Memorable days 2010

March 21st

As well as producing a nice selection of grounded migrants, the light NW winds, combined with low cloud cover and light drizzle, provided the ideal conditions to encourage a remarkable overhead passage of Chaffinch. I had been standing on the edge of the road, just to the south of the lifeboat station, watching the numbers of Wheatear steadily increase, when I became aware of the presence of large numbers of Chaffinch calling high overhead. Once located with the naked eye, the volume of birds quickly became apparent, with some flocks reaching almost 1000 birds(a closer look revealed a second layer of birds, moving even higher up) Once flocks were seen moving back north, the true number of birds became difficult to determine (were these new birds coming in from the south, or some of the earlier birds had had reached the point and turned back?) Either way, it was an an amazing sight, with a final total of at least 9000 birds. Other migrants that day included a single Woodcock, 49 Wheatear, 5 Black redstart, 63 Redwing, 21 Chiffchaff and 7 Firecrest. Starlings were also present in good numbers with 2,500 passing overhead.


April 24th

After a decent morning watch, I returned to the seawatch hide late afternoon, to find passage reduced to a light trickle, with just a couple of Great Skuas and 5 small groups of Bar tailed Godwit passing through in 2 hours of watching. Thinking that was it for the day, I returned to the Obs, where we later received at phone call from Tony Greenland, who had gone down to the fishing boats just prior to 19:30, only to find that the sea had (inexplicably) exploded into life. Abandoning Doctor Who, we made our way to the boats, where lines of Common Terns and Little Gulls were streaming past the point at close range, along with various flocks of assorted waders, and good numbers of Arctic Skuas. A pair of Black throated Divers gave excellent views, as they passed by at close range (another was seen further out), though the icing on the cake was provided by an equally close summer plumaged drake Long tailed Duck. The first time I have ever seen one in its summer dress. Though afternoon movements of Terns, Skuas, and waders, are a well known feature of spring seawatching, the late evening rush still made for an unexpected surprise, with no clear change in weather conditions (either wind strength of direction), and no obvious explanation as to why it occured!

Totals for the day were as follows: Brent Goose 225, Shelduck 27, Eider 21, Common Scoter 1,566, long tailed Duck 1, Red breasted Merganser 22, Black throated Diver 4, Slavonian Grebe 2, Grey Plover 15, Bar tailed Godwit 211, Whimbrel 160, Pomarine Skua 2, Arctic Skua 54, Great Skua 6, Mediteranean Gull 6, Little Gull 322, Sandwich Tern 485, Common Tern 2,500, Little Tern 149, Black Tern 9


August 24th

Another memorable seawatch, with strong southerly winds and showers, producing a spectacular offshore passage of waders. A flock of 600 Knot (probably the largest ever to be seen off of Dungeness) were followed by an equally large mixed flock, holding a remarkable 250 Grey Plovers, as well as Bar tailed Godwits, Whimbrels, and more knot. I may be used to seeing large numbers of waders in Norfolk, feeding on The Wash and flying together to roost, but however impressive, it cannot compare with the spectacle of migration, when flocks such as these are on the move.

Totals for the morning were as follows: Balearic Shearwater 1, Manx Shearwater 1, Ringed Plover 57, Grey Plover 440, Knot 776, Curew Sandpiper 1, Sanderling 266, Dunlin 72, Bar tailed Gadwit 190, Whimbrel 71, Redshank 1, Turnstone 113, Arctic Skua 19, Great Skua 6, Common Tern 832, Arctic tern 6, Little Tern 38, Black Tern 7

A flock of 150 Redshank were also seen on the ARC pit that same morning


August 28th

A good arrival of migrants, with the highlight being two Icterine Warblers between the Observatoy and the old lighthouse. Initially identified as a Melodious, the identification quickly became settled, once the bird started showing well in its small patch of chosen Gorse. Having missed 5 at Dungeness, including 4 whilst I was away in Canada and another in 2008 (just glimpsed in flight), as well as several in Norfolk, and the long staying bird at Bungay Suffolk (arriving the day after it went, having been present for several weeks!) I managed to double my lifetime tally of Icterine Warblers, by finding a second bird in the large area of Gorse, just yards from where everyone was standing! Three flyover Spoonbills provided a welcome distraction and a Wood Warbler made a brief appearance in the Trapping Area late afternoon, moving with the mixed feeding flock of Tits and Willow warblers.

