Dungeness - 0730hrs - warm, dry, sunny, e 2 - A wander down to the Patch yielded little apart from juvenile Mediterranean, Yellow-legged and Black-headed Gulls amongst several hundred of the latter and Herring Gulls on the beach. With the power station outage the boil was becalmed as a barge and associated tugs carried out work on the inlet/outlet pipes and cardinal buoy. Offshore a few Gannets, Kittiwakes and Sandwich Terns drifted by.
Juvenile birds seemed to be everywhere on the land with Skylark, Mipit, Pied Wagtail, Starling and at least one Wheatear opposite Jarman`s. On the power station wall a Hummingbird Hawk-moth was soaking up the morning sunshine.
An afternoon visit to the fishing boats for a one hour seawatch was as flat as the sea, although a Whimbrel passing overhead calling was our first of the autumn.
Thursday, 13 July 2017
Wednesday, 12 July 2017
First Willow Warbler
Folkestone - 0800hrs - wet - We were on grandparent duty in Folkestone last night and following 14 hours of rain, during which time around an inch fell, the clouds cleared and the sun broke through. The sheltered garden which backs onto a thickly wooded railway embankment was soon alive with tits, Blackbirds, Robins and Dunnocks looking to feed, plus a fresh, yellowy Willow Warbler, my first of the return passage.
Lade - Back home by mid-morning the northerly airflow had lowered the temperature somewhat and a search of the water and willows yielded very little apart from a lone Common Sandpiper on the margins of south lake.
ARC - On the way home from the allotment (first pick of runner beans) we called in at Screen hide where there was plenty to see amongst a myriad of wildfowl, grebes, Coots, Little Egrets, Grey Herons, Lapwings and Common Terns, including yesterdays Curlew Sandpiper, plus two Dunlins, several LRPs, a Blackwit, Common and Green Sandpipers. During an hour on site several different sub-adult/adult Marsh Harriers came and went, but there was still no sign of any juveniles out of the nest yet, although I guess there`s still time.
A check of the bay from the Tavern, just in case a stray yellow-billed tern had decided to cross the Channel, delivered a flock of 15 Sandwich Terns, c500 Black-headed Gulls, the usual Oystercatchers and Curlews and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull amongst the Herring Gulls.
Out in the bay the S&R chopper was plucking a windsurfer from a choppy sea.
Lade - Back home by mid-morning the northerly airflow had lowered the temperature somewhat and a search of the water and willows yielded very little apart from a lone Common Sandpiper on the margins of south lake.
ARC - On the way home from the allotment (first pick of runner beans) we called in at Screen hide where there was plenty to see amongst a myriad of wildfowl, grebes, Coots, Little Egrets, Grey Herons, Lapwings and Common Terns, including yesterdays Curlew Sandpiper, plus two Dunlins, several LRPs, a Blackwit, Common and Green Sandpipers. During an hour on site several different sub-adult/adult Marsh Harriers came and went, but there was still no sign of any juveniles out of the nest yet, although I guess there`s still time.
A check of the bay from the Tavern, just in case a stray yellow-billed tern had decided to cross the Channel, delivered a flock of 15 Sandwich Terns, c500 Black-headed Gulls, the usual Oystercatchers and Curlews and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull amongst the Herring Gulls.
Out in the bay the S&R chopper was plucking a windsurfer from a choppy sea.
Tuesday, 11 July 2017
Egyptian Goose
Lade - muggy, overcast, sw 4 - A blustery morning and still no rain, as yet. Two Egyptian Geese flying over south lake was a site first; not very exciting as they now breed locally on the bird reserve and at Brett`s and Scotney pits. The Green Sandpiper was still present and plenty of Common Terns continue to fish the lakes for fry.
Called in at ARC where an adult Curlew Sandpiper was the highlight along with four Dunlins, 100 Lapwings, a Blackwit and eight Little Ringed Plovers, including three recently hatched chicks. On Burrowes two Common Sandpipers were in front of the visitor centre and a Ruff had been seen earlier from Firth. Pulses of Sand Martins streamed through and two well grown Common Tern chicks were being fed on one of the islands. Several Marsh Harriers noted around the site.
