24th Nov

What a miserable day! Went for a drive through Walland Marsh to try and locate the whoopers, but failed miserably. A few large flocks of fieldfare around totaling in excess of 2000. Glad I've got an ipad to get me out of being miserably lost.......is there a theme going on here? Short trip to Dungy but only as far as the visitor centre...had a rich roast...just for a change! 2 Great white egrets on burrowes and 4 grey herons were of note.........looking miserable trying to shelter from the rain.....'ere we go again! Absolutely no chance of getting the camera out today...guess why!
Tip......don't watch Rhod Gilbert while posting on your blog.....

18th Nov

Took a folder into visitor centre for everyone to look at some photos of wildlife from around the area, while in there 4 pink footed geese flew over burrowes. Met Pete for a long awaited birding day, so we started at Dennis's hide which showed a small flock of long tail tits, 2 great white egrets, and a female goldeneye. Firth hide had no islands left in front of it whatsoever and just the usual suspects out in front, 1 chiffchaff was flitting about on the bank. Makepeace showed a snipe and all the usual ducks although no pintail were to be seen which stood all day. On the way back to the visitor centre another group of long tail tits were showing in the trees as well as 3 goldcrests. On the way up to the viewing mound, were 3 bearded tits and 2 stonechats. Once there, a water rail was heard but not seen, a few marsh harriers, another group of long tail tits, a green woodpecker on one of the telegraph poles and a few more flying through as well as a couple of greater spotted woodpeckers. Because the weather was so nice we decided to try again for the Pallas's warbler at the lighthouse garden, but a clue was given when we got there as there were no other birders around initially which obviously meant...no Pallas's. Pete went off to find the glaucous gull, while I went back to rspb reserve. ARC held 1 great white egret, 3 goldeneye 2F and 1M, and a black necked grebe. Back to visitor centre where a knot and a female common scoter was found. Despite the lovely weather, I never managed 1 photo today.
Count for the day 56

17th Nov

Not been able to go anywhere for the last week, so really looked forward to today. Went to Dungeness, exhibition extended for another 2 weeks, so replaced one of the sold pictures, and I've sorted some pics out this evening in a folder to take down tomorrow so all can look at others unframed.

Burrowes showing usual suspects, 1 female goldeneye, 1 great white egret and 1 yellow leg gull. From the centre I went over to lighthouse garden to look for Pallas's warbler. It did show itself for a very few short glimpses, but unable to get a decent photo, I must grow a few more inches so I can shoot over bushes instead of through them, then maybe the camera can focus properly!

Back over to ARC next where 3 great white egrets were like sentries in front of Hanson hide, 1 male goldeneye in the distance and lots of widgeon and gadwall.

Back to visitor centre for yet another rich roast where 1 great white egret was feeding and a peregrine flew over. 

Count for the day 42



3 Great white egrets

 

3 flying great white egrets

Very dodgy pic of Pallas's Warbler
 

11th Nov

At last! Beaten my nemesis the penduline tit! 2 seen at Stodmarsh today at Grove end, one on the track and another from David Feast hide. Life tick! Still need to get a decent photo though.
What a difference 24 hours makes, what a glorious day! Grove also producing small groups of fieldfare, redwings and bearded tits, 7 snipe flew by, a bittern flew in to back of pool at Feast and then back out 30 mins later.
Over to dungy and a trip to viewing mound, to watch a peregrine sit on top of telegraph pole and another then harrasing it, also bittern moving around in reeds quite close. Another snipe flew by and 2 marsh harriers, also a kestrel being mobbed by 2 crows.
Surprisingly enough even with such nice weather, I never managed 1 decent photo today.
Considering I never looked around much, I still made a day count of 53, even with missing out on some everday ticks, like pochard and widgeon etc.

They may not be very good, but here's some pics anyway:

Bittern

Blue tit

Peregrines

10th Nov.

Last nights weather report said wet morning, dry afternoon.....reality....dry morning, wet afternoon. Arrived at Dungy visitor centre at 12.15 in the drizzle, not much to see on Burrows, although there were a few Pintail looking splendid in heir fully coloured plumage. 6 Snipe flew by while in Makepeace, and a great white egret nestled in the far bank. Over to the gate down the bottom end or ARC to check new diggings for long tailed ducks, but nowhere to be seen, 2 more great whites 1 at each end of new diggings, nothing of note at bottom end of ARC. Hanson hide showing lots of widgeon, a couple more pintail, 1 male goldeneye, my first male of the season, a kestrel sat on the side of the water tower, 1 fly by sparrowhawk, oh and at least 8 grey herons seen in the 3 1/2 hours on the reserve. No photos today, nothing to take pictures of on this rainy afternoon. Weather obviously keeping a lot of birds quiet hence:
Count for the day only 45.

4th Nov Exhibition

What atrocious weather! I have now set up some pictures in the visitor centre at Dungeness after being asked to show off some of my photos. They will be on display for 2 weeks until 17th, so please have a look and you are most welcome to make a comment on here if you so desire. It also allows a chance for them to be purchased at a reasonable price of only £10 framed, so they can grace anybodys wall.

3rd Nov

A quick trip to Dungeness this afternoon. Not a lot on the board in the visitor centre, main report noted was a female long tail duck from Makepeace. Large numbers of shoveller on Burrows and 2 pintail of note. Over to the ARC to find 5 Bewick swans 2 adults and 3 juveniles. All usual ducks including 2 pintail and 1 goldeneye. 1 marsh harrier was hunting the area and a few kestrels. Large numbers of stock doves rose often from the fields in the distance. One dove was quite strange, it came over the lake and made several attempts to land on the water and did manage it once. Very strange to see a dove act like this, I don't know if anyone else has witnessed this, but it was new for me. A great white egret also dropped in for a short visit.
Count for the day 48

Bewick Swans