Plenty of good birds

A day of light rain showers until at least late afternoon was a very welcome experience after months of hot dry weather. I started the day off at the top of the Long Pits and it was mostly quiet until I came across a couple of foraging tit flocks amongst which were several Willow Warblers and Lesser Whitethroats but only 16 of each, also 10 Swifts SE over.  I then moved on to Hanson hide, where Martin and Colin had earlier seen a couple of Wood Sands and Green Sands. One of the Wood Sands was close.

Wood Sandpiper

In addition to Martins sighting there were five Garganey in front of the hide.

Garganey

Several Snipe were visible from Hanson, the VC and Firth Lookout.

Snipe

The Pintard (hybrid Pochard x Pintail) was feeding.

Pintard

Whilst watching the Common Tern colony from Firth, an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull predated one of the tern chicks. I wanted to know how many chicks there were as I knew of at least two other predation events by gulls on the colony, so I stomped to the back of Burrowes and was able to get a better view of the colony.

I counted at least 12 chicks, one of which was a week old and the others mainly three weeks old. When I returned to Firth I could see another four chicks from that side, so a total of at least 16 chicks. Lets hope some survive the gull onslaught! There are six chicks in this photo and what looks like a dead Sand Martin on the shingle to the right of the standing adult Common Tern.

Both Black Terns and the White-winged Black Tern were still showing from Firth.

Black Tern

Black and White-winged Black Terns

White-winged Black Tern

Three Bar-tailed Godwits appeared on the mud in front of Firth along with over 30 Dunlin and Ringed Plovers.

Bar-tailed Godwits

Mostly adult Dunlin, I think there is one juvenile in the shot, Ringed and Little-ringed Plover.

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.

Grasshopper Warbler, Garganey and Black Tern

On 28th August, the Obs ringed 4 Grasshopper Warblers within the trapping area. The most ringed at the Obs in one session for some time. I had managed to miss all the previously ringed Grasshopper Warblers but managed to see the fourth bird ringed that day. Many thanks to Jacob for letting me know.

Grasshopper Warbler

In the Observatory Desert area a couple of Whinchats were hanging out with a couple of Wheatears.

Whinchat

Typical view of a Brown Hare

On the 27th August there were 5 Garganey that suddenly appeared in front of the Firth Lookout at Burrowes Pit on the RSPB Reserve. Unfortunately some poor fieldcraft by yours truly flushed them however, the next evening they re-appeared.

Five Garganey, Common Terns and juvenile Black Tern

Five Garganey and two Teal

A juvenile Black Tern appeared on Burrowes on the 8th August. This one, has been hanging around on Burrowes since at least the 27th August. 

Black Tern

Black Tern

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