28/10/2025

Yesterdays Leucistic Kestrel by the power station, but didn't stay long

Leucistic Kestrel a stunning looking bird

Leucistic Kestrel

Leucistic Kestrel

Slavonian Grebe with a tiddler

Slavonian Grebe

Slavonian Grebe

Slavonian Grebe

This mornings sea watch was as expected a complete non event, so after breakfast I set out on my bicycle down to the reserve with absolutely no expectations, as I cycled down the usual Pipits, Wagtails, Wood Pigeons and Stock Doves came out the fields along with a few Goldfinches, Linnets and Chaffinches, Greylags, Canada Geese and Egyptian Geese were browsing the fields, reaching Dengemarsh Grey Herons, Great White, Little and Cattle Egrets could be seen with a couple of Marsh Harriers and Common Buzzards, the latter being dive bombed by a Peregrine, that also scattered all the Lapwings. Tufted Duck, Pochard, Wigeon, Teal, Pintail, Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Little and Great-crested Grebes were all feeding around the lake, Reed Buntings, Bearded Tits, Cetti's Warblers and Kingfisher were all seen and heard as I made my way around the lake, but I did miss the Bittern that flew behind me apparently. Along the track to Burrowes Clouded Yellow and Migrant Hawker were seen with many Common Darters.

Migrant Hawker

My first Goosander on the peninsula this year didn't stay long

The first Barnacle Geese of the Autumn appeared on the Scotney Sward this afternoon

Some of the c2,000 Golden Plover at Scotney this afternoon

There were several 100s of Wigeon and Lapwing, also a minimum of 174 Egyptian Geese around the Scotney complex, especially out the back, with many Linnets and Skylarks and few Tree Sparrows but few Raptors.

The first 2 Whooper Swans of the year at the back of Scotney this afternoon

Finished the day by saying high to the local Little Owl enjoying the last of the days sunshine

26/10/2025

This Little Owl came out of the Old lighthouse Garden landed briefly at the entrance to the Experimental Station then headed off towards the New Lighthouse, this is the first one I have seen this far down the peninsular since I saw one in front the power station in 2012.

Small Copper in The Desert today, probably the last one I'll see this year

A wander around The Desert found 2 Dartford Warblers, and a few Stonechats, 103 Stock Doves moved NW,  quite a few unseen Chaffinches overhead along with Siskins and Redpolls, 3 Redwing and a party of 9 Brambling. There was no news from the reserve today.

The highlight of this afternoons sea watch from the fishing boats was these four Velvet Scoters 

A full account of this afternoons sea watch can be found on Trektellen using this LINK

Brent Geese passing the fishing boats this afternoon

Still a few Sandwich Terns around

A moulting adult Red-throated Diver at the fishing boats this afternoon

25/10/2025

A very cold sea watch from the hide this morning was a huge improvement on the last few days, with plenty of Auks providing the numbers, the only quality was the daily Merlin and 19 Little Gulls, by 09.00 the birds had slowed to a trickle, another watch this afternoon from the boats saw good numbers of Kittiwakes and couple of Arctic Skuas, full details can be seen HERE

A wander around the trapping and Desert was quietish, there were Siskins and Redpolls overhead along with at least 1 Brambling and few Skylarks, in the TA the usual Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests and a surprise in as 3 Bearded Tits dropped in for a short visit, I couldn't find a Yellow-browed Warbler but David B found one early afternoon.

 3 Bearded Tits dropped into the trapping area this morning

Bearded Tits

24/10/2025

Another quiet day avian wise around the peninsula, the highlight being a Jack Snipe feeding in front of Hanson Hide at the ARC this afternoon, a video of the Jack Snipe can be seen on YouTube with the following link HERE.

Jack Snipe in front of Hanson Hide this afternoon

A single Wheatear was behind the fishing boats early morning. Apart from Gannets and slick of Cormorants there was very little on the sea, though the bright sun light made viewing challenging.

Pintails, Wigeons, Shelduck and Tufted Duck sheltering in the bay at the double bends Scotney

The local Little Owl hunkered down out the cold NW wind

22/10/2025

Due to flat calm conditions this morning I didn't bother with a sea watch , instead I wandered out to the trapping area with Richard. As we made our way out to the TA there were Siskins and Redpolls overhead along with a few Skylarks, in the area Goldcrests, Firecrests, Chiffchaffs, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes various Tits and a Yellow-browed Warbler. While there we got a message from David Walker that a Siberian Chiffchaff had been trapped in The Moat. We arrived at the observatory just as the bird was being released, on release it flew to a Blackthorn and settled for a few seconds, just long enough for a snap.

