Swallow

Cold, dry and sunny, NE3 - Over the weekend our Ted walks included visits to Park Wood, Appledore and the farmland around New Romney. The trip to the trees resulted in all the expected woodland birds with the only migrants being several Chiffchaffs and a couple of Blackcaps in song. However, the floral display was most impressive, especially the Anemones and Primroses, while it was good to be free of the nagging cold wind that has plagued the flatlands and coast for the past fortnight. On the farmland a few more Linnets had returned to establish territories and, hopefully, breed in the remaining hedgerows that have survived the winter onslaught from the `custodians of the countryside`.

                                  Wood Anemones, Park Wood

                                 (No!) Hope Lane, New Romney

However, this morning it was back to the coast and a circuit of Dungeness where the Desert and Long Pits were a bird-free zone. At ARC/Tower Pits, Sedge and Cetti`s Warblers, Chiffchaff and Blackcap were all in song and a dozen Chaffinches were counted at the pines. On Boulderwall fields a smart Yellow Wagtail was amongst 10 Pieds, while several Wigeons remained on Cooks Pool. The new car park signs are up on the bird reserve detailing parking charges for non-members, and not before time too. Parking is free for members, so don`t forget to display your membership card on the dashboard when visiting in future. Lade too was quiet, although it did turn up my first Swallow of the year hurrying north over the willow swamp.

                                  Car Park signage, ARC 

                                 Cormorants, ARC

                                 Ted, Lade lookout

Green Woodpecker

Warm, dry and sunny, NE 3 - The fine, spring weather looks set to continue into next week with not a drop of rain forecast. Yesterday morning our Ted walk took us on a long, sweeping circuit of Dungeness where the only migrants of note were five singing Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap around the Long Pits and several more of the former in the Trapping Area. The Peregrine pair were active on the power station while a lone cock Black Redstart sang from the southern boundary fence. Also noted a pair of Stonechats, eight Egyptian Geese over, a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel and a Raven. We called in at the seawatch hide where a trickle of distant Shovelers, scoters, Gannets and divers were on the move up-Channel.

                                  Ted, Mockmill

                                  Speckled Wood

    Green Woodpecker, Church Lane spinney

This morning was spent at Lade checking out the gorse ridges for Dartford Warblers, of which there was no sign. However, Mockmill held four singing Sedge Warblers (my first of the year here), two Cetti`s, five Song Thrushes, five Reed Buntings, four Pheasants and a pair of Stonechats, while Ted disturbed eight Common and a Jack Snipe from cover. There was little change to duck numbers on the lakes with a pair of Goldeneye on south and a scattering of Shovelers about it. We then checked out the Church Lane spinney where three Chiffchaffs and two Blackcaps were in song, plus three Redwings, a Greenfinch and a Jay. The warm sunshine had brought forth a rash of common butterflies including Comma and Speckled Wood. The farmland around the dung heap was quiet, although it was good to have protracted views of a Green Woodpecker feeding on the ground.  

Yellow Wagtail

Dungeness RSPB - Cool, sunny, dry, E 5 -  We spent the morning on the bird reserve in glorious spring sunshine but with a rasping wind out of the east making for difficult birding. There are few spring migrants quite like a stunning male Yellow Wagtail (only trumped by a cock Redstart) seen on Dengemarsh flood, and my first of the year, along with several Water/Rock Pipits, Skylarks, a Corn Bunting, 10 Teal and a Green Sandpiper. The hayfields held the usual Lapwings and Redshanks, a Curlew and a flock of 45 Dunlins on hayfield 2, while several Marsh Harriers, Little Egrets, Common Buzzard, a drake Garganey, a Barnacle Goose, four Shelducks, 20 Egyptian Geese and a Great White Egret were also noted on the circular walk around Dengemarsh. Moving onto Burrowes where the Long-tailed Duck was still on the lake opposite Dennis`s hide and where a Grey Plover flew over calling. Also noted today around the reserve: several Sand Martins and Swallows, plus a very early Hobby.

                                  Yellow Wagtail, Dengemarsh 

                                  Spring lamb, Manor Farm