Romney Salts - cold, cloudy, showers, W3 - Not the best of days to wander around a farmland tract, but I just felt like a change of scene. However, in between the showers two Corn Buntings were up and jangling merrily away alongside singing Skylark, Meadow Pipit and Reed Bunting. A male Wheatear perched briefly atop a dung heap that attracted 10 Pied Wagtails, several Linnets and a Kestrel. A wander around a stubble field produced a pair of Red-legged Partridge, something of a scarcity down here these days and the first for the year. Also noted Lapwing, Golden Plover, Stock Dove, Buzzard and Mistle Thrush, plus singing Blackcap and Chiffchaff in the woodland at the end of Dunes Road.
Lade - The two wintering Long-tailed Ducks were sat on the far bank when I arrived on site, although an hour later they were out fishing on south lake. An increase in Goldeneyes to 12 and Black-necked Grebe to three was of note and at least 50 Shoveler were still present. In and around the willow swamp a singing Blackcap, Cetti`s Warbler and several Chiffchaffs hinted at the coming spring, as did several highly vocal Water Rails.
Saturday, 31 March 2018
Friday, 30 March 2018
First Arctic Skuas
Dungeness - 0645-0845hrs - cold, cloudy, SE2 - With the wind from a favourable direction a couple of hours in the seawatch hide seemed a good prospect this morning, and so it proved to be with a steady up-Channel passage of mainly wildfowl including singles of drake Velvet Scoter and Eider, plus my first two Arctic Skuas of spring. Approximate numbers as follows: 30 Red-throated Diver, 5 Fulmar, 150 Brent Geese, 200 Common Scoter, 100 Gannet, 30 auks, 18 Teal, 12 Shoveler, 10 Kittiwake, 100 Sandwich Tern, 5 Med Gull and an Oystercatcher. Also on the sea the usual Cormorants and Great Crested Grebes, plus two Harbour Porpoises. Later in the morning the first Common Terns of spring were logged past the point, plus a passage of Little Gulls (CP).
Lade - 1000hrs - After breakie we headed out around the local patch where the usual wildfowl were still present, including two Long-tailed Ducks, five Goldeneye and a Black-necked Grebe. Fifty Sandwich Terns were roosting on the foreshore waiting for the tide to ebb, and as we headed for home, and with the rain setting in, our first two Common Terns of spring flew across the bay calling loudly. The rest of the day was a right off due to persistent rain.
Lade - 1000hrs - After breakie we headed out around the local patch where the usual wildfowl were still present, including two Long-tailed Ducks, five Goldeneye and a Black-necked Grebe. Fifty Sandwich Terns were roosting on the foreshore waiting for the tide to ebb, and as we headed for home, and with the rain setting in, our first two Common Terns of spring flew across the bay calling loudly. The rest of the day was a right off due to persistent rain.
Rye waders
Rye Harbour NR - 0830hrs - cold, sunny, sw 3 - Spent Thursday morning at Rye with CP checking out the Beach Reserve and sifting through the hundreds of waders on the high tide roost. Good numbers of Avocet, Redshank and Ringed Plover were the highlight, plus a supporting cast of Oystercatcher, Curlew, Turnstone, Bar-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, seven Knot, four Grey and 200 Golden Plovers on Harbour Farm. On the wildfowl front plenty of Sheldduck and Shoveler were present alongside a few Gadwall, Teal, Wigeon, Tufted Duck a pair of Pintail and two laggard Brent Geese.
Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls
Redshanks from John Gooder`s hide
Sandwich Terns, Ternery Pool
On Ternery Pool around 150 Sandwich Terns and 120 Mediterranean Gulls were making their presence known amongst 500 or so Black-headed Gulls, some of which were already on nests. The cacophony of noise from all three species was a joy to behold and so typical of early spring on this famous old nature reserve.
Also noted around the site Dabchick, Skylark, Meadow Pipit and Linnet. As we got back home on the Marsh the first spots of rain arrived heralding a wet afternoon.
