A very dull and damp day on the peninsula, meant I spent most of the day in either Firth or Makepiece Hide, where a minimum of 7 Caspian Gulls (2 x ad, 2 x 3w, 3 x 1w) came into bathe or roost. 

The Long-eared Owl was once again doing its very best not be seen behind the Dipping Pool, but can be seen if you stand in the right place and know exactly where to look, also of note a Black-necked Grebe was noted from Makepiece only the second this winter as far as I know. A Great White Egret was on Cooks Pool.

AS I came out of Firth Hide a Badger ran across the path in front of me then up and over the bank flushing all the Gulls.

A scan of the New Diggings from the causeway found nothing unusual, though a pair of Goosander could be seen on the ARC from the causeway. 

 1w Caspian Gull from Firth

 Adult Caspian Gull from Firth

1w Caspian Gull 

 Gull flusher

 3w Caspian Gull

1w Caspian Gull

Cold and Frosty Morning!

 8 Great White Egrets at Scotney first thing this morning

First thing this morning at Scotney I was surprised to see 8 Great White Egrets together in an unfrozen corner by the causeway. 800+ Cormorants on and around the lake was also unusual. More usual was the 100s of feral Geese and no wild Geese. A Marsh Harrier and a Common Buzzard flew over the lake towards the ranges, a Green Sandpiper and several Redshanks fed along the northern shore among 56 Shelduck, while in the bays many Wigeon,Teal, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Pochard and a few Pintail and 100s of Coot.

13 Bewick Swans were still viewable from Cockles Bridge.

The Point was very quiet except for a Dartford Warbler and Stonechat. I found nothing notable among the few Gulls that were around.

Goosander on Burrowes this afternoon

In 2 visits to the reserve today the Long-eared Owl was just about visible behind the Dipping Pool, 3 Caspian Gulls came into the islands (Ad + 3w +1w), also an adult Yellow-legged Gull and 3 Goosander. All the usual wild fowl could be found but still no Smew.

2nd cal yr Caspian Gull from Firth very late afternoon

This evenings gorgeous sunset

 Kestrel at Scotney

First light at Scotney the lake was covered in 100s of Geese, the only wild Geese I could find among them were 2 dark bellied Brent Geese. A Green Sandpiper and 2 Redshank were feeding along the north shore and a Kingfisher flew into the sluice ditch. A Kestrel, Common Buzzard and Green Woodpecker were at the copse. A Marsh Harrier could be seen distantly near the wind turbines along with many Lapwing and Golden Plover.

 1w Caspian Gull near the fishing boats

In hour at the fishing boats mid morning a 1w Caspian Gull was in the roost. On the sea c50 Red-throated Divers flew down channel along with c20 Gannets, a few Guillemots and Kittiwakes and the usual Great-crested Grebes on the sea.

                                                 1w Caspian Gull near the fishing boats

 On the reserve the Long-eared Owl was again just about visible and 2 more Caspian Gulls were on the islands, a Great White Egret was on the ARC with another on the New Diggings seen from the causeway. Elsewhere 13 Bewick Swans were opposite Cockles Bridge and the Long-tailed Duck was again on Lade south pit, but otherwise it was very quiet day despite the beautiful sunny weather.

Sea watching at Dungeness in the last few days has produced small numbers of Red-throated Divers, Gannets, Guillemots and Kittiwakes, a count of 522 Great-crested Grebes, a singles each of Black-throated Diver, Goosander, Merlin and Mediterranean Gull. A new 1w Caspian Gull has been seen around The Point for last couple of days. At least 1 Dartford Warbler is still present around the new lighthouse area.

1w Caspian Gull at the fishing boats

16 Bewick Swans were opposite Cockles Bridge yesterday but I could only find 13 today, though the others may have been obscured by reeds.
The now seemingly resident 3w Caspian Gull seems to be living on an island viewable from Makepiece and is usually joined by other Caspian and Yellow-legged Gulls in the late afternoon roost. The long-eared Owl was just about showing today deep inside the bushes behind the dipping pool, a male Brambling was coming to the feeders in the reserve car park today. 6 Goosander (3 drakes & 3 Ducks) dropped into Burrowes this afternoon and were joined by a 4th drake a little later but still no Smew. Nearby at Lade the Long-tailed Duck and Slavonian Grebe are still present.
Scotney is still very quiet with just the usual feral geese to be seen, a Green Sandpiper or 2 can also usually be seen but so far no sign of any wild geese.

Brambling on the visitor centre car park feeders

AS I made my way to the beach this morning the & Bewick Swans (3 adults + 4 Juvs) were in there chosen field opposite Cockles Bridge.