Day totals of migrants were as follows: Yellow Wagtail 350, Redstart 3, Whinchat 10, Wheatear 73, Garden Warbler 1, Icterine Warbler 2, Willow Warbler 40, Wood Warbler 1, Pied Flycatcher 9, Spotted Flycatcher 4


September 12th

A day of excellent variety, with a decent scattering of migrants and a varied overhead passage.

Grounded migrants: Yellow Wagtail 170, Redstart 5, Whinchat 4, Wheatear 32, Willow Warbler 35, Chiffchaff 35, Spotted Flycatcher 8, Pied Flycatcher 3, Lapland Bunting 4

In addition, the Wryneck was still present, around the Gorse between the Observatory and the lighthouse, whilst an overhead passage of raptors included a single Honey Buzzard, 10 Common Buzzard and 16 Sparrowhawks. 1000 each of Meadow Pipit and Sand Martin also passed through, though it wasn't untill late into the afternoon that the day really hit its peak.

Sitting on the moat, surrounding the Observatory, I watched in amazement, as thousands of Swallows made their way south towards the point, after flying in from the direction of the RSPB reserve. We had been used to seeing large numbers of birds, congregating over the point in the evenings, but never on a scale such as this. After cycling down to the patch, with birds lining the power station fence, resting on challet roofs, and blackening the power lines, I watched from outside the hide, as birds poured through along the beach and over the sea. The final day total was estimated to be an amazing 40,000 birds.


October 4th

After a good days birding, we were in the process of writing up the daily log, when we received a call from the power station, just after 20:30, to say that they had located a "small, eared Owl" in their security cameras, sat on the power station fence. After exchanging phone numbers and cycling down towards the patch, trying our best to avoid the speed bumps in the dark, (they had agreed to call, once they picked us up in the cameras) we arrived below the hide, to find a Long eared Owl, sat on the fence in full view (it was never REALLY going to be a Scops Owl was it?) Seemingly oblivious to its passers by, just the other side of the fence, we were treated to excellent views, with the bird fully lit up by the lights of the power station. Quite what those within the complex thought we were doing, sat on the shingle, looking into the power station at nine oclock at night, was anyones guess! Overhead, the calm night sky, was broken by the soft "zit" of Song Thrushes, whilst a flock of Greenshank (probably 6+ birds) and a lone Common Sandpiper, could also be heard passing through. A unique and migical experience.

Dungeness 2010

Some of the more unusual birds seen within the Dungeness recording area over the course of the season...


MARCH

Penduline Tit Three birds, seen close to the ARC Hanson hide, were relocated three days later, feeding in the stand of reedmace along the Willow trail. They remained on site till April 4th, when one of the birds could even be heard singing.

Pallid Swift Initially viewed under terrible light conditions, the bird remained on site till the following morning, when people were able to gain satisfactory views and confirm its identity.

Alpine Swift Seen on the final day of the month, as it made its way south along the point and into the power station to roost. The first Dungeness record for almost 20 years! Having failed to show itself to the small crowd, waiting at the power station for its morning departure, it was relocated over ARC, where a handful of fortunate locals managed to connect. Having dipped a bird in Folkestone, that didn't leave its roost till 10:30, I now realise that I should have given the Dungeness bird more time to wake up


APRIL

Purple Heron Britain's first successful nesting pair! It soon became apparent that things were starting to happen, shortly after the arrival of the second bird. Regularly seen together as a pair, it wasn't long before the male was seen collecting nesting material and displaying over the nest site. After a summer of mixed emotions (on more than one occasion thinking that the birds had either failed or deserted the nest) it was a great relief to confirm successful hatching, when the first young bird was seen close to the nest on August 4th. By the end of the season, the birds had managed to successfully fledge two young.


MAY

Whiskered Tern Initially found feeding over the patch (where it stayed for roughly 20 minutes) the bird was relocated over the RSPB reserve, where it could be watched from the causeway feeding over New Diggings. Regularly giving good views, it lingered throughout the morning but disappeared from site late afternoon..

Red-footed Falcon A 1st summer male, which lingered on the RSPB reserve for three days at the beginning of the month.

