Lade - 0530hrs - coolish, cloudy, ne 3, warm later - The brisk north-easterly ensured that moth numbers were down in the garden trap. Over the pits the Black-necked Grebe was still present amongst the hundreds of wildfowl, while a 1st summer Little Gull was on the island at the south end. The first of several Greenshanks flew over heading south and at least 50 Sand Martins were hawking insects over the water.
ARC - 1200hrs - Another Greenshank from Hanson hide plus two Common Sandpipers, Redshank and Snipe on the shingle ridges. All the usual wildfowl and hundreds of Sand Martins over the lake.
Lade - Several more Greenshanks over calling this afternoon, plus two Whimbrels. Checked out the northern end of Kerton Road Pit where two Common Sandpipers and yet another Greenshank, or maybe one from earlier that had dropped in. Three broods of Tufted Ducks of note as well as two pairs of Oystercatchers with well grown young.
ARC - 1830hrs - From Screen hide a single Garganey was amongst the dabbling ducks, plus two Common Sandpipers, two Snipe and a Greenshank, Marsh Harrier and Kestrel.
Lydd Allotment - Whilst watering the plants this evening I watched a male Sparrowhawk take a House Martin in mid-flight from the colony adjacent to the gardens. The hawk has a nest nearby and 10 minutes later he was back again having a second go at the martins, most of whom rocketed skywards. I regularly see this Sparrowhawk bringing in prey, but it is the first time I`ve seen it connect with a House Martin, which I presume was an opportunistic one off attack on an inexperienced juvenile, or maybe not...
Wednesday, 7 August 2013
Tuesday, 6 August 2013
Pied Flycatcher & Swallowtail
Lade - warm, dry, sunny, n 2 - se 3 - The moth trap was notable for 85 Silver Ys and precious little else this morning. Flogged around the local patch where up to 12 broods of Tufted Ducks on south pit along with many common wildfowl and their young, plus the long staying Red Crested Pochard and newly arrived Black-necked Grebe and 2 Garganeys. Juv Reed Warblers and Whitethroats were everywhere and several migrant Willow Warblers were singing from the willow-swamp.
Black-necked Grebe, Lade
St Mary-in-the-Marsh - A call from Marshman, who`d found a Pied Flycatcher in his garden, necessitated a change of plan this afternoon and it wasn`t long before my 200th species for the Marsh year list was accrued. Not an easy bird to see, but eventually it obliged after several flight views through cover. A good find of what has become a scarce passage migrant.
Burrowes - Spent an hour looking for a Swallowtail butterfly which was seen earlier near Dennis`s hide by SB, but without success. This magnificent resident butterfly is only found in the Norfolk fenlands, although this specimen probably originated from the continental race which is slightly paler than our native race. SB had the presence of mind to quickly take a snap of this beauty with his smart phone as it settled on a teasel head for us all to enjoy and be thoroughly gripped off! Well done Steve, a mega find of the insect world.
Swallowtail, Dungeness RSPB (Steve Broyd)
Once again there were plenty of other migrant butterflies across the peninsula today, including more Clouded Yellows on the bird reserve, where also three Black-necked Grebes and a Great White Egret reported.
Dungeness - Finished off with a brief seawatch but nothing much was happening apart for a few passing terns, Gannets and one flock of 25 Common Scoters. At least six porpoises and a seal were feeding just offshore.
St Mary-in-the-Marsh - A call from Marshman, who`d found a Pied Flycatcher in his garden, necessitated a change of plan this afternoon and it wasn`t long before my 200th species for the Marsh year list was accrued. Not an easy bird to see, but eventually it obliged after several flight views through cover. A good find of what has become a scarce passage migrant.
Burrowes - Spent an hour looking for a Swallowtail butterfly which was seen earlier near Dennis`s hide by SB, but without success. This magnificent resident butterfly is only found in the Norfolk fenlands, although this specimen probably originated from the continental race which is slightly paler than our native race. SB had the presence of mind to quickly take a snap of this beauty with his smart phone as it settled on a teasel head for us all to enjoy and be thoroughly gripped off! Well done Steve, a mega find of the insect world.
