Plovers Blog

White Wagtail

2012-03-01T10:38:00.001-08:00

Lade - murky start, but warm, hazy sunshine from mid-morning onwards - Very little of note on the pits although Skylarks put on a show with at least 5 singers on the wing.
ARC - A couple of stabs here with the first at 0900hrs delivering a cracking male White Wagtail at the south end from the causeway road; couldn't find it by early afternoon though. Over the road the resident 8 Smews on New Diggings plus the Great White Egret noted. Bearded Tits were heard `pinging` in front of Hanson and the Penduline Tit showed again this afternoon at the far end of the willow trail.

White Wagtail, ARC - a poor record shot

Littlestone Golf Course - Finished a half hearted kind of a day in some style with distant views of a Short-eared Owl quartering over the golf course rough. However, far more impressive (and a year tick, not that I`m keeping a tally...) was a barrelling, brown Merlin which put on quite a show chasing after a Skylark, that continued to sing despite being inches from death. The chase continued out over the bay with the lark jinking hither and thither just in time to avoid the clutching yellow, talons. I know the Merlin`s got to eat, but it was good to report that she gave up after the sixth attempt; not many Skylarks about, and there`s plenty of Starlings knocking around. Funniest part of all though was that the lark continued singing skywards as if nothing had happened!

A Very Odd Day

2012-02-29T11:36:00.000-08:00

Lade - 0700hrs - low cloud and rolling sea mist, clearing mid-morning to sunshine - Well, well, well. what an odd day. That`s the great thing about birding, you just never know what its going to throw up.
It started at 7am as I was standing out back supping on my first brew of the day watching Barney chasing the cat around the garden. The Dungeness fog horn was blaring away as a thick sea mist rolled over the cottage, and then I heard a distinctive `kerrick-kerrick` sound coming out of the gloom; surely, it couldn't be... perhaps an early Starling, even though it was barely light - and then a Sandwich Tern skimmed over the roof and headed inland! Incredible, first surprise of the day.
RSPB - 0930hrs - Down at the bird reserve the fog was coming and going, but by the time the guided walk started we were in bright sunshine with blue skies. The standard circuit in reverse delivered some quality sightings: from the ramp overlooking Hookers everyone had superb flight views of Bittern and several Marsh Harriers, plus a close Cetti`s Warbler, `pinging` Beardies, a Raven feeding on a swan carcass, Dabchicks and 2 Chiffchaffs. From Christmas Dell, 3 Snipes showed well just in front of the hide and the pair of Ravens `cronked` overhead. On Burrowes we eventually caught up with the Long-tailed Duck, plus 50 Golden Plovers and all the usual wildfowl. On New Diggings, 8 Smews and the Great White Egret.

Snipes, Christmas Dell

Dengemarsh - 1400hrs - Walked down from Springfield Bridge and eventually located the Water Pipit at the far side of hayfield no. 3; had poor `scope views of a bird in winter plumage. Further Raven and Marsh Harrier sightings here.
ARC - 1500hrs - Finished off in style with reed obscured views of the Penduline Tit from a packed Hanson hide, that had been showing on and off throughout the day. Along the willow trail several Chiffchaffs and Long-tailed Tits.
As I say, a very strange day indeed that started with a Sandwich Tern in thick fog and ended with a Penduline Tit in bright sunshine. What a weird place Dungeness can be...
PS: The 2 Snow Buntings were reported from the Point (PB) this morning, while 2 Short-eared Owls were back on Littlestone Golf Course yesterday (SB).

2 Snow Buntings & "That Gull`s Back"

2012-02-28T08:29:00.002-08:00

Lade - 0730hrs - grey, miserable, mildish, light airs - Decided on a tour of the Peninsula this morning starting at the local patch where a fine drake Smew on south pit was the first of the winter here; on north pit the lone Brent was still present.
Dungeness - Picked up the Joker and onto the Point where 2 Snow Buntings had been reported by OL. We soon located them along the tideline near the boats where they posed for pictures before heading off high to the north (and, no we didnt flush `em!). Joined DW for a half hour seawatch during which time the 2nd winter Glaucous Gull put in an appearance, following an absence of several weeks. Offshore, hundreds of Great Crested Grebes, a few auks and Gannets, single Fulmar and two groups of 7 and 11 Brents east.

Snow Buntings, Dungeness

RSPB - Eight Smews and the GWEgret on New Diggings from the causeway road with another redhead from Hanson plus all the usual wintering wildfowl including 12 Goldeneyes and 3 Pintails, Little Egret, 50 Curlews, 2 Lottis and 2 Chiffchaffs. Water Rails, Cetti`s Warblers, Reed Buntings and Great Tits were in good voice and a couple of Marsh Harriers and a Sparrowhawk drifted over. From Boulderwall the obligatory Tree Sparrows, whilst out on the fields a scattering of Curlews, Wigeons and 50 Stock Doves.
Whilst chatting to NH from the ramp overlooking Hookers, a Bittern flew across the reedbed and tussled with a harrier before dropping into cover. A large flock of Lapwings and 50 Goldies on the back fields, several more harriers close by and another view of a Bittern from the hide. Long-tailed Duck on Burrowes and Stonechat at the Corral completed a decent mornings birding.
Lade Bay - On a receding tide this afternoon easily bagged all 10 species of shorebirds between the Lade car park and the Tavern. Of particular note was the number of Knots present; at least 250, which is well up on the norm.

Early Moth

2012-02-27T11:19:00.000-08:00

Lade - miserable and grey all day, drizzle first thing, W2 - The only different bird of note on the pits was a lone Brent on north pit, otherwise all the usual diving ducks plus a couple of Marsh Harriers hunting over the airport fields.
Highlight of the day however was an Early Moth trapped locally by BD. Early Moth is common enough across much of the country but not down here, as this was only the 3rd or 4th record; and it even attracted the attentions of the Romney Marsh Moth Lord.
Early Moths are probably under recorded as few moth`ers trap this time of year - which reminds me, now where did I stow that moth trap...

Early Moth, Lydd-on-Sea - The males fly throughout January- March, while female are flightless

Raptors in the Sunshine

2012-02-26T12:00:00.000-08:00

Lade - 1000hrs - warm, dry and sunny, light airs - A bit of warm sunshine is all that`s required to entice raptors up and into the waiting thermals. Four Marsh Harriers, 2 Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk were soaring high over the airport when I arrived at the aerial mound on south pit.
Dungeness - 1100hrs Had a look at the Patch, more out of a sense of duty than anything else, where amongst the melee of mostly immature gulls were 2 adult Meds. A Peregrine scattered the pigeons over the power station and a couple of Kestrels posed on poles by the Light Railway Cafe.

Kestrel, Dungeness

RSPB - 1200hrs - Skirted around the margins of the bird reserve as packed out with weekend birders. From the causeway road a flock of 21 Smews still on New Diggings, with 2 more over the road on ARC plus 8 Goldeneyes. At least 25 Tree Sparrows in the bushes at Boulderwall and another 2 Marsh Harriers circling over the fields. From Springfield Bridge, (where I was joined by the Biking Birders) 4 more Marsh Harriers on the wing, 2 Ravens, `pinging` Beardies and the Great White Egret.

Afternoon Birding

2012-02-25T07:40:00.001-08:00

Lade - 1300hrs - warm, sunny, light airs - A late start due to a comedy gig (Stuart Lee) in Canterbury last night and a sore foot (its a long story...). However, a very pleasant afternoon but swarming with people watching the filming on the beach. Still, a decent show of Knots and Barwits from the Tavern and a flock of 20 Brents on the bay.
RSPB - 1345hrs - A count of 23 Smews on New Diggings included 2 drakes, while the Great White Egret showed briefly. Two more redheads on ARC, plus 50 Curlews, 20 Goldies, 200 Lapwings and a Blackwit. Several Marsh Harriers here and over the road from Boulderwall, plus a Bittern and 2 Stonechats near the Corral. The visitors centre and car park was busy with birders; as were the feeders, attracting a variety of common finches, tits, buntings and sparrows. Plenty on offer around Burrowes as well, with singles of Avocet and Long-tailed Duck, 50 Goldies, 8 Pintails, 8 Goldeneyes, hundreds of common wildfowl and scores of immature gulls to practise ones identification skills on ...

Avocet, Burrowes

Long-tailed Duck, Burrowes

Woodcocks

2012-02-24T08:06:00.001-08:00

Lade - 0730hrs - misty, nippy start, brighter by mid-day, w2 - After the heatwave of yesterday (17C in London) it was back to more normal temperatures this morning; even requiring hat-and-gloves first off. Chiffchaff and Goldcrest in the garden kick-started the day well, followed by 2 Woodcocks inadvertently flushed from the storm beaches on the way over to the pits. Was surprised to see them as been a week or so since the last but they probably got lost in the mist last night. One flew well away towards the Trapping Area, while the other one dived down into someones back garden along the coast road! When all`s said and done with this odd winter (mild start with an influx of Short-eared Owls - not many wild swans and geese - where have all the Barn Owls gone - a cold finish with loads of Smews, Goosanders, Woodcocks and a Sea-eagle!) Woodcock will be one bird I`ll remember it for, and smart birds they are too, such a shame that over 100,000 are shot in Britain each winter, surely they deserve a better reception in this day and age...
However, I digress, had to get over the pits sharpish because there was a film crew about to take over the place for the next couple of days; something to do with 2 women, set in the 60`s, at the time of the Cuban missile crisis... Anyhow, all the usual wildfowl present including a pair of courting Shelducks and 8 Goldeneyes. Two harriers were soaring above the airport while Great Tits, Chaffinches and Cetti`s Warblers were all in fine voice.

Goldeneyes, ARC

ARC - By now the sun was shining and several Reed Buntings were singing, along with more of the same as at Lade. A noisy gang of 30 odd Tree/House Sparrows was quarrelling in the big bush by the car park, while a Cettis`s Warbler showed well from Hanson, plus Long-tailed Tits and Chiffchaff. Out on the water 3 Pintails, 2 Smews, 4 Shelducks, 6 Golden Plovers, 15 Curlews, a Blackwit and several hundred Lapwings amongst the regular ducks. Several Cormorants were back on the main island and a Little Egret was in front of Screen. At least 3 Marsh Harriers noted including the `yellow-fronted old lady`. Had a natter with PB and on the walk back to the car a Bittern flew over from Boulderwall.
Greatstone Beach - A quick look from the tavern this afternoon noted 6 of the regular beach wader species including 50 Knots.

Mockmill Sewer

2012-02-22T11:52:00.001-08:00

Mockmill Sewer - 0930hrs - cloudy, chilly, sw3 - A local patch is a marvellous thing and allows you to discover and have an intimate knowledge of a birding area close to home that reaches the parts that other birding sites can never hope to achieve. Mockmill Sewer is one such location; a slither of wetness that runs between two storm beach ridges from the airport fields behind the 200 foot `mirror` out onto the dry stony, Desert at Lade.
I don`t visit the sewer as often as I should as its a fair old slog out across the shingle to get to, but once there its one of those places that you think must turn up something good one day, and if it does, for sure I`ll find it, because in six years I`ve never seen another birder out there!
Today was fairly duff with just a few singing Dunnocks and Wrens, a couple of Song Thrushes and flushed Snipe. My first winter down here 3 Short-eared Owls regularly hunted the sewer and I`ve had some pretty impressive falls of warblers and thrushes during the autumn. Scarcities have included Gropper, Dartford Warbler and Rouzel, but I feel sure that one day it will yield an Aquatic Warbler in the sedges or maybe a Roller on a fencepost, well I can dream...

Mockmill Sewer - a boggy tangle of sedge, reed, bulrush and tussock grass between two gorse, bramble and blackthorn ridges

Barney loves Mockmill Sewer as it allows him to indulge in one of his favourite pastimes - chasing rabbits. But fear not dear reader, carnage rarely prevails as he is the most pathetic of hunting terriers.

RSPB - Called in at the visitor centre this afternoon, more for a natter than anything else. The Long-tailed Duck was still on Burrowes and a Black-necked Grebe on Christmas Dell. Over the road the usual Bitterns, Smews and Great White Egret present. Also year ticked three-wheel birder in Dennis`s hide trying to snap the long-tailed.

Kingfisher

2012-02-21T10:59:00.000-08:00

Dungeness - 0800hrs - cloudy, sunshine, nippy, sw3 - A wander along from the boardwalk, aimlessly looking for Snow Buntings, resulted in flushing about 400 Cormorants off the beach. Joined Plodding Birder for an hours seawatch from the concrete road where we noted over 100 Red-throated Divers milling around the Point, 300 Gannets east and hundreds of auks, gulls, grebes and more Cormorants. DW arrived and promptly pointed out a 2nd winter Med Gull just offshore.
ARC - 1330hrs - Plenty of action here with Bitterns flying all over the place and one that walked in front of Hanson, whilst I watched from Screen! A Kingfisher showed well, diving from reed stems in front of the hide for tiddlers. All the usual wildfowl including 3 Smews, 6 Goldeneyes and a Pintail, plus 200 Lapwings, 3 Marsh Harriers, Dabchick, Blackwit and Green Woodpecker. Over the road the Great White Egret was hunting the far bank, while at least 17 Smews (including 3 drakes) lurked amongst a Tufted Duck flock on the open water.

Kingfisher, ARC - always a welcome sight

Penduline Tit

2012-02-20T09:29:00.000-08:00

Lade - 0900hrs -chilly, sunny, w1 - At last, nailed a Bittern on the local patch, the first of the winter, sunning itself on the edge of the reedbed just south of the wall` mirror`. Unfortunately I only had bins with me, so distant, but in view for 20 minutes warming up in the sun. A pair of Ravens flew over `cronking` loudly as they headed inland, one with what looked like a shellfish in its beak. Several Marsh Harriers hunting over the airport and a pair of Shelducks on south pit.

