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. 

Warblers

Dungeness RSPB - mild, cloudy, light rain S2 - An overcast morning with mizzle coming and going but burning off by midday. A guided walk for six guests around the circular trail delivered eight species of warblers including my first Lesser Whitethroat of the year. Sedge, Reed and Cetti`s Warblers and Common Whitethroats were everywhere and in good voice plus singles of passage Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Willow Warbler. Burrowes had two each of Dunlin and Sanderling, hundreds of Black-headed Gulls hawking emerging insects and a mixed flock of 50 Sand Martins and Swallows. Two Common Snipes and a Greenshank were seen from Christmas Dell hide, a pair of Avocet from Dengemarsh and a Med Gull overhead, two Water Pipits and a pair of Shelduck on hayfield 2, several Bearded Tits and Marsh Harriers from the ramp as well as a number of common wildfowl and gulls across the site. Plenty of Linnets and Reed Buntings were also noted.

                                   Sedge Warbler - Dengemarsh

                                  Bearded Tit - Hookers

                                 Whitethroat - Return Trail

Elsewhere this past week there has been a small influx of Painted Lady butterflies across the peninsula, and I even saw one in New Romney at the weekend, while Nightingales have returned to the Wealden woods at their usual locations between Appledore and Hamstreet. Surveying for Ringed Plovers on the reserve recently has resulted in two more territories being located. 

Nightingale

Dengemarsh Gully/Penn Bars - warm, dry and sunny, SW2 - Spent most of the morning surveying for Ringed Plovers out on the shingle wastelands (one pair present) south of the reserve where at least 10 Wheatears, 10 Skylarks, 20 Linnets and a Meadow Pipit were also noted. The Raven family nesting on the switch station showed well, a Red Kite rode the thermals and a Peregrine cruised over heading for A station. However, the main surprise of the morning was a Nightingale singing from deep cover between the dams in the gully bottom; they`re something of a big deal down here on the pebbles and during my 20 year tenure I`ve only recorded a handful of birds, all in the spring, and heard only of course. Sedge Warblers and Whitethroats were commonplace in the gully scrub along with loads more Linnets, several Stonechats and two Cetti`s Warblers.  

                                  Wheatear and Stonechat - Dengemarsh Gully

On the way home I called in at Kerton quarry where the main island was devoid of waders and wildfowl due to a fisherman wading around in the shallows. He`d set up camp on the seaward side below the lifebuoy lookout and was totally oblivious to the disturbance he was causing to the nesting birds. Anyhow, I diplomatically hailed him a couple of times and asked him to leave, politely saying that this was not a fishing lake and it was soon to be a part of the RSPB reserve, after which he gave me the old two-fingered, Cheshire Bowmen salute! Its not the first time he`s been found fishing here, but it appears there is little else that can be done until the site is officially owned by RSPB.

                                  Kerton Quarry

Yellow Wagtails

Dungeness - warm, dry and sunny, light airs - Another cracking day of spring weather; ideal for searching the bushes for grounded migrants, not so much for seabirds on a flat calm Channel. There was a small fall of at least 15 Wheatears along the foreshore between the lifeboat station and the new lighthouse plus two Black Redstarts by the fishing boats and another two male birds holding territory in the corner of A Station. Plenty more Linnets had moved in since my last visit while a few Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Common Whitethroats were present in and around the Trapping Area plus a male Peregrine perched atop a pylon.

                                  Wheatear - Dungeness

                                  Corn Bunting and Yellow Wagtails - Scotney

Moving on to Scotney where few wildfowl remained on the front lakes from the winter but did include a pair of Teal a Black-necked Grebe and a flyover Green Sandpiper. Outback at least 10 recently arrived Yellow Wagtails were noted on the farmland along with a couple of Corn Buntings, a Sedge Warbler, two Reed Buntings, several Skylarks and Pied Wagtails. The main lake was full of prospecting Black-headed, Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls.  

