Pomarine Skua

Dungeness - 0845 hrs - cold, dry and sunny, n 3 - Seawatching at this time of year is very much a last resort or done for a change of scene; there`s nothing likely to be new on the pits, but the sea, well you just never know, and this morning proved the point. From the fishing boats all was initially quiet until the Cormorants located a shoal of sprats. Within ten minutes there was over 200 of `em gobbling up fish, working in small teams corralling their prey; then the gulls came in for any by-catch, hundreds of the mostly larger species. After 15 minutes up to 20 Gannets joined the party, plunge diving from on high amongst the melee, closely followed by the star of the show, hammering in low over the waves out of Hythe Bay, a stunning immature Pomarine Skua. In it swept like a large, black falcon, steaming into a Kittiwake, which immediately disgorged its catch, and then away west down-Channel. After 30 minutes the fish were dispatched and the show was over with the Gannets moving back out to sea and the gulls drifting along the beach.
Burrowes -  Plenty of wildfowl between Makepeace and Scott hides with over 200 each of Teal and Shoveler, 100 Wigeon and Gadwall, 60 Pintail, eight Smew and two Goosanders the highlights. Elsewhere around the lake, three Great White Egrets, two Marsh Harriers and a Black-necked Grebe.
Distant views of the North Downs showed a sprinkling of snow on the hills.

                                Shovelers, Burrowes

                                Goosander, Burrowes

Bewick`s Swans

Walland Marsh - cold, dry and sunny, w 3 -A superb winters day with bright sunshine throughout and ideal for a jaunt out onto the Marsh. For once the Bewick`s Swan flock (86) and a single Whooper were close to the lane near Horse Bones Farm, grazing the winter wheat and showing well; one bird in particular came even closer as it drank from a puddle. By Hawthorn Corner a decent size flock of winter thrushes were finishing off the remaining berries and foraging in adjacent fields, along with a host of Blackbirds and Song Thrushes. A seed dump yielded 30 Corn, 20 Yellow and 10 Reed Buntings, until scattered by a Sparrowhawk. Cutting back across to Midley more thrushes scattered out of the hedgerows along with Chaffinches and two flocks of Tree Sparrows, while a fallow field was fulls of corvids and Woodpigeons. At Wheelsgate we had a walk along the railways line where Barney flushed a fox and then a hare!  Further along a few Skylarks and Mipits fed in a weedy patch, plus several Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers.

                                Bewick`s Swans, Walland Marsh

ARC - From the causeway road two Smew and a Pintail in a large mixed flock of ducks, while from Screen hide the usual Great White Egrets, Marsh Harriers and Bitterns (he says in a blasé manner).

Weather change

Lade - mild, cloudy, wet, w 5 - What a difference a day makes with the light airs and sunshine of yesterday giving way to yet another weather front bringing rain off the Atlantic; although staying mild, for the time being at least... On the local patch most of the wildfowl were sheltering from the wind behind islands or around the willow swamp, while the singing Robins, Dunnocks and a Song Thrush from the day before were now silent.
ARC - The usual wildfowl here including two Goosander and a Smew from the causeway road, plus Bittern, Kingfisher and Great White Egret from Screen hide. Wandered down to the pines where Barney found some tender bramble leaves to ease his stomach upset; he always seeks this particular leaf which must have the soothing herbal qualities he requires.

Scotney - The first winter Scaup was at the Sussex end and at least one Black-necked Grebe sheltered behind a bank, while the usual feral geese were on the grass.
Lydd - One sorry looking Cattle Egret was hunkered down behind a shed in the field opposite Wraxalls stone yard.

                                Cattle Egret, Lydd

Dungeness - An hour at the fishing boats this afternoon was largely uneventful with the usual Kittiwakes, Gannets and auks fishing offshore. Hundreds of large gulls roosted on the beach, but I could find nothing of note amongst them.
Dungeness RSPB - Thanks are due to the staff who organised yesterday evenings volunteers quiz at the visitors centre, where a good time was had by all.

Back to normal

Dengemarsh - mild, cloudy, w 2 - For a change of scene we walked the gully this morning which was virtually birdless apart from a flyover Raven and two Stonechats. From Springfield Bridge the usual wildfowl, grebes, Marsh Harriers and egrets, plus several Snipe flying over the reedbed. The flood and hayfields, whilst looking superb with plenty of shallow water, did not attract a single bird. 

