Tuesday 31st January 2012 Back garden rural Garlinge
A week of work, so while I was waiting for the sleet to clear this
morning I sat and watched the garden where I had just put out some Mealworms
and fruit suet nibbles. Birds seen 3 Blue tits, 1 Great tit, 4
Chaffinch, 2 Collar doves, 1 Dunnock, 11 Goldfinch,
5 Woodpigeon, 1 Robin, & 17 Starlings. Suddenly
there was a streak across the window with birds flying in all directions. I
looked into the corner of the garden where I could see a Sparrowhawk
holding down a Starling with its talons. I ran upstairs fitted a lens to my
camera and was surprised to see the bird still in the garden. I opened the
door a fraction and the Sparrowhawk hopped onto a tree stump where I could
fire off a few shots before the bird flew off with its kill. (Colin
Musselwhite)
Tuesday 31st January 2012 Pegwell Bay
I watched from 3.00pm until dusk today and
arrived to find that at long last the cold weather had at last pushed some
new birds into the bay. Offshore there were 2 large flocks of Teal and a
huge flock of mainly Wigeon plus closer in, amongst many mixed common ducks
were 60+ Shoveler which was easily the most significant sighting of the
afternoon - about a normal Pegwell years worth in just one scan. Other
things seen in high numbers included Pintail and Dunlin plus there was also
a flock of 17 Avocets sat on the shoreline too. My notes/counts included: 10
Brent - north, 131 Shelduck, c250 Mallard, 1140 Teal,
21 Pintail, 3 Gadwall, 66 Shoveler, 1 Sparrowhawk,
1 Hen Harrier, 17 Avocet and 1 adult Yellow Legged Gull.
(Phil M)
Tuesday 31st January 2012 Restharrow Scrape SBBOT
As is my usual Tues. I popped into the splash in case there was some
little surprise in residence, there wasn't. To be fair though there was a
quite a bit of movement, with 8 Mallard, 76 Teal, 20+
Shoveler, 3 Wigeon 10 Herring Gull, 2 Common Gull,
and best of all 23 Dunlin, which came zooming in from nowhere and
began feeding hard around the edges. I stayed for about an hour till the
cold set in and then scarpered to find a hot cup of tea at home. (Roly W.C)
Tuesday 31st January 2012 Worth Marshes
3 Grey Heron, 5 Redshank, 9 Coot,
8 Moorhen, cc150 Lapwings, 19 Curlew, 3 Reed Bunting,
2 Cetti's Warbler, 5 Chaffinches, 3 Great Tits, 2
Wren's, and a Kingfish this is the fist one seen out at the north
Stream this year, (Gadget)
Monday 30th January 2012 Pegwell Bay
I popped down for a look at the incoming tide mid
afternoon but it was a tad grim, the only unusual thing I saw was Roly and
whilst its hard to argue that whilst he is indeed a 'highly unusual
specimen' he wasn't the reason why I went out or exactly what I was looking
for either - as it turned out he was far and away the best thing I saw all
afternoon which isn't saying much is it? Anyway ... although it was cold at
least the wind had dropped and the rain had stopped so the timing of the
visit at least was reasonably good. Since my last visit a few of the
wintering bird numbers had increased with better numbers of Shelduck, Golden
Plover, Dunlin etc but the Gull numbers were once again on the pathetic side
of awful ... I took a few common bird counts which were: 1 Diver
species - north, 1 Little Egret, 18 Brent, 112 Shelduck,
148 Mallard, 8 Shoveler, 60 Teal, 230 Wigeon, 85
Curlew, 194 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Black-tailed Godwit,
4150 Lapwing, 2380 Golden Plover, 210 Grey Plover, 370
Knot, 1180 Dunlin, 56 Sanderling, 490 Oystercatcher
and 1 Merlin. (Phil M)
Thursday 26th January 2012 Botany Bay/Foreness
Point
There were five Snow Bunting in the dunes today
at about 2.30pm.Flushed by a dog, they flew off towards Margate. (John
Carnell)
Thursday 26th January 2012 Pegwell Bay
I watched the incoming tide this morning/early
