A first visit to Lower Halstow

Lower Halstow, 14:00 to 15:00

1 Black Brant (with Brent Geese), 1 Pintail (drake), 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Grey Plover, 2 Whimbrels.

Elmley RSPB Reserve, 13:00

1 Little Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Merlin (entrance track), c20 Dunlin, 16 Ruff, 1 Turnstone, 1 Barn Owl (roosting in box at Kingshill Farm), 1 Skylark, 1 Mistle Thrush.

Swale NNR, 12:00

3+ Barnacle Goose, 2 Pintail (a pair on the Swale), 1 Little Egret, 3 Marsh Harrier, 1 Hen Harrier (Ringtail), 1 Sparrowhawk.

Capel Fleet, 11:00

6 Bewick's Swans (adults), 1 Red-legged Partridge, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Kestrel, 7 Common Cranes (4 adults 3 juveniles).

Big Garden Birdwatch 2013

The weekend's Big Garden Birdwatch ended with the following species seen in the garden:

Starling 12,
House Sparrow 10,
Feral Pigeon 4,
Blackbird 3,
Blue Tit 3,
Collared Dove 2,
Jackdaw 1,
Robin 1,
Song Thrush 1,
Mistle Thrush 1,
Fieldfare 1,
Chaffinch 1,
Dunnock 1,
Pied Wagtail 1,

The Snow Flakes remain at Littlestone

Saturday 26th January

The 2 Snow Buntings were still showing well on the beach at Littlestone this afternoon, by the Varne Sailing Club. Fantastic little birds.

Other birds seen today:






Dungeness, 11:00 to 12:00, Fishing Boats
2 Velvet Scoters (flew east with 2 Common Scoters), 1 Glaucous Gull (3rd winter), 4 Kittiwakes. Masses of Cormorants, Great Crested Grebes, Gannets, Guillemots, Razorbills and Red-throated Divers too.

Dungeness RSPB Reserve, 12:00 to 14:00
7 Barnacle Geese (fields by Boulderwall Farm), 2 Goldeneyes (pair on New Diggings), 17 Smew (New Diggings - 2 drakes, 15 redheads), 2 Great White Egrets (New Diggings), 1 Little Egret (ARC), 2 Grey Herons, 3 Marsh Harriers, 1 Water Rail (heard), 2 Snipe (Water Tower Pits), 3 Woodcocks (Water Tower Pits), c30 Fieldfare (fields by Boulderwall Farm), 1 Redwing (Water Tower pines), 1 Goldcrest (Water Tower pines), c10 Tree Sparrows (Boulderwall Farm).

Littlestone-on-sea, 14:00 to 14:30
1 Grey Plover, 2 Knot, c50 Sanderlings, 5 Dunlins, 1 Redshank, 1 Skylark (flew over), 2 Snow Buntings.

Walland Marsh, 14:30 to 16:00
1 Grey Heron, 3 Marsh Harriers (1 male), 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail near Horsebones Farm), 1 Common Buzzard (Wheelsgate Farm), 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Dunnock, c20 Tree Sparrows (Baynham Farm), 1 Yellowhammer.

3 large flocks of Swans on the marsh too. The old potato field near Hawthorn Corner held the bulk of the Bewick's Swans (c160) but they were too distant to count properly. The kale/oilseed rape field nearby had 5+ too along with many Mutes and an obvious Black Swan. The Whoopers were probably in this area too but went undetected. Opposite Midley drying barns there was a further 40 Bewick's amongst the regular Mute flock - very close views but no neck or leg bands yet. There could now be upwards of 200 Bewick's on Walland - excellent numbers as a result of the cold weather and a healthy number of juveniles too.

Hamstreet, 16:00
4 Little Egrets (RM Canal), 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 1 Nuthatch (Orlestone Forest), 4 Greenfinches.

Snow finally stops play... but not for our Fieldfare

The snow finally fell in larger amounts this weekend but a trip to Dungeness and across Walland Marsh was completed without incident on Saturday.

Saturday 19th January.

Dungeness RSPB Reserve, 10:00 to 12:00
4 Goldeneyes (1 drake), 2 Smew (redheads - ARC & Burrowes Pits), 2 Great White Egrets (ARC & Burrowes Pits), 3 Marsh Harriers, 1 Sparrowhawk (Littestone beach), 5 Snipe, 1 Green Woodpecker, 15 Skylarks (Galloways Road), 2 Meadow Pipits, 1 Goldcrest (RSPB Visitor Centre car park), 5 Long-tailed Tits.

