randombirder

Go to Dungeness!  This fine weather even made Dungeness look acceptable today.  Such an enigmatic place, strange landscapes, but blessed with a varied habitat that fosters a breadth of species.  It's always good here. The fun started 50 metres into the reserve entrance where a Great Egret (one of four seen today) was sat up on the bank of Boulderwall farm, with two Whooper Swan present by the pools, and a Tree Sparrow in the cottage car park. Spirits were high, the sun was beating down, there was warmth in it. Heading slowly toward the Markpeace Hide, a Goldcrest and Chiffchaff (one of three seen today) were passing through the LEO bush by the pool. It's always a joy to see a drake Smew .  This one was particularly mobile and characteristically skittish diving regularly but seen well toward the far bank of Burrowes Pit. There were hundreds of Cormorant here, many of them in breeding plumage, adourning a grey 'shawl' making them look ...

A quick trip down to Dungeness to get a glimpse of the American Black Tern that favoured the western end of Burrowes Pit as viewed from the Makepeace Hide.  It remained distant while at least 25 Black Tern were scattered more widely, frequently seen passing by the hide. American Black Tern American Black Tern This scarce nearctic tern appeared slightly more compact than it's european cousins, displaying noticably dark rustic tones without the clean breaks seen on the ' nigra ' a shorter tail and 'dirtier' flanks.  Most of the Black Tern observed showed pristine white underwing and underparts. Black Tern Black Tern Black Tern Sand Martin :-) There were five Great Egret present, and a quick scan of waders revealed good numbers of Ringed Plover and Dunlin , and a single Knot .

Three midnight finishes at work this week including yesterday, a Saturday where the sun was blazing and the only thought was of being far and away from corporate purgatory. So today, a dash down to Dungeness was all too brief, but the weather wasn't as good as forecast.  A bit of a surprise was the report of a male Kentish Plover that showed well but distantly from the Dennis Hide.  Also from there were four summer plumaged Dunlin , a smart Sanderling , and a Common Sandpiper . It felt rare this morning, the low cloud finally cleared, but the breeze was keen.  There was a Hoopoe in town, and a half hour search along the Dengemarsh Road finally ended in success.  The bird was seen distantly across fields to the edge of MoD land.  It was actively feeding before being chased by a Magpie giving better flight views.  A really great bird to see in the UK. A Hobby was feeding over Denge Marsh. A couple of Yellow Wagtail were present by the roa...

Another gorgeous day on the coast feeling the sun on my face while joining convivial groups out to enjoying the quality on offer. Bird of the day went to the Siberian Stonechat of the stejnegeri form that had been present by Denge quarry for a while.  Showing really well in the low winter sun, the bird was noticeably paler with a bold supercilium and a rusty rump seen in flight.  The rest I leave to the poop and DNA. So, the poop went back to the polling station for a re-count and this was the final unequivocal result.  What do I know! But it was a real birding bonanza today with plenty to see and hardly enough time.  So I had to be selective. Only my 2nd ever Ring-necked Duck drifted by a flock of Common Pochard on New Diggings.  Also there was a single Great White Egret , and plenty of Lapwing and Golden Plover . Parking in a restricted area, I was keen to move onto the reserve where an assembled crowd with eyes on peering thro...

I'll have to remind myself about the fortuitousness nature of this one and how it went some way to banishing the disappointments of recent failed missions.  A little late starting out after Friday drinks yesterday evening, the head was feeling a little tender, but the plan was to get out and see something new. A Buff-breasted Sandpiper had arrived at Dungeness yesterday afternoon and was still present this morning.  The weather wasn't great in London but was agreeably pleasant on the promontory of Dungeness, warm sunshine coupled with a keen but warm southerly breeze. I decided to head for the Makepeace Hide where the neartic wader had been reliably observed during the length of its short stay.  It was picked up distantly on one of the islands half way out on Burrowes Pit where it was evident that the bird was extremely mobile.  I decided to stay put while the other birders made for the Firth hide. It was only after a couple of minutes or so when I picked up t...