Passage Waders

Dungeness - warm, dry and sunny, E 3 - A guided walk for seven Naturetrek clients commenced at the point this morning in fine spring weather conditions. On the land we had cracking views of Black Redstarts on the power station and Wheatears along the beach, plus inbound Swallows, Common and Lesser Whitethroats, Stonechats, Linnets, Meadow Pipits and Skylarks. A Red Kite flew over and received the usual `welcome` from the local gulls and corvids, while a party of five whistling Whimbrels circled over the Desert. The hazy light made for difficult viewing across the sea and by 9am most of the regular seawatchers had given up as there were few birds on the move. However, during the half an hour we were by the hide a flock of seven Velvet Scoters, two Little Terns and an Arctic Skua went up-Channel, along with three Bar-tailed Godwits, six Sandwich Terns and a distant Gannet and Kittiwake, while several Harbour Porpoises and a Grey Seal were noted offshore. NB: a flock of 26 Poms went through mid-afternoon, per MC.

                                   Wheatear, Dungeness

We then moved to the Kerton Road quarry for the high tide wader roost where 150 Oystercatchers were joined by 80 Bar-tailed Godwits, six Dunlins, four Ringed Plovers and a Whimbrel, plus all the usual breeding Lapwings, Oystercatchers, Redshanks, Shelducks and feral geese on the main island. Whilst there several more Whimbrels went over calling as well as two Little Terns, a lone Sandwich Tern and a Sparrowhawk heading towards Lade.

                                  Dunlins and Ringed Plovers, Kerton quarry

                                  Bar-tailed Godwits and Whimbrel, Kerton quarry

We then spent the remainder of the afternoon on the bird reserve walking the circular route where the highlights were six Greenshanks across Burrowes and the hayfields, four Curlews and a Whimbrel on New Ex, six Redshanks, a Great White Egret, a pair of Shoveler on Burrowes and at least four Marsh Harriers, including a stunning male from the ramp. Also noted along the way 10 Little Egrets, two Grey Herons, Sedge, Reed and Cetti`s Warblers, Reed Buntings, Sand Martins, Lesser and Common Whitethroats. A most enjoyable day in the field in fine company and memorable for the superb views we had of passage waders; while a not too shabby tally of 71 species of birds were logged. 

                                  Redshank, New Ex

    All Saints, Lydd and Marsh Harrier

Bar-tailed Godwits

Dungeness - warm, dry and sunny, E2 - In warm, spring sunshine a cracking morning for a Ted walk along the foreshore at the point from the lifeboat station to the power station and back across the Desert. At least four pairs of Wheatears were on territory along with several pairs of  Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Stonechat, Linnet, Whitethroat and a Reed Bunting. A steady trickle of Swallows came in off the sea, with some briefly settling on overhead power lines before pushing inland. Two male Black Redstarts were singing around the old light and A station while a male Peregrine was perched atop a pylon. A cursory look across a hazy sea from the hide produced a few distant Gannets and Sandwich Terns, plus five Curlews up-Channel. Two Brown Hares, Red Fox, Common Lizard and Harbour Porpoise also noted as well as plenty of Small Copper butterflies on the wing.

                                 Wheatear, Dungeness

                                  Swallows, Dungeness

                                 Linnets, Dungeness

With high tide beckoning we moved to Kerton quarry where a large mixed flock of waders was already at the roost site. The spring migration of Bar-tailed Godwits through Dungeness is one of the highlights of the year for me, but it varies annually in quantity depending upon the weather. While we get small numbers wintering on the bay, at the end of April and early May we receive thousands of godwits on passage from the south, mostly seen passing off Dungeness and heading up-Channel en-route to their breeding grounds on the Arctic tundra. These birds are record-breaking long-distance migrants capable of flying thousands of miles in one go, having wintered along the western seaboard of Europe and Africa. This morning`s flock of 95 comprised the usual mix of non-breeding birds, adult females and gorgeous males resplendent in their brick-red breeding plumage. Also present: 210 Oystercatchers (inc an aberrant bird), five Whimbrels over, 10 Lapwings, four Redshanks, a Ringed Plover, a Black-tailed Godwit, a pair of Red-crested Pochard and the usual wildfowl. 

                                  Red-crested Pochards, Kerton quarry

                                  Aberrant Oystercatcher, Kerton quarry

    Bar-tailed Godwits, Kerton quarry

Turtle Doves and Nightingales

Great Heron Wood - warm, dry and sunny, light airs - For today`s Ted walk we headed to the woods to check out the bluebells before the leaf cover smothers them for another year, and most spectacular they were too, great swathes of redolent blooms in dappled sunshine. Across the wood at least three Nightingales were in song with another one over the lane in a copse, plus two Garden Warblers and a host of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps alongside the resident species. On the way home we paused at the Kennardington crossing where a Turtle Dove `purred` from cover with another flying overhead, while at Snargate a Red Kite flew over the road by the church.

