Dungeness - 0745hrs - mild, cloudy, nw 2 - An hour at the seawatch hide delivered a trickle of seabirds up-Channel, most of which were distant over a flat calm sea. During an hour I managed 3 Poms, 1 Black-throated Diver, 12 Common Scoters, 9 Little Terns, 30 Commic Terns, 15 Barwits and 6 Kittiwakes. Milling around or going the other way were a few Gannets, auks, Common and Sandwich Terns and 9 Shelducks, plus a trickle of inbound Swallows.
The land was quiet apart from singles of Black Redstart, Pied Wagtail, Wheatear and Robin on the power station wall.
Lade - Nothing much of note here apart from a Yellow Wagtail and Swift overhead. In the garden moth trap a Swallow Prominent was the only moth.
ARC - Just the usual breeding birds present.
Tuesday, 7 May 2013
Monday, 6 May 2013
Lydd Heronry
Dungeness - 0645hrs - Early fog, - With no breakies to cook this morning I was all prepared for an early seawatch only to be frustrated by the fog. However, it suddenly cleared so we rushed down to the point and in half an hour had a cracking close Pomarine Skua, an Arctic Skua, Fulmar, Kittiwake, 12 Common Scoters, a steady flow of Gannets and Commic Terns plus 15 Little Terns. After which the fog returned and that was that.
Lade - Back home the moth trap contained a single Knot Grass, while 2 Greenshanks flew over in the mist calling.
Knot Grass
ARC - At the south end from the causeway road 3 Barwits, 5 Common Terns and a Ringed Plover and another Greenshank over, while news came through of a Purple Heron flushed from Dengemarsh Gully that flew eastwards into the mist (MH, BP).
Lydd Church Tower - 1000hrs
Once a year, on the first Bank Holiday in May, the church tower at All Saints Lydd is open to the public, affording panoramic views across the surrounding countryside to the sea and the Low Weald to the north, although a bank of fog along the coast restricted the seaward view for a while. From this lofty viewpoint it always strikes me how vulnerable the Marsh is with sheets of glistening water encircling Lydd and the ever present threat of flooding from the Channel kept at bay by a ribbon of shifting shingle. Local landmarks inevitably draw the eye: the lighthouses and power stations at Dungeness and Cheyne Court wind farm, while I always try and locate the other 13 medieval churches scattered across the flatlands. The farmland is mostly arable with splashes of yellow oil-seed rape amongst the green corn fields, the bare earth of recently planted potatoes and peas and here and there grazing sheep. The sleepy town of Lydd below gathered around the Rype butts up to the Army ranges where great swathes of bright gorse contrast with the brooding presence of the ancient Holmstone holly forest in the distance.
However, I digress. My reason for being up the tower is to assist the RSPB and church wardens in showing off unprecedented views of the herons nesting in the holm oak trees below. This year there were 19 occupied Grey Heron nests along with 4 Little Egrets across the heronry, plus hundreds of nesting Rooks, and everyone who climbed the narrow staircase enjoyed stunning views of juv herons in the nest alongside attendant adults. One group also had good views of 2 Little Egrets that briefly landed atop the holm oaks; one of the adult egrets was seen feeding well grown young. Other birds noted were Hobby, Marsh Harrier, Swifts and House Martins.
Lade - Back home the moth trap contained a single Knot Grass, while 2 Greenshanks flew over in the mist calling.
ARC - At the south end from the causeway road 3 Barwits, 5 Common Terns and a Ringed Plover and another Greenshank over, while news came through of a Purple Heron flushed from Dengemarsh Gully that flew eastwards into the mist (MH, BP).
Lydd Church Tower - 1000hrs
Once a year, on the first Bank Holiday in May, the church tower at All Saints Lydd is open to the public, affording panoramic views across the surrounding countryside to the sea and the Low Weald to the north, although a bank of fog along the coast restricted the seaward view for a while. From this lofty viewpoint it always strikes me how vulnerable the Marsh is with sheets of glistening water encircling Lydd and the ever present threat of flooding from the Channel kept at bay by a ribbon of shifting shingle. Local landmarks inevitably draw the eye: the lighthouses and power stations at Dungeness and Cheyne Court wind farm, while I always try and locate the other 13 medieval churches scattered across the flatlands. The farmland is mostly arable with splashes of yellow oil-seed rape amongst the green corn fields, the bare earth of recently planted potatoes and peas and here and there grazing sheep. The sleepy town of Lydd below gathered around the Rype butts up to the Army ranges where great swathes of bright gorse contrast with the brooding presence of the ancient Holmstone holly forest in the distance.