afternoon. It was much as it's been over the mudflat (only far less Plovers
and hardly any Gulls to be seen today) but there was a bit of Brent
migration going on out at sea as 295 birds flew north in slightly larger
groups today - I did see groups of c80 and c50 passing through, though there
were many small groups too. The only other notes I took from my little
session out was: 13 Great Crested Grebe - 3 south and c10 present, 22
Divers - 19 south and 3 north, 1 Little Egret, 51 Shelduck,
120 Mallard, 230 Wigeon, 90 Teal, 1 Sparrowhawk,
3200 Lapwing, 1470 Golden Plover, 179 Bar-tailed Godwit,
61 Sanderling, 4 Auk species - 3 south and 1 north, 160
Linnet, 20 Greenfinch, 30 Chaffinch, 10 Goldfinch
and 20 Reed Buntings. (Phil M)
Thursday 26th January 2012
Dumpton Gap / Viking Bay,
Broadstairs
Whilst
walking along the seawall on a falling tide, I counted the following waders
- 6 Purple Sandpipers & 4 Turnstones at Dumpton Gap, another 2
Purple Sandpipers & 4 Turnstones at Louisa Bay whilst there
were 10 more Turnstones feeding on the seaweed at the base of the
Broadstairs Pier. This a slight increase in numbers since last week. (Ron
Dubbins)
Wednesday 25th January 2012 Pegwell Bay
I watched for three hours this morning, mainly
concentrating on the incoming tide. Apart from a few small groups of Brents
arriving in off out of the gloom and lots of Great Crested Grebes offshore
it was pretty much as it's been of late - slightly/awfully stale lets say.
My notes were: 1 Red Throated Diver - present offshore, 12 Diver
species - 11 south and 1 north, 70+ Great Crested Grebes - offshore,
92 Brent - in off/from the south, 76 Shelduck, 86 Mallard,
290 Wigeon, 178 Teal, 6420 Lapwing, 1580 Golden
Plover, 270 Grey Plover, 196 Bar-tailed Godwit, 410
Knot, 870 Dunlin, 47 Sanderling, 70+ Redshank, 1
adult Yellow legged Gull, 2 Water Rail, 2 Skylark and
35 Linnets. (Phil M)
Monday 23rd January 2012 Ramsgate
Cliffs
Got some great views of a Peregrine Falcon
hunting along the cliffs under King George VI park in Ramsgate. Out at sea
was a distant Great Crested Grebe and what looked like the
Red-throated Diver that took flight as soon as I spotted it and a small
flock of about 8 Brent Geese flew along the coast towards
Broadstairs. Video of the Peregrine can be seen here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiRL1CFxf3Q
(Keith Ross)
Monday 23rd January 2012 Pegwell Bay
I spent a couple of hours down at the bay
watching the dropping tide from just after midday. It was very quiet save
the usual wintering birds - there were: 25+ Great Crested Grebes -
offshore, 2 Red Throated Divers - offshore, 19 Diver species -
south, 1 Gannet - south, 69 Brent, 74 Shelduck, 110
Mallard, 1 Pintail, 240 Wigeon, 60 Teal, 1
Common Scoter - south, 208 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1500 Golden
Plover, 1300 Lapwing (plus 3000+ more south of Pegwell), 1
Merlin etc. (Phil M)
Sunday 22nd January 2012 Worth Marshes
Bits noted: 2 Marsh Harries, 1 Ring-tailed
Harrier cc40 Teal, 20 Mallard, 2 Cormorants, 2
Little Grebes, 7 Coot, 5 Moorhens, 2 Cetti's Warbler
2 Reed Buntings, 3 Wrens, and as I was leaving the Great
White Egret put in a appearance also a lone Redshank dropped into
one of the dikes (Gadget)
Sunday 22nd January 2012 Ramsgate
Harbour
The Red-throated Diver was still in
Ramsgate Harbour on Sunday. It swam round the edge of the Inner Harbour
before crossing over to the Outer Harbour by the slipway. I lost sight of it
at that point. Video can be seen here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdRmZdFT-jw
(Keith Ross)
Friday 20th January 2012 Ramsgate Harbour
A Red-throated Diver in the inner harbour, superb close views in
front of The Property Management Company office. Also a Little Grebe.
