Dungeness - mild, dry, cloudy, se 4 - Haven`t done much seawatching of late due to being away and the winds being `wrong` before that. However, with a favourable southerly airflow we did a couple of hours at either end of the day from the fishing boats with the regulars.
A steady flow of several hundred Gannets, Kittiwakes and auks made up the bulk of the seabirds passing down Channel, most of `em close to shore with the Gannets plunge diving for fish en-route.
In the morning singles of Pomarine and Arctic Skuas, 2 Red-throated Divers were logged plus several small flocks of coasting Pied Wagtails, Mipits, Goldfinches and a Swallow, while in the afternoon the additions were 10 Sandwich Terns, 15 Brents, 20 Common Scoters, 6 Dunlins, an aberrant white-winged Herring/Yellow-legged Gull, a Med Gull and a Gadwall.
The Dusky Warbler was again present in cover in the Sanctuary area.
Thursday, 29 October 2015
Tuesday, 27 October 2015
Night flight
Lade - warm, dry, sunny, s 2 - One of the great joys about living down here on the edge of the sea on the Dungeness National Nature Reserve is the ebb and flow of two of our most charismatic waders as they move between roost sites and feeding grounds at high and low tide respectively. Oystercatchers and Curlews are birds I see and hear on a daily basis and currently there are about a 1,000 present on the bay.
Yesterday evening whilst sitting in the garden in balmy weather conditions, moon-watching, the tide turned and over they came. The Curlews are always first and tend to fly high over the cottage, but my favourites are the Oystercatchers with their constant clammering and low angle of flight. You can hear the swish of their wing beats and see their white bellies as they almost skim the roof. A marvellous spectacle.
Grounded Song Thrushes, Lade
Song Thrushes are birds I only see down here on the coast in the autumn and last night there was a drop in of around 15 birds scattered across the shingle scrub along with several Redwings and Blackbirds. Goldcrests were still present around the willow swamp, while south lake was packed out with the usual wildfowl, Coots and grebes.
An evening visit to Mockmill yielded a single Short-eared Owl hunting over the sewer which spent some time defending its catch from a female Kestrel that persistently harried it on the ground. Huge numbers of corvids flew over at dusk, mainly Jackdaws, to roost over the Oppen pits way.
Yesterday evening whilst sitting in the garden in balmy weather conditions, moon-watching, the tide turned and over they came. The Curlews are always first and tend to fly high over the cottage, but my favourites are the Oystercatchers with their constant clammering and low angle of flight. You can hear the swish of their wing beats and see their white bellies as they almost skim the roof. A marvellous spectacle.
Song Thrushes are birds I only see down here on the coast in the autumn and last night there was a drop in of around 15 birds scattered across the shingle scrub along with several Redwings and Blackbirds. Goldcrests were still present around the willow swamp, while south lake was packed out with the usual wildfowl, Coots and grebes.
An evening visit to Mockmill yielded a single Short-eared Owl hunting over the sewer which spent some time defending its catch from a female Kestrel that persistently harried it on the ground. Huge numbers of corvids flew over at dusk, mainly Jackdaws, to roost over the Oppen pits way.
Monday, 26 October 2015
Dusky Warbler
Dungeness - mild, dry, sunny, se 3 - With John and Linda down for a days birding the portents were good as the fabled south-easterly airflow washed over the peninsula. We kicked off with a 30 minute seawatch from the hide during which time at least 50 Gannets, most of them very close to shore, passed up-Channel, plus singles of Med Gull and Brent Goose. As we made our way to the Patch hide we were delayed by several Black Redstarts, Mipits, a Grey Wagtail, Chiffchaff, 10 Swallows and a number of Goldcrests along the way.
