Lade - 0700hrs - cool, cloudy, w 3 - Pretty much a repeat of yesterday with a party of 50 Swifts over the willow swamp the only migrants of note. With less wind there was a bit more bird song about this morning, particularly from the main reed bed where the Reed Warblers were `chugging` away, while a Cuckoo looked on sussing out potential clients.
On the botanical front the gorse continues to look spectacular, while the sea campion is carpeting the storm beaches and the first of the prostrate broom flowers are breaking through at last.
Willington, Bedfordshire - A trip up to the old county for magazine articles yielded few birds in blustery wet conditions. However, this wetland site in the Ouse valley did turn up Grey Wagtail and Kingfisher along the river, plus Common Terns and a Little Gull over the main lake.
Warden and Galley Hill, Luton - Didn`t stay for long as it was lashing down by now, but the usual downland Linnets, Yellowhammers and Skylarks noted.
ps: News from back home at Dungeness filtered in throughout the day with the Green-winged Teal once again reported early morning only, this time on Hayfield 1, plus Little Stint on the bird reserve and a Black Kite on Walland Marsh.
Tuesday, 14 May 2013
Monday, 13 May 2013
Red-rumped Swallow, Burrowes
Lade - 0700hrs - cool, cloudy, w 4 - Another breezy old day slogging around the local patch checking out all likely spots that may attract dabbling ducks, particularly teal. None found here but the Green-winged Teal did put in another brief appearance at the south end of ARC just after 0800hrs (PB). Spent some time checking through a flock of 100 hirundines and Swifts over the willow swamp, while 2 Yellow Wagtails passed overhead calling.
Burrowes - 1300hrs - King Hirundine (SB) struck again with his 4th Red-rumped Swallow of the spring, which showed a treat over Burrowes between Dennis`s and Makepeace hides amongst a large flock of Swallows and Swifts. It also performed in front of the visitor centre; my second of the season and a much improved view than the New Diggings bird.
Also on the bird reserve today the summer plum Knot and Pectoral Sandpiper on Hayfield 3 and a pair of Scaup on Burrowes, plus a drake on ARC.
Burrowes - 1300hrs - King Hirundine (SB) struck again with his 4th Red-rumped Swallow of the spring, which showed a treat over Burrowes between Dennis`s and Makepeace hides amongst a large flock of Swallows and Swifts. It also performed in front of the visitor centre; my second of the season and a much improved view than the New Diggings bird.
Also on the bird reserve today the summer plum Knot and Pectoral Sandpiper on Hayfield 3 and a pair of Scaup on Burrowes, plus a drake on ARC.
Sunday, 12 May 2013
Green-winged Teal
Dungeness - 0500hrs - cool, sunny, w 3 - Not sure why but gave the sea an early morning look and lasted 90 minutes before caving in. A large feeding flock of c 200 terns offshore included at least one Little Tern and 20 Gannets. Moving west were 2 Manxies (186), 100 auks and 12 Fulmars, while the only eastbound birds of note were singles of Arctic and Pomarine Skuas.
At the Patch at least another 100 Common Terns over the boil. Nothing on the land apart from 2 Goldfinches and a Black Redstart.
Drilling ship, Dungeness
Early Purple Orchid, Dungeness
Green-winged Teal, ARC
ARC - Whilst checking through a flock of Swifts by the gate at the southern end of ARC a Cuckoo flew over. Further along the causeway road way two birders (Craig Sammels & Chris Dyatt) flagged us down to tell of a drake Green-winged Teal dabbling in the shallows alongside a couple of Mallards. To all intents a drake nominate Teal, apart from the distinctive white vertical slot on the side of the breast, while it also lacked the white scapular bar of Teal. Managed a couple of poor record record shots into the sun and alerted the local bird hounds; TG arrived just in time before it flew off towards Tower Pits at 0750hrs. Needless to say it was new for the Marsh year list (187) and a personal Dungeness tick.
Dungeness - Spent an hour chatting to DB whilst staring into his amazing bird garden where Spotted Flycatcher (188) was new for the year. Also had brief views of 2 Common Redstarts and heard a sub-singing Blackcap. Across the road Skylark, Wheatear and Mipit.
As an example of how late the plant growth is this spring the two pics below were taken at the same location on 12th May last year and today, where the sea kale is probably three weeks adrift.