Lade - wall `mirror`

ARC - 1215hrs Plenty of wildfowl from Hanson including 8 Goldeneyes, 3 Smews and a Pintail, single Blackwit, 3 Marsh Harriers, Water Rail and a Sparrowhawk. Whilst watching a small flock of passerines in the willows, including several Long-tailed tits and Chiffchaffs, was surprised to get brief views of a Penduline Tit working its way through the top of the bushes. Only had the briefest of views of what appeared to be an adult, but didnt get a look at the legs to see if it was ringed, like the one at the back end of last year. I think this is the first sighting in 2012.

Bunting Hunting

2012-02-19T12:13:00.000-08:00

Park Wood - 1030hrs - cold, dry and sunny, n2 - Had a woodland wander with CP and the ladies on a cracking winter`s morning. All the usual timber birds including Long-tailed and Coal Tits, Treecreepers, Nuthatches, Green and Greater peckers, Jay, Bullfinch and a couple of Buzzards over the canopy. Sadly, en-route from the coast, 4 dead roadside badgers.

Park Wood, Appledore

Bewick`s Swans going to roost, Walland Marsh

Lights Out, Walland Marsh

Walland Marsh - 1645hrs - Went bunting hunting this afternoon with CP in search of the 200 plus flock of Corn Buntings noted last week, but all we could find was a measly 30 odd. Anyhow, 19 Marsh Harriers came to roost, plus an odd looking ringtail, small and dull with a narrow white rump a bit like a Monty`s; strange looking thing and would like to have seen it in better light. Also noted singles of Bittern and Snipe, a few Reed Buntings and, in dribs and drabs, 66 Bewick`s Swans to roost on the open water with much yelping and `oop-ooping` in the setting sun.
NB: Other local news included further sightings of the Sea-eagle over Saltwood this morning heading east along the hills towards Dover, and a single Glossy Ibis over Dengemarsh this afternoon flying towards Scotney (SB).

Finch Flock

2012-02-18T08:57:00.000-08:00

New Diggings - 0945hrs - mild, cloud and sunshine, sw4/5 - A blustery start to the day. Plenty of wildfowl from the causeway road including 19 Smews (3 drakes), 6 Goldenyes and a drake Goosander, plus single Great White and Little Egrets. Over the road on ARC, 200 Wigeons, Shovelers and Gadwalls.
Lydd Airport - 1015hrs - A large flock (well, large by todays standards) of 150 Chaffinches near the farm deserved a scan through for a Brambling, but all I could find was 4 Goldfinches and a Greenfinch. In the pine trees Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, while on the farmland hundreds of Woodpigeons, Stock Doves, Starlings, corvids and Common Gulls, plus a covey of 6 Red-legs.
Walland Marsh - 1100hrs Spent a couple of hours driving across the Marsh scanning for the eagle but to no avail. 35 Bewick`s were back in the field at Midley and Tree Sparrows were noted at two regular sites, but as usual there were few small farmland birds to be found. Three Marsh Harriers, Buzzard and Kestrel noted.
Scotney - 1330hrs A good selection of geese at the Sussex end with 9 Brents on the water and 9 close White-fronts amongst the plastic Barneys, Grey Lags and goodness-knows-what, Emperor/Snow/Bar-headed hybrid types (given up trying to work out their parentage so propose to create a new species: how about the Scotney Goose Anser scotneus ). At the Kent end, 500 Wigeons, Lapwings, Goldies and Starlings, 10 Dunlins and singles of Redshank and Ringed Plover.
Boulderwall - 1430hrs With the wind picking up and drizzle in the air scanned the fields but all I could find was 15 Curlews, 3 Marsh Harriers and a Blackwit over. The Long-tailed duck remained on Burrowes and there was a report of 5 Snow Buntings at the Point earlier. Had a quick look from the boats in fading light without success.

Bewick`s Swans - Midley

White-fronts - Scotney

Barnacle Geese - Scotney

4 Scotney Geese - Scotney!

After the Lord Mayor`s Show...

2012-02-17T11:48:00.000-08:00

Lade - 0930hrs - mild, 11C, cloudy w2 - After the excitement of yesterday it was back to more normal fare today. Was surprised to see several deep snow drifts still intact at the back end of south pit and 100 Wigeons and Teals sat on ice by the reedbed; much of the middle section of the pits was still iced over too.
Dungeness - 1500hrs An hour seawatch from the concrete road with MH, in poor light and with the foghorn blasting away, revealed a steady flow of gulls, Cormorants, Gannets, Kitts, Red-throated Divers and auks around the Point, or feeding just offshore. There was no sign of the Glaucous Gull.

Walland Marsh - Sea-eagle!!!

2012-02-16T09:51:00.000-08:00

Walland Marsh - 0930hrs - mild, cloudy, nw2 - A phone call from an excited Marshman this morning necessitated a rapid change of plan for the day ahead... He`d had a phone call from a local farmer telling of a "vulture" at large on Walland; only to discover a Sea-eagle feeding on a fox carcass in a turf field by the Cheyne Court windfarm - now that`s what I call a memorable start in any day! By the time I arrived the eagle was a distant blob perched up in a small clump of trees south of the Rye road.
A brisk walk out from the Woolpack delivered much better views and as a small group of us watched from a safe distance the mighty bird shuffled its feathers, had a crap, turned into the wind and flew back towards the Rye road and over the heads of the waiting locals. We had breathtaking views of this flying monster with the double-barn-door wings, diamond shaped tail and massive pale bill; an immature bird, liberally sprinkled white on the back and breast.
We watched as it landed briefly in a field to the north of the Guldeford Levels before heading towards Oxney in Sussex (attracting the attentions of a pair of Peregrines en-route), where it eventually landed in a tree on the `Isle`. A dash around to the Rye-Appledore road delivered further views as it thermalled off the hillside with a pair of Buzzards looking like Starlings in comparison and was last seen high over Walland Marsh at about 12.30hrs
Having not seen a Sea-eagle for ages I`d forgotten just how massive they are. A superb bird and a first for the Romney Marsh apparently. Credit must go to CP for following up the lead, locating it and getting the news out quickish - well done that man. Let`s hope it sticks around so a few more birders can enjoy this magnificent raptor, which does look very much at home down here on the flatlands.
Other raptors seen on Walland this morning included a ringtail Hen Harrier, 4 Buzzards, 3 Marsh Harriers, 2 Peregrines, 2 Kestrels and a Sparrowhawk. At Midley the Bewick` s Swan flock totalled 60 and 11 Corn Buntings were by the drying barns.

White-tailed Eagle, imm - Walland Marsh - poor record shots

Great White Egret, ARC - skating on ice!

ARC - 1500hrs Called in at Hanson this afternoon where the amusing sight of the GWE skating on ice! Also, 10 Smews, including a drake, 8 Goldeneyes, singles of Blackwit, Kingfisher, Bittern, Little Egret and hundreds of Wigeons, Teals, Gadwalls and Shovelers.

Bewick`s Swans & Satellite

2012-02-15T08:39:00.000-08:00

Lade - 0900hrs - mildish, part sunny, nw4 - Surprisingly south pit still had a fair bit of ice and remained frozen around the willow islands. About 200 Teals and Wigeons on the ice was of note along with 4 Goldeneyes on open water plus the usual diving ducks.
Dungeness - 1000hrs - From the boats a right old feeding frenzy just offshore involving hundreds of gulls, auks, Great Crested Grebes and Cormorants, plus a few Red-throated Divers, Gannets and Kittiwakes. A party of 11 Brents passed east and a seal popped it`s head up briefly.
ARC - 1100hrs - From Hanson a party of 33 Bewick`s Swans on the water, calling and head-bobbing and looking pretty as a picture in the winter sunshine as only they can. Wild swans are undeniably gorgeous creatures, handsome and evocative, that turn up on the Marsh for a few months in the winter from northern lands; funny how the boring old Mute Swan is given the cold shoulder by most birders ...
Still plenty of Wigeons, Shovelers, Gadwalls on the water/ice, plus a scattering of Teals, Shelducks, Goldeneyes, Pintail and a party of 13 Grey Plovers briefly. Marsh Harriers, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel also noted. Over the road on New Diggings 6 each of Ruddy Ducks, Smews and Goosanders.
On the way to and from Ashford drove via Botolph`s Bridge and surrounding lanes checking for yesterdays reported Sea-eagle... well, you never know...

Lade North - last of the ice

Bewick`s Swans - ARC

Satellite - Kerton Road Cafe - one mild night and a moth comes to light, incredible!

A cracking birdwatching break with 95 species noted and some real quality winter birds for the visitors to saviour, including superb views of Bewick`s Swans, White-fronts, Great White Egret, Glossy Ibis, Long-tailed Duck, Smews, Goosanders, Bittern, auks, Marsh Harriers, Black Redstart, Ravens and Tree Sparrows. Birds conspicuous by their absence since the freeze-up were Little Egret, Golden Plover and Kingfisher. That said it always takes visiting birdwatchers to remind me how lucky we are down here with a wide range of species on offer in a small area, and not to take it for granted.

Glossy Ibis & Wigeons

2012-02-14T12:11:00.001-08:00

Littlestone - 0900hrs - cold, grey, nw3, brighter later and milder - A cracking winter`s day birding around the Marsh with plenty of good birds and one or two surprises. We kicked of at low tide for shorebirds at Littlestone and nailed 9 out of 10 of the regulars with only Knot proving elusive; decent numbers of both Barwits and Grey Plovers with around 50 of each. A flyover Skylark was noteworthy here, as was a raft of 300 Common Scoters and 500 Great Crested Grebes offshore.
RSPB - 1015hrs - Superb session on the bird reserve with good numbers of sawbills and dabbling ducks; best count I could come up with was 25 Smews and 17 Goosanders across all waters and literally thousands of Wigeons on ARC and Burrowes. From Hanson jammed a 5 minute Glossy Ibis that flew in and landed briefly on one of the islands before leaving high to the east. Also, the wintering Long-tailed Duck and Bittern from Dennis`s hide; Great White Egret, 2 Ravens, Snipe, Christmas Dell; Blackwit, 4 Marsh Harriers and 8 Dabchicks, Dengemarsh; 6 Ruddy Ducks, New Diggings; Pintails, Long-tailed Tits, Cettis`s Warblers, Sparrowhawk and Chiffchaffs, ARC; Tree Sparrows and Stonechat, Boulderwall; Reed Buntings, car park feeders.
Lydd Wood - 1500hrs Single Woodcock.
Galloways - 1530hrs Black Redstart on the chicken sheds.
Scotney - 1600hrs - Thousands of wildfowl here, mainly Wigeons and feral geese, including 15 Pintails, 30 White-fronts, 12 Brents and an assortment of Barnacles and hybrid Snow/Emperor types.
We finished with 8 Marsh Harriers flying into the ranges to roost.
In summary: surprise of the day was undoubtedly the Ibis but bird of the day, simply due to the sheer numbers, had to be Wigeon.

Glossy Ibis - ARC

White-fronts - Scotney

Wigeons - ARC

Sawbills

2012-02-13T09:56:00.000-08:00

Faggs Wood - 1300hrs - Grey, misty, drizzle, 3C - First Birdwatching Break of the year with Stuart and Raymond down from London for three days. After pick up from Ashford Station called in at Faggs Wood where we had a good range of woodland birds around the car park, including Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Nuthatches, Mistle and Song Thrushes, Redwings and a Goldcrest.
Warehorne 1330hrs - The feeders by the church were packed with Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Blue and Great Tits and several Tree Sparrows. From the bridge had stunning views of a perched male Sparrowhawk, plus several Fieldfares and Lapwings.
Dungeness - 1430hrs - An hour from the fishing boats produced a trickle of auks (one Razorbill), Red-throated Divers, Gannets, Kittiwakes and Cormorants.
New Diggings - 1545hrs - What with ARC still frozen over, a bit of a sawbill fest here with 13 Goosanders and 11 Smews, plus Pochards, Tufteds and 5 Goldeneyes, Great White Egret and 3 Marsh Harriers. On ARC from the road 200 Gadwalls and Shovelers. At Cockle Bridge, single Stonechat.
Walland Marsh - 1600hrs - Finished the afternoon checking out the fields on Walland where 63ish Bewick`s Swans at Midley, Tree Sparrows on the usual feeders and single Buzzard, 5 Marsh Harriers and a Teal nearby. Several more Mistle and Song Thrushes noted along the verges.
Not a bad start, considering the horrible conditions.

WeBS

2012-02-12T09:29:00.000-08:00

Lade 1500hrs - cold, grey, icy - Returned from WSussex where most of the pits en-route were frozen over, including Scotney and ARC. No surprises then that Lade was likewise, so the monthly wildfowl count didn't take long, as there weren't any. 355 Curlews on the shingle ridges was of note and a Woodcock was flushed from cover by the main track.

Pagham Harbour

2012-02-11T12:43:00.000-08:00

Pagham Harbour - 0800hrs - bitter cold, -7C, clear and sunny, ne2 - I must be the world`s worst twitcher... I had a bad feeling about this when I turned up on North Shore with about a hundred other mugs, when after an hour a Kestrel came up out of the reedbed with an LBJ which it proceeded to eat atop the tyre bush, the Paddyfield Warbler`s favoured haunt... It probably was only a Reed Bunting, but that was enough for me; back to proper birding and get the blood flowing again, as boy was it nippy (birders who`d travelled from the Midlands had recorded -12 C on the way down!).
In the reedbed plenty of Reed Buntings, several Mipits, Wrens, Bearded Tits,2 Water Rails, Cetti`s Warblers and a couple of Stonechats. A circuit westwards provided 3 Rock Pipits besides the bank, flocks of winter thrushes, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, 2 Snipe, 2 Woodcocks, Wigeons, Teals, Buzzard, a cracking male Marsh Harrier and the spectacle of the morning hundreds of Brents on the move. On the harbour at low tide loads of common shorebirds, particularly Grey Plovers, Wigeons and Teals.

Paddy twitch, North Shore

Chichester Gravel Pits

Where`s the water gone...