 

                                   Bluebell vistas, Appledore

                                  Ted in the woods

Greenshank

Dungeness RSPB - cool, cloudy, E3 - An overcast morning for a guided walk around the circular trail for a group of 15 Kent councillors. Most were not birders and did not have bins, so good views of common stuff was the order of the day. The warbler tribe duly obliged, particularly Sedge Warblers, which seemed to be everywhere, and Common Whitethroats, plus several Reed Buntings and a fine male Marsh Harrier from the ramp, while the hayfields delivered a flock of five Bar-tailed Godwits, my first Greenshank of spring, four Teal, four Shelducks, four Lapwings and two Redshanks. Also noted during the circuit: 10 Little Egrets, several Lesser Whitethroats, `pinging` Beardies, a calling Cuckoo, a pair of Ringed Plovers, over-flying Med Gulls, a Swallow and a host of Sand Martins toing and froing around `their wall`. 54 species in total.

                                 Bar-tailed Godwits, Hayfield 2

                                  Reed Bunting, Dengemarsh

Garden Warblers

Cool, cloudy and dry, NE 4 - Another nippy morning for our Ted walk commenced at Kerton Road quarry where the high tide wader roost comprised 110 Oystercatchers, 23 Curlews and a Ringed Plover amongst 50, mostly immature, large gulls, plus two Mediterranean Gulls overhead calling. There was no sign of the Red-crested Pochards, while the Sheldrake continues to tag along with the Egyptian Goose family. A steady trickle of north-bound Swallows hurried across the peninsula this morning. We then walked across the Desert, through the Trapping Area and back along the Long Pits noting very few birds apart from my first Garden Warbler of spring singing from a willow thicket by the wigwams, plus several Lesser Whitethroats and the usual Blackcaps and Common Whitethroats. Moving onto Lade, with the sun breaking through, and where several each of Sedge, Reed and Cetti`s Warblers, Chiffchaff, Lesser and Common Whitethroats and another Garden Warbler were in fine voice around the ponds. 

                                   Curlews and Oystercatchers, Kerton quarry

Yesterdays Ted walk, once the rain had stopped, took us through the Long Pits to the point, where very little was happening apart from a Peregrine perched on a pylon and a Black Redstart singing from the power station. We then joined the seawatchers in the hide for an hour where a  brisk south-easterly delivered a few close Gannets, Whimbrel and Barwits, but most of the seabirds were way offshore, including a trickle of commic terns, auks, three Brents, four Red-throated and a Black-throated Diver, three Manx Shearwaters, four Arctic Skuas and a Bonxie. 

Red-crested Pochard

Lade - Warm, dry and sunny, SW3 - This morning`s Ted walk took us out on the shingle ridges checking for Dartford Warblers where a single bird was located along with several singing Linnets, Sedge Warblers and Whitethroats. South lake was pretty quiet apart from the usual Tufted Ducks and Great Crested Grebes, a pair of Goldeneyes and a pair of Oystercatchers looking to nest on the raft.

                                  Oystercatchers, Lade south

                                  Egyptian/Shelduck family, Kerton Quarry

                                 Red-crested Pochards and Greylag, Kerton Quarry

Moving on to Kerton quarry where the pair of Red-crested Pochards from yesterday were still present in front of the southern island. It`s always difficult to make any sense of such a record as while the northern European population is migratory, many are kept in wildfowl collections from which they regularly escape. Nonetheless, a smart pair of ducks. Whilst on the subject of wildfowl, an interesting behavioural quirk has been evident recently concerning a drake Shelduck that appears to have adopted a family of Egyptian Geese! They make for an unusual sight, a trio of adults shepherding the young across the water. Whilst scanning through the waders and gulls they suddenly all took flight (including five Whimbrels) as though a raptor was abroad; however, what appeared to have caused their ire was a high-flying White Stork that I assume they`d mistook for a bird of prey.

    Red-crested Pochards, Kerton Quarry

Cuckoo

Cold, cloudy, showery, NE 4 - A weekend dominated by a brisk wind off the North Sea. Visits to Lade this morning delivered my first Cuckoo of spring flying over the willow swamp where there was also an increase in Sedge Warblers with at least six singers around the sheltered ponds. A small flock of Swallows hawked low over the top of north lake and a few more Whitethroats had moved in across the site since my last visit . A check of the bay from the Tavern viewpoint yesterday produced several flocks of Bar-tailed Godwits on the sands with distant birds moving offshore. Farmland Ted walk`s to the north of New Romney produced several more singing Lesser Whitethroats and Sedge Warblers, while a steady trickle of calling Mediterranean Gulls continue to pass overhead. 

