Lade - 0700hrs - cool, sunny, w 2 - Another chilly night with few moths in the garden trap, but did include Iron Prominent new for the year. A couple of Willow Warblers called from the fir trees whilst emptying the mv and, at long last, Siskin, went onto the year list as a flock of five passed overhead, also calling.
It was tough going outback showing our guest Steve the local patch, or at least a part of it, as there was so many fisherman around south lake it wasn't worth the grief. Instead we walked Mockmill, which was eerily quiet with only a Whinchat, Whitethroat and Cetti`s Warbler of note. A steady overhead passage of hirundines and Yellow Wagtails was underway, plus a flock of 50 grounded on the Desert, along with a few Linnets, Mipits and several Kestrels.
An evening foray over the beach on a falling tide resulted in the usual three figure tallies of Curlews, Oystercatchers, Dunlins and Sanderlings, plus double figures of Ringed Plover, Knot, Barwit and Turnstones.
Saturday, 5 September 2015
Friday, 4 September 2015
Honey Buzzard
Lade - cool, cloudy, nw 2 - A quiet start to the day with little of note on the local patch apart from a few grounded Yellow Wagtails and Wheatears on the Desert and 50 hirundines over south lake. Three Marsh Harriers, 2 Kestrels and 2 Sparrowhawks noted between Mockmill and Lade north.
The garden moth trap was low in numbers but did include 2 migrant Vestals.
ARC - I couldn't see the White-winged Tern from the causeway road, but one was reported at The Patch later, so maybe it had shifted position. A Great White Egret flew over heading towards Boulderwall Fields, while a Black-necked Grebe was on New Diggings. The juvenile Red-backed Shrike remained in the scrub at the access road end of the return trail, along with several Whinchats and Wheatears nearby.
Dengemarsh - Two more Great Whites and a Cattle Egret here, plus 4 Hobbys hawking insects, 3 Marsh Harriers, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Ravens over and 20 Yellow Wagtails on the hayfields. From Springfield Bridge, whilst scanning the skies checking the hirundines, I picked up a large raptor over the water tower that morphed into a Honey Buzzard as it passed westwards overhead.
Scotney - A scattering of waders on the front fields included 10 Curlews, 6 Dunlins, 4 Ruff, 4 Blackwits and 2 Common Sandpipers, plus all the usual feral geese, Starlings, 50 Yellow Wagtails and 20 Linnets.
Boulderwall - Ended the day at the RSPB summer barbecue, many thanks to one and all for a most convivial evening.
The garden moth trap was low in numbers but did include 2 migrant Vestals.
ARC - I couldn't see the White-winged Tern from the causeway road, but one was reported at The Patch later, so maybe it had shifted position. A Great White Egret flew over heading towards Boulderwall Fields, while a Black-necked Grebe was on New Diggings. The juvenile Red-backed Shrike remained in the scrub at the access road end of the return trail, along with several Whinchats and Wheatears nearby.
Dengemarsh - Two more Great Whites and a Cattle Egret here, plus 4 Hobbys hawking insects, 3 Marsh Harriers, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Ravens over and 20 Yellow Wagtails on the hayfields. From Springfield Bridge, whilst scanning the skies checking the hirundines, I picked up a large raptor over the water tower that morphed into a Honey Buzzard as it passed westwards overhead.
Scotney - A scattering of waders on the front fields included 10 Curlews, 6 Dunlins, 4 Ruff, 4 Blackwits and 2 Common Sandpipers, plus all the usual feral geese, Starlings, 50 Yellow Wagtails and 20 Linnets.
Boulderwall - Ended the day at the RSPB summer barbecue, many thanks to one and all for a most convivial evening.
Thursday, 3 September 2015
Buzzards and Barn Owls
Lade - 0700hrs - cool, cloudy, nw 2 - Another chilly night depleted the Plovers moth catch although Canary-shouldered Thorn was new for the year. Still plenty of common migrants out back, including several hundred hirundines, 50 Yellow Wagtails and a scattering of Mipits, Wheatears, Whinchats, Common Whitethroats, Willow and Reed Warblers, plus one or two Sedge Warblers and Chiffchaffs around the ponds and Tree Pipit and Grey Wagtail over. On south lake great clumps of Canadian water weed on the surface proved irresistible to Gadwalls, Coots and Dabchicks.
