Hobbies

 Warm, dry and sunny, SW 4 - The past couple of days have been particularly windy reaching near gale force strength yesterday bringing down several large sycamore branches in our local park and also setting the Lade tern raft adrift; the accompanying rain, though, was most welcome. This morning`s Ted walk at Lade in blustery weather conditions delivered the expected Swifts hawking low over the lakes but little else. Moving onto the reserve and from the Screen hide hundreds more Swifts and hirundines fizzed over ARC airspace along with half a dozen Hobbies that put on a spectacular show swooping low in front of the hide and perching on the dead willow brush by Tower pits. Whilst watching their aerial antics several Common Terns, Black-headed Gulls and Avocets were flushed by passing Marsh Harriers over their nesting islands, while Buzzard, Cuckoo, Shelduck, Shoveler, Pochard were all noted, plus my first Emperor Dragonfly of summer in the car park. The strong winds appear to have played havoc with the Cormorant colony with most of the exposed  nests on the southern side lost or damaged, although the nests at the more sheltered northern end of the colony near the pines seem to have survived.

                                  Beached tern raft, Lade

                                  Hobby, Tower Pits

Eastern Bonelli`s Warbler

Mild, cloudy, SW5 - A brisk south-westerly made for difficult birding conditions across the Bank Holiday weekend. However, the undoubted highlight was the discovery by James Dee of an Eastern Bonelli`s Warbler in the Trapping Area yesterday morning, which mercifully remained active until last knockings affording many visitors a chance to get to grips with what was a first for Dungeness and Kent. Its distinctive call and trilling song were thankfully regularly heard thus confirming its identity from the Western form; actually seeing it though was a lot more difficult with brief flight or obscured views as it moved through cover being the order-of-the-day, although James did manage to get a good image of it (re: Dungeness Bird Observatory blog). Elsewhere, the Red-footed Falcon at Dengemarsh appears to have moved on (leaving a few Hobbies behind), a trickle of passage waders continued to pass through the wetlands, a Spotted Flycatcher was at Long Pits and the drake Red-crested Pochard was on Lade south this morning.

                                   Cattle Egrets, Boulderwall

Red-footed Falcon

 Cold, sunny, N 2 - Another very nippy morning due to the polar airflow rolling down the east coast; but by midday the wind had swung round to a south-westerly vector for the first time in a good while and looks set in for the next week or more. However, first stop Kerton quarry for the high tide wader roost where a flock of 60 Oystercatchers on the east bank was joined by a mixed group of 30 Curlews, 10 Bar-wits, four Whimbrels and a Greenshank on the sun-drenched west bank. Moving onto Dengemarsh where yesterdays female Red-footed Falcon was still present perched on a pile of brush opposite the ramp, along with a number of Hobbies, due to the cool conditions. As the sun elevated the temperature into double figures it was soon up in the air space above Hookers hawking flying insects alongside at least 20 Hobbies; some of which were so high up that they resembled tiny Swifts! Also noted several Marsh Harriers and Common Buzzards soaring into the ether, plus family parties of Bearded Tits showing well from the ramp by the grit tray.

                                  Red-footed Falcon, female - Dengemarsh

Blue-headed Wagtail

Dengemarsh - cool, cloudy, NE 2 - Yesterdays welcome rain showers soon cleared leaving a cold night and early morning for a circular walk around Dengemarsh. From Springfield bridge ten Cattle Egrets and a family of five Ravens flew over while the first of three singing Corn Buntings was in the field by the flood. A Greenshank flew over hayfield 3 calling and a pair of Redshanks had a well grown fledgling close to the gate, while hayfield 2 held the mobile Cattle Egret flock, three Avocets, two Redshanks and a Ringed Plover. Elsewhere on the reserve the usual warblers, Marsh Harriers, two booming Bitterns, Bearded Tits, several Hobbies, a Cuckoo and 20 Lapwings by the corral. The arable lands of Manor Farm yielded two more pairs of Corn Buntings, singing Skylarks and Meadow Pipits. Half way down the track to the farm I noticed a well-marked male flava wagtail singing from atop a bramble patch that on closer inspection morphed into a Blue-headed Wagtail. Close by was a female Yellow Wagtail, which I assumed was its mate; if so a flava x flavissima hybrid should produce some `Channel Wagtail` progeny! Late afternoon a smart female Red-footed Falcon was found over Dengemarsh  which soon settled in hawking for insects amongst the Hobbies over Hookers.