Bee Eater An unexpected treat, whilst cycling back from the patch late afternoon. Noticing a lone bird sat on the wires I remember thinking to myself "I'm not going to jump to conclusions here, but that looks like a Bee Eater!" In typical Bee Eater fashion, the bird was present for just 15 minutes, and seen by only three birders (several locals arriving just minutes too late) This was my 2nd Dungeness Bee Eater, following a bird seen almost two weeks later (6th June 2008) on almost the same stretch of wire, at the same time of day!


JUNE

Common Rosefinch A frustratingly elusive bird that I found singing in the trapping area June 16th. After hearing it 4 or 5 times I finally managed to locate its position, when it made the brief flight, crossing from one bush to another. It remained on the edge of the Willows for a few seconds (though still largely obscurred, exept for the head) before melting away, never to be seen or heard again!

Marsh Tit Never mind Bee Eaters, unusual Terns or Swifts... For the avid Dungeness lister this was one of the rarest birds of the year! (5th Dunge record) Of all the places it could have chosen, I found it sitting on the power station fence early one morning whilst strolling down to the patch! After a few seconds on the fence, it flew to the scaffolding within the power station complex, for a slightly longer view before dropping to ground and dissapearing. If only it had been a Crested....


JULY

White tailed Plover After a visit to Merseyside (27th - 28th May) and a short hop accross to the Netherlands (May 29th), this striking wader was relocated on the RSPB reserve at Rainham Marshes (July 7th) where it remained for the day, before moving to Slimbridge WWT in Glouctershire 2 days later. Following a 2 day stay at Slimbridge, it was relocated at Dungeness on the afternoon of the 11th, where it remained on the ARC pit untill July 20th. This was the first kent record, and only the 6th to be recorded in Britain, after a bird in 2007, seen in Lancashire and Dumfries and Galloway.

AUGUST

Cattle Egret Now a seemingly annual visitor to Dungeness, one appeared on the reserve on the classic date of August 1st. Hard to believe now, that this used to be a major rarity!

White-winged Black Tern Another regular autumn vagrant that appeared bang on que, with a juvenile being found at the patch on August 15th.

Buff breasted Sandpiper Found the same afternoon as the Tern at the southern end of ARC, this bird lingered till the following day, and provided a welcome Dungeness grip back, having missed the previous autumn bird at Scotney.

Icterine Warbler two birds were present on the 28th, in the gorse between the Observatory and the old lighthouse



Buff breasted Sandpiper When seen in company with a juvenile Ruff (right hand bird) the striking differences in size, structure and even plumage, make it very difficult to understand how the two species can ever be confused! This bird was scarcely bigger than either the Common Sandpiper or Dunlin that accompanied it...



Red backed Shrike One of three birds seen during August, within the Observatory recording area.

SEPTEMBER

Aquatic Warbler One was seen early morning, in the reeds in front of Hanson hide

Glossy Ibis In keeping with last autumns invasion, a flock of 18 birds were seen to fly in off the sea at the fishing boats. They then settled on the RSPB reserve for a couple of days, feeding in the same pools along the entrance track, that held last years birds.

Hoopoe One was present around the fishing boats September 14th

Sabines Gull Three birds flew west on the 23rd, with another individual seen offshore the following day. Seawatching at the fishing boats with Mark Hollingworth, we were both watching the Sabines feeding close inshorehore when a Sooty Shearwater flew through our field of vision, no more than 300 yards out. One of the closest birds I have ever seen off of Dungeness!

Buff breasted Sandpiper Two birds were found at Scotney Sept 28th, increasing to three on October 8th



Spotted Flycatcher An obliging bird feeding around the pines at the water tower pits





Wryneck One of at least 5 recorded during the autumn. This bird gave exceptional views, often down to a matter feet, as it fed on and around the path, between Denge Marsh hide and the viewing ramp.


OCTOBER

Barred Warbler Found on the reserve Oct 2nd, it remained till the following day, regularly giving good views to its admirers. A rare bird in Kent, and the first Dungeness record in about 15 years!

Pallas's Warbler Three records during the autumn: One trapped and ringed (18th) One around the willow trail at ARC (27th) and a second bird in the trapping area on the 31st (self found). After completing a net round of the trapping area with Sam Bayley, we arrived back at the first net, to find a Pallas's with a flock of Long tailed Tits in the Willows surrounding the net. After a couple more brief views, and a short wait, the Pallas's was caught in the net and taken back to the obs were a good number of locals managed to see it in the hand.

