Dungeness

Monday October 15

Late up on a very misty and cool morning, a shower in the mini shower cubicle before emptying the moth trap. I didn’t expect much after last night’s steady rain and cold. As I’d thought, down to 45 moths of 18 species. There were some new ones, this lovely Autumn Green Carpet – definitely green – shone out, Snout, Feathered Thorn and Brick.

Despite the poor visibility and low cloud cover here on the ridge in the North Downs, we had to do something. Our usual response, go to the coast. Dungeness is only 28 K away.  As we dropped down to  the coastal plain, the mist dissipated, as did the clouds, and the sun appeared. We then had a very warm, sunny afternoon. Three Red Admiral Butterflies and many Dragonflies showed their appreciation.  
It’s many years since we visited Dungeness, successfully twitching an Audouin’s Gull. All I remember is acres of shingle, scattered houses with messy, boat apparel-filled gardens and tufty bushes. It hasn’t changed much. We stopped to scan roadside pits, seeing Tufted Ducks, Great Crested Grebes, Pochard and our first fly past Great Egret.

Birding our way out on the shingle path to the RSPB Reserve, we added Kestrel and  Stonechat before parking to scope a mass of mainly Greater Black-backed Gulls with a few Herring Gulls, preening on a shingle bank, feathers flying everywhere in a miniature snow storm. Caspian Gull has been reported and I did my best to find one. A small flock of Lapwing was flustered into flight by a low flying single engine plane, taking off from Lydd airport.

At the RSPB Visitors Centre we were welcomed by the two receptionists, one, the volunteer, someone who thought he had to be funny all the time. He wasn’t. Reacting to a notice, we said that we had mobility issues and were told that we could drive to several of the hides. Pam decided that she needed a coffee injection before setting off,  so we sat and scanned the pit outside whilst we had our drinks. A good variety of ducks including Gadwall and Shoveller plus a flock of Golden Plover which seemed to blend into the shingle.

We then visited three of the widely spread hides on the reserve, the birds hardly varying from pit to pit. We didn’t find the large number of Great Egrets reported as being together but kept coming across single or pairs of birds. 

The pits are all scenically attractive with many shingle and sand islands constructed by the RSPB, attractive to birds but very distant for viewers. One pit had two Dunlin and a single Little Stint, the latter a year bird for us.

We stopped to photograph a young Kestrel 

before turning to frame a Grey Heron fishing amongst the reeds. As I did so, Pam called ‘’Big one flying, coming left now’’, smacking me on the shoulder. I managed two shots of a flying Great Egret, the first one not in focus and this one.
 

On the way here, my phone burst into life with a very pleasant and helpful email from the Dungeness Observatory warden, David.  After a good search, driving the tracks through the shingle coastal fringe and getting negative answers from all we asked, we found the Obs. The end house in a row of dwellings occupied by the Power Station staff. At last. Even the café within sight of the place had never heard of it. Astonishing. 

Pam knocked several times without a response, found the door open and poked her head round the door, calling out. A voice replied, saying that he’d just got out of the shower. And it wasn’t David, he wasn’t there. I tried to respond to his email, asking for a suitable time to visit but I don’t know whether it went or not as my connection went. Somewhere in this area of wilderness, we parked so that Pam could have a snack. A distant hoot was puzzling until I suddenly thought that it could be a train whistle. Yes it was. We’d crossed the narrow gauge Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch railway on two occasions earlier. We set off post haste to try and intercept the train and succeeded.  
Debatably, the highlight  of the day, the dear little green engine pulling six small carriages at a sedate pace and emitting a surprisingly large amount of smoke, passed by.

Aspinall, an inveterate gambler and wildlife lover, founded two animal parks in Kent, funded by his winnings. One is Howlett’s the other Port Lympne Wildlife Park. We passed signs to the latter on the way home so decided to investigate. Pam has supported their Gorilla re-wilding to an African island for several years. It’s a very extensive park, 600 acres on  a hillside, no buggies for hire so that’s out. The staff member Pam talked to said that staff had been pushing for their use for years but nothing happened.

Back to our horsy yard, the lone, roaming sheep, nowhere to be seen to-night. Horses often have a sheep as horse box and stable companions, maybe it was snuggled up somewhere. It lkeaves plenty of evidence of its presence where we park the car.

Exploring Kent

Kent.  Saturday/Sunday October 13/14 2018

Saturday

Saturday was packing and travelling day – in very warm, sunny conditions. The letting agency had given us short instructions on how to reach Cavalry Cottage ‘’take Junction 11 off the M20, 5 miles later, Cavalry Cottage is on the left’’. It wasn’t. Turning round, Pam asked at a garage. It might be down there, waving at a side road. Ask again at a timber yard ‘’ it’s round the back there’’. Eventually it was. A very nice house, a hedge and… a ramshackle entrance into Cavalry Farm. A small yard with horse box, stables, a tractor, etc. 

Horse Stud ? More like a small livery stables.

The cottage tucked away against the hedge was ours.

Pam went to the creeper covered farmhouse door and an elderly woman, craggy-faced and clad in very short shorts and a sweater, appeared to give her a guided tour.