Chichester Gravel Pits - 1200hrs - My first visit here and most of the lakes were frozen over apart from Ivy Lake which had a couple of thousand tightly packed common wildfowl, grebes and Coots, 12 ****** Ducks and 2 Goldeneyes. Also noted, Grey Wagtail, Chiffchaff, Bullfinch, Long-tailed Tit and by the car park, Nuthatch, Treecreeper and a Firecrest.
Church Norton - 1430hrs - A super spot at high tide with all 10 species of common shorebirds on show, 50 Shelducks, 30 Teals, 200 Cormorants, 10 Med Gulls, 4 Pintails, 5 Herons, 2 Little Egrets, 7 Dabchicks, 1 Merg, 3 Goldeneyes, Sparrowhawk, Siskin, Kingfisher, Greater pecker; and offshore, 7 Red-breasted Mergansers and 2 Slav Grebes.
A top days birding with 95 species noted.

Go West

2012-02-10T10:30:00.000-08:00

Bracklesham Bay, West Sussex - cold and sunny - A change of scene 100 miles west for a spot of research; and not a flake of snow to be seen anywhere. A mooch along the beach before lights out was notable for a huge flock of around a thousand Brents on the move. On the sea several Red-throated Divers, Guillemots and a flyover Grey Plover.

Brents over Bracklesham Bay

Bittern & Chiffchaffs

2012-02-09T10:47:00.000-08:00

Lade - 0900hrs - cold, sunny, ne2 - Seemed a bit warmer this morning as the wind had backed off. The Desert looked a treat with the sunshine bouncing off the snowdrifts, where several Blackbirds and a SongThrush were rooting around in the broom. Three Goldeneyes on Lade south amongst the regular ducks was about it.
ARC - 1330hrs - Had a run out with CP and MH this afternoon. First stop the causeway road where a couple of Smews on New Ex and hundreds of Wigeons, Shovelers and Gadwalls on the ARC side. Further down towards Boulderwall we had cracking flight views of a Bittern flying over the road and into the reedbed at ARC, that duly performed again from Hanson later on by flying across the lake. From the hide hundreds of Wigeons, Shovelers, diving ducks, 3 Smews, 2 Shelducks and a Dunlin. Also, incredible views of 3 Chiffchaffs flitting through the reeds and hopping onto the ice, plus singles of Cetti`s Warbler and Water Rail. Walked the Willow Trail for Woodcock without success but did note a few Blackbirds, Wrens and Robins, Redwing and Great Tit.
On the way out bumped into and had a natter with Martin Garner (former Bedfordshire birder) who was in the county to give a talk this evening for KOS in Maidstone.

Lade Desert

Smew and Wigeons

Dungeness - 1510hrs Finished off with a 45 minute seawatch from the concrete road where the highlights were 2 adult Little Gulls, 20 Red-throated Divers, plus a few auks, Kitts, Gannets and a Shelduck.

Hard Times

2012-02-08T07:53:00.000-08:00

Lade - 0800hrs -bitter cold, grey with a scudding north-easterly 3- The only bird of note was yet another Woodcock flushed from scrub on one the storm-beaches by Barney.
Galloways - 1330hrs - A circuit around the range road produced plenty of small gull activity at the sheep troughs, mostly Common Gulls, plus a few Stock Doves and Magpies. Good views of a Bittern and 2 Smew on Brett`s Pit, plus a couple of sickly Common Gulls. On the chicken sheds a male Black Redstart seemed to be finding food in sheltered corners, but once again there was no sign of any Little Owls.
Dengemarsh - From Springfield Bridge, Raven overhead `cronking`, single male Marsh Harrier, a Woodcock and 5 Curlews on the field edge and hundreds of Wigeons on the open water.
New Diggings At least 7 Smew on the far side from the causeway road.

Galloways

Dengemarsh Sewer

Med Gulls

2012-02-07T10:34:00.000-08:00

Folkestone - 1000hrs - v cold, sunny, se4, -1C - Had to go to the cash & carry in Folkestone so thought it only right and proper to check out the Med Gulls at Copt Point. Smart birds (for a gull) are Meds and I can remember back in the 80`s calling in here to twitch one when they were still a scarce bird. Anyhow, saw about 50 in the area today around the old pub, the coastguard lookout and down by the harbour. Several posed on roof-tops for piccies but should`ve taken some bread to bring `em down.
On the fields behind the lookout were 4 Goldies, 2 Lapwings and a Dunlin feeding on a snow-free patch of grass.
On the harbour breakwater and wall, amongst the gulls, were 20 Turnstones, 6 Dunlins, 2 Redshanks and a Purple Sandpiper.

Lade Bay - sunrise

Golden Plovers - Folkestone

Lapwing & Goldie - Folkestone

Adult Mediterranean Gulls - Folkestone

ARC - 1400hrs - From the causeway road 7 Goosanders on the edge of the ice along with hundreds of Wigeons, Gadwalls and Shovelers, plus 3 Dunlins and a Snipe on the frozen mud. Over the road on New Diggings 3 redhead Smews. From Hanson, 1,000 + Wigeons, Shovelers and Gadwalls plus several Shelducks, Pintails and brief view of a Bittern. Opposite Screen a small flock of Long-tailed tits and a Chiffchaff. Out on the ice yet another moribund Common Gull and several other looking decidedly unwell; wonder why this gull in particular seems to be suffering...

Slow Thaw

2012-02-06T09:32:00.000-08:00

Lade - 0900hrs - cold, grey, 2C, a slow thaw - Wildfowl wise much the same as yesterday, although an increase in Teal numbers to over 200. Some of the Common Gulls on the ice didn`t look in great shape and further down by the ponds found a moribund individual under a bush; two foxes sitting on the edge of the ice looked ready to mop up. Flushed a Woodcock from cover by the ponds and a flock of 15 Lottis was a nice surprise.
Dungeness - 1430hrs - An hour from the seawatch hide produced very little apart from a few grebes, auks and Kitts, plus a couple of hundred Black-headed Gulls over the Patch. The most exciting thing was watching two blokes in bosun's chairs atop the new lighthouse.

Lade - south pit

Dungeness Lighthouses

Snowfields and Pack Ice on Denge Beach

2012-02-05T09:21:00.000-08:00

Lade - 1100hrs - cold, overcast, overnight snowfall, s2 - The much forecast snow eventually arrived on the Marsh during the early hours dumping several inches across the Dungeness area. Decided to give the local patch a flogging and by and large it paid off. Checked the partially frozen pits first where 9 Goldeneyes amongst the usual diving ducks, Teals and Shovelers. Walking down the track beside south pit 3 Snipe flew over in the gloom and the first group of 5 Redwings, a bird that has been largely absent all winter. Whilst watching hundreds of Curlews leaving their roost site on the desert 2 Woodcocks flew into view; a cold weather movement was obviously in progress. Over the next two hours noted several small flocks of Skylarks (first of the year locally) coming in off the sea, several Mipits and Reed Buntings, 2 more Snipes and a Woodcock that flew over the cottage whilst I was on the phone looking out of the window! Also at the pits watched a Common Gull on the ice keel over and die, something you don't see very often and had good views of Water Rail, Chiffchaff and Cetti`s Warbler. Behind the `mirrors` singles of Buzzard and Marsh Harrier.
The bay at Greatstone was a terrific sight as the sea had frozen at slack water with pack ice sloshing about as the tide receded. The snow cover had largely left the shorebirds and gulls unaffected as the mudflats were full of Curlews, Oystercatchers, Sanderlings, Dunlins and the like. Scores of Carrion Crows and a fox scavenging along the tideline.

Lade north pit

Curlews returning to the bay

Gorse in flower!

Greatstone pack-ice

Happy dog!

Goosanders

2012-02-03T12:03:00.000-08:00

Lade - 0900hrs - Cold, sunny, ne2 - Another chilly day but without much wind it felt warmer even though the temperature barely rose above 2C all day. Nothing much of note here apart from a few Goldeneyes and Shelducks amongst hundreds of Teal, Gadwall and Shoveler.
RSPB - 1000hrs - Picked up MH and CP and headed for the bird reserve where a definite influx of wildfowl noted; particularly Goosanders (probably up to 14 on the reserve today) which have been scarce so far this winter. From the causeway road singles of Goosander and Smew on New Diggings while on ARC 3 Smews, 2 Pintails, 10 Goldeneyes, 3 Dunlins, 2 Kingfishers and hundreds of Gadwall, Wigeon and Teal. From Hanson, Kingfisher, 2 Pintails, 6 Shelducks and hundreds more Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall and Shovler. The Willow Trail produced Long-tailed Tits, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest and calling Water Rail, while several Tree Sparrows were on the feeders at Boulderwall.
Most of the ditches and shallow pools were frozen over on Dengemarsh but the open water in front of the hide delivered hundreds more ducks, including 2 Pintail, Dabchicks and feral geese. Also, 6 Marsh Harriers, Kestrel, Green Woodpecker, 4 Stonechats and 2 Great White Egrets flying over the hayfields that eventually dropped in at New Ex.
Onto Burrowes where 2 Kingfishers, Long-tailed Duck and 3 Smew, including a drake, at the north end, while from Makepeace 5 Goosanders, including 4 drakes, and 12 Pintails showed well in front of the hide. At the visitors centre news came through of an odd duck on ARC...
Back at Hanson we had a 5 minute view of a small, dull drake Teal which showed features of Green-winged Teal but without the vertical slot on the breast; it also lacked the white horizontal line above the flanks and showed less buff on the stern. Unfortunately, it flew off over the far side of the lake before we could get any pics or further details. Verdict: probably a hybrid Teal, but hopefully it`ll show again over the weekend for a more protracted view.

Cormorant, sinensis

Goosanders, Burrowes

Walland Marsh - 1530hrs - At least 50 Bewick`s Swans at Midley plus 30 Tree Sparrows, Buzzard and Kestrel. Checked out one of the harrier roost sites with CP but despite 6 Marsh Harriers in the area none went to roost and we saw little else apart, from a Sparrowhawk and a Snipe, on a bitter cold afternoon. Throughout the day foxes were noticeable at every site including a black-coated individual on the bird reserve and a pair on Walland coupled for at least half an hour...

Black Redstart & Chiffchaff

2012-02-02T09:07:00.000-08:00

Dungeness - 1000hrs - v cold, sunny, ne4 - I doubt whether it got much above 1C today, but felt more like -10C in the biting north-easterly. Plenty of grebe and auk activity from the boats this morning, on a choppy sea, plus a few Kitts, Red-throated divers and a single Bonxie.
ARC - 1115hrs - Eventually located the wintering Long-tailed duck along the far shore from the causeway road; also a host of wildfowl including 12 Goldeneyes, the drakes displaying despite the conditions. From Hanson, 3 redhead Smew and 2 Pintail.
Lydd Aiport - 1215hrs - Checked out the `Dotterel field` which held a small flock of plovers, plus decent numbers of Rooks, Jackdaws, Stock Doves, Red-legged Partridges, 2 Mistle Thrushes, a Blackbird and Robin. Most of `em were loitering in the sun-drenched lee of a hedgerow, sheltering from the wind and taking advantage of invertebrates in the frost-free turf.
Down by the aircraft hangars a Black Redstart was also feeding in a sun-trap; it is amazing how such a frail insectivorous bird can survive in this weather, but it seemed to be finding morsels of food.
Plovers - Continuing on with the, hard-as-nails-passerine theme, was working in the garden this afternoon when a Chiffchaff paid me a visit. While they`re regular here on passage I rarely see a wintering bird, but it too seemed to be finding plenty to eat amongst the ivy and conifers, particularly in one small sun-trap. Once the Chiffy had move off I got the step ladder out and thrust my head into the ivy-clad tree to see what I could find. Incredibly, I soon found a couple of small spiders and a few other creepy crawlies, so it seems that if you know where to look there`s prey to be had, even in weather such as this.

Gadwalls

2012-02-01T09:20:00.000-08:00

RSPB reserve - 0900hrs - v cold, sunny, ne5 - A nippy old morning with a bone-chilling wind whipping in off the sea forming small waves on ARC/New Diggings. From the causeway road a decent selection of wildfowl on ARC included 2 Pintails and 12 Goldeneyes amongst the Shovelers, Wigeons, Teals and 6 Dunlins.
At least 300 Gadwalls were also enjoying the weather and I reckon there must have been over 500 scattered across the pit. Smart birds are Gadwalls and they were not always this numerous, as I recall from the days when I used a brass telescope, did a paper round and lived on Mars bars...
Elsewhere around the reserve the Great White Egret was on the fields at Boulderwall and a Raven `cronked` over. Burrowes had another pair of Pintails and 8 Shelducks but I couldnt find any Smews.
Also checked out the plover flocks at Cockles Bridge and Lydd Airport for the Dotterel but could find no sign of it.

Gadwalls - ARC

Corpses on the Beach

2012-01-31T08:49:00.000-08:00

Dungeness - 0900hrs - cold, grey and grim, sleet, e2 - Still a good show of Razorbills offshore amongst the Guillemots and Great Crested Grebes, plus a scattering of Gannets and Kittiwakes. On the shoreline a long dead porpoise corpse being picked over by a Turnstone (is there nothing they wont eat?) and a freshly skinned deer carcass dumped for the incoming tide to tidy up...

Dengemarsh - first dusting of the winter

Dungeness - porpoise corpse

Dengemarsh 1400hrs - Had a stroll from Boulderwall down to Dengemarsh hide taking in Gun Club field. The Great White Egret was on the fields at Boulderwall along with 200 Wigeon, 30 Curlews and 100 Lapwings; the Dotterel was also reported in a Golden Plover flock in the fields towards Cockles Bridge. Two Stonechats and a flock of 30 Greenfinches at the Corral, plus 6 Bewick`s Swans over. From the hide Sparrowhawk, 4 Snipe, 6 Dunlin, 8 Dabchicks and at least 5 Marsh Harriers, but no sign of this mornings 23 Avocets. On the walk back had stunning views of a Firecrest in the gorse by the return trail style.