We then flushed a small, brown warbler from the sea samphire by the power station wall and over the next hour or so had frustrating views of this little skulker as it flew between patches of cover. From the flight views the dark back appeared uniform in colour and eventually we glimpsed a strong off-white supercilium. I began to consider it being Dusky/Radde`s Warbler so alerted DW at the Obs who in turn informed the troops. The bill appeared to be tiny - and then it called twice, a hard and distinctive `check` note, similar to Lesser Whitethroat, which for me was the clincher, it had to be a Dusky Warbler. Unfortunately, it then flew along the wall, round the corner and out of sight in the direction of the lighthouse garden. However, it was relocated within the hour in Westbeach scrub, confirmed as Dusky Warbler and photographed by MC ( www.ploddingbirder.blogspot.co.uk ).
Although the rarity stole the show this morning we also had plenty of other migrants around the point including: 20 Black Redstart, 20 Pied Wagtail, 20 Mipit, 50 Goldfinch, 20 Goldcrest, 10 Blackbird, and a Ring Ouzel in the moat. Also seen this afternoon a Great Grey Shrike in the long pits/trapping area (TG) and a Dartford Warbler near the estate entrance (SG).
Black Redstart, one of the many seen today
Burrowes - The main spectacle here was a mixed flock of Great White and Little Egrets, Grey Herons and Cormorants feeding on a shoal of fish at the north end, while a redhead Goosander and 2 Goldeneyes were our first of the season. Also noted a 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull, Kingfisher, Chiffchaffs, Tree Sparrows, Snipe, Turnstone, Golden Plovers and Pintails, plus a Continental Coal Tit by the return trail.
Great White Egret, Burrows
Scotney - All the usual feral geese on the front fields, plus 300 Golden Plovers, 500 Lapwings and a Ruff. Outback more geese, egrets, a Black-necked Grebe, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Merlin, Peregrine, 4 Kestrels, 20 Skylarks, 2 Black Redstarts, 2 Swallows and a Stonechat, but no sign of the Rough-legged Buzzard.
A circuit of the range road revealed little apart from 5 Mistle Thrushes and Stonechats.
In summary a great days birding for the guests with 87 species clocked up in fine autumn weather.
We then flushed a small, brown warbler from the sea samphire by the power station wall and over the next hour or so had frustrating views of this little skulker as it flew between patches of cover. From the flight views the dark back appeared uniform in colour and eventually we glimpsed a strong off-white supercilium. I began to consider it being Dusky/Radde`s Warbler so alerted DW at the Obs who in turn informed the troops. The bill appeared to be tiny - and then it called twice, a hard and distinctive `check` note, similar to Lesser Whitethroat, which for me was the clincher, it had to be a Dusky Warbler. Unfortunately, it then flew along the wall, round the corner and out of sight in the direction of the lighthouse garden. However, it was relocated within the hour in Westbeach scrub, confirmed as Dusky Warbler and photographed by MC ( www.ploddingbirder.blogspot.co.uk ).
Although the rarity stole the show this morning we also had plenty of other migrants around the point including: 20 Black Redstart, 20 Pied Wagtail, 20 Mipit, 50 Goldfinch, 20 Goldcrest, 10 Blackbird, and a Ring Ouzel in the moat. Also seen this afternoon a Great Grey Shrike in the long pits/trapping area (TG) and a Dartford Warbler near the estate entrance (SG).
Burrowes - The main spectacle here was a mixed flock of Great White and Little Egrets, Grey Herons and Cormorants feeding on a shoal of fish at the north end, while a redhead Goosander and 2 Goldeneyes were our first of the season. Also noted a 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull, Kingfisher, Chiffchaffs, Tree Sparrows, Snipe, Turnstone, Golden Plovers and Pintails, plus a Continental Coal Tit by the return trail.
Scotney - All the usual feral geese on the front fields, plus 300 Golden Plovers, 500 Lapwings and a Ruff. Outback more geese, egrets, a Black-necked Grebe, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Merlin, Peregrine, 4 Kestrels, 20 Skylarks, 2 Black Redstarts, 2 Swallows and a Stonechat, but no sign of the Rough-legged Buzzard.
