Another Rosy Starling

Yesterday the 3rd Rosy Starling I have seen at Dungeness this spring turned up, at least 2 more have been seen on the reserve both of which I managed to miss. The weekend was very quiet avian wise, though there were many human visitors.

This bird was very mobile and disappeared into the power station complex

Corn Bunting at Scotney today

A morning walk around the reserve was very pleasant but typically quiet for the time of year. The usual reed bed warblers and Tits were all seen and heard, a glimpse of a Bittern, a Hobby and hunting Marsh Harriers and Common Buzzards.The Common Terns on Burrowes are pairing upland will hopefully pick a Herring Gull free island to nest on. The Glossy Ibis was on its usual Island on the ARC. 

A circuit of Scotney this afternoon, found 14 Avocets attempting to nest again, this time on an island so hopefully the Badgers won't get them, 4 Little-ringed Plovers, 4 Ringed Plovers and all the usual feral wild fowl. The fields were appeared to hold plenty of Skylarks, Corn Buntings and Yellow Wagtails.

Barnacle Goose with at least 2 goslings at Scotney today

 

10-12/06/2021

The last image I took of a Collared Pratincole before they all departed

The Greatstone Hooded Crow which took me 5 attempts to see it. It seems now that if you throw some bread out in the car park opposite the Jolly Fisherman PH, there is a good chance it will come into feed.

The Glossy Ibis is still strutting around the island on the ARC gorging itself on Medicinal Leech's. Marsh Harriers are much in evidence around the peninsular hunting for their young. Hobby's are having much better time now the warmer weather has arrived. A few more Common Terns have arrived on Burrowes and the ARC and look to be thinking about nesting. Reed, Sedge and Cetti's warblers are feeding young all around the reserve, as are Common and Lesser Whitethroats, Bearded Tits are much in evidence, but the Bitterns are keeping a low profile.

The Cormorant colony on the ARC can be a little noisy at the moment

The Boulderwall Barn Owls come out at all times of the day now they have young to feed

There are good numbers of Yellow Wagtails breeding around the peninsular, this one is in the field opposite my house.

A gorgeous visitor to my garden this morning, it represents the 150th species that I have seen from or in the garden. I think I'll put it on the pending list. I fear such a colourful bird won't last long in the wild. A Golden Oriole was reported within sight of my garden yesterday😳

This morning we had a super encounter with a Hare that totally ignored us.

Hares playing

A very washed out Painted Lady at Hookers today

 

The last few days

I have been a little laxed in doing the blog mainly because I have been out in the field from early morning  doing the moth trap, till dusk trying to get images of the Pratincoles. On two evening I literally fell asleep at the computer. 

Red Kite high over the Pilot PH Saturday morning

Mid morning Saturday OL called me to say a resident had a Rose-coloured Starling visiting their feeders, fortunately I was very nearby and had superb views of this bird which showed well all day, unlike Fridays Rosy Starling that was very distant on the ranges.

Rosy Starling singing on its favourite perch

Rosy Starling guarding its feeder

The Rosy Starlings favourite perch during its one day stay

Rosy Starling singing

 Punk Rosy Starling

Bee-eater on wires opposite the entrance to Belgar Farm on Saturday afternoon, a poor image of such a beautiful bird, which didn't hang around for me to get better images.
Late Sunday morning the Burt family were at Boulderwall when mum Janet spotted at Collared Pratincole hawking over Cookes Pool, this was quickly joined by another. Neil Burt quickly got the news out, so I and other locals were on site watching the Pratincoles in a matter of minutes. They performed fantastically well all afternoon and evening  for all the visitors. Monday morning while looking for them again we found 2 roosting in the Pea Field at the back of Hookers, all we could see were their heads popping now and again , when we suddenly realised that there were 3 Pratincoles present. As far I know this small flock represents the biggest flock ever to have been seen in the UK. It wasn't long before they all up hawking showing very well all day. Tuesday morning there was only 1 bird present, sadly today there are none. I spent far to much time trying to get all 3 birds in a single image but failed. During this few days the Hobby's were very active, 2 Cattle Egrets arrived, up to 5 Great White Egrets were present along with the seemingly ever present Glossy Ibis and the Bitterns occasionally booming.

The resident Barn Owl has been out along the entrance track most afternoons

Bearded Tits seem to be every where at the moment