Little Gulls

2012-01-30T09:47:00.000-08:00

Dungeness - 0900hrs - cold, grey, drizzle, se1 - Plenty of activity on the sea with hundreds of auks, including some large groups of Razorbills. Best of all though was up to 5 Little Gulls feeding just offshore. Also, 2 Common Scoters, several Red-throated Divers, 20 each of Kittiwakes and Gannets, and hundreds of Great Crested Grebes. Before I arrived DW had 2 Bonxies and a Med Gull, while the Glaucous Gull was reported later on.

Denge Beach 1600hrs - Checked out one of the occasionally used harrier roost sites this afternoon. None went down but 6 had a look before departing towards the bird reserve. A scattering of Green Woodpeckers, plus singles of Buzzard, Chiffchaff and Cetti`s Warbler was all I could muster.

Walland Marsh

2012-01-29T12:29:00.000-08:00

Lade - 0900hrs - cold and horrible, n2 - Winter finally seems to have arrived. All the usual wildfowl here including 12 Goldeneyes and 20 Wigeons. Despite the cold 2 Cetti`s Warbler were going for it in the willows.
RSPB - 1300hrs - The Great White Egret showed well from the access road at Boulderwall this afternoon. From the causeway road 2 Smews and the Long-tailed Duck in view. Elsewhere, a Common Scoter on Dengemarsh, Firecrest at Christmas Dell and more Smews, while the 2nd winter Glaucous Gull was back at the Point. The scouts were out in force searching for the Goldie flock harbouring a Dotterel but without success, although at least 10 Buzzards reported around the Marsh (OL).

GWEgret, Boulderwall Matriarch Marsh Harrier & White-fronts, Walland

Walland Marsh - 1430hrs - The 53 Bewick`s Swans were still in their favourite field at Midley. Had a saunter around Marshman`s local patch this afternoon where a flock of 200 Grey Lags contained 11 White-fronts. Plenty of harriers noted (including an old white-headed female), 3 Buzzards, a pair of Peregrines, 80 Corn Buntings, 2 Stonechats, 9 Pintails, 50 Wigeons, 30 Teals, Reed Buntings, Snipe, Golden Plover, Bittern, Cetti`s Warbler and Water Rail. Finished in grand style with12 Marsh Harriers going to roost along with the Bewick`s Swan herd flying in just before lights out. Still no sign of any Barn Owls though.

Dotterel

2012-01-28T06:21:00.000-08:00

Lydd Airport - 1000hrs - cold, sunny and dry - The wintering Dotterel was relocated by NB in the plover flock in a field near the airport this morning. Much better views than on ARC three days ago, although difficult to photograph due a reed-fringed ditch. The Dotterel tended to feed on the edge of the flock and at times was close to the access road before it departed with the Goldies about 11am. Buzzard also noted plus a Black Redstart by the hangars.
A drive around Caldecote delivered 50 Curlews and 53 Bewick`s Swans at Midley.

Dotterel, Lydd

Scotney - 1200hrs - Plenty of Wigeons and Lapwings on the fields by the pits, plus several Redshanks, Dunlins and (at last) 3 Ringed Plovers.

Slim Pickings

2012-01-27T12:24:00.000-08:00

Lade 0900hrs - warm, dry and sunny w2 - A wander around both pits delivered very little apart from an increase in Teal numbers to over 200 and 8 Goldeneyes. The fine weather brought 3 Cetti`s Warbler into the open and plenty of common residents into song. Several Marsh Harriers and a Buzzard were hunting the airport fields.
Dungeness - 1500hrs - A late seawatch from the boats was disappointing with only a few auks, divers and Kitts milling around the Point. Still hundreds of Cormorants and Great Crested Grebes on the sea. No sign of the 2nd winter Glaucous Gull which hasn't been seen for over a week now.
On ARC Long-tailed duck, Smews and Bewick`s Swan reported this afternoon.

Medway and Sheppey

2012-01-26T11:33:00.000-08:00

Bedlam`s Bottom - 0900hrs- wet and windy morning, brighter later - A change of scene today, with Marshman and the Joker, `up-north`. After dropping off the ladies in Rochester we checked out the Medway from a couple of road side pull-ins. As it was low tide the mud was full of waders and wildfowl, the highlight of which was a flock of 262 Avocets. Also, hundreds of Dunlins, Redshanks and Knots, plus a decent supporting cast of both godwits, Curlews, Grey Plovers, Oystercatchers and Turnstone. Amongst numerous Shelducks and Wigeons were Pintail and Teal, several groups of Brents and Greylags, while on the far shore several Marsh Harriers drifted by.
Muswell Manor - 1045hrs - south of the manor we followed the track out onto farmland noting several ringtailed harriers and Kestrels. The highlight was a large mixed flock of passerines which included over 100 Skylarks and at least 50 Lapland Buntings; mostly calling birds in flight, plus one or two brief glimpses on the deck of what was the largest flock of Laps we`d seen seen for ages. Also, Mipits, Reed Buntings, Linnets and Greenfinches present. Two Green Sandpipers flushed from a ditch and on the walk back we picked out a Rough-legged Buzzard towards the prison along with 3 Common Buzzards and further views of ringtails and Marsh Harriers. A large Greylag flock contained a leucistic bird plus a lone White-front, also Little Egret, Grey Heron, Lapwings, Golden Plovers and Brents noted.
Harty Marsh - 1230hrs - On the approach to the viewpoint a single Stonechat, 20 Corn Buntings and a Sparrowhawk. From the ramp plenty of harrier activity, Buzzards and Kestrel plus huge numbers of distant plovers shimmering in the sunlight against the blackness of an approaching storm cloud, which I confidently forecast, "would miss us by a mile" - and then the heavens opened...
Elmley - 1400hrs - As the rain lifted we drove a good way down the access road looking for the field, "that`s always got Grey Partridges", mmm.... Anyhow, did see a very pale Common Buzzard, more harriers and a large flock of Curlews, Goldies and Lapwings.
In summary another cracking day, `on the island` that delivered loads of good birds for the year and as always plenty of laughs.

The Medway

Capel Fleet, Sheppey

Dotterel

2012-01-25T09:01:00.000-08:00

Lade - 1000hrs - mild and miserable - All the usual wildfowl on site plus a Shelduck and 5 Goldeneyes. A large flock of gulls on south pit included 200 Common Gulls. Cetti`s Warbler in song and plenty of small insects on the wing.
Had a drive around the back of Lydd but very few birds in the fields apart from several Curlews and Red-legs. Galloways was also quiet, apart from a couple of Green Woodpeckers and a Kestrel.

Green Woodpecker, Galloways

ARC - 1500hrs - News broke this afternoon of a Dotterel seen in front of Hanson hide. By the time I arrived it had moved over the far side amongst c500 Goldies and was just about viewable. From Screen hide had a closer view noting, the pale breast band and creamy white eye-brow before the whole flock was flushed by a harrier. This was probably the same individual that hung around with the Goldies into late autumn last year.
Three Smews, Kingfisher and Long-tailed Duck still present and 45 Bewick`s Swans flew in just before lights out.

Cormorants

2012-01-24T08:52:00.000-08:00

Dungeness - 0900hrs - cold, drizzle, w2 - Cormorants, the old fishermans friend, not a bird that often features on the blog, but this morning could not be ignored as they were even more numerous than Great Crested Grebes. I counted 725 going west around the Point which was very much a minimum number and quite a spectacle. Also, well over 500 grebes on the water plus hundreds of Kitts and auks and lesser numbers of Gannets and divers.
Had a quick scan of ARC and New Diggings before the rain really got going, but could only make out a couple of Smews from the causeway road.

Smews

2012-01-23T09:00:00.000-08:00

ARC/New Diggings - 1000hrs - mild, bright, w1 - Seemed to be an influx of Smews this morning with 5 on each water, including a cracking `white nun` at the southern end. A lone Ruddy Duck remained on New Diggings and 2 Marsh Harriers drifted over Screen hide. A Woodcock flushed from the Willow Trail where 2 Chiffchaffs in the buses, plus calling Water Rail and Cetti`s Warbler.
53 Bewick`s Swans reported from Midley (CP).
Littlestone - 1530hrs - A late stroll along the beach for any owls hunting over the golf links drew a blank. Plenty of Sanderling (c200) on the beach, plus several Grey Plovers and Knots; no sign of any Ringed Plovers tho...

White Nun, ARC

Dungeness

2012-01-22T12:35:00.000-08:00

Dungeness - 1030hrs- mild, sunny, w2 - A wander around the Point this morning in very pleasant conditions produced little of note. Couldnt find the Glaucous Gull in the massed ranks on the shingle, although the 1st winter Caspian was present; while offshore there was the usual mix of auks, divers, grebes, kitts and Gannets and a 1st winter Little Gull was reported.
Managed to locate a large Great/Blue Tit flock in the trapping area that contained several Goldcrests and a Chiffchaff. Also, plenty of midges on the wing plus a tatty red admiral butterfly.

A Goose Day

2012-01-21T09:20:00.000-08:00

Pett Level - 0930hrs- mild (13C by midday), cloudy, w3- En-route to the Levels plenty of feral geese at Scotney; 75 Barnacles, 6 Blue/Emperor types, 250 Grey Lags, 50 Canadas; and over 1,000 Goldies on East Guldeford Level opposite Northpoint Pit.
At Pett located the goose flock over by the canal. TI & BB also on site scanning from the road. Slogged down the track (much to Barney`s satisfaction) from Toot`s Rock where a flock of 50 Fieldfares on the hillside plus Green Woodpecker and Yellowhammer. Out on the fields hundreds of Lapwings, Starlings, Woodpigeons, Stock Doves, corvids, Curlews, Redshanks, Dunlins, Wigeons and Shelducks; also, single Marsh Harrier, Little Egret and Kestrel.
Managed to get reasonably close to the geese from the main track where 4 very nervy Pink-feet and 9 White-fronts kept apart from the mixed dross of 114 Greylags, 123 Canadas, 1 Blue Goose, 1 Bar-headed Goose and 2 hybrid types.
From the sea wall several Fulmars on the cliff face at Cliff End and to complete the goose list 3 Brents in the bay.
Rye Harbour - 1200hrs - A quick call in revealed all the expected shorebirds on Flat Beach plus several Rock Pipits along the river.

Pink-feet & White-fronts, Pett, Bewick`s Swans, Midley

Walland Marsh - 1300hrs - A drive back across Walland delivered 53 Bewicks Swans (including 6 imms) 3 Marsh Harriers and a Buzzard at Midley, plus a dozen Tree Sparrows on the feeders.
Dungeness - 1400hrs - Around the bird reserve this afternoon: 2 Ravens over Burrowes; 3 Smews, 1 Long-tailed Duck on ARC; Ruddy Duck, New Diggings; Firecrest, Christmas Dell; Great White Egret, Dengemarsh. The Caspian Gull was reported from the Point.

ARC

2012-01-20T12:23:00.000-08:00

ARC - 1000hrs - mild, overcast, drizzle - From the causeway road the drake Smew showed well amongst 100 Gadwall, while opposite on New Diggings the GWegret was again on the far bank with several Little Egrets. A decent flock of birds around the car park included 15 Tree Sparrows, 20 Blue/Great Tits, Chaffinch, Reed Bunting and Goldcrest. Kingfisher seen from Screen hide and there were 2 redhead Smew on the water.
MH reported good roadside views of the goose flock at Pett Levels which included White-fronts and Pink-feet.

Out & About

2012-01-19T10:50:00.000-08:00

Lade - 1030hrs - mild, cloudy, showery, w3 - All the usual wildfowl including 5 Goldeneyes plus a large flock of Golden Plovers over the airport fields.
RSPB - A scout around revealed the Great White Egret on New Diggings with 7 Little Egrets, and singles of Smew and Ruddy Duck (the one that got away); further Smews on ARC and Burrowes. Plenty of passerines around the car park and on the feeders included Tree Sparrow, Goldfinch and Reed Bunting.

Dungeness - 1500hrs An hours seawatching from the boats delivered a year tick in the shape of 2 Velvets amongst a flock of 30 Common Scoters heading down-Channel. Hundreds of auks (mostly Razorbills), Kitts and Great Crested Grebes just offshore, plus a scattering of Gannets and Red-throated Divers.

Pom Skua

2012-01-17T08:44:00.000-08:00

ARC - 1030hrs - dry, bright and mild, e2 - A stunning winters morning brought plenty of fair weather birders into the field. From Hanson 2 redhead Smews, 15 Goldeneyes and all the usual wildfowl; Bittern and Kingfisher were also reported. In the scrub a single Chiffchaff plus vocal Water Rails and Cetti`s Warbler.
Dungeness - 1530hrs - A seawatch before lights out from the concrete road, with a band of locals, produced a stunning close Pomarine Skua, several Common Scoters (just missed a Velvet) and plenty of Kitts, Gannets, Red-throated Divers and auks, mainly Razorbills (c2,000 counted earlier) coming and going. A 1st winter Caspian Gull also got the combined pulses racing...

Trio of Year Ticks

2012-01-16T12:41:00.000-08:00

Dungeness - 1445hrs - cold, sunny, se3 - Spent an hour seawatching from the concrete road this afternoon. As I pulled up on site MH called a Bonxie, as it headed down-Channel. A good start and my first of the year. Red-throated Divers, Great Crested Grebes, Kitts, auks and Gannets were coming and going both ways and several small groups of Common Scoters crept on to the year list, along with a single Eider. A flock of 15 Wigeon were also noted past the point.

WeBS

2012-01-15T09:26:00.000-08:00

Lade - 1000hrs - Sunny, dry, cold, se3 - A nippy morning for the monthly WeBS count. Numbers generally down on last moth but still over 300 Coots, 5 Goldeneyes and 76 Teals the highlight. Chiffchaff, Green Woodpecker and Cetti`s Warbler noted in the willows.
By late afternoon the wind had picked up and gone due east off the sea, making for a very cold end to the day. Just managed to get over the desert as the light was failing to see several Marsh Harriers drifting over towards the local roost site.