Once again there were plenty of other migrant butterflies across the peninsula today, including more Clouded Yellows on the bird reserve, where also three Black-necked Grebes and a Great White Egret reported.
Dungeness - Finished off with a brief seawatch but nothing much was happening apart for a few passing terns, Gannets and one flock of 25 Common Scoters. At least six porpoises and a seal were feeding just offshore.
Monday, 5 August 2013
Rye Waders
Burrowes - 0900hrs - warm, dry and sunny, sw 2 - Checked Burrowes for yesterdays Spoonbill of which there was no sign. There were the usual hundreds of gulls, eclipse wildfowl and Cormorants present, plus 10 Little Egrets, 6 Redshanks, 9 Ringed Plovers, 2 Common Sandpipers and a Greenshank over.
ARC - Another Greenshank here, plus LRP, Common Sandpiper and Black-necked Grebe amongst the hundreds of wildfowl, 50 Lapwings, 5 Little Egrets, 4 Common Terns and a Hobby over.
Scotney - Ten Egyptian Geese were the only birds of note on the spit by the county boundary.
Egyptian Geese, Scotney
Rye Harbour NR - A cracking session from the John Gooder`s hide with hundreds of waders, albeit most of them a bit distant. A flock of c300 Dunlins comprised mostly adults but also 20 or so juvs, plus 2 Curlew Sandpipers and 3 Sanderlings, while another mass of waders included 150 Ringed Plovers and 50 Redshanks. Also noted 85 Golden Plovers, 50 Lapwings, 20 Oystercatchers, 15 Turnstones, 12 Avocets, 5 Barwits, 4 Greenshanks, 4 Common Sandpipers, 2 LRPs and a Green Sandpiper - sheer wader heaven!
All the terns - Little (2), Sandwich and Common - drifted over whilst in the hide, while Skylark, Rock and Meadow Pipits, Wheatears and Linnets all noted.
Had a natter with Barry Yates who was full of tales of woe about the breeding terns with only one Little Tern fledged from 11prs and a complete failure of the Sandwich Tern colony of c150 prs due to a shortage of food at the critical time of the breeding process; apparently colder that normal sea temperatures in May/June resulted in a shortage of sand-eels. After also failing the Common Terns have re-nested and appear to be doing well, while 30 prs of Med Gulls reared only a single chick. On the plus side Avocets did well with over 25 chicks fledged, although Lapwings and Redshanks had a poor breeding season.
It is always a pleasure visiting Rye Harbour, with the new wetland making it even more attractive for wader-lovers. Having already had Terek Sandpiper, Kentish Plover and Temminck`s Stint this year so far, I`m sure it wont be too long before another clonking rarity is discovered amongst the legions of visiting shorebirds...
Butterflies - This past month or so has been perfect for butterflies and everywhere I went today these magnificent insects weren`t far away. Migrant Painted Ladies were all over the place and coming out of Firth hide a Clouded Yellow flew past and headed inland.
Continuing on the migrant African butterfly theme, this afternoon I received a phone call from Kelvin Taylor at Whitfield near Dover who`d had a female Long-tailed Blue in his garden today, so keep checking those Holly Blues!
Dungeness - 1530hrs - Finished off at the boats with a 90 minute seawatch in the company of PB. Nothing much to report apart from a steady flow of Common and Sandwich Terns, plus a few Gannets further out, 40 Common Scoters, Kittiwake and Little Gull, while a passage of c50 Sand Martins headed out towards France. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was on one of the fishing boats. Earlier in the day over 80 Black Terns were noted along with several Balearic Shearwaters and Bonxies.
Very pleasant in the warm sunshine along with clear views of the Pas-de-Calais across the way.
Turnstone, Dungeness
ARC - Another Greenshank here, plus LRP, Common Sandpiper and Black-necked Grebe amongst the hundreds of wildfowl, 50 Lapwings, 5 Little Egrets, 4 Common Terns and a Hobby over.
