A late Swallow

Lade - warm, dry, cloudy, s 3 - We always try and have at least one day a week without using a vehicle and its normally a Sunday, such as today. Pat joined us for a circuit of the local patch in unseasonably mild weather where there was plenty to see and not just from the large numbers of waterfowl on north and south lakes. Kingfisher, Sparrowhawk, Goldcrest and Chiffchaff were all noted around the willow swamp and as we cut down Seaview Road to the beach a late Swallow flew south along the line of the railway track, my latest here by two days.
The burgeoning flowering plant list for November now includes Sticky Groundsel, White and Ribbed Melliot, Evening Primrose and Herb-Robert, and I`m sure with due diligence plenty more could be discovered.
Despite the beach being busy with walkers and land yachts there was plenty of birds on the sand with seven species of waders and over a thousand gulls, including 200 Great Black-backs, plus singles of Caspian Gull (1st winter) and Mediterranean Gull (2nd winter).
Back home working in the garden, Brambling, Redpoll and Goldfinches were noted overhead throughout the day with Goldcrests in the fir trees and a Red Admiral butterfly on the Senetti, which is still in full flower.

                                A party of Great Black-backed Gulls

                                2nd winter Mediterranean Gull

Mockmill - We tramped out across the shingle in near perfect conditions for a roost watch at the top end of Mockmill. Along the way a Bittern flew from a patch of reeds by south lake towards the main reedbed and was our first of the winter at Lade. As the light dimmed hundreds of corvids and pigeons streamed overhead, while a swirling mass of Starlings put on a wonderful display before pitching down in scrub and reed behind the wall `mirror`. Although no owls were noted at least 8 Marsh Harriers headed to roost into a brief, but spectacular sunset. 

                                Sunset over Mockmill Sewer

                               Barney, rabbit watching

Beach gulls

Lade - mild, wet and windy, sw 5 - A tour of the local patch in blustery conditions resulted in little of note with just the usual 2,000 odd ducks, grebes, Coots, feral geese and swans present. Passerines were hard to come by with 20 Goldfinches and 10 Mipits about the sum total on the migrant front.
The beach was packed out with common waders and gulls with 200 Great Black-backs of note, plus 3 Med Gulls and a Kittiwake.

                               Adult Yellow-legged Gull, Dungeness

Dungeness - A couple of visits today around the fishing boats yielded a 1st winter Caspian Gull and 2 Yellow-legged gulls, an adult and a 2nd winter bird. However, what with more than one or two gull aficionados on site it was no surprise that several more of each species were noted. Also seen several large flocks of Goldfinches, a Sparrowhawk and 2 Ravens.
A brief look at the sea resulted in distant views of Gannets and Kittiwakes, plus 5 Brents close to shore.

                                Pink-barred Sallow, Lydd-on-Sea

British Sea Power on Autumnwatch

Lade  - cloudy, mild, sw 4 - I don't know why but it had an end of season feel to proceedings today, probably due to the prospect of a change in the weather and a run of depressions sweeping in from the Atlantic with associated strong winds and rain. The only migrants around the place were several back garden Goldcrests and Goldfinches passing overhead.
This afternoon at last knockings we settled down at the top of Mockmill where a steady stream of corvids were heading towards the Oppen pits roost. There must`ve been well over a thousand with Jackdaws in the ascendancy, plus hundreds of Woodpigeons, Stock Doves and Starlings. Six Marsh Harriers made light of the strengthening breeze flushing 2 Snipe and a few Mipits along the way. There was no sign of the recent Short-eared Owl, but just before lights out a Barn Owl put in an appearance from Lade north way.
Autumnwatch - I see the popular BBC Autumnwatch show has been on our screens this week with the usual trio now based on the Solway Firth at the Wildfowl and Wetland reserve at Caerlaverock, so lots of stuff on rutting deer, Badgers and Barnacle Geese etc.
I`ve only dipped in and out but there doesn't seem to have been the usual level of tomfoolery from the hosts, and there have been one two interesting items. I particularly enjoyed the night diving from Sark and the piece on Sexton Beetles, much of which was new to me, along with Chris Packham`s superb explanation of the structure of a deer`s eye ,which enables them to see at night time.
However, the highlight for me was on the Unsprung episode which featured one of my favourite indie bands, British Sea Power. Keyboard player Martin Noble is a keen birder and together with two other band members they did a cracking acoustic version of the song Blackout off The Decline of British Sea Power album. If you missed it, check it out on the i-player.

Winter wildfowl

Dungeness RSPB - 1000hrs - mild, cloudy, drizzle, se 2 - A guided walk this morning around the reserve in ridiculously warm weather delivered a wide range of birds with plenty of winter wildfowl on Burrowes always hinting at colder times to come. Shoveler numbers continue to build along with Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Tufted Duck, Pintail and Pochard, plus those denizens of the winter, 2 Smew, a Goosander and 3 Goldeneyes. Lapwings too were much in evidence with at least 500 on site, mostly roosting on the shingle at the north end of Burrowes along with a few Golden Plovers and several Snipe on the islands. Great White and Little Egrets, Grey Herons, Kingfisher, Cetti`s Warbler and Water Rail were all seen or heard around the margins, while Peregrine and Raven put in an appearance overhead.

