I spent an hour at Seasalter late yesterday afternoon where after about an hour the Short-eared Owl, harassed by a Crow,  showed a bit distantly from behind the Sportsman Inn. On Tuesday at Dungeness we struggled to find any thing new. However, 30 years ago we would have been amazed to see Geat White Egret, Little Egret and Cattle Egret there on the same day.

SE Owl and C.Crow

 Cattle Egret

 

Yesterday I made a visit at high tide at Hampton Pier, Herne Bay. A biting northerly wind didn't encourage hanging around, but I did manage to find 1 Purple Sandpiper on the beach nearby with Turnstones, and, after an elderly lady dog walker scattered a load of bread on the pier an adult Med. Gull arrived. The Sun also came out for a while.

Purple Sandpiper

 Mediterranean Gull

  

No moths to report yet. Had a day at Dunge today in calm mild weather for a change. We started at the ARC pit where a Bittern showed well but distantly from the Hanson Hide with a Great White Egret. Three Grey Herons were also there and a Sparrowhawk flew close to the hide. At the Fishing Boats c1000 Great Crested Grebes were on the sea. A few Common Scoter and around 10 Red-Throated Divers were seen. The 2 Cattle Egrets were showing well along the Dengemarsh Road, but no cattle to be seen. A Liitle Egret was seen flying from the Springfield Bridge which meant we had clocked up 5 Heron species before lunch. After lunch on the RSPB Reserve around 5 Smew, including the drake, were seen plus a Great White Egret, 2 Goosander and a Black-necked Grebe. Further Little and Great White Egrets were seen at the south end of the ARC. Lastly from the Screen Hide on the ARC pit, a Bittern showed well before flying and another Great White Egret flew in.

Bittern

Cattle Egret

 Cormorant

Made the weekly visit to Dunge today. Compared to last week we struggled to see much. A Kingfisher showed well again in front of the Hanson Hide on the ARC pit, where 2 Great White Egrets could be seen. A Firecrest was glimpsed on the Willow Trail before we went to the Fishing Boats where we failed to see much of note. There were large numbers of Cormorants plus a few Gannets, a Fulmar and a couple of Red-throated Divers on the sea but no sign of any Caspian Gulls (Apparently one turned up in the afternoon). Back on the reserve after lunch the best bird was a very smart drake Smew plus at least 4 Redheads, and another Great White Egret. With news that the Yellowlegs was close to the road at Pett Pools we headed off there where the bird showed well. However photography was difficult in the gale that was blowing by then.

 Lesser Yellowlegs

 Lesser Yellowlegs

 Kingfisher

 

Made a New Year's day trip to Dunge today-stopping en route to see the Chilham Shrike. At Dunge  it was a generally gloomy day but we saw most of the specialities there. The 2 Cattle Egrets were showing well down Dengemarsh Road, and the Scaup and 2 Black-necked Grebes were still at Scotney Gravel Pit. On Walland Marsh there were 80 Bewick's Swans, 1 Whooper and the 4 Bean Geese. We failed to locate the Pallas's Warbler reported from the ARC Pit, but on the main part of the reserve we saw 3 Great White Egrets, 2 Goosander and several Smew. Finally a Kingfisher showed well from the Scott Hide.

 Cattle Egret

 Smew

Kingfisher

I can hardly believe it but we've reached the end of another year. The moth trap had a mixed year with the highlights being 4 new macro species (Fox Moth, Barred Straw, Dotted Chestnut & Tawny Pinion) and 17 new micro species, which made 2014 the best ever for micros. A total of 270 species was better than the last 2 years but less than 2011. However, the most worrying statistic, is that moth numbers overall were down again. August and September were both disappointing months and the total of 3,202 moths recorded is only 50% of the 6400 recorded in 2010. Dotted Chestnut was the first new species of 2014.

Happy New Year!

	2010	2010	2011	2011	2012	2012	2013	2013	2014	2014
	Number	Species	Number	Species	Number	Species	Number	Species	Number	Species
Macro Moths	5090	180	4833	187	2972	160	2719	160	2273	164
Micro Moths	1310	86	1215	96	1348	97	945	96	929	106
Total	6400	266	6048	283	4320	257	3664	256	3202	270

Dotted Chestnut

The sunshine this morning tempted me out to see if I could get a better shot of the Great Grey Shrike at Chilham. There were no other birders there but the Shrike showed well on and off along the hedge by the sports centre and on the wires. Picture still heavily cropped but my best effort so far.

Great Grey Shrike