Crossbills

Tuesday 4th November

Despite visiting the pines earlier in the day and not seeing that much a visitor located a flock of 28 Crossbills there later that day at the pines. The birds were feeding in the pines and occasionally coming down to the puddles along the track to drink.

I received a call from Martin whilst I was at home to inform me that a flock of 17 were still at the pines and showing very well. Leaving the decorating I was doing for another time I soon arrived at the pines and was watching these lovely and charismatic finches as they demolished various pine cones. The last time I had seen perched Crossbills in the area was at the pines back in 2020.

Many thanks to Martin for the call.

Friday 7th November

On Friday 7th a few Black Redstarts were recorded across the peninsula with at least 10 noted. Four of them graced the RSPB Visitor Centre car park area and buildings. 

After hearing on the radio that Martin had to leave the Fishing Boats and noting the numbers and variety of species that he had recorded I decided to continue the watch to provide some continuity. However, my watch only lasted 40 minutes as it turned out to be very poor. At least a close Red-throated Diver just off-shore performed for the camera.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

I wasn't in the area on Monday 22nd when a Buff-breasted Sandpiper was found at Jury's Gap in the same field used by the Golden Plovers and American Golden Plover. By the time I returned to the area in the afternoon of the 23rd, the Buff-breasted Sandpiper had apparently been flushed by a couple of people and hadn't returned. I checked the same field twice on the 24th to no avail and had more or less given up on seeing it. However, a phone call today from Martin got me cycling out to fields at the back of Scotney where he had relocated it. The sandpiper wasn't associating with any other waders although earlier it had been with a flock of Lapwing. 

Many thanks to Martin for the call and for also staying near the bird so I knew where to go.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

With the exception of Glossy Ibis, the RSPB reserve has been a bit quiet recently in respect of visiting shorebirds however, this flock of Knot at the Firth Lookout was a welcome sight especially as a single Curlew Sandpiper had joined them.

A flock of 22 Redshank were on the islands out from the picnic tables near Dennis's Hide.

A couple of Hobbies have recently been on the RSPB Reserve anywhere between Dengemarsh and Boulderwall. This adult Hobby was perched in Kenny's Fields.

On the 20th September there was a movement of hirundines comprising mostly Swallows but also House Martins and still the occasional Sand Martin. A mixed flock of c.2,000 House Martins and Swallows heading past the New Lighthouse and out to sea was an impressive sight.

Now that the wind has switched to the north-west the rewards of sea watching have become poor but before the switch in wind direction skuas, mostly Arctic, Sandwich Terns, Gannets, Shearwaters and the occasional Leach's Petrel, Storm Petrel and a Grey Phalarope could be seen off-shore.

Up to 20 Arctic Skuas have been lingering off-shore between Lade Bay and Rye Bay terrorising both feeding and migrating Sandwich Terns.

Arctic Skua chasing a Sandwich Tern

Manx Shearwaters

Arctic Skua

Our first Red-throated Diver of the autumn was on the 18th September.

This Yellow-legged Gull looks about as mean as they come!