A circuit of the range road revealed little apart from 5 Mistle Thrushes and Stonechats.
In summary a great days birding for the guests with 87 species clocked up in fine autumn weather.
Sunday, 25 October 2015
Staying local
Lade - warm, dry and sunny, light airs - A cracking morning with broken sunshine and hardly a breath of wind, ideal conditions for checking out the local patch. Virtually the first bird we saw was a Short-eared Owl flushed from cover by a spaniel, which then headed out over the desert and dropped down again onto a grassy ridge. Marsh Harriers and Kestrels were most apparent behind the `mirrors` plus a single Buzzard. The roosting Curlew flock was difficult to count but probably around 300 strong.
South lake was crammed full of even more waterfowl that normal, mainly due to the activities of a fisherman on north lake cruising around in an electric boat disturbing everything. I don't suppose it`ll be long before there`s an incident of sorts over here; a couple of weeks ago it was canoeists, today fishermen, none of them wearing life jackets.
A large passerine flock moved through the willow swamp included at least 18 Long-tailed Tits, several Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs, plus a Great Spotted Woodpecker, Kingfisher, Cetti`s Warbler and Water Rail nearby. There was still plenty of Linnets and Goldfinches around and 2 Redpolls flew south calling.
Lade north
On a falling tide we checked the beach where eight species of waders were present plus hundreds of gulls, mainly Black-headed, plus 3 Meds and 2 Little Gulls, 5 Brent Geese and a Shelduck.
This evening with a glorious sunset in the offing I couldn`t resist another look for Short-eared Owls of which there were two quartering Mockmill, while hundreds of corvids flew to roost along with several Marsh Harriers.
South lake was crammed full of even more waterfowl that normal, mainly due to the activities of a fisherman on north lake cruising around in an electric boat disturbing everything. I don't suppose it`ll be long before there`s an incident of sorts over here; a couple of weeks ago it was canoeists, today fishermen, none of them wearing life jackets.
A large passerine flock moved through the willow swamp included at least 18 Long-tailed Tits, several Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs, plus a Great Spotted Woodpecker, Kingfisher, Cetti`s Warbler and Water Rail nearby. There was still plenty of Linnets and Goldfinches around and 2 Redpolls flew south calling.
On a falling tide we checked the beach where eight species of waders were present plus hundreds of gulls, mainly Black-headed, plus 3 Meds and 2 Little Gulls, 5 Brent Geese and a Shelduck.
This evening with a glorious sunset in the offing I couldn`t resist another look for Short-eared Owls of which there were two quartering Mockmill, while hundreds of corvids flew to roost along with several Marsh Harriers.
Saturday, 24 October 2015
Rough-legged Buzzard
Lade - mild, overcast, sw 3 - First off we checked both lakes where high numbers of wildfowl were still present. The water weed has become so thick in places that it now supports standing Lapwings. A late Swallow and 3 Chiffchaffs were the only migrants of note.
Scotney - We just missed the Rough-legged Buzzard from the double bends but had brief views later from the farm scanning towards Horsebones as it headed out onto Walland Marsh. At least 5 each of Marsh Harrier and Kestrel noted, plus scores of Skylarks, Mipits, Linnets, Pied Wagtails, 5 Corn Buntings and 2 very late Yellow Wagtails around the sheep flock by the farmhouse. The front pits were full of the usual feral geese and ducks, Lapwings, Golden Plovers, 5 Curlews, 2 Redshanks, Little Egrets and the like.
Yellow Wagtail, Scotney
Hookers - News came through this aft of a Great Grey Shrike seen from the back track to Lydd where we joined DW, GH and SG for a fruitless scan, although it had been seen just before we arrived. A couple of Great White Egrets and Marsh Harriers flew over before the rain came sending us scurrying for cover and home.
