I made my spring trip to Dunge at the beginning of the week. I headed down in the late afternoon on Monday 6th. I went straight to the seawatching hide at about 5.30pm. Within 30 mins my first Pomarine Skua went passed and until 7.30pm another 3 flew East. I also had 1 Arctic and 1 high Bonxie over the hide. Then news of a Montagu's Harrier came in over the entrance to the RSPB, so I jumped in with Andy L and made my way round there. We didn't get even close - it might have been a Hen anyway.
Next day I was up at 4.50am and after a walk around an empty moat I headed to the sea again. I stayed until 9.00am and had another 9 Poms, 1 Arctic and 1 Bonxie. Later, back at the sea during the early evening, I had a flock of 8 Velvet Scoter heading East. Elsewhere, I headed over to Scotney to look for the Long-tailed Duck which I found on one of the back pits with a Wood Sandpiper as a bonus. Finishing off at Denge Marsh there was a booming Bittern. Migrants were thin on the ground with only Yellow Wags in any abundance. 3 Hobbies over the Water Tower by ARC was nice though. The trapping area and desert was hard work for a few Chiffs and Willow Warblers.
Finally on the last day, Wednesday 8th, I went for another early seawatch, which was cut short by heavy and persistent rain. It did yield 1 Pom, 8 Velvet Scoter, 1 Roseate Tern and 1 Black Tern.
A total of 94 species over a couple of days wasn't bad, despite no particularly exciting arrivals...
The moth trap only yielded 3 Tawny Shears.
Showing posts with label Pomarine Skua. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pomarine Skua. Show all posts
Thursday, 9 May 2013
Saturday, 5 May 2012
Riverside 5th May 2012
I took a quick walk around Riverside CP this afternoon. Of interest were at least 3 Nightingales, 2 Turtle Doves, 1 Willow Warbler as well as the usual fare.
I was down at Dungeness the previous week and picked up a good few for the year list as well as participating in a mammoth sea watch which broke at least one previous spring record (this one for Arctic Skuas, but the Bonxies came pretty close as well). Only one Pom, but out on the reserve, Lesser Whitethroat, Little Ringed Plover and gathering numbers of Hirundines.
I was down at Dungeness the previous week and picked up a good few for the year list as well as participating in a mammoth sea watch which broke at least one previous spring record (this one for Arctic Skuas, but the Bonxies came pretty close as well). Only one Pom, but out on the reserve, Lesser Whitethroat, Little Ringed Plover and gathering numbers of Hirundines.
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