                               Kingfisher, ARC

ARC - Following the mass influx of birders over the weekend `normal` service was resumed today with empty hides and plenty to see. From Hanson and Screen hides we had several flight views of Bitterns, plus perched Kingfisher, two Great White Egrets, a couple of Marsh Harriers and ten Goldeneye on the water. Cetti`s Warbler and Water Rail called from the Willow Trail (now out of bounds) and a tit flock held 15 Long-tailed and two Goldcrests. Down at the pines Green Woodpecker and Chiffchaff, plus a small flock of Tree Sparrows in the car park.

                                Goldeneyes, ARC

Winter thrushes

Lade - cold, dry, sunny, nw 4 - Its becoming a bit of a habit to avoid the bird reserve at the weekends as often the hides are crowded with visiting birders, and I`m lucky enough to be able to visit in the week. This `tradition` is very popular with Barney who loves nothing more than snuffling around the local patch chasing a few rabbits and cocking his leg up every piece of vegetation, so this morning we took in a full circuit and even slogged up the beach to the point and back around Kerton Road Pit. A decent step in gorgeous winter sunshine even if the north-westerly wind had a keen edge to it.
On the lakes duck numbers were down on last weekend, although many were taking shelter from the wind in and around the willow swamp and difficult to count. Four Goldeneyes were the highlight, although it does seems as though the RCP has done the off; obviously a wild bird then... Despite the chill, and looking for evidence of spring (ok, clutching at straws) a pair of Great Crested Grebes were engaged in a bit of courtship display, a Dabchick `trilled` from cover and a Herring Gull was testing out last years nest site on a solar panel.
  Mockmill was dead but several Marsh Harriers and a Kestrel were trying their luck on the fields behind the `mirrors`, so we cut down Seaview Road and hit the beach where eight species of waders were noted on the incoming tide, best of which was a flock of 65 Knot, 12 Grey Plover and eight Ringed Plovers. At the point a few distant Gannets and Kittiwakes fished amongst rafts of Great Crested Grebes and Cormorants, while a flock of 28 Brents headed east. Kerton Road Pit was largely barren apart from a few gulls and two Stonechats.

                                Herring Gull trying out nest site

Walland Marsh - We had a wander round the Marsh this afternoon, first off checking the wild swans at Horse Bones Farm where 86 Bewick`s and one Whooper Swan were present and closer to the lane than of late. At Wheelsgate up to 500 winter thrushes were of note, many of them pulling large earthworms from a flooded ley, plus a scattering of Song Thrushes and Blackbirds along the railway line. Further on the solar farm margins held ten Yellowhammers and several Chaffinches. Finished off at a harrier roost in the company of PB and BB where up to 12 Marsh Harriers were in the general area, plus two Buzzards, 50 Linnets, hundreds of Lapwings, Greylags and at least 28 White-fronts. 

                                Winter thrushes, Wheelsgate

Tim and Jenny from West Sussex finished their stay at Plovers having enjoyed two days birding around the Marsh during which time they connected with `specialities` such as Bittern, Smew, Marsh Harrier, Cattle and Great White Egrets, Bewick`s and Whooper Swans, Black-necked Grebe, Tree Sparrow and Corn Bunting.

Buntings and daffodils

Walland Marsh - cold, sunny, light airs - The perfect winters day for a mooch round the farmland tracts, where there was plenty on offer. First stop a seed dump near Brenzett which attracted a bunting fest, at least by today's standards: 20 each of Corn and Yellow, plus five Reed. Also, 10 Chaffinches and a pair of gorgeous Bullfinches. Further along the lane and over the railway line I was astonished to see a verge of nodding daffodils in full flower in the warm sunshine; what a wonderful sight and a gentle reminder that spring is not too far away.

