Dungeness - mild, cloudy, nw 3 - 1430hrs - At the Patch this afternoon a good selection of gulls and terns with hundreds on the beach in front of the hide including, 120 Common, eight Sandwich and two Arctic Terns, six Mediterranean and one juv Yellow-legged Gull. Over the boil mainly Black-headed Gulls and Common Terns, plus a Black Tern in moult. Offshore a trickle of Gannets, while at the fishing boats at least 20 odd Manx Shearwaters were noted (PB) earlier.
Along the power station wall two Black Redstarts, five Pied Wagtails and 10 Linnets.
Thursday, 10 July 2014
Wednesday, 9 July 2014
Returning migrants
Lade - 0700hrs - cool, cloudy, nw 5 - Very breezy over night which suppressed numbers in the garden moth trap, although Kent Black Arches and Round-winged Muslin were both new for the season.
Round-winged Muslin, Lade
On the desert 50 Sand Martins hawked emerging insects low over the storm beaches while two Greenshanks were inadvertently flushed from the edge of south lake and headed off south towards the bird reserve calling. The Oystercatcher pair that have nested on the scaffold island showed off their two well grown juvs for the first time and Starlings were everywhere plundering what looked like a mass hatch of Craneflies.
Oystercatcher family, Lade
Starling, Lade
On the desert 50 Sand Martins hawked emerging insects low over the storm beaches while two Greenshanks were inadvertently flushed from the edge of south lake and headed off south towards the bird reserve calling. The Oystercatcher pair that have nested on the scaffold island showed off their two well grown juvs for the first time and Starlings were everywhere plundering what looked like a mass hatch of Craneflies.
Oystercatcher family, Lade
Tuesday, 8 July 2014
Dungeness NNR moths
Lade - 0700hrs - mild, dry, cloudy, sw 2 - With a couple of keen moth-ers (David and Veronica) down for a three day stay from Nottinghamshire we kicked off with the garden trap which held 31 species, many of which were new for our guests - Toadflax Brocade, Lackey, Pygmy Footman and, new for the trap a Blackneck, which unfortunately escaped before I could pot it up for a pic.
Kerton Road Café - We then moved a mile south to Mrs Moth`s traps where the likes of Sussex Emeralds and lots of interesting micros were on the menu. A wander around the back garden hay field was, as always, a joy to behold with plenty of grassland butterflies on the wing and a number of challenging moth caterpillars to mull over, while an adult Sussex Emerald had just emerged and was drying out on a stem of Wild Carrot. I was also particularly impressed by a healthy crop of onions drying on the patio...
Hebrew Character caterpillar, probably, KRC
Toadflax Brocade caterpillar, definitely, KRC
Greatstone - After a brief chat with SB regarding pheromones and clearwings we headed to Barry Banson`s trapping site at Greatstone where another batch of goodies awaited us, including some stunning Buff Arches, hawk-moths and tigers, plus Sand Dart, Rosy Wave, Blue-bordered Carpet, Southern Wainscot and much, much more.
Thanks are due to Dorothy and Barry as it was much appreciated by David and Veronica.
Rosy Wave, Greatstone
Sand Dart, Greatstone
Blue-bordered Carpet, Greatstone
ARC - 2000hrs - On the way back from the allotment in Lydd we walked down to Screen hide for a scan where the Swallows have now fledged the nest. Several parties of Sand Martins hurried south and the lake was covered in common wildfowl. We had good views of male Marsh Harrier hunting over the reedbed to end the day.
Kerton Road Café - We then moved a mile south to Mrs Moth`s traps where the likes of Sussex Emeralds and lots of interesting micros were on the menu. A wander around the back garden hay field was, as always, a joy to behold with plenty of grassland butterflies on the wing and a number of challenging moth caterpillars to mull over, while an adult Sussex Emerald had just emerged and was drying out on a stem of Wild Carrot. I was also particularly impressed by a healthy crop of onions drying on the patio...
Greatstone - After a brief chat with SB regarding pheromones and clearwings we headed to Barry Banson`s trapping site at Greatstone where another batch of goodies awaited us, including some stunning Buff Arches, hawk-moths and tigers, plus Sand Dart, Rosy Wave, Blue-bordered Carpet, Southern Wainscot and much, much more.
Thanks are due to Dorothy and Barry as it was much appreciated by David and Veronica.
ARC - 2000hrs - On the way back from the allotment in Lydd we walked down to Screen hide for a scan where the Swallows have now fledged the nest. Several parties of Sand Martins hurried south and the lake was covered in common wildfowl. We had good views of male Marsh Harrier hunting over the reedbed to end the day.