Teal, Lade

Ravens & Goosanders

2012-01-14T11:57:00.000-08:00

Littlestone - 1200hrs - cold, cloudy, n2 - Checked along the shoreline on a rising tide for waders, but found few apart from a mix of 30 odd Redshanks, Knots, Turnstones and Grey Plovers. No sign of any Snow Buntings, but a single Short-eared Owl circled high over the golf course before heading inland.
RSPB - 1400hrs - A pair of Ravens showed well along the access road and 2 drake Goosanders dropped in on Burrowes. Over the road on ARC the Long-tailed duck remained at the south end while a pair of Kingfishers were noted in front of Screen hide; amongst the hundreds of Wigeons was an unusual leucistic individual. As the light faded several Marsh Harriers headed toward their roost sites scattering wildfowl and Lapwings.
Also reported on the bird reserve were Smews on New Ex, Firecrests at Christmas Dell and Great White Egret at Dengemarsh. The 2nd winter Glaucous Gull remained at Dungeness.

Sunny Lade

2012-01-13T09:46:00.000-08:00

Lade - 0930hrs - cold, dry and sunny, n1 - A cracking winters day with a sharp frost and bright blue skies. All the usual wildfowl present, but in small numbers, including 8 Goldeneyes and 15 Wigeons on north pit. Cettis`s Warbler and Water Rail very vocal this morning.
RSPB - Checked out the bird reserve this afternoon. A large mixed flock of plovers, pigeons and corvids on the fields behind Boulderwall, plus a couple of Marsh Harriers and a close Stonechat in the reedbed. Elsewhere, 3 Smews on New Excavations, Great White Egret and Dabchicks on Dengemarsh and the Long-tailed Duck on ARC.

Lade Pits, Goldeneye

Purple Sandpipers

2012-01-11T11:24:00.000-08:00

Dungeness - 0930hrs - mild, sunny, w2 - The usual melee of Gannets, divers, grebes, gulls and auks (including a few Razorbills) feeding just offshore, while the 2nd winter Glaucous Gull was present on the shingle.
Hythe - 1330hrs - Called in at the hotel Imperial where 5 Purple Sandpipers were roosting out the high tide on the usual sea defence blocks.
Lade Bay - A couple of checks of the bay today for the reported seal pup drew a blank. Over 500 Oystercatchers from the tavern, plus a scattering of Knots and Barwits and 3 Brents.

Red-throated Diver, Dungeness. Purple Sandpipers, Hythe

Up North

2012-01-10T12:21:00.000-08:00

Reculver - 0815hrs - mild, overcast, light airs - Off the Marsh today to recce out a couple of sites in north Kent for articles, in company with Chris Philpott, Mark Hollingworth, Phil Lightman and Barney.
Havent been here for ages so ambled around the car park for a bit checking out the facilities. On the sea, decent numbers of Red-throated Divers coming and going, plus a few Brents heading east; as the tide came in over the next couple of hours the total rose to c300, including one pale-breasted bird. A distant sand-bar attracted several common seals. Along the foreshore below the car park and around the tower 2/3 Black Redstarts, 2 Rock Pipits, 5 Mipits, 5 Pied Wagtails, Wrens, Robins and Turnstones.
We then walked a section of the Thanet Coastal Path eastwards besides the oyster ponds. On the seaward side a few more waders included 14 Ringed Plovers and a Grey Plover, plus 7 Shelducks and another Black Redstart, while inland Marsh Harrier, 3 Redshanks, 10 Reed Buntings and a flock of 50 Linnets noted.
MH then took us on a trip down memory lane, between here and Minnis Bay, regaling us all with birding tales from before the last Cod War!

Reculver, Brents, Grove Ferry, Glossy Ibises & Water Pipit

Grove Ferry - 1115hrs- In the car park we were greeted by 3 Ring-necked Parakeets (sadly, a site tick for us all). Also, around the car park were a number of Song Thrushes, Long-tailed Tits, Goldcrests and a Chiffchaff. A scan from the ramp produced 4 Ruffs in a mixed flock of Grey Lags, Lapwings and Teals, plus a distant Peregrine. Cetti`s Warblers and Bearded Tits were heard and we had a couple of brief views of Bittern here and from Feast`s hide.
The long trudge down to the ox-bow lake marsh produced precious little apart from brief views of a ringtail harrier, 2 Greater peckers, 3 flyover Water Pipits, Green Woodpecker, Little Egret, Snipe and a couple of distant Marsh Harriers; by `eck this place is hard work.
Anyhow, spirits were lifted as we back-tracked to Marsh hide from where we had brief views of 2 Glossy Ibises as they emerged from a ditch; after which, they flew off towards Stodmarsh. The saving grace was superb views of 3 Water Pipits (bird of the day) on the muddy field in front of the hide.
Back at the car we lamented the paucity of passerines throughout the day; there just wern`t any winter thrushes, Skylarks, and very few finches, mipits and buntings, pretty much the same as the farmland on Romney Marsh really.

Winter Moths

2012-01-09T10:26:00.000-08:00

Lade - 0930hrs - mild, overcast, w2 - A Buzzard perched on the wall `mirror`, until disturbed by a Sparrowhawk, plus 2 Marsh Harriers over the airport fields. Plenty of wildfowl on both pits including 5 Goldeneyes, plus Cetti`s Warbler and Water Rail calling from the willows.
Kerton Road Cafe - With the weather set to be mild all week, thought about getting the trap out, but that`s as far as I got... However, at the cafe a trap was set and delivered, Winter Moth and Dark Chestnut.

Dark Chestnut

Walland Marsh - 1500hrs - At Pigwell a flock of 300 Greylags contained 6 White-fronts lurking in their midst, plus a pair of Stonechats nearby. The Midley Bewick`s Swan flock had increased to 36 and a Sparrowhawk nipped over the lane by the drying barns.
At the harrier roost site joined a group of locals for the raptor spectacle; along with the landowner who proffered much valuable advice on access and the status of marshland birds...
At least 18 Marsh Harriers in the area but only 3 went down to roost; also, 2 Buzzards and a Kestrel.

Kingfisher

2012-01-08T07:22:00.000-08:00

New Diggings - 1100hrs - mild, overcast, light airs - A decent number of ducks here including Smew and Goldeneyes, plus single Great White and 5 Little Egrets around the margins.
ARC - From the causeway road a flock of 8 Goldeneyes displaying, 4 Pintails and another Smew. A massive mixed flock of Golden Plovers (1,200) and Lapwings flushed from the islands by a Peregrine held several Dunlins and 2 Ruffs. A Kingfisher showed well from the Screen hide, one of their favourite spots of late and a Marsh Harrier drifted over.

Kingfisher, ARC

Burrowes - The wintering Long-tailed Duck was viewable from Dennis`s hide and all the usual wildfowl were present. Tree Sparrows and Reed Buntings noted on the car park feeders.

Bullfinches

2012-01-07T08:39:00.000-08:00

ARC/New Diggings - 1030hrs - The drake Smew and Black-necked Grebe remained on their respective waters and a GWEgret flew over the causeway road.
Faggs Wood - 1100hrs - mild, dry and sunny - Cracking morning for a wander in the woods with Pat and Barney. Most of the usual woodland species noted around the car park area including Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay, Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Goldcrest, Long-tailed and Coal Tits (where have all the Marsh Tits gone?). Further into the wood, in the birch plantation, managed to locate a pair of Bullfinches, which have to be one of our smartest birds, while a few Redpolls and Redwings passed overhead. Good to hear plenty of Song Thrushes in song.
There was no sign of the Great White Egret on the canal by the Hamstreet garden centre.

Littlestone - 1430hrs - Two Short-eared Owls were hunting over the golf course this afternoon and managed to locate 9 of the usual bay waders on the sands with only Ringed Plover remaining elusive.

Sunny Days

2012-01-06T11:34:00.000-08:00

Dungeness - 0830hrs - mild, sunny, nw2 - A stunning morning to be out and about after the gales of yesterday. Not so many gulls on the shingle by the fishing boats, but the 2nd winter Glaucous Gull was present. However, plenty of gulls just offshore plundering a shoal of sprats, including many Kittiwakes and at least 200 Great Crested Grebes.
New Diggings - A Black-necked Grebe was new for the year here, alongside 15 Goldenyes, 2 Smews, 5 ***** Ducks, 2 Gwegrets and 5 Little Egrets.

ARC - From the causeway road at the southern end, the first `white nun` of the winter plus 3 redhead Smews. From the car park, soaring Buzzard and Sparrowhawk plus Chiffchaff and 5 Tree Sparrows in the willows. At Screen hide a Kingfisher was zipping about and a Bittern showed well. Legions of ducks and Lapwings on the water including several Pintails and Shelducks. On the the walk back to the car a massive flock of Golden Plovers got up from the fields at Boulderwall. Over the road the Long-tailed Duck was on Burrowes and viewable from Dennis`s hide. Good to see plenty of fairweather birders around the reserve today enjoying the sunshine and plenty of good birds.
Elsewhere, this afternoon had a Merlin at Newchurch, while 2 Short-eared Owls were reported from Littlestone Golf Course (BB).

Stormy Weather

2012-01-05T07:32:00.000-08:00

Dungeness - 0900hrs - Gale force westerly, showers, mild, sunny/cloudy - Another day when the weather dominated proceedings with gale force westerly to north-westerly winds battering the peninsula. Lade Bay was most impressive with the wind whipping the tops off the waves as the tide receded, while a rainbow arcing out over the bay lasted all too briefly. Checked the gulls out from the concrete road without finding any of the specialities. Offshore the usual movements of Kitts, Gannets, grebes, auks and divers.

ARC/New Diggings - 1500hrs - Some stuff as yesterday but difficult to observe in the buffeting wind; Long-tailed Duck, Smew, Gwegret, etc...

Peregrine

2012-01-04T12:37:00.000-08:00

Lade - 1000hrs - cold, grey, sw3 - Watched a large (presumed female) Peregrine over the airport diving amongst a Lapwing flock in an attempt to separate one out. This went on for about 5 minutes before the raptor gave up and drifted over towards the bird reserve. Three Goldeneyes on south pit and Cetti`s Warbler calling from the willows.
ARC 1200hrs - From Hanson 12 Goldeneyes, 2 Water Rails, singles of Smew, Long-tailed Duck and Shelduck, plus legions of Wigeons, Teals and Lapwings. Goldcrest and Long-tailed Tits in the car park. On New Diggings, 6 Little and one Great White Egret, 5 ***** Ducks and an odd looking pale Mallard.

Stormy Dungeness

2012-01-03T09:01:00.000-08:00

Dungeness - 1000hrs - Gale force south-westerlies, heavy rain - A shocker of a morning with a raging gale running up Channel ruling out a seawatch due to the sea state and poor viz. A flock of gulls hunkered down on the shingle by the boats included the 1st winter Caspian.

Caspian Gull, Dungeness

New Diggings - 1100hrs - Difficult viewing conditions but at least 6 Little and a Great White Egret sheltering from the wind, plus the leucistic Grey Heron.
Tower Pits - 1430hrs - As the weather front moved through, the wind backed off and the sun came out. Together with MH and CP had a scout around for yesterdays Jack Snipe, but without success. At least 6 soggy Marsh Harriers were noted and from Screen hide we had distant views of the Long-tailed Duck.

Lade & London

2012-01-02T11:52:00.000-08:00

Lade - 0900hrs - dry, bright and sunny - In complete contrast to yesterdays deluge, this morning dawned bright and sunny with clear skies. All the usual wildfowl were on south pit including 5 Goldeneyes, 50 Wigeons, 80 Teal and 2 Dabchicks. A Grey Heron that had been fishing in back garden ponds was driven across the storm beaches by the Herring Gulls, were it landed with bulging crop.

Walthamstow Marshes - 1230hrs - Had to go up to London on family matters and dropped in at Walthamstow Marshes in the Lea Valley to recce out for an article. Plenty of Ring-necked Parakeets in the nearby park, Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail along the river and Snipe and Stonechat on the marsh.
Hammonds Corner - 1620hrs - Cracking views of a `ringtail` harrier as it flew over the Brenzett road heading towards Cheyne Court, and a Little Owl on the old barns just past the farm at Hammonds Corner.

NYDay Bird Count

2012-01-01T10:43:00.000-08:00

Despite the weather forecast (drizzle, followed by showers, ending with driving rain) a disparate team from the Marsh set out in high spirits for the traditional NYDay Bird Count. Chris (Marshman) Philpott was wheelman, alongside Mark (The Joker) Hollingworth, plus Phil (Listman) Lightman and myself.
Faggs Wood - 0715hrs - On arrival Tawny Owls were vocal, after which 3 of us slogged around the wood not seeing very much while MH held the fort in the car park and mopped up on the woodland birds. Eventually we noted good numbers of Redpolls, a few Redwings, Siskins, Coal and Long-tailed Tits, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers, Goldcrest, Jay and Mistle Thrush, all of which would be difficult at sea level.
Warehorne - 0930hrs - The bank of feeders by the church produced more tits and finches plus Tree Sparrows, while down by the canal we noted Mipit, Fieldfares, Great White and Little Egrets in flight but precious little else. As we were to discover, passerines were very hard to come by this morning right across the flatlands.
Midley - 1045hrs - Slim pickings here too, although we did pick up Goldfinch, Pied Wagtail, Marsh Harrier and a herd of 32 Bewick`s Swans. The drying barns area having been tidied up was largely birdless, apart from 2 Yammers, and there were no flocks of wintering geese anywhere to be found on Walland Marsh.
Scotney - 1130hrs - A Raven was the best bird here as it flew over from the ranges `cronking` away. As expected there were large flocks of feral geese, Lapwings, Goldies and Wigeons, plus Redshank, Curlew, distant harriers, Kestrel, Snipe and Shelducks.
Galloways - 1215hrs - The Rye Bay scoter flock eluded us but we did have Stonechat for the day on the drive down to the sea.
RSPB - 1300hrs - Called in at the Visitors Centre, (so Phil could buy his calendar!) and catch up on any news. Pintail went onto the slowly rising list. Over the road from Hanson hide the weather really closed in, with poor viz adding to the horizontal rain, as we began to struggle to find new birds. However, on New Diggings we added Ruddy Duck (6) and Smews to the day list.
Lade Bay - 1400hrs - Undaunted, we soldiered on checking the sands in driving rain for Barwit, Sanderling, Dunlin and Knot with a bonus of a small flock of Brents.
Dungeness - 1500hrs - Seabirds here included the usual Red-throated Divers, auks, Kitts and Gannets from the concrete road in appalling weather with near zero viz and lashing rain. We eventually located the 2nd winter Glaucous Gull and then decided it really should have a name, seeing as it is now a Dunge resident; a bit like old Boy George up at Cley all those years ago. Anyhow, Gary was mooted (too soft), followed by Dan (a hard enough name, but not quite right) and Gloria (well, it could be a lady bird...). In the end we were undecided, so called it a day. After a cursory look at ARC from the road (where even the Ltduck kept out of sight) and with the rain hammering down we decided against doing the harrier roost; the weather had beaten us.
The final tally was a pitiful 91 species, but it had been a great day in good company with plenty of jokes and loads of mickey taking all round. Thanks to Chris for driving, Mark for a constant stream of gags and Phil for being the butt of most of the mickey taking - see you next NYD Phil!!

