Wonderful Walland

Hamstreet, 09:00.
6 Cormorants, 1 Little Egret (RM Canal), 1 Sparrowhawk (Arrowhead Lane), 30+ Waxwings (Johnson's Corner), 2 Bullfinches (a pair at Warehorne Bridge).

Lydd Airport and Approach Road, 11:00.
2 Meadow Pipits, 1 Robin, 1 Black Redstart (female by the hangar), 2 Stonechat (a pair), lots of Lapwing and Curlew.

The wintering Black Redstart has returned to Lydd Airport

Dungeness RSPB Reserve, 12:00 to 13:00.
1 Bewick's Swan (adult on ARC), 2 Goldeneyes (both drakes on ARC), 2 Red-legged Partridges (entrance track), 1 Black-throated Diver (Juvenile on New Diggings), 1 Little Egret (ARC), 4 Great White Egrets (New Diggings & ARC), 1 Grey Heron, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Kestrel, 4 Chiffchaffs  (ARC - at southern end including 1 paler bird), 3 Tree Sparrow (Boulderwall Farm).

Walland Marsh, 10:00 to 16:00
Fantastic birding here today...

1 of 8+ Waxwings in the Hawthorn Hedge between Midley Drying Barns and Baynham/Old Cheyne Court Farms

46 Bewick's Swans (near Newland Farm - 18 juveniles), 2 Whooper Swans (near Newland Farm - separate field to the Bewick's), 2 Grey Herons, 10+  Marsh Harriers (reedbed roost), 1 Hen Harrier (male at Old Cheyne Court), 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Buzzards, 1 Common Crane (adult - nicknamed Andy - into reedbed roost at 14:45), 2 Barn Owls (hunting together at Old Cheyne Court), 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 3 Meadow Pipits, 8+ Waxwings ( in the morning between Midley and Old Cheyne Court), 1 Dunnock, 1 Goldcrest. Still thousands of Winter Thrushes around plus 100's of Golden Plover, Lapwing and Greylag Geese in the Cheyne area. 3 Black Swans still present on the Marsh - 2 with Mutes between Wheelsgate and Swan Farms plus another in Sussex just west of Scotney GP's (again with Mutes).

A Waxwing Weekend

Saturday 1st December

Warehorne, 09:00 to 09:30, RM Canal & Arrowhead Lane
1 Little Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Kestrel, Fieldfare (1000's along with smaller numbers of Redwing and Starling), 1 Goldcrest, 1 Bullfinch (Male), 1 Yellowhammer.

Walland Marsh, 10:00 to 12:00
25 Bewick's Swans (11 juveniles), 2 Whooper Swans (Midley), 2 Black Swans (between Wheelsgate and Swan Farms), 1 Grey Heron, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Merlin (Old Cheyne Court), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker,
5 Waxwings (4 Old Cheyne Court, 1 Midley Drying Barns), 2 Greenfinch, 1 Yellowhammer.

Walland Marsh - spot the four Waxwings with the Winter Thrush flock?

Dungeness RSPB Reserve, 12:00 to 14:00
1 Goldeneye (Drake on ARC), 1 Smew (Redhead on Burrowes), 1 Black-throated Diver (Juvenile on New Diggings), 1 Little Egret, 4 Great White Egrets (3 New Diggings, 1 Burrowes), 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Lesser Whitethroat (around car park and visitor centre - latest record for me!!!), 2 Chiffchaff.

Snave, 15:15 to 15:30
2 Waxwings (in trees by the A2070 between Hamstreet and Brenzett).


Sunday 2nd December

Conyer, 09:00 to 13:00
1 Little Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, 1 Water Rail (heard), 1 Woodcock (flushed), 1 Turnstone, 5 Long-eared Owls (roosting), 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Jay, 1 Bullfinch (female), 2 Reed Buntings.

Willesborough, Ashford c15:00
38 Waxwings (Canterbury Road, Paper Lane and Orbital Business Park - mobile flock).

Lesser Whitethroat at Dungeness RSPB

Here are some photos of the Lesser Whitethroat that I found in the main car park bushes by the Dungeness RSPB visitor centre this afternoon (1st Dec). It showed very well from the warmth and comfort of the visitor centre for about 10 minutes.

All photos taken from the warmth of the visitor centre - through glass!

More sightings from Dungeness and Walland Marsh to follow later....

Red-throated Diver @ Conningbrook GP's

A couple of record shots of the Red-throated Diver that Angela and myself found yesterday (18th) at Conningbrook Lakes.

Red-throated Diver @ Conningbrook Lakes (GC Grebe & Coot behind)

A new species for us at this site. Ashford does attract Divers - both Red and Black-throated Divers have been found on Singleton Lake in the past.