Spring Warblers

Warm, dry and sunny, light airs - Spent the afternoon around the RSPB reserve in glorious sunshine where the temperature peaked at 19C. Since my last visit Sedge Warblers had arrived in good numbers with birds singing from atop scrub across the site plus several Reed Warblers chugging away in Hookers reed-bed and a Common Whitethroat near the ARC car park. Cetti`s Warblers were also prominent, particularly from the viewing ramp, along with Bearded Tits, a `booming` Bittern, two passing Marsh Harriers and six flyover Mediterranean Gulls. A secretive female Redstart at the pines was my first of the year where Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Chaffinch were all in song. The Boulderwall wetlands held at least five pairs of Lapwings and a pair of Avocets alongside several Redshanks, Shovelers, Shelducks, a Wigeon, two Curlews and a Great White Egret. Also noted: Grey Heron, Little Egret, Kestrel, Buzzard, Reed Bunting and Chiffchaff. The main news from Dungeness today was the brief appearance of a colour-ringed Chough this morning (from the Dover Castle project) while the first Pomarine Skua of the season went up-Channel mid-afternoon (MC).

                                 Sedge Warblers

Large Tortoiseshell

Samphire Hoe - warm, dry and sunny, light airs - Easter Monday in the sunshine was perhaps not the best time for a family visit to the Hoe, but once clear of the car park it wasn`t too bad. We walked down to the fossil beach where a few Med Gulls and Rock Pipits were heard and seen. Along the way at least six Wheatears, four Stonechats, Meadow Pipit and Skylark were noted, plus Robin, Linnet and Blackbird in the scrub. Atop the White Cliffs a pair of Ravens gave short-thrift to a passing Peregrine, Buzzard and Red Kite; and they even gave a couple of microlights the once over! The return trail beside the railway line, below the chalk cliffs, provided the perfect micro-climate for winged insects, particularly butterflies with plenty of Peacocks, a few Orange Tips, a Small Copper and best of all a Large Tortoiseshell; many thanks to the unknown observer who tipped me off. Several Early Spider Orchid rosettes were also in view as well as an Adder basking in a sun-trap. 

                                  Samphire Hoe

                                  Boar Goats

                                  White Cliffs

                                 Orange Tip

                                                        Adder

First thing this morning, with a grass-frost on New Romney park, two migrant Willow Warblers sang from the trees while a trickle of high, calling Mediterranean Gulls passed overhead.

Little Ringed Plovers

Dungeness - cold, cloudy, SW4 - Spent the morning on the coast with drizzle coming and going and a blustery wind courtesy of named Storm Dave which is due to barrel across northern Britain this weekend. Trudging around the Dungeness peninsula was suitably uninspiring with a lone Willow Warbler singing from Long Pits the only hint of summer, along with several Chiffchaffs, Linnets, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits. An hour at the seawatch hide produced a trickle of Gannets, Sandwich Terns, Common Scoters and Red-throated Divers, plus a distant Arctic Skua, a Mediterranean Gull and seven Brent Geese heading up-Channel.

                                   Black-necked Grebe - Lade

We then checked out Lade where the Black-necked Grebe and two Goldeneyes remained on south lake along with a small number of wildfowl sheltering from the wind at the southern end. Likewise, at Kerton quarry the ducks and waders were in the lee of the main island keeping low. However, the windswept wetlands at Boulderwall attracted our first two Little Ringed Plovers of spring in company with a Ringed Plover and two Dunlins; a Great White Egret, two Wigeons. five Teals and two Shelducks also noted here. A quick scan from Hanson hide delivered the usual Shovelers and Great Crested Grebes but little else. 

 

Bluebells

Park Wood, Appledore - cool, cloudy, N2 - Paid another visit to the woods this morning; more to see the early spring floral display than anything else, and before the canopy closes over blocking out the sunlight. And we were not disappointed with a fine showing (and scent) of bluebells and wood anemones along with violets, celandines, primroses and the like. Nuthatches were in particularly good voice along with resident species including Greater-pecker, Jay, Treecreeper, Chaffinch, Great and Blue Tits, plus summer migrants Chiffchaff and Blackcap. A scan over the vineyard produced four soaring Buzzards and a Red Kite.

