Gulls in the Gloom

I stayed on the RSPB reserve in Makepeace hide (now called Shirley Coward) until dark watching the large gulls coming on to Burrowes pit to roost. I was hoping to see some gulls with rings but despite over  c.1,300 large gulls roosting on the islands in front of Makepeace hide and Firth viewpoint I didn't pick up any rings. To see so many gulls flying in and settling was great and I was just about to get a phone photo of the spectacle when a juv Grey Heron decide to land amongst them causing many to fly off!

It was nearly too dark to get this photo and many of the gulls had been spooked by a Grey Heron.

I did manage to find an adult Yellow-legged Gull and two first winter Caspian Gulls amongst them.

First winter Caspian Gull 

First winter Caspian Gull 

Earlier in the late afternoon the Slavonian Grebe was in front of Firth lookout and in sunlight.

Despite the Starling murmuration that has been occurring at ARC for the past couple of weeks, I wasn't expecting to see this large flock of Starlings over Burrowes as it was getting dark. I think they went to roost behind Burrowes pit as they suddenly disappeared.
 

Little Auk

A good sea watch this morning with impressive flocks of Razorbills heading down channel and plenty of Gannets and Kittiwakes on the move along with a Great Northern Diver, a couple of Sooty Shearwaters, two Bonxies an Arctic Tern, several Swallows and two Storm Petrel sp. Occasional flocks of Starlings coming in-off and one Little Auk went down channel, close enough for a distant photo attempt.

Little Auk, just close enough for a photo!

Bittern

Whilst sea watching was providing some great late autumn excitement with sightings of Leach's Petrel, Little Auk and Grey Phalarope I was at ARC on the RSPB reserve. As usual this side of the reserve was devoid of other visitors and after a wander to the pines I ended up in Hanson hide and suddenly out popped or rather jumped a Bittern in to one of the recently cleared channels cut in to the reed bed.

Yesterday, Martin found a Slavonian Grebe on Burrowes Pit. It was still present today and showing well from Makepeace or now re-named Shirley Coward hide. The grebe did become a little agitated along with all the nearby gulls and duck when two Peregrines landed on nearby islands.

 

Jack Snipe

I don't think there has been a Jack Snipe viewable that's in front of a hide at the RSPB reserve since I moved to the peninsula in 2019. So when Martin messaged that one was showing from Hanson hide along with a rather good photo I decided to head there. On arrival the Jack Snipe was still showing but had moved further away from the hide and was resting amongst some cut reed stems.

In the early evening I returned to Hanson hide to await the Starling murmuration that has been occurring at ARC for the past week or so. On checking the areas in front of the hide there was no sign of the Jack Snipe but after about 30 minutes and as the light was starting to fade it appeared feeding close to the hide.

The Starling murmuration of c.4,000 birds was impressive but they were being harassed by a Peregrine and a Sparrowhawk which made them very reluctant to roost until it was almost dark.

Yellow-browed warbler

There have been a handful of Yellow-browed Warblers across the area so far this autumn, with a couple calling from the sallows at the Willow Trail and Hanson Track at ARC and a minimum of three in the trapping area. Never easy to actually see however, one of these lovely warblers gave itself up this morning and showed well for a couple of minutes in the trapping area.

Pallas's Warbler

Whilst I was wandering towards the Pines at ARC, Dungeness RSPB, a message came through the Stephen Message had found a Pallas's Warbler at Dengemarsh Gulley. I returned to my car and it wasn't long before I was walking down the badly pot-holed track towards the gulley having decided not to risk driving my car down the track. Martin, Owen and Colin were already there when I arrived and it wasn't long before I was also watching this superb green and stripey warbler. Superb find by Stephen and thanks to Owen for giving me a lift back to my car.

On the RSPB reserve from Dengemarsh at least three first winter Caspian Gulls amongst the bathing and roosting mixed large gull species.

Plus a female/1CY Black Redstart feeding within a cut grass field opposite Boulderwall Farm.

A little unexpected was to see two Curlew Sandpipers on ARC given that one had been around on Burrowes for several days and a second hadn't been seen to my knowledge. However, on checking Burrowes a working party were out across the islands on the pit which explained the complete lack of birds there, including any Curlew Sandpipers.