Kestrels

A mixed bag of weather over the weekend commenced with bright sunshine and light airs on Saturday, ideal for a walk across Dungeness where Kestrels and Chiffchaffs were everywhere in good numbers; even in our town garden the latter species continues to be present. Plenty of Swallows and House Martins were on the move heading out across the Channel. Sunday was cloudier with an increasing wind and our Ted walk took us to West Hythe for a four mile hike up to the bridge and back. Along the canal near the dam two Kingfishers were noted, plus several Grey Herons, a Little Egret, a Cetti`s Warbler but little else, while adjacent farmland delivered Kestrel, Common Buzzard and a smart adult Marsh Harrier. Goldcrests, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Long-tailed Tits could be heard amongst the tree cover. Overnight a rain band moved through making for a soggy seawatch from the fishing boats this morning (1030 - 1145hrs) where a trickle of Gannets and Sandwich Terns were noted, plus four Common Terns, 20 Brents, two Common Scoters and a Red-throated Diver on the sea.

                                  Saturday sunshine, Dungeness foreshore

                                  Kestrel, Dungeness

                                  Grey Heron, West Hythe

                                  Dungeness fishing boats

Golden Plovers

Cool and cloudy, rain, NW 3 - A grim morning with a nippy wind out of the north causing a drop in temperature to 12C. We checked out the sandpit at Scotney first thing, just before the rain band passed over, and where the water levels had risen significantly since my last visit a week ago. A flock of around 300 Golden Plovers swirled overhead calling evocatively, and a reminder that winter is not far away. Waders in the pit included 20 Lapwings, three each of Common Sandpiper, Dunlin and Ringed Plover, two Green Sandpipers and an Avocet, while wildfowl numbers had declined to a handful of Teal, Shoveler, Shelduck and Egyptian Geese. Also noted several flocks of Linnets and Meadow Pipits feeding amongst the rough grass, a few Chiffchaffs in the bushes, a trickle of Swallows over, a couple of Stonechats and a Kestrel. 

                                  Golden Plovers, Scotney

                                 Scotney sand pit

The rain then set in for a while, so we retreated to the Kerton Road Cafe for a natter. Once the wet stuff relented a check of Kerton quarry and Lade pits resulted in little of note, and there was no sign of the Black-necked Grebe on north lake.

Wheatears

Mild, showery, SW 5 - Following two days of trudging around wind-swept farmland seeing very little of note, apart from a Hobby and a few Skylarks, it was back to the coast this morning. We did a long walk along the foreshore and across the Trapping Area and Desert where the highlight was at least 20 Wheatears, the majority scattered across the railway track ramp. A few Chiffchaffs were in the lighthouse garden and two Common Whitethroats in gorse scrub. Offshore from the fishing boats plenty of Gannets were feeding out in the Channel along with several Sandwich Terns and a distant Arctic Skua while a trickle of Swallows struck out for the French coast..

                                 Wheatears, Dungeness

We called in at Burrowes where the water level is rapidly rising (forgetting that the islands were being cleared of vegetation today!) so all that was on offer was hundreds of Sand Martins over the lake. At Boulderwall at least six Cattle Egrets were following the stock and a Great White was on Cook`s Pool.

Spotted Flycatchers

Lade - Warm, dry and sunny, SW4 - Once last nights rain band had moved through it turned into a pretty decent day, although the wind picked up through the afternoon. There was good numbers of wildfowl and wetland birds for the monthly count across Lade and Kerton quarry with south lake holding the majority of birds; Shovelers were still present in good numbers and the escapee leucistic White-cheeked Pintail was located in the willow swamp pool. Totals as follows: Dabchick 22, Black-necked Grebe 1 (north lake), Great Crested Grebe 42, Cormorant 20, Grey Heron 9, Little Egret 12, Great White Egret 2, Mute Swan 12, Canada Goose 25, Wigeon 10, Gadwall 22, Mallard 42, Teal 20, Shoveler 520, Pochard 180, Tufted Duck 210, Lapwing 55 (Kerton), Water Rail 1 (heard Lade), Moorhen 6, Coot 260. The sheltered, sun-dappled scrub around the ponds was jumping with passerines feeding on insects, mostly Chiffchaffs, Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits, plus several Blackcaps, two Spotted Flycatchers and a Garden Warbler.  Two each of Sparrowhawk and Kestrel were also noted.