Sea Kale, Dungeness 12th May, 2012
Sea Kale, Dungeness 12th May, 2013
Burrowes - 1500hrs - A scan from Dennis`s hide yielded a pair of Scaup out in the middle battling with the waves being whipped up by an increasing westerly blow. Several parties of Swifts and hirundines over the lake plus a few Common Terns. Otherwise spent most of the time nattering in the visitors centre. The Pec Sand was still on Hayfield 3, another drake Scaup on ARC and a Hen Harrier through. There was no further sign of this mornings Green-winged Teal despite extensive searching. The rain arrived by 1630hrs.
At the Patch at least another 100 Common Terns over the boil. Nothing on the land apart from 2 Goldfinches and a Black Redstart.
ARC - Whilst checking through a flock of Swifts by the gate at the southern end of ARC a Cuckoo flew over. Further along the causeway road way two birders (Craig Sammels & Chris Dyatt) flagged us down to tell of a drake Green-winged Teal dabbling in the shallows alongside a couple of Mallards. To all intents a drake nominate Teal, apart from the distinctive white vertical slot on the side of the breast, while it also lacked the white scapular bar of Teal. Managed a couple of poor record record shots into the sun and alerted the local bird hounds; TG arrived just in time before it flew off towards Tower Pits at 0750hrs. Needless to say it was new for the Marsh year list (187) and a personal Dungeness tick.
Dungeness - Spent an hour chatting to DB whilst staring into his amazing bird garden where Spotted Flycatcher (188) was new for the year. Also had brief views of 2 Common Redstarts and heard a sub-singing Blackcap. Across the road Skylark, Wheatear and Mipit.
As an example of how late the plant growth is this spring the two pics below were taken at the same location on 12th May last year and today, where the sea kale is probably three weeks adrift.
Burrowes - 1500hrs - A scan from Dennis`s hide yielded a pair of Scaup out in the middle battling with the waves being whipped up by an increasing westerly blow. Several parties of Swifts and hirundines over the lake plus a few Common Terns. Otherwise spent most of the time nattering in the visitors centre. The Pec Sand was still on Hayfield 3, another drake Scaup on ARC and a Hen Harrier through. There was no further sign of this mornings Green-winged Teal despite extensive searching. The rain arrived by 1630hrs.
Saturday, 11 May 2013
Cup Final Day Cuckoo & Pectoral Sandpiper
Lade - 0800hrs - cool, sunshine, showers, sw 5 - Another blustery day with winds sweeping off the Channel keeping temperatures low and making for poor birding with most passerines skulking in cover. Despite the wind Cuckoos were much in evidence this morning with two around the willow swamp and another feeding on caterpillars in the gorse scrub; on closer inspection it seemed to be setting about the `tented` brown-tailed moth caterpillars (hooray!) of which there is a plentiful supply. Once the little buggers leave the `tents` and start shedding their hairs they can cause irritation to the skin.
Cuckoo, Lade
A steady stream of Starlings were flying out from their coastal housing nest sites to feed on cranefly larvae on the storm beaches, while a passage of 30 Swifts briefly paused over south pit and that was about it really.
Once again the moth trap was empty this morning.
Dengemarsh -1300hrs - It`s a well known fact that good birds always turn up on Cup Final Day, whatever the date; many`s the time I`ve had to rush out before the big game and twitch a rare bird, and so it proved today with a Pectoral Sandpiper (Marsh year tick 185) dropping onto Hayfield no. 3. Fortunately, this cracking little wader decided to feed as close to the track as possible and afforded superb views as it fed in company with a Dunlin and Ringed Plover. Unfortunately, due to the buffeting wind I could only manage a few poor dig-scope shots.
Mid-May is a classic spring arrival date for this trans-Atlantic wader; although this bird may well have been from the small, but established, population on this side of the Ocean. Whatever its origins it was most welcome in what has been a relatively rarity-starved spring.
Pectoral Sandpiper, Hayfield no. 3, Dengemarsh
A steady stream of Starlings were flying out from their coastal housing nest sites to feed on cranefly larvae on the storm beaches, while a passage of 30 Swifts briefly paused over south pit and that was about it really.
Once again the moth trap was empty this morning.
