Feast of waders

Oare Marshes - warm and windy, sw 6 - 0830hrs - Had to go to north Kent today to recce a couple of sites for articles. But first off, together with CP, we indulged ourselves at what must be one of the finest wader viewing sites anywhere in the country. As it was high tide the East Flood was jam packed with birds, mainly Black-tailed Godwits (c700) in every conceivable plumage phases, plus around 300 Redshanks and 200 Avocets. There was also a good supporting cast of Dunlins, again in a wide variety of plumages and sizes, from short-billed arctic/schinzii to long-billed alpine types; several of the smaller ones were being mistaken for Little Stints and a larger one for Curlew Sandpiper. However, there was an adult Little Stint, but best of all, a dusky Spotted Redshank. Also present 50 Lapwings, 20 Golden Plovers, six Ruff, two Little Ringed Plovers, two Snipe, Turnstone and  Whimbrel.
  Away from the waders at least 20 Mediterranean Gulls were amongst the Black-headed and Common Gulls on islands, where we eventually located the `resident` adult Bonaparte`s Gull slumped asleep amongst the gulls. A steady passage of Sand Martins and Swifts moved overhead in the strong wind while also noted Goldfinch, Mipit, Skylark, Pied Wagtail, Dabchick, a Garganey, Shoveler, Teal, five Common terns, several Little Egrets, Kestrel, plus Bearded Tit and Cetti`s Warbler heard.

                                Some of the hundreds of Black-tailed Godwits

                                Avocets

                                Adult Bonaparte`s Gull, East Flood

Conyer Creek - In the afternoon we moved west along the coast for a circuit of the old brick works site by the creek. By now many of the waders had dispersed and were on the Swale mud with plenty of Redshanks and Blackwits around the margins of Fowley Island. On a calmer day no doubt more passerines would have been discovered in the scrub around the peninsula, but not today with a howling gale in progress.
   Our final port of call was the old lagoons north of Murston bordering the Swale and a new spot for both of us. Small numbers of Common Terns were still feeding juveniles, plus more Redshanks and Blackwits were noted on the far bank along with a total of 25 Greenshanks.
  In summary an enjoyable days birding, despite the wind, and we both agreed to visit Oare Marshes more often.

                                Conyer Creek

Terntastic!

Dungeness - mild, overcast, ssw 4 - 0800-1000hrs - A two hour seawatch from the boats with MH and CP was notable for a steady down-Channel passage of Gannet squadrons totalling around 200 birds, along with a steady trickle of Common Scoters, Sandwich and Common Terns. Also noted singles of Fulmar, Med Gull and Manx Shearwater.
  The spectacle of the watch was a shoal of mackerel and sprats close to shore being rounded up by porpoises and a grey seal. At times the surface was broiling with fish, some which leapt clear of the water to avoid the sea mammals, only to be consumed by gulls and terns from above. Several pulses of Sand Martins and Swifts struck out for Franceland as the wind picked up and before the rain set in around noon.
ARC - Plenty of Lapwings and wildfowl on the islands, plus several each of Common Sandpiper, Dunlin and Little Ringed Plover and hundreds of Sand Martins over the water. From Screen hide it was good to see two locally fledged Marsh Harriers in action over the reedbeds.
Lade - A check of the bay from the Tavern viewpoint on an ebbing tide revealed a cornucopia of terns, gulls and waders. The terns were mainly loafing on sand bars, dodging a few hardy holidaymakers, and bringing in sprats which were offered up to their mates. Common Terns were much in evidence at 310, comprising mostly adult birds, followed by 185 garrulous Sandwich Terns. The quality was provided in the form of 12 Arctic, four Little and two Black Terns.

                               Some of the many terns on the bay

  Waders were well strung out across the bay as the tide receded with minimum counts of: 330 Oystercatcher, 210 Curlew, 40 Sanderling, 30 Dunlin, six Barwit, five Turnstone and two Knot. At least six Mediterranean were amongst up to a thousand mainly Black-headed and Herring Gulls.
  A brief look at north lake before the rain set in revealed a moulting Black-necked Grebe.

Bits and pieces

Lade - warm, dry and sunny, sw 2 - A very pleasant day with warm sunshine throughout. The best of last nights low moth count in the garden MV included Jersey Tiger and Brown-line Bright Eye. A circuit of the local patch produced Green and Common Sandpiper around the margins, 12 Little Egrets in the willows and a juvenile Marsh Harrier bathing in the willow swamp shallows.
Dungeness - On the bird reserve this afternoon machinery was being off loaded for the Re-Tern Project. On Burrowes Common Terns were still feeding young on one of the islands, while Common and Wood Sandpiper, Dunlin, Blackwit and LRP were all present around the lake, plus Willow Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat in the bankside scrub. Elsewhere, a Spoonbill was on Dengemarsh and a Garganey on ARC.
Walland Marsh - I checked the bay late afternoon where at least 220 Sandwich Terns were on the beach, several of which sported yellow colour rings, plus two Arctic Terns and 15 Common Terns.
A run out on the Marsh this evening with CP in perfect weather conditions resulted in at least three Turtle Doves around Midley. Elsewhere, there were plenty of Reed Buntings in the ditches and field beans along with lesser numbers of Yellowhammers, Corn Buntings, Tree Sparrows and Yellow Wagtails. Several Buzzards were noted, plus Marsh Harrier, Kestrel and Little Owl. By far the most numerous migrant was Sand Martin with hundreds feeding over the crops along with scores of Swifts and a large flock of Starlings.

