Glossy Ibis going to roost at Dungeness RSPB

The new Lighthouse at Dungeness point

Carrion crow on the wire just before Ibis flight

No light- but a reasonable record of a female Marsh harrier from some distance

Two Glossy Ibis's have been loyal to the wetlands at the main entrance to Dungeness RSPB for so long now, that even lazy birdwatchers like myself have finally got around to seeing them.

Standing in the middle of hailstorm, the sun already set and temperatures just over freezing, I watched the birds quickly move to a favoured roosting spot. These rare visitors to the UK were originally part of a mini-autumn invasion of about a dozen birds, and should really be in a traditional West African wetland for the winter. However, such is the mildness of our Autumn, (just one frost so far) that these birds are happily finding fish and amphibians in the Dungeness wetland and seemingly comfortably suriving the winter.
Dramatic and fast changing weather meant there was a possibility of photographing the birds against a golden sunset. Sadly and bizarely, I was caught in the hail shower - so we will have to wait another night for that kind of shot.



Dramatic Dungeness Sunset, but no Ibis yet!


And here they finally are, on their way to roost


Preparing to roost within seconds of leaving their grazing field -the two Glossy Ibis's

An all to brief but exciting view - I'm happy to have a few snaps to end the year with.

Dungeness early December

Adult male Marsh harrier

First winter Marsh harrier (above and below)


Two hours at Dungeness, on a fine Sunday afternoon was just enough time to see some great winter birds including; Bittern, 2 Bewick Swan, 2 Glossy Ibis, Marsh Harrier, male Hen harrier Water Rail and Black Redstart. The very heavy rainfall over the last few weeks has left Dungeness and across to Romney Marsh a maze of flooded fields, swollen streams and ditches. The extreme wet and mild winters followed by extremely dry summers seem to be developing into a pattern down here in Kent.

Reflections on winter so far

Pressure of keeping work has kept me well away from my blog for sometime (and it's set to continue). If their's been a memorable highlight to our autumn winter so far, it would have to be the heavy rain we have been getting, especially last Monday, which saw us with a water pump, moving water away from the front of the house and drive. Last time we found ourselves in that situation must have been 6 or 7 years ago. Having spent the summer very low in water, the two ponds at the back of the garden are the main benefactors from all this, occasionally, they are now so full they appear as one big pond.

Oak and Sallow leaves stayed late on our trees right up to the middle of November. It took several gales and heavy rain to leave the trees bare by the beginning of December.

When it hasn't been raining, we are occasionally rewarded with clear blue skies, and Tuesday saw us receive the first wafer-thin frost of the year. This brought a big increase to the number of birds in the garden, especially House Sparrows (40+) and the return of Yellowhammers (5+). A Heron has taken an interest in the pond, Sparrowhawks are regular with the occasional Kestrel seen to. Last year's Red legged Partridges (now down to three) are still faithfully visiting the garden and two Song Thrushes are now in full song. Fieldfares, Wood pidgeons and Redwings are plentiful in flight overhead, but only a few make a fleeting stay to feed on the Sloe berry bumber crop still remaining at the back of the garden. So far our winter weather, has been mild and extremely wet. Just my guess work, but the past summer/autumn lack of rain has been corrected now, with little risk of a drought in 2010.

Fieldfares, always highly vocal, regularly stop off for a rest high in our neighbours Black poplar tree. Hopefully later in the winter I'll get some closer views.

Mewing Buzzards over Shadoxhurst

Just a few years ago, Common Buzzards were a real rarity here in East Kent. But such is their success nationwide, they are now considered one of our commonest Birds of Prey in the UK. And so we are certainly seeing more Common Buzzards over Shadoxhurst these days. In fact, so many friends in the village reported seeing them this summer, that there is a good chance they may have secretly bred from within the parish. Could this playful adult pair be our local birds - or are they merely passing through Kent and moving on beyond? My hunch is they are our local birds.

Autumn garden birds

Female Great Tit blending into the shadows

After a days rain last weekend, its back to lazy colourful sunny autumn days again. I like the way how the garden birds successfully camouflage into the dappled light of the autumn foliage.

House Sparrows - roosts with starlings in a large and noisy flock 2o feet from the house

Blackbirds in their dozens feed on the bumper sloe berry harvest at the back of the garden

Can't resist another Dunnock shot. Shy and drab with your eye and yet beautiful on camera.

I'd like to get a few more pics of this male Great Tit. Its thought that male Great tits aren't as 'yellow' as birds say 30 years ago: - it's all linked to diet. But this one has a bright yellow breast and stunning black outline too.

Still plenty of hornets around- again, camouflaged nicely in the golden colours of autumn Rosebay Willow herb.

Pale Tussock caterpillar

Found whilst walking in nearby woods, by eldest son George,we brought it home to photograph and later release. A fairly common Moth around here in the summer, I've found caterpillars in the garden in Autumns past. It's hairy, beautiful and preposterous at all times. Tussock moth caterpillar hairs can leave a rash, so if you find a hairy caterpillar be careful with your hands. It's a brisk mover so photographs are quite tricky too. Wanting to escape at all times, my conscience soon said let the little critter get on its way, even though I think I had some better pics to take. At some stage I must update this post with an adult Moth; they, too, are delicate and hairy looking things.

Dunnock in flight

A feeble songster and a preference for the shade of the hedge, means that whilst always around, the Humble Hedge Sparrow - mostly manages to avoid attention - unless its snapped in flight!