Winged Insects

Warm, dry and sunny - This past week`s heatwave has certainly witnessed a rush of winged insect activity. From the garden moth trap to an influx of migrant Painted Lady and Red Admiral butterflies and odenata in between there has been plenty of non-avian interest across the Dungeness peninsula and elsewhere locally. Around Dengemarsh the wetlands produced large numbers of Black-tailed Skimmers, Four-spot Chasers and Emperors along with countless blue damselflies. It was also good to see a couple of Brown Hares during my Ringed Plover survey and find another pair on territory with young. Little Ringed Plover, Redshank, Lapwing and Oystercatcher have all been seen with young around the wetlands recently. At least 15 pairs of Common Terns have taken to the rafts on Dengemarsh and during a circuit on Friday two Cattle Egrets and a protracted flight view of a Bittern were noted as well as Bearded Tits with fledglings. This morning, after a visit to Lade, we checked out Tower Pits where there was no sign of yesterdays Golden Oriole but good views of Hobby, Cuckoo and a pair of Marsh Harriers.

                                   Black-tailed Skimmer

                                 Broad-bodied Chaser

                                   Four-spotted Chaser

                                  Painted Ladies

    Common Terns, Dengemarsh

                                  Mute Swan with a kinked neck

                                  Ted at the ramp

Nightingales and Turtle Doves

Orlestone Forest - warm. dry and still - 0430hrs - It was an early morning wake-up call, in perfect weather conditions, and away to the woods for a guided dawn chorus walk for a friend from New Romney. As soon as we parked up in the half-light we were greeted to a cacophony of bird song from three competing Nightingales and several Blackcaps plus a supporting cast of Blackbird, Song Thrush, Blue and Great Tits, Wren, Robin, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Woodpigeon and a lone Goldcrest. We stood there for a good while and just soaked it all up, a wall of avian noise - terrific stuff! During the course of the circular walk we racked up at least 10 singing Nightingales as well as three Turtle Doves, two Garden Warblers and a Willow Warbler along with Treecreeper, Nuthatch and Great Spotted Woodpecker. On the way home we called in at Kenardington crossing where two more `purring` Turtle Doves, another Nightingale, a Cetti`s Warbler and a Cuckoo were noted, plus several Yellowhammers, Goldfinches, Whitethroats, Buzzards and a Mistle Thrush. 

                                   Yellowhammer - Kennardington

After breakfast I headed out on a Ted walk to Lade, Kerton Quarry and the reserve where there was little change from previous visits this week.

                                  Carrion Crow and Greylag - Boulderwall

Greenish Warbler

Hot, dry and sunny, E2 - The heatwave continued across the weekend with a high pressure system settling over central Europe delivering a humid airflow from the south along with a noticeable arrival of Painted Ladies, mostly along the coastal strip but also a few around New Romney. Today`s highlight was a particularly showy and vocal Greenish Warbler discovered by Jacob in the north-west corner of the Trapping Area. I particularly enjoyed its jerky, rambling song and, when it moved low down through cover, its distinctive pale supercilium and faint wing-bars. My pics weren`t up to much but many thanks to Dave Scott who did far better (see below).  Around midday whilst on the foreshore beachcombing with our Kate I had distant views of a Honey Buzzard soaring over the peninsula, thanks to Dave Bunney via WhatsAp; two more were seen later along with two White Storks. Also reported over the peninsula this weekend were Red Kite and Bee-eater plus Black-winged Stilt, Garganey and Wood Sandpiper on the reserve.

                      Greenish Warbler - Trapping Area (by Dave Scott)

The muggy overnight conditions were perfect for moth activity with 20 species of macros coming to light in the garden trap and on the shed wall.

