Wood and Green Sandpipers

Starting the day at ARC, I could hear Green Sandpiper calling as I walked towards Hanson Hide. On looking out there was a loose flock of seven birds with five together on the closest island.

Green Sandpipers

I could also hear a Wood Sand calling and after a short while it landed close to the hide amongst the recently cut reed.

Wood Sandpiper

On August 10th, I went to the Fishing Boats in the afternoon as an easterly breeze had picked up and you never know a few birds might be going past. However, it was not to be but  luckily Martin turned up with a loaf of bread and we were soon enjoying the gulls tearing the pieces of bread apart and joined by a lovely juvenile Yellow-legged Gull.

Juvenile Yellow-legged Gull

Turnstone at the Fishing Boats

On Aug 10th, three juvenile Black Terns were on Burrowes Pit.

Juvenile Black Tern

On Aug 5th, I picked up this fledged juvenile and adult female Shoveler still together at ARC. I reckon that they had bred on the reserve as I find it unlikely that they would have flown in from elsewhere and stayed together. I think this is the second Shoveler brood at ARC this year as previously in July I had seen four well grown juvenile Shoveler but couldn't find an accompanying adult.

Juvenile and Adult female Shoveler at ARC

Spotted Redshank

The evening of the solar eclipse, which from the reserve seemed to be a bit of a damp squib.
Spotted Redshank is an annual passage migrant to the area but in low numbers and always a delight to see. This one was in front of Firth.

Spotted Redshank

Greenshank

There are quite a few yellow wagtails feeding on the islands at Burrowes. This one was closer on the mud in front of Firth.

Wood Sand and Pied Fly

Finally a close Wood Sand at ARC this morning although trying to get photos was made difficult due to the height of the reeds in front of Hanson hide.

At midday, Owen made a quick 10 minute check at the top of the Long Pits and found three Pied Flycatchers and later Martin found a fourth. By the time I could get there I could only find one but it was a showy individual.

I called in to ARC on the way home after the RSPB had cut the reeds in front of Hanson and whilst the islands were still relatively bird free resulting from the disturbance there was a flock of three Green Sandpipers and two Wood Sandpipers which you could easily see now the view from the hide was less obscured.

ARC - Another odd Duck

I've noticed this duck on a few occasions recently from Hanson hide but never been able to get a good look until today. I think it is a hybrid of some flavour with quite a bit of Pochard in there and i'm not sure what else?

Answers on a postcard or left as a comment!

Dungeness - July

 So far behind in processing my photos. Selection of July highlights. 

Curlew Sandpiper

Female Red-crested Pochard

Lesser Emperor

Bittern

Green Sandpiper

Black Tern

Eclipse Drake Garganey

Eclipse Duck Garganey

Likely radio-active material from on-going power station de-commissioning. Maybe on its way to Sellafield?

Bar-headed Goose - this was a five goose species morning from Hanson - far too many in my opinion

Male Ruff

Sandwich Tern family

Hobby

Little-ringed Plover

In Lightroom there is a feature called 'assisted culling'. I haven't used it on this photo but i'd like to on these Canada Geese stomping all through the Common Tern colony!

Six of the 11 Wigeon that appeared on Burrowes on 14th July

Common Tern

I reckon this female Marsh Harrier must be a mature lady given the large pale areas on her forewings

A flock of 21 White Storks drifted over the RSPB reserve on the 31st.

Rye Harbour - Wednesday Outing

An early start saw Martin, Richard and I arrive very shortly after 06:30 at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve to have a wander and check out the Sandwich Tern colony. Despite the early start it already felt warm as we wandered the track that led around the reserve perimeter. Across Flat Beach and New Saltmarsh, there were good numbers of black-headed and Mediterranean Gulls with juveniles of both species present  along with Oystercatchers and juveniles, displaying Ringed Plovers, Avocets and three Greenshanks. Plenty of tern activity with birds leaving and returning with food including several Little Terns of which we could see what appeared to be three well grown chicks.

From Parkes Hide there were great views and lovely sounds of the seemingly chaotic Sandwich Tern colony which every now and then took a precautionary flight as a predator in the form of a gull or bird of prey loomed overhead.

A great few early morning hours on the reserve.

I just love the grumpy expression on the chick

There were a few waders visible from Parkes Hide, including this close juvenile Redshank.

Adult Common Sandpiper

It's always great to watch the comedy duo that is an adult Oystercatcher with its chick in very close attendance. Watching every move of its parent in anticipation of a food morsel, the disappointment shows when it misses the opportunity and the adult eats what it has caught.