Lade - mild, dry and sunny sw 3 - The past few days have been spent trudging around the local patch into the teeth of gale force winds and drizzle with, unsurprisingly, nothing new on offer apart from an increase in Teal numbers to over 300. However, today the wind slackened and the sun broke cover putting an altogether contrasting outlook on yesterdays grey world; and with the winter solstice now passed every day brings slowly lengthening daylight hours.
The poor weather at least allows time indoors to catch up on those end-of-year jobs, such as collating bird records to submit to the county recorder. Species wise we`re slightly down this year on 209, but its still been an interesting, and at times spectacular, birding year one way and another, of which I shall endeavour to post a summary over the coming week.
RSPB - We called in at the bird reserve this morning to show our 5 year old grandson his first Long-eared Owl, which was posing nicely in the warm sunshine in its usual position at the back of the discovery pond. He also picked out and identified a couple of Great White Egrets at Boulderwall and New Diggings, but after the owl spectacle I just couldn`t get him interested in a 1st winter Caspian Gull on Burrowes...
The weather remained fair for most of the day, but by dusk the wind started to pick up as Storm Eva approached the British Isles. While the worst of the wind and rain are forecast to clobber the long-suffering north-west the next couple of days could also be a bit lively down here too.
Wednesday, 23 December 2015
Sunday, 20 December 2015
Barrel Jellyfish
Lade - mild, cloudy, sw 3 - A circuit of the local patch this morning delivered the usual wildfowl on the lakes, plus 2 new Goldeneyes. Most of the ducks were on the more sheltered northerly water along with a flock of 500 gulls that included a smart adult Caspian Gull. Several hundred Coots were crammed onto the weedy waters round the willow swamp where they were continually harried by female Marsh Harriers.
There was much activity on the bay with an ebb tide attracting huge numbers of waders and gulls. From the Tavern a rough count through a 90 degree sweep went something like: 3,000 Black-headed, 1,500 Common, 900 Herring, 800 Great Blacks and 600 Lesser Black, plus 3 Meds, 2 Kittiwakes and an adult Yellow-legged Gull. There were hundreds more towards Littlestone and Dungeness.
Wader wise, seven out of ten species were present, plus 4 Shelducks and a sickly looking Brent Goose.
Barrel Jellyfish, Greatstone Beach
On the foreshore opposite the Tavern at least 50 Barrel Jellyfish had been beached by the high tide. These alien-like ocean drifters normally occur in the summer months following sustained south-westerlies, but it`s unusual to see such numbers about now as they normally go deep for the winter. Wandering around looking at these primitive animals, some about the size of a dinner plate, made me wonder how far they`d travelled across the Atlantic Ocean to end their days on a windswept beach in southern England. It all seemed just a little bit sad really, still that`s the natural world for you.
Walland Marsh - Accompanied CP to our usual watch point for the monthly harrier roost count, which was low at four birds, although at least a dozen others were in the general area. A Greylag flock held 10 White-fronts, and were our first of the winter, while small numbers of Bewick` Swans could be seen amongst the Mutes by Hook`s Wall. Other highlights included 5 Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 500 Lapwings, 5 Snipe, Bearded Tit, Cetti`s Warbler and best of all good views of a Merlin
There was much activity on the bay with an ebb tide attracting huge numbers of waders and gulls. From the Tavern a rough count through a 90 degree sweep went something like: 3,000 Black-headed, 1,500 Common, 900 Herring, 800 Great Blacks and 600 Lesser Black, plus 3 Meds, 2 Kittiwakes and an adult Yellow-legged Gull. There were hundreds more towards Littlestone and Dungeness.
Wader wise, seven out of ten species were present, plus 4 Shelducks and a sickly looking Brent Goose.
On the foreshore opposite the Tavern at least 50 Barrel Jellyfish had been beached by the high tide. These alien-like ocean drifters normally occur in the summer months following sustained south-westerlies, but it`s unusual to see such numbers about now as they normally go deep for the winter. Wandering around looking at these primitive animals, some about the size of a dinner plate, made me wonder how far they`d travelled across the Atlantic Ocean to end their days on a windswept beach in southern England. It all seemed just a little bit sad really, still that`s the natural world for you.
Walland Marsh - Accompanied CP to our usual watch point for the monthly harrier roost count, which was low at four birds, although at least a dozen others were in the general area. A Greylag flock held 10 White-fronts, and were our first of the winter, while small numbers of Bewick` Swans could be seen amongst the Mutes by Hook`s Wall. Other highlights included 5 Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 500 Lapwings, 5 Snipe, Bearded Tit, Cetti`s Warbler and best of all good views of a Merlin
Saturday, 19 December 2015
Azorean plume
Dungeness - warm, dry, sunny, s 3 -The record breaking day time temperatures for December peaked at 16C this afternoon in the garden, while last night it remained in double figures. At the point this morning even the brisk southerly wind couldn`t suppress the plume of warm air sweeping up from the Azores. An hour from the fishing boats delivered a steady flow of Gannets, Kittiwakes and auks along with a few Red-throated Divers, a Fulmar and 5 Common Scoters. On the shingle a well marked 1st winter Caspian Gull was amongst the Herrings and Black-backs by the road, while at least two other individuals were located throughout the day.