Feral Geese, Scotney

New Years Eve

2011-12-31T03:32:00.000-08:00

Lade Pits - 0900hrs - mild, bright, sw2 - Had a thorough search of both pits this morning with tomorrow in mind. All the usual wildfowl including an influx of Wigeon and Teal, plus 5 Goldeneyes. In the willows 2 Chiffchaffs, Cetti`s Warbler, Green Woodpecker and a Kingfisher, which have been few and far between this year.
Happy New Year to one and all and good luck to anybody doing a NYD Bird Count tomorrow.

Rye Bay

2011-12-30T06:25:00.000-08:00

Galloways - 0900hrs - cold, grey, w3 - Checked the bay from the bottom of Galloways road where a large flock of scoters (c200) were well offshore, plus the usual comings and goings of grebes, divers, auks, Kitts and Gannets crossing the bay.The rough ground inland was quiet, but did manage a pair of proper partridges and a pair of Stonechats. The chicken sheds along Dengemarsh Road were once again bereft of Little Owls but the Black Redstart was still present (mental note for NYD).
ARC - Plenty of birds here including Long-tailed Duck, Gwegret, Bittern, 2 Blackwits, 3 Smews and 2 Kingfishers.
Dungeness - The 2nd winter Glaucous Gull was by the boats, with the usual melee of auks, Kitts, grebes, divers and Gannets offshore.

Lade

2011-12-29T10:25:00.000-08:00

Lade - cold, showery, breezy, sw4 - A couple of forays out to check the pits and the bay yielded little of note apart from a Peregrine barrelling after a Woodpigeon (without success) behind the `mirrors` and a couple of Med Gulls on the sands amongst the legions od waders and gulls. Most of the wildfowl on the pits were hunkered down around the willows trying to avoid the scudding wind.

Dungeness

2011-12-28T11:06:00.000-08:00

Fishing Boats - 0930hrs - mild, overcast, sw4 - The Glaucous, Yellow-legged and Caspian Gulls were on the shingle gull roosts. Offshore, stacks of auks, grebes, Kitts and Gannets, plus several Razorbills and Red-throated Divers milling around the Point and a single Bonxie west.
On the bird reserve the usual protagonists included GWEgret, 3 Smew and the Long-tailed Duck at the southern end of ARC, while the Penduline Tit was reported from Hanson.

ARC

2011-12-27T09:20:00.000-08:00

ARC - 1000hrs - mild, overcast, light airs - During 2011 the ARC pit has consistently been one of the best birding spots on the Marsh. I couldn't say how many species have been recorded on site this year but I reckon the wader tally alone is 31 species. Once again this morning proved the point with a cracking two hours full of birds - and I didnt even make it to Hanson hide! A thorough check from the causeway road eventually located that tricky Long-tailed Duck, which as usual spent more time under the water than on top, plus a Bittern sat on the edge of a reedbed. A White-front mingled within the Greylags and a `redhead` Smew came and returned to New Diggings over the road. Large numbers of Wigeons, Teals, Shovelers, Pochards, Gadwalls, Mallards, Tufteds, 20 Goldeneyes, 20 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Shelducks and 4 Pintails were on the mill-pond lake.
From Screen hide hundreds of Lapwings, Wigeons and Teals on the islands, plus 2 more Bitterns flying around, a Great White Egret, 6 Little Egrets, 4 Grey Herons, 3 Marsh Harriers, 2 Blackwits, calling Water Rails and Cetti`s Warbler and singles of Dunlin, Sparrowhawk and Reed Bunting. Around the car park, 10 Tree Sparrows, 15 Lottis and a Goldcrest. A quality session.
Lade - 1600hrs - Finished up at the aerial mound for a roost count. Disappointing really with 35 Magpies being the only count of note. A cracking sunset was some compensation.

White-front, ARC

Lade South Pit

Dungeness

2011-12-26T04:47:00.000-08:00

Dungeness Boats - 1100hrs - mild, cloudy, sw3 - Hundreds of roosting gulls on the shingle including an adult Yellow-legged Gull and a 1st winter Med Gull, while the Glaucous Gull was playing `peeka-boo` on a winch. Close to shore plenty of seabird activity around a shoal of fish with scores of Cormorants, Gannets, auks (including 3 Razorbills), divers and grebes plundering what looked like sprats. Further out a steady flow of Kittiwakes plus two flocks of 50 odd Wigeon west.

Lade & Littlestone

2011-12-25T07:02:00.000-08:00

Lade - 1000hrs - mild, bright, breezy, sw3 - Enormous numbers of gulls pouring onto south pit on a rising tide; at least 2,000 Black-headed and 1,000 Common Gulls, plus hundreds of Herring, Lesser and Great-black Backs. Several Marsh Harriers hunting over the airfield and a Sparrowhawk reduced the local Starling population as it impressively snatched one from a flock over the beach.
Littlestone - 1300hrs - A single Short-eared Owl hunting over the golf course in a strengthening wind. Along the shore several small groups of Turnstones and 3 Grey Plovers.

Dengemarsh

2011-12-24T10:27:00.000-08:00

Dengemarsh - 1400hrs - mild, sunny, sw2 - Spent a pleasant couple of hours walking the Dengemarsh circuit from Boulderwall to Springfield Bridge, returning via the chicken sheds and across the farmland. Highlights included the leucistic Grey Heron and 200 Goldies at the corral, Bearded Tits and Cetti`s Warbler from the ramp, GWEgret and Merlin from Dengemarsh hide, a Black Redstart on the chicken sheds and a pair of Stonechats plus a single White-front on the farmland. Also en-route, 4 different Marsh Harriers, 100 Wigeons, 6 Shelducks, 4 Dabchicks and singles of Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Reed Bunting. Bumped into MB on the access road and had a natter about his trip to Antarctica.

Dengemarsh - showing the newly installed anti-predator fencing around the hay field and the flood by Springfield Bridge.

Odds and Ends

2011-12-23T09:12:00.000-08:00

Lade - mild, overcast, drizzle, sw2 - A grim old morning with low cloud and rain for most of the day.
Hamstreet - 1200hrs - The Great White Egret was fishing in the RMCanal by the garden centre when we drove by.
RSPB - At the southern end of ARC this afternoon a large mixed flock of gulls on the mud contained a sub-adult Caspian Gull (probable 3rd winter) and the Long-tailed Duck was on the water.
Elsewhere, the Rough-legged Buzzard was again reported from West Hythe.

Winter Solstice

2011-12-22T10:56:00.000-08:00

Dungeness - 0830hrs - mild, sunny, sw2 - A stunning start to the shortest day of the year with sunshine throughout and a mild south-westerly airflow. A short seawatch from the hide, with BB, resulted in the expected comings and goings offshore of auks, divers, Gannets and Kittiwakes. Only other noteworthy event was a Merlin flying around the old light chasing a Mipit, and the Glaucous Gull was at the boats.
ARC - 1200hrs - Nothing much from Hanson, apart from the Gwegret and distant Wigeons. Plenty of invertebrate activity in the warm sunshine with several bumble bees and loads of small flying insects on the wing.
Littlestone - 1500hrs - Finished off the day with cracking views of two Short-eared Owls hunting the rough grassland behind the Romney Bay Hotel, a Merlin and 5 Corn Buntings going to roost
Elsewhere, the Rough-legged Buzzard was reported at West Hythe.

Partridges

2011-12-21T09:12:00.000-08:00

Rye Harbour - 1030hrs - grey, misty, mild, light airs, drizzle - Dropped in at Rye this morning. Amazing how a slight change in the habitat (salt marsh and river estuary) on this side of the Marsh makes it a lot easier to see birds such as Redshanks, Ringed Plovers and Shelducks, plus Rock Pipits and Skylarks along the river. Besides all the usual shorebirds on Flat Beach a pair of Partridges (Grey, of course) was most welcome, as over Dunge way they`ve been very thin on the ground of late.
Typically, a bit like buses as the saying goes, had a covey of 4 in a field opposite Jury`s Gap on the way home.
Scotney - Stacks of Golden Plovers, Lapwings, Starlings, Wigeons and feral geese on the sodden fields, plus several Redshanks, Curlews and a Ruff.
ARC - 1500hrs - From Hanson 22, newly arrived Bewick`s Swans (2 juvs) on the water, with 55 Mutes. Also, singles of GWEgret, Smew, Kingfisher, 12 Goldeneyes and all the usual dabblers. Around the car park, 15 Tree Sparrows in the bushes in the bramble patch, plus 8 Long-tailed Tits and a Goldcrest.

Hamstreet GWE

2011-12-20T12:55:00.000-08:00

Dungeness - 0800hrs - cold, sunny, nw3 - Plenty of gulls around the boats which for some reason were very flighty. Managed brief views of a 1st winter Caspian and an adult Yellow-legged, plus a red colour ringed Herring Gull. The ever present Glaucous was patrolling the foreshore. Thousands of dead starfish washed up in the recent storms attracted a flock of 20 Turnstones.
Walland Marsh - Took the back road from Lydd to Old Romney where 12 Bewick`s Swans (in three groups) noted, plus 100 Curlews, 50 Common Gulls and a Little Owl.
Hamstreet - The Great White Egret was showing well around noon, on the RMCanal, beside the garden centre, where it posed in the sunshine for the camera.

Dungeness - Gulls Galore

Dungeness - starfish

Hamstreet, Great White Egret

ARC

2011-12-19T10:14:00.000-08:00

ARC - 1200hrs - cold, grey, drizzle, still - A grim old start to the week with the rain set in for the afternoon. However, plenty to see from Hanson with stacks of common wildfowl on the water including several Pintail and a dozen Goldeneyes. To add interest, singles of Bewick`s Swan, Smew and Great White Egret came and went, and a couple of Marsh Harriers settled on the islands. A passerine flock around the Willow Trail comprised a decent range of tits, including 15 Long-taileds, 5 Goldcrests and one each of Firecrest and Chiffchaff. Had good views of a Cetti`s Warbler on the walk back to the car park, plus two Green Woodpeckers and a Sparrowhawk.
On the point the Glaucous and Caspian Gulls were again noted near the fishing boats.

Wildfowl and Harrier Counts

2011-12-18T12:52:00.000-08:00

Lade - 1000hrs- cold, sunny, nw3 - A cracking winters day for the monthly WeBS. Numbers down on last month apart from a large count of 487 Coots, most of them on north pit. Greater pecker, Chiffchaff and Cetti`s Warbler also noted.
Walland Marsh - 1445hrs - Had a drive around Walland with CP looking for a flock of 12 Bewick`s Swans without success, but did see a few Song Thrushes, Fieldfares, Green Woodpeckers and over 100 Curlews. Managed to dodge a heavy shower which resulted in a stunning rainbow. At the roost site raptors included 3 Buzzards, 2 ringtails, 2 Kestrels and a Merlin, plus 12 Marsh Harriers to roost. Also noted at least 20 Snipes, 200 Lapwings, 4 Pintails, a Golden Plover, 2 Stonechats and 4 Bewick`s Swans `bugling` overhead en-route to the safety of open water for the night. To finish on, a distant Barn Owl was the first one seen here for a while.

Shovelers, Lade & Rainbow, Walland Marsh

Shelducks and Crows

2011-12-17T11:59:00.000-08:00

Lade - cold, frosty, sunny, nw3 - slithered across the shingle this morning as the first ground frost of the winter turned the stones into a skating rink. Two Shelducks dropped in on south pit and 3 Marsh Harriers were working the rough ground by the airport. On the beach in the afternoon counted 44 Carrion Crows picking over flotsam on the tide line amongst Turnstones and Oystercatchers.

Shelduck, Lade Pits

Lade Bay, late afternoon

Elsewhere around the Marsh the Rough-legged Buzzard was reported from West Hythe, 3 Short-eared Owls at Littlestone golf course, 2nd winter Glaucous Gull at Dungeness while on the bird reserve the Long-tailed Duck and Great White Egrets remained at their usual haunts.

Wet, wet, wet

2011-12-16T11:10:00.000-08:00

Lade - 0900hrs - rain, low cloud, cold, nw3 - Not quite sure why I bothered, but Barney was up for it so off we went across the shingle against a bone-chilling north westerly and lashing rain. Yesterdays Brents had predictably gone and most of the wildfowl were huddled around the willow islands. What on earth a Chiffchaff was doing atop a willow on such a day I`ll never know, while a Greater pecker was noteworthy. Amazing how quickly the water level has risen with most of the islands and broad margins now flooded.
ARC 1230hrs - That`s better, rains stopped and sun shining, still cold though, 4 C tops all day. A quick look from the causeway road revealed the ever diving Long-tailed Duck, 3 Smews and 2 Great White Egrets, while over the road the Blackwits and Black-necked Grebe were reported.
Littlestone Golf Course - 1530hrs - Had brief views of 2 Short-eared Owls hunting the St Mary`s Bay end of the golf course and the 3 Snow Buntings were seen along the seawall nearer to the Romney Bay Hotel.