On Ternery Pool around 150 Sandwich Terns and 120 Mediterranean Gulls were making their presence known amongst 500 or so Black-headed Gulls, some of which were already on nests. The cacophony of noise from all three species was a joy to behold and so typical of early spring on this famous old nature reserve.
Also noted around the site Dabchick, Skylark, Meadow Pipit and Linnet. As we got back home on the Marsh the first spots of rain arrived heralding a wet afternoon.
Wednesday, 28 March 2018
First Sand Martins
Lade - cold, overcast, showery, NW 2 - A grim morning to be out in the field with light rain throughout. On south lake the two immature Long-tailed Ducks continued their stay and a Black-necked Grebe was present. Several Chiffchaffs sang from the willow swamp and a Black Redstart flitted amongst the caravans by the aerial mound.
Dungeness - A Slavonian Grebe could be seen from the causeway road on New Diggings, while at least one White Wagtail was amongst the Pieds on the margins of Cook`s Pool. The Boulderwall fields attracted a host of Curlew, Oystercatcher, Lapwing and Golden Plover to probe the saturated ground for invertebrates. At the VC feeders at least four Bramblings put on a marvellous show, despite the drizzle, alongside a number of Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Reed Bunting, Tree Sparrow, Blue and Great Tits, a Moorhen and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Bramblings and Chaffinches under the VC feeders
Against my better judgement I did the circular walk which started off dry but soon deteriorated by the time I reached Dengemarsh. However, on Burrowes the highlights were several Ringed Plovers, three Goldeneyes and a pair of Marsh Harriers briefly soaring over the Oppen pits, plus singing Chiffchaffs and a Firecrest by Christmas Dell and displaying Lapwings on Hayfield 1/2. From Dengemarsh hide a Bittern uttered a single series of `booms` from Hooker`s reebed and our first four Sand Martins of spring briefly appeared over the lake. The small pit by the bend attracted the trio of wintering Smew.
Sitting in Makepeace the Sandwich Tern tape lure was playing in an attempt to attract terns to the fenced off cluster of islands in front of the hide. Yet again no egrets were seen during the circuit.
Pair of Egyptian Geese, Christmas Dell
Dungeness - A Slavonian Grebe could be seen from the causeway road on New Diggings, while at least one White Wagtail was amongst the Pieds on the margins of Cook`s Pool. The Boulderwall fields attracted a host of Curlew, Oystercatcher, Lapwing and Golden Plover to probe the saturated ground for invertebrates. At the VC feeders at least four Bramblings put on a marvellous show, despite the drizzle, alongside a number of Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Reed Bunting, Tree Sparrow, Blue and Great Tits, a Moorhen and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Against my better judgement I did the circular walk which started off dry but soon deteriorated by the time I reached Dengemarsh. However, on Burrowes the highlights were several Ringed Plovers, three Goldeneyes and a pair of Marsh Harriers briefly soaring over the Oppen pits, plus singing Chiffchaffs and a Firecrest by Christmas Dell and displaying Lapwings on Hayfield 1/2. From Dengemarsh hide a Bittern uttered a single series of `booms` from Hooker`s reebed and our first four Sand Martins of spring briefly appeared over the lake. The small pit by the bend attracted the trio of wintering Smew.
Sitting in Makepeace the Sandwich Tern tape lure was playing in an attempt to attract terns to the fenced off cluster of islands in front of the hide. Yet again no egrets were seen during the circuit.
Monday, 26 March 2018
Dolphins
Dungeness - 0830hrs - mild, dry, sunny, light airs - Strolling down to the seawatch hide on a warm spring morning I could not have guessed what awaited me. Approaching the hide I noticed a flat calm sea with nothing much happening bird wise, although the regulars were intently `scoping an area off to the south-west where a couple of dolphins were swimming around. Over the next hour we watched as they moved steadily eastwards as the Range Boat approached, and at one stage were briefly joined by a much smaller Harbour Porpoise. They appeared to be fishing, judging from the nearby plunge-diving Gannets, and would submerge for several minutes followed by a bout of action on the surface, during which time they twice leaped almost clear of the water.