Siberian Chiffchaff in The Moat

One of many Goldcrests around the peninsula

LIttle Owl

After breakfast I cycled out to the back of Scotney stopping off to admire my local Little Owl sunning itself. On Scotney Sward there were c150 Wigeon among Lapwing and the hordes of Greylag, Canada and Egyptian Geese, at the back of Scotney 4 Ruff, 10 Curlew with 1,000+ Golden Plover, 1,000s of Starlings, 100s of Corvids and Linnets, Goldfinches, Reed Buntings and Skylarks, also several Common Buzzards, Sparrowhawks and Kestrels.

2 Juvenile Spoonbills dropped into Firth late afternoon

21/10/2025

A very poor sea watch this morning was brightened up by the arrival of a Short-eared Owl

A quiet morning around The Point, though I did see albeit briefly a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Dartford Warbler, at least 4 Firecrests, numerous Goldcrests and several Blackcaps, Redwing, Song Thrushes and Blackbirds. Overhead Siskins, Redpolls, Chaffinches and a single Brambling.

There is still much disturbance on the reserve due to ongoing works, the ARC held 10+ Great Egrets, 4 Cattle Egrets and the usual wildfowl but in low numbers.

The female Blackcap is still enjoying her apples

 Firecrests The Point this morning

Polish ringed Black-headed Gull was back at the fishing boats this afternoon for its 6th winter

20/10/2025

Despite most of this morning being almost rain free, the sea watching was abysmal, it didn't improve this afternoon in the rain. Full details can be seen on Trektellen SEA WATCH NUMBERS

Juvenile Arctic Tern still off shore from the fishing boats this afternoon

A Portland ringed Great Black Backed Gull

One of 6 Great White Egrets from Hanson today, very little else of note there.

60+ Goldfinches are now visiting my garden feeders

19/10/2025

One of the Yellow-browed Warblers in the trapping area

After this mornings sea watch (Full list of a very busy sea watch can be seen of Trektellen HERE ) I joined Richard and John in a wander around the trapping area, where we located at least one of the Yellow-browed Warblers, there were also many Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs in the area.

Yellow-browed Warbler

Juvenile Arctic Tern off the fishing boats this afternoon in the rain

One of several adult Little Gulls off the fishing boats this afternoon

Adult Little Gulls

Adult Little Gulls

Adult Little Gulls

One of several Red-throated Divers off the fishing boats this afternoon

Sandwich Tern

1w Caspian Gull at the fishing boats this afternoon

3w Caspian gull at the fishing boats this afternoon

17/10/2025

A very young Arctic Tern in front the sea watch hide this morning

I joined Richard and Owen in the sea watch hide early this morning, the visibility was awful due to the constant heavy drizzle. We managed to see a few Gannets and Brent Geese but nothing was moving, along the shore line many Cormorants were hoovering up large amounts of Whitebait, many Gulls and a few Sandwich Terns were also feasting on the Whitebait, they joined by a very gingery young Tern which I thought was a Common Tern, but on reviewing the images I now believe it to be an Arctic Tern (I blame the rain on my glasses for this error)😅 As we left the hide there was a Black Redstart on the wall behind the hide.

Juvenile Arctic Tern

A walk out to the TA in the continuing drizzle saw but mostly heard, Redwings, Song Thrushes, Blackbirds, (we missed the Ousels) Siskins, Redpolls, Chaffinches, Goldfinches and Chiffchaffs. The lighthouse garden held a Firecrest and at least 8 Goldcrests and more Chiffchaffs.

Pallas's Warbler Dengemarsh Gully this afternoon

As I was about to have lunch at home a message from Stephen Message came through that he'd found a Pallas's Warbler in Dengemarsh Gully, the lunch could wait, so a few minutes later I was on site with Stephen watching this gorgeous sprite flitting continuously through the vegetation and disappearing inside, making it very difficult to photograph, the Willow warbler that was present wasn't any easier.

Pallas's Warbler Dengemarsh Gully this afternoon

A late Willow Warbler in the Gully this afternoon

As I was in the Gully I payed my respects to the concrete man