                                Two early Smews on Burrowes

As for migrants we noted a few Goldcrests and Stonechats in the gorse scrub, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, several Chiffchaffs, tits and Robins, plus a trickle of Goldfinches, Siskins, Redpolls and Mipits overhead. At Dengemarsh more common wildfowl on the lake and a brief flight view of a Bittern was the highlight, along with the expected Marsh Harriers over the reedbed.

Beach birds

Dungeness - 0830hrs - mild, cloudy, se 2 - With a Brambling over the cottage first thing and Goldcrests in the garden we headed out to the point with high hopes, but it was generally quiet with just a few common finches on the move, plus a Crossbill. Along the edge of the trapping area a number of tits, Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs called from willow scrub and a Sparrowhawk nipped over chasing Goldfinches.
RSPB - From the causeway road a Black-necked Grebe and Great White Egret noted on New Diggings and a Goldeneye amongst the common wildfowl on ARC. We spent some time searching for yesterdays Dartford Warbler in the gorse opposite the ramp, but without success, although 5 Stonechats and a Green Woodpecker were present, plus a Fieldfare along the return trail.

                                Great White Egret, New Diggings

Scotney - All the usual feral geese and wildfowl, Golden Plovers, Lapwings, a Ruff and 2 Redshanks and that was about it.
Greatstone Beach - We spent a pleasant hour wader watching on a rising tide with hundreds of Oystercatchers and Curlews, 50 each of Dunlin and Sanderling and 10 each of Barwit and Turnstone, while amongst the gulls a Mediterranean and Kittiwake.
Dungeness - Finished of with an hour at the fishing boats where very little was happening apart from 4 Common Scoters and 12 Teal through and 20 each of Kittiwake and Gannet feeding offshore.
 A decent couple of days birding for Lew during which time we tallied 92 species.
NB: News came through this afternoon that the energy company EDF have purchased the Dungeness Estate. This means that they now own the majority of the peninsula (including the power station of course) and by general consensus is regarded as good for all concerned. Visitors to Dungeness should be aware that the Light Railway Café is closed for redevelopment and should open sometime next spring, complete with public conveniences.

Sawbills and a Brambling

Dungeness - 0815 - Foggy start, clearing to warm, dry and sunny, misty late afternoon. I met Lew from north Kent, who`s down for a couple of days birding, first thing at the point in thick fog. However, it didn`t last for long and by the time we walked down to the Sanctuary it had cleared, although there was no sign of the Dusky Warbler, but we did see a late Swallow flying around and settling on overhead wires. There was little else of note around the bushes apart from a Blackcap and a few Goldfinches, plus 2 Kestrels, a Sparrowhawk and superb views of a Raven overhead.

                                Raven, Dungeness

RSPB -   Moving onto the bird reserve we met Elizabeth and family for a circular walk during which time we clocked up 83 species of birds, mostly for 8 year old James` benefit! The highlights included a Black Redstart on the VC roof, our first 2 Smews of the season, along with 3 Goldeneyes, a Goosander and 20 Pintails on Burrowes, 8 Great White Egrets around the site, 20 Golden Plovers, Stonechat, 4 Marsh Harriers, Goldcrests, 10 Cetti`s Warblers, 5 Siskins, 2 Chiffchaffs, `pinging` Bearded Tits and 4 Snipe from the viewing ramp. At the Boulderwall feeders a stunning male Brambling was my bird of the day. From Hanson hide all the expected wildfowl, plus 2 more Great White Egrets, a Kingfisher and a Bittern in flight.
Walland Marsh  - We finished the day in some style with 10 Marsh Harriers coming to roost and 2 Barn Owls hunting around the reedbed site. Also noted Kestrel, Common Buzzard, Water Rail, Cetti`s Warbler and Bearded Tits.

Flowering plants

Lade - 1000hrs - Once the B&B guests had departed we headed out for a tour of the local patch in sweltering weather conditions, attired in shorts and T shirt. Most of the early morning fog had cleared to leave hazy light and a faint zephyr so we tramped out across the shingle to Mockmill, which was fairly quiet bird wise with just a scattering of Robins, Goldcrests and Blackbirds, plus 2 each of Stonechat and Cetti`s Warbler, a brief flight view of a Short-eared Owl and a couple of Kestrels.
However, what struck me most was the number of plants still in flower hereabouts. The whites of catchfly, bramble and dolly belles, yellows of honeysuckle and ragwort, blues of scabious and bugloss, alongside the reds of ragged robin and valerian. Flowering plants all having a last hurrah of `summer` on the opening day of November.

                                Bramble runners

                                Ragged Robin

                                            Ragwort

                               Robin, the most abundant passerine this morning


It was no surprise that a variety of insects were on the wings, mainly bees and wasps, hawker dragonflies, a silver y, plus red admiral, small tortoiseshell and painted lady butterflies to name but a few.
A quick scan of south lake revealed no change to the thousand plus assemblage of waterfowl.
This afternoon the plan was to check out the beach on a falling tide, but we were thwarted by the weather as a great bank of swirling fog rolled in off the sea putting paid to any further activity, and so with the distant drone of the Dungeness fog horn in our ears we called it a day.