                                  Park Wood

                                 Nuthatch - Park Wood

Yesterdays walkout from home around the New Romney farmland was the usual depressing affair from a wildlife point of view, apart from a few singing Skylarks, a pair of Yellowhammers, a Blackcap and Chiffchaff in song and a perched Sparrowhawk. Its back to the coast tomorrow... 

                                  Sparrowhawk - New Romney

                                  Blackbird - New Cut

    Bluebells - Park Wood

Ring Ouzel

Mild, cloudy, light airs - Spent the day guiding for Clare and Peter from London. As is tradition we commenced at the seawatch hide, but where very little was happening on the sea apart from a passing Sandwich Tern and a Red-throated Diver. However, things were much better on the land with a cracking male Ring Ouzel in gorse scrub opposite the lighthouse car park and a first for the year. Also noted around the point: two Wheatears, a male Black Redstart, several Skylarks, Linnets, Meadow Pipits, Chiffchaffs and Stonechats, plus Kestrel and a Peregrine sat atop a pylon. Kerton Quarry produced the usual waders and wildfowl. We spent the afternoon on the reserve where the highlights were six Avocets, four Goldeneyes and five Black-necked Grebes, (two close birds in summer plumage from Hanson hide) on ARC; another two Goldeneyes on Burrowes, plus a Kingfisher, 100 Black-headed Gulls hawking emerging insects, two Sand Martins and a Swallow over the car park; a Spoonbill in flight from Christmas Dell; two swimming Avocets and two Water Pipits from Dengemarsh hide (one a smart pink-breasted bird); and four Cattle Egrets from the Return Trail. Also logged elsewhere, plenty of Chiffchaffs, Reed Buntings and Cetti`s Warblers, several Bearded Tits and Marsh Harriers, hundreds of Shovelers, two Great White Egrets, Teal, Wigeon, Buzzard, Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers and two Corn Buntings. We finished the afternoon at Littlestone Green for beach waders. A thoroughly enjoyable day in the field in fine company during which time we racked up a respectable 78 species.

                                  Black Redstart - Dungeness

                                  Wheatear - Dungeness

                                  Ring Ouzel - Dungeness

                                  Avocets - Dengemarsh

                                  Cattle Egret - Return Trail

Sandwich Terns

Rye Harbour NR - cold, dry and sunny, NW 3 - Pat joined us for a circular walk around the Beach Reserve this morning where the willow scrub either side of the track adjacent to Narrow Pit was alive with singing Chiffchaffs (c20), several Cetti`s Warblers and a couple of Linnets. Ternery Pool held good numbers of common wildfowl, gulls and waders including 10 each of Shelduck, Avocet and Redshank, 50 Oystercatchers and two each of Sandwich Tern and Mediterranean Gull. However, most activity was on Flat Beach with 200 Black-headed Gulls, 10 Mediterranean Gulls, 120 Sandwich Terns, 150 Golden Plovers, 35 Avocets, 20 Lapwings, 20 Dunlins, four Barwits and two Curlews. Also noted along the way: Little Grebe, Meadow Pipits and Skylarks, Little Egrets, Shovelers, Teals and several Ringed Plovers. A very pleasant morning capped off by my first Swallow sighting of the year flying over the river and heading inland.

                                  Avocets - Ternery Pool & Flat Beach

                                 Golden Plovers - Flat Beach

Wheatears

Dungeness - cold, dry and sunny, NW 3 - A superb bright spring morning with a frost first thing and a keen wind out of the north, and about time I found my first Wheatear, seeing as they`ve been reported for a week or more now. However, it didn`t take long; a smart male on the Desert was followed by at least nine more, all females, and another male by the railway cafe, so 11 in total. Martin had 10 in the gully while James had up to 15 locally, so something of a `fall` this morning across the peninsula. With over 60 years of birding under my belt I still get a thrill seeing my first `white-arse` of the season; in-fact I can still recall my first one ever (seen through my beloved Charles-Frank 10x50 bins!) on Chilterns farmland at the back of Maple Cross in the 1960`s. 

