Ploddingbirder

Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) picking seed off a Camellia leaf

Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) under a seed feeder

Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) under a seed feeder

Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) under a seed feeder

Another fog bound day on the Dungeness peninsula. The lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri)? has been getting more elusive lately, but a brief spell of sunshine early afternoon encouraged it out. #UKBirding

😂

Birchett Bob

Someone has to look after the old boys.

Yes.

Male and female Crossbill in the leaf litter

Male Crossbill on the track

A Large Tortoiseshell Butterfly sunning itself by the track

A Large Tortoiseshell Butterfly with its wings closed

The Wednesday clubs day out to Orlestone with new member Jacob as our carer. Super views of Crossbills, a Goshawk and other woodland birds we don't see at Dunge. We also a great views of or target for the trip at least 2 Large Tortoiseshell Butterflies. Tea and cake back at the car provided by Owen.

Thanks Alan, we’re coming up tomorrow.

A Comma butterfly sunning itself on a broom handle.

A male Sparrowhawk that landed very close to me.

A Lesser Whitethroat(halimodendri) feeding on Sunflower chips.

A Lesser Whitethroat(halimodendri) feeding on Sunflower chips.

As the sea watching and peninsula was very quiet today I spent some time watching the garden. My first Comma of the year, a new male Sparrowhawk came in and landed almost within touching distance of me. The Lesser Whitethroat(halimodendri)? still present, but far more elusive in the warmer weather.

Leftovers at the sea watch hide tomorrow 😀

Water Pipit in marshy vegetation.

Water Pipit in marshy vegetation.

One of two very elusive Water Pipits on Dengemarsh Flood this afternoon.
#UKBirding

Good test for the Swarovski AT Balance in foul weather on Isle of Man today. Hard not to be impressed with the IS when phonescoping this Wigeon flock on 4x Optical iPhone zoom/18x scope zoom. Scope/phonescope setup handheld on half-down window of van. IS off, then on, then off in clip. #BirdingGear

Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri)? coming out of a Camelia bush to feed on Sunflower chips

Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri)? feeding on Sunflower chips

Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri)? feeding on Sunflower chips

Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri)? on the Sunflower chips feeder.

Another thoroughly miserable day on the peninsula, but this beauty still residing around the garden cheered me up.
#UKBirding

I spent severals hours today taking video of The Lesser Whitethroat(halimodendri)? Blueskys 100mb is somewhat limiting, lots more to edit and eventually upload to YouTube.

Hopefully get a result.

Lesser Whitethroat giving me the look.

Lesser Whitethroat caught in the act of pooing.

Lesser Whitethroat caught in the act of pooing.

Lesser Whitethroat poo ready for me to collect..

Finally after 7 weeks of watching and photographing this Lesser Whitethroat)halimodendri)? it gave me this look and I just knew it was going to do the deed 💩, safely collected into a moth pot.
#UKBirding

This one from today shows the new tail has grown apace in the last few days.

I probably have Andrew among the 100s of images I have of it, I will make a real effort to get some decent tail images tomorrow.
My Grandfathers would be ashamed of me, they would have had plenty of DNA by now. The victorian way.😬

Another video taken today of it in the shade.

I celebrated this Lesser Whitethroat(halimodendri)? 50th day in the garden just to get a poo sample, I put trays under the feeders to catch it, all to no avail. It fed avidly then would disappear into the bush for a few minutes, no doubt doing the deed.
#UKBirding

21 Cattle Egrets & 2 Little Egrets in a Horse Paddock.

Nadine, wearing a satellite tracking neck collar. she can be tracked using this link https://zwergschwan.de/en/bewicks-swans-on-the-move-the-map

one of several Tree Sparrow s encountered on the marsh today despite the weather.

The Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) still coming to the feeder.

A few bits fro around the area despite the miserable weather. 21 Cattle egrets in the Horse Paddock, Nadine the neck collared satellite tracked Bewick Swan keeping her distance, one of several Tree Sparrows and the lingering Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) still present.
#UKBirding

Thanks Alan, myself and John also checked out the ARC to no avail, it must have flown over my house to get to Scotney. 😬

Drake American Wigeon at the East Sussex end of Scotney GP

4 Tundra Bean Geese on the Scotney Sward

3 Pink-footed Geese on the Scotney Sward

2 White-fronted Geese on the Scotney Sward

A nice afternoon at Scotney where the drake American Wigeon was re-located at East Sussex end by @dungenessowen.bsky.social , the 4 Walland Marsh Tundra Bean and the 3 Pink-footed Geese finally found there way onto the local patch(Scotney Sward), also 3 White-fronted Geese.
#UKBirding

The American Wigeon on the ARC

Polish ringed 3w Caspian Gull P:6WL on Dengemarsh late afternoon

1w Caspian Gull on Dengemarsh late afternoon

The Scotney American Wigeon on the ARC from Hanson, re-found by Ray O'reilley late morning. At Dengemarsh late afternoon a 3w Polish ringed Caspian Gull P:6WL and a 1w Caspian Gull.
#UKBirding

Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) calling on a wooden trellis.

Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) being aggressive to a House Sparrow on a sunflower chip feeder.

Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) feeding on Sunflower chips

Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) posing on the Sunflower chip feeder

Spent an hour or so sitting in the garden clutching a moth pot hoping to collect a Poo sample from the Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) to no avail, it was quite vocal. A House Sparrow challenged it on the feeder but not a single feather flew.🥲
#UKBirding

No fully open pics most are like these.

Drake American Wigeon with Eurasian Wigeon

Drake American Wigeon with Eurasian Wigeon

Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri)

My first local patch American Wigeon at Scotney today, many thanks to the finder Barrie Puttock for letting me know it was present when I met him in Dennis's Hide.
The Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) still around the garden.

Yes Alan.

Still no Hen Harrier for me🥲

2 adult and a juvenile Whooper Swan

Little Owl sheltering by broken ridge tiles

Jack Snipe

Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) feeding on Sunflower chip feeder

A long walk around the Scotney complex. 3 Whooper Swans had moved to Kent, Little Owl sunbathing, 1,000s each of Golden Plover and Lapwing, Avocet & Little Stint, Jack Snipe & the Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) still coming to my Sunflower chip feeder.
#UKBirding

4 White-fronted Geese with 3 Pink-footed Geese

4 Tundra Bean Geese

Lesser Whitethroat

A gloomy day on Walland Marsh eventually found 4 Tundra Bean Geese, 3 Pink-footed Geese, 13 White-fronted Geese among a flock of feral Greylag Geese, all rather distant unfortunately. Thanks to @neilburt.bsky.social for alerting us to the presence of 7 Grey Geese yesterday in the rain.
#UKBirding