Raptors were the most noteworthy group though with up to 10 each of Common Buzzard and Sparrowhawk and 5 Marsh Harriers noted throughout the morning here, over New Romney and around the bird reserve. No surprise really, as early September with a north-westerly airflow and the sun breaking through is a bit of a classic for raptor movement.
Canary-shouldered Thorn, Plovers
Coots and Gadwalls, south lake, Lade
Yellow Wagtail, a smart male, Lade Desert
RSPB - The juvenile Red-backed Shrike was still present by the return trail along with several Common Whitethroats and Whinchats, while over the road a juvenile White-winged Tern remained on ARC. The islands are fast disappearing, although 5 Ruffs lurked amongst the Golden Plovers and Lapwings. A Cattle Egret and 3 Great Whites were reported from Dengemarsh.
Walland Marsh - Accompanied CP put onto the flatlands this evening in calm weather with threatening storm clouds moving in from the north, but fortunately the rain didn't bother us. Raptors were the order of the day with 10 Marsh Harriers, 6 Buzzards and 2 Kestrels, plus an incredible 6 Barn Owls on the wing, presumably a few juveniles amongst them. Hirundines (mostly Sand Martins) numbered in the thousands, swarming over the fields feeding on gnats. Also noted 20 Yellow Wagtails, a Whinchat and 3 Med Gulls in a large flock of Common and Black-headed Gulls.
We finished the evening with a cracking sunset.
Walland Marsh
Raptors were the most noteworthy group though with up to 10 each of Common Buzzard and Sparrowhawk and 5 Marsh Harriers noted throughout the morning here, over New Romney and around the bird reserve. No surprise really, as early September with a north-westerly airflow and the sun breaking through is a bit of a classic for raptor movement.
RSPB - The juvenile Red-backed Shrike was still present by the return trail along with several Common Whitethroats and Whinchats, while over the road a juvenile White-winged Tern remained on ARC. The islands are fast disappearing, although 5 Ruffs lurked amongst the Golden Plovers and Lapwings. A Cattle Egret and 3 Great Whites were reported from Dengemarsh.
Walland Marsh - Accompanied CP put onto the flatlands this evening in calm weather with threatening storm clouds moving in from the north, but fortunately the rain didn't bother us. Raptors were the order of the day with 10 Marsh Harriers, 6 Buzzards and 2 Kestrels, plus an incredible 6 Barn Owls on the wing, presumably a few juveniles amongst them. Hirundines (mostly Sand Martins) numbered in the thousands, swarming over the fields feeding on gnats. Also noted 20 Yellow Wagtails, a Whinchat and 3 Med Gulls in a large flock of Common and Black-headed Gulls.
We finished the evening with a cracking sunset.
Wednesday, 2 September 2015
Red-backed Shrike and much, much more
Lade - 0700hrs - cool, sunny, nw 2 - A distinctly autumnal feel to proceedings first thing, but at least the sun was shining. The chill morning meant that wherever you looked birds were soaking up the rays after a cold night. There wasn't as many migrants about as yesterday, but still a sprinkling of Common Whitethroats, Willow Warblers, Yellow Wagtails and Whinchats flitted amongst the Desert scrub, while there was a noticeable increase in Robins.
Starlings and Willow Warbler warming up, Lade
For the first time in a fortnight there were no fisherman on the pits and as a result the place was litter-free, only because myself and other locals have been clearing it up. I`ve no axe to grind with anglers, as in my younger days I used to fish, but the breed of carp fisherman we get here are mostly a stroppy lot; I`ve lost count of the volleys of abuse I`ve received after politely informing them that fishing is not permitted here, as per RSPB policy, who, by the by, since June of this year are the new owners. Last weekend the swing bridge to the `mirror` island was opened, affording unrestricted access to all comers, including vandals intent on defacing the concrete structures. It`s only a matter of time before there`s some sort of `incident` down here, and all the while the wildlife is suffering from the likes of encroachment into the reedbed, camp sites, discarded fishing tackle, human waste and electric boats and canoes on the water. What wonderful creatures some of our fellow human beings are...
RSPB - 0930hrs - A brief stop on the causeway road revealed at least one juv White-winged Tern on ARC amongst several Black Terns, although the second bird was reported during the morning, as were Spotted and Pied Flycatchers from the Willow Trail.