Dengemarsh -1300hrs - It`s a well known fact that good birds always turn up on Cup Final Day, whatever the date; many`s the time I`ve had to rush out before the big game and twitch a rare bird, and so it proved today with a Pectoral Sandpiper (Marsh year tick 185) dropping onto Hayfield no. 3. Fortunately, this cracking little wader decided to feed as close to the track as possible and afforded superb views as it fed in company with a Dunlin and Ringed Plover. Unfortunately, due to the buffeting wind I could only manage a few poor dig-scope shots.
Mid-May is a classic spring arrival date for this trans-Atlantic wader; although this bird may well have been from the small, but established, population on this side of the Ocean. Whatever its origins it was most welcome in what has been a relatively rarity-starved spring.
Friday, 10 May 2013
Change of Scene
Park Wood - 1000hrs - cool, cloudy, sw 4 - With very little happening on the coast a change of scene was in order, so together with Marshman and the Joker we headed for the uplands. Despite the blustery wind and late start there was still plenty of bird song on offer around the `Nightingale Walk` where at least 5 male Nightingales were singing away; and we even glimpsed one as it flew across a ride. Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps were in good numbers and there was at least 2 singing Willow Warblers in the bare canopy. Due to the late spring the bluebells were still in full flower along with many of the early species such as primroses and celandines. Also noted, Buzzard, Kestrel, Green Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush, Cuckoo, Coal and Long-tailed Tits, Nuthatch and Treecreeper. We could find no evidence of Turtle Dove, Spotted Flycatcher or Garden Warbler, all of which were present last summer, and surmised that they were just late this year, hopefully...
Park Wood
Shirley Moor - We drove across the moor and pulled over and scanned a couple of likely spots, one of which was obviously in a Stewardship Scheme which had a pair of Grey Partridges, several pairs of Lapwings, Yellowhammers, Linnets and Buzzard. Elsewhere, Whitethroat, Reed Bunting, more Yammers and 2 Jays.
Kenardington Bridge - One of my favourite spots on the Marsh and despite the windy conditions there was plenty to see. Reed Warblers sang near the car park along with Chiffchaff, Blackcap and 2 Lesser Whitethroats either side of the bridge. Best of all though was fleeting views of a Kingfisher along the canal, a `piping` Bullfinch and a perched Hobby. Also noted Green and Greater peckers, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Linnets, Long-tailed Tit, Buzzard, Lapwings and 50 House Martins, plus a green-veined white butterfly.
Shirley Moor - We drove across the moor and pulled over and scanned a couple of likely spots, one of which was obviously in a Stewardship Scheme which had a pair of Grey Partridges, several pairs of Lapwings, Yellowhammers, Linnets and Buzzard. Elsewhere, Whitethroat, Reed Bunting, more Yammers and 2 Jays.
Kenardington Bridge - One of my favourite spots on the Marsh and despite the windy conditions there was plenty to see. Reed Warblers sang near the car park along with Chiffchaff, Blackcap and 2 Lesser Whitethroats either side of the bridge. Best of all though was fleeting views of a Kingfisher along the canal, a `piping` Bullfinch and a perched Hobby. Also noted Green and Greater peckers, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Linnets, Long-tailed Tit, Buzzard, Lapwings and 50 House Martins, plus a green-veined white butterfly.
Thursday, 9 May 2013
White Spot & Swifts
Lade - 0600hrs - cool, sunny, sw 2 - Ran the trap last night and much to my surprise, seeing as how the temperature had dropped off during the night, there was the grand total of four species (this time last year I was getting an average of 10 species per night). However, one was a White Spot which is something of a Dungeness speciality where the lava feed on the seeds of Nottingham Catchfly, an abundant plant found on the shingle ridges hereabouts. White Spot is a Red Data Book 2 species (meaning that it occurs in only six to ten 10km squares in Britain) so I always feel quite privileged when one is trapped in our enclosed garden.
A wander around the pits delivered few passerines due to the increasing south-westerly which by late afternoon picked up to force 5/6. A party of 20 Swifts over the willow swamp was noteworthy as so far this spring few have passed this way.