Walland Marsh, 12:00 to 14:00
122+ Bewick's Swans (Hawthorn Corner (13), Old Cheyne Court (109+)), c20 White-fronted Geese (Old Cheyne Court), 1 Grey Heron, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Hen Harrier (male - Baynham Farm), 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine Falcon (Old Cheyne Court), 1 Yellowhammer, 1 Corn Bunting.

Today (Sunday 20th) the heavier snow meant a day at home in Ashford. However an adult Fieldfare provided entertainment in the Cotoneaster bush in the garden as it chased off every Blackbird, Thrush and Starling that tried to plunder it's larder of berries. Over the last three days we have recorded 6 Blackbirds and singles of Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Redwing and Fieldfare on the Cotoneaster... where are the Waxwings??? A Pied Wagtail has also become semi-resident.

Fieldfare in the garden Cotoneaster.

Keeping a watchful eye out for other Thrushes and Starlings.

The berries are all mine !!!

Still braving the chill

Winter is truly with us now but that is not stopping me getting out and about... yet... more snow might confine me to watching the garden.


Thursday 17th January.

Hythe Imperial Hotel, 10:30,
2 Purple Sandpipers on the rocks.
Went A over T on a patch of black ice on the promenade but fortunately survived with only minor bruising to right hip and elbow... so too did the optical equipment thankfully - only the tripod took a heavy knock. Angela, in true style stayed on her feet and helped a shaken Ashford Birder back to his feet!!!

Dover, 11:00 to 13:00, Harbour - Prince of Wales Pier
2 Common Scoters (a pair), 1 Black-throated Diver (wintering juvenile), 10+ Great Crested Grebes, 1 Shag, 2 Kittiwakes, 3 Guillemots, 2 Razorbills.

Chilham, 14:00 to 15:00, Pickelden Lane and Chilham Mill Lakes - not completely frozen.
4 Mute Swans, 6+ Wigeon, 10+ Gadwall, 10+ Tufted Ducks, 5 Little Grebes, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 12+ Cormorants, 1 Grey Heron, 50+ Coot, 1 Grey Wagtail (Chilham Mill), 1 Wren, 1 Dunnock, 1 Robin, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Goldcrest (with Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits), 1 Goldfinch, c20 Siskins, 2 Lesser Redpolls, 1 Bullfinch (male).

Eastwell Park, 15:30 to 16:00, Eastwell lake area
8 Gadwall, 3 Little Grebes, 1 Little Egret, 3 Grey Herons, 2 Nuthatches.


Friday 18th January.

Hothfield, 10:00 to 10:30, Waterfall Lake - not completely frozen
4 Mandarin (3 drakes and a duck), 2 Teal (a pair), 1 Little Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 1 Great White Egret.

Worten Mill, 10:30 to 11:30, Flood Gap area
1 Grey Heron, 2 Coots, 2 Snipe, 1 Black-headed Gull, 1 Wren, 1 Robin, 10+ Fieldfares, 1 Song Thrush, 5+ Redwings, 1 Coal Tit, 2 Goldfinches.

A mixed bag in mixed weather

The last three days have produced a mixed bag of weather - mist, fog, murk, heavy rain, plus the sleet and snow showers. Then at Oare Marshes KWT yesterday it was sunny, but with a biting cold northerly wind. Angela and myself are on a weeks holiday this week so we have braved the weather at times and headed out into the Kent countryside. Here are the highlights so far:

Sunday 13th January

Conningbrook GP, 13:00 to 14:00
1 Little Egret, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Water Rail (heard), 23 Waxwing (outside Givaudan along main road - seen by the parents), 50+ Fieldfare & c5 Redwing, c30 Linnets, 5+ Lesser Redpolls, - seen by the parents, c20 Yellowhammers.

Godmersham, Denge Wood & Waltham 14:00 to 15:30
1 Common Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Woodcock (Denge Wood - flushed), 2 Treecreepers, 1 Jay (heard), 6+ Siskins, 1 Bullfinch (lanes near Waltham), 6 Hawfinches (usual pre-roost site at 14:50 in Denge Wood).

Chilham, 15:30 to 15:45
14 Waxwings (flew south over Pickelden Lane by river/lakes).

Shalmsford Street Lakes, 15:45
1 Little Egret, 50+ Fieldfare, 2+ Redwing.


