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.

Terns and Waders

The islands at the Firth viewpoint at Dungeness RSPB reserve have been attracting flocks of Common and Sandwich Terns including several juvenile and 2CY birds.

Juvenile Sandwich Tern

These days i'm on the lookout for ringed birds and came across two ringed Common Terns both of which originated from different ringing schemes in Holland.

Yellow ringed, Adult Common Tern from Holland

White tagged, Adult Common Tern from Holland

Finally the last 3 juvenile Common Terns that were on the small island in front of Dennis's hide have fledged. The smallest of them is very cute and barely has any primaries compared to the other two. I expect the short flight from the nesting island to the Firth lookout was a major leap of faith for it.

Despite the increase in the numbers of islands appearing across the reserve due to the lack of rain, the number and diversity of waders has been relatively low, which is odd given the numbers of shorebirds being recorded at Lade Bay. However, perseverance and multiple visits to the reserve during the days and weeks eventually pays off.

Juvenile Spotted Redshank

Juvenile Spotted Redshanks

Four Knot and a Dunlin

Golden Plovers

Ringed Plovers

Male and female juvenile Ruff

Black-tailed Godwits

Black-tailed Godwits

Adult and juvenile Little Stints

Juvenile Sanderling

 Partially cloudy, morning SW F5 to F6, afternoon SSW F4 to F5, 15C to 17C, rain showers.

Today was the RSPB WeBS count so I started at the eastern end of ARC and New Diggings, working my way round to the Tower Pits, the Pines Inlet and finally Hanson Hide. With the exception of Shoveler duck numbers are much lower than in July and August. Shoveler must go through their moult a month later than Pochard and Gadwall.

I then covered Boulderwall and finally looked on Burrowes although this pit would have been already counted. On Burrowes I had three Greenshank and a single Common Sandpiper. Martin radioed through that two Spotted Redshanks had appeared on ARC so I then headed back there and whilst watching the two a third flew in calling and joined them. The adult Glossy Ibis seems to have taken up residency on ARC. No sign of any Garganey though.

In the late afternoon I did my Littlestone survey. I fear for the small wader roost using the beach, they already have a tough time trying to rest with walkers and dogs off-lead disturbing them. However, I think the planned building of a watersports centre at the Greatstone car park will be the end of the roost at the RNLI station unless there is a  planning condition not allowing watersports during the winter period. During the survey I had at least 107w Sandwich Terns along the shoreline and 20 roosting Mediterranean Gulls on the shingle with 91 offshore. Roosting waders comprised 35 Ringed Plovers, 53 Dunlin, seven Turnstone and four Sanderling.

Spotted Redshank

Glossy Ibis