Dengemarsh Gully - 1445hrs - Together with MH we worked the gully in blustery conditions where just the usual Sedge Warblers, Whitethroats and Linnets present. Four Ringed Plover flew over from the hayfields and a distant Raven headed towards the switch station. Barney was beside himself at the bottom of the gully when presented with 50 odd rabbits to chase, none of which needed to worry as they slipped into the gorse leaving the daft old mutt running around in circles like a kid in a sweet shop.
More Swifts were noted over the causeway road between ARC and New Diggings and a passage of 50 went over the cottage late afternoon.
Dengemarsh Gully
Swallow Prominent
White Spot, RDB2 moth
ps: Late news from the Wiltshire Birders who were joined in the seawatch hide by LGRE this evening, who has predicted the Portland Poms off the point in the morning...
A wander around the pits delivered few passerines due to the increasing south-westerly which by late afternoon picked up to force 5/6. A party of 20 Swifts over the willow swamp was noteworthy as so far this spring few have passed this way.
Dengemarsh Gully - 1445hrs - Together with MH we worked the gully in blustery conditions where just the usual Sedge Warblers, Whitethroats and Linnets present. Four Ringed Plover flew over from the hayfields and a distant Raven headed towards the switch station. Barney was beside himself at the bottom of the gully when presented with 50 odd rabbits to chase, none of which needed to worry as they slipped into the gorse leaving the daft old mutt running around in circles like a kid in a sweet shop.
More Swifts were noted over the causeway road between ARC and New Diggings and a passage of 50 went over the cottage late afternoon.
ps: Late news from the Wiltshire Birders who were joined in the seawatch hide by LGRE this evening, who has predicted the Portland Poms off the point in the morning...
Wednesday, 8 May 2013
Wader Search
Dengemarsh - 0915hrs - mild, wet, sw 2, drier later, sunny, sw 4 - With heavy rain and drizzle by the time I got out decided to check the hay fields for passage waders of which there was just a single summer plum Dunlin in amongst the breeding Lapwings, Ringed Plovers, Oystercatchers and Redshank, plus 2 Little Egrets, Teal and Shelduck. A Raven flew over `cronking` and the Bittern was `booming` from Hooker`s.
Scotney - On the grass from the lay-bye there was a decent flock of 25 Barwits in various stages of breeding plumage, plus 15 Tundra type Ringed Plovers, 2 Grey Plovers and Redshank. From the farm entrance couldn`t find the Long-tailed Duck but did see Greenshank and Common Sandpiper around the margins, plus a spanking Greenland Wheatear. From the pull-in at the Sussex end 12 Common Terns on the rocky spit was noteworthy.
Dungeness -1130hrs - With the rain clearing did an hour in the hide during which time all that moved up-Channel were 14 Common Scoters, 5 Brents, 2 Kitts and a Red-throated Diver.
1445hrs - Another 90 minute watch from the hide and boardwalk with MH delivered a bit more in the shape of 40 Common Scoters, 18 Brents, several Gannets, and singles of Red-throated Diver and Bonxie. A trickle of Swallows and 3 Swifts inbound, plus half a dozen porpoises just off shore.
ps: News from the Wiltshire Birders concerned 3 colour-ringed Spoonbills at Rye Harbour this afternoon. The early morning shift at Dungeness turned up singles of Pom Skua and Roseate Tern
Scotney - On the grass from the lay-bye there was a decent flock of 25 Barwits in various stages of breeding plumage, plus 15 Tundra type Ringed Plovers, 2 Grey Plovers and Redshank. From the farm entrance couldn`t find the Long-tailed Duck but did see Greenshank and Common Sandpiper around the margins, plus a spanking Greenland Wheatear. From the pull-in at the Sussex end 12 Common Terns on the rocky spit was noteworthy.
Dungeness -1130hrs - With the rain clearing did an hour in the hide during which time all that moved up-Channel were 14 Common Scoters, 5 Brents, 2 Kitts and a Red-throated Diver.
1445hrs - Another 90 minute watch from the hide and boardwalk with MH delivered a bit more in the shape of 40 Common Scoters, 18 Brents, several Gannets, and singles of Red-throated Diver and Bonxie. A trickle of Swallows and 3 Swifts inbound, plus half a dozen porpoises just off shore.
ps: News from the Wiltshire Birders concerned 3 colour-ringed Spoonbills at Rye Harbour this afternoon. The early morning shift at Dungeness turned up singles of Pom Skua and Roseate Tern
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