Wheatear gleaming in the early morning sunshine at the station

A long walk around the Long Pits, Desert and Bushes saw 100s of Swallows and House Martins on the move, Good numbers of Redpolls, Siskins and Goldfinches over along with smaller numbers of Chaffinches, Skylarks, Reed Buntings and a couple of Brambling. There was still plenty of Chiffchaffs around with a few Blackcaps, but still no eastern sprite for me. I came across 8 Wheatears and at least 20 Stonechats, the 5 Song Thrushes that flushed from a bush were the only ones I saw and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard. 

1 of a party of 11 Chiffchaffs in a Bracken Patch in The Desert this morning

A young Wheatear in The Desert

The Short-eared Owl that was flushed by dog walkers from The Desert this morning

1 of the 2 Glossy Ibis at Boulderwall this afternoon, also 3 Cattle Egrets there.

Sandwich Tern at the fishing boats this afternoon

14.30-16.00 from the fishing boats with AJG who collated the numbers:

Dark-bellied Brent Goose: 3W

Great-crested Grebe: 6 o/s

Gannet: 161W

Cormorant: present n/c

Dunlin: 5W

Turnstone: 3 on beach

Kittiwake: 10W

Black-headed Gull: 28W

Mediterranean Gull: 4W All adults

Common Gull: 5W

Herring Gull: present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: present: n/c

Lesser Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Sandwich Tern: 18W

Common Tern: 2W

Arctic Skua: 1W

Razorbill: 11W

Auk sp: 3W

Kestrel: 1S

Swallow: 232S

Wheatear: 2 on beach

Adult Mediterranean Gull past the fishing boats

2 Common Terns past this afternoon

Late this afternoon I found these 2 Pink-footed Geese at the double bends Scotney. Before I could get a close look at them a peloton of noisy cyclists came along and flushed all the geese.

 

08/10/2020

A Sanderling that landed on the beach with some Turnstones this afternoon.

Most of my day was spent sea watching at the fishing boats. Only Sam and myself were present when the Leach's Petrel came by quite close, frustratingly I'd left my camera in the car this morning due to the inclement weather, but hopefully Sam got some images. The Pale-bellied Brent Goose was also close and I'm sure Sam got some nice images of that. The afternoon watch was notable for the 23 Arctic Skuas that moved through ahead of a rain front.

3 Sea watches today 06.50-08.20 & 09.00-11.00 & 14.00-16.30 with at various times AJG, SP, JY, SG, MH, DW.

Dark-bellied Brent Goose: 3W

Pale-bellied Brent Goose: 1W 

Teal: 1W

Common Scoter: 6W  7E

Leach's Petrel: 1W

Great-crested Grebe: 11W.    15o/s

Gannet: 936W

Curlew: 1W

Turnstone: 7 o/s

Sanderling: 1W

Dunlin: 7W

Kittiwake: 2W

Mediterranean Gull: 1W

Yellow-legged Gull: 1o/s

Sandwich Tern: 274W

Common Tern: 14W

Great Skua: 1W

Arctic Skua: 26W     4 o/s

Guillemot: 2W

Razorbill: 13W

Auk sp: 27W

Swallow: 371S

House Martin: 26S

Pied wagtail: 6W

Linnet: 75W

Goldfinch: 12W

Grey Seal: 1 

Harbour Porpoise: 3+

Common Tern past the fishing boats this afternoon

This week there have been at least 6 Yellow-browed Warblers on the peninsular of which I saw none,

the same with Short-eared Owls and I also missed a Stone Curlew.😢 There have been very few Thrushes so far this Autumn, I have only seen 2 Redwing and c30 Song Thrushes, though a couple of Ring Ouzels have been seen. JY has seen Lapland Buntings on a couple of occasions at the back of Lydd airport but has been unable to pin them down.

Sam and Lottie watched the Egret roost at the ARC this evening where 11 Great White Egrets, 6 Cattle Egrets, 12 Little Egrets and the 2 Glossy Ibis's came in to roost. Good numbers of Siskins, Redpolls, Goldfinches, Linnets, Swallows and House Martins have been moving through this week along with a couple of Swifts and a Woodlark.