(Simon Mount)
Friday 20th January 2012 Worth Marshes Area
A few hours spent on Worth Marshes area this morning
birds noted: 1 Great White Egret, showing well at times and a small
group of 4 Little Egrets, flew west early morning, 2 Grey Heron,
1 Ring tailed Hen Harrier, 2 Peregrine Falcons, 2 Common
Snipe, 1 Water Rail, 7 Coot, 5 Moorhens, 2 Little
Grebes, Teal, Mallard, flew overhead heading north / east and a
distant Goose? 1 Corn Bunting noted calling as it flew over 2
Cetti's Warblers, 4 Wren, 3 Reed Bunting, 4 Chaffinches,
2 Great Tits, It was great to be out for a little while, (Gadget)
Wednesday 18th January 2012 Restharrow Scrape Sandwich Bay
What a difference a day makes, after yesterdays frozen visit, I returned
today and had a fantastic surprise in the shape of two Avocets
feeding in the corner of the splash. I hastily took some snaps as they fed,
not quite believing they were there, then before I knew it they were off,
heading towards the power station, all over in 10mins,but what a
"10mins."!!!!.See attachment photo. (Roly W.C)
Wednesday 18th January 2012 Pegwell Bay
By jiminy it was dull down there today peeps -
the gloomy overhead conditions a perfect metaphor for the semi-pants birding
today. The tide was all wrong this afternoon but I thought I'd give it a go
anyway ... I stayed for a 'whole' hour, the only things making it as far as
the notepad being: 47 Cormorants, 2 Grey Heron, 69 Shelduck,
c200 Mallard, 360 Wigeon, 800 Lapwing, 1120 Golden
Plover, 1 Black-tailed Godwit and 185 Curlew. (Phil M)
Tuesday 17th January 2012 Pegwell Bay
I watched the tide from 2.30 - 4.30pm. After
spotting a group of 9 Grey Partridge in one of the fields on Little
Cliffsend farm on my way down I set up on the Country Park and watched the
tide come in. It was fairly quiet - my counts/notes being: 3 Little Egret,
38 Brent - north, 69 Shelduck, 225 Mallard, 9
Gadwall, 1 Pintail, 3 Shoveler, 530 Wigeon, 95
Teal, 1 Hen Harrier, 1 Merlin, 850 Lapwing, 400
Golden Plover, 320 Grey Plover, 190 Bar-tailed Godwit, 60
Redshank, 6 Snipe, 420 Knot, 850 Dunlin, 1
Mediterranean Gull and 1 Yellow Legged Gull. (Phil M)
Tuesday 17th January 2012
St Nickolas area
There
were 4 Marsh Harriers in the air all together at lunchtime one smart
looking male and three female's, 2 Kestrels, 1 Green Woodpecker,
19 Pheasant, 4 Red-legged Partridges, Good number of
Chaffinches, Blue tits, Great Tits, 7 Robins, 4 Wrens,
around the waters edge 3 Grey Heron, 187 Mallard, 5 Teal,
2 Wigeon, 9 Coot, 5 Moorhen, with cc300 Woodpigeons
in the tree-lines, heading back to the car I noted a Chiffchaff on
the edge of the wood, (Gadget)
Tuesday 17th January 2012
Stonar Lake Sandwich
After a wasted trip to the Bay (Restharrow) frozen, I made a trip to
Stonar Lake. A fisherman was unloading his gear for a fishing session, so I
asked if he minded leaving the road gate unlocked so I could have a walk
round the bank to see what was on the water, which was not frozen, and I'd
lock it on my way out, He said ok. There was a lot of birds, I counted 7
Mute Swans, 25 Tufted Ducks, 20 Wigeon, 5 Great Crested
Grebe, 15 Mallard, 10 Teal, 15 Coot, large number
of Gulls, Including Lesser Black Backed, Common and Black
headed. There could have been more than these numbers, but birds kept
coming and going. Well worth a look. (Roly W.C)
Monday January 16th 2012 Western Under-cliff Ramsgate
At around 2:00pm (high tide) at the Western Under cliff in Ramsgate
towards the end was an adult winter Mediterranean Gull that flew up
and down the beach front with Black-headed Gulls. Latter at dusk
about 40 Brent Geese were on the northern edge of Pegwell Bay.