However, I digress. My reason for being up the tower is to assist the RSPB and church wardens in showing off unprecedented views of the herons nesting in the holm oak trees below. This year there were 19 occupied Grey Heron nests along with 4 Little Egrets across the heronry, plus hundreds of nesting Rooks, and everyone who climbed the narrow staircase enjoyed stunning views of juv herons in the nest alongside attendant adults. One group also had good views of 2 Little Egrets that briefly landed atop the holm oaks; one of the adult egrets was seen feeding well grown young. Other birds noted were Hobby, Marsh Harrier, Swifts and House Martins.
All Saints church Lydd was constructed in the 13th century and is an architectural masterpiece. At almost 200 feet it is the longest parish church in Kent and the tallest on the Marsh with the tower, built in the 15th century, rising to 132 feet. Inside, the cavernous roof space with its supporting timbers are a construction engineers delight while a 4th or 5th century Romano/British basilica has been incorporated into the walls. How these medieval artisans built such an impressive structure is a mystery to me, but there it is, still standing proud after all these years, and I`m sure they would have been pleased to learn that even today this magnificent building is known locally as the `Cathedral of the Marsh`, and rightly so.
Sunbathing Heron
Adult and juv Heron
Adult Heron
Lydd Heronry, The Grange
View to the south
Juv (brancher) Heron
Adult Little Egret on nest, Lydd
Lade - 1600hrs - Wandered over the pits this afternoon to check the reedbeds for any herons, following this mornings news from the gully, but all was quiet with just the usual breeding birds going about their business.
Lade - 1600hrs - Wandered over the pits this afternoon to check the reedbeds for any herons, following this mornings news from the gully, but all was quiet with just the usual breeding birds going about their business.
Sunday, 5 May 2013
Passage Waders
Lade - 0600hrs - warm, dry, sunny w 1 - A stunning morning to be out and about early on, and with only a light breeze there was plenty of bird song from the likes of Skylark, Mipit, Whitethroat, Linnet and Cuckoo. A Whinchat was a nice surprise perched on the desert scrub, while overhead Swallows and 3 Yellow Wagtails pressing north were more expected.
May is usually a good month for waders down here, but so far its been poor, with a notable near absence of Barwits (although some were reported at the point today). However, as most stuff is late this spring there is still time, so it was encouraging to see 4 Common Sandpipers and 2 Greenshanks around the margins of south pit with singles of each at Kerton road pit and a Whimbrel over. Whilst working around the garden and on the allotment today several more Whimbrels went over calling, plus a Buzzard at 1400hrs. Yet again the garden moth trap was barren.
ARC - Had a wander down to the water tower, where we failed to see the male Redstart (it says something when a dozen birders are staking out a bush for a Redstart...). On the pits 3 distant Little Egrets and a drake Red-breasted Merganser, plus 2 Buzzards and 3 Hobbies high over the desert.
ps: Seems to have been generally another quiet day around the peninsula with few grounded migrants anywhere. However, at Dungeness Pomarine Skuas were reported passing the point amongst Greats and Arctics while a continuous stream of Commic Terns ran into the thousands. There remained little of note on the land apart from an influx of Hobbies, while a Great White Egret was seen on the bird reserve and a Serin over the gully. The ranges seemed to have had the best of it with a kite sp, Short-eared Owl and Greenshank.
May is usually a good month for waders down here, but so far its been poor, with a notable near absence of Barwits (although some were reported at the point today). However, as most stuff is late this spring there is still time, so it was encouraging to see 4 Common Sandpipers and 2 Greenshanks around the margins of south pit with singles of each at Kerton road pit and a Whimbrel over. Whilst working around the garden and on the allotment today several more Whimbrels went over calling, plus a Buzzard at 1400hrs. Yet again the garden moth trap was barren.
ARC - Had a wander down to the water tower, where we failed to see the male Redstart (it says something when a dozen birders are staking out a bush for a Redstart...). On the pits 3 distant Little Egrets and a drake Red-breasted Merganser, plus 2 Buzzards and 3 Hobbies high over the desert.
ps: Seems to have been generally another quiet day around the peninsula with few grounded migrants anywhere. However, at Dungeness Pomarine Skuas were reported passing the point amongst Greats and Arctics while a continuous stream of Commic Terns ran into the thousands. There remained little of note on the land apart from an influx of Hobbies, while a Great White Egret was seen on the bird reserve and a Serin over the gully. The ranges seemed to have had the best of it with a kite sp, Short-eared Owl and Greenshank.