We then unpacked the car, walking across the grass to the French windows, and settled in. Much better inside than out - until I tried to connect to the internet - as promised in the advert. Lack of WiFi is a deal breaker for both of us. Router turned off was the message. Off went Pam again. Try the patio and the bedroom window sill was the message. Not good enough, we were furious. Claiming its availability when it isn’t is fraudulent. Neither could I access the web in order to pay for to-day’s Dartmouth crossing. Failure to do so by midnight to-morrow results in a heavy fine. It’s the only way to pay. I’d tried to pre pay but there was a fault.

We’ll see what to-morrow brings.

Sunday October 14  Battle of Hastings day

Sunday began with birthday card and present opening for Pam, 81 to-day. Then, a much anticipated first Kent moth trap opening. The trap was placed on the patio to shelter it from the strong blustery wind. 147 in number of 31 species. Waw. Nothing rare nor new but, some pleasing moths. Cypress Carpet, Delicate, Dark Swordgrass, Mottled Umber, Grey Pine, Merveille de Jour, November Agg, many Barred Sallows and the usual expected brown jobs .

Pam’s decision on how to spend her birthday was to try for the Beluga Whale at Gravesend – which I applauded.

Parking at Poundland, on a small retail park on the banks of the Thames, we walked about 40 metres up to the concrete walkway and wall overlooking Tilbury Docks on the opposite bank. A few other watchers already present reported that the whale had been seen well and near this buoy at 10.30 this morning, before swimming downstream. It should return with the turning tide. We sat/ stood for three hours, enjoying the water traffic. The Marco Polo cruise ship, tied up at Tilbury Docks opposite, leftfor Sydney, Australia. Tug boats and pilot boats and sailing yachts came and went. 

 

The drizzle became heavier and visbility worsened. Wet and cold, we gave up and drove to our home for the week. We’ll try again. The forecast for to-morrow is similar unfortunately.

Back home in Norfolk, our group have seen Beautiful Marbled and the very rare Clancy’s Rustic. No point regretting.

No Knot at Snettisham

Sunday October 7

Birding at last, after a hectic week socially and moth-wise.Having visited R.E's home to see our second ever Delicate, we have now trapped four in our own garden. Must be a good year for them.

A pleasant October day with another paucity of passerines seen. It was difficult to reach double figures by Snettisham.
Searching for Tree Sparrows in Valley Farm Lane, I was temporarily bamboozled by a small group of this year's juveniles. I've never seen the young fledglings before.

One, if not THE, bird of the day for me was a Green Woodpecker in a field  off the approach lane to Sculthorpe Mill. I thought it was a Mistle Thrush sat there until a bino view revealed the 'pecker. It was hunting for grubs, digging its impressive beak into the meadow in a machine-like tempo. Nearly a 100 metres distant, from the car window, past Pam and over a five barred gate I took a couple of shots before it disappeared behind long grass. Lovely, one of my favourite birds, more often heard than seen.

Difficult for me to believe that there were no Knot at all at Snettisham. Where had the swirling clouds gone? I couldn't find any Oystercatchers either. Scattered across the Wash acres of mud were Dunlin, Grey and Golden Plover, a few Bar-tailed Godwit, Teal, Wigeon, Pintail, Little Egrets and a lone Curlew. The latter had a wide white band on its left leg and a wide red one on the right. Obviously part of a research task but I haven't seen anything about it as yet. The BTO site may have an answer.

A few Great Ringed Plover happily searching for food in the samphire lining the near tide line were disturbed by a dog and its owners. Australia only allow dogs in designated areas, including beaches. I wish that applied to the UK. At least this dog was on a lead.

Again, Sunday and sun meant that Hunstanton cliff top was full of parked cars with nowhere to stop. Having to stay in for a delivery hampered us this month.

The Little Grebes are back on Holme Broadwater 

as are the Pink-feet grazing the rough pasture the other side of the pool. Buzzards soared above the church, a lone Marsh Harrier hunted a distant hillside, one Kestrel hovered in front of the Poplar tree belt. 

As we drove back, Pam pointed out two birds on top of a bush, stating that one of them was a Goldfish. So.... I got the giggles, especially as a po faced Pam hastily swallowed her mouthful of apple before amending her ID. No sign of the reported Short-eared Owl. 

I'd hoped to catch up with a Yellow-browed Warbler in Titchwell overflow car park but a later report of one at Gypsy Lane was probably the same bird. Strong north easterly winds yesterday had brought a drop of Yellow-broweds with a few Barred Warblers, along the east coast. A good bit of sea watching too, Leach's Petrel, Skuas and Shearwaters.

Pam saw one Redpoll amongst a flock of Chaffinches, which dispersed as fast as they arrived, no luck for me.  

Home to read more damning reports on Man U in the press after yesterday's hard won 3-2 win against Newcastle - who have yet to win a match this season. And we were 0-2 down after ten minutes. The press, TV and pundits have really got it in for Mourinho, I'm beginning to feel sorry for him. Guardiola can do no wrong.........