Skuas

Dungeness  - cool, cloudy, SE 3 - 0615-0900hrs - With the wind from the `right` direction there was only one place to be first thing this morning - in the seawatch hide with the regulars. A steady up-Channel passage of (mostly distant) scoters, auks and terns was underway including a flock of 49 Arctic and five Little Terns, plus a trickle of Kittiwakes and Gannets. Several Red-throated and two Black-throated Divers went through along with five Shelducks, two Shovelers, two Mediterranean Gulls, two Fulmars, a Brent Goose and a Whimbrel. However, as always the skua tribe stole the show with a single, very distant Pomarine Skua (the second of the season after one just before I arrived), four Arctic Skuas at medium range and `best of the bunch` a close and strikingly marked Bonxie. 

                                  Gannets, Dungeness

                                  Egyptian Goose family, Kerton quarry

                                  Sheldrake, Kerton Quarry

Yesterday`s Ted tour of the point yielded a flyover Serin at Long Pits (thanks to DW`s keen hearing) but little else other than the now established breeding warblers and two Wheatears in the Desert. Kerton quarry was bustling with nesting activity from breeding wildfowl and waders, including a brood of Egyptian Geese on the water. 

Cattle Egrets

Dungeness RSPB - cold, dry and sunny, SW5 - A nagging wind whipping across Rye Bay made for difficult viewing for five guests on a guided walk around the circular trail this morning. Most of the seven species of warblers present were only heard, due to the wind, although several Sedge Warblers did eventually oblige and show themselves. The long-staying Long-tailed Duck remained on Burrowes alongside two Goldeneyes and diminishing numbers of diving ducks, while a Ringed Plover was the only wader present. The hayfields held two each of Shoveler, Teal, Shelduck, Lapwing and Redshank. At Dengemarsh two Bitterns `boomed` and there was much activity from several Marsh Harriers over Hookers. Also noted around the circuit: five Little and one Great White Egret, two Buzzards, three Grey Herons, two Lesser Whitethroats, a Barnacle Goose and a flyover Avocet, plus three Cattle Egrets on Cook`s Pool.

                                   Cattle Egrets, Cooks Pool

The re-vamped Visitor Centre will reopen tomorrow, Thursday 17th April, and very smart it looks too. The plan is to have it open for five days a week (Wednesday - Sunday) where you can purchase snacks, ice-creams and drinks (card only payment) and relax in comfort. Well done to all concerned.

Nightingale

New Romney - Overcast, mild, light airs - Steady overnight rain (the first for almost a month) did the trick with this morning`s Ted walk hitting the jackpot - a grounded Nightingale singing from a bramble thicket off Hope Lane, in atypical habitat, and my first record here. Also present a rash of warblers having dropped in and around the ditches and willows at the junction with Cockreed Lane, including two Lesser Whitethroats, several Chiffchaffs, Sedge and Reed Warblers, a Cetti`s Warbler and a Blackcap. Mistle Thrush, Long-tailed Tits, Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Grey Wagtail and several Yellowhammers completed a pretty decent walk `around the block`.

                                   Willow Warbler, lighthouse garden

Yesterday a circuit of Dungeness was notable for a small arrival of Willow Warblers around the Trapping Area, while more Whitethroats were in song across the Desert. An hour (0900-1000hrs) at the seawatch hide in the company of PE produced the following: two Arctic Skuas, 20 Gannets, 12 Mediterranean Gulls, seven Whimbresl, two Red-throated Divers, seven Common Scoters, seven Oystercatchers and a Merganser.   

Southern `Overshoots`

Cool, dry and sunny, SW 4 - It`s been a busy weekend across the peninsula with several typical `overshooting` migrants from the south arriving, despite the wind only swinging around to a south-westerly today. On Friday a very elusive Wryneck was found in the Desert along with an equally retiring Hoopoe this morning, both of which I missed; although, whilst searching for the latter, six Wheatears, two Fieldfares and a pair of Lapwing were some compensation. Also reported this weekend were single observer sightings of Serin and, rarest of the lot, a Goshawk over the Trapping Area, while yesterday`s Black-winged Stilt was present at the far end of Cook`s Pool this morning. Common Whitethroats have started to arrive, while my first Lesser Whitethroat of spring was heard singing near the ramp. A Whimbrel over New Romney on Saturday was my first of the year followed by another on hayfield 2 during our circuit of Dengemarsh, where also noted today: booming Bittern, Yellow Wagtail, Water Pipit, Corn Bunting and the usual Lapwings, Redshanks, Teal, Shoveler and a Barnacle Goose. To complete a fine weekend of `overshoots` SM found a Red-rumped Swallow by the chicken sheds along Dengemarsh Road this afternoon.