Saturday, 4 May 2013
Nightingale & Skuas
Lade - 0600hrs - cool, sunny, cloud by mid-morning, w 4 - A decent enough start to the day with a Mistle Thrush singing from atop a telegraph pole just yards from the cottage. Bit of a surprise really as they`re a scarce bird along the coast strip, usually occurring in late summer in loose post-breeding flocks. Checked out the pits before doing the breakfasts for B&B birders but there was little of note apart from the now established warblers and other breeding birds, while a group of 20 Sandwich Terns cut across the pits along with 2 Med Gulls.
Ran the moth trap last night and caught a single Hebrew Character.
Bretts - Had a stroll along the range road listening for scrub warblers amongst the gorse. The expected Whitethroats were most numerous along with a scattering of Sedges, Reed and 2 Lesser Whitethroats. A Nightingale burst into song by Brett`s pit, which kept low and out of sight as the wind picked up, and was new for the year (184).
RSPB - The usual forlorn faces in the visitors centre told its own story. A couple of Arctic Terns moved through Burrowes, while singles of Garganey and Brent Goose were at Dengemarsh. Over the road Garden Warbler and Redstart were reported at the water tower and a drake Red-breasted Merganser dropped onto ARC during the afternoon.
Elsewhere, there was a Red Kite over New Romney, while morning seawatching was slow going with most skuas high and distant.
Dungeness - 1445-1615hrs - An afternoon seawatch from the hide started off in a heavy shower with poor viz and nothing moving, no surprise there. However, once the rain stopped and the cloud base lifted (between 1530-1600hrs) a small movement of east bound skuas comprised 5 Bonxies (all distant) 3 Arctics (dark morphs) and one cracking close Pomarine Skua (smart cutlery) that passed just outside the cardinal buoy. Also, 12 Arctic Terns, 50 Commic Terns, 1 Brent and 1 Fulmar, plus plenty of Gannets, Common and Sandwich Terns too-ing and fro-ing.
Ran the moth trap last night and caught a single Hebrew Character.
Bretts - Had a stroll along the range road listening for scrub warblers amongst the gorse. The expected Whitethroats were most numerous along with a scattering of Sedges, Reed and 2 Lesser Whitethroats. A Nightingale burst into song by Brett`s pit, which kept low and out of sight as the wind picked up, and was new for the year (184).
RSPB - The usual forlorn faces in the visitors centre told its own story. A couple of Arctic Terns moved through Burrowes, while singles of Garganey and Brent Goose were at Dengemarsh. Over the road Garden Warbler and Redstart were reported at the water tower and a drake Red-breasted Merganser dropped onto ARC during the afternoon.
Elsewhere, there was a Red Kite over New Romney, while morning seawatching was slow going with most skuas high and distant.
Dungeness - 1445-1615hrs - An afternoon seawatch from the hide started off in a heavy shower with poor viz and nothing moving, no surprise there. However, once the rain stopped and the cloud base lifted (between 1530-1600hrs) a small movement of east bound skuas comprised 5 Bonxies (all distant) 3 Arctics (dark morphs) and one cracking close Pomarine Skua (smart cutlery) that passed just outside the cardinal buoy. Also, 12 Arctic Terns, 50 Commic Terns, 1 Brent and 1 Fulmar, plus plenty of Gannets, Common and Sandwich Terns too-ing and fro-ing.
Friday, 3 May 2013
Pomarine Skuas
Dungeness - 0800hrs - warm, dry and sunny, sw1 - What a difference a day makes weather-wise; this morning it was off with the thermals and on with the shorts and flip-flops, well almost. Arrived at the seawatch hide with the Joker to the news that 2 Poms, a Great Northern Diver and several Little Terns had already gone through and a Serin had flown inland. However, we settled down amongst the throng to two hours of lively banter and a steady dribble of seabirds, many of which were way offshore. The numbers was made up by several hundred Commic Terns with at least 30 (I`m sure the final tally will be much higher) coming close enough for me to be satisfied they were Arctics. The odd Fulmar, Kittiwake and Med Gull moved through along with a few Gannets, Sandwich Terns, 10 Brents, 20 Common Scoters, a "smoke" of distant Barwits, 4 Arctic Skuas, 2 Bonxies and singles of Red-throated and Black-throated Divers. At 0945hrs the stars of the watch hove into view, albeit distantly, when 2 Pomarine Skuas moved up-Channel and onto the Marsh year list (181); just about got the spoons as they drew level.
