16/03/2023

  With a gentle NW breeze blowing I wasn't expecting an exciting sea watch, it didn't disappoint.

06.30-08.30 with SO from the sea watch hide.  Wind NW 1-2 Temp 9°

Brent Goose: 134E (9 parties)

Shoveler: 1E

Common Scoter: 17E   1W     

Great-crested Grebe: 1W    8 present 

Oystercatcher: 5E    1W

Black-headed Gull: 12E     

Mediterranean Gull: 1E 

Common Gull: 6E

Great Black-backed Gull:  present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Sandwich Tern: 2E     

Guillemot: 12E   2W  16 present   

Auk sp: 4E       

Red-throated Diver: 26E    42W 

Fulmar: 1E      2W

Gannet: 37E    24W

Cormorant:  present n/c

Carrion Crow: 6 in off

Harbour Porpoise: 4

A brazen Mink at Denge Marsh early afternoon

A pleasant wander around Denge Marsh and the reserve late morning/early afternoon with Colin Turley in warm sunshine was mainly uneventful, apart from an encounter with a brazen Mink that literally trotted along the bridleway towards and past us by just a few feet. From Denge Marsh hide the Black-necked grebe was showing fairly well and 2 Goldeneye but not much else. Christmas Dell was as usual very quiet, though the new island creation works looks very promising, time will tell. Another Black-necked grebe and a great Northern Diver were the highlights from the old Makepiece viewpoint, plenty of Black-headed Gulls were dipping for insects but sadly no Little Gull. 

Elsewhere the Black-throated Diver was at southern end of the ARC, a few Wheatears were seen around the peninsular, also a few Chiffchaffs and Redwings but no big arrival.

Great Northern Diver on Burrowes

These 2 Common Gulls have been loafing at the northern end of Denge Marsh Flood for a few days now

15/03/2024

  A much quieter sea watch this morning probably due to the poor visibility and rain.

06.45-09.00 with TW,TH, DW, OL, RW from the sea watch hide, Wind SW 6 Temp 11° 

Brent Goose: 92E        9W

Common Scoter: 85E     

Great-crested Grebe: present n/c

Oystercatcher: 1E

Kittiwake: 13E       2W

Black-headed Gull: 9E     

Mediterranean Gull: 5E 

Common Gull: 11E

Great Black-backed Gull:  present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Lesser Black-backed Gull: 2E

Sandwich Tern: 9E     1W

Guillemot: 31E   2W     

Auk sp: 28E    12W       

Red-throated Diver: 37E    6W 

Fulmar: 3E      3W

Gannet: 187E    42W

Cormorant:  present n/c

Peregrine: 1 

Harbour Porpoise: 2

Grey Seal: 1

After breakfast I took a stroll around the muddy tracks of the hay fields to Dengemarsh Hide. A Great White Egret jumped out of the old pump site, also a pair of Bearded Tits there. On hayfield 3 a Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall, Mallard, 2 Pintail and some Shelduck but no sign of any hoped for Garganey, a Raven with a full crop flew over towards its nest site. As I reached hayfield 2, 2 Water Pipits jumped out of the long grass calling and gave me the usual view that I've been getting (see image below) From Dengemarsh hide a Black-necked Grebe still present also the 2 female Goldeneye but little else of note,

The typical view I've been getting of the Water Pipits as they fly off to another field

On my back home for lunch I spotted an alba Wagtail in one of the Lydd Fields

After lunch heading for the beach the Glossy Ibis flew over the road and into the horse paddock, as I reached the estate entrance a message from DW that he had found a Wheatear behind the fishing boats, a few minutes later I was there but found no sign, this was no doubt due to my incompetence as a little time later RW went there and found 2 Wheatears, mean while I was in Hanson hide looking at a distant Great Northern Diver and Black-throated Diver. On returning to my car I drove back to the fishing boats where I managed to find both of the Wheatears, while there a pair of Egyptian Geese came in and landed by Mr T, I was more pleased to see these as I believe they are the first ones I have seen on the ground at the fishing boats.

