White Wagtail

Lade - murky start, but warm, hazy sunshine from mid-morning onwards - Very little of note on the pits although Skylarks put on a show with at least 5 singers on the wing.
ARC - A couple of stabs here with the first at 0900hrs delivering a cracking male White Wagtail at the south end from the causeway road; couldn't find it by early afternoon though. Over the road the resident 8 Smews on New Diggings plus the Great White Egret noted. Bearded Tits were heard `pinging` in front of Hanson and the Penduline Tit showed again this afternoon at the far end of the willow trail.

                                          White Wagtail, ARC - a poor record shot


Littlestone Golf Course - Finished a half hearted kind of a day in some style with distant views of a Short-eared Owl quartering over the golf course rough.  However, far more impressive (and a year tick, not that I`m keeping a tally...) was a barrelling, brown Merlin which put on quite a show chasing after a Skylark, that continued to sing despite being inches from death. The chase continued out over the bay with the lark jinking hither and thither just in time to avoid the clutching yellow, talons. I know the Merlin`s got to eat, but it was good to report that she gave up after the sixth attempt; not many Skylarks about, and there`s plenty of Starlings knocking around. Funniest part of all though was that the lark continued singing skywards as if nothing had happened!

A Very Odd Day

Lade - 0700hrs - low cloud and rolling sea mist, clearing mid-morning to sunshine - Well, well, well. what an odd day. That`s the great thing about birding, you just never know what its going to throw up.
It started at 7am as I was standing out back supping on my first brew of the day watching Barney chasing the cat around the garden. The Dungeness fog horn was blaring away as a thick sea mist rolled over the cottage, and then I heard a distinctive `kerrick-kerrick` sound coming out of the gloom; surely, it couldn't be... perhaps an early Starling, even though it was barely light - and then a Sandwich Tern skimmed over the roof and headed inland! Incredible, first surprise of the day.
RSPB - 0930hrs - Down at the bird reserve the fog was coming and going, but by the time the guided walk started we were in bright sunshine with blue skies. The standard circuit in reverse delivered some quality sightings: from the ramp overlooking Hookers everyone had superb flight views of Bittern and several Marsh Harriers, plus a close Cetti`s Warbler, `pinging` Beardies, a Raven feeding on a swan carcass, Dabchicks and 2 Chiffchaffs. From Christmas Dell, 3 Snipes showed well just in front of the hide and the pair of Ravens `cronked` overhead. On Burrowes we eventually caught up with the Long-tailed Duck, plus 50 Golden Plovers and all the usual wildfowl. On New Diggings, 8 Smews and the Great White Egret.

                                          Snipes, Christmas Dell

Dengemarsh - 1400hrs - Walked down from Springfield Bridge and eventually located the Water Pipit at the far side of hayfield no. 3; had poor `scope views of  a bird in winter plumage. Further Raven and Marsh Harrier sightings here.
ARC - 1500hrs - Finished off in style with reed obscured views of the Penduline Tit from a packed Hanson hide, that had been showing on and off throughout the day. Along the willow trail several Chiffchaffs and Long-tailed Tits.
As I say, a very strange day indeed that started with a Sandwich Tern in thick fog and ended with a Penduline Tit in bright sunshine. What a weird place Dungeness can be...
PS: The 2 Snow Buntings were reported from the Point (PB) this morning, while 2 Short-eared Owls were back on Littlestone Golf Course yesterday (SB).

2 Snow Buntings & "That Gull`s Back"

Lade - 0730hrs - grey, miserable, mildish, light airs - Decided on a tour of the Peninsula this morning starting at the local patch where a fine drake Smew on south pit was the first of the winter here; on north pit the lone Brent was still present.
Dungeness - Picked up the Joker and onto the Point where 2 Snow Buntings had been reported by OL. We soon located them along the tideline near the boats where they posed for pictures before heading off high to the north (and, no we didnt flush `em!). Joined DW for a half hour seawatch during which time the 2nd winter Glaucous Gull put in an appearance, following an absence of several weeks. Offshore, hundreds of Great Crested Grebes, a few auks and Gannets, single Fulmar and two groups of 7 and 11 Brents east.

                                          Snow Buntings, Dungeness

RSPB - Eight Smews and the GWEgret on New Diggings from the causeway road with another redhead from Hanson plus all the usual wintering wildfowl including 12 Goldeneyes and 3 Pintails, Little Egret, 50 Curlews, 2 Lottis and 2 Chiffchaffs. Water Rails, Cetti`s Warblers, Reed Buntings and Great Tits were in good voice and a couple of Marsh Harriers and a Sparrowhawk drifted over. From Boulderwall the obligatory Tree Sparrows, whilst out on the fields a scattering of Curlews, Wigeons and 50 Stock Doves.
Whilst chatting to NH from the ramp overlooking Hookers, a Bittern flew across the reedbed and tussled with a harrier before dropping into cover. A large flock of Lapwings and 50 Goldies on the back fields, several more harriers close by and another view of a Bittern from the hide. Long-tailed Duck on Burrowes and Stonechat at the Corral completed a decent mornings birding.
Lade Bay - On a receding tide this afternoon easily bagged all 10 species of shorebirds between the  Lade car park and the Tavern. Of particular note was the number of Knots present; at least 250, which is well up on the norm.

