Monday 17 April 2017

Garganeys

Dungeness -0630hrs - cool, cloudy, nw 3 - For a change of scene we headed down to the point first thing where four Wheatears were on the beach opposite Jarman`s. After a quick chat with the seawatchers it was no surprise that nothing much was being seen offshore due to the wind direction. At the Patch a 1st year Iceland Gull sat on the beach preening amongst a small flock of Black-headed Gulls, while at least six Common Terns hawked over the boil. The land was virtually birdless, although a Pied Flycatcher was reported in West Beach scrub later.

                                Iceland Gull, the Patch

  From the causeway road the usual Slavonian and Black-necked Grebes hugged the sheltered bank on New Diggings, while three Garganeys and a Yellow Wagtail dropped onto the south end of ARC. Around the car park scrub and Tower Pits, Willow, Sedge, Reed and Cetti`s Warblers, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Lesser and Common Whitethroats all sang, plus a `booming` Bittern. Nothing much at the pines, but a drake Red-breasted Merganser was something of a surprise find at the north end of ARC. Also noted, Marsh Harrier, two Kestrels, Long-tailed Tit, Green Woodpecker, Lapwings, several Tree Sparrows, 10 Swallows, Teal, Shelducks and Little Egret. On the main body of the reserve the Ring-necked Duck and Long-eared Owl were at their usual locations, plus four Whimbrels from the access road.
  A scan from Springfield Bridge this afternoon revealed a Greenshank and Great White Egret, plus several Yellow Wagtails overhead, a `booming` Bittern, a White-fronted Goose and two Marsh Harriers. Called in at Cook`s Pool to look for two Water Pipits that had been reported earlier, but there was no sign, although two unidentified `pipits` did a brief flyover.

                                Garganeys, ARC

3 comments:

  1. Where did you park and stand to see the garganey...

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  2. Whimbrels are a fairly regular passage migrant at this time of year until late May, seen from the Access Road to the RSPB reserve, often in the fields either side of the double bends.

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