The bushes along the track beside Burrowes and around the car park were alive with common warblers and tits, although I could find no sign of yesterdays Icky. The small pond near Makepeace proved a real lure to a number of Reed, Sedge, Cetti`s and Willow Warblers, Common and Lesser Whitethroats, a Blackcap and Reed Bunting soaking up the sun and snapping up insects. Best of all though was watching the warblers` reaction to a large Grass Snake basking on a wooden stump; one particular Common Whitethroat would not leave it alone and at times approached within inches of the snake. Fortunately for the warbler the snake was still sluggish as it may well have ended up as breakfast!
Common Sandpiper, Burrowes
Grass Snake and Common Whitethroat, RSPB
A guided walk for a visiting family revealed a wide range of wildlife with the children particularly enjoying close views of Grass Snake, Marsh Frog and Common Lizard, Vestal, Painted Lady and a Dark bush-cricket. The mini-beast area delivered a Whinchat, 4 Wheatears and a Red-backed Shrike by the access road. On Burrowes at least 10 Common Sandpipers were present.
Marsh Frog, Dipping Pond
Red-backed Shrike, record shot, return trail
Dungeness - An evening visit to search for the Wryneck seen earlier at the southern end of the Trapping Area failed to deliver the woodpecker, but 2 Whinchats, several Common Whitethroats and 2 Sparrowhawks were noted.
For the first time in a fortnight there were no fisherman on the pits and as a result the place was litter-free, only because myself and other locals have been clearing it up. I`ve no axe to grind with anglers, as in my younger days I used to fish, but the breed of carp fisherman we get here are mostly a stroppy lot; I`ve lost count of the volleys of abuse I`ve received after politely informing them that fishing is not permitted here, as per RSPB policy, who, by the by, since June of this year are the new owners. Last weekend the swing bridge to the `mirror` island was opened, affording unrestricted access to all comers, including vandals intent on defacing the concrete structures. It`s only a matter of time before there`s some sort of `incident` down here, and all the while the wildlife is suffering from the likes of encroachment into the reedbed, camp sites, discarded fishing tackle, human waste and electric boats and canoes on the water. What wonderful creatures some of our fellow human beings are...
RSPB - 0930hrs - A brief stop on the causeway road revealed at least one juv White-winged Tern on ARC amongst several Black Terns, although the second bird was reported during the morning, as were Spotted and Pied Flycatchers from the Willow Trail.
The bushes along the track beside Burrowes and around the car park were alive with common warblers and tits, although I could find no sign of yesterdays Icky. The small pond near Makepeace proved a real lure to a number of Reed, Sedge, Cetti`s and Willow Warblers, Common and Lesser Whitethroats, a Blackcap and Reed Bunting soaking up the sun and snapping up insects. Best of all though was watching the warblers` reaction to a large Grass Snake basking on a wooden stump; one particular Common Whitethroat would not leave it alone and at times approached within inches of the snake. Fortunately for the warbler the snake was still sluggish as it may well have ended up as breakfast!
A guided walk for a visiting family revealed a wide range of wildlife with the children particularly enjoying close views of Grass Snake, Marsh Frog and Common Lizard, Vestal, Painted Lady and a Dark bush-cricket. The mini-beast area delivered a Whinchat, 4 Wheatears and a Red-backed Shrike by the access road. On Burrowes at least 10 Common Sandpipers were present.
Dungeness - An evening visit to search for the Wryneck seen earlier at the southern end of the Trapping Area failed to deliver the woodpecker, but 2 Whinchats, several Common Whitethroats and 2 Sparrowhawks were noted.
Tuesday, 1 September 2015
Lade migrants and Vestals
Lade - 0700hrs - cool, cloudy, n 2 - Superb birding on the local patch this morning with migrants all over the place from the off including several Willow Warblers and Blackcaps in the garden. At least 10 Whinchats and 20 Wheatears were scattered across the Desert along with parties of grounded Yellow Wagtails, Mipits and Linnets as more passed overhead. Scores of hirundines swooped over the broom scrub picking off tiny micro moths (and a few Vestals no doubt) alongside Common Whitethroats, Blackcaps and a Garden Warbler, as more hirundines and a Swift skimmed the water and gorse beside south lake. However, the best was yet to come with 3 Spotted and 2 Pied Flycatchers in the willows beside the ponds which were alive with Willow Warblers, Blackcaps, Common Whitethroats and several Lesser Whitethroats. Also in the mix around the willow swamp a tit flock, Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, several Robins, Cetti`s and Reed Warblers, plus 2 Sparrowhawks and a Hobby over.
