Double D

Saturday, October 10

 

The Den and Dungeness

A straightforward journey down yesterday afternoon, marred by the inability to access the property until after 7 due to Covid cleaning rules. The instructions also said that the owner would  meet us on arrival and hand over the keys. As instructed, I phoned him - twice - to inform of arrival time, and had to leave a message on both occasions. Hm. No-one to meet us and it was pitch dark. I eventually phoned the letting agency and they gave us the number of a key safe. We were in, but too late to put the moth trap out.

I later received a text from the owner, saying that it had been a long day and he was just home. Information in the cottage brochure said that occupants would no longer be met as Covid distancing could not take place in the cottage. Fat lot of use when the letting agency's information is different.

 

The cottage is lovely, and very well and tastefully, furnished and equipped. But... it's tiny. The whole of the bedroom/living room/ kitchen area would fit into - with room left over - the lounge of the Yorkshire cottage. We soon got used to it, finding spots to stash belongings, bags etc.

A very leisurely start to the day. Dungeness is only a 25  minute drive away across Rhomney Marsh. The marsh is famous for its sheep grazing land, criss-crossed by rivers.  

I also noticed several impressive white-painted clapboard houses, reminiscent of the USA's east coast. No sign of any of the 14 quirky churches said to be around. Edith Nesbit, author of the Railway Children, is buried in one of the churchyards.

Dungeness is a place like no other. A wilderness of shingle, shrubs, stunted trees and houses, the Atomic Power station and a lighthouse dominating the view. The track out to the Observatory takes one past the very popular Fish Shack and the Britannia Inn. Both were crowded and the roadsides full of parked cars.

We left it all behind to take a small track around the power station to the end house of a terrace which look like old Lighthouse worker cottages. At the edge of the dunes and shingle, it's in a prime position for netting migrant birds and for trapping moths. 

 

 

An empty Robinson trap against the outside wall, one enters via the side gate. Pam went to investigate and was made very welcome by one of the Obs staff, who produced a potted Palpita Vitrealis, our first of the year, a very green Red/Green Carpet and a Yellow-line Quaker. Not a vintage catch, nor was to-day's netting catch. Siskin, Goldfinch and Redpoll. They were trapping Firecrests but not for two days. When told that we would probably visit most days, he volunteered to keep the best moths for us to see. Thank you.

On the drive back, we were able to pause so that I could snatch some photos of Prospect Cottage. It was the home of filmmaker Derek Jarman (1942-1994) who made a garden that fitted into the landscape. The garden is open to all who wish to wander through as its no longer a private home but publicly owned.

 

Driving onto the RSPB reserve through shingle banks and scattered vegetation, we came upon a mass of  Greater Black-backed Gulls loafing about, distantly. This gives one an idea of the terrain.

 

Dungeness RSPB Centre is still closed due to Covid restrictions. Voluntary staff are set up outside under a small awning, checking membership, dispensing advice etc. As Blue Badge holders we are allowed to drive round, but only one of the three hides is accessible as it's both big enough for distancing, and the many open windows  produced a whistling through draught to-day.Very little to see here, Mallard, Wigeon, Shoveller, Gadwall, Tufted ducks, Teal and Coot.

On to view the cows on a farmer's field near the entrance gate  where Cattle Egrets had been reported. We tried hard two years ago to see this species here and failed. To-day we succeeded. Five Cattle Egrets were feeding very actively amongst the cattle. Never still, always distant.

 

A Great White Egret flew in. 

The light became even worse, and it started to rain. We drove 'home'.

 

 

Autumn Moths

 Thursday, October 8

Like gardens, birds, and the weather, moths have seasons.Some of them are double brooded, appearing during two seasons, most are fairly faithfull to a usual period. There are exceptions of course. We trapped a Pine Hawkmoth this morning which is very late. 

The Autumn months do hold some of my favourite moths.

 Merveille du Jour

 

 

Red-line Quaker

 

 

Green-brindled Crescent

 

 Large Wainscot

 

 

The migrant micro, Rusty-dot Pearl

 

The migrant Macro, The Delicate

 

Chestnut

 

Dark Chestnut 

 

Barred Sallow

Pink-barred Sallow

 

A couple of interesting moth trap invaders last week too. Apart from the plague of Craneflies and Caddisflies.

Granulated Ground Beetle Carabus granulatus

 

The tiny Spotted Snake Millipede Blaniulus guttulatu (Thanks to Kath for help with ID)

 

We're off to a cottage in Kent, overlooking Romney Marsh, to-morrow, hoping for suitable weather for migrant birds and moths. Fingers crossed.

Two Year Ticks

 Tuesday, October 6

It was really odd, not going to Natural Surroundings this morning. Our moth group is now convening on a Thursday until the end of the season - at Anne Harrop's request. She and Simon would like to take Mondays off without having to go to NS to put traps out. Understandable. 

