Crecy, Saile Braie & Le Crotoy!

Stunning Garganey

Thursday last week I joined Mark H and Chris P on a day trip to Northern France. We arrived at a cloudy drizzly  Crecy Forest around 07.30, more or less the first bird we saw was a Hawfinch which flew up from the side of the road, the forest was full of singing Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and a few Willow Warblers. The track side bushes were full of Bullfinches, Yellowhammers, Chaffinches, Thrushes and the odd Brambling, Nuthatches were calling all around, Short-toed Treecreepers, Firecrests, Goldcrests, Blue, Great, Long-tailed and Marsh Tits, Great-spotted and Green Woodpeckers were seen, a pair of Middle-spotted Woodpeckers were watched leaving there nest hole and showed superbly well high in the Beech trees,  and a Woodlark flew over, a bizarre sight of 2 Shelducks feeding on a track in the middle of the forest with a Nuthatch and 2 Bullfinches in attendance, Common Buzzards wheeled overhead and a Sparrowhawk dashed across the road.

female Garganey

Our next stop was Sailly Braie, on arrival a few Swallows and House Martins were flying around, several Song Thrushes were feeding in the field, a Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzards were over the reed bed and a Black Kite drifted over distantly. 4+ White Storks were feeding there with 3 Great White Egrets, a Bluethroat was singing and flicking his tail in a bush on the marsh also a gorgeous Rubicola Stonechat, as we approached a small hunting pool 2 Glossy Ibises came out, in the pool were 5 Spoonbills, 14 Avocets, 16 Black-tailed Godwits, Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler and a Little Ringed Plover.

Spoonbills

 Little Gulls at Le Crotoy

Next stop was Le Crotoy Pools where 4+ Little Gulls were giving a tremendous fly catching display. More Spoonbills were there, along with a cattle Egret and more White Storks and 2 very confiding Garganey. At Le Crotoy harbour we saw 100s of Oystercatchers and Shelducks as well as many Redshank and Dunlin. A short stop at Marquantere car park provided excellent views of Crested Tits before we made our way back to the chunnel. An excellent day out with great company and all the birds seen were within 60 miles as the Crow flies of Dungeness!

White Stork

Excellent Day Sea Watching!

Another very good day sea watching from the sea watch hide. Oddly Skua's were notable by there complete absence
06.30-17.30 joined at various times by BB, JC, CP, JTM,OL, PT et al:
Brent Goose: 36 up
Shelduck: 9 up
Shoveler: 56 up
Teal: 28 up
Garganey: 5 up
Pintail: 4 up
Mallard: 4 up
Gadwall: 5 up
Scaup: 3 up
Common Scoter: 3,124 up
Velvet Scoter: 12 up
Red-breasted Merganser: 14 up
Red-throated Diver: 67 up
Black-throated Diver: 4 up
Small Grebe sp: 2 up distant seen by SM (probably Black-necked as timing fit birds past Splash & Beachy)
Great-crested Grebe: 432 around
Fulmar: 13 up   3 down
Gannet: 543 up
Cormorant: present n/c
Oystercatcher: 21 up
Curlew: 1 up
Dunlin: 10 up
Black-headed Gull: present n/c
Mediterranean Gull: 2 down
Common Gull: present n/c
Herring Gull: present n/c
Glaucous Gull: 1 the regular juvenile flew towards The Patch this afternoon
Lesser Black-backed Gull: present n/c
Great Black-backed Gull present n/c
Little Gull: 89 up
Kittiwake: 204 up
Sandwich Tern: 1,327 up
Common Tern: 649 up
Little Tern: 2 up first of the year
Guillemot: 23 up
Razorbill: 19 up
Auk sp: 193 up       14 down
Sand Martin: 3 in
Crow: 1 out
Linnet: 2 in
Harbour Porpoise:  6+ around

Elsewhere the Hoopoe was still on Walland Marsh around Midley Barns, the first redstart of the year was by the Long Pits, Wiilow Warblers and Sedge Warblers were reported.

Brent Geese moving over The Patch

There were still good numbers of birds moving East past Dungeness today. I let others take down the numbers today while enjoyed watching the birds. Again today there were 4 figure numbers of Common Scoter and Brent Geese, also good numbers of Sandwich and Common Terns, Red-throated Divers and Little Gulls, another Black-throated Diver,  a Red-necked Grebe and a flock of drake Eiders this afternoon which were probably the same group that flew past Portland nearly 7 hours earlier. Full details will be on the DBO web site HERE

JC036 at The Patch

Gull scarer at The Patch

Mallard on nest in the hay bales at the back of Scotney Farm

In a few hours away from the sea I came across 8 Black Redstarts, 3 at Scotney Farm, 4 at Dengemarsh Gully and another opposite Wraxhalls. A quick look at Burrowes from Dennis's hide saw the juvenile Glaucous Gull roosting on one of the islands.

1 of 3 Black Redstarts at Scotney Farm 

Ther back end of the flock of drake Eiders

Submarine passing The Point this afternoon

A day at the seaside!