Late afternoon we called in at the Obs for mulled wine and a mince pie where this unseasonable weather had delivered a stunning Striped Hawk-moth to the mv trap last night, incredible.
Long-eared Owl, Dungeness RSPB
RSPB - I make no apologies for posting another pic of the superb Long-eared Owl that continues to roost in sallows behind the discovery pond on the bird reserve, and today it was particularly showy basking in the warm sunshine. Twenty years ago these owls were regularly encountered during the winter across the Romney Marsh roosting in shelter belts above ditches, often in small flocks;
in my native Bedfordshire I once found a flock of 12 Long-eared Owls roosting in dry scrub on the Chilterns at Dunstable Downs.
Sadly this bird is much rarer today, so make the most of this gorgeous creature, as you just never know when one will present itself in such a confiding fashion in future. As a lasting memory local wildlife artist Stephen Message (www.message-wildlife-art.co.uk ) has produced a magnificent painting of the Leo. Limited edition prints are on sale in the Visitor Centre.
Elsewhere around the bird reserve Great White Egrets at Boulderwall and ARC, plus Chiffchaffs, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Marsh Harrier behind Tower Pits.
Late afternoon we called in at the Obs for mulled wine and a mince pie where this unseasonable weather had delivered a stunning Striped Hawk-moth to the mv trap last night, incredible.
RSPB - I make no apologies for posting another pic of the superb Long-eared Owl that continues to roost in sallows behind the discovery pond on the bird reserve, and today it was particularly showy basking in the warm sunshine. Twenty years ago these owls were regularly encountered during the winter across the Romney Marsh roosting in shelter belts above ditches, often in small flocks;
in my native Bedfordshire I once found a flock of 12 Long-eared Owls roosting in dry scrub on the Chilterns at Dunstable Downs.
Sadly this bird is much rarer today, so make the most of this gorgeous creature, as you just never know when one will present itself in such a confiding fashion in future. As a lasting memory local wildlife artist Stephen Message (www.message-wildlife-art.co.uk ) has produced a magnificent painting of the Leo. Limited edition prints are on sale in the Visitor Centre.
Elsewhere around the bird reserve Great White Egrets at Boulderwall and ARC, plus Chiffchaffs, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Marsh Harrier behind Tower Pits.
Friday, 18 December 2015
Red-listed Curlew
Rye - mild, dry, cloudy, sw2 - At Scotney the usual feral geese and ducks were noted on the grass and water respectively, plus a Great White Egret in the Sussex corner. Down at Rye Harbour Flat Beach was packed out with gulls, waders and wildfowl with several thousand Golden Plovers and Lapwings and hundreds of Teal and Wigeon the highlights. In amongst the throng were good numbers of Curlew, Redshank, Shelduck, Ringed Plover, Turnstone and Dunlin. A flock of 30 Skylarks over was noteworthy and a Peregrine spooked the plovers more than once.
Redshank, Rye Harbour
Walland Marsh - Crossing the Marsh on the way home, at Hook Wall, a flock of 150 Mutes feeding on oil-seed rape contained at least 17 Bewick`s Swans, but the views were obscured so there may well have been one or two more. Two Common Buzzards and a Little Owl were noted near Wheelsgate.
Lade - With light airs and the sun dipping rapidly we trudged out across the shingle to Mockmill for last knockings and a roost watch, until I realised that the Curlews were roosting by our watch point. There was no way I was going to flush them so we altered the route and tucked in at the southern end of the sewer, on a gorse ridge with views to the north. I was dismayed, but not surprised, to read in British Birds recently that this magnificent wader has been red-listed in the latest Birds of Conservation Concern review. It is a bird I`m lucky enough to hear and see on a daily basis and everything about them resonates of wild places. I shall not take them for granted in future.
Anyhow, whilst musing over the Curlews, 4 Marsh Harriers headed towards the bird reserve, along with hundreds of corvids, but there was no sign of the Short-eared Owl on the airport fields.
The day finished with another cracking sunset over the flatlands.
Walland Marsh - Crossing the Marsh on the way home, at Hook Wall, a flock of 150 Mutes feeding on oil-seed rape contained at least 17 Bewick`s Swans, but the views were obscured so there may well have been one or two more. Two Common Buzzards and a Little Owl were noted near Wheelsgate.