Monday, 7 July 2014
First autumn seawatch
Dungeness - 1400-1600hrs - warm, dry, sunny, sw 3 - Accompanied MH to the fishing boats for a first seawatch of the return passage, where we were joined by PB. A trickle of passing Gannets, Sandwich and Common Terns was the order of a slow afternoon, but did include a 1st summer Common Tern (aka Portlandica) a plumage that is rarely seen here. Also, two each of Curlew, Med Gull, Common Scoter and a Fulmar, plus a Harbour Porpoise and Grey Seal just offshore.
The light was dreadful, the seabirds slow and the conversation soon turned to other matters; for some reason or other, I can`t remember why, but we got onto the subject of the human race (such is the way on seawatches...) and our propensity for environmental Armageddon. PB rose to the occasion with some pretty radical ideas on how to put things straight (which I agreed on) but that subject resolution is probably best left for another day...
Lade - 1800hrs - A pleasant evening walk along south lake with Mrs PT and Barney was notable for a count of 145 Curlews tucked up and roosting on the storm beaches, while two Buzzards drifted north over the `mirrors`. The lake was covered in wildfowl, grebes and gulls feeding amongst increasing amounts of surface weed.
The light was dreadful, the seabirds slow and the conversation soon turned to other matters; for some reason or other, I can`t remember why, but we got onto the subject of the human race (such is the way on seawatches...) and our propensity for environmental Armageddon. PB rose to the occasion with some pretty radical ideas on how to put things straight (which I agreed on) but that subject resolution is probably best left for another day...
Lade - 1800hrs - A pleasant evening walk along south lake with Mrs PT and Barney was notable for a count of 145 Curlews tucked up and roosting on the storm beaches, while two Buzzards drifted north over the `mirrors`. The lake was covered in wildfowl, grebes and gulls feeding amongst increasing amounts of surface weed.
Sunday, 6 July 2014
P. A. D. Hollom
P. A. D. Hollom (1912 - 2014) - As a snotty nosed, bird mad village kid growing up in the 60`s I can remember taking the bus into town with mum once a week (along with bro and sis) so`s she could renew her library books - historical romances, as I recall. Anyhow, while mum was going through the Mill`s & Boon I used to head for the natural history shelves and remember coming across this book, A Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe, by a load of very important sounding blokes, one of whom was grandly named P. A. D. Hollom. Even back then I realised this tome was in a different class to my only other bird book - The Observer`s Book of Birds.
Now, my dear old mum was nothing if not astute and after greasing Santa`s palm with 30 bob (for you youngsters out there that`s £1.50 in new money) the revised and enlarged 10th impression of what became universally known simply as, `Peterson`, was mine on Christmas Day 1966 - I was one happy 11 year old I can tell you, and that book remains with me today, and is still in use, if a little dog-eared, as testified by the pic below!
Quite probably the best bird book ever published
It was, of course, a seminal, ground breaking field guide, the like of which had not been seen before with plates by the celebrated American bird artist Roger Tory Peterson, descriptive text by Guy Mountfort, plus maps and distribution notes by P. A. D. Hollom. The latter author was also responsible for another of my childhood reference books, The Popular Handbook of British Birds, which had a superb text that still stands up well today.
Without wishing to name drop (ok then, just this once...) I met P. A. D. H. on the East Bank at Cley where he was nattering to R. A. Richardson on the finer points of godwit identification, which Richard was sketching at the time (name dropping now over).
Anyhow, I`m sure many kind and appreciative words will be penned over the coming weeks on the passing of P. A. D. Hollom at the grand old age of 102, but for many birdwatchers (there were no `birders` back then) of my generation he will be forever remembered as one of a trio of great bird men that gave us our first `proper` field guide. Thanks for the memory Phil.
Adult Mediterranean Gull, Lade
Aberrant Common Gull, Lade
Black-headed & Mediterranean Gulls, Lade
Lade - 1500hrs - This morning was a washout with the rain eventually relenting from the west by early afternoon, thus allowing a couple of hours birding over the local gravel pits where three Med Gulls were noted amongst hundreds of Black-headed Gulls. On the water an aberrant Common Gull with a white wing bar was of note, while a Little Ringed Plover fussed over a brood of well-grown chicks along the waters edge, along with broods of Oystercatcher and Shelduck.
Now, my dear old mum was nothing if not astute and after greasing Santa`s palm with 30 bob (for you youngsters out there that`s £1.50 in new money) the revised and enlarged 10th impression of what became universally known simply as, `Peterson`, was mine on Christmas Day 1966 - I was one happy 11 year old I can tell you, and that book remains with me today, and is still in use, if a little dog-eared, as testified by the pic below!