On the land Wheatear, Black Redstart and Chiffchaff around the power station and another year tick in the moat when a female Common Redstart (182) briefly showed in the mouth of the Heligoland trap, along with 2 Willow Warblers and a Whitethroat. A Firecest was also reported in the moat and a Ring Ouzel on the edge of the trapping area.
RSPB - A scan through the Tufted Ducks on New Diggings failed to relocate yesterdays Ring-necked Duck although one or two Whimbrels dropped in and a Cuckoo flew over. There was plenty of common bird song from the reedbeds and willow scrub. Near the ARC car park a Nightingale had been singing earlier, where we had good views of a Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Hobbies over Tower Pits. From the visitors centre 2 Avocets and a Common Buzzard.
Dungeness - 1430-1545hrs - Another crack at the sea from the boats with the hard core boys, plus more topical conversation, yielded 2 close Little Terns (183), while the rest of the seabirds were miles out and included 4 Bonxies, 3 Arctic Skuas, 4 Red-throated and 1 Black-throated Diver, plus single figures of Kittiwake, Common Scoter, Brent and Barwit. At least 4 porpoises were feeding just offshore amongst the Sandwich Terns.
Seawatching Dungeness style
On the land Wheatear, Black Redstart and Chiffchaff around the power station and another year tick in the moat when a female Common Redstart (182) briefly showed in the mouth of the Heligoland trap, along with 2 Willow Warblers and a Whitethroat. A Firecest was also reported in the moat and a Ring Ouzel on the edge of the trapping area.
RSPB - A scan through the Tufted Ducks on New Diggings failed to relocate yesterdays Ring-necked Duck although one or two Whimbrels dropped in and a Cuckoo flew over. There was plenty of common bird song from the reedbeds and willow scrub. Near the ARC car park a Nightingale had been singing earlier, where we had good views of a Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Hobbies over Tower Pits. From the visitors centre 2 Avocets and a Common Buzzard.
Dungeness - 1430-1545hrs - Another crack at the sea from the boats with the hard core boys, plus more topical conversation, yielded 2 close Little Terns (183), while the rest of the seabirds were miles out and included 4 Bonxies, 3 Arctic Skuas, 4 Red-throated and 1 Black-throated Diver, plus single figures of Kittiwake, Common Scoter, Brent and Barwit. At least 4 porpoises were feeding just offshore amongst the Sandwich Terns.
Thursday, 2 May 2013
Montagu`s Harrier & Red-rumped Swallow
Dungeness - 0745hrs - cold, cloudy, drizzle, nne 3 - A horrible morning to be out in the field with the northerly airflow making it feel more like February. Joined the local seawatchers for an hour on the concrete road from where earlier a couple of Poms had been reported. All the usual terns and Gannets were milling around just offshore along with half a dozen porpoises feeding close to shore. The up-Channel passage wasn't really happening, although we did have 2 Arctic Skuas and several flocks of mostly distant Commic Terns with one group of 5 venturing close enough to be confirmed as Arctics. Best of all though were singles of Marsh Harrier and Hobby in off the sea with the falcon whipping up over the shingle bank and hacking inland at breakneck speed; cracking stuff, it always gets me going watching one of my favourite birds arriving on these shores, to think how far they`ve travelled to get here, over rain forests, deserts and seas, and all to be greeted by 7C and drizzle!
Dengemarsh - A quick tour of the flood and hayfields in the hope that some waders had dropped in was soon dashed as singles of Barwit and Whimbrel were the only migrants on offer. A scattering of Lapwings, Ringed Plovers, Oystercatchers, Shelducks and a drake Garganey were also present and, joy upon joy, the first Greylag goslings of the season on the lake. The Bittern was also `booming`.