Monday 14th January

Aldington Floods, 13:00 to 14:00
12 Cormorants, 1 Little Egret, 10+ Long-tailed Tits.

A drive down to the coast and back across the marsh revealed nothing but heavy rain !!!


Tuesday 15th January

Oare Marshes KWT reserve, 11:00 to 13:30
2 Eiders (drakes on the Swale between the slipway and the Seawall Hide), 6 Red-breasted Mergansers (flew west over the Swale), 1 Little Grebe (sluice), 1 Little Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier (male), 1 Sparrowhawk (entrance road by double bend), 100+ Avocets, 1 Greenshank (Oare Creek opposite Oare Pits), 1 Kingfisher (on a post west side of entrance track), 10+ Skylarks (flying over the saltmarsh near the sluice), 2 Meadow Pipits, 1 Stonechat (male), 3+ Redwings (near East Hide), 5 Greenfinches, 3 Reed Buntings.
No sign of the Scaup pair on the east flood amongst the many hundreds of wildfowl.

Eastwell Park, 15:00
1 Little Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 4 Grey Herons, 1 Nuthatch, 3 Greenfinches.

Singleton, Hothfield & Conningbrook

12th January 2013 - With the weather looking dodgy towards the coast, Angela and myself stayed local to Ashford.

Ashford, 10:00 - Singleton Hill.
c40 Waxwings (mobile flock near the Singleton Centre and 'The Bulrushes').

Hothfield, 10:30 to 12:30, Hothfield Heathlands KWT Reserve.
5 Mandarin (on small resevoir - 3 drakes), 1 Little Egret, 2 Common Buzzards, 4 Green Woodpeckers, 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Redwing, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Coal Tits, 1 Nuthatch, 5 Treecreepers, 4 Jays, c10 Siskins, 1 Bullfinch.

Conningbrook GP, 12:40 to 14:00.
5 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Peregrine Falcon (male), 1 Water Rail, 1 Dunnock, c20 Fieldfare, 1 Bullfinch - but beaten by the weather.

New Year birding week

Tuesday 1st January 2013
The start of a new year so joined up with the parents for a dash around the woodlands, marsh and Dunge for a NYD list, ending on 96 species. Highlights were:

Orlestone Forest, 06:45-07:00.
3 Tawny Owls (2 males and 1 female calling).

Appledore, 07:00-07:30, Cliff Marsh Farm near Stone in Oxney
1 Grey Heron, 1 Barn Owl.

Appledore, 07:45-08:15, Park Wood.
1 Tawny Owl (male calling), 1 Green Woodpecker (heard), 1 Marsh Tit, 2 Coal Tits, 1 Nuthatch (heard), 1 Treecreeper, 1 Jay (heard).

Warehorne, 08:30-09:00, RM Canal.
1 Little Egret (Kenardington), 1 Kestrel, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull (with Herring, Black-headed and Common Gulls), 1 Stock Dove (Kenardington), 3 Song Thrushes (Kenardington), 1 Blue Tit (feeders), 1 Great Tit (feeders), 1 Jay, 5 Greenfinches (feeders by Church), 5 Goldfinches (feeders), 3 Bullfinches (2 males, 1 female), 3 Yellowhammers, 1 Reed Bunting (Kenardington).

Fagg's Wood, 09:00.
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch.

Ashford, 09:30-09:30.
c20 Waxwings (Washford Farm Road), 4 Redwings, 1 Long-tailed Tit (Stanhope).

Conningbrook GP, 10:00-10:15.
1 Great Crested Grebe (with Coot, Tufted Duck and Pochard), 1 Dunnock, 1 Goldcrest.

Walland Marsh, 10:45-11:30.
c40 Bewick's Swans (near Hawthorn Corner with Mutes), 2 Whooper Swans (near Hawthorn Corner), 6 Gadwall (Woolpack Inn ditch), 4 Red-legged Partridges, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk (Fairfield), 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Merlin (Midley Drying Barns), 1 Green Woodpecker (Fairfield), c200 Fieldfare (Woolpack Inn), 1 Tree Sparrow (Baynham Farm).

Dungeness RSPB Reserve, 12:00-13:00.
10 Pintail (circa, Burrowes), 1 Red-crested Pochard (female on Dengemarsh), 3 Goldeneye (ARC Pit - 2 drakes), 10 Smew (1 drake), 1 Bittern (in reeds at ARC Pit south end), 2+ Great White Egrets.