A terrific session, which just needed that little bit of quality in the form of a shrike or Wryneck to make it extra special.
Although moth numbers were low in the Plovers trap last night, with just 15 species, there was 5 Vestals and at least 10 more on the shingle ridges.
Vestal, Plovers
RSPB - The 2 juv White-winged Terns remained amongst the Black Terns on ARC, while the Icterine Warbler proved elusive around the car park/dipping pond scrub, although it had been glimpsed earlier. A couple of Black-necked Grebes were on Burrowes.
Holly Blue, Dungeness
Dungeness - Following a mid-afternoon deluge we were on our way out to recheck Lade when news came through of a rare Long-tailed Blue found by SG at the point. As I missed last years one we went in search and joined a small group of butterfly hunters scouring the gorse around the old light. As the sun broke through a number of common species came out to play but not our target insect. Nevertheless, there was plenty to see including another dozen or so migrant Vestals (there must`ve been hundreds/thousands across the NNR today), a Holly Blue egg laying and a scattering of Willow Warblers and Black Redstarts. On the down side we just missed an Osprey that passed over the peninsula and headed out to sea.
A terrific session, which just needed that little bit of quality in the form of a shrike or Wryneck to make it extra special.
Although moth numbers were low in the Plovers trap last night, with just 15 species, there was 5 Vestals and at least 10 more on the shingle ridges.
RSPB - The 2 juv White-winged Terns remained amongst the Black Terns on ARC, while the Icterine Warbler proved elusive around the car park/dipping pond scrub, although it had been glimpsed earlier. A couple of Black-necked Grebes were on Burrowes.
Dungeness - Following a mid-afternoon deluge we were on our way out to recheck Lade when news came through of a rare Long-tailed Blue found by SG at the point. As I missed last years one we went in search and joined a small group of butterfly hunters scouring the gorse around the old light. As the sun broke through a number of common species came out to play but not our target insect. Nevertheless, there was plenty to see including another dozen or so migrant Vestals (there must`ve been hundreds/thousands across the NNR today), a Holly Blue egg laying and a scattering of Willow Warblers and Black Redstarts. On the down side we just missed an Osprey that passed over the peninsula and headed out to sea.
Monday, 31 August 2015
An afternoon of waders
RSPB - showery, mild, n 2 - 1300hrs - A late start due to a change over day and a wet morning. Had to call in the visitor centre, where a few long-faced birders were still searching the car park scrub for this mornings Icterine Warbler, without success. Over the road the White-winged Tern had been joined by a second bird, while all the usual waders were around the site, including Goldies, Lapwings, Ruff, Snipe, Common and Wood Sandpipers.
Yellow Wagtails, Scotney
Scotney - The heavy rain earlier and overnight had certainly done the trick here with the front fields full of birds. Apart from the usual array of feral geese and ducks, around 100 Starlings, Linnets, Pied and Yellow Wagtails were busily feeding on the turf along with 100 Lapwings, 50 Curlews, 10 Dunlins, 10 Redshanks, 5 Snipe and 4 Ringed Plovers. At least 5 Common Sandpipers flitted around the margins then, just as we were leaving, a large flock of waders swept in from the west to feed comprising 25 Ruffs (of all shapes, sizes and plumages), 6 Knots and 3 Blackwits.
Dunlin, Greatstone Beach
Greatstone Beach - 1530hrs - Perfect timing (more luck than judgement!), and with only a few holidaymakers around a large host of shorebirds had just arrived back on the sands as an ebb tide revealed food aplenty. This allowed a reasonably accurate count as follows: 630 Dunlins, 210 Sanderlings, 410 Oystercatchers, 260 Curlews, 35 Ringed Plovers, 25 Knots, 12 Barwits, 2 Grey Plovers and the first 6 Turnstones of the autumn. Amongst the hundreds of Common and Black-headed Gulls were 50 Sandwich, 10 Common and 2 Arctic Terns.
A tidy afternoon with 18 species of waders noted.