Called in at ARC where an adult Curlew Sandpiper was the highlight along with four Dunlins, 100 Lapwings, a Blackwit and eight Little Ringed Plovers, including three recently hatched chicks. On Burrowes two Common Sandpipers were in front of the visitor centre and a Ruff had been seen earlier from Firth. Pulses of Sand Martins streamed through and two well grown Common Tern chicks were being fed on one of the islands. Several Marsh Harriers noted around the site.
Monday, 10 July 2017
Egrets and moths
Lade - muggy and overcast first thing, sunny by midday - 0600hrs - With perfect overnight weather conditions (humid, cloudy and still) it was no surprise that the garden MV was rammed with moths this morning. Plumed Fan-foot, a former vagrant and recent colonist to the south-east was a surprise catch and new for the site. Small Blood-vein, two Sussex Emeralds, Chinese Character, Poplar Hawk-moth and Rosy Footman all added to the variety.
Plumed Fan-foot - new to the Plovers trap site
Small Blood-vein - an occasional visitor
Rosy Footman
On the local patch the lakes were full of waterbirds, chiefly Coots, Mute Swans, grebes, Pochards and Tufteds, but also plenty of Common Terns and a few Sandwich Terns. Two Great White Egrets flew over the willow swamp while four Little Egrets and three Grey Herons fished along the edge of the main reedbed. A Green Sandpiper paused briefly on south lake island, while Marsh Harrier and Common Buzzard were soaring over the airport fields.
Called in at Hanson hide around midday where Teal numbers had increased since my last visit a week ago. Hundreds of Lapwings, ducks and Coots were loafing on the many wader friendly islands.
Had a brief scan over Boulderwall fields for the Cattle Egret that`s been around for a few days now, but without success.
On the local patch the lakes were full of waterbirds, chiefly Coots, Mute Swans, grebes, Pochards and Tufteds, but also plenty of Common Terns and a few Sandwich Terns. Two Great White Egrets flew over the willow swamp while four Little Egrets and three Grey Herons fished along the edge of the main reedbed. A Green Sandpiper paused briefly on south lake island, while Marsh Harrier and Common Buzzard were soaring over the airport fields.
Called in at Hanson hide around midday where Teal numbers had increased since my last visit a week ago. Hundreds of Lapwings, ducks and Coots were loafing on the many wader friendly islands.
Had a brief scan over Boulderwall fields for the Cattle Egret that`s been around for a few days now, but without success.
Sunday, 9 July 2017
New Forest Folk Festival
Plaitford, New Forest - hot, dry, sunny - Just back from five days at a sweltering folk festival on the northern outskirts of the Forest on the borders of Hampshire and Wiltshire where the afternoon temperature hit 30C every day. Just right for sitting around, drinking, singing, dancing, scanning for soaring raptors and watching some brilliant live acts, along with our great friends from Greatstone, Stan, Kaz, Dan and Bonny, who help to set up the festival grounds; actually there was a little bit of work involved as well in the shape of research for a forthcoming article in Countryman magazine on the festival, plus a couple of guided walks.
Plaitford Common
The countryside around the camp site was full of woodland birds with Nuthatch, Treecreeper, two woodpeckers, Goldcrest, Bullfinch, Siskin, Crossbill, Tawny Owl, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk all noted, plus Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail along the River Blackwater. On Plaitford Common the heathland habitat delivered the expected Dartford Warblers, Woodlark, Common Whitethroat and Stonechat, while a Golden-ringed Dragonfly was seen flying over boggy ground. Raptors were the highlights though with Common Buzzard and Red Kite regularly overhead, along with two good views of Honey Buzzards, one soaring over the site, the other early on Sunday morning coming down to hunt frogs and the like along the River Blackwater!
Weird festival goers!
Joe Broughton`s Conservatoire Folk Ensemble
Show of Hands
As for the music, old favourites Show of Hands headlined Saturday night and were as ever superb, as was the full-on, and new to me, Joe Broughton`s Conservatoire Folk Ensemble (all 47 of `em!) on Friday night. I particularly liked the Ric Sanders Trio (Ric of Fairport fame), the Broadside Boys from Suffolk and festival stalwarts Richard Digance and Matt Black, while Pentangle and the Acoustic Strawbs also went down well among many others.
The New Forest Folk Festival is now in its sixth year and with only around 1,500 people in attendance is small enough to be compact and friendly. We shall certainly be going again next year.