Yesterday, January 15th, 5 Skylarks were behind Hengrove Farm over
the rough field in the late afternoon with a Kestrel. (Robert Hewitt)
Monday 16th January 2012 Pegwell Bay
I watched the incoming tide between 14.15 and
16.15 with Craig and some old duffer known locally as Roly. Anyway - it was
ever so slightly cack, my notes for the session being: 2 Great Crested
Grebes, 7 Divers - 1 present offshore and 6 north, 9 Brents
- north, 59 Shelduck, 125 Mallard, 4 Gadwall, 570
Wigeon, 100 Teal, 1200 Lapwing, 410 Golden Plover,
250+ Grey Plover, 190 Curlew, 191 Bar Tailed Godwit, 1
Black Tailed Godwit, 80 Sanderling, 1 Spotted Redshank
and 20 Meadow Pipits dropped into the marsh to roost. (Phil M)
Monday
16th January 2012
North Foreland Area
A very brief visit after lunch in lovely sunshine was fairly quiet but I
did hear, and eventually see, a Chiffchaff in a garden opposite the
lighthouse compound. A trickle of Divers and Auks south,
(Barry Hunt)
Sunday 15th January 2012 North Foreland Area
A couple of hours around the coast with John S was quite rewarding with
5 Twite, 5 Snow Bunting and a real rarity in the form of 5
Mute Swans that came in off the sea at Whiteness. Plenty of Divers,
Auks and Kittiwakes passing south off North Foreland. (Barry
Hunt)
Saturday 14th January 2012 Shottendane
to Woodchurch & Margate Cemetery
08.15 hrs Walked along the track which passes behind Hengrove farm
.Slight frost with light N/E wind clear skies overhead but a bank of cloud
over the channel ment the early sun was patchy. My attention was drawn
looking across the fields towards the Manston rd tip. A bird of prey was
carrying a large kill low to the ground. It climbed onto the top of a pylon
where I could see it was a Peregrine falcon with its prey, a Wood
pigeon. It sat on the pylon for a couple of minutes before dropping back
to the field still with its kill. On the Set-a-Side areas at Hengrove farm
there were good numbers of Corn bunting Skylark and
Goldfinch. Further towards Woodchurch is a large area of overwintered
stubble (about 40 acres) which in these days of intensive farming is a rare
sight on Thanet, but great for farmland birds. Walking back the cloud had
gone and the sun was very pleasant. More Corn Bunting and Skylark
in the hedgerows and a nice flock of Long tailed tits with a
couple of Blue tits in toe. Other birds seen, Robin, Wren, Herring
gull, Carrion Crow and Ring necked Parakeet . I then walked up to
Margate Cemetery. Again large numbers of Goldcrest including one
scrapping pair which fell out of a tree almost landing at my feet before
continuing there spat in some nearby brambles. Birds also seen 1 Green
woodpecker, 2 Greater spotted woodpecker, 3 Chiff chaff, 5
Goldfinch, cc30 Chaffinch, 3 Jays, 2 Magpies, 3
Ring necked parakeet, 7 Long tailed tits , also Blue its,
Great its, Wren, Robin, Blackbird & Song Thrush, but I couldn't locate
the Bullfinch of previous weeks. (Colin Musselwhite)
Saturday 14th January 2012 West Cliff Ramsgate
A male and female Blackcap showing well at the bottom of the
chine around midday. The sun had brought out 4 or 5 bees (of 2 species)
feeding on some hebe flowers. Also 2 Redwing in the trees at Vale
Square. (Nick Lever)
Saturday 14th
January 2012 Louisa Bay
Broadstairs
Whilst
walking along the seawall at almost high tide, I spotted 4 Purple
Sandpipers & 4 Turnstones feeding together at the bottom of the
seawall steps. The number of both these species appears to be much lower
this winter than in recent years in this area of Thanet. (Ron Dubbins)
Saturday 14th January 2012 North Foreland
I went back for another look at the sea this
morning. The wind was a light n/east with much better visibility than
yesterday and there were an awful lot more Divers on the move today, I
counted over 400 in decent sized flocks heading south in less than half an
hour before 08.30 though either side of this they were trickling through
much as they were yesterday. I stayed until 10.30 today pretty much because
I had a bit of company (both Chris Dyer and Phil Beriet turned up for a look
today) so in around three hours watching from first light the counts were: 2
Great Crested Grebe - 1 north and 1 south, 993 Divers - south
plus another 13 north, 2 Gannets - south, 62 Brent Geese -
north, 2 Shelduck - north, 17 Common Scoter - south, 1
Great Skua - south, 1 Mediterranean Gull - south, 200+
Kittiwakes - both ways and 48 large Auks south and 6 north. The 5
Twite showed up at about 09.00ish but on only one occasion today.
