Guines and Oye Plage

Myself and Chris had a very laid back day trip to the Calais area yesterday, we departed Folkestone at 06.18 arriving at Guines Boardwalk around 08.00 with Chris doing the driving. One of the first birds we saw was an Osprey a very good start, a couple of Common Buzzards and 4 Marsh Harriers along with a couple of Hobbys were soon seen, Song Thrushes, Blackbirds, Garden Warblers, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, 

and the usual common birds were all in fine song, but Reed Warblers and Sedge Warblers seemed to be in very low numbers, we found at least 3 Marsh Warblers whose singing was sublime, if you follow the link below it should take you to YouTube of an unseen Marsh warbler in full mimicry, a Short-toed Treecreeper was also seen there, along with lots of Cuckoos including several bubbling females. Before the sun came out fully there were good numbers of Swifts around. Also a big thank you to Carol (Chris's wife) for the lovely sponge cake which rounded off a fantastic day out, many thanks Chris.

We surprised to see an Osprey when we first arrived

       The best view I had of any of the several Marsh Warblers that were singing, click Here to go to a YouTube of one of the Marsh Warblers in full sublime song.

 

A Short-toed Treecreeper was seen

Good numbers of Cuckoo's were present

Our next stop was Guines Forest just a short distance from the boardwalk, but we made a stop just before we reached the carpark at spot where we could view over the forest. We immediately saw Common Buzzards and after a short time a Honey Buzzard as well as Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer and Jay.

White Wagtail Guines Forest

Melodious Warbler Guines Forest

Once in the forest it was fairly quiet with just a few of the normal woodland species seen and heard. We did find a singing a Melodious Warbler which can hear by clicking the link HERE

Our last stop was at Oye Plage which is always a great reserve for birds despite the hunting. Lots of noisy Black-winged Stilts which gave great views 8+ Garganey, 3 1st summer Little Gulls, 2 pairs of Black-necked Grebes with young, lots of Avocets and more. On the gravel pit which can be viewed distantly 1,000+ Sandwich Terns with a few Common and Little Terns, Ringed, Little ringed and a pair of Kentish Plovers with 3 fluff balls. On the beach 8+ Kentish Plovers and more Little Terns but the biggest surprise was 4 Zitting Cisticolas (Fan-tailed Warblers)

Black-winged Stilts

 

Zitting Cisticolas

The Kentish Plovers were in the protected area but gave excellent scope views 

Black-necked Grebe feeding young

One of the Little Gulls

A Ringed Teal was an oddity at Oye Plage as was the Ruddy Shelduck below.

04/06/2024

A surprise Short-eared Owl out on the marsh the other evening

As the wind has been mainly in the northerly vector I haven't bothered with sea watching, most of my day time activities has been spent around the reserve with relatively poor returns due to the cold damp weather, although the Swift numbers were very impressive, wader numbers have been very low, possibly because there has been no islands on the ARC and Burrowes, but the hay fields do look good but don't seem to be attracting much. Hobby numbers have increased and up to 6 Cuckoos have been around the reserve, Reed Warbler numbers seem to be very low judging by the quietness of the reed beds. There are still a couple of Garganey around but quite elusive. Migration wise we appear to be in the doldrums already though Bee-eaters, Black Kites, Woodcut Shrike, Marsh Warbler and Golden Oriole aren't to be sniffed at.
 

Several Barn Owls were seen

A Little Owls in typical pose

Another Little Owl sunbathing in the warm evening sunshine

A hidden Golden Oriole Singing and screeching at Hookers yesterday evening can be heard HERE a few glimpses were had.

Good numbers of Yellow wagtails out on the marsh

A terrible record shot of one the Black Kites

A very pale Common Buzzard over Lydd Fields

01/06/2024

A very quiet day today after yesterdays after the excitement of yesterdays Bee-eaters. There was still loads of Swifts and Hirundines around this morning because of the cold north wind but little else, a brief period of sun this afternoon encouraged the dragon flies followed by the Hobbys.

Drake and Duck Garganey on the small island from Hanson

3 of 5 Cattle Egrets that flew from the ARC towards Boulderwall

1 of several Hobbys that appeared this afternoon when the sun came out for a short period

 

Soggy Bee-eaters but still stunning

Doing what Bee-eaters do

Sitting out a heavy downpour

Just gorgeous

Bee-eaters 31/05/2024

Today was all about this stunning pair of Bee-eaters I found in the Willow Trail at the ARC, that were sheltering from the strong NW wind and heavy rain in front of the Axel Viewpoint, unusually they lingered for at least 3 hours. 

 

Blue Tit photo bombing