Dungeness - mild, showery, w 4-6 - The morning was dominated by the weather as we received a meteorological slap (at least compared with northern Britain) from Storm Abigail in the form of gusty winds and hefty showers through the morning, although it brightened up this afternoon.
A circuit of the point delivered very little in the way of birds with just a handful of Robins, Goldcrests, Blackbirds, Goldfinches, Kestrel and a Stonechat in the trapping area/desert. Likewise nothing much was happening on the sea and we couldn't even find a Caspo amongst the roosting gulls on the beach; still, Barney wasn't complaining as we covered the shingle at a steady pace without stopping to gawp at the waves for too long.
We also bid our farewells to SG who`ll be migrating back north to Surrey this weekend; all the best Steve and hope to see you next spring.
Lade - A pre-WeBS count check of the local patch was difficult due to the strong wind whipping across south lake, but I reckon this coming Sunday will see a record Coot count, so watch this space...
ARC - From Screen hide this afternoon 2 Marsh Harriers over, Bittern, Great White Egret and Goldeneye, plus Great Spotted Woodpecker and Chiffchaff at the pines.
Friday, 13 November 2015
Thursday, 12 November 2015
Dartford Warbler
RSPB - mild, showery, sw 3 - We spent the morning on the bird reserve having seconds on the Dartford Warbler, which we all heard and saw fairly well as it performed low down in bramble scrub along the return trail. A few finches and thrushes drifted over, but there was nothing like the variety and numbers of yesterday. Around the circular walk were up to 6 Marsh Harriers, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Kingfisher, 5 Cetti`s Warbler, Water Rail, good views of a Raven, 2 Sparrowhawks and all the usual wildfowl on Burrowes.
We finished the four day birdwatching break for David, Val and Sandra with a species tally of 105, but as is often the case it was more about the spectacle of large numbers of birds flocking together as winter looms that will live long in the memory. The thousands of Golden Plovers down at Rye took some beating, as did the hundreds of Fieldfares on Monday by the Royal Military Canal, the wildfowl on Burrowes and waders on Lade bay; and lets face it watching egrets and harriers come to roost is pretty special too. The quality was provided by Dartford Warbler, Short-eared Owl and up to five Firecrests.
Other highlights during the week included a large number of plants still in flower, a myriad of different fungi (which I`m still trying to id!) and good views of Hare and Mink.
Orange fungi on wood
We finished the four day birdwatching break for David, Val and Sandra with a species tally of 105, but as is often the case it was more about the spectacle of large numbers of birds flocking together as winter looms that will live long in the memory. The thousands of Golden Plovers down at Rye took some beating, as did the hundreds of Fieldfares on Monday by the Royal Military Canal, the wildfowl on Burrowes and waders on Lade bay; and lets face it watching egrets and harriers come to roost is pretty special too. The quality was provided by Dartford Warbler, Short-eared Owl and up to five Firecrests.
Other highlights during the week included a large number of plants still in flower, a myriad of different fungi (which I`m still trying to id!) and good views of Hare and Mink.
Wednesday, 11 November 2015
Firecrests and Dartford Warbler
RSPB - mild, cloudy, sw 3 - First stop this morning was New Diggings where the 2 Black-necked Grebes showed well close to the causeway road, plus a Great White Egret at the western end.
There must`ve been a fall of Firecrests overnight as several were heard and seen in the scrub by the bird feeders, plus the usual tits, finches, Tree Sparrows and Reed Buntings.
Walking down to the return trail we all had cracking views of a Short-eared Owl that flew out over the shingle and around the car park before landing back down by the pond. The return trail is often deadly quiet, but not this morning as a trickle of Redpolls, Siskins and Goldfinches passed overhead, while in the brambles by the bridle path we had brief views of both Dartford Warbler and Ring Ouzel. Plenty of Blackbirds, Blue Tits, 4 Stonechats, Raven over, 2 Redwings, Green Woodpecker, Marsh Harrier and Kestrel completed a marvellous suite of bird variety in a small area. We also saw an old Hare and back at the car park enjoyed further good views of up to 5 Firecrests.
2 Black-necked Grebes, New Diggings
Firecrest, one of several seen today
Foxglove, one of many plants still in flower
Brown Hare, return trail
Stonechat, return trail
Golden Plovers, Rye Harbour
Mink, Castle Water
Rye Harbour - En-route the usual wildfowl and waders were noted on the grass at Scotney. At Rye we checked out Flat Beach from the John Gooder`s hide where the main spectacle was provided by c2,500 Golden Plovers and 1,000 Lapwings. In amongst the throng were a number of Shelduck, Redshank, Curlew, Little Grebe Turnstone, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Skylark and Meadow Pipit.
The afternoon was spent at Castle Water where loads more common wildfowl were noted, plus Stonechats, 2 Marsh Harriers, 12 Snipe, Chiffchaffs, Cetti`s Warblers, Kingfisher and a Mink swimming across the water in front of the hide being followed by a flock of Coots!
An excellent day in the field for the guests with the Firecrests and Shortie the highlights due to the superb views.
There must`ve been a fall of Firecrests overnight as several were heard and seen in the scrub by the bird feeders, plus the usual tits, finches, Tree Sparrows and Reed Buntings.
Walking down to the return trail we all had cracking views of a Short-eared Owl that flew out over the shingle and around the car park before landing back down by the pond. The return trail is often deadly quiet, but not this morning as a trickle of Redpolls, Siskins and Goldfinches passed overhead, while in the brambles by the bridle path we had brief views of both Dartford Warbler and Ring Ouzel. Plenty of Blackbirds, Blue Tits, 4 Stonechats, Raven over, 2 Redwings, Green Woodpecker, Marsh Harrier and Kestrel completed a marvellous suite of bird variety in a small area. We also saw an old Hare and back at the car park enjoyed further good views of up to 5 Firecrests.
