Smew

At long last a day out where the camera came out of the bag. With the weather set fair Martin suggested a day out at Dungeness, a tempting list of possibles - Hooded Merganser, Smew, Ring-necked Duck and Garganey made it a no-brainer - a trip to the far east was just what we needed.

On the A 27 it seemed as if all the traffic was heading in a westerly direction and we made good time. First stop was the pit outside Camber, just a possibility of a grebe of some description - and that's exactly what we got - a Great Crested Grebe but precious little else.
Next, Scotney Pit where, yet again, it was obvious that most of the wintering waterfowl had departed for their summer residences.

On arrival at Dungeness we stopped at Tanner's Pit and scanned briefly for the Ring-necked Duck, plenty of Tufties in evidence and a single likely candidate that was snoozing at the back of the pool. With no chance of any improved snaps it was on to the visitor centre to check the sightings board. Luckily the board was being updated as we came in through the door - Drake Smew - Christmas Dell Hide/New Excavations. A nod is as good as a wink and we were hotfoot out the door heading for Christmas Dell.

We did manage a very brief look for the long staying Long-eared Owl, but as it wasn't posing out in an obvious position, we ignored it.

Five minutes spent in the Makepeace hide was long enough to ID a single Ruff out on one of the islands, important as a year tick, as waders have been in short supply so far this year. But there was a bird waiting for us further round the reserve and we just couldn't spend any more time scanning the vastness of Burrowe's.

As we entered Christmas Dell hide a kind birder indicated to us a white blob some distance from the hide - drake Smew - Woo Hoo! Not only could we record a stunning bird but it started to swim closer and finally it was joined by a charming red-top.

 

 

 

 The birds were feeding happily together when it became obvious that the female was up for more than companionship - she displayed to the male - tail in the air and head low to the water. He was having none of it - though at one stage he made an effort at preening but not a single spark of response.

Finally they flew off to the far side of the pit so with little chance of any closer shots we carried on with our circumnavigation of the reserve - the only highlight being a couple of Bearded Tits adjacent to the viewpoint.

Reports of Black Redstarts on the beach were enough to have us make a visit. Sure enough the easiest tick of the year as on the walls of the garden around the old lighthouse were at least four specimens, probably five. Alas I couldn't get close to any of them and most of the shots I took had pretty awful backgrounds.

We broke the journey home with calls to Scotney and Pett but it was more of the same - very little to be seen.

Meanwhile, in the garden, I managed to capture the 79th species of my garden list. What I thought was a pair of feral pigeons turned out to be Stock Doves. Unfortunately recorded on a dull day and snapping through glass. Another bonus was the return of the Greenfinches to the feeders and two Goldcrests passing through.

WOW - Waxwings, Owls and Warbler

Today was a planned trip into Kent, Strood for a banker Waxwing, another go for the Stejnegers Stonechat at Dungeness and possibly the Red-necked Grebe at Camber, sundry geese had been reported both at Pett Level and Scotney so we were in for a long day. Rail strikes and local traffic conditions meant an early start so we left at 0630. Unfortunately a 13 car pile up on the M23 meant a considerable delay but as we arrived in Strood the Waxwings showed immediately. Very flighty birds - flying in to a group of golden rowan trees, grabbing several berries and then retreating to a higher perch in a nearby ash tree to digest the food. Waxwings tend to be inconsiderate in that they always seem to be in awkward places for photography, normally a local school. This venue was no different, main road, sheltered accommodation and a gathering crowd of keen photographers - conditions that make me feel uncomfortable - so it was grab a record shot and get away ASAP.

 

Just need to get them down into Sussex with some sunny weather!


On to Dungeness where we wanted to record the Long-eared Owl that we had dipped the previous week. Great news - not one LEO adjacent to the dipping pond, but two and in a reasonable location for a record.

On the way out we located the Ring-necked Duck but as it was no closer than on our last visit we decided to spend the time on the Stejnegers - same result the bird had gone AWOL - it must have known we were coming. Shades of the infamous Little Bunting episode - seven trips without a result.

A short stop at Scotney gave views of the usual feral Barnacle Geese with the Emperor Goose crosses mixed in. Another stop at Pett Level and a diligent search of the geese out in the field resulted in Martin finding the five Taiga Bean Geese, a long way off and the scope on maximum magnification to resolve the ID.

