That Mediterranean Feeling

Cold with a strengthening south west wind, the very early movement of Scoter had dried up by 08:30 and as Richard, Martin and myself were wandering back to our cars, Jacob came on the radio to say he had found a Hoopoe in the Desert. Quickly parking up on the estate road we wandered to where Jacob and Luke were still watching the Hoopoe albeit not as close as it had been before. Soon other locals and visitors gathered and despite being distant we all obtained good views and some distant shots of the bird.

Hoopoe

Hoopoe

Hoopoe

After a quick breakfast at home I returned to ARC and then on to the other part of the reserve. The long staying female Long-tailed Duck remains on Burrowes. I then went on a reverse walk along the main trail ad had just arrived at Hayfield 1 when Richard found a Red-rumped Swallow over the ARC car park. Typically I was far away from there and decided to walk to ARC checking for any Hirundines en-route as further messages indicated no further sign. On reaching ARC and no further sightings, Martin kindly gave me a lift back to my car and a group of us started to scour various locations looking for any Hirundines. Looking out from Dengemarsh hide we noticed a small flock of Swallows in the distance over Dengemarsh reedbed in front of the chicken sheds. The birds were a long way off an in silhouette. As we left the hide a message came through that Tom Cackett had located a Red-rumped Swallow in the flock and was watching it from Dengemarsh Road. We then hurriedly drove round to the location and managed to get good, prolonged albeit distant views. In the sheep field in front of use were the three Cattle Egrets that are still in the area. Certainly the species mix of the day was giving off a very Mediterranean feel in a cold, strong south-westerly wind.

Red-rumped Swallow with a Swallow

Red-rumped Swallow

Red-rumped Swallow

Red-rumped Swallow with Swallows

Black-winged Stilt

Early morning excitement and anticipation with a productive and varied sea watch including a good movement of Common Scoter. A Surf Scoter was amongst a Common Scoter flock heading east off Beachy Head at 06:51, an hour later it was passing the Point and was seen by a few of the locals and visiting birders as it sped past moving position within the Common Scoter flock. As the sea watch started to slow down, a nice find by Gary Johnson of a female Black-winged Stilt at RSPB Dungeness on Hayfield 1 early morning caused most remaining birders to depart and head to the reserve. 

The late afternoon light was great for getting some photos with the Stilt close to the western fence of the Hayfield.

Female Black-winged Stilt

Female Black-winged Stilt

Sedge Warblers are established across the reserve, a small number now singing from exposed perches.

Sedge Warbler

Also on Hayfield 1 an Avocet joined the Stilt and a pair of Little Ringed Plovers.

Avocet

Little Ringed Plover

Ravens breed locally but it is not often that you get a chance to see one up close. Martin gave me a call on the radio as one had been bathing and was drying off near the Hayfields.

Raven

A couple of pairs of Redshank are favouring the shingle islands in front of Xmas Dell and looking very smart in their breeding plumage.

Redshank

Three Grey Plovers were roosting on the islands along with a single Redshank.

Grey Plovers

Great Crested Grebe

A beautiful pair of Great Crested Grebes were displaying on Dengemarsh, just stunning birds and a wonderful courtship display culminating in the weed dance.

Purple Heron

A great find by Paul Trodd of two Purple Herons at the Long Pits today. It took me a while to see one of the two well enough for some photos and then I had my camera settings totally wrong. 80th sec at 100ISO at F13!!! How does that happen?! Thank goodness for Topaz sharpening software. Anyway, I did manage to see one of the Purple Herons on the deck albeit for a moment and then some nice flight views in great afternoon light. 

Purple Heron

Purple Heron

Purple Heron

Purple Heron

The long staying female Long-tailed Duck remains on Burrowes but always distant, generally associating with Tufted Ducks.

Long-tailed Duck

Long-tailed Duck

North easterlies, north westerlies and northerlies

Its been tough to keep the birding enthusiasm going now that the usual lengthy period of spring north-easterlies, northerlies and north-westerlies has set in. Sea watching can sometimes save the day although early starts to try and get the best of the day tends to take its toll after a while. For the past few days the wind has been a strong F6 to F7 north-easterly makes for challenging conditions when wandering around the RSPB reserve.

Garganey

Garganey

Adult Mediterranean Gulls with a first winter Black-headed Gull 

On one of the islands in front of Dengemarsh hide a Black-tailed Godwit was facing in to the strong NE wind.

Black-tailed Godwit

Whilst I wasn't watching it then flew on to Hayfield 1 to join this stunning individual.

Black-tailed Godwit

Also on the islands a very tatty first winter Caspian Gull joined the Herring Gulls before heading off towards Xmas Dell and New Excavations.

Caspian Gull 1st winter

Caspian Gull 1st winter

One of the three brooding Lapwing on the Hayfields at the Reserve

Despite the cold and strong winds, migrants were on the move with small numbers of yellow wagtails and white/pied wagtails at Springfield Bridge.

Male Yellow Wagtail

Male White Wagtail