First stop was at Selbrigg to tick off some woodland month birds. 

 

The Coal Tit was the only 'new' bird.

We still drove past the NS entry road at Letheringsett, on the way to Wighton. We started off in Happisburgh, but failed to find the Wryneck's spot, using the BirdGuides app. This app's map guide did take us directly to Wighton and the muck heap where the Hoopoe was hanging out. Off a narrow lane, the immediate area was full of parked cars, as were the two small pull-offs further along. We'd met Richard E when we first stopped, before driving on to turn round in the hope that there would be room for us on the return journey. There was, right by the muck heap. There seemed to have been a mass exodus.

The remaining birders were clustered around a gap in the hedge, which allowed a restricted view into the tall vegetation where the bird was feeding. Getting  to the gap entailed negotiating a rough and narrow edge between a harvested field and the hedge. Fine for the able. Pam managed it to check where the bird was feeding, but said it was not on for me. No birders present were wearing a mask, neither were they distancing. That wasn't on either. I did get out twice. Once to stand near helpful Richard, who had glimpsed the bird, and on another occasion when Pam caught a view. The clicking of camera shutters from the hedge gap were beginning to pall on me who couldn't see a feather. 

Then, whilst I was scanning from the car, Pam saw the Hoopoe appear along the grassy track running past the muck heap. It stayed in view for under a minute before disappearing again. We haven't seen one in this country for a few years. Such charismatic birds. I managed three rapid photos.

 

Penny C and David B have excellent photos ('Penny's Hot Birding and Life' and David's 'Birds of the Heath' blogs).

At least I saw the bird, which was a relief. 

Home for a late sandwich before driving to Happisburgh again with a better idea of the Wryneck's location. Taking the lane labelled Forge, we drove towards Church House Farm and then an unmade track on the left which went off towards some houses. Ah, birders. Five birders were either standing on the bank overlooking a paddock or peering through the hedge and the post and rail paddock fencing. First news was that the bird had flown (!). Then, it bucketed down. The Wryneck was still present but flighty. Our first view of it was when it was at the back of the paddock, actively feeding. It flew again. We crawled down the lane until we found another small gap  through which we could view the bird. - after I'd very slowly opened the car door so that I could see under the rail. Here we had very good views of another charismatic bird. The best I've had since one I saw on the allotments on St Mary, Isles of Scilly.

My shutter went mad. Here are a few of the photos. 

 What a satisfying day.

It's the First of the Month

 Thursday October 1

It may well be the only time we've birded on the first day of the month - when we start listing again - this year 

Sculthorpe Mill is a definite no go now. Large concrete blocks prevent even pedestrian entry to the river and mill race. Maybe the more mobile could scramble over. 

Hedgerows are still pretty birdless, adult birds are moulting and keeping quiet, young birds have dispersed. Our first Tree Sparrows for a couple of months at our usual spot and a year tick near Flitcham. The latter can usually be relied on to produce sightings of Grey Partridge. To-day was our first for 2020. Photo taken through our grotty front windscreen unfortunately. as they peeped out of dense cover before legging it across the road and into the hedge. 

 

No wader spectacular at Snettisham to-day. Althought it had been a high tide, it was half way out by the time we arrived, the thousands of birds well scattered. There are reported to be over 54,ooo present. WEBS count. Still our best place to see a variety of waders, ducks and geese from the comfort of the car. Whilst I was scoping the western shore, a juvenile Peregrine flew into view, landing on the mud. Pam's good at following my directions, but it took a while to get her binoculars in the right place using trees on the Lincolnshire shore as a marker. 

A small passerine flew past the front of the car emitting a call as it flew. A Yellow-browed Warbler. Excellent.

It is now forbidden for cars to enter in order for its occupants to pick samphire. About time. The plants are now a wonderful Autumn shade.

 

Bumping and lurching through the Chalet Park on the way out, we saw a grebe species on the centre pit. It was large with a black cap. Unmistakeably a juvenile Great Crested Grebe. It wasn't unmistakeable in our early Norfolk birding days when Tottenhill gravel pits was THE place to see Smew in winter. Viewing was always restricted and the birds distant. We tried hard to make one into a Red-necked Grebe.

Everywhere along the coast is still crowded with parked cars and tourists. Every day is like a Bank Holiday. Staycationers. Apparently Titchwell with its restricted parking, has been full of beach goers with few spaces for birders, unless one gets there very early.. The ''car park full'' sign was up to-day.

A Great White Egret looking like a yellow-handled walking stick, silhouetted againrt a deep brown cow at Holkham, feeding in a flock of grazing Pink-footed Geese. Two Grey Herons were also using the area to hunt.

There's a good crop of berries this year, this Hawthorn tree near Holkham caight the eye.

 

Adding a couple of Ruff, Wigeon and a Moorhen brought the day's total to an underwhelming 60+. Great Tit, Wren and most woodland birds missing from the list. Such an enjoyable day though.