18/01/2015 Dungeness and District - what a show - yet again!

Sunday 18th January 2015
Paul and Group  (1+6)




ARC Hanson Hide, Screen Hide: Dungeness, Kent

• We saw some special birds today, notably the rehead Smews ,  male and female Goldeneye, Great White Egrets and a Ruddy Duck, all of which I had seen on previous visits this year but nevertheless were a joy to see again.
• The highlight for me was the great views we got of the Bitterns  first from the reeds opposite the ARC hide and even better when one flew past us at the Screen hide.  A memorable first sighting of the year.

Dungeness Nature Reserve, Kent

Lots to see here but nothing new.

• From Dennis' Hide we saw the majestic drake Smew, my second sighting this year.

Seawatching from Dungeness Fishing Boats, Kent
The weather was poor from the start, with continuous light rain so our normal seawatch at the start of the trip was postponed until almost lunchtime.  Nevertheless it was a notable experience and netted 4 new additions to my 2015 Year List.

• The highlight was the splendid views of the auks with several Guillemots and a Razorbill.

Denge Marsh Road, Lydd, Kent

• A flying visit here and my second chance to see the 2 Cattle Egrets. 
• We also to see several Common Gulls close to the Egrets - my first of the year.

Walland Marsh

• The Bewick's Swans numbered 80+ with a single Whooper Swan in with them (found by Paul). 

• The highlight of this stop however were the Harriers that came to join the show.  First a smashing male Marsh Harrier appeared from over the bank and shortly afterwards a superb male Hen Harrier, my first this year, came swooping in before settling on the ground near the swans.  After a short flight it made another stop before flying away over the bank.  Amazing! 

Scotney Gravel Pits, Sussex

• Nothing new for me here but another chance to see the Scaup and the Black-necked Grebes.

Winchelsea Beach, Sussex

• A new site for me but a familiar bird was the attraction.  The Lesser Yellowlegs had obviously moved here from nearby Pett Level where I saw it last week.  This time the views were much better with the bird moving around the waters edge barely 30 metres away.  The pool was alive with ducks and waders.
• A quick look out at the seashore produced another 4 additions to the year list, making this a most productive and enjoyable first visit.

Rye Harbour NR, Bittern Viewing Area
Andrew and I stayed on at the end to look for our first Barn Owl of 2015 at Rye.  Right on cue the bird turned up to complete a memorable day.






Fabulous - a species count of well into the 60's, with 11 new entries for my 2015 list and all this on a day when the weather was foul.





Today's species list:
Mute Swan
Bewick's Swan
Whooper Swan
Greylag Goose
Canada Goose
Brent Goose
Gadwall
Wigeon
Mallard
Shoveler   (10)
Pintail
Teal
Pochard
Tufted Duck
Scaup
Goldeneye
Smew
Ruddy Duck
Gannet
Cormorant   (20)
Bittern
Grey Heron
Little Egret
Little Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Black-necked Grebe
Marsh Harrier
Hen Harrier
Kestrel
Moorhen   (30)
Coot
Oystercatcher
Lapwing
Golden Plover
Grey Plover
Sanderling
Dunlin
Ruff
Turnstone
Curlew   (40)
Redshank
Common Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Black-headed Gull
Kittiwake
Guillemot
Razorbill
Woodpigeon   (50)
Barn Owl
Magpie
Jackdaw
Rook
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Starling
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Robin   (60)
Stonechat
Dunnock
House Sparrow
Tree Sparrow
Pied Wagtail
Chaffinch
Reed Bunting
Lesser Yellowlegs




Additions to 2015 Year List:
Bittern   (101)
Common Gull   (102)
Kittiwake   (103)
Gannet   (104)
Razorbill   (105)
Guillemot   (106)
Sanderling   (107)
Grey Plover   (108)
Dunlin   (109)
Golden Plover   (110)
Barn Owl   (111)