Tuesday, 10 September 2024

10/09/2024

A cool WNW wind meant the morning sea watch would be poor, the Gannets and Terns were mainly just feeding, with c5 Arctic Skuas harassing the Terns and a handful of Kittiwakes, a few Common Scoter moved back into the bay.
White Winged Tern was still present today Burrowes with 11+ Black Terns and precious little else. An Osprey was seen there then again over the Long Pits. The bushes were very quiet.

Black Tern

The Pectoral Sandpiper reappeared on the ARC late morning among the loafing Shoveler.

Glossy Ibis still present around the ARC
Another Sparrowhawk took a Starling in the field opposite my house while I was having lunch.

Monday, 9 September 2024

09/09/2024

It's been a busy few days on the peninsular for scarce birds, so far I have been lucky enough to see and photograph them all, even really poor efforts of Tree Pipits and Whinchats along with the usual Egrets, Ibis, Garganey and Caspian Gull. Hopefully more to come. 
Although there were a few Balearic Shearwaters off shore today there was precious little else actually moving, 5 or 6 Arctic Skuas chased the Terns off shore, the Guillemot passed by but nothing else.
One of 4 Ospreys I have seen over the last few days on the peninsula, this one at Denge Marsh


A Gorgeous juvenile Honey Buzzard toured the peninsula yesterday

A Young Sparrowhawk in my garden at the weekend

It took it 1hr 10minutes to pluck and consume this unfortunate House Sparrow. 
White Winged Tern (top left) with Black terns on Burrowes today
White Winged Tern

Black Terns on Burrowes today
Todays flighty Pectoral Sandpiper on the ARC this afternoon

One of the 2 Wrynecks around The Point in the last couple of days
Another excellent bird on the peninsular, a Red-necked Phalarope on Lade South Lake

The Denge Marsh Hobbys seem to have reared at least one very vocally demanding chick


One of at least 3 Garganey still present on the ARC in a deluge
2 of the 8 Cattle Egrets around the reserve
A Wood Sandpiper in the sandpit along with 15 Green Sandpipers, 2 Little Stints etc

Thursday, 5 September 2024

05/09/2024

07.20-08.30 with RW from the hide this morning

Wigeon: 3NE in off
Kittiwake: 1W
Sandwich Tern: 68W    97E
Common Tern: 14W     18E   
Arctic Skua: 1W
Balearic Shearwater: 2W
Gannet: 105W   36E   
Cormorant: 3W    1E
Grey Seal: 1
Harbour Porpoise: 2

As you can see from the above sea watching has not really improved. 
At the ARC The Glossy Ibis and Egrets are still around as well as a couple of Garganey, waders are virtually non existent apart from Lapwings and the odd Dunlin, Common Sandpiper and Ringed Plover.
Burrowes has enjoyed the presence of the White Winged Tern and Black Tern but again very poor numbers of waders. 
The Juvenile White Winged Tern gleaming in yesterday evenings lovely light on Burrowes

Juvenile Black tern on Burrowes this afternoon in a biblical thunder storm
Juvenile Common Tern on Burrowes a few days ago
Sandwich Tern at the fishing boats yesterday afternoon
A petite but very feisty 1w Caspian Gull at the fishing boats yesterday afternoon

Osprey over the Observatory yesterday morning
One of Two Grasshopper Warblers the Observatory yesterday morning
Garden Warbler the Observatory yesterday morning
My first Firecrest of the autumn the Observatory yesterday morning
At least 9 Whinchats in The Desert on the 2nd
Poor images of the Wryneck on the edge of The Desert 02/09/2024

Juvenile Spotted Redshank at Burrowes
Great White Egret ARC
Little Egret ARC
1 of 8 Cattle Egrets at the ARC
Reed Warbler at the ARC
Peregrine bringing in a Tern sp for the youngster at the power station