Sabines Gull Another bird was watched feeding at the patch on the morning of the 7th

Penduline Tit One on Oct 23rd (ringed) was almost certainly the same bird that had been seeen at the start of the year.

Waxwing A real Dunge rarity! Two birds seen briefly (Oct 24th) were followed the next day by a total of 14, passing through the area in small groups. A rare occurance in itself, what was even more unusual was the remarkably early timing of these arrivals. An axample of its local rarity status can be shown by the bird that I had seen with Dave in November 2008 (his first sighting of a Waxwing at Dungeness in his 20 years as Obs warden!)

Grey Phalarope One on Oct 25th was followed by a second bird (28th - 29th) that gave excellent views, as it fed off the end of the boardwalk just a few meters offshore.

Barred Warbler

"Europeaus" Long tailed Tit Three of these continental birds were present with the Long tailed Tit flock, caught in the same net as the Palas's Warbler.



Everyones favourite Sibe...



Death's-Head Hawk-moth A stunning beast, found flying around inside the power station!



Lapland Bunting One of two birds that lingered around the fishing boats, often showing down to a few feet.



Caspian Gull A very elegant bird



Penduline Tit Feeding on reedmace in front of Hanson hide

Dungeness 2009

An overview of the season with a selection of some of the highlights from 2009

March began with the continued presence of a long staying Iceland Gull, which remained throughout the month, lingering until April 7th. One of two birds seen during the first winter period, which also produced an immaculate adult Glaucous Gull. A seldom seen plumage, and not something that I have ever seen myself. Having done nearly all my seawatching in the dunes at Holme, North Norfolk (cold winds, blowing sand and lack of suitable shelter) it makes a welcome change to sit down in a T shirt, watching lines of Brent Geese, mixed flocks of dabbling ducks, and tight clusters of Terns all moving past you on migration. Where else could you sit on a beach and watch 15 Garganey passing offshore, mixed in with flocks of Teal or Common Scoter?







Three different Caspian Gulls all seen on the RSPB reserve on the islands from Makepeace hide.

April 17th Was a morning of grey skies and light rain, the perfect combination for grounding overhead migrants. Having spent all morning in the field, routinely checking all suitable cover on the point I was more than a little gripped to be told (whilst cooking my well deserved breakfast) that there was a male Red breasted Flycatcher in the gorse near the Old Lighthouse... An area I had walked through not five minutes before, for the 2nd time that morning! Other migrants included 85 Song Thrush, 21 Willow Warbler, four Ring Ouzel, single Firecrest, a male Pied Flycatcher in the lighthouse garden (my first male to be seen away from breeding grounds) and a Hawfinch overhead. The Flycatcher remained hidden from view for the rest of the day.

After spending the next morning watching a highly mobile Hoopoe, we made the treck to Hampshire for a look at the long staying White throated Sparrow. A slightly bizarre experience, considering the large numbers I would encounter over the coming days!I returned from Canada on the 17th May, having already learnt about the presence of the Crested Lark, during the daily evening radio updates "Oh David, theres a Crested Lark at Dungeness" Unfortunately he was being serious...

May 20th proved to be a memorable day, although largely for the wrong reasons. Concealed within the Heligoland trap, cutting back the net ride and hidden from view, I was completely unaware of the onging events being watched from the bench at the top of the moat, just a stones throw away from where I was working. After hanging up the phone, and realising that I had a missed call from David Walker (who was with Barry Chambers, watching from the top of the moat) I retreated back to the bench, only to find that I had missed a Black Kite, which had flown almost over my head. Thankfully the bird was still on view, albeit at a greater range, circling over the northern end of the Long Pits with a Marsh harrier and a Buzzard. After a couple more spirals it started to drop, losing height and eventually drifting out of sight, into the haze and over the firing ranges.

June 4th A decision to head to the reserve and look through the previous nights Moth catch, proved to be the start of a remarkable day, that would finally bring to an end one of the longest running Observatory Sweepstakes. After walking through the trapping area and meeting up with John Knowler at the top of the Long Pits (a devoted Moth trapper, staying for his annual visit to Dungeness) we arrived at the reserve, ahead of visitor centre opening hours, with enough spare time on our hands for a walk around the main trail. After sitting for a few minutes in Denge Marsh hide, I picked up a single bird, as it swiftly broke the skyline and quickly disappeared from view... was that what I think it was? A second appearance confirmed by initial suspicions, and I was soon on the radio to let the reserve know that they had a Pratincole sp feeding over the reeds at Hookers Pits! After a few frantic phone calls and a mad dash to the viewing ramp, I arrived, quickly followed by reserve staff and locals, to find the bird showing at much closer range, where the rufous coloured underwing and short, shallow forked tail could clearly be seen. Knowing of the recent Oriental Pratincole at Pagham Harbour, it seemed more than likely that this was going to be the same bird. After changing position and obtaining further views from several different angles, the identification was finally settled. We were looking at Dunges first (and Kents 2nd) Oriental Pratincole.

