Saturday 25/04/2020

 My usual walk around to and around Dengemarsh this morning started cloudy and very cold, as soon as I walked out the door a Cuckoo was calling and a Black-tailed Godwit flew over, the ditches were fairly quiet in the cold wind but the Yellow Wagtails and Reed Buntings greeted me as I made my way to Dengemarsh. Arriving at the hay fields a flock of 7 Garganey dropped in, a Black-tailed Godwit was new in. A Bittern was booming half heartedly but most things were very subdued. Another look at the hay field found 2 summer plumaged Spotted Redshanks had dropped in along with aWood sandpiper and an LRP. As the sun burned the cloud away Hirundines were appearing, including c40 Common Swifts and at least 5 very high flying Hobbys that were hawking over the marsh, hopefully there will be many more over the coming days giving better photo opportunities. Common Terns are now a regular sight chasing and calling each other high over the marsh, usually at least one of them is carrying a small fish. As soon as the sun was fully out the Hirundines disappeared but the Warblers started to sing and display in earnest.

 My usual early morning welcome

 3 of the 7 Garganey that dropped in early morning

 Garganey

2 Summer plumaged Spotted Redshanks rather distant

High flying Hobby with probably a Hairy Dragonfly

 1 of 5 very high flying Hobbys

Friday 24/04/2020

 As I neared Dengemarsh at dawn a Bittern started booming, if the breeze had been a little more southerly I would have heard it from the garden, the local Buzzards were already calling to one another, 2 Cuckoo's were singing as well as all the Warblers and Tits, but it was a Song Thrush that drew my attention, I stood watching and listening to it for a full ten minutes as it belted out its lovely song. Once again over the wet grass the Redshanks and Lapwing were chasing and displaying noisily,  a Common Snipe was again drumming over Boulderwall Fields, several stratospheric Common Terns went over, but only a handful of Swallows.

 A Song Thrush in full song welcoming me to Dengemarsh this morning

The scrub around the reed beds is now full of singing of Sedge Warblers

 Common Whitethroats are singing and displaying all over Dengemarsh

 A Cetti's Warbler sitting in the open but refusing to sing for me until he was hidden

 This female Reed bunting was collecting sheep wool for its nest

 A beautiful subtle pink breasted cock Linnet

Female Wheatear 

Just some of the c60 Bar-tailed Godwits that passed over my house today, along with 14 Whimbrel and a record for me of c220 Mediterranean Gulls over.

Thursday 23/04/2020

 It was a quiet day migrant wise but there was still lots to see. 5+ Little Gulls were nice to see hawking around the lakes along with a couple of Common Terns, Greenshank, Whimbrel and Bar-tailed Godwit all dropped in, with a steady trickle and miaow of overhead Mediterranean Gulls  moving East. There were a few Wheatears around with 6 at the small fishing pond, also at least 2 Cucloo's around.

 Little Gulls around Dengemarsh today(all taken looking into the sun)

 Reed Warbler collecting nesting material today

 The summer residents were nest building or displaying or singing with gusto, but the Bitterns are very half hearted in their booming at the moment. Splendidly dressed Bar-tailed Godwits are arriving with the Whimbrels. Noisy Redshanks and Lapwing chase any Corvids or Raptors that come near there nest fields, Greenshank calls can be heard all around.

 Bar-tailed Godwit 

 Common Whitethroat

 Female Yellow Wagtail

Wednesday 22/04/2020

 The Glossy Ibis that has been present at Dungeness from 07/04/2020 - 20/04/2020

The Glossy making one of its forays out to Lydd

 My early morning welcoming committee this morning as I walked up the track opposite my house on my way to Dengemarsh. I think that there are at least 4 pairs between home and Dengemarsh.

 This beautiful Brown hare is a regular early morning sight for me

 With a slight drop in the wind speed the Reed beds came back to life, lots of singing Sedge, Reed and Cetti's Warblers, Blackcaps, Common and Lesser Whitethroats were singing from the bushes, even a Bittern gave a few half hearted booms. There were a few more Swallows around and up to 10 Swifts could be seen distantly over the ARC. Bar-tailed Godwits, Whimbrel, Curlew, Greenshanks, Redshanks, LRP and Lapwings represented the waders today, while over the lake 2 Little Gulls and 2 Common Terns. I can still remember my dad taking me to Minsmere in the early 60s when it was the only place to go to see Marsh Harriers, Bitterns and Bearded Tits, now they are a daily occurrence for me just a short walk from home.

 Greenshanks on the hay fields

 Little Ringed Plover on the hay field

 Common Tern at Dengemarsh

 Flyover Bar-tailed Godwits

Several Small Coppers were seen today

Tuesday 21/04/2020

 Whimbrel gleaming in the early morning sunshine, which belied just how cold it was in the force 7 North Easterly that was blowing across the peninsula. Because of the wind most birds were keeping out of sight in shelter, even the Reed Buntings, Sedge, Reed and Cetti's Warblers were very subdued, there was the occasional rattle of a Lesser Whitethroat and scold of a Common Whitethroat. It was first day in a while that I have not heard or seen a Bittern and Bearded Tits. I did hear my first Garden Warbler of the year near Bretts Marina, CT found a male Redstart nearby which failed to show for me.😞

 Many Mediterranean Gulls went over this morning, most were stratospheric with just the calls heard, but this group were just about low enough to get an image.

 I've been expecting to find a Cattle Egret since the 1st of January, so I was quite happy to find this bird today at Dengemarsh.

 At least a dozen Common Terns present today

 There were already 5 Greenshanks on hay field 1& 2 when a flock of 14 more dropped onto hay field 3 briefly then flying off East.

 10 Bar-tailed Godwits and a Knot at Dengemarsh