Brents and Kitts

2011-12-15T09:26:00.000-08:00

Lade - am - cool, sunny, w3 - Two visits to the local patch this morning yielded all the usual wildfowl, plus a flock of 15 nervous looking Brents on south pit. Don`t often get them dropping in and when they do they rarely stay for long. Also two Chiffchaffs in the buddleia scrub and a Marsh Harrier over the farmland.

Brents, Lade south

Dungeness Boats - 1445hrs - Spent the final hour of usable daylight doing a half-hearted seawatch from the concrete road with MH. Bird of the watch was a steady flow of Kittiwakes around the point. Kitts are undeniable gorgeous creatures (for a gull!) and eminently watchable. Little else though, apart from a few Gannets and a distant diver. A pleasant enough winters afternoon weather wise but according to the forecast we could be in for a rough night with heavy rain and gale force winds heading our way. Mmm, lets just wait and see...

Where`s it Gone!

2011-12-14T10:16:00.000-08:00

Dungeness - 0900hrs - chilly, cloudy, showery, w3 - Called in at the Obs and had a natter with DW about the `big trip` and the news that the Patch hide had succumbed to the weather. Strolled down to the Patch where all I could find was a flat-pack hide, plus a 2nd winter Med Gull amongst the melee of gulls over the boil and on the beach.

Changing Landscape - "Last time I was here there was a wooden structure", said Barney, "now where`m I going to cock my leg?"

ARC - 1500hrs - Two `redhead` Smews and the Long-tailed Duck at the south end was all I could muster up, plus 3 Bewick`s Swans in the field at the back of Tower Pits.

Penduline Tit

2011-12-13T12:00:00.000-08:00

Dungeness Boats - 0900hrs - Sunny, cool, w4 - Phew, after last nights `blow` was good to see a roof full of tiles on the cottage this morning. Nothing much happening on the sea at the Point apart from a few Kittiwakes and auks, plus the wintering Glaucous Gull (must give that bird a name...). Had a long chin-wag with Plodding Birder about his recent trip `down south` - if you havent already checked out his blogsite then do so immediately as there are some stunning images to drool over.
ARC - Midday - Jammed in a bit here with brief views of the Penduline Tit in front of Hanson. Unusually it wasn't up atop a bulrush ripping it apart, but low down skulking like a Cetti`s Warbler. Also noted a Bittern and 2 Blackwits from the hide, plus from the causeway road a supporting cast of Long-tailed Duck, 3 Smews and a Great White Egret.
The fields opposite Cockles Bridge held a small flock of swans including 3 Bewick`s, while elsewhere the Snow Buntings were reported from St Mary`s Bay and another Great White Egret was at Hamstreet.

2 Blackwits, ARC

Ten Wader Challenge

2011-12-12T09:34:00.000-08:00

Lade Bay - dry, sunny, start, cloudy, showery afternoon, sw3 - Spent some time checking the shorebirds across the bay today and playing the Ten Wader Challenge - I`m easily pleased....During the winter 10 species of shorebirds are present, in variable numbers, all feeding in their allotted niches on the mud, sand and shingle. As usual Redshank, Ringed and Grey Plovers proved the trickiest but eventually found several of each down at Littlestone, along with Turnstones picking through the flotsam on the tideline. Oystercatchers numbered over 700 and Curlews 550 with at least 200 each of Dunlins and Sanderlings, scurrying along in front of the waves. Small numbers of Barwits and Knots also noted on the sands dodging the bait diggers.
As for gulls, there were thousands of `em, and far too many to count, plus 3 Brents and 10 Wigeons..
Local news included the wintering Rough-legged Buzzard at Nickoll`s Quarry, West Hythe, while at the bird reserve the Penduline Tit put in an appearance this afternoon (per MH).

Lade

2011-12-11T08:51:00.000-08:00

Lade - 0900hrs - A grey old winters day with a chilly westerly scudding across the shingle. Most of the ducks were on north pit with only a couple of Goldeneyes and a Pintail to break the monotony amongst the legions of Coots, Tufteds, Gadwalls and Pochards.Two Marsh Harriers and a Merlin hunting over the farmland.
Tower and ARC Pits - 1400hrs - Did a circuit around the pits and back via the hides. A mixed flock of 20 Long-tailed Tits, Chiffchaff and Cetti`s Warbler, 5 Green Wodpeckers and 2 Marsh Harriers at Tower Pits. Cracking views of a pair of Peregrines `kek-kek-keking` around the water tower, probably thinking what a great nesting site that would be if only the local water company hadn`t put metal grills over the ledges to keep the pigeons at bay - why, we could have done that for free... blah, blah, blah.
On ARC distant views of the Long-tailed Duck, 12 Goldeneyes, 6 Shelducks, 4 Pintails and an adult Yellow-legged Gull. Also, brief view of a Firecrest on the Willow Trail.

Gull Fest

2011-12-10T09:23:00.000-08:00

Dungeness - 1000hrs - cold, sunny, w2 - First heavy ground frost of the winter, enough to ice over the garden pond. The beach fisherman were out in force at the Point this morning, probably as a result of a 17 pound cod landed recently. Offshore about 100 Great Crested Grebes with a scattering of Guillemots, Red-throated Divers and Kittiwakes. On the beach two large groups of loafing gulls produced 2nd winter Med and Glaucous Gulls, an adult Yellow-legged Gull and a 1st winter Caspian, plus another one in a separate flock by the Pilot.
Littlestone Golf Course - 1500hrs - On such a stunning afternoon couldn`t resist another look at the Short-eared Owls before the weather changes tomorrow. Three owls were on show, one of which came close to the sea wall. Didn`t see the Snow Buntings but they were reported earlier in the day.
Elsewhere around Dungeness, a couple of Siberian Chiffchaffs were present in the Trapping Area, plus Long-tailed Duck, Slavonian Grebe and Great White Egret on the bird reserve

Hythe Birding

2011-12-08T09:37:00.000-08:00

Hythe - 0920hrs - mildish, gale force south-westerly with heavy showers - Despite the appalling weather headed for Hythe with MH to have a second go at the Waitrose Diver. En-route had good views of 3 Purple Sandpipers on the sea defences at the Imperial, plus 4 Turnstones and a Rock Pipit. The diver proved a little more tricky but eventually we located it on the canal beside the golf course with a Cormorant. At one stage it flew off towards Waitrose but decided the wind was a bit too much so it plonked back down on the canal. Shortly after it caught what looked like a sizable roach or rudd. A few Redwings noted plus a 2nd winter Med Gull and Kittiwake on the sea.
Called in at Nickoll`s Quarry on the way back but there was no sign of the Rough-legged Buzzard - not surprising really considering the strong wind and rain. More Redwings and Goldfinches here, plus a singing Song Thrush.
On the bird reserve the Penduline Tit was again seen from Hanson hide this morning.

Purple Sandpipers, Turnstone and Great Northern Diver, Hythe

Lade

2011-12-07T10:41:00.000-08:00

Lade - 0830hrs - bright, chilly, w4 - With a scudding wind whipping across south pit most of the wildfowl had decamped to the shelter of north pit where 3 Goldeneyes amongst the massed ranks. Both Cetti`s Warbler and Chiffchaff calling in the willows. Buzzard and Marsh Harrier over the `mirrors`.
Called in again at sunset and counted 36 Magpies going to roost in the willows plus 100 odd Starlings and 20ish Woodpigeons.
On the way home from Folkestone this afternoon had a quick look from the Stade St. bridge in Hythe for the Great Northern Diver on the canal. Had no luck, but later heard that it had, "moved to Waitrose" - but can it afford to! (per MH). Also, the 3 Snow Buntings and a Short-eared Owl still at Littlestone.
Back at Dungeness the Penduline Tit showed from Hanson this morning (TG) and a Great White Egret remained on Dengemarsh.

3 Plus 3

2011-12-06T09:16:00.000-08:00

Lade - 0800hrs - bright, chilly start, cloudy later, nw3 - Of note was a single Fieldfare `chacking` away with the resident Starling flock outside the cottage. After flying around a bit looking for his kin he soon gave up and flew off high to the west still calling loudly. Pretty quiet on the pits with lower duck numbers than of late, although singles of Pintail and Goldeneye noted.
ARC - 1200hrs - Ditto here really with very little of note from Hanson hide apart from half a dozen Goldeneyes and Shelducks.
Littlestone Golf Course - 1445hrs - Picked up MH and finished the day in style with an hour at the St Mary`s Bay end of the golf course where 3 Short-eared Owls put on a grand show, one bird coming quite close. On the foreshore we found 3 Snow Buntings feeding on weed seeds close to the footpath, oblivious to the dog mayhem going on around them. As always with these little ground-huggers, quality birds. Couldn`t resist digiscoping them, even though the light was fading fast.
Elsewhere, the Hume`s Leaf Warbler was reported from the Trapping Area at DBO and one of the Great White Egrets was seen along the canal at Appledore.

Trio of Snow Buntings, St Mary`s Bay

Hume`s Leaf Warbler, again...

2011-12-05T06:50:00.000-08:00

Trapping Area, DBO - 0900hrs - bright, chilly start, clouding over later, W 2-4 - Spent the morning flogging around the willow scrub to the south of Long Pits where eventually saw the Hume`s twice in three hours; albeit briefly. Appeared as a duller, faded version of Yellow-browed with a darker bill and fainter wing bars. I didn`t hear it call but others did. It was within a flock of 20 plus tits, (including Long-tailed) crests, (including at least one Firecrest) and Chiffchaffs, and was not at all easy to see.
Also noted a few Song Thrushes, Redwings, Redpolls, Siskins, Goldfinches and a Sparrowhawk.

ps: Went to see The Big Year in Ashford with Pat this afternoon. The film is supposed to be a birdwatching comedy, starring Steve Martin, Owen Wilson and Jack Black, all of whom are very funny actors but the film is so poorly scripted that there were few laughs. The storyline is based on the three of them competing in a `Big Year` bird race wherby the challenge is to see as many species as possible in a calendar year across the North American continent. To be fair there were one or two humorous birding moments and, worryingly, I could relate to some of the scenarios from my twitching days... Technically there were one or two howlers but it was amusing to see the Yanks getting twitchy over European rarities such as Greater pecker and Pink-footed Goose! Probably the best fun I had was putting the names of some of the British birders I`ve know over the years to the film characters; even Pat played the game and she`s an innocent bystander!
Anyway, to sum up, I don't suppose it`ll be on at the cinema for long, (not judging by the audience of six other sado`s in the audience) so best wait `till it comes out on dvd in the New Year and at least try out the name game!
Perhaps, you could even let me know how you got on ...

Hume`s Leaf Warbler

2011-12-04T10:00:00.000-08:00

Dungeness - 1100hrs - mild, overcast, w2 - An hour at the boats produced 50 odd Great Crested Grebes, and 10 each of Red-throated Divers and Guillemots on the sea, plus a dribble of Gannets, Kittiwakes and 5 Wigeon west. The Glaucous Gull was loafing on the beach amongst the Herring Gulls for a while before patrolling the foreshore.
Around 1230hrs news broke of a new bird for Dungeness when Will at the Obs found a Hume`s Leaf Warbler in the sallows at the southern end of Long Pits. Thankfully, it was heard to call (also confirmed by SB) and it remained in the same area, off and on, for most of the afternoon in company with Firecrests (SM). Unfortunately, I arrived too late and the bird was not seen after 1550hrs, having probably gone to roost.

2nd Winter Glaucous Gull, Dungeness

Highlights on the bird reserve today included, 3 Bewick`s Swans, 2 Great White Egrets, 3 Smews and a Glossy Ibis. The Short-eared Owls were again reported from Littlestone Golf Course with another Great White Egret at Hamstreet.

Penduline Tit

2011-12-03T11:02:00.000-08:00

Lade - 0900hrs - mild, dry, sunny, sw2 - Following more rain over night it quickly cleared leaving a cracking day to be out and about. Checked both pits with the Teal count now over 300 birds. Also, 2 each of Goldeneye and Pintail, plus Sparrowhawk, Chiffchaff and Cetti`s Warbler in the willows.
ARC - 1030hrs - The Long-tailed Duck and Great White Egret could be seen at the southern end from the road. From Hanson, 2 Bitterns, 6 Goldeneyes, 7 Little Egrets, 2 Marsh Harriers and a Kingfisher. Chiffchaff and Cetti`s Warbler from the Willow Trail and another Bittern in front of Screen.
Boulderwall - 1200hrs - Had brief views of the Penduline Tit tearing into a bulrush in a reedy patch just past Boulderwall. It didn`t stay for long, and shot off like a rocket towards ARC. I assume it was the long-stayer that puts in an occasional appearance in front of Hanson. Also, 2 Stonechats here and 2 more at Cockles Bridge.
Pigwell Pits - 1400hrs - The washout pit near Lydd had 2 `redhead` Smew and 5 Avocets, plus 50 Wigeon, 20 Shoveler and 10 Shelducks. Another Stonechat by the sewage works and a Grey Wagtail.
Galloways - 1430hrs - Pretty desolate here with just 2 each of Stonechat and Marsh Harrier of note.
ARC - 1500hrs - Finished the day with a harrier count in the company of CP. Five Marsh Harriers to roost with another 5 that headed towards the reserve. Also, Buzzard and 2 Sparrowhawks. Back at the car park a Woodcock flew over to complete a decent days birding.

Bittern, ARC

Here Comes the Sun

2011-12-02T11:12:00.000-08:00

Lade - 0800hrs - bright, sunny and still - After the heavy rain of yesterday the raptors were out and about enjoying ideal hunting conditions. Three Marsh Harriers, 2 Sparrowhawks and singles of Kestrel and Buzzard on the wing plus, I presume, yesterdays Short-eared Owl quartering the Desert.
Checked out north pit, which was loaded with Teal and Gadwall and not much else.
RSPB - 1400hrs - Had a run out with MH this afternoon in fine winter weather. From the causeway road, Great White Egret and Long-tailed Duck noted on ARC. From Dengemarsh hide the second Great White Egret showed briefly. Also here 3 Snipe, 5 Bearded Tits, 5 Marsh Harriers, 4 Dabchicks and a Dunlin. Hundreds of Goldies, Lapwings, Greylags, Woodpigeons and Stock Doves on the back fields. Plenty of activity around the hay fields with the contractors fitting the predator fencing. Finished off over the road from Hanson where the Glossy Ibis put in a late show. Also, 3 Bewick`s Swans in front of the hide, plus 3 Smews, 6 Goldeneyes, 2 Pintails, 3 Marsh Harriers and singles of Sparrowhawk, Chiffchaff and Green Woodpecker. We both commented on how the recent rain has dramatically raised the water levels on both pits.
Three Short-eared Owls were reported from the St Mary`s Bay end of Littlestone golf course.

