Monday 30 November 2015

DOVER DIVERS

I almost stayed in bed on Sunday morning but eventually got to the seafront at about 1030, a few GCGrebes were bobbing about,but when I got to the pier another bird suddenly appeared,about twice the size of the grebes large bill,steep forhead,flat crown-GREAT NORTHERN DIVER,it swam towards the shore near the rowing club,then did an about turn and swam back out then took off, flew out towards the western entrance and away.
 GREAT NORTHERN DIVER



 UP UP AND AWAY

 TWO SHAGS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE
 GUILLEMOT IN WELLINGTON DOCK


 Today in the Wellington dock a little grebe another guillemot and a shag joined the red breasted merganser and the numerous cormorants there.

 A SCOTTISH SHAG

 This shag is ringed with a blue ring HFN,apparently fitted in Scotland,the last ringed one here had been ringed on the Isle of May
SHAGS ARE SUCH ENTHUSIASTIC DIVERS
Meanwhile back to Saturday morning on the pier- just a few more kittiwakes bothered the camera


 and

YANG MING WARMTH came close to drop off her pilot.

Friday 27 November 2015

DOVER BIRDS

A few walks around the old home town this week from Bushy Ruff,Kearsney Abbey ,Crabble Corn Mill and down to the Harbour have thrown up a nice selection of birds,and a Dartford Warbler at Abbotscliffe was a nice bonus.
 FEMALE GOOSANDER- Kearsney Abbey

 Compare her to the female Merganser later,spot the differences.
FEMALE WIGEON -Bushy ruff
GREY HERON
MEDITERRANEAN GULLS -Bushy ruff lake.14 counted there on Wednesday afternoon.

 DARTFORD WARBLER -Conventional view


 DARTFORD WARBLER -Unconventional view.





DARTFORD WARBLER.
 MR FOX
 GREEN WOODPECKER
 RED BREASTED MERGANSER -Remains faithful to the Wellington Dock,assuming it is the same bird ,I first saw it on the 7th August.
 A member of the SAWBILL family- here`s why they are so called.


 At this time of year when the whiting are in the Shag has learnt to watch the anglers discard the undersize fish and get an easy meal off the PRINCE OF WALES PIER(soon to be permanently closed)
 TURNSTONES also benefit from the anglers scraps.


 KITTIWAKES ON PATROL
 



BLACK HEADED GULL-POW Pier
 COMMON GULLS -Bathing in Bushy Ruff lake




 LITTLE EGRET -Crabble Corn Mill

KINGFISHER-also at the Corn Mill pond.