                                A welcome splash of colour

Onwards to Midley and decent numbers of thrushes along the verges and on sheep folds, mainly Blackbirds and Song Thrushes, but also a fair few Mistle Thrushes, Fieldfares, plus two Jays.
Marsh Harriers, Common Buzzards, Kestrels and a Merlin were all duly logged on the walk out near the wind farm where a large flock of grey geese contained 30 White-fronts. Thousands of Lapwing, Goldies, corvids, Woodpigeons and Starlings comprised the bulk numbers along with more thrushes, 100 Linnets, 50 Chaffinches and lesser numbers of Mipits, Skylarks, 10 Corn Buntings, five Snipe and three Stonechats.
The usual Tree Sparrows were on the Midley feeders and drying barn dump, but the wild swans were in a slightly different position at Horse Bones Farm, being further west and bit more distant, although earlier in the day they were closer to the road. A Little Owl posed briefly near a Lydd chicken shed, plus more Lapwings, 100 Curlews and 10 Corn Buntings in a flooded turf field. Checked out the `Cattle Egret` paddock where there was no sign of either birds or beasts, but a Grey Lag flock further down Dengemarsh Road attracted two Tundra Bean Geese.

                                Curlews, Lydd

                                Little Owl, Lydd

Towers/ARC Pits -  After a spot of lunch, and picking up Barney, we headed back out for a wander up to pines and and over towards airport pits, which was fairly fruitless apart from a flock of Long-tailed Tits and a couple of flushed Snipe. Back at Screen hide things picked up though with regular flight views of several Bitterns during a 90 minute watch along with three Great White Egrets, five Marsh Harriers, Cetti`s Warbler and Chiffchaff.

                                Bittern, ARC

Friday Summary: Apparently, the two Cattle Egrets spent the day out on Dengemarsh, but did return to the Wraxalls paddock at dusk to roost. At Scotney the three Black-necked Grebes were at the farm entrance end and the 1st winter Scaup in Sussex. At Nickoll`s Quarry, Hythe the 1st winter Night Heron was still present; view from the green trailer on the public footpath in the north-west corner of site. 
On the RSPB reserve up ten Smew (including a drake) were on Burrowes lake with Scott hide being the best viewing position; unfortunately, that means driving down the one mile access road to the visitor centre (and back) which is in a very bad state of disrepair with deep pot-holes throughout. The Society have got plans to repair it, `when the weather improves`. So, if you are planning a visit this weekend, and are fit and able, the best bet is to park in the ARC car park and do the four mile circular walk. However, four wheel drive vehicles and tanks should easily take the track in their stride!
Good birding.

Winter sunshine and a small rant

Lade - cold, cloudy, light airs - A much better day with a glimpse of the sun and hardly any wind making for a much milder feel than of late. Having received reports of a `dead brown bird` from one of the locals by the swing bridge we had a wander round but couldn't find anything. Legions of wildfowl on the water included five Goldeneyes, two Shelduck and a Pintail, but no sign of the long-staying Red-crested Pochard. The Marsh Harriers were once again eying up the Coots.

                                Coot`s on the menu...

ARC - From the causeway road a host of ducks, including hundreds of Gadwall and Teal, several Goldeneye and Pintail, a Goosander and two Great White Egrets.
Scotney - Tons more ducks and feral geese here with the 1st winter Scaup at the Sussex end and three Black-necked Grebes near the farm entrance. We checked out Pigwell which had a couple of Stonechats and a Great White Egret, but couldn`t find the Cattle Egrets in their usual field at Dengemarsh Road, although I understand they`d returned by late afternoon.

                                Stonechat, Pigwell

First rant of the year
Arrrrgh! Last night I dipped in on the BBC`s Winterwatch with the usual illustrious trio playing up to camera. Packham was showing the daft one a splendid drake Goosander on a river up north somewhere. Great I thought this looks good; and then it got even better as a Harlequin Duck hove into view! Wow, brilliant, a 1st winter drake cavorting about in the torrent, no, THE 1st winter drake, so it must be in Scotlandshire, a proper five star mouth-watering rarity, plus a few shots of camera toting twitchers on the river bank behaving responsibly. Mmm, this looks good I thought..., reminds me of Iceland..., until that is Packham descended into some ludicrous leg-rubbing act, and looking at the bird through binoculars clad with studs. Not sure why they put this show on so late, being as it`s clearly aimed at kids it might as well go out at 4pm. Come on BBC, buck up and sort the presenters out, `cos some of the content is really good.