Scotney - Ten Egyptian Geese were the only birds of note on the spit by the county boundary.
Rye Harbour NR - A cracking session from the John Gooder`s hide with hundreds of waders, albeit most of them a bit distant. A flock of c300 Dunlins comprised mostly adults but also 20 or so juvs, plus 2 Curlew Sandpipers and 3 Sanderlings, while another mass of waders included 150 Ringed Plovers and 50 Redshanks. Also noted 85 Golden Plovers, 50 Lapwings, 20 Oystercatchers, 15 Turnstones, 12 Avocets, 5 Barwits, 4 Greenshanks, 4 Common Sandpipers, 2 LRPs and a Green Sandpiper - sheer wader heaven!
All the terns - Little (2), Sandwich and Common - drifted over whilst in the hide, while Skylark, Rock and Meadow Pipits, Wheatears and Linnets all noted.
Had a natter with Barry Yates who was full of tales of woe about the breeding terns with only one Little Tern fledged from 11prs and a complete failure of the Sandwich Tern colony of c150 prs due to a shortage of food at the critical time of the breeding process; apparently colder that normal sea temperatures in May/June resulted in a shortage of sand-eels. After also failing the Common Terns have re-nested and appear to be doing well, while 30 prs of Med Gulls reared only a single chick. On the plus side Avocets did well with over 25 chicks fledged, although Lapwings and Redshanks had a poor breeding season.
It is always a pleasure visiting Rye Harbour, with the new wetland making it even more attractive for wader-lovers. Having already had Terek Sandpiper, Kentish Plover and Temminck`s Stint this year so far, I`m sure it wont be too long before another clonking rarity is discovered amongst the legions of visiting shorebirds...
Butterflies - This past month or so has been perfect for butterflies and everywhere I went today these magnificent insects weren`t far away. Migrant Painted Ladies were all over the place and coming out of Firth hide a Clouded Yellow flew past and headed inland.
Continuing on the migrant African butterfly theme, this afternoon I received a phone call from Kelvin Taylor at Whitfield near Dover who`d had a female Long-tailed Blue in his garden today, so keep checking those Holly Blues!
Dungeness - 1530hrs - Finished off at the boats with a 90 minute seawatch in the company of PB. Nothing much to report apart from a steady flow of Common and Sandwich Terns, plus a few Gannets further out, 40 Common Scoters, Kittiwake and Little Gull, while a passage of c50 Sand Martins headed out towards France. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was on one of the fishing boats. Earlier in the day over 80 Black Terns were noted along with several Balearic Shearwaters and Bonxies.
Very pleasant in the warm sunshine along with clear views of the Pas-de-Calais across the way.
Sunday, 4 August 2013
St Mary-in-the-Marsh hirundine
Lade - 0500hrs - warm, dry and sunny, sw 2 - Another disappointing catch in the garden trap last night, probably due to clear skies and a temperature dip, which was disappointing for the moth`ers staying from the Midlands; however, Mouse Moth and Reed Dagger were new for the year. There was plenty of activity last night around Long Pits where visiting moth`ers from the Midlands and Suffolks had up to 15 light traps in operation catching well over 100 macros including Sussex Emeralds and Scarce Chocolate-tip.
On the bird front several grounded Willow Warblers were feeding in the garden firs while two Yellow Wagtails and a Whimbrel went south over the pits.
St Mary-in-the-Marsh - Throughout early summer an odd hirundine has been present with the breeding Swallows near the New Sewer, St Mary`s-in-the-Marsh. I`ve seen it twice while CP has been watching it regularly and suspects that it may be breeding nearby. It appears to show plumage traits of both Swallow (face pattern, but with red throat and forehead replaced by white, a plain rump and a Swallow type call) and House Martin (size and tail). It is an interesting beast and probably a Swallow/House Martin hybrid, but if anyone has any thoughts we`d be pleased to hear...