The countryside around the camp site was full of woodland birds with Nuthatch, Treecreeper, two woodpeckers, Goldcrest, Bullfinch, Siskin, Crossbill, Tawny Owl, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk all noted, plus Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail along the River Blackwater. On Plaitford Common the heathland habitat delivered the expected Dartford Warblers, Woodlark, Common Whitethroat and Stonechat, while a Golden-ringed Dragonfly was seen flying over boggy ground. Raptors were the highlights though with Common Buzzard and Red Kite regularly overhead, along with two good views of Honey Buzzards, one soaring over the site, the other early on Sunday morning coming down to hunt frogs and the like along the River Blackwater!
As for the music, old favourites Show of Hands headlined Saturday night and were as ever superb, as was the full-on, and new to me, Joe Broughton`s Conservatoire Folk Ensemble (all 47 of `em!) on Friday night. I particularly liked the Ric Sanders Trio (Ric of Fairport fame), the Broadside Boys from Suffolk and festival stalwarts Richard Digance and Matt Black, while Pentangle and the Acoustic Strawbs also went down well among many others.
The New Forest Folk Festival is now in its sixth year and with only around 1,500 people in attendance is small enough to be compact and friendly. We shall certainly be going again next year.
Monday, 3 July 2017
Returning waders
Dungeness - warm and windy - Called in at Hanson hide this morning where a decent selection of waders was on show. Returning birds included 50 Lapwings, two Dunlins, a Common Sandpiper and a smart blackish Ruff, plus breeding Redshank, an Oystercatcher with young and six Little Ringed Plovers. Also noted, two Marsh Harriers, a Yellow Wagtail, singing Sedge, Reed and Cetti`s Warblers.
Whilst at Lade pits a pair of Eurofighter Typhoons came across the Marsh very, very fast! Over the airfield they flew and out along the coast; according to Pat who was home at the time, rattling the cottage windows as they went!
On the way back from the allotment this evening we called in at the Screen hide where a Peregrine temporarily flushed the Lapwing flock and a Barn Owl was hunting the fields by Tower Pits. Six Blackwits dropped in, as did the black Ruff, while hundreds of Sand Martins skimmed the lake.
Whilst at Lade pits a pair of Eurofighter Typhoons came across the Marsh very, very fast! Over the airfield they flew and out along the coast; according to Pat who was home at the time, rattling the cottage windows as they went!
On the way back from the allotment this evening we called in at the Screen hide where a Peregrine temporarily flushed the Lapwing flock and a Barn Owl was hunting the fields by Tower Pits. Six Blackwits dropped in, as did the black Ruff, while hundreds of Sand Martins skimmed the lake.
Sunday, 2 July 2017
Summer doldrums
Lade - warm, dry, sunny, nw 2 - Birdwise we`ve hit one of the quietest times of the year with bird song starting to decline as the breeding season takes its toll and migration at a virtual standstill. However, having said that I did notice the first migrant Sand Martins and a juvenile Yellow Wagtail locally this weekend. Also, three Common Buzzards went down the coast yesterday and two today, all of which got the full treatment from the local Herring Gulls.
Whilst sorting out the camping gear in the garden this afternoon, for the forthcoming New Forest Folk Festival, we were royally entertained by a flock of Starlings feeding young and bathing in the pond.
Starlings in the garden
Burnished Brass and Toadflax Brocade
The moth trap has been busy with daily new species for the year including White Satin Moth, Toadflax Brocade and Burnished Brass, which I don't see very often, plus masses of Brown-tail moths. Marbled Whites have started to drift over in the garden from the NNR where good numbers of Small Skippers are now on the wing, plus a few Essex Skippers and another hatch of Small Coppers.
Whilst sorting out the camping gear in the garden this afternoon, for the forthcoming New Forest Folk Festival, we were royally entertained by a flock of Starlings feeding young and bathing in the pond.
The moth trap has been busy with daily new species for the year including White Satin Moth, Toadflax Brocade and Burnished Brass, which I don't see very often, plus masses of Brown-tail moths. Marbled Whites have started to drift over in the garden from the NNR where good numbers of Small Skippers are now on the wing, plus a few Essex Skippers and another hatch of Small Coppers.
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