Stroll at Dungeness RSPB on Monday.

On Sunday we travelled into Kent to meet up with friends that we hadn't seen for nearly two years. After a cup of coffee and a chat I acted as the taxi driver we headed southwards to Dungeness RSPB for a walk. As expected the water levels were still exceptionally high and not a vast array of species on the water but we did log Little and Great Crested Grebes, Coot, Mallard, Teal, Shoveler, Tufted plus numerous Cormorants carrying nest building material into a patch of trees with just their upper branches above the water line on Burrows Pit.

 

We decided not to stop at the next two hides and continued around the reserve searching the scrub and listening for any indication of bird movements but there was very little seen or heard except Cetti's Warbler, Wren, Blackbird, Robin, Chaffinch, Linnet, Dunnock and Reed Warbler with two Oystercatchers on the shingle ridge. Seven Shelduck flew overhead followed shortly after by a single Little Egret.

Reed Bunting (Male).

Reed Bunting (Male).

Just before entering the hide overlooking Burrows Pit we heard a Bittern booming while at least three Sedge Warblers were singing from amongst the nearby bramble bushes and once inside we added views of a male and female Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Shelduck, Gadwall, Pochard, Lapwing, Mute Swan, Greylag and Canada Geese, Grey Heron plus one lonely Swallow. Before continuing our stroll I spent a while outside the hide trying to get some shots of the Sedge Warblers.

Sedge Warbler

Singing Sedge Warbler

Click this link to review a few more images and its song on my other blog, FABirding.

Butterflies seen included Peacock, Brimstone, Orange Tip and Small Tortoiseshell.

A very tatty Small Tortoiseshell

On the mound overlooking the extensive reed beds we again heard the Bittern booming and I had a brief sighting of a Bearded Reedling. Further along two Shepherds were checking their flock to ensure that the new lambs were healthy.

An enjoyable stroll was capped off by an excellent meal provided by our friends and a review of my memory card on their wide screen TV.  ..... FAB.

Linking to WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY.

Birding with Friends (Part 2).

Continuing on from (Part 1) we decided to head over to Dungeness for the afternoon. First stop was the ARC Pit and the search for Tree Sparrows was unsuccessful. (They were probably hiding away from the cold and windy weather!) A Marsh Harrier was sighted while we searched the mixed hirrundine flocks of Swifts, Swallows, Sand and House Martins for any Red-Rumped Swallows but again no joy.

 Mute Swan.

We then moved onto the main reserve and having checked the sightings board headed straight towards Denge Marsh where a distant large white blob feeding along a water filled gully increased my heart rate.

Moving closer I was eventually able to get some reasonable cropped shots of a Spoonbill with its spatula shaped bill. (Another 2010 tick).

It eventually flew off to another feeding location but way out of sight.

 Greylag Goose.

Searching through the tussock grass on the wet meadow I located a single Wood Sandpiper and a little while later we also caught up with a half a dozen Yellow Wagtails but regretfully too far away for my lens.

Most of the small birds were hiding away but one Sedge Warbler presented a challenge as it sang heartily from a bramble bush showing off its deep red gape.

While discussing the merits or otherwise of this Oystercatcher nesting on a tern raft a Whimbrel called as it flew overhead and over to our right we heard the distinctive deep 'booming' of a Bittern. (First time I've heard this sound for some years).   

Somewhere out here is a Bittern!

A Reed Bunting balancing precariously!

Nearly the end of a perfect day in good company and around 60 species seen plus the sky eventually changing from grey to blue with the power station on the horizon. Our day together ended with us enjoying a very tasty meal at a fish resturant in Rye before we departed on the two hour drive home.  FAB.

A day in Kent.

Day 2 of 2010 saw us heading into Kent to meet up with friends. Derek had done his usual searches online so we drove over to Dungeness via Camber and Scotney Gravel Pits. During the journey we ticked off Redwing, Fieldfare, Lapwing and Golden Plover from the warm comfort of the vehicle. At Scotney a Kestrel landed fairly close while we scanned the ducks and gulls. Further up the road we were surprised to see at least a dozen Barnacle Geese waddling across the grass and heading for the water but nowhere to stop safely so we proceeded onwards to Dungeness.