With lots of imagination you can see a drake Garganey among the Brent Geese

06.45-17.00 from the sea watch hide:
Brent Goose: 2,483 up     3 down
Shelduck: 5 up
Shoveler: 2 up
Pintail: 2 up
Wigeon: 2 up
Garganey: 1 up
Eider: 7 up
Common Scoter: 2,088 up
Red-breasted Merganser: 2 up
Red-throated Diver: 391 up   11 down
Black-throated Diver: 3 up
Great-crested Grebe: Around
Fulmar: 1 up   2 down
Gannet: 87 up  23 down
Cormorant: present n/c
Shag: 1 up
Oystercatcher: 2 up   1 down
Great Skua: 1 up
Arctic Skua: 20 up
Black-headed Gull: present n/c
Mediterranean Gull: 36 up (including single flock of 24)
Common Gull: present n/c
Herring Gull: present n/c
Lesser Black-backed Gull: present n/c
Great Black-backed Gull present n/c
Little Gull: 34 up
Kittiwake: 129 up
Sandwich Tern: 483 up
Common Tern: 35 up
Guillemot: 9 up
Auk sp: 43 up     8 down
Harbour Porpoise: 4+

Sea Watching!

4 Avocets moving east

07.00-10.15 & 13.00-17.00 JTM, OL, DW, MH,

Brent Goose: 996 up
Shelduck: 15 up.   1 down
Shoveler: 12 up
Garganey: 3 up
Pintail: 22 up
Common Scoter: 1,815 up      9 down
Red-breasted Merganser: 8 up   1 down
Red-throated Diver: 200 up    8 down
Great-crested Grebe: 78 around
Fulmar: 2 up      7 down
Gannet: 315 up
Cormorant: present n/c
Oystercatcher: 4 up
Avocet: 4 up
Great Skua: 1 up
Arctic Skua: 4 up
Black-headed Gull: present n/c
Mediterranean Gull: 3 up
Common Gull: present n/c
Herring Gull: present n/c
Lesser Black-backed Gull: present n/c
Great Black-backed Gull present n/c
Little Gull: 72 up
Kittiwake: 14 up   3 down
Sandwich Tern: 490 up
Common Tern: 36 up
Guillemot: 13 up 30 around
Razorbill: 5 around
Auk sp: 51 up
Harbour Porpoise: 4+

Plenty of Chiffchaffs were reported around the area, along 3 Wheatears, a Willow Warbler a singing Blackcap and a few each of Firecrest and Goldcrest. The regular juvenile Glaucous Gull was on the reserve this afternoon. Brambling could be found around the feeders in the trapping area and the visitor centre feeders.

 1w Caspian Gull

At The Patch this morning nothing moving offshore, just a handful of Gannets feeding, a 1w Caspian Gull on the beach and a Peregrine over.  

A walk around the point found a Black Redstart, a Firecrest and another Peregrine, also 4 Reed Buntings, 8 Meadow Pipits and Brown Hare.

While having a coffee at home mid morning this Siskin dropped into the garden, a garden tick. While I was in the back garden a Raven flew over with beak full of food, presumably on its way to its nest at the power station.

13.45-15.15 thanks to Paul & Liz for sending me these numbers.

Brent Goose: 159 up
Common Scoter: 12 up
Red-breasted Merganser: 1 up
Red-throated Diver: 33 up
Great Skua: 1 up
Arctic Skua: 1 up
Sandwich Tern: 175 up

 Stoat by hayfield 3

This afternoon I walked from round the hay fields hoping to find a scarcer Pipit or Garganey but drew a blank on both, a Common Buzzard drifted high north over Dengemarsh, a poor substitute for the Osprey that went through this morning per MH & RW. A Stoat made a brief appearance by hay field 3. The summer plumage Slavonian Grebe was at Christmas Dell but little else there. on Burrowes the juvenile Glaucous Gull was showing nicely in front of Firth Hide. Several Chiffchaffs were feeding along the bank in front the hides.  

 Chiffchaffs from Makepiece

 juvenile Glaucous Gull from Firth hide this afternoon

One of five Firecrests in Dengemarsh Gully late afternoon, also 6 Chiffchaffs and a couple of Goldcrests there.

This morning at the sea watch hide just a trickle of birds which dried up completely as the showers moved in.
07.45-09.45 with RW &DW,

Brent Goose: 17 up
Common Scoter: 305 up
Velvet Scoter: 1 up
Red-breasted Merganser:
Red-throated Diver: 15 up  7 down
Great-crested Grebe: 23 around
Fulmar: 11 down
Gannet: 143 up
Cormorant: present n/c
Great Skua: 1 up
Black-headed Gull: present n/c
Common Gull: present n/c
Herring Gull: present n/c
Lesser Black-backed Gull: present n/c
Great Black-backed Gull present n/c
Little Gull: 5 up
Kittiwake: c25 around
Sandwich Tern: 86 up
Common Tern: 2 up.  1 down
Guillemot: 2 up   6 down    8 around
Auk sp: 67 down
Harbour Porpoise: 1+

A long wander around the back of Scotney GPs was a disappointment, the highlights being Little Owl, Common Buzzard, Marsh Harriers, 3 Corn Buntings and 3 Grey Plover.
Early evening I added Black Redstart and Wheatear to the from the garden list year list.