Scotney - We just missed the Rough-legged Buzzard from the double bends but had brief views later from the farm scanning towards Horsebones as it headed out onto Walland Marsh. At least 5 each of Marsh Harrier and Kestrel noted, plus scores of Skylarks, Mipits, Linnets, Pied Wagtails, 5 Corn Buntings and 2 very late Yellow Wagtails around the sheep flock by the farmhouse. The front pits were full of the usual feral geese and ducks, Lapwings, Golden Plovers, 5 Curlews, 2 Redshanks, Little Egrets and the like.
Hookers - News came through this aft of a Great Grey Shrike seen from the back track to Lydd where we joined DW, GH and SG for a fruitless scan, although it had been seen just before we arrived. A couple of Great White Egrets and Marsh Harriers flew over before the rain came sending us scurrying for cover and home.
Friday, 23 October 2015
Goshawk - bird of the week
Forest of Dean - Looking back over the past week at our stay in the forest there have been more than one or two highlights. The past couple of nights we finally caught up with wild boars, or at least the sound of them as they grunted away into the early hours. When I checked the woodland floor at the bottom of the valley this morning it was as if a tractor and plough had been in there; those beasties certainly can shift some soil in their quest for food.
The Dippers have been great to see along the Wye, as were the black-capped tits and Hawfinches in the forest, but the stand out bird of the week has to be Goshawk, a bird I rarely see now. We had some cracking views, particularly yesterday morning when I watched a bird hunting along a valley and take a Pheasant. Mind you that was no real problem as some of the birds reared for game shooting locally were almost tame, an easy meal for such a powerful raptor.
Whilst on the subject of plastic Pheasants, travelling home along the M4 today we noted hundreds dead on the motorway and at one spot near Swindon saw several fly strait into the side of lorries and explode in a cloud of blood, guts and feathers. I`ve always thought what a pointless waste of time and money (quite apart from the cruelty of it all) the Pheasant shooting industry is, rearing a tame bird just so some `sportsman` can blast it out of the sky at point blank range.
Magpie fungus (probably), Forest of Dean
Lade - Anyhow, we arrived home late afternoon and couldn`t resist a run out over the local patch. As it was calm we set out across the desert to Mockmill and settled down to watch, and it wasn`t long before at least 3 Short-eared Owls were quartering the rough ground towards the airport, all the while being hassled by crows. A Merlin shot through chasing Mipits (without success) and 5 Marsh Harriers headed to roosts towards the bird reserve. As the light went the Water Rails began to squeal and a huge flock of 500 or so Jackdaws passed west.
Jackdaws heading to roost
Short-eared Owl, Mockmill
The Dippers have been great to see along the Wye, as were the black-capped tits and Hawfinches in the forest, but the stand out bird of the week has to be Goshawk, a bird I rarely see now. We had some cracking views, particularly yesterday morning when I watched a bird hunting along a valley and take a Pheasant. Mind you that was no real problem as some of the birds reared for game shooting locally were almost tame, an easy meal for such a powerful raptor.
Whilst on the subject of plastic Pheasants, travelling home along the M4 today we noted hundreds dead on the motorway and at one spot near Swindon saw several fly strait into the side of lorries and explode in a cloud of blood, guts and feathers. I`ve always thought what a pointless waste of time and money (quite apart from the cruelty of it all) the Pheasant shooting industry is, rearing a tame bird just so some `sportsman` can blast it out of the sky at point blank range.
Lade - Anyhow, we arrived home late afternoon and couldn`t resist a run out over the local patch. As it was calm we set out across the desert to Mockmill and settled down to watch, and it wasn`t long before at least 3 Short-eared Owls were quartering the rough ground towards the airport, all the while being hassled by crows. A Merlin shot through chasing Mipits (without success) and 5 Marsh Harriers headed to roosts towards the bird reserve. As the light went the Water Rails began to squeal and a huge flock of 500 or so Jackdaws passed west.