                                  Wheatears - Dungeness

A Fieldfare was seen along the way, plus two Common and a Jack Snipe near the wigwams. Also noted across the Estate, several Chiffchaffs in song in the Trapping Area and Long Pits, 12 Skylarks, two Meadow Pipits, a Kestrel, a Sparrowhawk and two Greenfinches. Moving onto Kerton Quarry where there was plenty of activity on the islands from Oystercatchers, Lapwings and Redshanks, a pair of Shelducks, a pair of Egyptian Geese (still with six goslings), six Teals, 12 Gadwalls, 20 Tufted Ducks and a lone Dunlin. An adult male Marsh Harrier came in low off the bay (causing all the HGs to go berserk) before sensibly heading across the Desert towards ARC. There was no change on the Boulderwall wetlands apart from c200 Black-headed Gulls and at least one Med Gull on the far island, plus two Cattle Egrets in a sheep fold from the access road. A Hooded Crow made a brief appearance for ROR and his group this morning on the shingle ridges between Dennis`s and New Diggings, while several Sand Martins, Swallows, a Crane and a Willow Warbler were reported elsewhere across the NNR today.

                                  Sheldrake - Kerton Quarry

                                  Redshank - Kerton Quarry

    Dunlin - Kerton Quarry

Egyptian Geese

Lade - mild, misty, light airs - A circuit of the local patch delivered three Goldeneyes and a Black-necked Grebe on south lake amongst the usual common wildfowl, plus an increase in Linnets on the dry scrub as they return for the breeding season. Moving onto Kerton quarry where a pair of Egyptian Geese had a brood of six goslings on the water; the first I`ve seen this year, although I did see a pair with young back in December at Scotney! There was plenty of territorial activity on the main island from Lapwing, Redshank and Shelduck. There wasn`t much change across Dengemarsh from my last visit on Friday with 180 Wigeon, several Shoveler, Shelduck and Teal on the Boulderwall fields, plus several Lapwings and Redshanks, nine Cattle and four Great White Egrets, Marsh Harrier and Buzzard.

                                   Egyptian Geese - Kerton Quarry

On Sunday we visited Pirate Springs where a Red Kite drifted over from New Romney. On the golf links rough grassland several pairs of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits were displaying while 145 Turnstones foraged along the foreshore on the incoming tide. Farmland walks around Romney over the weekend delivered very little apart from a few more Reed Buntings and Linnets to the field margins and on Saturday a steady nocturnal passage of Redwings over the town calling in the mist.

Goshawk

Orlestone Forest - warm, dry and sunny, light airs - Together with Chris we spent the morning in the woods for a change of scene in glorious early spring sunshine. En-route a Red Kite flapped over the road by the Red Lion at Snargate. As the sun warmed the grassy rides numerous Peacock and Brimstone butterflies emerged onto the wing along with a couple of Commas, but no sign of any Large Tortoiseshells which have been noted recently. At least 25 Chiffchaffs were in song across the woodland complex along with two Blackcaps and a host of resident species including Nuthatch, Long-tailed and Coal Tits, Treecreeper, Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers and singles of Mistle Thrush, Redwing and Siskin. Surprisingly, we drew a blank on any Crossbills or crests but, as expected, Marsh Tit, Hawfinch and Lesser-pecker were absent. On the plus side though, as the warmth built, several Buzzards soared over the canopy and a Goshawk rushed through; however, a while later we had protracted views of another Goshawk thermalling overhead. And Ted also enjoyed his outing amongst the trees.

                                  Primroses

                                  Nuthatch collecting mud

                                  Tired Ted!