It was, of course, a seminal, ground breaking field guide, the like of which had not been seen before with plates by the celebrated American bird artist Roger Tory Peterson, descriptive text by Guy Mountfort, plus maps and distribution notes by P. A. D. Hollom. The latter author was also responsible for another of my childhood reference books, The Popular Handbook of British Birds, which had a superb text that still stands up well today.
Without wishing to name drop (ok then, just this once...) I met P. A. D. H. on the East Bank at Cley where he was nattering to R. A. Richardson on the finer points of godwit identification, which Richard was sketching at the time (name dropping now over).
Anyhow, I`m sure many kind and appreciative words will be penned over the coming weeks on the passing of P. A. D. Hollom at the grand old age of 102, but for many birdwatchers (there were no `birders` back then) of my generation he will be forever remembered as one of a trio of great bird men that gave us our first `proper` field guide. Thanks for the memory Phil.
Lade - 1500hrs - This morning was a washout with the rain eventually relenting from the west by early afternoon, thus allowing a couple of hours birding over the local gravel pits where three Med Gulls were noted amongst hundreds of Black-headed Gulls. On the water an aberrant Common Gull with a white wing bar was of note, while a Little Ringed Plover fussed over a brood of well-grown chicks along the waters edge, along with broods of Oystercatcher and Shelduck.
Saturday, 5 July 2014
Ringed Plovers
Lade - 0700hrs - wet and windy, sw 4 - For once the weather forecasters got it right and we received a decent dollop of much needed rain for about three hours either side of dawn, but as is usual down here on the shingle, by midday there was hardly any evidence it had even rained. Didn`t seem to bother the moths though with 25 species in the trap this morning including Galium Carpet and the first Yellow Shell of the season.
Littestone - 1100hrs - dry and sunny - Once the guests had departed Mrs PT decided on the morning walk (being`s as my banger is still in dock), so it was down to the golf links in the Go-Kart. The orchid field to the south of the links was past its best but there was still hundreds of Pyramidal Orchids in various stages of decay. Was good to hear, and see, a number of Skylarks still in song and some with fledged young, also singing Mipit too.
Pyramidal Orchid, Littlestone
Walking back along the foreshore we came across two pairs of Ringed Plovers with chicks, barely a few days old, whereupon we were subjected to the old broken wing distraction display. The chicks resembled bumble bees on stilts and when they crouched amongst the shingle completely disappeared from view. Considering the number of visitors this section of the coast gets its nothing short of a miracle that they`ve been successful, and hopefully the young `uns will make it to flying stage. We moved on quickly to prevent disturbance and when I scanned back at least three little `uns ran back to mum to be brooded.
Ringed Plover chick
Adult Ringed Plover, Littlestone
Plover chick, top left
Dungeness - 1600hrs - A half-hearted seawatch from the hide delivered a trickle of Gannets, but no sign of an albatross...
Littestone - 1100hrs - dry and sunny - Once the guests had departed Mrs PT decided on the morning walk (being`s as my banger is still in dock), so it was down to the golf links in the Go-Kart. The orchid field to the south of the links was past its best but there was still hundreds of Pyramidal Orchids in various stages of decay. Was good to hear, and see, a number of Skylarks still in song and some with fledged young, also singing Mipit too.
Walking back along the foreshore we came across two pairs of Ringed Plovers with chicks, barely a few days old, whereupon we were subjected to the old broken wing distraction display. The chicks resembled bumble bees on stilts and when they crouched amongst the shingle completely disappeared from view. Considering the number of visitors this section of the coast gets its nothing short of a miracle that they`ve been successful, and hopefully the young `uns will make it to flying stage. We moved on quickly to prevent disturbance and when I scanned back at least three little `uns ran back to mum to be brooded.
Dungeness - 1600hrs - A half-hearted seawatch from the hide delivered a trickle of Gannets, but no sign of an albatross...
Friday, 4 July 2014
Barn Owls, Beardies & much more besides
Lydd - Yesterday evening was one those memorable occasions that happen from time to time when stuff just clicks for no apparent reason. After the Archers me and Barney nipped down the allotment in Mrs PT`s Go-Kart (aka a Mini, what an uncomfortable ride, Cooper). It was a stunning evening with little wind and after giving the plot a serious soaking, and gossiping with fellow gardeners, all was right with the world. Before heading home I was distracted by the local House Martins feeding young in mud nests under eaves on the adjacent housing estate, such gorgeous little birds and what a privilege it must be to have them nesting on your house.
Anyhow, I digress, at Cockles Bridge I pulled over to check for Little Owl, but once again got side- tracked, this time by a pair of Oystercatchers that were fussing over their three well-grown young. They were doing a pretty good job of seeing off a Carrion Crow but one of the chicks had gotten detached from the group and was plucked from the ground shrieking like a banshee. A sharp blow from one of the adults and the chick was soon back in the grass, but that old crow was not going to desist, so I decided on some direct action, being`s I`ve got a soft spot for Oycs and all, and started hurling stones and shouting at the crow. With me old bowling arm clicking away every time a stone was launched the crow was soon on the move away over towards Dengemarsh - job done! As for the Oycs, the male sat atop the tin shed piping away while the female fussed over her brood, just hoped they made it through the night.