Conningbrook GP, 12:00 to 15:00

2 Gadwall (1 pair), 1 Red-throated Diver (1st site record), 2 Little Grebe (on the River Stour), 10 Cormorant, 2 Little Egret, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Water Rail (along the Stour), 1 Kingfisher (Middle Lake), 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 7 Fieldfare (flew over), 1 Goldcrest (with Long-tailed Tits), 1 Jay, 1 Lesser Redpoll (flew over).

Sunny Sunday

A very pleasant trip out on Sunday with Angela taking in Dungeness, the RSPB Reserve, Scotney GP's and Walland Marsh. Nice to see plenty of birders about too - Hello to you all.

Dungeness, 11:00 to 12:00
1 Yellow-legged Gull (Adult), 1 Glaucous Gull (3w still by the fishing boats).

The semi-resident 3rd-winter Glaucous Gull near the Dungeness fishing boats.

Getting ready to move.

Dungeness RSPB Reserve, 12:00 to 13:00
1 Little Egret, 4 Great White Egrets (all on Burrowes Pit - 2 Dennis's Hide, 2 Makepeace Hide), 2 Stonechats.

Scotney Gravel Pits, 13:00 to 15:00
1 Pintail (Drake), 2 Marsh Harriers (Male and Juvenile), 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Common Crane (at west end - Sussex).



Scotney GP's scene - spot the Common Crane !!!

Walland Marsh, 15:00 to 16:00
2 Whooper Swans (Still with Mutes), 1 Hen Harrier (Male), 1 Buzzard.

Whoopers on Walland

Sunday 28th October:

 

Walland Marsh, 08:30 to 09:30
2 Whooper Swan (with Mutes near Midley drying barns), 2 Wigeon (a pair with small flock of Gadwall - Woolpack Inn), 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Mistle Thrush, 3 Tree Sparrow (Wheelsgate Farm)

 

2 adult Whooper Swans in oil-seed rape field with Mutes.
This is the same field that the Bewick's favoured last winter on Walland Marsh
- between Old Cheyne Court Farm and Midley Drying Barns.

 

 Lydd, 09:30 to 10:30

1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose (in sheep field along Lydd Airport entrance road), 2 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, c100 Curlew (Caldecot Lane), 1 Green Woodpecker

 

A lone Dark-bellied Brent Goose (adult)
in the sheep pastures along the entrance road to Lydd Airport.

ARC Pits RSPB, 10:00 to 11:30
4 Pintail, 5 Shoveler, 1 Common Scoter (female/imm), 3 Goldeneye (females/imms), 1 Little Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Water Rail (heard), 2 Snipe, 1 Redshank, 1 Cetti's Warbler (heard)

Dungeness, 12:00
1 Yellow-legged Gull (adult - fishing boats)

Dungeness RSPB Reserve, 12:30 to 13:00
2 Pintail (drakes), 2 Goldeneye (females/imms), 4 Little Egret, 3 Great White Egret (all on Burrowes Pit from Dennis's Hide)

Appledore, 14:00
1 Grey Heron, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Swallow (flew SW along the RM Canal near Stone Cliff)

A mixed bag of a weekend

Saturday 20th October:

Dungeness, 10:00 - 16:00
1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1 Yellow-legged Gull (Adult near fishing boats), 1 Glaucous Gull (3W on beach by fishing boats), 1 Sandwich Tern, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Ring Ouzel (Moat), 3 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush (Old lighthouse garden), 1 Blackcap (Old lighthouse garden), 1 Yellow-browed Warbler (briefly seen in the Trapping area), 1 Brambling (flew over), 16 Lesser Redpoll (flew over).

Yellow-legged Gull keeping a look-out near the fishing boats.

 

ARC Pits (Dungeness), 11:00 - Hanson Hide.
1 Goldeneye, 3 Little Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Little Stint, 1 Dunlin, 4 Cetti's Warbler (Calling), 6 Long-tailed Tit, 6 Lesser Redpoll (flying over).

Dungeness RSPB Reserve, 12:00
2 Little Egret, 3 Great White Egret (all on Burrowes Pit. 2 Makepeace Hide. 1 Dennis's Hide), 2 Grey Heron, 1 Yellow-legged Gull (adult in gull roost along entrance track.), 4 Bearded Tit (calling and circling over the car park), 1 Tree Sparrow (Boulderwall Farm).

Sunday 21st October - grim weather but the folks finally managed to catch up with the Goose after their trip to Norfolk.

South Swale NR, 12:00
1 Red-breasted Goose with Brents & Wigeon near Castle Coote, 1 Wheatear, Kestrel, calling Bearded Tits. Lots of Golden Plover and Lapwing in the flooded fields.