owl early yesterday morning enjoying the sunshine

Spoonbill Rye Harbour LNR yesterday

A pleasant visit to Rye Harbour LNR yesterday with Owen, Richard and Colin. Excellent views of the long staying Spoonbill on Ternery Pool. Lots of Teal sparkling in the sun and several Little Grebes, Dunlin, Ringed Plovers, Grey Plover, Redshank, Curlew, Turnstone and Oystercatchers all around the reserve, with Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit and Skylarks. Back at the car park Owen provided us with Tea and a very nice homemade Ginger Cake. At Pett 20+ Greater White-fronted Goose, 2 Barnacle Geese one wearing a yellow Dark ring the other a white neck collar.

18/01/2024

A pre dawn visit to the ARC to see the roosting Swans was great disappointment as it seems none of them roosted there last night unless they left very early, however the 2 Woodcock I saw just as the sun peeping over the horizon made the effort more than worth while, a Cattle Egret flew over as did 2 Great White Egrets but no sign of any Glossy Ibis today.

I met Richard in the ARC car park where a Barn Owl did a very brief fly through, we decided to walk across the reserve to Dengemarsh. On the Boulderwall Fields 21 Barnacle Geese still along with feral Canada, Greylag and Egyptian Geese and a few Common Snipe, but nothing notable. Dengemarsh was very quiet, but we decided to carry on and walked right around the reserve. A single Raven flew over Scott but no sign of any of the hoped for Smew on Burrowes or anywhere else today, we couldn't even find any divers this morning, but apparently a single Great Northern and the Black-throated Diver were still present  per JY. A few more Common Snipe were seen on our way back to the car park.

This afternoon I checked the Camber Pools where this Mistle Thrush was highlight of my visit as I seldom see them these days, on the way I checked the Scotney lakes and again on the way back but very little there apart from 9 Dunlin and 2 Ringed Plovers the first I have seen this year.

One of the Lydd Little Owls late afternoon