Hummingbird Hawkmoth in the garden lunchtime

 

03/10/2020

Driving to the beach early morning 2 Glossy Ibis and a Cattle Egret flew over the causeway from ARC to Boulderwall, 4 Great White Egrets were at the southern end of the ARC.

In between sea watches a wander around the desert and bushes produced 3 Whinchats of note, several Song Thrushes, many Robins and smaller numbers of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps but plenty of Redpolls, Siskins and Skylarks overhead, sadly no eastern sprites.

This evening a walk down to Galloways produced the usual Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps at Bretts Marina, on the ranges a Firecrest, a few Stonechats and a Sparrowhawk taking an unsuspecting passerine in the last glimmers of daylight.  

Flock of Dunlin past the fishing boats this afternoon

2 sea watches today 07.00-10.10 & 13.30-17.00 with AJG, CP, OL, CT, LH, PH, DS, JD et al

Brent Goose: 741W   12E

Shelduck: 13W

Shoveler: 21W

Gadwall: 2W

Wigeon: 40W  20E

Pintail: 11W

Teal: 24W

Tufted Duck: 1W

Red-throated Diver: 1 o/s

Great-crested Grebe: 4 o/s

Grey Heron: 8W    13N

Gannet: 226W   21E

Cormorant: 46 o/s

Merlin: 2 on beach

Golden Plover: 6S

Grey Plover: 3W

Ringed Plover: 7W

Knot: 6W

Ruff: 3N

Dunlin: 54W

Snipe: 9W

Kittiwake: 1W

Black-headed Gull: present n/c

Common Gull: present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Lesser Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Sandwich Tern: 425W       36E

Little Tern: 2W

Common Tern: 15W

Great Skua: 3W

Arctic Skua: 8W     6 o/s

Razorbill: 1W

Swallow: 48S

House Martin: 4S

Starling: 32N

Wheatear: 10 on beach

Meadow pipit: 850S

Siskin: 24S

Grey Seal: 1

Harbour Porpoise: 2   

Common Tern this afternoon

Little terns this afternoon

 

02/10/2020

Flock of 9 Greenshanks on Burrowes today

The 2 Glossy Ibis were still at the far end of Cooks Pool early afternoon but elusive in the long vegetation, at least 5 Cattle Egrets were nearby with the cattle. There at least 10 Great White Egrets around the reserve. On a very wind swept Burrowes a flock of 9 Greenshanks were nice as were 2 Grey Plover that have been present for a few days. Over the lake 100s of Swallows and House Martins. With the wind in an easterly direction Makepiece Hide was very wet and very cold, the wind and rain literally howled through it making it impossible to use, it is waste of time and effort opening it up in the present format with the doors padlocked open and viewing windows fixed open. The cold will kill you before Covid.

Teal passing the fishing boats this afternoon

A day of rain and ESE gales, the fishing boats offered a modicum of shelter, but full wet weather clothing required.

2 sea watches today 10.00-11.00 & 14.05-16.30 with AJG, DH, CP, DW, OL.

Brent Goose: 63W

Gadwall:15E

Wigeon: 41W

Teal: 84E

Common Scoter: 15W

Red-throated Diver: 2E

Great Crested grebe: 3 o/s

Sooty Shearwater: 1E

Gannet: 14W    545E

Cormorant: present n/c

Knot: 8E

Little Gull: 5E (2 x adult 3 x juvenile)

Mediterranean Gull: 1E

Common Gull: 3E

Herring Gull: present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Lesser Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Sandwich tern: 96E

Common Tern: 6E

Great Skua: 1E

Arctic Skua: 6 o/s

Swallow: 41S

Harbour Porpoise: 3

One of the regular Arctic Skuas photographed yesterday

 

30/09/2020

Juvenile Arctic Skua today

2 sea watches today 0645-09.00 & 12.00-15.30 my thanks to AJG & JY for keeping the logs, also present OL, MH & DH.

