Sunday 22/03/2020

The freezing NE wind continued to blast across the peninsular today, once again making it a very cold day despite the bright sunshine.
07.30-09.30 The patch and fishing boats:
Shoveler: 7E
Common Scoter: 37E   5W
Red-throated Diver: 17E     2W
Great-crested Grebe: 14 o/s
Fulmar: 2E
Gannet: 13E
Cormorant: present n/c
Oystercatcher: 1E
Glaucous Gull: 1 regular bird
Carrion Crow: 3 in

Roosting 2nd calendar year Glaucous Gull

 Colour ringed Dunlin at Scotney mid morning. (I haven't located the scheme it belongs to yet)

 A small Ringed Plover still in 1w plumage at Scotney this morning

Alate morning/early afternoon walk around the hay fields was as expected very quiet. 4+ Water Pipits were still present, as were the 2 Curlew and 6+ Redshank, a Great White Egret and a Marsh Harrier flew over but little else of note was seen. 

Great White Egret over the hay fields early afternoon

 White Wagtails at the Dengemarsh dung heap

 At least 32 White Wagtails were present this afternoon feeding around the dung heap, along with 40+ Pied Wagtails and a few each of Reed Bunting and Meadow Pipit.

Common Scoter passing the fishing boats this afternoon

14.00-15.30 from the fishing boats with RW:
Brent Goose: 28E
Common Scoter: 16E 1W
Red-throated Diver: 2E   2W
Great-crested Grebe: 18E
Gannet: c20 o/s
Oystercatcher: 1E
Black-tailed Godwit: 1E
Sandwich Tern: 2E

Brent Geese passing the fishing boats this afternoon

Monfrague March 2020

We spent a day in the superb Monfrague National Park. As we were arrived at the Castillo quite early the crowds had not arrived, so for a small donation we were able to drive and park at the top. The views were superb even with the misty drizzle. As this was my first visit I was unprepared for the stunning views we would get of Griffon and Black Vultures, absolutely amazing. Apart from the Vultures a couple of Hawfinches flew over, a Blue Rock Thrush was present with the Chaffinches and Great Tits, also Chris picked out a distant Black Wheatear.

 Griffon Vulture

 Castillo de Monfrague

 Views from the Castillo de Monfrague

Chris & Tony eye balling the vultures

 Griffon Vulture

 Griffon Vulture

 Griffon Vulture

 Griffon Vulture

 Griffon Vulture

 Black Vulture

 Black Vulture

 Black Vulture

 Black Vulture

 Black Vulture

 Black Vulture

Griffon and Black Vultures

Below the Castillo Rock Bunting posed for us, also some Iberian Long-tailed Tits.  Also seen were Spanish Imperial Eagles, Egyptian Vulture and of course Serins and Azure Winged Magpies.

 Rock Bunting

 Rock Bunting

 Iberian Long-tailed Tits

Spanish Imperial Eagle

We stopped at the Riberos Del Almonte a superb peaceful valley that was full of birds

 Riberos Del Almonte

It is an idyllic valley, I can only imagine what must through in April. As it was there was Cirl Bunting, Blue Rock Thrush, White Wagtails, Chiffchaffs, Sardinian Warblers, Fan-tailed Warblers, Corn Buntings, Crested Larks, Crag Martins, Swallows, House Martins, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Hawfinch, Serin, Griffon and Black Vulture, Short-toed Eagles, Black Storks and more.

 Numerous Serins were in the valley

 6 Short-toed Eagles flew over

 Several Black storks flew over

A pair of Lesser kestrels were in residence

Crag Martins roosting on the bridge

Friday 20/03/2020

A not unexpected poor sea watch due to the blasting NE wind and drizzle.
07.50-08.50 from in front the hide:
Shoveler: 2E
Common Scoter: 5W       1E
Red-throated Diver: 3E     1W
Great-crested Grebe: 5 on
Gannet: 73E
Cormorant: present n/c
Oystercatcher: 1E
Dunlin: 8E
Curlew: 1E
Mediterranean Gull: 1E (2w)     1W (ad)
Sandwich Tern: 3E
Guillemot: 1E
Auk sp: 4W
Harbour Porpoise: 1+
The Short-toed Treecreeper was reportedly still present in the lighthouse garden early morning, but I only gave the garden a cursory look due to the cold wind.
I parked at Springfield Bridge and did a complete circuit of the reserve, not surprisingly I saw very little of note. Cetti's Warblers were singing from all parts of the reserve, the hay fields held Lapwings, Oystercatchers, Shelducks and few feral Geese, but no sign of any Water Pipits. The lakes in general seemed to hold very low numbers of the usual wildfowl, 2 Firecrest were in the Sea Buckthorn between Firth and Makepiece hides, also a Chiffchaff there. A Great white Egret and a Little Egret flew over the entrance track and the usual  Marsh Harriers were quartering the fields.

A gloomy Dengemarsh Gully

From Springfield Bridge I walked down to the sea and back, 2 Ravens flew over, 2 Firecrests were with 2 Chiffchaffs in the gully with 3 Mute Swans.

 Certainly no sign of one of these beauties today. This one was present in the Gully 2 years ago 03/18

Thursday 19/03/2020

I ended up spending most of the day around the lighthouse area after Stephen Message found/refound the Short-toed Treecreeper in the lighthouse garden.

Hopefully with comparison of DWs image of Tuesdays bird in DBs garden we may be able to say whether this is the same or new bird.

07:50-08:20 from by the hide:
Red-throated Diver: 4E      1W
Great-crested Grebe: 2W      12 on
Gannet: 18E
Cormorant: present n/c
Sandwich Tern: 2E
Meadow Pipit c40 in
Wheatear: 3 around hide
Black Redstart: 2 behind Hide
Chiffchaff: 3 behind hide
Harbour Porpoise: 2+

 Short-toed Treecreeper

 Short-toed Treecreeper

 Short-toed Treecreeper

 Short-toed Treecreeper

 Short-toed Treecreeper

 Short-toed Treecreeper

For a long time I thought I was going to have to make do with this image, until it popped up again

Redwing in the lighthouse garden this morning, along with at least 4 Firecrests and several Goldcrests

Several Black Redstarts were around

 Several Wheatears were new in this morning

 Small parties of Meadow Pipits came in this morning 

Resident Stonechat pair female bearing a ring

Late afternoon at Dengemarsh there was no sign of yesterdays Red-necked Grebe though it could easily have been in the reeds, at least 2 Water Pipits still present and a a Ruff. @ Great White Egrets and 3 Little Egrets were on Tanners Pool