The bird remained on site for the rest of the day, finally giving itself up on the deck when it touched down on the islands in the corner of Denge Marsh late afternoon. Unlike the previous British records, which have nearly all involved long staying birds, this decided to opt for an overnight departure, much to the disappointment of those that traveled down the next day. Fortunately birders were offered a second chance in the summer of 2010, when an Oriental Pratincole decided to linger at Frampton Marsh in Lincolnshire. Given its rarity status (the 2009 bird becoming the 6th British record) and the past habits of returning Collared Pratincoles, it would seem logical to assume this was the same bird returning.







Merlin sat on the beach below the seawatch hide with prey

Roseate Terns were a regular feature of the short summer months, with a peak of 5 birds occurring together at the patch on July 19th. No sooner had the spring ended, that the first signs of Autumn migration had already begun, with the first Sand Martins (a flock of 50 birds) moving south and out to sea on July 10th. In contrast to movements of the past, when most birds passed through in August, the last few years seems to have shown a change in the timing of migration, with July becoming the busiest month for Sand Martin passage. Whatever the reasons behind it, there is no doubt that 2,600 Sand Martins, (as there were on July 13th) feeding in swarms over the shingle, and resting together on the beach, always make for an impressive spectacle. Willow warblers also showed up in good numbers, with a steady passage of birds occuring from the end of July and throughout August.

Single Honey Buzzards were seen on August 6th and 8th with a third bird passing through on September 4th, whilst a Nightjar appeared in the Trapping area on September 15th, gliding silently through one of the net rides, before being flushed from the ground. 24 Baleric and 13 Sooty Shearwaters (September 2nd) were part of a good birthday seawatch. Scarcities were few and far between, with a Red-breasted Flycatcher (Sept 15th) being about the only notable passerine of the Autumn. Having spent several long hours, creating an open clearing in the corner of the Trapping Area, this was a most welcoming and deserving find! Despite thinking to myself "this looks perfect for Flycatchers" that remained the only individual of any species, that I saw during my three seasons at the Observatrory! A second bird was trapped and ringed on Oct 13th (a day which also included 3 fly over Cranes, 2 Woodlark, and a couple of Lapland Buntings) Elsewhere on Dungeness, a Spotted Crake commenced a 5 day stay on the RSPB reserve (Sept 6th) playing a game of hide and seek amongst the reeds in front of the ARC hide. With the water levels so low, and the reed edges fringed by dry mud, seeing the bird often far from straightforward!

An interesting run of birds from the greater Dungeness recording area, began on September 21st when an all too brief Buff breasted Sandpiper was found on Scotney Pit. This was quickly followed by a group of 5 Glossy ibis, which eventually settled onto the reserve, often favouring the pools along the entrance track close to Boulderwall farm. The most interesting bird however, appeared on September 22nd, when a raptor seen over the RSPB reserve managed to leave observers with a severe identification headache!

Cycling down the entrance track, I had not gone far past Boulderwall farm when I was alerted to a large raptor disturbing the resting gulls from the open shingle, flying low towards me. Expecting it to be the usual Buzzard or Harrier I was somewhat taken aback, when I found myself faced with something completely unfamiliar. Although the shape of the tail and the proportions of the wing seemed out of character, the white flashes to the base of the primaries, combined with the body's rufous tones and the delicate bill and small head, led me to the conclusion that the bird could only be a Black Kite. Opinions were, however, soon divided, with numerous observers discussing the strong possibility of the bird in fact being a Booted Eagle. With Black Kite seemingly ruled out of the equation, there was just one option left. As unlikely as it may have seemed, the bird had to be a Booted Eagle. Numerous queries were raised, concerning the lack of visible "landing lights" and pale window to the primaries, though it wasn't until the bird was seen on the deck, sat in the ploughed fields opposite Cockles Bridge, that serious questions started to be asked. Is it possible for a Booted Eagle to show bare yellow legs?? Not really... OK, so it may have not been the mega we were hoping for (im not going to complain about a self found Black Kite!), but this bird was certainly an eye opening and educational experience for all those present. As probability dictates, the most likely answer is nearly always the correct one...

