Tree Sparrows

Scotney - cool, cloudy, W4 - When I moved down here 20 years ago Tree Sparrows were common place with stable colonies on the RSPB reserve, St Mary-in-the-Marsh, Midley, Lydd and Scotney plus at a number of other locations across the Marsh and along the Royal Military Canal; we even had them on our garden bird feeders at Lydd-on-Sea in the early winters. The first three aforementioned locations not only supplied nest boxes but also a regular supply of food throughout the year but even that wasn`t enough to arrest the decline in numbers. Two decades later the only surviving known colony locally is on private farmland outback at Scotney where nest boxes have been provided with the consent of the landowner. When I visited site this morning there was activity around the colony from about 15 individuals with some of the many nesting boxes occupied; hopefully with nestlings ready to fledge, but only if the adults can supply enough invertebrate food. The landscape at Scotney is intensively farmed, mostly arable with a few heavily stocked sheep folds, plus future plans for an extensive solar panel farm and all the disturbance that is associated with it in the construction stage. Wandering around I just got the feeling that the Tree Sparrow`s days are numbered hereabouts; I hope I`m wrong, but only time will tell. On a brighter note, on the walk out at least 25 Yellow Wagtails and 10 Corn Buntings were noted plus several singing Reed Buntings, Linnets, Skylarks and Pied Wagtails, a Hobby, a Common Buzzard, a male Marsh Harrier, and on the front sward nine Whimbrels and a flock of 25 Tundra Ringed Plovers. En-route to site sunbathing Little Owls were seen at Hammonds Corner and Pigwell.

                                  Tree Sparrows - Scotney

Turtle Dove

Cool, cloudy, NW2 - On Saturday afternoon a Turtle Dove feeding on the causeway at Lade was a surprise find; in fact, the first I`ve seen here for ten years! An early start this morning to listen for any `purring` in the willow swamp, unsurprisingly, drew a blank so I suppose it must`ve been a passing migrant. However, two male Cuckoos were active around the swamp and at least one female detected by its bubbling call. As the cloud cover and wind increased 50 Swifts descended over south lake along with a similar number of Swallows and House Martins. The summering warblers were busily feeding broods around the ponds while an adult male Marsh Harrier drifted over the `mirrors`. A check of Kerton quarry revealed nothing new. From Hanson hide waders included six Ringed Plovers, three Avocets, a Dunlin and a Common Sandpiper plus nest prospecting Common Terns and Black-headed Gulls. The Boulderwall wetlands were equally quiet with just a Little Ringed Plover and two Hobbies of note; there was no sign of the weekends three Temminck`s Stints or Wood Sandpiper.

                                  Ringed Plover - ARC

                                  Avocets - ARC

                                  Great Crested Grebe - ARC

Weasel

Warm, dry and sunny, E2 - It continues to be quiet across the Dungeness peninsula of late as the spring migration heads into the last lap before the summer doldrums. This morning we checked Dengemarsh Gully where there were plenty of Whitethroats, Linnets, Sedge and Reed Warblers, several Stonechats and Wheatears plus a Raven overhead. However, it was good to see around 30 Common Terns settling on the islands and the two new rafts out from Dengemarsh hide, where also Marsh Harrier, Great White Egret, Bearded Tit and a `booming` Bittern noted. Whilst scanning from Springfield Bridge we had an incredible close encounter with a Weasel that popped up by the sluice and ran towards me on the bridge and under the gate; I can only think that it must`ve had kits nearby.  

                                  Weasel - Springfield Bridge

                                  Ted eyeing up the Weasel!

On the way home we called in at the sea-watch hide and spent half an hour with the locals, in dreadful hazy light, seeing nothing much apart from a few terns fishing offshore. Kerton Quarry and Lade were also checked without success. The landscape has taken on the appearance of high summer being parched and desiccated; we could really do with some rain... 

                                 Sea Kale - Dungeness

Yellow Wagtails

Dungeness - cool, cloudy, N 3 - Another unseasonably cool day for a guided tour for Clare and Peter from London. We started at the point where, predictably, the sea was quiet with only two Mediterranean Gulls, two Sandwich Terns and four Oystercatchers of note in 30 minutes. The land wasn`t much better, although we did manage to see the expected Wheatears, Linnets, Skylarks, Common Whitethroats, Stonechats and Meadow Pipits plus a pair of Peregrines; one carrying prey, the other perched atop A Station. Moving onto Scotney where several Corn Buntings and 15 Yellow Wagtails were present outback. The afternoon was spent mostly on the reserve where the highlights were eight Hobbies over Dengemarsh, including a close bird over Cook`s Pool, and six Whimbrels that dropped onto ARC. Kerton Quarry attracted a high tide roost of 80 Oystercatchers and 10 Curlews. that eventually transferred to the bay, and two Common Sandpipers. In  summary, a steady days birding in enjoyable company during which we racked up 70 species of birds.

