20/07/2024

We are still in the quiet period, with little or no movement on the sea except for juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls at The Patch, the main focus of our watching has been on the ARC and the Scotney Sandpit. At the ARC the Avocet pair are doing well raising their 2 chicks, as is Mama Shoveler with her 4 ducklings, whereas the Common Tern and Great-crested Grebe pairs are still sitting on eggs after 3 weeks, surely they must hatch in the next couple of days. At least 4 Garganey are around and 2+ Bitterns, also 2 Wigeon and a Pintail now joined by the Red-crested Pochard all of which to hunted for among c1,200 Pochard and c1,00 Gadwall Waders have included up to 9 Common Sandpipers, a Wood Sandpiper, 2+ Redshank juveniles, several each of Dunlin, Ringed and Little Ringed Plover.

At the sandpit up to an amazing 28 Green Sandpipers have been present along with up to 6 Common Sandpipers, 4 Greenshank, 9 Black-tailed Godwits and 14 Avocets.

A Red-crested Pochard showing signs of leucism at the ARC this afternoon, found by Adam

The last of 3 Peregrine chicks to fledge from the power station nest. The male did a good job after the female crashed into an overhead cable severing her wing, unfortunately she had to be euthanised.

One of the two Avocet chicks that appear to be doing well on the ARC

One of at least four Garganey at the ARC

Sallow Clearwing, amazingly this individual came to a lure in my garden, it was totally unexpected.

Two of these Red-belted Clearwing also came to a lure in my garden, not quite so unexpected, but still very happy they did come.

This Scarce Chocolate-tip was in my MV this morning, a very scarce moth that I have been lucky enough to catch before.

The first of the Jersey Tigers arrived overnight in my garden

This gorgeous Magpie Moth quite common in my trap, but I still get a buzz when I find them.

 

18/07/2024

This Roseate Tern that was feeding at The Patch Tuesday Afternoon was the bird of the week, Thanks to Tom for finding and putting the news out.

Roseate Tern with a first summer Mediterranean Gull

Sea watching is still not very fruitful but hopefully will get better in the coming weeks. It's only a matter of days before the bright lemon yellow juvenile Willow Warblers start to appear, along with Redstarts and Pied Flycatchers and more, I live in hope. Huge numbers of Sand Martins have been coming through the peninsular and out to sea.

The sandpit has been amazing for Green Sandpipers with super 23 there yesterday and 24 today, also Black-tailed Godwits, Common Sandpipers, Avocets and a Curlew Sandpiper.
 

A couple of Cattle Egrets dropped onto the islands from Hanson today

Todays Wood Sandpiper was always distant

Mama Shoveler still has her 4 ducklings today

The Bitterns have been very difficult to see lately 

15/07/2024

07.30-08.00 from the hide. A very uninspiring half hour sea watch this morning.

Grey Heron: 1 in off

Oystercatcher: 2E

Kittiwake:7W

Black-headed Gull: 14E

Mediterranean Gull: 1W    

Herring Gull: present

Great Black-backed Gull: 4W  

Sandwich Tern: 5E    2W    

Gannet: 12W     2E

Sand Martin: 21 out

Harbour Porpoise: 2

Grey Seal: 2

I have not watched a single game of Euro24 as the England mens team has disappointed me for the last 58 years, so while most the country was watching the match  I was out looking for Long-eared Owls with some success. Hearing a couple of squeaky gates, then seeing them in the gloom fly out out of their deep cover to greet one of the adults that was carrying prey, a magical sight far more uplifting than being disappointed once again by the England football team.

The ARC Avocets brought their chicks onto the near island for a while today, during several visits to the ARC today I spent much time enjoying the antics of the young Avocets. 

Throughout the day there were at least 4 Common Sandpipers present, Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers, Great White Egret, Cattle Egret and little Egret, Hobby, Marsh Harriers etc.

A huddle of 3 Garganey at the ARC

2 Garganey ARC

Adult Oystercatcher shepherding one of this chicks across the ARC

Shoveler with 4 chicks on the ARC not a common site here

Curlew Sandpiper in the Scotney Sandpit, also 7+ Green Sandpipers, 11 Avocets, a Greenshank and 2 Common Sandpipers.

11/07/2024

Lesser Whitethroats

Early morning at the ARC both Avocet chicks were present and feeding, other waders present were Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers, Common Sandpipers, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher and Lapwing, several Common terns were present and a Bittern flew across the lake. Along the track Water Rails were squealing, also a mixed flock of Lesser whitethroats, common Whitethroats, Sedge and Reed Warblers were foraging in the Sallows.

Ringed Plover

A visit to Rye with Owen and Colin where to be honest the highlight was Owens Madeira Cake. We did see 30+ Little Terns along with Sandwich and Common Terns though many have already left, most of the Avocets have gone but there was very little evidence of wader passage with just a few Dunlin present.

Common Terns

Little Egret

Sallow Clearwings

This afternoon in the woods some Sallow Clearwings came to our lure, a first for me, maybe another time I'll manage some better images.

 

10/07/2024

One of 3 juvenile Water rails I found in Hanson Hide early yesterday morning. The last visitors the night before left the door open and they presumably wandered in. The first 2 let me usher them out  but the smallest one kept running the wrong way, I trapped in a corner and released it hopefully mum was nearby.

The smallest one

Juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls at The Patch yesterday morning, distant shots only as it was very wet.

Sea watching has been rather poor this week so far with nothing notable. which is not surprising in this awful summer weather. The Avocets on the ARC now have 2 chicks 🤞 for their survival. Up to 3 Garganey are present along with 3+ each of Little Ringed Plover and Common Sandpiper. A single pair of Common Terns is on eggs at the ARC, though it looks as though a few more pairs may try nesting on the islands on Burrowes. Sand Martins are on the move through the peninsular and waders are dropping in, but you have to spend time watching as they are gone as quick as they arrive.

Juvenile Yellow-legged Gull 

2 Ruff with 2 Redshank on the ARC

Garganey at the ARC from Hanson

Some of the 72 Redshank and a Ruff that dropped into Burrowes yesterday

Redshanks on Burrowes

Smart Ruff and Redshank over Burrowes

Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits in the Scotney Sand Pit

5 of the 10+ Green Sandpipers in the pit

A flock of Greenshanks flew through the pit

08/07/2024

An unsurprisingly mediocre sea watch this morning.

08.10-09.10 from the hide with RW & OL

Common Scoter: 1E

Oystercatcher: 4W

Kittiwake: 2E

Black-headed Gull:c30 present

Mediterranean Gull: 1E  3W

Herring Gull: present

Great Black-backed Gull: c10 present

Sandwich Tern: 7W     c10 present

Common Tern: 1W

Fulmar: 1W

Manx Shearwater: 1E

Gannet: 19W     17E

A bit of good news for a change, the first Avocet chick has hatched at the ARC this morning. It is the first Avocet chick I have seen on the Dungeness Reserve.

Common and Sandwich tern dropping into the ARC to bathe

Juvenile Sandwich Tern with its parent

A Little tern that flew through yesterday

3 adult Cattle Egrets that dropped into the ARC this afternoon

Eclipse drake Garganey this evening at the ARC

One of the 1,000s of Swifts that came through the peninsular at the weekend, the ARC remains the most productive part of the reserve avian wise. There is a possibility that some Common Terns will nest on Burrowes Islands as they are showing some interest.

6 of 17 Green Sandpipers at Scotney sand pit at the weekend

Yet another Gull doomed to die a lingering death due to the carelessness of anglers

A stunning Argyresthia brockeella a common micro but always nice to see