St Mary`s-in-the-Marsh hirundine, July 2013 (Chris Philpott)
Elsewhere around the Marsh this morning, an Osprey flew east over Scotney (CP) a Balearic Shearwater was seen off Dungeness, while on the bird reserve Avocet and Blackwit on ARC, plus an evening Spoonbill on Burrowes (SB).
On the bird front several grounded Willow Warblers were feeding in the garden firs while two Yellow Wagtails and a Whimbrel went south over the pits.
St Mary-in-the-Marsh - Throughout early summer an odd hirundine has been present with the breeding Swallows near the New Sewer, St Mary`s-in-the-Marsh. I`ve seen it twice while CP has been watching it regularly and suspects that it may be breeding nearby. It appears to show plumage traits of both Swallow (face pattern, but with red throat and forehead replaced by white, a plain rump and a Swallow type call) and House Martin (size and tail). It is an interesting beast and probably a Swallow/House Martin hybrid, but if anyone has any thoughts we`d be pleased to hear...
Elsewhere around the Marsh this morning, an Osprey flew east over Scotney (CP) a Balearic Shearwater was seen off Dungeness, while on the bird reserve Avocet and Blackwit on ARC, plus an evening Spoonbill on Burrowes (SB).
Saturday, 3 August 2013
A flock of Goosanders!
Lade - 0630hrs - warm, dry and sunny, sw 5 - A blustery wind kept moth numbers low last night with nothing new for the season and only Oak Eggar of any note. Checked south pit where several parties of Swifts were hurrying south along with Sand Martins going the same way.
ARC - From Hanson the shingle ridges were largely bereft of waders except for two each of Wood Sandpiper, Lapwing, Blackwit and LRP. The Oystercatchers with three well grown young appeared to be doing well and together with a Common Tern, greeted a passing Common Buzzard with a series of noisy dive-bombs. Several Wigeon were asleep amongst the common wildfowl, while more Sand Martins and Swifts scuttled southwards. Good to see and have a natter with some of the regulars in the hide this morning.
Dengemarsh - Whilst walking down to Springfield Bridge I noticed a flock of ducks flying towards Lydd. Couldn`t quite make out what they were as I got onto them late and at some distance, but they showed plenty of white on the upper wing and I thought maybe Wigeon, although the shape wasn`t right.
Anyhow, LH was in the wardens truck parked by the bridge and managed to get some decent pics which confirmed their true identity as a flock of 11 Goosanders! What on earth they were doing here at this time of year is anyones guess...
Also noted Hobby, juv Marsh Harrier, Little Egret, Common Tern and the usual collection of wildfowl.
Dungeness -Finished off with a 60 minute seawatch from the boats with PB where all we could muster was a steady movement of feeding Common Terns, a few Sandwich Terns, Gannets and the 1st summer Little Gull. More Sand Martins passed down the coast plus 20 Swifts.
ARC - From Hanson the shingle ridges were largely bereft of waders except for two each of Wood Sandpiper, Lapwing, Blackwit and LRP. The Oystercatchers with three well grown young appeared to be doing well and together with a Common Tern, greeted a passing Common Buzzard with a series of noisy dive-bombs. Several Wigeon were asleep amongst the common wildfowl, while more Sand Martins and Swifts scuttled southwards. Good to see and have a natter with some of the regulars in the hide this morning.
Dengemarsh - Whilst walking down to Springfield Bridge I noticed a flock of ducks flying towards Lydd. Couldn`t quite make out what they were as I got onto them late and at some distance, but they showed plenty of white on the upper wing and I thought maybe Wigeon, although the shape wasn`t right.
Anyhow, LH was in the wardens truck parked by the bridge and managed to get some decent pics which confirmed their true identity as a flock of 11 Goosanders! What on earth they were doing here at this time of year is anyones guess...
Also noted Hobby, juv Marsh Harrier, Little Egret, Common Tern and the usual collection of wildfowl.