We completed the day on Pevensey Levels looking for a Short-eared Owl, unfortunately a no show and with both the light and the temperature dropping we called it a day and headed for home.



The previous day had been a foray around the local patch, with the rail strike and local road works the traffic was horrendous and any long distance was out of the question. First up was Petworth Park, invariably there are Goosanders on the lower lake and always the chance of an Egyptian Goose. When we arrived a lone Goosander was on the lake but as always he kept his distance. There are always better chances for Goosander shots, particularly at Eyeworth or even the Widewater at Shoreham. So I left Martin trying, with consummate fieldcraft, to get closer to the bird whilst I stalked the Fallow Deer. I say stalked, these deer are used to a host of dog walkers and joggers, as you approach they just drift away to a comfortable distance.

I heard the familiar sound of antler on antler and found two bucks half heartedly engaged in "combat", every now and then they would break off, have a graze then have another go, the rutting season has long passed but I guess they like to keep their hands in.

I returned to the lake and found that three more birds had flown in, rather than settling things down it made the birds much more wary and finally they departed, probably for the upper lake.

Next a trip the Sussex commons where we obtained our yearly fix of Dartford Warbler, unfortunately never close and never stationary but a record shot nevertheless.

 

 

 

 

White-fronted and Barnacle Geese



 

Today was a visit to Dungeness with stops at Pett Level and Scotney, both on the way there and on the return journey. I was hoping to catch the Glossy Ibis but another no show. However, Martin managed to find our first Grey Heron of the year and Scotney gave the ever present Barnacle Geese. Dungeness never fails to provide entertainment and today we came up with:- Tree Sparrow, Smew, Long-eared Owl, Cetti's Warbler, Water Rail, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Pintail, Great White Egret, Slavonian Grebe, Reed Bunting - all of which were ticks.

 

Local birders were excited by the presence of three Shags on Burrowe's Pit.

 

Down on the beach we found a ringed Herring Gull, A3BJ, a bird that has been in the area for some time. No Caspians on show so we started for home.

 

Back at Scotney the goose numbers had increased so we stopped off to have another scan and we were treated to a fly by of  some handsome White-fronted Geese that appeared to be about to land in front of us. Then the whole congregation was put to flight by the farmer rounding up his sheep. Quite spectacular - the geese that is, not the sheep.

 

Then to  Pett again but sadly no Ibis  and to compound the disappointment a reported Penduline at Dunge where we had just come from!!

Lesser Yellowlegs

Another cracking day out, 2015 really has started with a bang. Today it was the Pett Level Lesser Yellowlegs, an obliging bird that has favoured one of the pools close to the road. So, in cool and windy conditions, with just a hint of sunshine, we parked on the road in what we thought would be the best spot. Like minded birders had done just the same, ahead of us was David Gardiner scanning the venue. We didn't have to wait long before the bird arrived and then it was a scramble to get the cameras sorted out. Just a short opportunity to capture some reasonable shots as a passing Turnstone spooked the bird and it retired to the back of the pool, taking refuge in some reeds. However, it wasn't long before it reappeared and it gradually worked its way to a position close to the road.

 

Having captured some really good shots of what can be a difficult subject we bade farewell to David and made our way to Scotney Pit.  The drake Scaup was found remarkably easily and not only that, it was swimming strongly towards the west, well into Sussex!! I dutifully scanned the mass of Greylags but could not turn up anything unusual. Amongst the host of Tufted Ducks and hordes of Wigeon there were some splendid looking Pochards, alas a bit far away for a photograph.

Next we visited Denge Marsh for the long staying Cattle Egrets. I had been fortunate to have them close last Friday and was confident that Martin would have the same opportunity. Sod's Law prevailed, when we arrived there was only one bird present and at quite a distance. Martin took a few record shots and as we started to return to the car, sure enough two Cattle Egrets took to the air and landed within 10 yards of the roadside fence - right in front of where we had parked - so close that I couldn't resist a few more records. The  afternoon light enhancing the orange tinge that both birds were displaying on their heads.

I guess the "softness" comes from shooting through a chain link fence!

Next up had to be Boulderwall Farm at RSPB Dungeness, well how could you venture into Kent without paying the Tree Sparrows a visit. Oddly there were quite a few Reed Buntings about in the cottage garden and they were quite distracting. I spotted and counted six Tree Sparrows but by the time other birders were scanning the brambles the birds had melted away into the scrub. I could tell by their looks that they thought I was mistaken and that I had been conned by the Reedies.