                                  Wheatear & Lapwing, Desert

                                 Whimbrel, Hayfield 2

                                  Early Grey

Due to the mild, overnight weather conditions I ran the garden moth trap which duly delivered three common species this morning, including an Early Grey. 

Purple Herons

Dungeness - cool, cloudy, NE 2 - The northerly air-flow made for another frigid morning for our Ted walk around the peninsula. Starting at the top of Long Pits we worked our way out across the wigwams and through the Trapping Area noting very little apart from a few Linnets, Skylarks, singing Chiffchaffs a Blackcap and a Grey Plover overhead calling. Two Black Redstarts singing from A station and a Stonechat by the old lighthouse livened things up a little, but the sea was very quiet; so quiet in fact that by 0900hrs even the sea-watchers had given up. I abandoned any hope of finding anything in the Desert due to the wind, so elected to walk back to the car along the more sheltered western side of Long Pit. En-route, a few more Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Sedge and my first Reed Warblers of spring were noted, plus a cracking adult male Marsh Harrier overhead. A pulse of Swallows pushed north at the top of Long Pits as we completed the circuit. And just as I was lamenting what a poor return it had been for two hours slogging across the shingle, from out amongst the rocks burst a Purple Heron! It then flew back down the lake towards the pump house, landing in the long reed-bed twice before flying around again, so I settled down opposite the laboratory on the power station access road and waited... Incredibly, after just five minutes not one, but two Purple Herons flew overhead, one of which landed about 100 yards away in full view on a patch of shingle for about three minutes; just long enough to fumble around with the camera and fire off a few pics. As the pair flew around the pits the locals started to arrive with Martin getting some decent flight shots, which I`m sure he`ll put up on his blog later (ploddingbirder.blogspot.com ).This is the first occurrence of a pair at Dungeness since the memorable events of 2010 when two juvs were fledged from a nest site on the bird reserve, in what was the first proven Purple Heron breeding record in Britain. We can only hope that they find their way to Dengemarsh and settle down for a repeat performance, which would be most welcome.

                                  

                                  Purple Heron, Long Pits

                                  Purple Heron pair over Long Pits

                                  Ringed Plovers, Kerton quarry

Next stop Kerton quarry to check the waders where a pair of Ringed Plovers and two Bar-tailed Godwits where amongst a flock of 80 Oystercatchers. The main island was alive with breeding activity from Oycs, Lapwings and Redshanks, and where an early brood of Egyptian Geese goslings were on the water. There was no change to the wildfowl numbers at Lade where more hirundines were feeding over south lake.

Barwits

Cold, cloudy, NE 3 - After trudging around farmland on yesterday`s Ted walk, seeing very little apart from a trickle of Mediterranean Gulls overhead and Buzzards soaring in the warm sunshine, this morning it was back to the coast although in overcast and frigid weather conditions. I wasn`t expecting much at Lade but for some reason wildfowl numbers had increased since last week to 60 Coot, 22 Great Crested Grebe, 180 Tufted Duck, 50 Teal, 30 Pochard, 30 Shoveler, 20 Gadwall, 20 Greylags and three Shelduck, plus two each of Goldeneye and Egyptian Goose. A flock of around 60 hirundines feeding low over south lake due to the cold comprised mostly Swallows, but with at least several House Martins and a Sand Martin in their midst. Also noted across the site: Chiffchaff, Cetti`s Warbler and Greenfinch, a Marsh Harrier over the main reedbed, a Sparrowhawk and a Raven being mobbed by a pair of Crows.

                                  Coot, Lade

Moving onto Kerton quarry where I made it just in time to count the high tide wader roost. Amongst 200 Oystercatchers were 15 Bar-tailed Godwits (including two coming into breeding plumage), four Redshanks and two Grey Plovers all of which soon flew off to feed on the bay as the tide ebbed, plus a lone Sandwich Tern. A few more Shoveler and Tufted Duck were present, plus several pairs of Lapwings on the main island. 

                             

          Oystercatchers, Bar-tailed Godwits & Grey Plover, Kerton quarry                                   

    Sandwich Tern, Kerton quarry

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