Sunday 17th February:
Conningbrook GP, 09:00 to 11:00
1 Greylag Goose
(with Canada Geese), 3 Pintails - a new bird for us here (2 drakes and 1 duck with Wigeon, Gadwall, Tufted
Duck & Pochard), 10 Shovelers, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Cormorants, 1 Little
Egret, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Peregrine Falcon (male on usual
tree perch), 1 Snipe, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Skylarks
(singing birds), 1 Wren, 1 Robin, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Nuthatch (in trees by Great
Bromley Farm - our first sighting here), 1 Jay, 1 Chaffinch, 6 Siskins, 1 Lesser
Redpoll, 6 Yellowhammers, 2 Reed Buntings.
Eastwell Park, 12:00 - lake area
1 Teal (female), 3
Little Grebes, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Grey Herons, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Nuthatch.
Scotney Gravel Pits, 15:30 to 16:00
1 Pintail
(drake), 2 Scaup (drake and duck), 1 Marsh
Harrier.
Walland Marsh, 16:00 to 17:00
1 Barn Owl (Seen by
the parents - Hook Wall), 2 Tree Sparrows
(Baynham Farm), 1 Yellowhammer (Baynham Farm), 8 Corn Buntings (Tickners Lane).
Also of note:
Monday 18th February:
Ashford, 12:00
Still around..... c50 Waxwings (along Kingsnorth Road near 'The
Limes').
Thursday, 21 February 2013
Saturday, 16 February 2013
Goosing around
A good Goose day today.
Walland Marsh, 09:00 to 10:00
213+ Bewick's Swans (Hawthorn Corner), 3 Red-legged Partridges (Caldecott Lane), 1 Marsh Harrier (Tickners Lane), 1 Common Buzzard (Brenzett), 2 Kestrels, 9 Stock Doves, 5 Tree Sparrows (Baynham Farm), 2 Greenfinches.
Lydd, 10:00 to 10:30
1 Little Egret (Airport ditch), 1 Common Buzzard (Golf Club), 1 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 2 Long-tailed Tits.
Dungeness RSPB Reserve, 10:30 to 12:00
7 Barnacle Geese & 5 Tundra Bean Geese (fields by Boulderwall Farm), 6+ Goldeneye (2 drakes - all ARC), 11 Smew (2 drakes & 6 redheads on ARC, 3 redheads on Burrowes), 2 Bitterns (ARC & Boulderwall Farm fields), 3 Great White Egrets (2 at Boulderwall, 1 Burrowes), 2 Grey Herons, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Kestrel, 1 Water Rail (heard from Hanson Hide), 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Dunnocks, 2 Stonechats (Entrance track - a pair), 1 Cetti's Warbler (heard), 1 Goldcrest (ARC Willow Trail), 1 Firecrest (ARC Pit - track to Hanson Hide), 2 Bearded Tits (Entrance track), 4 Tree Sparrows (Boulderwall Farm), 1 Reed Bunting.
Scotney Gravel Pits, 12:00 to 12:30
1 Scaup (female)
Next stop was Pett Level in East Sussex for more Goose action. 4 Pink-footed Geese were reasonably easy to pick out from the seawall amongst the many Greylag's and Canada's. Good numbers of White-fronted and Brent too. A Raven cronked overhead as it flew east. Other highlights: 2 Little Egrets, 2 Black-tailed Godwits with the Lapwing, Curlew, Dunlin and Redshank flock, 1 Common Buzzard and 2 Shelduck. Offshore hundreds of Great Crested Grebes (including a leucistic individual - seen earlier this winter at Dungeness ???), plenty of Red-throated Divers, a few Common Scoters and a handful of Auks.
Then into the very under-watched Rother Valley - fields still flooded in places.
Wittersham, 14:00 - Blackwall Bridge
4 Gadwall, 1 Shoveler (drake with Teal & Wigeon on flooded area), 2 Grey Heron, 2 Wrens.
Potman's Heath, 14:30
4 Pintails (3 drakes and 1 duck on flooded fields with large numbers of Teal, Wigeon Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler and Lapwing), 3 Pochards, 2 Tufted Ducks, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Rolvenden, 15:00 - Hexden Channel
2 Pheasants, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Barn Owls.
Walland Marsh, 09:00 to 10:00
213+ Bewick's Swans (Hawthorn Corner), 3 Red-legged Partridges (Caldecott Lane), 1 Marsh Harrier (Tickners Lane), 1 Common Buzzard (Brenzett), 2 Kestrels, 9 Stock Doves, 5 Tree Sparrows (Baynham Farm), 2 Greenfinches.