Wigeon: 6W

Teal: 2W

Common Scoter: 4W

Red-throated Diver: 2W

Great-crested Grebe: 2 o/s

Gannet: 102W

Cormorant: present n/c

Oystercatcher: 2E

Arctic Skua: minimum of 5 o/s

Kittiwake: 1E (adult)  1W (juvenile)

Black-headed Gull: present n/c

Mediterranean Gull: 5W

Common Gull: present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Lesser Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Sandwich Tern: 825W

Common Tern: 54W

Razorbill: 1 o/s

Auk sp: 2W

Sand Martin: 3S

Swallow: 2,419S

House Martin: 77S

Pied Wagtail: 4 on beach

Carrion Crow: 12S

Linnet: 58W

Goldfinch: 30S

Siskin: 26S

Adult winter plumage Razorbill today

Juvenile/1w Common Tern today

1 of 3 Black Redstarts around the Polish Memorial today

A wander around The Point and the bushes saw/heard plenty of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps, more Swallows departing South, plenty of Siskins, Redpolls, Chaffinches and Meadow Pipits over head, smaller numbers of Skylarks, Linnets and Goldfinches, 14 Stonechats, 3 Black Redstarts.Thrushes were virtually non existent.

Goldfinches in The Desert today

The regular tatty male Marsh Harrier quartering The Desert today

3 Cattle Egrets, a Little Egret and 2 Glossy Ibis at Cooks Pool today

There were 5 Great White Egrets on Dengemarsh and another 5 at least on the ARC viewed from the causeway. I did not bother with walking up the ARC as the wind would have made viewing difficult from the bank. I don't like to think what has been missed in the last few months due to the nanny knows best attitude to opening of the hides around Dungeness.  

 

29/09/2020

Arctic Skua at The Point this morning

A short sea watch at The Point this morning was predictably disappointing with a flat calm sea. An Arctic Skua cruised along the shoreline beating up the c25 Sandwich Terns that were feeding close in shore and 2 Merlins and a Sparrowhawk were terrorising the Meadow Pipits and Siskins as they coasted. Around the bushes many Chiffchaffs, small numbers of Blackcaps, a couple of Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a few Redpolls and more Siskins over, several Skylarks over, a hunting Male Marsh Harrier, lots of Stonechats and couple of Song Thrushes.

1 of the 2 Merlins that have been hunting The Point for last few days

A poor record of the American Golden Plover picked out by Stephen Message

A visit to the ARC this afternoon paid dividends when I met Stephen Message. We were looking at the waders when he spotted what he thought was an American Golden Plover, due to the long viewing distances and the fact the bird was spent most of its time head on to us,  it took a little while for all the relevant ID criteria to be seen to confirm his identification. Also there 4 Great White Egrets, 3 Ruff, a Little Stint, a Curlew Sandpiper and 9 Dunlin all among the Lapwing and Golden Plovers. Late afternoon there 2 Glossy Ibis at Boulderwall which flew over the road to the ARC.

Now 2 Glossy Ibis at Dungeness

 

27/09/2020

The 7 Cattle Egrets with the Glossy Ibis that is just to the right of the right hand Cattle Egret Image taken on my phone.

As the NNW wind with drizzle was still howling across the peninsular this morning, I decided to walk to the reserve via Galloways. The bushes by Lydd camp and Brett's marina held several calling Chiffchaffs, but the wind kept everything else down. Along the sheltered fence line at the entrance to Herron Park 2 Wheatears and 4 Stonechats and a Raven over were the highlights. Dengemarsh held the usual Egrets, Marsh Harriers and wildfowl, while in the fields numerous Meadow Pipits and 2 Yellow Wagtails still. 4 more Stonechats were seen  as I made my way to Boulderwall. At Boulderwall I was surprised to see 7 Cattle Egrets and the Glossy Ibis lined up on the bank together, also cursing my decision not to carry my camera because of its weight and the drizzle. On the ARC 2 Black-necked Grebes among the usual wildfowl. Walking around the reserve saw very little the highlight being a juvenile Little Gull and 2 Common Terns.

The Lydd Camp Little Owl sun bathing in its favourite cubby hole, while keeping an eye on a Magpie

House Martin about to take an insect at Lydd Camp yesterday

Kingfisher at Dengemarsh yesterday

Swallow at Dengemarsh yesterday

House Martins at Dengemarsh yesterday

House Martin at Dengemarsh yesterday with something attached to it

Sand Martin at Dengemarsh yesterday

Swallows at Dengemarsh yesterday

14.15-15.45 from the fishing boats with AJG who kindly collated the numbers in near gale force NNW 

Brent Goose: 141E     27W

Common Scoter: 3W

Gannet: 11W

Oystercatcher: 1E

Great Skua: 4W

Arctic Skua:  9W  3E

Sandwich Tern: c25 feeding o/s

Auk sp: 1W

25/09/2020

AJG braved the very cold North Westerly gale and did an early morning sea watch from the fishing boats:

06.30-07.30

Gannet: 22E

Cormorant: 252W

Sandwich Tern: 131W

Cormorant 252 down

Arctic Skua: 3E (all dark phase)

All I can do is admire his tenacity!