08.00-09.00 from the sea watch hide:

Brent Goose: 5 down
Common Scoter: 4 down
Velvet Scoter: 1 down
Red-throated Diver: 158 down.   7 up
Great-crested Grebe: 56 down
Fulmar: 2 down
Gannet: 119 down
Great Skua: 1 down
Kittiwake: 37 down
Guillemot: 26 down

Auk sp: 38 down. 17 up

I joined PT in a wander around the lighthouses and Brittania but drew a blank on the Dartford Warblers and Stonechats.

By the fishing boats plenty of Gulls to look at including an adult and 1w Caspian Gull, also 2 Yellow-legged Gulls an adult and a 3w and several colour ringed Gulls.

 Adult Caspian Gull at the Fishing Boats

 Pitsea colour ringed Herring Gull

 3w Yellow-legged Gull with an injured wing

 Adult Yellow-legged Gull

Scotney was again very quiet with just the usual feral Barnacle Geese, 61 Shelduck, a Marsh Harrier and a few Tufted Duck and Pochard. In the distance Golden Plover and Lapwing could be seen wheeling around the wind turbines.

In the fields opposite Herons Park 4 Egyptian Geese with a Brent Goose, more Golden Plover and Lapwing, Stock Doves and Starlings all being flushed by a very low flying Helicopter inspecting the power lines.

 Long-tailed Tit from Makepiece

In a morning and afternoon visit to the reserve at least 4 Caspian Gulls were seen (adult, 2 x 3w, 2w) also 4 Yellow-legged Gulls including the bird with injured wing seen this morning at the fishing boats. The Long-eared Owl was reported but I failed to find it.

From Hanson the Bittern again showing out to the left of the hide per GP. Still no sign of any Smew.

 3w Caspian Gull from Firth

2w Caspian Gull from Firth

Wash out!

A reasonable sea watch this morning though it was a thoroughly miserable day on the peninsula.
08.30-10.00 from the sea watch hide:

Common Scoter:1 down
Red-breasted Merganser: 1 down
Red-throated Diver: 517 down
Great-crested Grebe:56 down
Gannet: 241 down
Cormorant: n/c
Great Skua: 1 down
Kittiwake: 9 down
Guillemot: 734 down
Auk sp: 129 down

From Cockles Bridge the 7 Bewick Swans could just about be seen through the rain.

This afternoons Gull roost on the reserve produced 3 Yellow-legged Gulls and 2 3w Caspian Gulls, frustratingly there were a minimum of 11 Gulls bearing colour rings but all were unreadable due to the poor weather conditions.

AJG spent an hour freezing in the sea watch this morning, many thanks to him for sending me the results of his efforts:

07.30-08.30 

Brent Goose: 22 down

Teal: 4 down

Shoveller: 32 down

Wigeon: 22 down

Pintail:5 down

Common Scoter: 8 down

Red-throated Diver: 52 down . 59 up

Black-throated Diver: 1 down

Great-crested Grebe: 8 up

Gannet 22 around

Avocet 2 down

Auk sp 9 up

Kingfisher from Firth

A quick look at the ARC and Burrowes first thing this morning confirmed that there had been no cold weather arrival of Smew or anything else. The Willow trail held a couple of Goldcrests and Song Thrushes, also a couple of noisy Cetti's Warblers. Both lakes were very quiet.
At Scotney the lake was mill pond smooth but no new arrivals here also.
After repairing my storm damaged fence I made my way to the reserve again via Cockles Bridge where 7 Bewick swans could be seen, presumably yesterday afternoons birds that were around Burrowes.
In the Gull roost late afternoon 1 adult and 2 x 3w Caspian Gulls were of note. A Great White Egret and Kingfisher were also seen.
The details of Sundays Polish colour ringed 3w Caspian Gull are below.
Caspian Gull 26P5: Seen at Dungeness 10/12/2017

Caspian Gull colony (Larus cachinnans kolonia) []
[Ringed as a pullus released by ringer 21/05/2015, 0:0, date accurate
[PL OE] ZB.KOZIELNO,PACZKÓW, OPOLSKIE, POLAND 50°28'35.8''; 16°58'54.2'' (50.47659800; 16.98173000) accurate to the given coordinates
Jacek Betleja, Jakub Szymczak 

Date Rings Place Latitude Distance
Elapsed time		Circumstances Longitude Direction
		Finder Condition Status
25/10/2016 NOG RED 26P5 (FR 07) Berck sur Mer, PAS-DE-CALAIS, FRANCE 523 days (81) colour ring read Frédéric LEVIEZ 50°25'25.0'' 1°33'50.0'' (7) ŻYWWYP 1088 km 275° ZIM
22/09/2017 NOG RED 26P5 (FR 01) PENNEDEPIE, CALVADOS, FRANCE 855 days (81) colour ring read Tony Le Huu Nghia 49°24'28.1'' 1206 km 0°09'07.0'' 270° (7) ŻYWWYP

Bewick Swans!

