Restharrow Scrape

 Restharrow Scrape, Sandwich Bay B.O. 

Some of the 480+ Teal, at the far end of the scrape.

 Usually at this time of year Teal are the most numerous Duck, but t is possible to find several other species. Today there were four Shovelers, but no Mallard, Gadwall, Wigeon, Shelduck or Tufted Ducks or any others.

Looking towards the observatory in the distance

There were however a good number (if any number is good) of Greylags, noisily engaged in a spot of R&R.

 A lone Brent Goose appeared at the far end and enjoyed a  fresh water bath.

The Brent wandered on to the island and the vanished while I was scanning elsewhere.

A group of Curlews flew over.

And around a dozen dropped in for a rest,

 A Group of Curlews at the far end.

Not many gulls today, just one Common Gull and a few Black-headed Gulls, the local Herring Gull flew over without dropping in.

 The closest Teal dozed by the bank, until the drake woke up, and seemed to cough up a pellet.

 In the bright sunlight the drake Teal looked extremely handsome.

 The Stonechat was intent on photobombing my attempts to photo the Teal

Now the the Duck 

Now a solo.

A Hope Point of a Day

What a beautiful day! I don't mind it cold, and without the wind the sunshine was really pleasant. I had a gentle stroll along the cliff to down to Hope Point and beyond.

The tide was quite high and the shore line way below was narrow. We never have many shore birds as there is no mud and probably not a great amount of food for waders, but Oystercatchers are regular and their calls were piping from below. I also sow three Curlews passing by.

Peering over the edge there were a number of gulls on show including a few Great Black-backed Gulls, which are undoubtedly the boss birds on the foreshore.

 The majority of Gull cruising along the cliff top are of course Herring Gulls, There are still a lot of first winter birds around, as above.

The adults,well known from the root tops in the village, are equally at home on the cliffs and are looking very spick and span now,

Of course Fulmars were very evident as they are always early to establish their territories on the cliffs.

There are various place where ledges below the top of the cliff are visible, and as I walked along I was aware of the calls of some birds noisily advertising their presence on the ledges.

The position of this bird allow fairly close approach and I was pleased to get this picture that shows the structure of the tube-nosed bill well.  The Fulmar is our closest relation to the Albatrosses and like themit has the ability to drink sea water and excrete the salt is contains through the tubes on its beak. The beak is also a pretty useful tool. It is sharp edged and used to great effect on the squid and fish that form the Fulmars diet.

This is a view of the ledge that I was watching. There were three birds around and hopefully there will be a nest in the area later.

When they established pairs spend a lot of time bill touching and nuzzling together. 

Some distance out I could see several Red-throated Divers. This group of three were the closest, and there were long way out, there were at least four more further out.

 I actually saw very few small birds, but this pair of Stonechats were quite confiding. The low sunshine made the colours even warmer on this female.

The male above was always close by and it is possible that they are always a pair. They were very active and in the warm sunshine there were a good number of insects on the wing.  Further back towards the monument I came across two Stonechats, but I wasn't sure if they were a second pair or if the ones from just beyond Hope Point had overtaken me.

Much nearer the Monument I found another ledge with a prospecting Fulmar. I'm hoping that this will become a nest site as it is reasonably easy to watch, without being too close to the edge.

Back the cliff top

After a week away on the Isles of Scilly followed by a few days of quite awful weather, it was good to have a decent day to get out and about. I had intended to walk the cliff top to Kingsdown and back, but hesitated when I heard that a Desert Wheatear was on show at Reculver and a Red-rumped Swallow was gracing Dungeness with its presence. On reflection, as I'd seen three of the former and at least six of the latter in Kent I decided not to change my plans. I set out more in hope than expectation but at least the weather was warm enough to walk in shirt sleeves with no coat. A male Peregrine sped by, and this immediately lifted my spirits.

There were a few butterflies about, and after watching five Red Admirals fly by without pausing I was thrilled to see this Clouded Yellow land within a few yards of me. It's been a good year for this migrant butterfly, and it is pleasing that the weather is mild enough for them still to be flying in November. In addition to the butterflies I also saw two species of migrant moths, a Rusty-dot Pearl and a Silver Y.

No rare wheatears or swallows, but a few Stonechats were in evidence as they pursued their insect prey from the tops of bushes at Hope Point, along the Kingsdown Lees and the undercliff.

In each case, when I found a male he appeared to have a partner with him, although I'm not aware that they actually winter in pairs.

AT Kingsdown Undercliff I searched for a Black Redstart, without luck, but there were several Robins defending territories and chasing each other around. I was high tide and and a group of Rock pipits were feeding around the puddles at the end of the foot path. On appeared paler than the others, but they were jumpy and I didn't manage a picture. At this time of year it is normally quite difficult to separate the Scandinavian race. litorralis from the nominate race, petrusus that breeds here. I will certainly have another look at this group of pipits in the near future.

On the way back I was somewhat surprised to flush a Short-eared Owl from the long grass nest to the cliff top path.

I'm not sure which was most surprised, me or the owl, but I really wasn't ready for it and the light was by now appalling. I managed a quick few shots as it flew round.

At least it gave me a decent view of the underwing pattern, showing the characteristic black tips to the primaries, (much less dense in Long-eared Owl) and white trailing edge to the inner primaries and secondaries (missing on Long-eared).

It flew down the slope and then disappeared back into the long grass.

Ring Ouzel Day

After I'd finished going through my moth traps, a good morning with a Gem and a Humming-bird Hawk-moth, I decided to have a walk around Bockhill. The first week of October is ideal for Ring Ouzels and I was sure I'd find some. In fact I drew a blank along the hedges round the farm and the Freedown. There were a few Chiffchaffs around and the sky was full of feeding Swallows, not birds flooding through on migration as they were at the weekend but birds making the most of the warm weather and the insects over the fields to stock up before moving on.

I did move on, down to Hope Point. Well before I got there I could hear the characteristic chacking of Ring Ouzels. The best way I can describe the noise is a cross between a Blackbird alarm and an old fashioned football rattle. Standing by the stile and scanning the shrubs at the point, I quickly found a couple at the back sitting up and chacking away.

Another one was slightly closer, nearer the edge of the field that goes up the hill beside the gold course. I could hear others calling and in the end saw six birds, although given the density of the scrub, there may have been more.

There were a few Song Thrushes around and two fed along the footpath by the scrub. They were feeding intently and were reluctant to fly as I walked along. I got the feeling that they were probably migrants that had arrived with the Ouzels.

Also along the path this Spotted flycatcher was chasing a Small White butterfly. I was surprised that it missed, but like the thrush above the pale tips on the coverts show that it was a first year bird, possibly not yet very experienced at butterfly catching.

In the more open area towards Hope Bay Studio a Stonechat was flycatching from the tops of the bushes. This ones been around for at least a few days and will probably be with us through the winter, provided it isn't too harsh.

Overhead one of the local Kestrels was hovering. On the left wing you can just see the Alula being raised. This group of small quill feathers attached to the first digit are used by the birds to prevent stalling at low speeds, rather like the flaps on an aircraft wing.