Dungeness - 0945-1130hrs - Another session from the concrete road, in the drizzle, but this time from the comfort of the Jokers`s car yielded very little apart from a crippler... Two more Arctic Skuas were logged through plus 10 Common Terns and singles of Red-throated Diver, Barwit and a Merganser going west. However, at 1045hrs bird of the watch was something I have not seen before in all the hours spent staring at the sea off Dungeness - a coasting adult male Montagu`s Harrier. Luckily it was only about a hundred yards off shore and low down just over the waves, battling into the head wind, so it took a good 3-4 minutes (a luxury in seawatching terms) to round the point. Why it did not head inland is a mystery, and luckily the local gulls didn`t cotton on. Anyhow, what we saw was an elegant, grey harrier with smeared black wing tips, a small white rump patch and the clincher, when viewed through the `scope, a single black upper wing-bar. Needless to say it was new for the burgeoning Marsh year list (179) and the second decent raptor this week; perhaps a Honey Buzzard tomorrow...
New Diggings - 1730hrs - News came through from SB of a Red-rumped Swallow over Burrowes that by the time I arrived was relocated over New Diggings within a largish hirundine and Swift flock. We watched it from the causeway road as it hawked insects over the pit, a smart bird and the second rarity of the day bringing the Marsh year list neatly onto 180.
Dengemarsh - A quick tour of the flood and hayfields in the hope that some waders had dropped in was soon dashed as singles of Barwit and Whimbrel were the only migrants on offer. A scattering of Lapwings, Ringed Plovers, Oystercatchers, Shelducks and a drake Garganey were also present and, joy upon joy, the first Greylag goslings of the season on the lake. The Bittern was also `booming`.
Dungeness - 0945-1130hrs - Another session from the concrete road, in the drizzle, but this time from the comfort of the Jokers`s car yielded very little apart from a crippler... Two more Arctic Skuas were logged through plus 10 Common Terns and singles of Red-throated Diver, Barwit and a Merganser going west. However, at 1045hrs bird of the watch was something I have not seen before in all the hours spent staring at the sea off Dungeness - a coasting adult male Montagu`s Harrier. Luckily it was only about a hundred yards off shore and low down just over the waves, battling into the head wind, so it took a good 3-4 minutes (a luxury in seawatching terms) to round the point. Why it did not head inland is a mystery, and luckily the local gulls didn`t cotton on. Anyhow, what we saw was an elegant, grey harrier with smeared black wing tips, a small white rump patch and the clincher, when viewed through the `scope, a single black upper wing-bar. Needless to say it was new for the burgeoning Marsh year list (179) and the second decent raptor this week; perhaps a Honey Buzzard tomorrow...
New Diggings - 1730hrs - News came through from SB of a Red-rumped Swallow over Burrowes that by the time I arrived was relocated over New Diggings within a largish hirundine and Swift flock. We watched it from the causeway road as it hawked insects over the pit, a smart bird and the second rarity of the day bringing the Marsh year list neatly onto 180.
Wednesday, 1 May 2013
A Quiet Day
Lade - 0600hrs - cool, sunny, ne 3 - Spent a couple of hours working the local patch in bright sunshine,but still with that nagging easterly keeping temperatures low. All the usual warblers in song apart from yesterdays Lesser Whitethroats which appeared to have moved on overnight. Around the reedbeds there was a noticeable increase in Reed Warblers and 2 male Cuckoos were already calling from the willow canopy in order to attract a mate. A trickle of Swallows and Goldfinches moved north, while there was no sign of the Black-necked Grebe on north pit.
RSPB - 1130hrs - Called in at the visitors centre where the glum faces scanning across Burrowes told its own story - where have all the migrants got too? (those boys want to try birding in land-locked Bedfordshire for 30 years!) However, whilst I was sitting there a Greenshank and Whimbrel dropped in and 3 Little Egrets were scattered around the margins; the Great Whites having dispersed to regions unknown. The usual Marsh Harriers were floating over Hookers along with 2 Hobbies hawking insects and a `booming` Bittern in the reedbed, while 3 Garganeys were skulking on Dengemarsh. Good to see a couple of terns on the recently installed rafts.
RSPB - 1130hrs - Called in at the visitors centre where the glum faces scanning across Burrowes told its own story - where have all the migrants got too? (those boys want to try birding in land-locked Bedfordshire for 30 years!) However, whilst I was sitting there a Greenshank and Whimbrel dropped in and 3 Little Egrets were scattered around the margins; the Great Whites having dispersed to regions unknown. The usual Marsh Harriers were floating over Hookers along with 2 Hobbies hawking insects and a `booming` Bittern in the reedbed, while 3 Garganeys were skulking on Dengemarsh. Good to see a couple of terns on the recently installed rafts.
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