                                  Yellow Wagtails - Scotney

    Whimbrels - ARC

Lydd Heronry

Mild, overcast, light airs - En-route to Lydd this morning I called in at the top end of Long Pits where a highly mobile Iberian Chiffchaff (located in the Trapping Area earlier) showed briefly atop a sallow, but thankfully did sing almost continually during the half an hour I was present. If it wasn`t for the distinctive song (like a demented Common Chiffchaff!) on plumage alone I would`ve passed it off as a Willow Warbler. This is the first one I`ve seen since its upgrade to full species status (formerly regarded as race of Chiffchaff) - if only I kept a British list... However, most of the morning was spent atop All Saints church tower in Lydd for the Bank Holiday Monday Heron-watch, during which a steady flow of punters scaled the narrow staircase up the 132` medieval tower. Six Grey Heron nests were packed into the holm oaks at the corner of Dennes Lane, affording unique views into their life style, complete with adults and `branchers`; at least another 12 nests were scattered across the heronry along with four pairs of Little Egrets. Thanks again to Les and Pat Carter for organising this annual event. 

                                  Dungeness in the mist

    Grey Herons - Lydd

Elsewhere this weekend visits to the bird reserve yielded brief views of a distant Temminck`s Stint on Boulderwall wetlands and a flyover Wood Sandpiper, but best of all was the five families of Lapwings with healthy looking chicks benefiting from the latest RSPB re-wetting project. Also noted a flock of 40 Black-tailed Godwits, four Avocets, two Little Ringed Plovers, a Cuckoo and a Hobby. Ted walks outback of New Romney produced a few more Sedge and Reed Warblers, Lesser Whitethroats, House Martins and a calling Cuckoo.

    Lapwing chicks - Boulderwall wetlands

    Sedge Warbler - New Romney

Whinchat

Dungeness - warm, dry and sunny, SE 2 - At last the wind dropped making for much improved birding conditions. Our morning Ted walk across the Desert and Trapping Area from the Dungeness Road immediately produced a good bird in the shape of a male Whinchat by the wigwams; a first for the year. All the usual warblers, Linnets and Skylarks were in song and at the southern end of Long Pits a female Redstart showed briefly. We then spent an hour (0900-1000 hrs) in the seawatch hide with the regulars where there was a steady trickle of migrants heading up-Channel: a few Gannets, Brent Geese, Barwits, Sandwich Terns and Common Scoters plus three Black-throated Divers, two Pomarine and one Arctic Skuas. The days final count will no doubt be on trektellen later this evening. It looks set to be a busy weekend of seabirds, thanks to a southerly airflow at peak Pom time, and guaranteed to attract many visiting birders over the Bank Holiday period.

                                  Whinchat - Wigwams

    It`s the start of Pom weekend!

Wader Fest

Dungeness - Cool, dry and sunny, ENE 6 - Spent the day guiding for Naturetrek guests in `challenging` weather conditions due to a blasting easterly wind. However, a forty-five minute sea-watch from the hide (0930-1015hrs) did yield three parties of Bar-tailed Godwits (totalling 45 birds) up-Channel along with two Manx Shearwaters;  we also noted a few Commic and Sandwich Terns, Gannets and coasting Swallows. On the land the highlights included a male Peregrine with prey on the beach, several Linnets, Lesser Whitethroat and a Wheatear. Moving onto Kerton Quarry for the high tide roost where c200 Oystercatchers were joined by 40 Bar-tailed Godwits, several Curlews, Lapwings and Redshanks, two Common Sandpipers and two Little Ringed Plovers. The wader fest continued on the bird reserve with Burrowes delivering: four Greenshanks, six Ringed and two Grey Plovers, six Turnstones, a Knot, a Whimbrel and several more Barwits, Redshanks and Common Sandpipers, mainly from Coward hide. Also noteworthy out from Dennis`s hide a flock of 20 Arctic Terns sat on a shingle island amongst 15 Common Terns. More waders were present over the road from Hanson including six Ruffs (two black males) and a Dunlin. Also noted across the reserve: three Marsh Harriers, a Sparrowhawk, a Great White Egret, four Little Egrets, Dabchick, Swifts, hundreds of Swallows and Sand Martins, Shelduck, Teal, Shoveler, Shelduck and Pochard. In summary, not too shabby a day considering the wind with 77 species noted, in fine company, with the highlights being the Manxies and Arctic Terns plus 15 species of waders.