Lade - With light airs and the sun dipping rapidly we trudged out across the shingle to Mockmill for last knockings and a roost watch, until I realised that the Curlews were roosting by our watch point. There was no way I was going to flush them so we altered the route and tucked in at the southern end of the sewer, on a gorse ridge with views to the north. I was dismayed, but not surprised, to read in British Birds recently that this magnificent wader has been red-listed in the latest Birds of Conservation Concern review. It is a bird I`m lucky enough to hear and see on a daily basis and everything about them resonates of wild places. I shall not take them for granted in future.
Anyhow, whilst musing over the Curlews, 4 Marsh Harriers headed towards the bird reserve, along with hundreds of corvids, but there was no sign of the Short-eared Owl on the airport fields.
The day finished with another cracking sunset over the flatlands.
Wednesday, 16 December 2015
December doldrums
Lade - mild, overcast, sw 2 - I`ll come clean - December is my least favourite month of the year; nothing much happens birdwise, visitors are at their lowest ebb and then there`s Christmas around the corner... enough said.
Trudging round the local patch these past few days have been pretty samey, with a flock of 7 Shelducks yesterday the only `highlight`. On the plus side it has been ludicrously mild and in a moment of madness I even considered getting the shorts out! Around the willow swamp tits, crests and Chiffs had no trouble feeding on the clouds of midges, while back home in the garden several bumble bees were noted on the winter jasmine.
RSPB -It wasn`t much better on the bird reserve with no sign of any Smew on Burrowes or the Long-eared Owl behind the discovery pond, although the owl was reported later on. Over the road we managed to find a couple of Smew on ARC from the pines, and 2 Great White Egrets, but the main source of interest was a Great Spotted Woodpecker hammering away on a power line pole with great determination. By mid-afternoon the Mordor-like gloom and drizzle descended, sending us scuttling home for a brew.
The only other local news today came from Dungeness where up to three different Caspian Gulls were located amongst the roosting gulls (DW).
Great Spotted Woodpecker, ARC
Trudging round the local patch these past few days have been pretty samey, with a flock of 7 Shelducks yesterday the only `highlight`. On the plus side it has been ludicrously mild and in a moment of madness I even considered getting the shorts out! Around the willow swamp tits, crests and Chiffs had no trouble feeding on the clouds of midges, while back home in the garden several bumble bees were noted on the winter jasmine.
RSPB -It wasn`t much better on the bird reserve with no sign of any Smew on Burrowes or the Long-eared Owl behind the discovery pond, although the owl was reported later on. Over the road we managed to find a couple of Smew on ARC from the pines, and 2 Great White Egrets, but the main source of interest was a Great Spotted Woodpecker hammering away on a power line pole with great determination. By mid-afternoon the Mordor-like gloom and drizzle descended, sending us scuttling home for a brew.
The only other local news today came from Dungeness where up to three different Caspian Gulls were located amongst the roosting gulls (DW).
Sunday, 13 December 2015
Oystercatchers and Coots
Lade - mild, cloudy, occasional drizzle, sw 2 - We spent the weekend birding on the hoof, so nice and local with the car anchored firmly on the driveway. Yesterday I concentrated on the bay counting waders on a rising tide. It can be a bit of a lottery here depending upon disturbance as well as the height of the tide, but I did manage to get a pretty accurate count of Oystercatchers. They were all bunched together at Greatstone, and as the tide ran in flew towards me, and their roost site at Kerton Road pits, in dribs and drabs allowing 920 to be logged. All ten species of waders were eventually tracked down, but only a handful each of Ringed and Grey Plovers. Along the way 5 Med Gulls and 2 Shelducks were also noted.
Oystercatchers, Lade bay
This morning it was WeBS count on the pits and it took ages to complete due to the light airs scattering wildfowl all over the place. Eventually, after a recount due to Marsh Harrier attacks, I came up with 1,620 Coots, a new site record, and 540 Gadwalls, plus lesser numbers of Wigeon, Shoveler, Teal, Pochard and the like.
Whilst on the subject of harriers I watched an old female working the southern end of south lake when she jinked in a corner reedbed and disappeared completely. A careful walk back towards the action revealed the bird had made a kill and was tucking in with gusto. Shortly afterwards feathers floated out across the lake and after 15 minutes she flew off revealing her breakfast to have been a Water Rail, of which there are a plentiful supply hereabouts.
Around the willow swamp a number of Long-tailed Tits, Goldcrests, Cetti`s Warblers and Chiffchaff noted, while an adult Caspian Gull was amongst a roost of 500 gulls on north lake. Elsewhere around the site, a Great White Egret, Kingfisher, Sparrowhawk, 10 Skylarks, 5 Goldfinches, 5 Mipits and a brown Merlin over the desert.