First Common Terns!

Part of party of 7 Eider past this morning

06.45-11.15 with SO,OL,CP,PT & DW.

Brent Goose: 99 up

Shoveler: 22 up

Teal: 26 up

Eider: 8 up

Common Scoter: 978 up     27 down

Velvet Scoter: 1 up

Red-breasted Merganser: 1 down

Red-throated Diver: 84 up      11 down

Great-crested Grebe: 7 on    3 up

Fulmar: 5up.    4 down

Gannet: 410 up

Cormorant: present n/c

Sanderling: 26 up

Dunlin: 1 up

Arctic Skua: 3 up

Black-headed Gull: present n/c

Mediterranean Gull: 3 up

Common Gull: present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Lesser Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull present n/c

Little Gull: 26 up

Kittiwake: 43 up    5 down

Sandwich Tern: 78 up      22 down

Common Tern: 3 up

Guillemot: 27 up

Auk sp: 169 up

Harbour Porpoise: 6+

The rest of the day was washed out by heavy rain.

Another new Glaucous Gull!

07.35-09.00 from the sea watch hide:

Brent Goose: 207 up

Common Scoter: 58 up

Red-throated Diver: 47up

Great-crested Grebe: 6 up

Fulmar:1 down

Gannet: 71 up

Arctic Skua: 1 up DP

Kittiwake: 25 up 

Sandwich Tern: 8 up  8 down

Auk sp: 104 up

Harbour Porpoise: 6+

The point was very quiet today with a distinct lack of Firecrests and Black Redstarts but still a a few Reed Buntings.

The Black-necked Grebes were still at south end of the ARC, no sign of the Smew on Tanners or White Wagtails on Cooks Pool.  

 Sparrowhawk on my garden fence lunchtime, taken through a window.

13.30-14.45 from the fishing boats with MH & CP
Common Scoter: 19 up
Red-throated Diver: 20 up  1 down
Great-crested Grebe: 28 around
Fulmar: 2 down
Gannet: 11 up
Oystercatcher: 5 up
Sandwich Tern: 57 up  14 down
Guillemot: 4 around
Auk sp: 11 up
Harbour Porpoise: 4

 Snow white juvenile Glaucous Gull

Late afternoon as the contractors building the bund at The Patch had finished for the day, I decided to have a brisk walk down there and check the Gulls despite the deteriorating weather. As it was raining I didn't take my camera, which was a decision I regretted within moments of going into the hide. As I opened a viewing slat the first thing I saw was very large all white Gull, a quick look at the bird in the scope ruled out albino Herring Gull & Iceland Gull, I could see it had a dark eye making it a juvenile Glaucous Gull. With no camera I tried phone scoping it without success, how people mange to get good phone scoping images is beyond me. With the rain battering down I went back to the car to collect my camera getting a soaking, hoping the bird would stay until I got back which fortunately it did. The weather made for poor images, so hopefully it still be around tomorrow.

Wednesdays 1w Caspian Gull at The Patch

Western Sahara March 2018!

 Sudan Golden Sparrows, one of four of my target species at Oued jenna

 Cricket Longtails another target species was common around our camp at Oued jenna

 Dunn's Lark third target species, c20 birds seen

Torch reflection in the eye of a Golden Nightjar my main target species, through sheer incompetence not checking the flash gun settings I missed probably my only chance of ever photographing the species. Every time I look at the above image I feel terrible! Had the flash worked I could have hoped for an image similar to the one below of a melanistic Montagu's Harrier taken in similar circumstances. 

Melanistic Montagu's Harrier photographed at night with flash gun 

The same bird still present the next morning

 Jerboa taken with a properly set flash gun

 Many Temminck's Horned Larks were seen

  Temminck's Horned Lark 

 Flocks of 50-100 Black-crowned Sparrow Larks were around our camp at Oued jenna but were incredibly difficult to photograph in the time we had, this was the only bird I managed to capture.

 Thekla Larks were reasonably common

 Bar-tailed Desert Larks were common but usually camera shy.

Hoopoe Larks were fairly common

 Probably our most surprising find was 5 Pharaoh's Eagle Owls 2 of which were by the sea at Dakhla

Pharaoh's Eagle Owl being mobbed by a Hoopoe at Oued jenna

Where I would expect to find a Pharaoh's Eagle Owl, peeping out of hole in high rock face in the hills south of Oued jenna.

1 of c100 Black Kites seen migrating over our camp at Oued jenna

A female Montagu's Harrier found roosting late afternoon in the desert 

 Fulvous Babbler common around the camp

 Migrant Subalpine Warblers were common at the camp

A Tree Pipit spent a couple of days feeding around the camp

 Great Grey Shrike(elegans) common everywhere

Several migrant Woodchat Shrikes were seen

 Desert Warbler only 1 bird seen

 Cream-coloured Coursers were fairly common

 Only 4 Red-rumped Wheatears were seen

A few Red-throated Pipits were seen at water holes

White-crowned Wheatear a few seen mainly from the vehicles

  5th new species for me was African Royal Tern

 Caspian tern and African Royal Terns

Caspian Tern