Big Sleepout

Dungeness RSPB - This weekend together with our six year old grandson I took part in a sleepout event at the bird reserve. The weather on Saturday afternoon as we pitched up was dreadful with heavy rain until early evening. However, undeterred Louise and her band of assistants had a roaring camp fire on the go throughout and the rain eventually relented to allow the pond dipping to go ahead. The mild, damp conditions were perfect for capturing newts, frogs, toads, medicinal leeches and a wide range of fresh water invertebrates. The airspace above Burrowes was thick with Swifts and Sand Martins, while a flock of 25 Blackwits and 12 Dunlins dropped in front of Firth hide. Two Great White Egrets were also noted and a Hobby over.
  We finished off back at camp with baked spuds, hot chocolate and marsh mellows, and a foray for glow worms. During the night despite the wind picking up Greenshank, Whimbrel and Green Sandpiper were heard passing overhead in the early hours. Heavy showers hit the site again just after daybreak followed by welcome sunshine around breakfast time. At Boulderwall the kids enjoyed a decent catch of moths, plus egrets, Kestrel, Marsh Harrier, Tree Sparrows and warblers noted along the way. A reported early morning Stone Curlew at Springfield Bridge was not relocated.
  Thanks again to the RSPB staff for making it a memorable event, despite the trying weather conditions.

                               Smooth Newt and Medicinal Leech

Pectoral Sandpiper

Scotney - 1000hrs - mild, shower, sw 5 - A windy morning with light rain quickly moving through, not ideal for Scotney, but seeing as I`ve not been here for ages we soldiered on. The front lakes were full of feral geese, swans, Cormorants and gulls and not much else apart from a couple of Common Sandpipers and a steady passage of Swifts. Since my last visit I noticed a series of lifebuoys around the lake sides suggesting a move to some kind of water sports. Outback Kestrel, Marsh Harrier, Corn Bunting, Yellow Wagtail and Skylark noted, but the lakes were largely deserted.
Dungeness - A circuit of Dengemarsh produced a Wood Sandpiper, Redshank, several Common Sandpipers and hundreds of Sand Martins and Swifts over the water. By the time I`d worked my way round to Burrowes a Pectoral Sandpiper had been found on a distant island. A dark, adult bird in summer plumage, it showed reasonably well from Dennis`s hide moving busily around the island alongside Common Sandpipers, Little Ringed Plovers and a Little Stint. A welcome return to form for this Nearctic wader following a blank year in 2016.

                                Adult Pectoral Sandpiper, Burrowes

Re-tern Project

Dungeness RSPB - Next week, commencing Monday 31st July, the long awaited Re-tern project gets underway on Burrowes pit. The plan is to use a mechanical digger to improve the existing islands by raising their height so that even with high winter water levels there will always be a safe refuge for birds to use. New islands will also be created, as depicted on the site plan below, while the sand bar in front of Firth hide will be enlarged.
  The ultimate long-term aim, as the project name suggests, is to encourage breeding terns to re-colonise Dungeness on the newly created islands, along with three new tern rafts that will be put in place next spring; the habitat enhancement will also benefit passage and breeding waders. The work is due to be completed by October.
  Many thanks to the warden, Craig Edwards, for the briefing and supplying the site plan. Further information on the Re-tern project is available in the Visitor Centre.

                                             Working site plan of Burrowes pit

0700hrs -  An early morning saunter along the beach at Dungeness yielded at least six Wheatears, plus several Mipits, Linnets and Skylark. A brief look at the sea from the fishing boats with LG revealed the expected fishing Gannets and terns, plus a distant Balearic Shearwater.

Little Stint

Lade - muggy, overcast, light airs - 0700hrs - A little more action in the garden MV this morning  following humid, overnight weather conditions. Another Jersey Tiger was the highlight, while Marbled Green was new for the year.
  On the local patch Little Egret numbers hit 15 and several Common Sandpipers flitted around the margins. The scrub by the ponds was alive with juvenile Blue and Great Tits, Reed and Sedge Warblers and Whitethroats.

                                  Jersey Tiger and Marbled Green

Dungeness - 1400hrs - An afternoon visit to the bird reserve was notable for a cracking adult Little Stint on Burrowes, in front of Firth hide, plus a supporting cast of 13 Dunlins, two Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers, Common Sandpiper, Ruff, a family of Egyptian Geese and a Yellow Wagtail amongst 10 alba wags. Elsewhere, a pair of Little Ringed Plovers still had two juvs, a Sparrowhawk briefly flushed the waders and a stunning adult male Marsh Harrier flapped over the access road.
  Over the road on ARC, as the wind picked up with drizzle in the air, hundreds of Swifts and Sand Martins swarmed over the lake. From Screen hide Snipe, Little Ringed Plover, Dunlin and several Wigeon were amongst a host of common wildfowl, grebes and Coots.

                                Adult Little Stint in front of Firth hide

                                Party of Dunlins

                                Common Sandpiper

                                Egyptian Goose family