Then it was over the road to ARC and the Hanson Hide. As we entered the hide we were directed to an obliging and successful Kingfisher that was perched to the right of the hide.
Really nice to finally catch up with Mike Hook again - some four years after our first meeting in one of the hides at Rye. Somehow over the intervening years we have managed to miss each other by just minutes at several venues in deepest Kent.

Whilst in the hide we were treated to a distant views of Marsh Harrier and Bittern. Closer to the hide we managed to capture several active Chiffchaffs and an industrious Great Tit, pulling the reedmace heads to pieces.

A quick call to the visitor centre and the two closest hides in search of a Smew but by now the wind was whistling through and most birds had gone for cover. On the way out we stopped again at Boulderwall and we finally caught up with the Tree Sparrows, probably well into double figures present but again mixed in with the Reed Buntings. I knew I wasn't mistaken!

A Day at Dungeness

Last week we postponed our visit to Dungeness, so today, in what promised to be perfect birding weather, we set off  eastwards in some pretty dense traffic. There is a bonus on the longer car journeys when Martin drives, in that I get to bird spot before our destination and Martin concentrates on the road ahead. However, this time on the the roads via Bexhill and Hasting birds were absent but on the marsh approaching Rye, Martin espied a field full of white objects - Geese?  No Martin - sheep or as they will be in known in future - "Woolly Geese".

The birding day augured well, as we parked in the ARC car park at Dungeness a well timed flyby of the day's first Marsh Harrier kicked us into gear.  From the hide we managed to find Red-top Smew, Great White Egret and Goldeneye. Cetti's Warblers and a Water Rail were sounding off in close proximity to the hide but neither showed themselves. With lots of ground to cover we took a stroll round to the viewing screen, where hawk-eyed Martin spotted a Bittern creeping into the reeds. Lots of waterfowl on view including even more female Smew but not a drake to be seen anywhere.

A local birder had tipped us off to two Black-throated Divers present on the New Diggings so, after a short interlude to view the Tree Sparrow flock at Boulderwall, we headed south down the road. Unfortunately no BTD were present but out on the southern end of ARC a Great White Egret posed perfectly. Back to the reserve with another pause to try and obtain a better Tree Sparrow shot.



Today they didn't want to come out from cover

At the Visitor Centre the recent sightings board showed that a Black-necked Grebe was present on Burrowe's, probably viewable from the Dennis Hide. Here we spent some time scrutinising every bird in sight, unfortunately resulting in failure. We moved on to the Firth Hide where a another huge number of wildfowl were scanned for something unusual, then an obliging female Goosander swam unconcerned to a position directly beneath the hide window and was duly recorded. 

 

Undeterred and somewhat buoyed up by the Goosander encounter we paid a visit to the Makepeace Hide where yet again Martin's keen eyesight paid off with distant views of the Black-necked Grebe. By now we were fairly happy and on a roll, where next? I was keen to get back to Scotney to scan for some geese but we agreed for one more go at the BTD, as we passed New Diggings, there in the corner as predicted, were two Black-throated Divers. Unfortunately in my haste to get the camera out I had inadvertently switched to manual mode and proceeded to take a series of blank images of a bird that you don't often get close to. Ah well - perhaps another day and no doubt Martin's shots are pretty good.

All I could salvage from a disaster.

Our visit to Scotney was a bit of an anti-climax, the huge numbers of geese were on the fields beyond the far bank of the pit, too far to view even with the scope. Scanning the roosting Lapwing flock revealed just 8 Golden Plover and precious little else. Our final visit was to the Colonel Body Memorial Lakes at Pett Level where we encountered yet more Marsh Harriers. It is odd that sightings of these birds, along with Glossy Ibis and Great White Egrets fails to give that pulse quickening episode that they used to. Thankfully Martin suggested that we have a quick look over the sea wall, out on the flat calm sea were rafts of Wigeon and Great Crested Grebes, careful study of the birds in between revealed Slavonian Grebe and Black and Red-throated Divers.

Finally on the way home, more passenger seat birding gave JACKDAWS, a bird that Martin refuses to put on his list, and a Buzzard. We ended the day with a total of 56 species and a substantial number of year ticks - another great day at Dunge.