My first Wheatears of 2024

Egyptian Geese behind the fishing boats by Mr T

 

13/03/2024

  

3 distant Velvet Scoters passing East this morning

Another good sea watch today with the highlight for me being 2 Spoonbills, the first I have seen on a sea watch at Dungeness.

06.30-11.30 with TW,TH, CP & RW from the sea watch hide.  Wind SW 4 Temp 9°

Brent Goose: 1,880E 

Wigeon: 1E 

Pintail: 68E

Velvet Scoter: 3E  

Common Scoter: 51E     3W

Great-crested Grebe:  60+ present

Kittiwake: 16E

Black-headed Gull: 291E     

Mediterranean Gull: 31E 

Common Gull: 661E

Great Black-backed Gull:  present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Lesser Black-backed Gull: 1 present

Sandwich Tern: 2E     1W

Guillemot: 68E   16W      21 present

Auk sp: 65E    19W       

Red-throated Diver: 83E    13W 

Fulmar: 1E      3W

Gannet: 47E    19W

Cormorant:  present n/c

Spoonbill: 2E  First ones I have seen on a Dungeness sea watch

Peregrine: 1 in off presumed local bird

Skylark: 9W

Harbour Porpoise: 1

Brent Geese passing this morning

Peregrine that came in off the sea this morning, presumably a local bird that had been on a hunting sortie.

The Dengemarsh Black-necked Grebe

My all around Dengemarsh saw 2 Water Pipits, flight views only as when they do land they are hidden among the Cotton Grass. Also 12 Dunlin, 2 Curlew, 3 Redshank and at least 6 pairs of Lapwing. There is still lots of Teal, Wigeon and Shoveler around the reserve, those around the hay fields seem to be particularly jumpy.

Another Black-necked Grebe from Makepiece

A very distant Black-necked Grebe from Firth 

Gorgeous Little Gull on Burrowes today

Great Northern Diver on Burrowes late afternoon

There is possibly 3 Great Northern Divers present on the reserve, as Steve M and Alan P saw 2 Great Northern and a Black-throated Diver on ARC at the more or less the same time I was seeing this one on Burrowes.

I don't think I've ever this boat at Dungeness before

12/03/2024

A Thoroughly miserable day on the peninsular.

06.45-09.00 with TW, RW, from the sea watch hide.  Wind SSW 3 Temp 9°  Rain    poor visibility

Brent Goose: 164E (5 parties)

Wigeon: 2E 

Pintail: 4E

Eider: 2E immature drakes

Common Scoter: 33E     4W

Great-crested Grebe:  46 Minimum present

Kittiwake: 8E

Common Gull: 6E

Great Black-backed Gull: 12E

Herring Gull: present n/c

Sandwich Tern: 2E

Guillemot: 48E     13W     8 on

Razorbill: 1E    

Auk sp: 8E     2W

Red-throated Diver: 42E    24W 

Fulmar: 3E         1W

Gannet: 85E    23W

Cormorant:  present n/c

Grey Seal: 1

I had a wander around the hay fields from mid afternoon when the rain finally let up, but even then the drizzle and mist persisted. I found my first Black-necked Grebe of the year on Dengemarsh ( no images as I didn't fancy carrying the camera in the poor weather) also Great White Egret there. On hayfield 2 there was a stunning Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit with 14 Dunlin. A Brown Hare was behind Christmas Dell and 4 Bearded Tits were at the old pump site, unfortunately little else was seen in the way of new arrivals.

