Tree Sparrows

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

                                  Tree Sparrows - Scotney

Turtle Dove

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

                                  Ringed Plover - ARC

                                  Avocets - ARC

                                  Great Crested Grebe - ARC

Weasel

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

                                  Weasel - Springfield Bridge

                                  Ted eyeing up the Weasel!

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

                                 Sea Kale - Dungeness

Yellow Wagtails

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

                                  Yellow Wagtails - Scotney

    Whimbrels - ARC

Lydd Heronry

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

                                  Dungeness in the mist

    Grey Herons - Lydd

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

    Lapwing chicks - Boulderwall wetlands

    Sedge Warbler - New Romney

Whinchat

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

                                  Whinchat - Wigwams

    It`s the start of Pom weekend!

Wader Fest

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

                                  Bar-tailed Godwits - Kerton Quarry

                                  Greenshank and Grey Plover - Burrowes