Wednesday, 21 October 2015
Tree Fever
Forest of Dean - We`ve covered a fair bit of ground these past few days, up hill and down dale, amongst the forest and watercourses and visited the RSPB reserve at Nagshead, Symonds Yat, Tintern and Highmeadow, plus various other viewpoints along the way, some affording commanding views across the woodland canopy and river Wye.
In places the forest has retained an atmosphere of the old wild wood with some fine stands of oak, beech and yew, many on the steeper slopes seemingly untouched by human hands, despite evidence of coal mine shafts and charcoal pits locally. At this time of year the deciduous trees are on the turn with maple, chestnut and beech providing great splashes of colour amongst the leaf fall, and with the weather being kind the light has only added to the spectacle.
However, while its not the best time of year for birds there has still been plenty to see (and mostly hear) with all the expected woodland species on offer. Roving flocks of tits and Goldcrests are everywhere, including Marsh Tit and at one location Willow Tit, a species now finished in Kent. On the finch front, Chaffinches are abundant followed by Goldfinches, plus scatterings of Siskins, Redpolls and Crossbills and one flock of 5 Hawfinches at the Nagshead reserve feeding on beech mast, while Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Jay and the two woodpeckers are commonplace.
As for raptors, we`ve had two more sightings of Goshawks, of which I suspect there is a very healthy population hereabouts and Peregrines at Symonds Yat, where there was also a flock of 12 White-fronts on the river Wye below.
We`ve not encountered wild boar as yet, but their presence is notable throughout the forest where they`ve turned over the grassy rides searching for food, while roe deer have been glimpsed twice now.
Symonds Yat
Ancient Yew, Tintern
Nagshead RSPB reserve, Forest of Dean
In places the forest setting is like something out of a Tolkien novel - at any moment you quite expect to see a hobbit pop out of a grassy bank, or an elf up in the canopy, or maybe some black riders cantering down a green lane on great slavering steeds...
Actually, I think I`m suffering from Tree Fever, as while a change of scene is good for the soul, and the Forest of Dean is undeniably beautiful, and I`m loving it, and I`m getting some work done, I am missing the wide open spaces and big skies of Romney Marsh, the shingle and sea. It just too claustrophobic here, too many trees, I need more light... more wind... back home soon...
In places the forest has retained an atmosphere of the old wild wood with some fine stands of oak, beech and yew, many on the steeper slopes seemingly untouched by human hands, despite evidence of coal mine shafts and charcoal pits locally. At this time of year the deciduous trees are on the turn with maple, chestnut and beech providing great splashes of colour amongst the leaf fall, and with the weather being kind the light has only added to the spectacle.
However, while its not the best time of year for birds there has still been plenty to see (and mostly hear) with all the expected woodland species on offer. Roving flocks of tits and Goldcrests are everywhere, including Marsh Tit and at one location Willow Tit, a species now finished in Kent. On the finch front, Chaffinches are abundant followed by Goldfinches, plus scatterings of Siskins, Redpolls and Crossbills and one flock of 5 Hawfinches at the Nagshead reserve feeding on beech mast, while Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Jay and the two woodpeckers are commonplace.
As for raptors, we`ve had two more sightings of Goshawks, of which I suspect there is a very healthy population hereabouts and Peregrines at Symonds Yat, where there was also a flock of 12 White-fronts on the river Wye below.
We`ve not encountered wild boar as yet, but their presence is notable throughout the forest where they`ve turned over the grassy rides searching for food, while roe deer have been glimpsed twice now.
In places the forest setting is like something out of a Tolkien novel - at any moment you quite expect to see a hobbit pop out of a grassy bank, or an elf up in the canopy, or maybe some black riders cantering down a green lane on great slavering steeds...
Actually, I think I`m suffering from Tree Fever, as while a change of scene is good for the soul, and the Forest of Dean is undeniably beautiful, and I`m loving it, and I`m getting some work done, I am missing the wide open spaces and big skies of Romney Marsh, the shingle and sea. It just too claustrophobic here, too many trees, I need more light... more wind... back home soon...
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