                                  Peppered Moth

                                  Burnished Brass

                                  Willow Beauty 

Red-breasted Flycatcher

Dungeness - warm, dry and sunny, S 3 - For today`s Ted walk we headed down to the estate where there had been a small, overnight fall of Spotted Flycatchers, mostly around the Long Pits where there was up to ten birds with others reported across the peninsula. The Spotted Flycatcher is one of the latest long-distance migrants to reach our shores where its status is one of steep decline and as a result is Red Listed; thirty years ago ten plus would`ve been considered normal, but not so today. However, much rarer and certainly not an annual spring migrant, was a Red-breasted Flycatcher discovered in the moat that performed throughout the morning in willow scrub by a net ride. Brief snatches of song were heard along with a Wren-like rattling call; I presume, as it lacked an orange chin and was singing that it was most likely a 1st year male, unless, of course, females of this species sing?  Whatever the outcome it was a smart bird and many thanks to Dave Scott for his superb pic and video clip reproduced below.

    Spotted Flycatchers - Long Pits

    Red-breasted Flycatcher - DBO Moat (by Dave Scott)

                                           Red-breasted Flycatcher (by Dave Scott)

Cattle Egrets

Cool, cloudy, SW 4 - We started the morning with a circular Ted walk around Dengemarsh where the highlight was a flock of 10 Cattle Egrets in the sheep fold behind the flood, which were the first I`ve seen for a while. Common Terns were still few in number on and around the new tern rafts while two lone Lapwings was the sum wader total on the dried out hayfields. From the ramp I had brief flight views of a Bittern, with another `booming` nearby, plus confirmed breeding of Bearded Tit and Cetti`s Warbler as they attended to fledged young. A Cuckoo was also in good voice, several Hobbies and Swifts hawked flying insects overhead and a Yellow Wagtail was noted on the farmland section of the walk along with several Skylarks and two Corn Buntings. There was little on offer from Hanson hide apart from two Shovelers, a pair of Wigeon, 30 Gadwall and the usual breeding waders and gulls; a few more Hobbies and Swifts drifted over and a male Marsh Harrier flew through. There was no change to the birds on Kerton quarry from yesterday.

                                  Cattle Egrets - Dengemarsh

                                  Common Terns - Dengemarsh

                                  Wigeon - ARC

Garganey

Cool, cloudy, W 2 - It has been a quiet past few days across the peninsula due mainly to a persistent and nagging northerly airflow; however, the wind direction is due to change by Tuesday to a warmer southerly which hopefully will deliver one or two Mediterranean overshoots our way. Garganey have been scarce this spring on the gravel pits across Dungeness although today`s drake on ARC has been present for about a week now. Cuckoos have been noted at Lade, Dengemarsh and Tower Pits with up to seven Hobbies and a number of Swifts at the latter site this morning. The high tide wader roost at Kerton quarry produced 65 Oystercatchers, 12 Curlews and a Whimbrel, while Redshank and Lapwing both had fledglings on the main island. Another pair of Ringed Plovers with chicks was discovered today bringing my tally to four pairs so far this spring and a Spotted Flycatcher was at the top end of Long Pits.. 

                                  Garganey - ARC

Common Terns

Dungeness RSPB - cool, cloudy, NW5 - A grim morning with a chill Arctic airflow and the threat of showers for my monthly guided walk for nine guests around the circular trail. The highlight on Burrowes was a flock of seven Dunlins in summer plumage but otherwise it was very quiet with just the usual gulls, wildfowl and Cormorants, plus Sand Martins coming and going at the nesting wall, four Little Egrets, a Redshank and a handful of Common Terns on the islands. Apart from a few snatches of song from Reed, Sedge and Cetti`s Warblers there was little of note until Dengemarsh where we had good views of two Marsh Harriers and up to five Hobbies as well as hearing a `booming` Bittern. The rafts and islands in front of the hide attracted five Common Terns, a pitiful number considering there was over 30 here on Monday. From the ramp several Bearded Tits broke cover in the reedbed and we had further close views of Swifts, a perched Hobby and a Cetti`s Warbler. Also noted during the circuit: singing Reed Buntings, Linnets, Common and Lesser Whitethroats, Lapwing, Grey Heron, Shelduck, Pochard and Gadwall. We made it back to the VC just before a heavy hail shower hit.

                                   Storm clouds gathering

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