Further Autumn highlights included a long staying Great White Egret and Red backed Shrike, (both on the RSPB reserve) a high count of 25 Firecrest on October 9th, and a Cattle Egret, found on the outskirts of Lydd, which remained in the Dungeness area throughout October. An elusive Dusky Warbler, was found on the reserve (Oct 23rd) in the vegetaion beside the path to the water tower, but remained very difficult to see over the course of its three day stay. A day out accross the channel to Cap gri Nez failed to deliver anything on the sea, but was more than made up for by a spectacular overhead passage of migrants. Two vast flocks of Starlings moving west over the sea, were almost impossible to estimate (one being in excess of 100,000 birds) whilst further numbers were provided by roughly 700 Skylark, 24 Woodlark, and at least 15,000 Chaffinch. Bramblings, Redpolls and Siskins were all moving past in good numbers, whilst the clifftop stubble fields were alive with Reed Buntings, Skylarks and finches. A single Bullfinch, moving west along the cliffs with a small group of finches was my first example of the species, as a visible migrant.

Canada April 2009

American Robin
Everywhere!



American Tree Sparrow
A lingering winter visitor



Killdeer Found on almost any area of open ground, including gardens and driveways!



Mourning Dove Resembling Parakeets in flight thanks to their diamond shaped tails

It may have been starting to look as though I would never get around to updating this, but with a bit more time on my hands and easier access to the Internet I finally have a chance of keeping this blog up to date! I visited Canada last spring, staying at Long Point bird observatory for nearly four weeks from the end of April through till the middle of May, and can thoroughly recommend the whole experience to any ringers, that wish to handle large numbers of birds, and witness migration on a scale rarely seen in the UK.

With the seasons being somewhat further behind, the leaves on the trees were yet to emerge, and the birdlife was awaiting its annual splash of colour, with the arrival of the many American wood warblers, and equally gaudy Orioles and Tanagers. Turkey Vultures (also known as "Pukebirds" thanks to their delightful habit of vomiting acid onto their legs) were a common sight throughout our journey, which also provided us with some of our only Red tailed Hawks (the new world equivalent of our Common Buzzard) A short diversion to David Brewers garden (who had very kindly picked up from the airport) found the feeders buzzing with Black capped Chickadees, whilst a welcome bonus was provided by two Wild Turkeys that walked through the garden! Once found across Canada in their millions, excessive hunting and logging caused the population to crash to around 30,000 birds, with just 274 birds left in Ontario in 1984, and the species having almost disappeared by the early 1990s. Thankfully, new hunting laws and successful reintroduction projects have provided the population with a much needed boost, with over 30,000 birds now found in Ontario alone.




Northern Flicker One of five Woodpecker species

A quick stop outside the headquarters of Bird Studies Canada, gave me a small taster of what to expect, with the pools supporting an array of hirundines (5 species in total), a hovering Belted Kingfisher, and our only Pied billed Grebes of the trip. As well as large numbers of Dark eyed Juncos we were lucky to find wintering American Tree Sparrow and Fox Sparrow still present around the accommodation at Old Cut, our base for the first couple of nights, and one of three stations for accommodating visiting ringers. The woods outside the ringing shed held large numbers of kinglets, Brown Creepers, and Hermit Thrushes (the earliest of the Catharus thrushes to arrive) whilst American Robins, Mourning Doves and Northern Flickers made the most of the available lawns and gardens. Red breasted Nuthatch and Yellow-rumped Warbler put in their first appearances, and I was treated to my first sighting of an immature Bald Eagle in flight.

After a slightly delayed start, the winds finally eased off (slightly...) allowing us to make our journey across the "lake" and out to the station at the tip of the point, where we would stay for the remainder of our visit. Scaups, Mergansers, Long tailed Ducks, and Buffleheads were in plentiful supply, along with smaller numbers of Scoters (all three species) and a single Slavonian Grebe (by Contrast our return journey produced not a single duck!). The journey across was also memorable for our designated boatman to stop half way across, turn off the engine, and pronounce that "Ahh man this is Bulls**t!" Conditions may not have been ideal, but with the weather set to deteriorate, this was our one chance of getting across! With the lighthouse almost in sight, we battled on...









