Grey Day, Grey Geese

After a morning seawatch, a check on Walland Marsh for the flock of seven grey geese (possibly/probably Bean Geese, possibly with Pink-feet) that Neil Burt found late afternoon on the 1st Feb in dull and drizzly conditions. Never close in the Ashentree Lane area but the flock of seven were still at the same location and still distant from Cutter's Bridge. Initial identification of all Bean Geese was later changed to three Pink-footed Geese and four Tundra Bean Geese. Well done Neil. 

View from Cutter's Bridge. Three Pink-footed Geese (left) and four Tundra Bean Geese (right)

After the goose flock disappeared from Ashentree, Martin re-located them at the Beaconsfield/Hook Wall area, and they were closer. Thanks for the call Martin.

Three Pink-footed Geese with Greylags (foreground)

Four Tundra Been Geese with the three Pink-feet at the back

Greater White-fronted Goose (left) and four Tundra Been Geese

Single Tundra Been Goose (foreground) and three Pink-footed Geese

Dungeness RSPB Reserve Catchup

 On 2nd January the Great Northern Diver has a good right eye.

On 16th January, the diver looks like it has lost its right eye, although it could just be asleep? Seems to have moved on now, last seen on the reserve on Thursday 22nd January.

In the willows near the Pines, a couple of Firecrests were in the company of several Goldcrests and a couple of Chiffchaffs within a roving Tit flock.

The flock of Bewick's Swans remain on Walland Marsh with Nadine the neck-tagged female from north-east Europe.

A large flock of c.1,300 Fieldfare at Hawthorn Corner on Walland Marsh was an impressive recent surprise. Where did they come from? Another 200 flew up from around Coldharbour Farm.

Compared to the winter of 2024/2025 the number of Goldeneye on the reserve is far fewer this winter. The maximum I have seen is six.

Greater White-fronted Geese flying around Dengemarsh. After a gap of a couple of weeks, a flock appeared at Beaconsfield on Walland. 

Always a treat to see, numbers of Jack Snipe being found on the reserve is less than last winter. Without thermal cameras it is likely that we wouldn't be finding them at all. The great aspect of looking for them with thermal cameras is that we don't flush them.

During the strong winds earlier in the month several hundred Lapwings attempted to roost on the islands at Burrowes Pit. 

Never a common bird on the reserve, but recently there have been upto four Pintail making use of ARC and Burrowes Pits.

It can be difficult to record Snipe on the reserve but the islands at New Excavations have become a good place to see them. There are nine in this photo.

Snipe

On ARC, the anti-mammal fencing is used by resting duck as an anchor. Previously I have seen Wigeon making use of it and this time mostly Teal.

Caspian Gulls

More from my visit to RSPB Dungeness on the 27th Jan.

2nd Winter (2nd cycle) Caspian Gull in flight and then coming to join the roosting flock to join another two 1st winter (1st cycle) Caspians.

2nd winter (2nd cycle) Caspian Gull

The same 2nd winter (2nd cycle) Caspian Gull joining other roosting gulls that include two other 1st winter (1st cycle) Caspian Gulls (rear centre and rear right).

2nd winter (2nd cycle) Caspian Gull

1st winter (1st cycle) Caspian Gull (front) and 2nd winter (2nd cycle) Herring Gull

The same 1st winter (1st cycle) Caspian Gull as above but glowing in the early evening sunlight

Yellow-legged and Caspian Gulls

A morning and early afternoon of almost constant heavy rainfall which meant I didn't venture out until mid afternoon. I decided to head to the RSPB reserve and check the gull roost on Burrowes. Over the past few days the number of roosting Great Black-backed gulls has gradually reduced or the later tide time change is affecting the number of visiting gulls that i'm seeing. A few days ago there were at least 1,000 Great Black-backed Gulls coming onto Burrowes to roost and bathe, today maybe 300 whilst I was there but still some good views opportunities to look through and check for Yellow-legged and Caspian Gulls.

I was also trying out some different camera settings in the relatively gloomy light conditions.

Two adult Yellow-legged Gulls (left and middle) and an adult Caspian Gull (right)

The Caspian Gull didn't hang around and flew off after finishing bathing. 

In the background is another adult Yellow-legged Gull.

On the left is yet another adult Yellow-legged Gull and on the right is a 3CY or a 2nd winter or 2nd Cycle, Caspian Gull

My understanding is that by now i.e. mid-January adult Herring Gull (Argenteus) should have a pure white head and Argentatus will have some streaks on the head. Maybe it's not as simple as that but I picked up this 'dark' mantled gull with a streaky head and initially thought, due to the colour of the mantle that it might be an adult yellow-legged gull. However, the head streaking didn't feel right and despite it washing, I couldn't make out the leg colour. Photos revealed a pink leg colour.

The dark mantle, bubblegum pink legs and long grey primary tongues with little black on the wingtips point to an Argentatus Herring Gull to me.

 

Adult Caspian Gull (left front), adult Yellow-legged Gull left (rear) and a 2nd winter Caspian Gull middle showing the dark centred tertials.

Altogether I had 6 Yellow-legged Gulls and 8 Caspian Gulls.

2025 Local Area Report

The 2025 Local Area Report is now available to download

Goosander

On 1st Jan, I was at the RSPB Reserve and picked up 28 Greater White-fronted Geese flying around Dengemarsh and the Hayfields before heading off over towards the MOD ranges.

Normally I seem to jinx trying to see Goosander, generally failing when they turn up in the area, however this time two redheads at Scotney decided to stay long enough for me to see them before flying off whilst I was still there.

The four Black-necked Grebes which are usually spread out the length of Scotney main pit were all together and did a very welcome close swim past. 

The 1w Scaup, likely a drake, was also fairly close and mostly asleep amongst the resting flock of Wigeon, Tufted Duck and Pochard. It eventually woke up.

Lesser Whitethroat

Martin kindly gave me a call to inform me that he had seen a Lesser Whitethroat in his back garden. Likely one of the eastern subspecies, I was soon overlooking Martins back garden and waiting for the bird to re-appear. The corner of garden where bird feeders were located was bathed in winter sunshine and Goldfinches, Blue and Great tits and a Greenfinch were feeding on the seed but no sign of the warbler which had been on show at the point of my arrival! I joked that it was likely to re-appear as soon as Owen Leyshon arrived and that is exactly what happened. No sooner was Owen standing beside me it made an appearance and remained in view until we both left.

Whilst I was there it called, sounding like a dry rattle.

Many thanks to Martin for the phone call and allowing access to be able to see the bird.

For comparison, the two photos below are of a juvenile Lesser Whitethroat taken on 23rd August