Sightings July 2010

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1st Mediterranean Gulls continue to provide most of the interest with at least 81 birds at the Patch and including the first juvenile of the summer. A first-summer Little Gull was also present. Four Black Redstarts were seen around the power station.
2nd The first juvenile Yellow-legged Gull and 18 Mediterranean Gulls were seen at the Patch and a Grey Wagtail flew over the Observatory.
3rd Thirty-two Mediterranean Gulls were seen at the Patch at low tide.
4th Ten Mediterranean Gulls were seen offshore.
5th The Patch and offshore generally provided most of the interest with at least 16 Mediterranean Gulls, a first-summer Little Gull, a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull and an Arctic Skua being seen.
6th At least 28 Mediterranean Gulls and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull were feeding offshore.
7th Limited coverage today produced just four Mediterranean Gulls of interest.

Of note on the RSPB Reserve, a Great White Egret was seen at Dengemarsh.
8th Seven Mediterranean Gulls at the Patch but very little else to be seen.

On the RSPB Reserve, the Great White Egret was seen again at Dengemarsh.
9th Nine Mediterranean Gulls and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls were seen at the Patch in the morning and a Little Egret,  75 Sand Martins and a Yellow Wagtail flew over the area. 

The Great White Egret was seen again at Dengemarsh on the RSPB Reserve.
10th The bird of the day on the land was a Common Treecreeper in the trapping area whilst overhead a Marsh Harrier, 40 Sand Martins and two Yellow Wagtails passed through.

Large numbers of birds feeding offshore in the evening included 100 Gannets, at least 18 Mediterranean Gulls, five Yellow-legged Gulls (inc.four juveniles) and two adult Roseate Terns.

The Great White Egret was seen again at Dengemarsh on the RSPB Reserve.
11th The two adult Roseate Terns were feeding off the fishing boats again during the morning along with eight Mediterranean Gulls and two juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls.

However, the major news was the discovery of a adult White-tailed Plover at ARC Pit around mid-afternoon. After initially flying off it eventually reappeared at about 1700hrs and then gave excellent views to the gathered masses until dark. It is presumed that this is the same individual that has been touring England and Holland in recent weeks. 

White-tailed Plover ARC

 

The Great White Egret was also seen again at Dengemarsh on the RSPB Reserve.
12th Three adult Little Gulls flew west and at least ten Mediterranean Gulls were feeding offshore. A few Swifts and Sand Martins also passed overhead.

The adult White-tailed Plover was still at ARC and continues to give good views from the Viewing Screen.

White-tailed Plover ARC
13th At least 40 Mediterranean Gulls amazingly included 33 juvenile birds, a Little Gull and six Yellow-legged Gulls were feeding offshore. An Arctic Skua was also lingering.

The adult White-tailed Plover was still at ARC and continues to give good views from the Viewing Screen.

White-tailed Plover ARC
14th The Patch was again the place to be with at least 73 Mediterranean Gulls there and now including 50 juvenile birds. Three Little Gulls and three Yellow-legged Gulls were also feeding offshore.

Two first-summer Little Gulls   Dungeness 

The adult White-tailed Plover was still at ARC and showing from the Viewing Screen.
15th A very windy morning stirred things up on the sea with several hours watching producing five Balearic Shearwaters, five Manx Shearwaters, 225 Gannets, an Eider, three Arctic Skuas, a Roseate Tern and 215 Gannets west and at least 50 Mediterranean Gulls, three Little Gulls and three Yellow-legged Gulls feeding offshore.

Mediterranean Gull juvenile

Improving weather in the afternoon resulted in a small southerly movement of 360 Swifts and a few Sand Martins. Two Hobbies were also seen.

The adult White-tailed Plover was still at ARC and showing from the Viewing Screen and the Great White Egret was still at Dengemarsh.
16th Another windy day. Birds feeding offshore included 21 Mediterranean Gulls, two Little Gulls and 13 Yellow-legged Gulls (12 juveniles).

The adult White-tailed Plover was still at ARC and showing from the Viewing Screen and the Great White Egret was still at Dengemarsh.
17th Another day of strong westerly winds with most of the interest at the Patch where there were at least 64 Mediterranean Gulls, three Little Gulls, seven Yellow-legged Gulls, the first juvenile Kittiwake of the year and a Little Tern.

Improving weather in the afternoon resulted in a reasonable movement of 500 Sand Martins. 

The adult White-tailed Plover was still at ARC and showing from the Viewing Screen and the Great White Egret was still at Dengemarsh.
18th Birds feeding offshore included at least 39 Mediterranean Gulls, a Little Gulls and nine juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls. Sand Martin passage is increasing now with 750 birds out to sea today.

The adult White-tailed Plover was still at ARC and showing from the Viewing Screen and the Great White Egret was still at Dengemarsh.
19th Much quieter at the Patch today with just nine Mediterranean Gulls, a Little Gull and three Yellow-legged Gulls.

The adult White-tailed Plover was still at ARC and showing from the Viewing Screen and the Great White Egret was still at Dengemarsh.
20th Much quieter offshore today with just five Mediterranean Gulls and three juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls.

A Greenshank and seven Yellow Wagtails flew over the area and Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen in the bushes.

The adult White-tailed Plover was still at ARC and showing from the Viewing Screen and the Great White Egret was still at Dengemarsh.
21st Very little movement offshore but there were 12 Mediterranean Gulls, a first-summer Little Gull and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull at the Patch.

A Little Egret and six Yellow Wagtails flew over the area.

The adult White-tailed Plover was still at ARC and showing from the Viewing Screen and the Great White Egret was still at Dengemarsh.
22nd Just three Mediterranean Gulls, three Little Gull and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull offshore. Very quiet on the land.

There was no sign of the White-tailed Plover at ARC today but the Great White Egret was still at Dengemarsh.
23rd Five juvenile Mediterranean Gulls, two Little Gull and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull were at the Patch. Very quiet on the land except for three Yellow Wagtails and two Willow Warblers.

The Great White Egret was still at Dengemarsh.
24th First signs of a few early grounded migrants with a Redstart and a Grasshopper Warbler in the area. A Marsh Harrier also flew over.

A first-summer Mediterranean Gull and two juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls were at the Patch. 

The Great White Egret was still at Dengemarsh.
25th An adult and two juvenile Yellow-legged Gull were seen on the beach. Very quiet on the land except for single Yellow Wagtail and Willow Warbler.

The Great White Egret was still at Dengemarsh.
26th A surprisingly large first arrival of migrants today in overcast conditions with numbers provided by 58 Willow Warblers and quality in the form of single Cuckoo, Redstart, Garden Warbler and Pied Flycatcher. There were also at least ten Black Redstarts feeding along the power station wall.

Eight Mediterranean Gulls were feeding at the Patch during the morning.

The Great White Egret was still at Dengemarsh.
27th Limited coverage today but a handful of Willow Warblers were seen around the Observatory and a Sedge Warbler and a Garden Warbler were also found.
28th Six Willow Warblers were in the moat this morning but nothing much else was to be seen.
29th Another large arrival of Willow Warblers today with at least 75 in the bushes although the only other obvious grounded migrants were a Common Sandpiper and a Garden Warbler. Hobby, Whimbrel and Redshank all flew over and there were three juvenile Mediterranean Gulls and two juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls at the Patch.

The Great White Egret was still at Dengemarsh.
30th Willow Warblers continue to pass through in decent numbers with at least 40 birds today but the only other obvious grounded migrant was a Garden Warbler. 

The Great White Egret was still at Dengemarsh.
31st Thirty Willow Warblers were seen around the Observatory.

The Great White Egret was still at Dengemarsh.