Coots, and more Coots, Lade
This morning it was WeBS count on the pits and it took ages to complete due to the light airs scattering wildfowl all over the place. Eventually, after a recount due to Marsh Harrier attacks, I came up with 1,620 Coots, a new site record, and 540 Gadwalls, plus lesser numbers of Wigeon, Shoveler, Teal, Pochard and the like.
Whilst on the subject of harriers I watched an old female working the southern end of south lake when she jinked in a corner reedbed and disappeared completely. A careful walk back towards the action revealed the bird had made a kill and was tucking in with gusto. Shortly afterwards feathers floated out across the lake and after 15 minutes she flew off revealing her breakfast to have been a Water Rail, of which there are a plentiful supply hereabouts.
Around the willow swamp a number of Long-tailed Tits, Goldcrests, Cetti`s Warblers and Chiffchaff noted, while an adult Caspian Gull was amongst a roost of 500 gulls on north lake. Elsewhere around the site, a Great White Egret, Kingfisher, Sparrowhawk, 10 Skylarks, 5 Goldfinches, 5 Mipits and a brown Merlin over the desert.
Friday, 11 December 2015
Weekend forecast
ARC/Tower Pits - mild, cloudy, sw 3 - For a change of scene we wandered down to the pines and along the back towards Lydd by the railway line. Several Chiffchaffs, Goldcrests and at least one Firecrest were present in tit flocks, while the sea buckthorn held a dozen Song Thrushes and Blackbirds and a Reed Bunting. There was precious little else on the farmland apart from loads of corvids and a few Common Gulls. On the margins of the pits Cetti`s Warbler, Water Rail and a Great White Egret over was about it. From Screen hide the usual wildfowl and a couple of Marsh Harriers.
Bewick`s Swans, Walland Marsh
Walland Marsh - A herd of 15 Bewick`s Swans was noticeable in a field by the wind farm and viewable with care from the busy A259. The hedgerows around Midley were full of Fieldfares and from Brookland to Lydd we noted 5 Kestrels and 3 Common Buzzards.
Burrowes - Called in to pay homage to the roosting Long-eared Owl in the sallows behind the discovery pond along with a steady flow of visiting owl disciples.
Summary: Anyone planning a trip down to the Marsh this weekend should be assured a wide range of wintering species. Offshore at Dungeness the usual Gannets, Kittiwakes, auks and Red-throats are almost a given, while there`s always the chance of a scarce duck, diver or skua; this week has also noted both Balearic and Sooty Shearwaters, plus a Leache`s Petrel. If gulls are your bag then you`re in for a treat as Caspian and Yellow-legged Gulls are present most days on the beach by the fishing boats, and if identification is a problem (and when isn't it!) then Saturday afternoon normally witness the gull aficionados on site with their buckets of fish offal and bread to entice the brutes into camera range.
On the bird reserve the usual Great White Egrets are still around the site (although some have temporarily decamped to Brett`s marina this past week) plus Smew on Burrowes and of course the Long-eared Owl. In the Visitors Centre there is an optical display this weekend and you may even be able to find a Christmas gift in the shop.
Elsewhere, as already mentioned, small numbers of Bewick`s Swans are scattered around the Marsh, up to 4 Purple Sandpipers have been noted on the sea defence blocks on Hythe sea front and a Glossy Ibis is present at Pett Level.
Walland Marsh - A herd of 15 Bewick`s Swans was noticeable in a field by the wind farm and viewable with care from the busy A259. The hedgerows around Midley were full of Fieldfares and from Brookland to Lydd we noted 5 Kestrels and 3 Common Buzzards.
Burrowes - Called in to pay homage to the roosting Long-eared Owl in the sallows behind the discovery pond along with a steady flow of visiting owl disciples.
Summary: Anyone planning a trip down to the Marsh this weekend should be assured a wide range of wintering species. Offshore at Dungeness the usual Gannets, Kittiwakes, auks and Red-throats are almost a given, while there`s always the chance of a scarce duck, diver or skua; this week has also noted both Balearic and Sooty Shearwaters, plus a Leache`s Petrel. If gulls are your bag then you`re in for a treat as Caspian and Yellow-legged Gulls are present most days on the beach by the fishing boats, and if identification is a problem (and when isn't it!) then Saturday afternoon normally witness the gull aficionados on site with their buckets of fish offal and bread to entice the brutes into camera range.
On the bird reserve the usual Great White Egrets are still around the site (although some have temporarily decamped to Brett`s marina this past week) plus Smew on Burrowes and of course the Long-eared Owl. In the Visitors Centre there is an optical display this weekend and you may even be able to find a Christmas gift in the shop.
Elsewhere, as already mentioned, small numbers of Bewick`s Swans are scattered around the Marsh, up to 4 Purple Sandpipers have been noted on the sea defence blocks on Hythe sea front and a Glossy Ibis is present at Pett Level.
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