Early Moth

Lade - miserable and grey all day, drizzle first thing, W2 - The only different bird of note on the pits was a lone Brent on north pit, otherwise all the usual diving ducks plus a couple of Marsh Harriers hunting over the airport fields.
Highlight of the day however was an Early Moth trapped locally by BD. Early Moth is common enough across much of the country but not down here, as this was only the 3rd or 4th record; and it even attracted the attentions of the Romney Marsh Moth Lord.
Early Moths are probably under recorded as few moth`ers trap this time of year - which reminds me, now where did I stow that moth trap...

Early Moth, Lydd-on-Sea - The males fly throughout January- March, while female are flightless

Raptors in the Sunshine

Lade - 1000hrs - warm, dry and sunny, light airs - A bit of warm sunshine is all that`s required to entice raptors up and into the waiting thermals. Four Marsh Harriers, 2 Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk were soaring high over the airport when I arrived at the aerial mound on south pit.
Dungeness  - 1100hrs  Had a look at the Patch, more out of a sense of duty than anything else, where amongst the melee of mostly immature gulls were 2 adult Meds. A Peregrine scattered the pigeons over the power station and a couple of Kestrels posed on poles by the Light Railway Cafe.

                                          Kestrel, Dungeness

RSPB - 1200hrs - Skirted around the margins of the bird reserve as packed out with weekend birders. From the causeway road a flock of 21 Smews still on New Diggings, with 2 more over the road on ARC plus 8 Goldeneyes. At least 25 Tree Sparrows in the bushes at Boulderwall and another 2 Marsh Harriers circling over the fields. From Springfield Bridge, (where I was joined by the Biking Birders) 4 more Marsh Harriers on the wing, 2 Ravens, `pinging` Beardies and the Great White Egret.

Afternoon Birding

Lade - 1300hrs - warm, sunny, light airs - A late start due to a comedy gig (Stuart Lee) in Canterbury last night and a sore foot (its a long story...). However, a very pleasant afternoon but swarming with people watching the filming on the beach. Still, a decent show of Knots and Barwits from the Tavern and a flock of 20 Brents on the bay.
RSPB - 1345hrs - A count of 23 Smews on New Diggings included 2 drakes, while the Great White Egret showed briefly. Two more redheads on ARC, plus 50 Curlews, 20 Goldies, 200 Lapwings and a Blackwit. Several Marsh Harriers here and over the road from Boulderwall, plus a Bittern and 2 Stonechats near the Corral. The visitors centre and car park was busy with birders; as were the feeders, attracting a variety of common finches, tits, buntings and sparrows. Plenty on offer around Burrowes as well, with singles of Avocet and Long-tailed Duck, 50 Goldies, 8 Pintails, 8 Goldeneyes, hundreds of common wildfowl and scores of immature gulls to practise ones identification skills on ...

                                           Avocet, Burrowes                                           

                                           Long-tailed Duck, Burrowes

Woodcocks

Lade - 0730hrs - misty, nippy start, brighter by mid-day, w2 - After the heatwave of yesterday (17C in London) it was back to more normal temperatures this morning; even requiring hat-and-gloves first off. Chiffchaff and Goldcrest in the garden kick-started the day well, followed by 2 Woodcocks inadvertently flushed from the storm beaches on the way over to the pits. Was surprised to see them as been a week or so since the last but they probably got lost in the mist last night. One flew well away towards the Trapping Area, while the other one dived down into someones back garden along the coast road! When all`s said and done with this odd winter (mild start with an influx of Short-eared Owls - not many wild swans and geese - where have all the Barn Owls gone - a cold finish with loads of Smews, Goosanders, Woodcocks and a Sea-eagle!) Woodcock will be one bird I`ll remember it for, and smart birds they are too, such a shame that over 100,000 are shot in Britain each winter, surely they deserve a better reception in this day and age...
However, I digress, had to get over the pits sharpish because there was a film crew about to take over the place for the next couple of days; something to do with 2 women, set in the 60`s, at the time of the Cuban missile crisis... Anyhow, all the usual wildfowl present including a pair of courting Shelducks and 8 Goldeneyes. Two harriers were soaring above the airport while Great Tits, Chaffinches and Cetti`s Warblers were all in fine voice.

                                          Goldeneyes, ARC

ARC - By now the sun was shining and several Reed Buntings were singing, along with more of the same as at Lade. A noisy gang of 30 odd Tree/House Sparrows was quarrelling in the big bush by the car park, while a Cettis`s Warbler showed well from Hanson, plus Long-tailed Tits and Chiffchaff. Out on the water 3 Pintails, 2 Smews, 4 Shelducks, 6 Golden Plovers, 15 Curlews, a Blackwit and several hundred Lapwings amongst the regular ducks. Several Cormorants were back on the main island and a Little Egret was in front of Screen. At least 3 Marsh Harriers noted including the `yellow-fronted old lady`. Had a natter with PB and on the walk back to the car a Bittern flew over from Boulderwall.
Greatstone Beach - A quick look from the tavern this afternoon noted 6 of the regular beach wader species including 50 Knots.