                                  Corn Bunting

                                  Meadow Pipit with food for juvs

                                  Four-spotted Chaser

    Blue-headed Wagtail, male

    Yellow Wagtail, female

Gadwall

Warm, dry and sunny, NE 3-4 - A much milder day for our early morning Ted walk around the farmland to the north of town where Cetti`s, Reed and Sedge Warblers were all in song in the reed-fringed sewers and ditches, while a Hobby showed well snatching emerging damselflies from the New Cut. Also noted along the way a few Skylarks, Linnets, Yellowhammers and Swallows.

                                  Sedge Warbler - New Cut

                                  Grey Plover and Turnstone - Firth

                                 Knot - Burrowes

An afternoon visit to the bird reserve yielded a decent spread of birds with a count of 64 Gadwalls on ARC from Hanson hide being most unusual for this time of year; where also 12 Pochards and six Shovelers. Several pairs of Ringed Plovers, Common Terns and Black-headed Gulls, plus a pair of Avocets appeared to be in breeding mode, while a drake Red-crested Pochard and a second year Mediterranean Gull were also present. Viewing Burrowes in bright sunshine with most waders on distant islands is never a very rewarding prospect, although a smart Grey Plover and three Turnstones were closer on a sand bar in front of Firth. Also noted elsewhere across the lake: 20 Ringed Plovers (most probably of the tundra race), two Grey Plovers, a Sanderling, two Dunlins, two Knots and two Little Stints. 

Tundra Ringed Plovers

Dengemarsh - cool, cloudy, NE 3 - After a quick look at the top end of the gully it was onto the reserve via Springfield bridge to check out the wet fields for passage waders. The flood held a pair of Lapwings and a drake Shoveler while the dried out hayfield 3 attracted a large flock of feral Greylags. However, hayfield 2 was busy with birds the highlight being a flock of at least 42 Ringed Plovers of the tundrae race, and certainly the largest number I`ve seen on the reserve; although large flocks have been seen on Lade bay and the Midrips in the past. Tundra Plovers mainly pass through in late May en-route to their breeding grounds in northern Scandinavia and Russia and are subtly smaller and darker than the nominate race with the some adults lacking a white eye-patch. Also present were two adult Little Stints (one with stronger back markings) two Dunlins, two Black-tailed Godwits, six Avocets, two Lapwings, four Shelducks, two Shovelers and six Redshanks. Elsewhere across Dengemarsh: several Marsh Harriers, six Common Terns, a Hobby, a Cuckoo and a booming Bittern. It was no surprise that several more Little Stints and a Temminck`s Stint were located across the bird reserve this afternoon.

                                  Tundra Ringed Plovers - Hayfield 2

                                  Little Stint & Dunlin - Hayfield 2

                                 Cattle Egrets - Hayfield 2

Black-tailed Godwits

Warm, dry and sunny, NE 3 - This morning`s Ted walk commenced at Dengemarsh gully, a site that rarely delivers but does have a history of rare birds - although not today... The highlight was a brief sighting of a Dartford Warbler and not much else apart from a close Raven overhead, plus a few Whitethroats, Meadow Pipits, Linnets and Reed Warblers. We then walked around from Springfield bridge to where more water was being pumped onto a dry hayfield 3 and where a selection of waders and egrets were on a still wet hayfield 2. A pair of Black-tailed Godwits, seven Redshanks, four summer plum Dunlins, two Oystercatchers, two Lapwings and a Greenshank busily probed the marshy flood, while at least three Cattle Egrets were among the suckling herd. Also noted: two Little Egrets, a pair of Shelducks, a Shoveler and a booming Bittern. We finished the morning at Kerton quarry but with the tide out there was only the usual breeding wildfowl and waders present, plus a lone Common Tern. 