                                  Bar-tailed Godwits - Kerton Quarry

                                  Greenshank and Grey Plover - Burrowes

Pomarine Skuas

Dungeness - 0600-0900hrs - cold, cloudy, NE 4 - Each year on the 28th April I think of dear old Ray Turley as he twice had White-billed Diver on this date off Dunge and reckoned that history had a habit of repeating itself. Sadly, there was no sign of a Yellow-billed Loon this morning but today`s seawatch still evoked memories for me, not only of Ray, but also Tony Greenland another stalwart of the seawatch hide who passed away recently. However, both birders would`ve appreciated the three Pomarine Skuas that headed up-Channel during the watch along with a supporting cast of seven Black Terns, a steady trickle of Bar-tailed Godwits and Whimbrels, Common Scoters, Oystercatchers, Gannets, Commic and Sandwich Terns, two Grey Plovers, three Fulmars, two Little Gulls, two Kittiwakes, two auks and a Red-throated Diver. Also noted several Harbour Porpoises, a Grey Seal and up to 20 inbound Swallows. Full details will, no doubt, be on trektellen later. 

                           Bar-tailed Godwits & Whimbrels - Kerton Quarry

On the way home I called in at Kerton Quarry where a flock of 30 Bar-tailed Godwits, two Whimbrels and two Little Ringed Plovers were present amongst the breeding Lapwings, Oystercatchers and wildfowl.

Wood Warbler

Dungeness - warm, dry and sunny, NE 2 - We started off at Long Pits this morning where the usual suite of warblers were in song including two Garden Warblers plus a Common Sandpiper fliting over the water. Moving through the Trapping Area, where a Wood Warbler (found by James) could be heard trilling regularly but showing only briefly atop the sallows before moving deeper into cover. A small group of Linnets and a pair of Wheatears were noted around the war memorial but little else on the land. Thirty minutes from the seawatch hide produced 15 Commic and three Little Terns, 10 Whimbrels, two Sandwich Terns and two Mediterranean Gulls. A scan of Kerton Quarry revealed that the fishermen were back, so I moved onto Greatstone beach on a falling tide where 80 Bar-tailed Godwits, 30 Sanderlings and 20 Ringed Plovers were amongst hundreds of Oystercatchers, Curlews and Sandwich Terns. We finished the morning off at Littlestone where a Hoopoe had been reported earlier but had no joy, although a later visit might pay off as the golfers withdraw from the links.

                                  Comma and Orange Tip

Over the weekend a Saturday walk around New Romney farmland produced many more Reed Warblers in the drainage ditches, a flyover Yellow Wagtail and a singing Corn Bunting amongst the usual Common and Lesser Whitethroats, Linnets, Yellowhammers, Skylarks and calling Med Gulls overhead. By early afternoon six Buzzards were counted from the garden thermalling high over the town. On Sunday we did the two bridges walk either side of the canal between Warehorne and Kennardington where the highlights were two Nightingales singing from the railway embankment scrub, a pair of Tree Sparrows by the sluice and a Grey Wagtail feeding juvs under the bridge. Also noted: 10 Linnets, four Goldfinches, two Yellowhammers, 10 Reed and three Sedge Warblers, Common and Lesser Whitethroats, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs. Was good to see a few butterflies on our wander including plenty of Peacocks, several each of Orange Tip and Comma plus a single tatty Painted Lady. On the way home we paused at the Kennardington crossing to check for Turtle Doves but the noise from a gun club in an adjacent field put paid to any hope of seeing or hearing anything.

Bonxie

Dungeness - cool, sunny, NE 3 - Have spent the last couple of mornings in bright sunshine continuing with the Ringed Plover survey, trudging across the shingle ridges between Lade and ARC, along the foreshore at Penn Bars and around the power station complex. Only one more territory was located but it was good to see several Brown Hares along the way and my first Hairy Hawker at the back of ARC. All ten species of warblers were noted plus Little Ringed Plovers at Boulderwall and Kerton Quarry, several parties of Whimbrel and Barwits over, a Great White Egret on ARC and my first Common Sandpiper at Long Pits today. Two one hour, late morning sessions in the seawatch hide with the locals produced very little apart from a flock of six Shelducks up-Channel yesterday, while today was much better with a trickle of Common Scoters, Red-throats, Whimbrels, Barwits, Sanderlings, Med Gulls, Gannets and a Bonxie, which was new for the year for me, and rarer than a Pom (there had been several earlier) these days!