Lydd, 10:00 to 10:30
1 Little Egret (Airport ditch), 1 Common Buzzard (Golf Club), 1 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 2 Long-tailed Tits.
Dungeness RSPB Reserve, 10:30 to 12:00
7 Barnacle Geese & 5 Tundra Bean Geese (fields by Boulderwall Farm), 6+ Goldeneye (2 drakes - all ARC), 11 Smew (2 drakes & 6 redheads on ARC, 3 redheads on Burrowes), 2 Bitterns (ARC & Boulderwall Farm fields), 3 Great White Egrets (2 at Boulderwall, 1 Burrowes), 2 Grey Herons, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Kestrel, 1 Water Rail (heard from Hanson Hide), 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Dunnocks, 2 Stonechats (Entrance track - a pair), 1 Cetti's Warbler (heard), 1 Goldcrest (ARC Willow Trail), 1 Firecrest (ARC Pit - track to Hanson Hide), 2 Bearded Tits (Entrance track), 4 Tree Sparrows (Boulderwall Farm), 1 Reed Bunting.
 |
| A pair of Smew on the ARC Pit from the Hanson Hide. |
Scotney Gravel Pits, 12:00 to 12:30
1 Scaup (female)
Next stop was Pett Level in East Sussex for more Goose action. 4 Pink-footed Geese were reasonably easy to pick out from the seawall amongst the many Greylag's and Canada's. Good numbers of White-fronted and Brent too. A Raven cronked overhead as it flew east. Other highlights: 2 Little Egrets, 2 Black-tailed Godwits with the Lapwing, Curlew, Dunlin and Redshank flock, 1 Common Buzzard and 2 Shelduck. Offshore hundreds of Great Crested Grebes (including a leucistic individual - seen earlier this winter at Dungeness ???), plenty of Red-throated Divers, a few Common Scoters and a handful of Auks.
Then into the very under-watched Rother Valley - fields still flooded in places.
Wittersham, 14:00 - Blackwall Bridge
4 Gadwall, 1 Shoveler (drake with Teal & Wigeon on flooded area), 2 Grey Heron, 2 Wrens.
Potman's Heath, 14:30
4 Pintails (3 drakes and 1 duck on flooded fields with large numbers of Teal, Wigeon Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler and Lapwing), 3 Pochards, 2 Tufted Ducks, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Rolvenden, 15:00 - Hexden Channel
2 Pheasants, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Barn Owls.
Sunday, 10 February 2013
Penduline Delight
Once again another busy weekend for Angela and myself. The list has included a wedding reception on the Hoo Peninsular - congratulations Kayleigh and Tom, shopping, a 1st birthday party, England vs. Ireland in the Rugby (well done lads) and catching up with friends. However there was still a bit of birding to be had including a mini twitch to Stodmarsh NNR for a cracking Penduline Tit - a lifer for Angela.
Sunday 10th February
Stodmarsh, 11:00 to 12:00
1 Water Rail (heard), 1 Water Pipit (Marsh Hide - seen by the parents), 1 Cetti's Warbler (heard), 1 Penduline Tit, 2 Bullfinches.
Yesterday the parents and I had a trip to Oare Marshes KWT meeting up with MW and RR. Highlights were: 2 Bewick's Swans, 4+ Rock Pipits, 2 Stonechats, 2 ringtail Hen Harriers, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard and the leucistic Curlew.
On the way home:
Challock, 13:00, Challock Church
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Marsh Tits, 2 Coal Tits, 2 Nuthatches.
Eastwell Park, 14:00, lake area
4 Gadwall, 2 Goosanders (a cracking pair), 3 Little Grebes, 3 Grey Herons, 1 Common Buzzard.
Sunday 10th February
Stodmarsh, 11:00 to 12:00
1 Water Rail (heard), 1 Water Pipit (Marsh Hide - seen by the parents), 1 Cetti's Warbler (heard), 1 Penduline Tit, 2 Bullfinches.
 |
| A cracking male Penduline Tit that showed well along the nature trail by the alder wood at Stodmarsh NNR. |
Yesterday the parents and I had a trip to Oare Marshes KWT meeting up with MW and RR. Highlights were: 2 Bewick's Swans, 4+ Rock Pipits, 2 Stonechats, 2 ringtail Hen Harriers, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard and the leucistic Curlew.
On the way home:
Challock, 13:00, Challock Church
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Marsh Tits, 2 Coal Tits, 2 Nuthatches.