                                 Fox, hiding in the ponds

                                  White-cheeked Pintail and Pochard, Lade

                                  Spotted Flycatcher, Lade ponds

We then moved onto Dungeness to check out a private garden where a Bonelli`s Warbler had been seen yesterday. but the only migrants noted were a few Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps, plus a Spotted Flycatcher.

Hirundines

Mild, cloudy, showery, E2 - A muggy weekend with occasional heavy showers and rumbles of thunder produced very little of note around the New Romney farmland, apart from Sunday morning when a heavy passage of hirundines moved south, mostly Swallows, that was also recorded at the point. The poplars beside the Hope Lane stables attracted swarms of hirundines feeding and perched amongst the tree-tops and it was inevitable that when a Hobby put in an appearance, they scattered skywards. In the hedgerows a few Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps were present, plus several Meadow Pipits, Skylarks and Stonechats along the field margins. On Friday we had a long wander around Dungeness with very little to report. Called in at ARC where the entrance track to the car park has now been repaired and a mirror positioned at the junction with the Lydd Road to aid with pulling out safely.

                                  Stonechat, New Cutt

                                 Hirundines, Hope Lane

                                 ARC entrance track

Avocets

Warm, dry and sunny, NE 3 - Another fine early autumn day with a brisk wind off the sea tempering the heat which reached 21 degrees by early afternoon. A visit to Scotney sand pit this morning was quiet by recent standards on the wader front with only six Avocets and two each of Common and Green Sandpipers noted; although I suppose it`s to be expected with the main wader passage now winding down. However, there were many more wildfowl since my last visit at the weekend with 20 Wigeon and a Pintail the highlights amongst 100 Teals, 50 Shovelers, 20 Gadwalls, 20 Mallards and three Shelducks. A couple of large flocks of Linnets and Meadow Pipits were active over the far side, while several pulses of Sand Martins moved through. Moving onto Kerton quarry where 50 Curlews were at roost plus at least 12 Kestrels scattered around the lake and over the Desert hovering in search of prey.

                                  Avocets, Shovelers and Teal, Scotney

                                  Shelducks, Scotney

                                 Scotney sand pit 

Yesterday morning a guided walk for RSPB proved to be a truncated affair due to the ongoing conservation work around Dengemarsh, so I elected to concentrate on Burrowes and ARC. From Dennis`s hide Martin had located two Caspian Gulls and a Yellow-legged Gull amongst a flock of Herring and Black-backs; the second year, ringed, Caspian was a particularly distinctive bird. Elsewhere across the lake there was little of note apart from 20 odd Golden Plovers amongst hundreds of Lapwings, a Common Sandpiper and the usual Sand Martins, egrets, wildfowl (including 20 Wigeon), Cormorants and grebes. Over the road from Hanson there was even less with Lapwings the only waders scattered within the expected dabbling and diving ducks, plus two White Wagtails, all three egrets and a Glossy Ibis; nine more Cattle Egrets were in the Boulderwall fields, dutifully following the suckling herd. 

Rock Pipit

Warm, dry and cloudy, NE 4 - We started off at the fishing boats this morning where good numbers of Sandwich Terns, Black-headed Gulls, Gannets and at least one Common Tern were fishing offshore. Also noted a couple of shearwaters (probably Balearics) way out in a choppy Channel, plus a confiding Rock Pipit along the strandline, a species that locally is normally encountered flying over calling, so it was good see one close-up and on the deck for a change. In the brisk wind few other passerines were noted across the Desert and around Lade. The garden light trap held a decent range of autumn moths with three classic species depicted below.