                                  Sea Kale - Penn Bars

                                Brown-tailed Moth `tents` - Dengemarsh Gully 

                                  Common Blue - Dengemarsh Gully

                                  Black-tailed Godwits - Hayfield 2

                                  Greenshank - Hayfield 2

    "This is one of my favourite walks" - Ted

Walland Marsh

Cool, overcast, dry, NE 4 - For today`s Ted outing we had a change of scene, spending a long morning on the farmland tracts across Walland that included a three hour circular wander around a section of the Marsh. It was slim pickings and tough going in a brisk Arctic airflow that suppressed bird song somewhat. However, numerous Reed Warblers chugged away in the reed-fringed sewers and reed-beds along with lesser numbers of Sedge and Cetti`s Warblers, Reed and Corn Buntings and even fewer Skylarks, Linnets, Yellowhammers, Goldfinches and Yellow Wagtails. Two family parties of Bearded Tits showed close by and several Marsh Harriers and Buzzards were noted; while a pair of Lapwings had chicks abroad judging by the way they were mobbing a Carrion Crow. Several Grey Herons and Little Egrets stalked the ditches and a White Stork sailed high overhead towards Scotney. At a couple of points along the way I deviated to check clumps of trees for Tree Sparrow or Turtle Dove but all I could find were the odd one or two singing Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Lesser or Common Whitethroats and a distant Cuckoo.

                                                          Buzzard

                                                          Marsh Harrier

                                                             Corn Bunting

                                                              Yellow Wagtails

Back at the car I then spent an hour or so driving to various points across Walland scanning fields of peas, maize and spuds for any grounded passage waders but all I could find was a scattering of gulls, corvids, Woodpigeons and Stock Doves. A few more Yellowhammers were noted, another Cuckoo, a `purring` Turtle Dove near the solar farm and a Little Owl at Wheelsgate. The farmland was bone dry throughout and when trudging along the crop tramlines it felt like walking on concrete! 

Common Terns

Dungeness RSPB - warm, dry and sunny, NE4 - En-route to the visitors centre it was good to see a pair of Brown Hares hunkered down on the shingle by the road, plus two Red Kites soaring over the water tower. A guided walk around the circular trail for nine guests, most of whom had not previously visited the site, produced all the expected warblers, Linnets and Reed Buntings; six Avocets, two Cattle Egrets, 10 Lapwings (including several well-grown chicks) and six Redshanks on the hayfields; and good views of Marsh Harriers and up to six Hobbies over Hookers hawking flying insects along with a small flock of Black-headed Gulls. Also noted during the circuit, a pair of Ringed Plovers and a Great White Egret on Burrowes; a Little Ringed Plover and two Greenshanks on New Ex; Sand Martins and Shelducks; and a Cuckoo and half a dozen Common Terns over Dengemarsh. In the sheltered spots plenty of blue damselflies and several Hairy Hawkers were on the wing, while butterflies included a few Common Blues and Small Coppers in the predominantly bone-dry landscape. 

                                  Brown Hares - New Ex

                                  Small Copper - Discovery Trail

                                 Broom - a welcome splash of colour!

Spring Moths & Bar-tailed Godwit - N5RPYY

Warm, dry and sunny, SE2 - At long last an overcast, humid night suitable for moth activity that duly delivered with 11 species of macros in the garden trap this morning, including Burnished Brass, Waved Umber and a migrant Gem.

                                  Early Grey

                                  Burnished Brass

                                  Waved Umber

                                  Gem

We then joined Chris P off the boardwalk at Dungeness for a two hour (0800-1000hrs) seawatch (where a Pom Skua had just gone east) in hazy light with a light south-easterly that swung south-west by the end of the watch. There were few birds moving except for an intermittent trickle of Common Scoters (c100), Sandwich Terns, small mixed flocks of Dunlins, Sanderlings and Ringed Plovers, a few Gannets and Black-headed Gulls, a distant Black-throated Diver and an Arctic Skua. Moving onto Kerton quarry where 90 Oystercatchers were joined by 15 Bar-tailed Godwits and two Grey Plovers, plus a scattering of Whimbrel, Redshank, Common Sandpiper and Whimbrel around the margins and a Common Tern.