Dungeness -Finished off with a 60 minute seawatch from the boats with PB where all we could muster was a steady movement of feeding Common Terns, a few Sandwich Terns, Gannets and the 1st summer Little Gull. More Sand Martins passed down the coast plus 20 Swifts.
Friday, 2 August 2013
Willow Warblers & Waders
Lade - 0530hrs - humid, thundery, light southerly - Whilst checking the moth trap first thing it was great to hear the half-hearted song of a passage Willow Warbler in the garden fir trees. A scan with the bins revealed a couple more next door; migration is underway for some.
On the moth front plenty of Silver Ys in the trap, while Straw Underwing was new for the year, amongst the 35 species present. Several migrant Painted Lady and Red Admiral butterflies were already on the wing and feeding on the buddleia by mid-morning.
Comma
Painted Lady
Straw Underwing
As it was high tide there was a steady trickle of Curlews overhead to roost on the storm beaches which eventually totalled 75 birds. The island at the south end of the pit had attracted several Common and Sandwich Terns amongst the Black-headed Gulls. With thunder rumbling overhead and during a brief shower a Spotted Redshank called twice just long enough to locate as it headed south.
At Dengemarsh around the same time a flock of up to 100 waders were forced to fly low by the rainstorm, which included at least 25 Greenshanks, along with a separate flock of 23 Green Sandpipers (MH, BP), while on ARC 10 Curlew Sandpipers and 22 Redshanks briefly paused on the shingle ridges.
Dungeness - 1430hrs - A 90 minute seawatch from the boats in the company of MH was quiet apart from 100 Common Terns, 10 Sandwich Terns and two Black Terns. Two Brown Seals and a Harbour Porpoise were also fishing offshore and a couple of small groups of Sand Martins passed down the coastline.
On the moth front plenty of Silver Ys in the trap, while Straw Underwing was new for the year, amongst the 35 species present. Several migrant Painted Lady and Red Admiral butterflies were already on the wing and feeding on the buddleia by mid-morning.
As it was high tide there was a steady trickle of Curlews overhead to roost on the storm beaches which eventually totalled 75 birds. The island at the south end of the pit had attracted several Common and Sandwich Terns amongst the Black-headed Gulls. With thunder rumbling overhead and during a brief shower a Spotted Redshank called twice just long enough to locate as it headed south.
At Dengemarsh around the same time a flock of up to 100 waders were forced to fly low by the rainstorm, which included at least 25 Greenshanks, along with a separate flock of 23 Green Sandpipers (MH, BP), while on ARC 10 Curlew Sandpipers and 22 Redshanks briefly paused on the shingle ridges.
Dungeness - 1430hrs - A 90 minute seawatch from the boats in the company of MH was quiet apart from 100 Common Terns, 10 Sandwich Terns and two Black Terns. Two Brown Seals and a Harbour Porpoise were also fishing offshore and a couple of small groups of Sand Martins passed down the coastline.
Thursday, 1 August 2013
400 Club
Lade - 0600hrs - warm, dry & sunny, se 2 - A stunning day from the off which got even hotter by early afternoon. Three new species for the year in the garden trap this morning including Early Thorn (2nd hatch) and the incomparable Drinker, a female, one of my favourite moths.
It was something of a Red Letter Day at the Kerton Road Café today where Mrs Moth was celebrating her 400th macro species for the site with a Beautiful Hook-tip, a localised species which is pretty scarce down here on the shingle.
Drinker, female
Early Thorn, male, 2nd generation
ARC - Nothing new here with just a couple of Wood Sands on show plus 200 Lapwings, 4 LRPs and a Redshank. Gave the ducks a grilling but failed to find a Garganey from Hanson hide.
It was something of a Red Letter Day at the Kerton Road Café today where Mrs Moth was celebrating her 400th macro species for the site with a Beautiful Hook-tip, a localised species which is pretty scarce down here on the shingle.
ARC - Nothing new here with just a couple of Wood Sands on show plus 200 Lapwings, 4 LRPs and a Redshank. Gave the ducks a grilling but failed to find a Garganey from Hanson hide.
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