27/05/2022

Another trip away from Dungeness, this time in the company of Owen and Jacques to see the superb Eleanors's Falcon and a bonus female Red-footed Falcon at Worth Marshes. An excellent afternoon in excellent company and 2 brilliant birds. 

Eleonora's Falcon

Eleonora's Falcon

Eleonora's Falcon

Eleonora's Falcon

Eleonora's Falcon

Female Red-footed Falcon

Female Red-footed Falcon

Female Red-footed Falcon

Female Red-footed Falcon

 

26/05/2022

The Glossy Ibis from Hanson Hide in the last glow of the sun last night 

 I spent a lovely morning at the excellent Rye Harbour LNR, where despite the near gale force wind  excellent views of the birds were had from the comfort of the hides. I will no doubt be making more frequent visits in future.

Black-headed Gull and young

The hides at Rye Harbour LNR afford super close views of the birds

Turnstone in smart summer dress

Redshank

The larger stones around the edges of the island helps to prevent erosion, maybe an idea Dungeness could use next time they build up the islands.

Winter plumage Turnstone

Excellent number of pairs of Avocet at Rye Harbour, with loads of chicks 

Common Sandpiper

Common Terns

Sandwich Terns with an Avocet

Moments after I took this image of a duck Shoveler and her brood a Common Gull swooped in and took one of her ducklings

Common Gull taking a Shoveler Duckling which it swallowed whole

25/05/2022

AJG has kept up the early morning sea watching, but has had little rerun for his time and effort. The highlights have been a few Fulmars, Gannets, Sandwich terns, Oystercatchers and Common Scoter, so I feel vindicated in my laziness.

The current unsettled weather has at least produced a few Swifts, Swallows and Sand Martins over the lakes. The Ring-necked Duck that is currently favouring the ARC seems to spend much time asleep on the small island to the left of Hanson Hide, where excellent views can also be obtained of Great-crested Grebes catching Sticklebacks, also of Pochard and Tufted Ducks. Marsh Harriers are usually seen and invariably I manage to see a Kingfisher flashing across the lake. Another Kingfisher is often seen from Dennis's hide carrying fish for its young.

As I wandered across the shingle early morning 2 Hobby's were out swooping into the lee of bushes catching Damselflys, from Dennis's Hide 22 Curlew, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits and 2 Ringed Plover, by Christmas Dell 2 Lesser Whitethroats still singing also Common Whitethroats, Cetti's, Reed and Sedge Warblers. Walking towards hay field 3 a Bittern boomed and several young Bearded Tits were feeding along the ditch, at the hay field the Glossy Ibis was busy feeding, I couldn't see only young Lapwings but they were probably sheltering from the gale if they are still alive. At Hookers a Bittern flew over the track and dropped in but little else was seen.

At the Egret roost last night 4 Cattle Egrets which were presumably the same four seen by JY at Boulderwall this morning, when I finally arrived I could only find 2, but the vegetation is quite tall there.

2 Hobby's were out early looking for a meal in the cold and gale force wind this morning

The Glossy Ibis was still frequenting Hay Field 3 this morning

Ring-necked Duck on its island roost by Hanson Hide

It gave very close views after it and the other roosting ducks were unceremoniously pushed off by a pair of Greylag Geese with 6 Goslings in tow.

Little Egret from Hanson this morning

Common Sandpiper, Great-crested Grebe and friends in yesterdays downpour

The Striped Hawkmoth that graced my MV being released onto Red Valerian

21/05/2022

One of many patches of Broome on the shingle

A long walk this morning out to and around the Open Pits where the Broome was dazzlingly spectacular. Avian wise a few Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers were singing, Reed Buntings were plentiful, the highlight for me was a singing Willow Warbler that must have been new arrival. The noisy young Cormorants are growing fast with constantly being fed regurgitated fish. Hairy Dragonfly and Four-spotted Chasers were in good numbers there as were the Marsh Frogs. On the reserve the usual Marsh Harriers, Bearded Tits, Bitterns and Hobby's, also a Cattle Egret was seen on Tanners Pool. Burrowes held a couple of Curlew and very little else. A report that the Ring-necked Duck had reappeared on the ARC, on making my way to Hanson Hide the first bird I saw there was the Ring-necked Duck which was still present at 20.00 this evening.

Cormorant Colony

A

Hairy Dragonfly

Four Spotted Chaser

Marsh Frog

Ring-necked Duck from Hanson Hide

Ring-necked Duck from Hanson Hide

Brown Silver-line a first for the Plodland MV last night

19/05/2022

Yellow Wagtail at the hay fields

Spring migration seems to be just about done at Dungeness. In todays rain in the past I would have expected the lakes to to be carpeted in Swifts, Swallows, Martins and Black Terns with the odd scarcity among them, today not a single one of those 4 species was seen, indeed only a maximum of 5 Common Terns were noted around the reserve, the only wader of note was a Wood Sandpiper the hay fields, all of yesterdays Black and Bar-tailed Godwits, Curlew, Whimbrel and Spotted Redshank had departed. 

At Hookers viewing ramp Bitterns were busy towing and froing feeding young, Bearded Tits were much in evidence, Hobby's appeared when the sun came out. A kingfisher was seen there and from Dennis's taking fish to the nest, even Reed and Sedge Warblers seem to be in low numbers this spring.

Spotted Redshank at the Hayfields

Common Gulls from Dennis's Hide in todays rain

Peregrine on the power station this afternoon

Oak Hook-tip