A visit to the ARC pit produced a very good selection of ducks; Mallard, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Pochard, Northern Pintail, Gadwall plus Coots and Moorhen of course! The ladies watched a Marsh Harrier but kept silent until after it had disappeared, but I got a few decent sightings later in the day.

Wildlife on the reserve was too far away for photos so a view of the power station will have to do.

A view of the distant old and new lighthouses.

I'm not going to list all the days sightings (55) but we did manage to find  4 Black-Necked and 1 Slavonian (Horned) Grebe, a Chiffchaff (possibly Siberian?), a redhead Smew, 8 Ruddy Ducks and 2 Common Snipe. Not unsurprisingly the reserve was overflowing with bird watchers all hoping to see a Bittern from the Christmas Dell hide. When we arrived the assembled watchers were very quiet, no recent sighting although one had been seen earlier and the location noted. After a quick sweep around I concentrated on the likely spot and after what seemed ages the Bittern partially appeared walking through the reeds. I think everyone saw it, if only briefly, but if they didn't then don't blame me.

Kestrel that posed for me at Scotney Gravel Pit.

For anyone who is interested I have updated my 2010 sightings list on the sidebar.   FAB.

Dungeness.....a very bleak day.

After a one and a half hour drive I arrived at Dungeness, Kent where the predominant landscape is wild and weird! Mile after mile of shingle that juts out into the English Channel which makes it the ideal location in spring & autumn to watch migrant birds. However, today it was sporting it's winter coat - very cold with a strong on shore wind, overcast, misty and very bleak. The whole area is dominated by the Nuclear Power Station.

As you can probably guess the main local industry is fishing.

My first stop for birdwatching was the ARC pit and the main inhabitants appeared to be just gulls...Black-headed, Common, Herring, Greater Black-backed and a few Lesser Blacked-backed.

Black-headed Gulls

Then I located the ducks, mainly Wigeon & Teal plus Northern Pintail, Shelduck, Coot and a single male Goldeneye.

Wigeon, Teal & Coot

On my return walk to the car I watched a Snipe drop into the marsh and immediately disappear and then a long distance view of Marsh Harrier.

Next stop was a circular walk around the RSPB reserve after booking into the Info Centre to buy a new logbook and check the sightings board that included Bitterns, Firecrest, Smew & Slavonian (Horned) Grebe - But bearing in mind the weather conditions what would I see?

Denge Marsh

Well the list started off with Great-Crested & Little Grebes, Cormorants, Mallard, Coot, Wigeon, Teal, Tufted & Ruddy Ducks, Shoveler, Pochard and a single female Goldeneye. I scanned everywhere for a Bittern but not my day! However I did find a Slavonian (Horned) Grebe and a redhead Smew but they both dived for long periods and were too far away to get any photos. Large flocks of Starlings & Lapwings appeared in the air from time to time.

Resting male Northern Shoveler

While digi-scoping the Shoveler a Water Rail squealed from nearby but as usual didn't show itself. A pair of Wrens displayed, calling to one another, in nearby Salix. Another but longer view of a male Marsh Harrier floating over distant red beds and disturbing Wigeon & Teal into flight. Other sightings included Mute Swans, Canada Geese, one over flying Greylag, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Robin, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Magpies, Woodpigeons and Stock Doves plus hovering Kestrel. Other animals were Rabbits and the resident sheep.

Who is looking at who?

I returned to the car via a new boardwalk which in the spring should produce a good location for migrant warblers.

My convoluted journey home via Scotney Pits, Camber then on to Pett Pools produced Redshank & Curlew on the roadside fields. Great-crested Grebe (20+) and Common Scoters on the angry sea at Winchelsea. A male and a female Bullfinch feeding in a bramble bush as I drove through Fairlight.

Weir Wood Reservoir

The last stop on the journey home was Weir Wood Reservoir but again very little activity on the water which was still partially frozen - a small group of Black-headed Gulls & Mallard. Whilst enjoying a much needed hot drink I was entertained by a Great-spotted Woodpecker, Dunnock, Long-tailed Tit and an unexpected Treecreeper only ten feet from the car but no time to get a photo...sorry folks!

So the total for the day was a creditable 57 species and has taken my 2009 year list to 96. Tony has just rung and wants me to take him to Farlington Marshes & then the old oyster beds on Hayling Island tomorrow so there is a chance we may add some new birds. If not it will be a day out in good company.