However, further down the Dungeness Road yet again I was distracted, this time by a Barn Owl quartering Kenny`s field. We parked up in ARC and wandered over the road at Boulderwall and up to the five bar gate for a scan, where two Barn Owls were now hunting like giant moths near Gun Club lagoon. A flock of Sand Martins fizzed over heading south (my first of the `autumn`) and a couple of hundred Lapwing drifted past. In fading light a party of Bearded Tits moved through an adjacent reed bed. I casually `pished` away for a while whereupon an adult male emerged from the stems and sat out on the edge staring me out, affording brilliant views of what must be one of our most stunning passerines.
Eventually we arrived home just in time to switch the moth trap on, as I pondered what tomorrow would bring...
Bearded Tit, Boulderwall - one of my favourite marsh birds
Lade - 0500hrs - warm, dry and sunny, sw 2, hot by mid-morning - With no punters in last night, but busy over the coming fortnight, we were up and about early. The garden mv was loaded with moths, mostly common stuff for down here, including another Sussex Emerald, and whilst emptying the trap a Yellow Wagtail called overhead, the first of the autumn migration.
"Bring on tomorrows wind and rain!"
Monkeyflower, Lade
We walked the local patch until 0900hrs, after which it was too much for Barney, so we retreated to Plovers for breakfast in the shade; although if the weather forecast is anything to go by this could be the last day hot day for a bit. Young birds were everywhere this morning, particularly around the willow swamp where the sheltered lake has now been covered by weed attracting scores of grebelings, ducklings and cootlets, damsel and dragonflies and croaking Marsh Frogs. Walking the track beside the ponds (c200yds) I counted 180 Marbled Whites! There is still a decent display of plants along the main track for any botanists venturing down this weekend and a nice patch of Monkeyflower was in bloom just below the aerial mound.
That`s me done for the day, until an afternoon swim at high tide, followed by France v Germany.
Anyhow, I digress, at Cockles Bridge I pulled over to check for Little Owl, but once again got side- tracked, this time by a pair of Oystercatchers that were fussing over their three well-grown young. They were doing a pretty good job of seeing off a Carrion Crow but one of the chicks had gotten detached from the group and was plucked from the ground shrieking like a banshee. A sharp blow from one of the adults and the chick was soon back in the grass, but that old crow was not going to desist, so I decided on some direct action, being`s I`ve got a soft spot for Oycs and all, and started hurling stones and shouting at the crow. With me old bowling arm clicking away every time a stone was launched the crow was soon on the move away over towards Dengemarsh - job done! As for the Oycs, the male sat atop the tin shed piping away while the female fussed over her brood, just hoped they made it through the night.
However, further down the Dungeness Road yet again I was distracted, this time by a Barn Owl quartering Kenny`s field. We parked up in ARC and wandered over the road at Boulderwall and up to the five bar gate for a scan, where two Barn Owls were now hunting like giant moths near Gun Club lagoon. A flock of Sand Martins fizzed over heading south (my first of the `autumn`) and a couple of hundred Lapwing drifted past. In fading light a party of Bearded Tits moved through an adjacent reed bed. I casually `pished` away for a while whereupon an adult male emerged from the stems and sat out on the edge staring me out, affording brilliant views of what must be one of our most stunning passerines.
Eventually we arrived home just in time to switch the moth trap on, as I pondered what tomorrow would bring...
Lade - 0500hrs - warm, dry and sunny, sw 2, hot by mid-morning - With no punters in last night, but busy over the coming fortnight, we were up and about early. The garden mv was loaded with moths, mostly common stuff for down here, including another Sussex Emerald, and whilst emptying the trap a Yellow Wagtail called overhead, the first of the autumn migration.
We walked the local patch until 0900hrs, after which it was too much for Barney, so we retreated to Plovers for breakfast in the shade; although if the weather forecast is anything to go by this could be the last day hot day for a bit. Young birds were everywhere this morning, particularly around the willow swamp where the sheltered lake has now been covered by weed attracting scores of grebelings, ducklings and cootlets, damsel and dragonflies and croaking Marsh Frogs. Walking the track beside the ponds (c200yds) I counted 180 Marbled Whites! There is still a decent display of plants along the main track for any botanists venturing down this weekend and a nice patch of Monkeyflower was in bloom just below the aerial mound.
That`s me done for the day, until an afternoon swim at high tide, followed by France v Germany.
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