Rye Harbour - En-route the usual wildfowl and waders were noted on the grass at Scotney. At Rye we checked out Flat Beach from the John Gooder`s hide where the main spectacle was provided by c2,500 Golden Plovers and 1,000 Lapwings. In amongst the throng were a number of Shelduck, Redshank, Curlew, Little Grebe Turnstone, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Skylark and Meadow Pipit.
The afternoon was spent at Castle Water where loads more common wildfowl were noted, plus Stonechats, 2 Marsh Harriers, 12 Snipe, Chiffchaffs, Cetti`s Warblers, Kingfisher and a Mink swimming across the water in front of the hide being followed by a flock of Coots!
An excellent day in the field for the guests with the Firecrests and Shortie the highlights due to the superb views.
Tuesday, 10 November 2015
Wildfowl, waders and wind
Dungeness - mild, overcast, sw 5 - We kicked off at the point first thing for a seawatch from the fishing boats that yielded the expected fare of distant Gannets, auks and Kittiwakes feeding offshore, plus 3 Common Scoter, Red-throated Diver and Brent Goose. There was plenty of gulls to sift through on the shingle including a 1st winter Yellow-legged and Caspian Gull, the latter coming to bread on the concrete road.
RSPB - Moving on to the bird reserve where the highlights on Burrowes were 3 Smews, 2 Goosanders and 3 Goldeneyes amongst hundreds of common wildfowl, most of them sheltering at the western end and viewable from Scott hide. Five Snipe, 3 Great White Egrets, Kingfisher and 2 Stonechats also noted, plus Reed Bunting and Great Spotted Woodpecker on the feeders.
Lade Bay - We checked the bay at three locations from the Tavern to Littlestone and nailed nine out of ten of the usual waders, with only Grey Plover eluding us. As always Ringed Plover and Knot were tricky but we tracked them down opposite the old lifeboat station.
Walland Marsh - Back out on the flatlands we finished the day at a reed bed site where 6 Marsh Harriers came in roost with another ten in the general area.
RSPB - Moving on to the bird reserve where the highlights on Burrowes were 3 Smews, 2 Goosanders and 3 Goldeneyes amongst hundreds of common wildfowl, most of them sheltering at the western end and viewable from Scott hide. Five Snipe, 3 Great White Egrets, Kingfisher and 2 Stonechats also noted, plus Reed Bunting and Great Spotted Woodpecker on the feeders.
Lade Bay - We checked the bay at three locations from the Tavern to Littlestone and nailed nine out of ten of the usual waders, with only Grey Plover eluding us. As always Ringed Plover and Knot were tricky but we tracked them down opposite the old lifeboat station.
Walland Marsh - Back out on the flatlands we finished the day at a reed bed site where 6 Marsh Harriers came in roost with another ten in the general area.
Monday, 9 November 2015
Old friends
Walland Marsh - mild, cloudy, sw 5 - Picked up Val, Sandra and David from Ashford at midday who are down for a weeks birding; the two ladies being our longest clients and old friends, since we started ten years ago.
Whilst having lunch at Faggs Wood we noted Jay, Goldcrest, Long-tailed and Coal Tits around the car park. Along the canal at Kenardington we cleaned up on the thrushes with 500 Fieldfares, 100 Redwings and a scattering of Mistle, Song Thrushes and Blackbirds. Yellowhammer was also noted here along with common finches and tits, Kestrel and Common Buzzard nearby. The blustery wind made for difficult birding with few passerines seen as we crossed the Marsh. A Great White Egret in a field near Midley was of note and the usual Tree Sparrows showed well on the feeders. At the drying barns more Fieldfares and a few Chaffinches, plus a Grey Wagtail on the barn.
Great White Egret, Midley
Tree Sparrows, Midley
ARC - We finished the afternoon initially at Hanson hide where 2 Goldeneyes and 10 Pintails were the highlights amongst the common wildfowl, plus Kingfisher, Great White Egret, Sparrowhawk and 5 Marsh Harriers. Finally we moved to the gateway at the eastern end to count the egrets coming to roost, of which there were 14 Little and 5 Great White, although we may have missed one or two that sneaked in from the north in the near gale force wind. Hundreds of corvids headed to roost at the Oppen pits.
Whilst having lunch at Faggs Wood we noted Jay, Goldcrest, Long-tailed and Coal Tits around the car park. Along the canal at Kenardington we cleaned up on the thrushes with 500 Fieldfares, 100 Redwings and a scattering of Mistle, Song Thrushes and Blackbirds. Yellowhammer was also noted here along with common finches and tits, Kestrel and Common Buzzard nearby. The blustery wind made for difficult birding with few passerines seen as we crossed the Marsh. A Great White Egret in a field near Midley was of note and the usual Tree Sparrows showed well on the feeders. At the drying barns more Fieldfares and a few Chaffinches, plus a Grey Wagtail on the barn.
ARC - We finished the afternoon initially at Hanson hide where 2 Goldeneyes and 10 Pintails were the highlights amongst the common wildfowl, plus Kingfisher, Great White Egret, Sparrowhawk and 5 Marsh Harriers. Finally we moved to the gateway at the eastern end to count the egrets coming to roost, of which there were 14 Little and 5 Great White, although we may have missed one or two that sneaked in from the north in the near gale force wind. Hundreds of corvids headed to roost at the Oppen pits.
Sunday, 8 November 2015
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
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.
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.
Saturday, 7 November 2015
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
The beach was packed out with common waders and gulls with 200 Great Black-backs of note, plus 3 Med Gulls and a Kittiwake.
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.
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