Scotney - The heavy rain earlier and overnight had certainly done the trick here with the front fields full of birds. Apart from the usual array of feral geese and ducks, around 100 Starlings, Linnets, Pied and Yellow Wagtails were busily feeding on the turf along with 100 Lapwings, 50 Curlews, 10 Dunlins, 10 Redshanks, 5 Snipe and 4 Ringed Plovers. At least 5 Common Sandpipers flitted around the margins then, just as we were leaving, a large flock of waders swept in from the west to feed comprising 25 Ruffs (of all shapes, sizes and plumages), 6 Knots and 3 Blackwits.
Greatstone Beach - 1530hrs - Perfect timing (more luck than judgement!), and with only a few holidaymakers around a large host of shorebirds had just arrived back on the sands as an ebb tide revealed food aplenty. This allowed a reasonably accurate count as follows: 630 Dunlins, 210 Sanderlings, 410 Oystercatchers, 260 Curlews, 35 Ringed Plovers, 25 Knots, 12 Barwits, 2 Grey Plovers and the first 6 Turnstones of the autumn. Amongst the hundreds of Common and Black-headed Gulls were 50 Sandwich, 10 Common and 2 Arctic Terns.
A tidy afternoon with 18 species of waders noted.
Sunday, 30 August 2015
Swallows and a Honey Buzzard
Lade - 1030hrs - warm, dry, cloudy, ne 2 - Once the guests had departed we did a circuit of the local patch where this autumns` first large scale movement of Swallows was underway with hundreds of birds feeding over the lakes and shingle ridges. Every so often a group would rise up high and head south only to be replaced by more birds streaming in from the north. As always a moving sight and hopefully the first of many such days to come.
A trickle of Yellow Wagtails and Mipits also passed over, plus our first local Grey Wagtail of the year, and two Wheatears on the Desert. A flock of 50 small waders whipped over south lake from the west comprising mostly Ringed Plovers along with a few Dunlin and Sanderling, while around the willow swamp several Common Whitethroats, Reed and Willow warblers noted. The highlight on north lake, for about ten minutes, was two Black Terns.
In the humid atmosphere a Clouded Yellow flew over the ponds and up to 10 Common Blues were on the wing along the main track. Back home in the Plovers garden the insect interest continued with Hummingbird Hawk-moth, Painted Lady, Holly Blue and Speckled Wood all visiting the various nectar-rich flowers.
Lydd Allotment - This afternoon whilst toiling away picking beans, cobs and flowers on the allotment several Tweets alerted us to a small movement of Honey Buzzards crossing the peninsula, and low and behold it wasn't long before one flew over being mobbed by a crow - oh, the wonders of social media, thanks PB!
ARC - Plenty of activity here too with the juv White-winged Tern still out over the lake amongst 5 Black Terns and hundreds of Swallows and martins. Waders included Wood, Green and Common Sandpipers, Ruff, Knot and Redshank, plus the usual Golden Plovers and Lapwings, while the bushes down towards the pines held two Spotted Flycatchers, a Lesser Whitethroat and several Willow Warblers. Two Ravens flew through and several parties of Yellow Wagtails headed south.
A trickle of Yellow Wagtails and Mipits also passed over, plus our first local Grey Wagtail of the year, and two Wheatears on the Desert. A flock of 50 small waders whipped over south lake from the west comprising mostly Ringed Plovers along with a few Dunlin and Sanderling, while around the willow swamp several Common Whitethroats, Reed and Willow warblers noted. The highlight on north lake, for about ten minutes, was two Black Terns.
In the humid atmosphere a Clouded Yellow flew over the ponds and up to 10 Common Blues were on the wing along the main track. Back home in the Plovers garden the insect interest continued with Hummingbird Hawk-moth, Painted Lady, Holly Blue and Speckled Wood all visiting the various nectar-rich flowers.
Lydd Allotment - This afternoon whilst toiling away picking beans, cobs and flowers on the allotment several Tweets alerted us to a small movement of Honey Buzzards crossing the peninsula, and low and behold it wasn't long before one flew over being mobbed by a crow - oh, the wonders of social media, thanks PB!
ARC - Plenty of activity here too with the juv White-winged Tern still out over the lake amongst 5 Black Terns and hundreds of Swallows and martins. Waders included Wood, Green and Common Sandpipers, Ruff, Knot and Redshank, plus the usual Golden Plovers and Lapwings, while the bushes down towards the pines held two Spotted Flycatchers, a Lesser Whitethroat and several Willow Warblers. Two Ravens flew through and several parties of Yellow Wagtails headed south.
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