11/03/2024

 

One of the Brent Geese flocks from early this morning in the fog

06.20-09.20 & 13.00-15.00 with TW, RW, DW, OL from the sea watch hide. Wind NW 3 Temp 7°  Fog

Brent Goose: 2,229E     6W

Shelduck: 2W

Wigeon: 8E 

Teal: 2E    3W

Common Scoter: 4E  2W   4 on

Great-crested Grebe:  4E   9 present

Dunlin: 2E 

Black-headed Gull: 3E

Common Gull: 2E

Great Black-backed Gull:  present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Sandwich Tern: 3E presume same  3W    

Guillemot: 9E     11W     6 on

Razorbill: 2E    

Red-throated Diver: 29E    71W 

Fulmar: 1E

Gannet: 14E    25W

Cormorant:  present n/c

Harbour Porpoise: 3+

Red-throated Diver from the sea with hide this afternoon

10/03/2024

   

 3 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, possibly 5 in this image from yesterday 

Another excellent days sea watching, which included the first Arctic Skua and the first push of Little Gulls of the spring. Also excellent numbers of Brent Geese and Red-throated Divers, also a Goldeneye which is not a common bird on a sea watch

06.20-11.20 & 13.45-15.30 with TW, DW from the sea watch hide, Wind ESE 3 Temp 7°

Brent Goose: 2,457E 

Shoveler: 4E 

Wigeon: 17E 

Pintail: 34

Teal: 9E 

Velvet Scoter: 1W  

Common Scoter: 398E     2W

Great-crested Grebe:  3E    4W    4 present

Goldeneye: 1E

Red-breasted Merganser: 2E

Oystercatcher:2E

Curlew: 3E 

Sanderling: 1W

Dunlin: 8E 

Kittiwake: 91E

Black-headed Gull: 31E     2W

Little Gull: 30E

Mediterranean Gull: 6E 

Common Gull: 27E

Great Black-backed Gull:  present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Sandwich Tern: 1W

Arctic Skua: 1E

Guillemot: 43E

Razorbill: 2E 

Auk sp: 36E     10W

Red-throated Diver: 722E    44W 

Fulmar: 3E

Gannet: 410E   17W

Cormorant:  present n/c

Sparrowhawk: 1 female SE out to sea

Harbour Porpoise: 5+

Grey Seal: 1

The Glossy Ibis is still around its usual haunts, Both Great Northern and Black-throated Divers were to be found on the lakes, 4 Cattle Egrets by the airport road, but no noticeable sign of passerine passage.

Pale-bellied Brent Goose with Dark-bellied Brent Geese

  An excellent morning sea watching producing the first 3 Sandwich terns of the spring., fingers crossed for many more in the coming weeks.

06.45-11.45 with SO, DW from the sea watch hide. Wind SSE4-5 Temp 7°

Brent Goose: 1,569E (34 parties)

Pale-bellied Brent Goose: 3E

Shelduck: 12E (2 parties)

Shoveler: 15E (3 parties)

Wigeon: 12E  (3 parties)

Pintail: 46(8 parties)

Teal: 29E ( 6 parties)

Tufted Duck: 3E

Velvet Scoter: 7E  (1 party)

Common Scoter: 68E ( 17 parties)

Great-crested Grebe:  9E    2W

Oystercatcher: 6E

Curlew: 6E (3 parties)

Dunlin: 12E  (4 parties)

Kittiwake: 56E

Black-headed Gull: 46E

Mediterranean Gull: 4E  ( 1 party)

Common Gull: 49E

Great Black-backed Gull: 37E

Herring Gull: present n/c

Lesser Black-backed Gull: 1E

Sandwich Tern: 3E

Guillemot: 108E

Razorbill: 11E 

Auk sp: 117E     

Red-throated Diver: 427E    6W 

Fulmar:5E

Gannet: 1,605E

Cormorant:  present n/c

Skylark: 1E off shore

Harbour Porpoise: 2

Grey Seal: 1

Common Seal: 1

 

Velvets Scoters passing distantly this morning

2 Great Northern Divers were still on Burrowes late this afternoon

Curlew on Hay Field 2 late afternoon

08/03/2024

Flock of Gannets passing the hide this morning

07.15-10.15 with RW, DW,OL,TH from the sea watch hide,  Wind E5-6 Temp 7°  

Brent Goose: 4E 

Shelduck: 4E

Shoveler: 57E (10 parties)