                                  Cormorants - ARC

                                 Fox - A Station

                                  Wheatear - Obs in the background

    Bonxie! 

Cuckoo

Lade/Kerton Quarry - Cool, sunny, NE 4 - The high pressure system lodged over northern Europe continues to deliver clear, blue skies but no rain; in fact the Desert is already looking crisp and brown in places (resembling late summer) with many of the shingle flowers wilting in the drought conditions. I continued with the Ringed Plover survey this morning but there no additions, although a flock of 15 Whimbrels feeding on the turf at the back of the quarry was good to see. Moving onto Lade where the first Cuckoo of spring sang briefly from the willow swamp. The redhead Goldeneye remained on south lake and the first brood of Greylags were on the water. Eight species of warbler were heard around the site plus two Buzzards, a Marsh Harrier, Grey Heron, Little Egret and a Swallow heading north. I called in at the seawatch hide just before noon where the sea was dead.

                                    Greylag family - Lade south

Lapwings

 Dungeness - cool, sunny, NE 4 - Started the morning at Lade where the redhead Goldeneye was still on south lake along with 35 Tufted Ducks and six pairs of Great Crested Grebes. Moving onto Dungeness, where the wind was stronger than expected, and as a result the walk along the foreshore was virtually devoid of birds apart from a Cuckoo disturbed from cover by the boats. However, things  picked up around the Sanctuary and new lighthouse where six Wheatears sought shelter from the wind around the cottages plus several pairs of Linnets, Common Whitethroats and Stonechat in adjacent scrub. Two Swallows hurried inland and a smart male Black Redstart burst into song; also noted here and elsewhere several each of Skylark, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Goldfinch, Chaffinch and a Reed Bunting. Next stop the reserve where two singing Garden Warblers at Tower pits were new for the year, as was a Common Tern over ARC lake from Screen hide, along with plenty of Common and Lesser Whitethroats, Sedge and Reed Warblers. The highlight of the morning though was over the road on the Boulderwall wetlands where a female Lapwing showed off her three tiny chicks close to the main gate, which according to the warden were the first of spring, plus four Avocets, two Redshanks, two Little Egrets, two Shelducks and the usual feral geese. Also noted during our wanderings a Brown Hare on the beach and several Small Coppers in sun-traps behind gorse thickets.

                                  Wheatear - New Lighthouse

                                  Small Copper - Trapping Area

                                  Lapwing with chicks - Boulderwall wetlands

Over the weekend walkabouts around New Romney delivered more Sedge Warblers in the reed-fringed ditches, several singing Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Yellowhammers and a Corn Bunting plus two Tree Sparrows and a stream of Mediterranean Gulls over the town. Marsh Frogs were also in full voice and a dead Grass Snake along a lane was a sad first of the season. On Saturday afternoon a family visit to Park Wood, Appledore produced a calling Cuckoo and two singing Nightingales in Great Heron Wood.

                                  Moorhen & Marsh Frogs - New Romney

Whimbrels

Lade - warm, dry, hazy sunshine, SW 2 - Spent the first part of the morning surveying the breeding birds on the local patch whilst incorporating this spring`s Ringed Plover survey transect on the Desert, where I drew a blank. However, I did connect with my first migrant flock of 10 Whimbrels flying over calling as they passed northwards, while the wintering bird was seen later on within a roosting group of 35 Curlews and two Barwits. Raptors seen during the survey included four soaring Common Buzzards and two Sparrowhawks plus a male Marsh Harrier and a Kestrel. Wildfowl numbers across both waters were predictably low but did include a laggard redhead Goldeneye on south lake. Plenty of Common Whitethroats, Linnets and Skylarks were on territory across the Desert along with two pairs each of Stonechat and Meadow Pipit. Around the ponds and willow swamp singing Lesser and Common Whitethroats, Sedge, Cetti`s and Reed Warblers, Blackcap and Chiffchaff were all in good voice.

                                  Marsh Harrier - South Lake

                                  Grey Heron - Causeway

                                  Sedge Warbler - Ponds

We finished the morning off with an hour in the sea-watch hide where very little was on the move apart from a few scoters, Gannets and divers. I`ve done very little seawatching so far this year but talking to the regulars it doesn`t sound as though I`ve missed too much. The skuas and terns have started to trickle through, including two early Poms, but the next three weeks are considered the best period, so we shall just have to wait and see what comes our way.