                                  Bar-tailed Godwit - N5RPYY

PS: The adult male Bar-tailed Godwit present at Kerton quarry yesterday was ringed on 11th May 2015 in the Dutch Wadden Sea, making it at least ten years old. In Dec 2018 it was reported wintering in Mauritania. Many thanks to the Netherlands Ringing Group for the prompt response.

Colour-ringed Bar-tailed Godwit

Warm, dry and sunny, E4 - Out and about this weekend I was struck by how dry the countryside has become as rainfall this year, and particularly this spring, has been well below average, while there doesn`t appear to be any wet stuff in the forecast for the coming week or more, apart from a few possible showers tonight. As a result the shingle ridges, normally verdant and full of flowers about now, have taken on a late summer appearance with many plants shrivelled up in the strong sunshine and desiccating wind. However, tundra-bound waders continue to be the order of the day with another scattering of Whimbrel, Greenshank, Bar-tailed Godwit, Turnstone, Sanderling, Dunlin, Knot and Grey Plover pausing across Burrowes, ARC and Kerton quarry; this morning in the high tide wader roost at Kerton a flock of 37 Barwits contained a Dutch, colour-ringed bird (details submitted). Yesterday a calling Greenshank flew over New Romney and onto the garden list! Also noted today: a drake Red-crested Pochard at Lade and four Mediterranean Gulls on Kerton lake, plus a distant White Stork soaring over the desert towards the water tower (where it briefly landed!) and last seen heading west over Lydd.

                                  Muslin Moth 

                                  Peacock, Lade

    Parched landscape, Lade

    Colour-ringed Bar-tailed Godwit, Kerton quarry

Wader Day

Cool, dry and sunny, NE 3 - The relentless wind off the North Sea continues, although with less bite than of late. Yesterday our Ted walk took in the farmland north of New Romney where the only bird of note was a calling Cuckoo along with a few singing Reed and Sedge Warblers, Lesser and Common Whitethroats. The walk along the New Cut produced three Painted Ladies and several Red Admirals, Peacocks and Small Whites. 

                                  Painted Lady, New Cut

It was back to the coast for today`s Ted walk commencing early on the local patch at Lade where the aim was to carry out a full breeding bird survey. However, after an hour or so that was kicked into touch as it became apparent that waders were on the move as indicated by a flock of 35 Dunlins and five Greenshanks over north and south lakes respectively, plus several Whimbrels, Little Ringed and Grey Plovers overhead calling unseen. With a rising tide we then nipped round to the Tavern viewpoint where 30 Curlews and 120 Oystercatchers were already on the move along with 25 Bar-tailed Godwits and 100 mixed flock of Dunlins, Grey Plovers, Sanderlings and Knots (mostly Dunlin). Next stop Kerton quarry where more Grey Plovers and Whimbrels flew over calling and a pair of the former dropped in to join 90 roosting Oystercatchers. Two Little Ringed Plovers (more were seen on ARC this morning) were soon chivvied away by the resident pair of Ringed Plovers while at least six Common Sandpipers flitted around the margins. The main island had plenty of Redshank, Oystercatcher and Lapwings activity with several well-grown chicks of the latter species noted. It was then onto the point for a seawatch from the hide (1030-1200hrs) which was slow going but did include: 45 Barwit, 12 Whimbrel, two Knot, two Grey Plover, 16 Kittiwake, 20 Common Tern and a Pomarine Skua. The best of the wader tribe was yet to come though as a Curlew Sandpiper (a scarce passage migrant here in spring) had been reported by Kev E back at the quarry, necessitating a return visit on the way home that duly delivered a cracking adult bird in russet, summer plumage. Many more passage waders were reported across the peninsula today, but it made me wonder how many more went over unseen...   

                             

                                 Ringed and Grey Plovers, Kerton Quarry

   

    Adult Curlew Sandpiper, Kerton Quarry