Rain, rain and more rain

2011-12-01T08:28:00.000-08:00

Lade - 0900hrs - dry, mild start followed by torrential rain mid-morning, then a bright interlude before an afternoon of steady rain. There`s nothing like a report in the media of impending drought orders in the South-east to bring on a deluge...
Had a Short-eared Owl hunting over the Desert, before the rain started, that may have been the same one reported by DB at the Point. Stacks of wildfowl, gulls and Lapwings on south pit and a Buzzard perched on the wall `mirror`.
ARC - 1500hrs - Despite the gloom and rain had good views of a Bittern from Screen hide. The Great White Egret put in an appearance and 3 Smews were feeding on the edge of the reedbed. By the time we got back to the car park (1545hrs) it was virtually dark, winter has truly arrived.

The Patch

2011-11-30T12:48:00.000-08:00

Dungeness - 0800hrs - mild, showery sw2 - Thought I`d check out the Patch as not been down there for what seems like ages. At least the boil was up and bubbling again with hundreds of attendant gulls milling around. All I could locate of note were 5 Kittiwakes and a Little Gull, plus a possible 1st winter Caspian that flew off towards Pen Bars before I could properly nail the id.
Offshore, the usual coming and goings of auks, divers and Gannets, while at the boats the Glaucous Gull was on patrol.
Romney Salts - 1530hrs Had a wander across the farmland searching for the recently reported "orangey ringtail" without success. Did see, however, at least 6 Marsh Harriers and a ringtail Hen Harrier heading towards roost sites (in the words of the late RAT you could tell it was a Hen, "coz it had a rump like a f***ing Bullfinch"!!!).
On the bird reserve the elusive Penduline Tit was reported, plus the more reliable Great White Egret.

Bits and Pieces

2011-11-28T10:51:00.000-08:00

Lade - 0800hrs - chilly start but got milder as the southerly airflow picked up - Had a thorough check around both pits but could only rustle up 3 Goldeneyes amongst the legions of common wildfowl. Water Rails and Chiffchaffs vocal in the willow scrub and watched a Sparrowhawk take a Starling for breakie with great aplomb.
ARC - 1200hrs A trio of tired looking Bewick`s Swans in front of Hanson was the highlight here, plus singles of Great White Egret on the cormorant island and Long-tailed Duck further out. Also, 3 Smews, 5 Goldeneyes, 2 Pintails, 6 Shelducks, 7 Little Egrets, 3 Marsh Harriers and a bathing Sparrowhawk.
Cetti`s Warbler, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest and Water Rail heard.
Lade Bay - 1545hrs Thousands of gulls on the beach at Greatstone included 50 Kittiwakes and 2 Med Gulls. Two small groups of Knots and Barwits totalling 20 each.

Bewick`s Swans and Great White Egret, ARC

Sunset over Denge Beach

2011-11-27T11:51:00.000-08:00

Lade - 1530hrs - mild, still, sunny - A stroll over the back just before sunset revealed hundreds of Woodpigeons and Stock Doves going to roost, a flushed Woodcock and a hunting Short-eared Owl. Large flocks of Lapwings, geese and ducks were coming and going. Ten Marsh Harriers counted over the shingle with 7 going to roost. Hare and fox seen. A spectacular sunset too. Oh, its good to be back after a weekend away.

Afternoon Seawatch

2011-11-25T11:27:00.000-08:00

Dungeness - 1415hrs - dry, bright and sunny, sw3 - Did an afternoon seawatch from the concrete road with MH. Plenty of Kittiwakes, Red-throated Divers and Gannets feeding just offshore, plus a single Little Gull west, while the Glaucous gull was on its usual station patrolling the fishing boats.
Reports from the bird reserve today included Glossy Ibis and Great White Egret on Dengemarsh, and Long-tailed Duck and Black-necked Grebe on ARC.

RSPB Reserve

2011-11-24T11:10:00.000-08:00

ARC - 1200hrs - mild, dry, sunny, sw2 - Nipped into Hanson where a Great White Egret and 2 Kingfishers were the highlight. At the south end 3 Smew showed well while the Long-tailed Duck was a little more difficult. A Penduline Tit had been reported earlier in front of the hide.
On Dengemarsh the Glossy Ibis and Little Stint remained alongside the Great White Egret.

A Day of Dips

2011-11-23T12:21:00.000-08:00

Dungeness RSPB - 1015hrs - mild, sunny, light airs - Spent the morning with MH on the bird reserve; having first paid a brief visit to the Point where there was nothing much apart from a few auks on the sea. Dengemarsh was quiet due to reserve staff working on the lake, although the Glossy Ibis was noted flying around later on. An hour scanning the scrub between Scott and Christmas Dell for the reported Pallas`s Warbler drew a predictable blank, while we also dipped the Pink-foot over the road. However, on ARC we did note a Great White Egret, single Smew and around 20 Pintails.
ARC 1500hrs - A return to Hanson delivered distant views of the Long-tailed Duck (that seemed to spend more time under water than on the surface), a redhead Goosander and at least 4 Water Rails in front of the hide. On the walk back to the car park, after what had been a dippy sort of a day, I could scarcely believe my luck when first a ringtail Hen Harrier flew over my head followed by a stunning Short-eared Owl that crossed the road by Boulderwall.
Elsewhere, the Rough-legged Buzzard was reported from Nickoll`s Quarry and a Great White Egret from Hamstreet.

No Show Pallas`s

2011-11-22T10:27:00.000-08:00

RSPB - 1100hrs - misty, mild, overcast - Spent an hour or so searching for yesterdays Pallas`s Warbler to no avail, although had good views of a Firecrest. Also in the Christmas Dell scrub, Cetti`s Warbler and 5 Chiffchaffs. The Glossy Ibis was still on Dengemarsh, along with a Great White Egret and a Little Stint, plus 3 Little Gulls on New Diggings.
The Rough-legged Buzzard was again reported from West Hythe.

Herons Galore

2011-11-21T11:21:00.000-08:00

Lade - 0800hrs - mild, dry, sunny, e1 - When Michael Fish forecast on BBC South-east that, "the weather across Kent will be dull and dreary all day", I just knew we were in for a fine, sunny day...
Not much happening over the pits apart from a few Skylarks and Mipits drifting over; the finch passage seems to have finally ground to a halt.
Greatstone - 1230hrs - Two dead Harbour Porpoises in the car park were about to be removed by a representative from the Natural History Museum for examination. They were washed up on the beach yesterday, probably as a result of drowning in fishing nets. Sadly this is not an uncommon occurrence along the Marsh coastline.
RSPB - 1345hrs - A scoot around the bird reserve this afternoon resulted in a heron fest. First off the two Great White Egrets were cosying up together on Burrowes (could this be a sign of things to come...) alongside 3 Little Egrets and 2 Grey Herons. The leaucistic Grey Heron showed in the hayfields and the Glossy Ibis flew over the corral. From Hanson had stunning views of a Bittern flying past the hide and probably a 3rd Great White Egret on the islands. Phew!
Also, 2 Goosanders on ARC, 3 Smews on New Diggings and an influx of Pintails with birds on all pits. Couldnt find the Long-tailed Duck on ARC or the Pec Sand on Dengemarsh, while the Pallas`s Warbler also eluded me, although it was seen in the Christmas Dell/New Ex scrub area late on.
At St Mary`s-in-the-Marsh, CP reported a flock of `kyu-yu-yuing` White-fronts overhead in the gloaming. Could this be the arrival of the wintering hoards...

Harbour Porpoises, Greatstone and Pintail, Burrowes

Weird Weather

2011-11-20T10:24:00.000-08:00

Lade - 0800hrs - The morning started with a thick cloak of fog over the Peninsula and a light ground frost. By 8am a warm, southerly airflow cleared the murk and the sun broke through rapidly elevating the temperature into the `teens`. Associated with the warmth was a fresh, summery type smell, amazing.
Being as it was WeBS count day checked through all the ducks without much of note. A brown Merlin sunbathing on the wall `mirror` ramp attracted the attention of several Magpies, while 3 foxes were also enjoying the sunshine. Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel hunting over the back, plus 3 Water Rails and 2 Chiffchaffs around the willows.
Walland Marsh - 1530hrs Accompanied CP to count one of the harrier roosts on a fabulous afternoon with light airs and a blood red sunset. As the temperature dropped a rolling mist spookily enveloped us - simply stunning. Oh, yes, the birds! Highlights were 15 Marsh Harriers to roost, while a Short-eared Owl put in a late appearance. Once again there was no sign of any Barn Owls on what was a perfect evening for them to be out and about.
It was a busy day on the bird reserve with Glossy Ibis and Pallas`s Warbler near Christmas Dell, plus 2 Great White Egrets, Long-tailed Duck and Dartford Warbler elsewhere around the site. Another GWEgret was reported from Hamstreet and the Roughie remained faithful to Nickoll`s Quarry, West Hythe.

Walland Marsh

Finches

2011-11-18T09:04:00.000-08:00

Dungeness - 0800hrs - mild, sunny, S2 - Walked the Point with very little return apart from decent numbers of Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Chaffinches and a Blackcap in the Moat.
Dunes Road, Greatstone - 1400hrs - Searched the area at the bottom of Dunes Road for a reported Hoopoe (via DB). Did the rough ground where the one was seen 3 years ago and the paddocks by the sewage works without success, but, of course it could very easily still be lurking somewhere thereabouts.
Flushed 12 Skylarks and also noted singles of Stonechat and Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Smews

2011-11-17T13:11:00.000-08:00

Lade - mild, cloudy, se2 - A fine start to the day with a Firecrest in the garden pine trees. On the pits a huge increase in common wildfowl numbers for some reason, particularly Gadwall. Kingfisher and Common Buzzard noted plus a party of 20 Redpolls over.
RSPB - 1015hrs - Had a run out with MH this morning. Nothing much of note from Dengemarsh hide apart from 4 Snipe amongst the Lapwings and Goldies, plus the usual wildfowl and Marsh Harriers.
From Hanson 3 redhead Smew, 6 Shelducks and 3 Water Rails in front of the hide.
Littlestone - 1600hrs - Distant views of a Short-eared Owl over by the seawall.

Short-eared Owls of Sheppey

2011-11-16T12:51:00.000-08:00

Shellness, Sheppey - 0800hrs - cool, misty start, brighter by late morning, E1 - Ventured off the Marsh today with CP (plus Barney) to recce for magazine articles, and what a classic winters day birding it turned out to be. Sheppey, of course, is well known for having a large concentration of wintering raptors and we duly mopped up with the highlights being Hen Harriers and Short-eared Owls.
A scan from Muswell Manor Farm produced stunning views of 2 ringtails close overhead, along with half a dozen Marsh Harriers, 5 Kestrels, plus singles of Common Buzzard and Merlin. A flock of 200 Brents, were over by the coast road and loads of Lapwings, Golden Plovers and Starlings swirled overhead. A decent return of Skylarks and a scattering of Mipits, Reed Buntings, Linnets and Goldfinches.
We walked along the seawall to the Swale reserve hide, from where we had cracking views of at least 5 Short-eared Owls, 2 of which sat in a field staring at as with those piercing lemon eyes. Further ringtails, Marsh Harriers, Kestrels and a Peregrine also noted. Bumped into the reserve warden who updated us on the latest sightings (thanks Derek) and matters concerning the Islands wildlife and how the shortage of rain has effected the marshes.
Harty Marshes 1200hrs - Drove the road to the Raptor Viewpoint where highlights included 8 White-fronts on Capel Fleet amongst masses of Lapwings, Goldies, Wigeon, Teal and Greylags, 50 odd Corn Buntings, Greenfinches, Mipits, Reed Buntings, plus more ringtail and Short-eared Owl sightings, Sparrowhawk, Merlin and Kestrels.
Oare Marshes - 1400hrs - With the high tide approaching the east flood was full of waders with up to 500 roosting Blackwits, 200 Dunlins, 100 Redshanks, plus an assortment of Ruffs, Ringed Plovers, Snipe, Avocets, Curlews, Turnstone, Golden Plover and a Little Stint. Also, 7 Little Egrets, 10 Pintails, 6 Shelducks and hundreds of Shovelers, Teal and Wigeon.
We ended the day in style with yet another Short-eared Owl quartering the flood.
It doest matter how long you`ve been birding, Seo`s are a bit like Bitterns in the sense that you just can not ignore them, and today was one of the best we could remember for top views of this gorgeous diurnal owl.

Brents and Short-eared Owl, Shellness, Sheppey

Desert Wheatear

2011-11-15T10:54:00.000-08:00

Lade - 0800hrs - Murky, misty, dull, cold, e2 - Another grim start to the day. However, there was a flurry of raptor activity behind south pit where 2 Marsh Harriers were tangling with a Common Buzzard, to be joined by a Kestrel and Sparrowhawk. Every available island was packed with gulls, Curlews and Lapwings.
Dungeness - 1015hrs - There`s nothing like rarity to banish the November gloom, especially if it`s a rare wheatear. A 1st autumn Desert Wheatear was found in the Moat earlier on and by the time I arrived it had moved to the edge of the Desert (where else!) near the Light Railway Cafe. A cracking little bird that performed like a good `un. Should be plenty of frame-fillers on the DBO website and Plodding Birders blog.
Couldnt resist a second look just before lights out, by which time it ended up near the cottages adjacent to the seawatch hide.

Desert Wheatear, DBO