Wigeon: 33E  (5 parties)

Pintail: 71E 11 parties)

Teal: 122E ( 11 parties)

Common Scoter: 27E ( 8 parties)

Great-crested Grebe:  13E 

Oystercatcher: 2E

Avocet: 2E   

Black-tailed Godwit: 1E

Sanderling: 6E

Dunlin: 4E

Kittiwake: 2E

Black-headed Gull: 16E

Mediterranean Gull: 3E

Common Gull: 62E

Great Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Lesser Black-backed Gull: 3E

Guillemot: 121E

Razorbill: 37E 

Auk sp: 139E     

Red-throated Diver: 80E    2W 

Fulmar: 4E

Gannet: 729E

Cormorant:  present n/c

Carrion Crow: 1E off shore

Harbour Porpoise: 1

Todays flyby Avocets

07/03/2024

  

One of the parties of Avocets passing The Point this morning

With a change in wind direction over night immediately improved the sea watching making the six hours I spent there fly by, the downside of the easterly wind was the air pollution cutting visibility noticeably. 

An early flock of Brent Geese picking up the red hue from the rising sun

06.50-12.50 joined by DW & OL from the sea watch hide. Wind E4-5 Temp 7° 

Brent Goose: 410E (26 parties)  

Shelduck: 28E ( 5 parties)

Shoveler: 27E (5 parties)

Wigeon: 3E

Pintail: 124E (9parties)

Teal: 61E ( 9 parties)

Common Scoter: 96E ( 15 parties)

Great-crested Grebe:  12E   9 on sea

Oystercatcher: 15E

Avocet: 23E   (8 + 15)

Curlew: 8E

Bar-tailed Godwit: 2E

Dunlin: 13E

Kittiwake: 36E

Black-headed Gull: 56E

Mediterranean Gull: 2E

Common Gull: 68E

Great Black-backed Gull: Present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Guillemot: 376E

Razorbill: 73E 

Auk sp: 258E      17W

Red-throated Diver: 31E    98W 

Fulmar: 1W

Gannet: 138E

Cormorant: Minimum 179 present 

Black Redstart: M + F  behind hide

Harbour Porpoise: 1

Grey Seal: 1

A flock of mainly Pintail with some Shoveler passing this morning

Cormorant with a Dogfish

One of todays Black Redstarts

A Small Tortoiseshell my first butterfly of the year yesterday at the lighthouse

06/03/2024

Brent Geese passing The Point a log way off shore

I spent most of the day sea watching, to be honest not a brilliant days watching, staring at dots miles out to sea is not to many peoples taste but I enjoy it.

07.00-10.00 &13.30-15.30 with RW, OL & DW from the sea watch hide

Brent Goose: 240E 

Teal: 4E

Wigeon: 10E

Pintail: 36E 

Eider: 1E adult drake

Common Scoter: 17E     2W

Great-crested Grebe: 6E  47+ on sea

Oystercatcher: 9E    1W

Kittiwake: 9E

Black-headed Gull: 14E    5W

Mediterranean Gull: 2E    2W

Common Gull: 7E       2W

Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Guillemot: 37W    13E

Auk sp: 12E    74W

Red-throated Diver: 34E    161W 

Fulmar: 3E   2W

Gannet: 140E   27W       

Cormorant: 212W into Rye Bay

Carrion Crow: 5 present

Harbour Porpoise: 3

The Great Northern and Black-Throated diver were at the southern end of the ARC today, the Glossy Ibis was still in the horse paddock and the Scaup was still on the caravan park pit per DW, at least 3 Firecrests were around per OL.

Teal coming past this afternoon

Not all the Brent Geese were along way off shore

Very distant Pintail passing this afternoon