Dungeness, 13:30-14:00, Fishing Boats.
1 Common Scoter (flew east), 1 Glaucous Gull (3rd winter) along with many Red-throated Divers, Guillemots, Gannets and Kittiwakes over the sea.

Lydd, 14:00-15:00.
1 Green Sandpiper (Lydd Pits just east of Scotney), 3 Waxwings (at junction of Tourney and Jurys Gap Roads), 1 Black Redstart (female - Lydd Airport), 2 Stonechats (Galloways Road).

Walland Marsh, 15:00-16:30.
15 Marsh Harriers, 1 Common Crane (Old Cheyne Court Farm area), 2 Barn Owls.



Saturday 5th January
With Angela working on New Year's Day, it was only fair to have another go at "the route" for a dawn to dusk session - this time the 2 of us saw 87 species, several of which were not noted on the 1st. Highlights:

Orlestone Forest, 07:00 to 09:00
3 Common Buzzards (Coldblow), 1 Woodcock (on edge of road in car headlights), 5 Tawny Owls (4 males, 1 female in Longrope and Coldblow areas), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (Faggs Wood), 1 Coal Tit (Faggs Wood), 1 Nuthatch (Faggs Wood), 1 Jay.

Warehorne, 09:00 to 09:30
3 Shelducks (on The Dowells), 100 Fieldfares (circa), 2 Bullfinches (both males along the RM Canal), 10 Yellowhammers (circa, RM Canal).

Walland Marsh, 09:45 to 10:45
69 Bewick's Swans (Hawthorn Corner), 2 Whooper Swans (Hawthorn Corner), 2 Shoveler (a pair on the Woolpack Inn ditch), 1 Hen Harrier (male near Hawthorn Corner), 3+ Tree Sparrows (Baynham Farm), 10 Yellowhammers (circa, Baynham Farm).

Lydd, 11:00
4 Red-legged Partridges, 1 Common  Buzzard, 1 Black Redstart (female still at the airport), 3 Stonechat (Galloways Road).

Scotney Gravel Pits, 11:00 to 12:00
1 Tundra Bean Goose, 5 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Slavonian Grebe, 40 Dunlin (circa, with thousands of Golden Plover and Lapwing), 2 Stonechats.

Dungeness RSPB Reserve, 12:00 to 14:30
c19 Bewick's Swans (on ARC Pit), 3 Goldeneye, 7 Smew (1 drake ARC/New Diggings), 1 Little Egret, 2 Great White Egrets (Dengemarsh & ARC), 3 Tree Sparrows (Boulderwall Farm).

Dungeness, 14:00
1 Bar-tailed Godwit (Lade Sands), 1 Turnstone, 1 Mediterranean Gull (Fishing Boats).

Walland Marsh, 15:00 to 16:30
5 White-fronted Geese (over Old Cheyne Court), 5 Marsh Harriers, 2+ Hen Harriers (male and ringtail), 3 Sparrowhawks, 3 Common Buzzards, 1 Merlin (Baynham Farm), 1 Common Crane (flew over Old Cheyne Court Farm to roost), 1 Barn Owl.

Warehorne, 16:30
1 Barn Owl (Arrowhead Lane).



Sunday 6th January
A calmer day today - and no dawn to dusk session in sight.

Dover Harbour, 09:45-11:30.
1 Black-throated Diver (wintering juvenile in Granville Dock still ), 1 Little Grebe (in Wellington Dock), 2 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Fulmar, 2 Shags (in Granville Dock), 2 Coots (in Wellington Dock), 3 Kittiwakes, 2 Razorbills.

Juvenile Black-throated Diver

Back via Copt Point, Folkestone, plenty of Mediterranean Gulls.

4 Mediterranean Gulls with a preening Black-headed.

Hythe, 12:30-12:45.

2 Dark-bellied Brent Geese (flew west), 1 Cormorant, 1 Purple Sandpiper (on rocks by Hythe Imperial Hotel).

Conningbrook GP, 13:15-13:30, viewed from Blackwall Road.
10 Greylag Geese, 10 Canada Geese, 2 Pheasants, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Cormorants, 2 Little Egrets (1 at the lakes, 1 nearby at Aldington Flood Gap).

Ashford, 13:50-14:00, Leacon Road - near Matalan.
37 Waxwings, 4 Siskins (with Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Blue and Long-tailed Tits).