I don't know why but I thought it would be a good idea to walk from home dow to Denge Marsh Gully. The bushes by the water sports centre and go cart track entrance held lots of Chiffchaffs, Reed Buntings, Chaffinches, Greenfinches and Goldfinches, in the fields Linnets, 2 Yellow Wagtails, Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits, Swallows were playing chicken with the cars as they hawked low along the road, while overhead House Martins and few Sand Martins were hawking and unseen Siskins went over. When I got to the kids Carp pond (the locals will know where i mean) there was a first for me there in the form of a Great White Egret strutting around quite unconcerned by my presence, if only I'd bothered to carry my camera but with the threat of rain I'd left it at home. When I got to Springfield Bridge the 2 Cattle Egrets were still present, a Ruff was roosting on an island and 100s of Hirundines were hawking over Denge Marsh, a Marsh Harrier was doing battle with the wind over the reed beds. In the Sunflower field a flock of c50 linnets with c10 Reed Buntings were flitting around, at least 4 Stonechats were also there.

As I walked along the Gully a Merlin whizzed through, 2 Ravens croaked overhead and several Chiffchaffs were flitting around the Gorse. I carried on to the beach, where on arrival the heavens opened, the rain only stopped when i was 50 yds from home!😂 needless to say I was a little damp when I got home. Although I had the full Jack Wolfskin waterproof clothing on, the rain always manages to find a way in usually via the hood, even with the storm flaps velcro'ed  down my pockets managed to fill up with water.😞 But it was still a very enjoyable walk.

Glossy Ibis at the ARC early afternoon

Apart from the usual wildfowl, Hirundines, Egrets and Ibis there was very little to see on a windswept ARC and even less on Burrowes.

A short sea watch mid-afternoon from the comfort of my car at the turning circle saw just a handful each of Sandwich Terns, Gannets and Cormorants. A Wheatear was picking insects off the road as I fed the gulls bread. A young GBB Gull struggled over the beach towards me with an obviously broken wing, it must have been hungry as the GBBGs don't normally come to close unlike the greedy Herring Gulls. I made sure it had its fill of bread, which is probably not good for it, I doubt it will survive the night with number of Foxes around.   

This young Great Black-backed Gull has a broken wing

Wheatear at the turning circle this afternoon

A Merlin turns itself into a guided missile over the sea at Galloways late afternoon

 Late afternoon at Galloways with the now gale force wind, there was unsurprisingly no sign of any Owls, another or the same Merlin was chasing a Meadow Pipit. 

24/09/2020

Light phase Arctic Skua over a stormy sea at Dungeness today

06.30-09.45 + 11.10-12.10 from the fishing boats with AJG & JY,

Common Scoter: 3W

Great-crested Grebe: 7 o/s

Gannet: 657W    9E

Cormorant: 67 o/s

Arctic Skua: 2 o/s

Black-headed Gull: present n/c

Common Gull: present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Lesser Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Greater Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Sandwich Tern: 1,107W     102E

Swallow: 53 out

Harbour Porpoise: 3+

Grey Seal: 1

A dark phase Arctic Skua claims its prize

Black-necked Grebe on the ARC viewed from the causeway

The Glossy Ibis feeding in its favourite pool

A very windswept ARC today the highlights being 2 Curlew Sandpipers, the Glossy Ibis, a single Black-necked Grebe, 4 Common Snipe , 4 Great White Egrets, many Swallows and Sand Martins hawking over the lake and the usual wildfowl and waders. 

Sand Martins over Denge Marsh Flood

Great White and Little Egret with a Mute Swan at Denge Marsh

Cattle Egrets at Denge Marsh

You can now drive from Boulderwall past Denge Marsh Hide and round the hay fields to Springfield Bridge and have a picnic, at the same time as photographing the birds, but you must have a blue disabled sticker in your car. 😐

The WW11 Dakota leaving Lydd airport this afternoon