The dolphins were obviously large, heavy looking cetaceans with an erect dorsal fin, greyish above and pale below, and at least once I caught sight of a yellowish streak which left me confused as to their specific identity. They were also quite a way offshore which didn't help, but were probably either Common or Bottlenose Dolphins, both of which would`ve been new for me off Dungeness, although "dolphins" are often reported in the Channel by fishermen.
During the watch Gannet, Sandwich Tern, Red-throated Diver, auks, Great Crested Grebe and Common Scoter were all noted in variable numbers, plus four Mergansers, two Teal and a Fulmar.
Another hour this afternoon at the boats delivered similar fare feeding offshore, but no real movement.
Lade - Not much change from the weekend on the lakes with the wintering ducks and grebes. On the bay a flock of 15 Ringed Plovers was noteworthy.
The dolphins were obviously large, heavy looking cetaceans with an erect dorsal fin, greyish above and pale below, and at least once I caught sight of a yellowish streak which left me confused as to their specific identity. They were also quite a way offshore which didn't help, but were probably either Common or Bottlenose Dolphins, both of which would`ve been new for me off Dungeness, although "dolphins" are often reported in the Channel by fishermen.
During the watch Gannet, Sandwich Tern, Red-throated Diver, auks, Great Crested Grebe and Common Scoter were all noted in variable numbers, plus four Mergansers, two Teal and a Fulmar.
Another hour this afternoon at the boats delivered similar fare feeding offshore, but no real movement.
Lade - Not much change from the weekend on the lakes with the wintering ducks and grebes. On the bay a flock of 15 Ringed Plovers was noteworthy.
Sunday, 25 March 2018
`Booming` Bittern
Lade - mild, dry, light airs - A quiet weekend on the birding front with pretty much the same birds on station as last week, including the two Long-tailed Ducks which were particularly showy yesterday. However, in the stillness this evening my first Bittern of spring could be heard `booming` from across the Desert, somewhere over by the bird reserve, probably in Tower Pits.
A notable feature of this early part of spring has been the arrival of large numbers of Sandwich Terns on the bay. At low tide they sit on the sands, moving onto the shingle beach at high tide. This weekend there`s been a flock of around 70, but numbers topped out at twice that in the week. If the islands on Kerton Road pit were clear of scrub I feel sure there`d be a good chance of them nesting, as it is so close to the sea and almost mirrors their breeding site at Rye Harbour.
Two immature Long-tailed Ducks remained on south lake
Sandwich Terns on the beach from Lade boardwalk
Dungeness - Yesterday we had a scoot around the point and the bird reserve where it was pretty much the same fare as Friday. The White Wagtails were still on Boulderwall fields and there was a steady flow of twitchers paying homage to the Bluethroat in the gully. Other reported migrants included a Red Kite over Lydd and the first Sand Martins of spring on Burrowes.
A notable feature of this early part of spring has been the arrival of large numbers of Sandwich Terns on the bay. At low tide they sit on the sands, moving onto the shingle beach at high tide. This weekend there`s been a flock of around 70, but numbers topped out at twice that in the week. If the islands on Kerton Road pit were clear of scrub I feel sure there`d be a good chance of them nesting, as it is so close to the sea and almost mirrors their breeding site at Rye Harbour.
Dungeness - Yesterday we had a scoot around the point and the bird reserve where it was pretty much the same fare as Friday. The White Wagtails were still on Boulderwall fields and there was a steady flow of twitchers paying homage to the Bluethroat in the gully. Other reported migrants included a Red Kite over Lydd and the first Sand Martins of spring on Burrowes.
Friday, 23 March 2018
Weekly Summary
Lade - cold, sunshine and showers, SW 4 - A mixed day weather wise with warm sunshine around noon sandwiched between cloud and drizzle. Firecrests were prominent today with two in the Plovers garden, another in the willow swamp and three in a Littlestone garden. Black-necked Grebe, Long-tailed Duck and six Goldeneyes continue to be faithful to south lake.