First thing this morning I stupidly went to The Point (I wasn't the only one) spending half an hour peering out of the car seeing just a few Gannets, Guillemots, Kittiwakes and Cormorants, which considering a NE gale was rocking the car and driving a mixture of heavy rain, sleet and snow across the beach virtually obscuring the sea and activating the fog horn.

 Bewick Swans

Another drive around Walland Marsh looking for Wild Swans and Geese drew a blank, even Mute Swans were mostly absent.

On the reserve 5 Brent Geese were by the entrance track at Boulderwall, 2 Bewick Swans dropped onto Burrowes and 5 more Bewicks flew over per PB. 2 Caspian Gulls (adult and a 3w) were on the islands from Makepiece and a Brent Goose joined them. A kingfisher, Chiffchaff and Goldcrest were seen from Makepiece and the VC.

Adult Caspian Gull

Cold & Stormy!

Saturday morning I drove around Walland hoping the cold weather had pushed some wild Swans and Geese south, but only found a couple of small parties of Fieldfare. Most the rest of the day was spent looking at Gulls on the reserve, where at least 6 Caspian Gulls, 3 Yellow-legged Gulls and several colour ringed birds were the highlights. All the usual wildfowl were seen but still no Smew. Nearby on Lade Pit the Long-tailed Duck and Slavonian Grebe still in residence.

DW did a very disappointing Egret roost count at the ARC where only 5 Great White Egrets and 3 Little Egrets came into roost.

 3w Caspian Gull (HCL23) ringed in Latvia in May 2015 & seen at Dungeness in October 2015 and again yesterday.

 Today I didn't venture out until late though the rain was still falling and the wind rising.
10.30-11.00 from The Point:
Red-throated Diver: 8 up    3 down
Fulmar: 2 down    1 up
Gannet: 96 down    43 up
Cormorant: present n/c
Great Skua: 1 up
Kittiwake: 32 up      6 down
Guillemot: 27 up    8 down
Auk sp:   34 up       18 down
The howling gale dictated that Gull watching from Makepiece was the only viable birding to be done,  we were rewarded with at least 7 Caspian Gulls (an Adult, 3 x 3w, a 2w 2 x 1w) also 3 Yellow-legged Gulls. The highlight being a Polish red ringed 3w Caspian Gull which came in just after sunset.

Goldeneye sheltering from the storm below Makepiece

26P5 Polish ringed 3w Caspian Gull came in very late 4000 iso needed

 Adult Caspian Gull from Makepiece  taken at iso 3200 

3w Caspian Gull from Makepiece

Winter Birding!

08.00-09.30 from The Point:

Brent Goose: 2 up

Common Scoter: 1 down

Red-throated Diver: 243 down  7 up

Great-crested Grebe: 21 up

Gannet: 276 down

Cormorant: many present n/c

Merlin: 2 around

Great Skua: 3 down

Kittiwake: 29 down

Guillemot: 34 up     7 down

Auk sp: 42 up    17 down

Long-eared Owl

I spent most the rest of the day around the reserve where the Long-eared Owl was sun bathing and showing quite nicely. From Firth  hide an adult Little Gull was a surprise as was the Peregrine that put an end to the Gull watching there. Several colour ringed Herring Gulls were noted and a Raven flew over.

Peregrine on ridge in front of Firth

From Makepiece Hide 3 Caspian Gulls were located including a colour ringed 2w bird, also 2 Yellow-legged Gulls.

 Raven over Firth

Good numbers of Pintail, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Pochard, Tufted Duck and Shoveler can be seen around the reserve, only a few Goldeneye are present while Goosanders are irregular at the moment and no Smew have arrived yet. Cetti's Warblers are quite vocal at the moment as are Water Rail both of which can be heard at several places around the reserve. 3+ Kingfishers are on the reserve, Marsh Harriers, Great White and Little Egrets can easily be seen, the Cattle Egret seems very elusive though it was reported today, Bitterns are also very elusive so hopefully the colder weather may tempt them to show themselves. It looks as though this year will be the first in many years that I haven't seen Ruddy Duck.

2w Caspian Gull Yellow ringed X136