                                  Rock Pipit, Dungeness

                                  L-album Wainscot, Clancy`s Rustic and Lunar Underwing

                                  Ted at Dungeness

American Golden Plover

Warm, dry and sunny, light airs - Another stunning day guiding for Mark from Lexington with plenty of good birds in sparkling autumn weather conditions. We kicked off at the point where Chiffchaffs were all over the place along with a few Blackcaps, Lesser Whitethroats and a Willow Warbler in the lighthouse garden. Other passerines included several Stonechats, two Black Redstarts, 20 Meadow Pipits, a Whinchat, a Reed Warbler (in the hand) plus five Skylarks and ten Tree Sparrows on the beach opposite Jarman`s. Pulses of hirundines moved through while Kestrels were still much in evidence and a male Peregrine was sat on its favoured perch atop a pylon. A cursory look across a flat-calm sea from the hide produced plenty of Gannets fishing offshore, passing Sandwich Terns, three Brent Geese, a Common Scoters and four Arctic Skuas. Moving onto Lade where we failed to locate the Black-necked Grebe that had been reported on north lake earlier. Next stop was the southern end of ARC for brief views of a juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper (later seen from Hanson hide) along with a Ruff and a Redshank. News came through of an American Golden Plover located amongst the Lapwings and Golden Plovers on Burrowes and we were soon on site enjoying superb views of a moulting adult bird, the first I`ve seen in this plumage. We finished off the day from Hanson hide and Lade Bay where Glossy Ibis, Bar-tailed Godwit, Shelduck and Oystercatcher were added to our two day bird list totalling 95 species including some cracking rarities: White-winged Black Tern, Red-necked Phalarope, American Golden Plover and Pectoral Sandpiper. Thanks for the company Mark, and hope to see you again next year.

    Reed Warbler, DBO

    Whinchat, Desert

     American Golden Plover, Burrowes

 

    Great Crested Grebe, ARC - down the hatch! 

    Pectoral Sandpiper, ARC

Red-necked Phalarope - again!

Cool, sunny, NW3 - Superb weather for showing Mark from the USA around the peninsula in sparkling light amid the bright sunshine and with the wind easing off through the day. Burrowes lake delivered the juvenile White-winged Black Tern (now been present for a fortnight) along with seven Black Terns, three Avocets, two Common Sandpipers and at least 12 Wigeons amongst the common wildfowl. The circular route was short on passerines due to the brisk wind with only a handful of Yellow Wagtails, Chiffchaffs, Lesser Whitethroats and Cetti`s Warblers of note. All three species of egrets were present, plus a Common Snipe over the hayfields, several Marsh Harriers, Common Buzzards, a Peregrine and a Sparrowhawk, while Kestrels were everywhere; we must`ve seen around 50 throughout the day. We then moved onto the Scotney sand pit where, incredibly, we found another juvenile Red-necked Phalarope to compliment the Lade bird a week ago; although this time the light was much better for viewing and we spent a couple of hours watching it feeding on a pool below. Other waders present included Wood, Green and Common Sandpipers, five Common Snipes, three Avocets, a Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwit and a Dunlin; what a fantastic site this has been for waders all summer with over 30 species recorded. We finished the day at the Scotney bend with 75 Curlews on the sward and a Ruff on the island amongst a host of Lapwings and feral geese.

    Black and White-winged Black Terns, Burrowes

    Juvenile Red-necked Phalarope, Scotney

    Red-necked Phalarope and Wood Sandpiper, Scotney

     Scotney sand pit

Honey Buzzard

Lade - cool, sunny, NW3 - With a nor-wester, blues skies and fluffy white clouds it was perfect weather conditions for a decent raptor, and late morning one duly appeared when a Honey Buzzard passed over the peninsula, soaring high into the cloud base over the Desert along with several Common Buzzards, Kestrels and a Sparrowhawk. All the usual waterfowl were noted around the wetlands including two Great White Egrets and a Black-necked Grebe on north lake, plus hundreds of Sand Martins pulsing south. The ponds yielded a smart Spotted Flycatcher, several Chiffchaffs and a Green Woodpecker, plus 20 grounded Yellow Wagtails on the shingle.

                                              Spotted Flycatcher, Lade ponds

Pectoral Sandpiper

Cool, dry and sunny, NW 3 - A change in the weather and much cooler than of late caused by an airflow streaming down off the Arctic. However, the sparkling light was perfect for photography from Hanson hide late morning where a juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper was on show along with a Ringed Plover, a Common Sandpiper, 10 Cattle Egrets, a Great White Egret, five Garganeys and a Glossy Ibis. The White-winged Tern remained on Burrowes (but still managed to eluded my camera!) along with nine Black Terns and hundreds of Sand Martins and Lapwings. There has been a noticeable increase in Sparrowhawk and Kestrel sightings these past few days as migrants move through the peninsula; yesterday, I counted 13 of the latter species across the Desert between Lade, Kerton Road and the water tower.

    Juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper, ARC

    Ringed Plover and Pectoral Sandpiper, ARC

    Pectoral Sandpiper, Ringed Plover and Shoveler, ARC

    Cattle Egrets, ARC

    Juvenile Cattle Egret, ARC

    Glossy Ibis, ARC

    Juvenile Black Tern, Burrowes