Week of 29th April

Saturday was very pleasant, although not much bird activity. We decided to go out to Hawthorn Corner to see if there were any green-winged Orchids out. We scanned the field but couldn’t see any flowers. A Yellow Hammer was in the top of a bush singing. We drove up to Wheelgate Farm but no sign of the Little Owls.

The Hooded Crow was reported on the Dengemarsh road, so we went round there and found it feeding with a group of crows at a bit of a distance. 

We then visited the RSPB to see if there were any bees on the bank. Not much of interest but there was a Peacock Butterfly and several Green Tiger Beetles. 

 At home, checking the nest box, the Blue Tit now has 6 eggs and seems to be sitting. The male bird has been in a few times feeding her, once with a St Mark’s fly. During sunny spells there have been several Mason bees around the bee hotels but not the numbers of last year. 

We did the first Breeding Bird Survey, with very few tits, no Whitethroats but quite a few Song Thrush. The footpath on the second transect had been churned to brown mud in places, which made it difficult to walk and there were some new pigs in one of the fields.

27th April - A Gamble on a Sparrow

 A Gambel’s White-crowned Sparrow had been lurking around Seaford Head for a few days and on the first reasonable free day we decided to go for it. It was about an hour and a half journey through the back of Hastings and Pevensey, round Beachy Head to a car park on the edge of the coast. A short walk downhill and we were in place. The weather, unfortunately, decided to rain as we got there, not too hard at first but it did get progressively wetter, with a few breaks. The bird showed as we got there, but not for long. Sheltering under a tree we waited for a break and then it did come out, hopping about on the ground among the grass and bramble shoots. Again it didn’t stay long but it did perch up on a dead branch before retreating into the bushes. We did get a few couple more good views before we gave up and made our way back to the car. 

It was great to see David Campbell there with his lovely dog. The trip back was a bit more unusual as the Sat Nav took us a different way back ending up at Hurst Green and Merriments Lane. A slight diversion towards Bodium and then we were home. 

22nd April 2023 - Buzzards, slime and Black-winged stilt

 Arrived at Obs after picking up the Audio Moth from Kilnfield. Downloaded the recordings while waiting for the kettle. Walked out through the trapping area looking for Ring Ouzels, two of which had been seen by James D earlier. Along the track was an orange slime mould growing on a cut willow stem. There were at least two Lesser Whitethroats singing as well as Whitethroats and a Robin.

On the gorse were several Gorse Shieldbug and James found a Box bug. We could hear the gulls alarming and, looking up, a total of 11 buzzards plus  one or two Sparrowhawks, appeared over several minutes, eventually heading off along the coast. Meeting up with Brenda we learnt that a couple of Ouzels had been seen at the top end of the trapping area so we headed in that direction.We couldn’t find any, although Brenda heard a check from inside a goose bush so we headed back for lunch. News had come through of a Black-winged Stilt on hayfield three on the reserve, so we drove round, joined the parked cars and walked out to where there were some people watching the bird. It was skulking at the very back,of the pools but it did come out eventually. There were also the two Glossy Ibis and a lovely summer plumaged Spotted Redshank. Bearded tits pinged in the reeds behind us but didn’t show.

Bee-eater

 As I arrived at DBO I could see DE and JS sitting in the bench. I went in, turned the kettle on and then went out to see what was happening. JS came over the moat to tell me about a bee-eater that had been found by DW and had been floating around but had now disappeared. A few minutes later they both heard a call and it was re-found heading back.  It hawked around with a gathering group of hirundines before heading off again. It was see over Kerton Road but then re-appeared, flew high and lost again. A phone call from DB alerted us to it sitting on the wires behind his house.

Italian Wall Lizards and Samphire Ho

As there was little bird activity and it was a pleasant afternoon we decided to show Jacques the Italian Wall Lizards at Little Switzerland. 

Denge Wood

The walk into Denge was very pleasant with sunshine making the greens sparkle. There were a number of Common Spotted orchids along the track and once inside the reserve they were everywhere. The Lady orchids were mostly in their prime but numbers of these seemed down. Being a bit later than usual the Greater Butterflies were perfect and there did seem to be more this year.
At the end of the reserve a search of the primroses found one Duke of Burgundy looking quite fresh.
A took a slight diversion on the way home where we found 2 Man orchids but little else.
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Dungeness Point

A short walk out to the edge of the trapping area to do some botnising. On the way we found a fresh Brown Argus as well as some Common Blues.

We were looking for Broomrapes and found several Common Broorapes, some just coming up and some well up. As we walked we were kicking up xylostellas with nearly every step, especially through the grassy and brambly areas. As well as Gorse Shieldbug clambouring through a grasshead.

The bean plant is growing well within it's bramble shelter. It should produce a few beans.

The main purpose was to see this broorape, which, despite it's size and colour, is probably just a common one.

One of the thigs about Dungeness is the variety of species that can be found. One family that seems to thrive is the vetches, a couple of are pictures below.

The willow bushes of the trapping area are absolutely dripping with cuckoo spit. Standing inside a bush is a recipe for getting wet, with the sound of drips falling on the bramble leavews echoing round the area.

Some of the plants are so small that you have to get down on your knees to really appreciate their beauty.