Song Sparrow One of 14 sparrow species seen



Pine Warbler One of the earliest of the Warblers to arrive



Yellow-rumped Warbler An early arrival, and possibly the most numerous Warbler

Wild and remote, and all to ourselves... anyone who been out there will know what a special place the tip is. Unlike the jungle of the Dungeness trapping area, the narrow bands of trees make passerines surprisingly easy to observe and follow!



A view from the top of the ringing hut



Although the water level may have been a little high for waders, the pools still managed to provide us with Blue winged Teals, American Coot (My only one of the trip!) Short billed Dowitcher, and an obliging Sora Rail.

As well as the large numbers of migrants, feeding amongst the trees and the reed margins of the pools, the increasingly narrow width of the tip provided a natural funnel, that would concentrate the large flocks of Grackles, Blackbirds and Cowbirds into a narrow band as they passed overhead each morning. During the autumn months, when these species can be seen in even greater volume, it isn't unheard of to witness a single flock of up to one million Red-winged Blackbirds (and I thought a flock of 150,000 Starlings past the French coast of Cap gri Nez was impressive!)



Brown headed Cowbird

Digiscoped whilst singing, hence the puffed up appearance. One of the most numerous species to be encountered during the trip.

Once everything had been offloaded from the boat, and the spring trap had been set up (close to the shoreline in the hope of catching Gulls or Terns) we had our first chance to explore the open wilderness of the tip. American Kestrel, Eastern Phoboe and Purple Finch were all added to the trip list during our first afternoon.

The very end of the tip is overlooked by an open shelter, where we would often spend time in the afternoons, enjoying close views of Caspian Terns, Bonapartes and Ring billed Gulls, and is the ideal place to sit and relax, watching the world go by at your own pace.



Invasion of the British...

With migration getting into full swing, the variety of birds was increasing day by day. Pine and Black throated Green were the first of the new warblers to make an appearance (we had already seen Yellow rumped at Old Cut) whilst further arrivals included Blue headed Vireos, Brown Thrashers, and the first of many Baltimore orioles.

A 1st year male Orchard Oriole provided one of the highlights (April 25th) and a Black and White Warbler was observed feeding in its own unique style, creeping around the tree trunks in search of food. Quality was provided by both Grasshopper Sparrow and Hooded warbler on the 26th, but it was the following day that would prove to be the best day for large numbers of migrants.



Grasshopper Sparrow



Hooded Warbler

Although it may not have been the day which provided our highest ringing tally, the number of migrants present on April 27th surpassed all other arrivals during our stay at the tip. Despite releasing over 200 White throated Sparrows from the nets, blocking off Jay traps, operating with fewer nets, and packing up just after mid day we had rung/banded a total of over 500 birds. Northern Parula, Magnolia Warbler, Yellow throated Vireo, Scarlet and Summer Tanagers, Eastern Bluebird and Vesper Sparrow were just some of the new species seen that day...



Ovenbird My highlight of the day. Personally extracted from the nets and later seen walking around the lawn just a few feet away.



Yellow throated Vireo



Scarlet Tanager

One of the more memorable moments of the trip came on April 29th, when an attempt to catch American Goldfinces, ended with an unforeseen attempt at a spot of pipework DIY...

After failing to catch any Gulls, Terns or Waders at the tip, the woosh net was relocated to the large and open lawn outside the accommodation, to be baited with seed for a successful catch. Unfortunately for us, we had forgot to take into account the underground network of pipes hidden directly beneath our metal net poles... You can guess the rest of the story!



Quite an achievement, given the area of space available!

Birding highlights of the day included the first Ruby throated Hummingbird on the feeders outside the windows of the cabin and a 1st winter Iceland Gull flying along the shoreline. What was probably the rarest bird of the trip appeared on the 30th, when a colour ringed Piping Plover was found on the shoreline near to the tip. Although individual birds are occasionally seen on the Canadian shores of the Great Lakes, they have been lost as a regular breeding species, with a total of just 5 pairs found in Ontario in 2003. Recent conservation projects and a greater public awareness of their decline are providing the birds with a much needed lifeline, which in 2007, nested successfully on the Ontario shoreline of the Great Lakes for the first time in 30 years. Three Sandhill Cranes gave excellent views on the 2nd as they flew low overhead and out across the lake and a pair of Wood Duck finally gave themselves up when they were seen together in flight.

