During the Christmas period, the RSPB visitor centre has been closed and the staff have had over a week off. The RSPB relies heavily on its volunteers and a number of us have been patrolling the reserve during this period to help visitors and provide a visible presence. I have been on the reserve every day over the period of closure and have enjoyed helping visitors make the most of their time on the reserve. It does get frustrating though when those with dogs continue to ignore the signs and access areas where dogs are prohibited and also dump their dog poo bags in vegetation rather than dispose of them properly. Grump over, on with today's story.
I decided to walk the main trail in reverse and hadn't seen that much until I looked from the viewing ramp where six Barnacle Geese of likely feral origin were foraging on the grass sward at the back of Dengemarsh.
On entering Dengemarsh hide a quick scan of the roosting gulls revealed a first winter Caspian Gull at least that is what I thought. However, it has been pointed out to me subsequently that the bird pictured below is either a hybrid of some sort or a Herring Gull. The bird has a pale eye, something which a first winter Caspian Gull should not have, also the inner greater coverts look notched and it doesn't look long legged. The tertials don't look notched and have broad white edges with one having a pale grey centre. The outer greater coverts look dark centered and the head appears white with little streaking however, the harsh light conditions may likely bleach out any streaking. Trying to work out hybrid parentage is difficult and this bird is probably a Herring Gull but through bins I went with my first impression of 1w Caspian Gull (with a pale eye).
The reserve was quite busy and initially I had the hide to myself as about 400 mostly Greylags arrived and settled on to the pit. As they flew in, I was sure I could here other geese, maybe White-fronts calling amongst them. These birds had probably been foraging on Lydd fields and had most likely been flushed. A scan of the Greylag flock initially revealed at least 29 White-fronts but other geese where hidden from view.
The hide started to fill up with visitors and I was able to direct them on to what I thought was a Caspian Gull and the White-fronted Geese. Two groups, 21 and five, of White-fronts flew from the pit and there were still at least nine that remained.
I called a Marsh Harrier that was drifting in from Dengemarsh Road and following the reedbed as suddenly all hell broke loose as every bird on the pit took to the air. At first I thought the Marsh Harrier was the cause but on looking around I noticed a large broad winged bird gliding in from the south-east above Dengemarsh Road. My initial thoughts was that it might be a White Stork but on looking at it through bins I shouted out 'Crane' and gave directions to those in the hide. It started to drift and glide as it worked out where it wanted to go, soaring over the chicken sheds and then towards the MOD Ranges before turning and heading back towards Dengemarsh. Eventually it gained height and headed south-west over the MOD Ranges. Whilst the bird was in view, I managed to get a couple of messages out on the locals group despite suffering from fat fingers.
I think this is the first area record of Crane since I moved here in July 2019.
As it continued to soar over the Dengemarsh area, the Barnacle Geese were still in a state of panic.
As the commotion died down, 28 White-fronts landed on the grass sward making 54 that had been within the earlier arriving Greylag flock, 11 of which are in the photo below.
I stopped off at Firth Lookout on the way back to the Visitor Centre car park and couldn't resist taking some photos of the juvenile Great Northern Diver that remains on Burrowes Pit.
Checking the gulls from Dennis's Hide there were three first winter Caspian Gulls and two adult Yellow-legged Gulls along with J5353 an adult Great Black-backed Gull that I also saw back on 12th December.
Martin and I then stayed until after sunset waiting to see if any Swans or Geese flew in to roost on Burrowes as James Hunter had recorded 16 Bewick's Swans flying on to Burrowes at 16:40 on the 29th. Tonight though none appeared but the sunset was spectacular.