Eastwell Park, 14:00, lake area
4 Gadwall, 2 Goosanders (a cracking pair), 3 Little Grebes, 3 Grey Herons, 1 Common Buzzard.
Tuesday, 5 February 2013
A weekend of wind and Divers
A bitter northerly wind on Saturday with a strengthening westerly blast on Sunday meant the the birding was tough going, but did ultimately result in some quality and a couple of photo opportunities.
Saturday 2nd February
Ramsgate,
10:00 - Angela and myself met up with the parents - nice to catch up with several East Kent birders.
1 Great Northern Diver (adult still in the Harbour), 1 Fulmar (flying over), 1 Ringed Plover, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Turnstone.
Foreness, 11:00 to 12:00, Foreness Point
23 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3+ Fulmars, 1 Purple Sandpiper (along with Sanderlings, Turnstones, Oystercatchers and Curlew), 5+ Ring-necked Parakeets (Northdown Park), 1 Goldcrest (heard in Northdown Park).
Back to Canterbury for a quick spot of shopping, seeing 2 Little Egrets (Nargate Street and Bekesbourne watercress beds) and a Common Buzzard on route.
Back down south on Sunday 3rd with Angela hoping to catch up with the wintering specialities. No luck with the Glaucous Gull at Dungeness but still lots of Auks, Cormorants and Gulls offshore - a few Gannets and Kittiwakes of note too.
Fagg's Wood, 10:00
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Jay.
Fairfield held 1000+ Fieldfare plus a few Redwing.
Walland Marsh, 11:00 to 16:00
233 Bewick's Swans (Hawthorn Corner), 10+ White-fronted Geese (Old Cheyne Court Farm - distantly with Greylags.), 1 Common Buzzard (near Woolpack Inn).
Lade Pits, 13:00
3 Goldeneyes (including 1 drake), 1 Black-throated Diver (adult on northern pit),
Littlestone - 2 Snow Buntings (nearby on beach by the Varne sailing club).
Dungeness RSPB Reserve, 14:00 to 15:00
3 Barnacle Geese (Boulderwall Farm), 1 Red-crested Pochard (female type on ARC), 3 Goldeneye (1 drake), 10+ Smew (2 drakes), 1 Bittern (showed well from ARC Hanson hide), 2 Great White Egrets (New Diggings & Boulderwall Farm), 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Dunnock, 1 Blackbird, 1 Goldcrest (heard in main car park), 3 Great Tits.
Saturday 2nd February
Ramsgate,
10:00 - Angela and myself met up with the parents - nice to catch up with several East Kent birders.
1 Great Northern Diver (adult still in the Harbour), 1 Fulmar (flying over), 1 Ringed Plover, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Turnstone.
 |
| Great Northern Diver in Ramsgate Harbour. |
Foreness, 11:00 to 12:00, Foreness Point
23 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3+ Fulmars, 1 Purple Sandpiper (along with Sanderlings, Turnstones, Oystercatchers and Curlew), 5+ Ring-necked Parakeets (Northdown Park), 1 Goldcrest (heard in Northdown Park).
 |
| Ring-necked Parakeet in Northdown Park. |
 |
| Fulmars at Foreness Point. |
Back to Canterbury for a quick spot of shopping, seeing 2 Little Egrets (Nargate Street and Bekesbourne watercress beds) and a Common Buzzard on route.
Back down south on Sunday 3rd with Angela hoping to catch up with the wintering specialities. No luck with the Glaucous Gull at Dungeness but still lots of Auks, Cormorants and Gulls offshore - a few Gannets and Kittiwakes of note too.
Fagg's Wood, 10:00
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Jay.
Fairfield held 1000+ Fieldfare plus a few Redwing.
Walland Marsh, 11:00 to 16:00
233 Bewick's Swans (Hawthorn Corner), 10+ White-fronted Geese (Old Cheyne Court Farm - distantly with Greylags.), 1 Common Buzzard (near Woolpack Inn).
Lade Pits, 13:00
3 Goldeneyes (including 1 drake), 1 Black-throated Diver (adult on northern pit),
Littlestone - 2 Snow Buntings (nearby on beach by the Varne sailing club).
Dungeness RSPB Reserve, 14:00 to 15:00
3 Barnacle Geese (Boulderwall Farm), 1 Red-crested Pochard (female type on ARC), 3 Goldeneye (1 drake), 10+ Smew (2 drakes), 1 Bittern (showed well from ARC Hanson hide), 2 Great White Egrets (New Diggings & Boulderwall Farm), 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Dunnock, 1 Blackbird, 1 Goldcrest (heard in main car park), 3 Great Tits.
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