A Worm eating warbler was the first of two quality birds trapped on the 3rd, the second being a stunning Golden winged warbler, famous for being the cause of Britain's biggest ever twitch back in 1989. Will there ever be another??



Golden winged Warbler



Worm eating Warbler



Lark Sparrow An unexpected find, when checking the Jay traps outside the cabin. First seen in flight, when I flushed it from the ground, I initially assumed it to be a Towhee, due to its fanned, diamond shaped tail with broad white tips. Its true identity quickly became apparent when it landed in the nearest trees! This was the first to be ringed at Long Point in 10 years. A pleasant evening visit to the tip produced 8 Caspian terns, a single Horned Lark, The Iceland Gull and the Piping plover all watched under superb evening sunlight.

May 6th was to provide us with our highest daily ringing tally, with 12 hours of ringing producing a record breaking tally of 737 new birds, the highest number to be ringed in a day at the tip. Standout highlights included 5 Scarlet Tanagers (4 males 1 female) together in one net, and an equally colourful array of Baltimore and Orchard Orioles, Yellow Warblers, and Grosbeaks all together in the same net a few rounds later "Holy SH******T!!" The best was saved till last when the decision was taken to try for "one last push" of the Heligoland trap. Although the end result may have been some way off of our expectations (a reward of about 10 birds!) the sight of birds erupting from every bush, as we pushed our way forward towards the tip made for an unforgettable sight! lifers for the day included Great Crested Flycatcher, American Redstart and Chestnut sided Warbler.



Piping plover



Caspian and Common Terns



Forsters Tern A good comparison against the two Common Terns either side. Note the clean white body, with pale wing coverts, contrasting slightly with the darker scapulars, and the differences in bill and leg colour.



Red headed Woodpecker Even more spectacular in flight.



Eastern bluebird



Great crested Flycatcher



Eastern kingbird Swooping down from perches to catch insects on the ground showing off its beautiful tail pattern.



Ruby throated Hummingbird



A stormy day at the tip!



Least Flycatcher The earlisest and by far the most numerous of the Empidonax flycatchers. Send us one of these next time please!



Sharp shinned Hawk The last resort during a quiet Autumn on Scilly... How many of these have made it to Britain?



Black-thoated Blue Warbler Does exactly what it says on the tin...



Grey cheeked Thrush One of the five Catharus thrushes, lacking the eyering and warm yellow tones of Swainsons (cheeks and throat) and the rufous coloured rump and primaries of Hermit Thrush.



Eastern Wood Pewee Another of the North American tyrant flycatchers.



Least Sandpiper One of the highlights from the last day at the tip.

After teasing us with distant flight views, our last afternoon at the tip was spent in the shelter, where a large gathering of Gulls and Terns included up to 18 Forsters Terns, finally giving us a chance to study them on the ground, and providing some excellent photo opportunities. A fitting end to our stay.

With several species just starting to arrive, and spring migration still in full swing, our last couple of days at Old Cut still managed to provide us with several new treats. A Bay breasted Warbler (my favourite of all the American wood warblers, and my only one of the trip) gave excellent views just outside the cabin, and A Whip poor Will (initially identified as a Common Nighthawk) spent the remainder of our visit glued to the same open branch, allowing clear daylit views for all passers by. A Louisiana Waterthrush was the first of three new species trapped on our final day, quickly followed by a Canada Warbler and an unmistakable Yellow breasted Chat, whilst a Yellow breasted Flycatcher made a brief appeaqrance in the tops of the nearby trees.

Though it may seem like a difficult choice, given the impressive trip list and the number of new species, my bird of the trip was a surprisingly straightforward decision. Although I had allready seen the species before in Britain, the Sora Rail that I encountered on the tip, feeding in the reeds around the Heligoland trap made for a memorable and unexpected treat. After watching a Marsh Wren feeding at the base of the reeds and dissapear from view, I lowered my bins to find the Sora walking towards me, at a distance of no more than 20 feet. After stopping to feed for just two or three minutes, oblivious to my presence, it merged back into the reeds and out of sight. One of those magic moments that we are lucky enough to stumble accross every now and then.... Right place, right time.



Leaving the tip



Whip poor Will



Northern Parula