Dungeness - An afternoon visit to the bird reserve yielded the wintering trio of Smew on Tanner`s Pool, two White Wagtails on Cook`s Pool, (thanks to MH for the tip-off), juvenile Glaucous Gull on Burrowes and another Firecrest at the pines by Tower Pits.
Weekly Summary
Its been a case of typical early spring fare across the Dungeness peninsula this week as spring begins to give winter a nudge. Firecrests have been showing well in good numbers, particularly in the old lighthouse garden and Dengemarsh gully, while Black Redstarts, Meadow Pipits, Linnets, Reed Buntings, Chiffchaffs and Wheatears have begun to trickle through. In contrast wintering Dartford Warblers can still be found in the Kerton Road triangle and at Lade.
On the sea parties of Brent Geese are still on the move up-Channel, although its been a largely disappointing week for other species of wildfowl and waders. Auks, Gannets, Common Scoters and Red-throated Divers are still coming and going, along with east bound Sandwich Terns and Little Gulls plus an incoming Osprey. A juvenile Glaucous Gull is still being seen at the Patch, or on Burrowes, while Mediterranean Gull sightings are steadily increasing.
Lade sands has been the place for waders with 11 species recorded this week including several pulses of 100 plus Knot and Bar-tailed Godwit amongst many hundreds of Sanderling and Dunlin, plus a brief Little Ringed Plover on Lade south. Sandwich Tern numbers reached 130 at low tide on the sands mid-week.
And so to the bird of the week, initially two and now one male White-spotted Bluethroat continues to show well, off and on, in Dengemarsh Gully as of Friday afternoon. RSPB have asked visiting birders to view the bird from the road side of the gully and not drop down and walk along the sewer margin as several inconsiderate bird photographers have been seen to do this week. The bird is easy to see from the trackside bank or from the sluice, all that is required is a little patience. Sermon over. Good birding to one and all.
Dungeness - An afternoon visit to the bird reserve yielded the wintering trio of Smew on Tanner`s Pool, two White Wagtails on Cook`s Pool, (thanks to MH for the tip-off), juvenile Glaucous Gull on Burrowes and another Firecrest at the pines by Tower Pits.
Weekly Summary
Its been a case of typical early spring fare across the Dungeness peninsula this week as spring begins to give winter a nudge. Firecrests have been showing well in good numbers, particularly in the old lighthouse garden and Dengemarsh gully, while Black Redstarts, Meadow Pipits, Linnets, Reed Buntings, Chiffchaffs and Wheatears have begun to trickle through. In contrast wintering Dartford Warblers can still be found in the Kerton Road triangle and at Lade.
On the sea parties of Brent Geese are still on the move up-Channel, although its been a largely disappointing week for other species of wildfowl and waders. Auks, Gannets, Common Scoters and Red-throated Divers are still coming and going, along with east bound Sandwich Terns and Little Gulls plus an incoming Osprey. A juvenile Glaucous Gull is still being seen at the Patch, or on Burrowes, while Mediterranean Gull sightings are steadily increasing.
Lade sands has been the place for waders with 11 species recorded this week including several pulses of 100 plus Knot and Bar-tailed Godwit amongst many hundreds of Sanderling and Dunlin, plus a brief Little Ringed Plover on Lade south. Sandwich Tern numbers reached 130 at low tide on the sands mid-week.
And so to the bird of the week, initially two and now one male White-spotted Bluethroat continues to show well, off and on, in Dengemarsh Gully as of Friday afternoon. RSPB have asked visiting birders to view the bird from the road side of the gully and not drop down and walk along the sewer margin as several inconsiderate bird photographers have been seen to do this week. The bird is easy to see from the trackside bank or from the sluice, all that is required is a little patience. Sermon over. Good birding to one and all.
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