That said we didn't look for them so they may have been somewhere in the
cauliflower field unseen? (Phil M)
Friday 13th January 2012 North Foreland,
Foreness and Pegwell.
Up with the Lark and off, heading towards North
Foreland (at long last) before it was properly light and I was set up and
watching the sea from 07.40. The wind was a lightest n/westerly and though
it was noticeably colder than of late it was still quite pleasant on the
weather front. With it being my first birding visit there for a fair few
years I really enjoyed myself as a steady trickle of birds passed by
offshore - I do love the area and it's such a treat to be near to the sea
too. Best bird of the day was a Great Northern Diver which showed
really well - flying in quite high and extremely close prior to plonking
down on the sea just off the rocks. About 15 - 30 minutes later I had
another sighting of obviously the same bird heading in the opposite
direction off towards Joss Bay - great! Other 'bits' I see very rarely
watching on the other side of Thanet included an adult Little Gull,
an Eider and 15+ Razorbills, ten of which passed by in one
group. There were also 5 Twite showing on and off in the cauliflower
field adjacent to the pump house which were a bit flighty initially but gave
themselves up to some excellent views after about half a dozen attempts to
approach them. I watched off the headland for 2 hours, the entire counts
being: 6 Great Crested Grebe - north, 248 Divers - south and
14 north, 2 Gannets - 1 north and 1 south, 1 Shelduck - north,
1 Eider - south, 2 Common Scoter - north, 1 Mediterranean
Gull - south, 1 Little Gull - north, 150+ Kittiwake -
north and 86 large Auks south and 11 north. After packing up there
and taking a few photos of the Twite, I took a slow saunter around the coast
all the way up to Foreness where I came across a Black Redstart and
another 20+ Divers were seen flying east. I popped into home for a
cuppa and a bite to eat before heading off down to Pegwell for the incoming
tide. I watched there from 11.30 until 14.00 seeing a few more bits which
included an Ommisus yellow-legged northern Herring Gull, 2
Ruff and a Water Pipit. I also heard a Spotted Redshank
call twice but never laid bins on it. A few Divers were moving past
offshore and later on a group of 25 Brents arrived from in off just
before I left (to go with the 50 odd already present) and half a dozen
Skylarks passed n/west overhead as if they were on the move? The common bird
counts that I could be bothered to take were: 54 Divers (32 north and
22 south), c75 Brent, 85 Shelduck, 220 Wigeon, 1
Pintail, c20 Teal, 4200 Lapwing, 1160 Golden Plover,
106 Sanderling, 179 Bar-tailed Godwit, 460 Oystercatcher,
220 Great Black-backed Gull and 60 Lesser Black-backed Gull.
(Phil M)
Thursday 12th January 2012 River Dover
I had 7 Grey Heron calling and circling over my house today at 14.50,
they then headed in a northerly direction towards Whitfield. ( Graham Crick
)
Wednesday 11th January 2012 Ramsgate Allotment
There was a Blackcap singing on the
allotments in Cecilia Road, Ramsgate, this afternoon.
(Marianne and Steve Harper)
Wednesday 11th January 2012 Ramsgate
Harbour, Pegwell Bay and Grove.
A long old day out today, starting at the east
pier just after first light before heading off to Pegwell for the incoming
tide where I stayed until midday then in the afternoon I spent an hour and a
half scanning the reed beds at Grove from the mound. The morning session
turned up a steady trundle of Divers and Auks heading south plus a distant
Great Skua. I watched the sea for 90 minutes before having a quick mooch
around the bird-less Harbour seeing: 346 Diver species - south, 4
Gannets - 1 north and 3 south, 1 Bonxie - south, 2 Kittiwakes
- south and 99 Large Auks - south, which included at least 3
Razorbills. On the way to the bay after packing up I came across single
Chiffchaffs in the very light scrub on the cliff top opposite the
harbour boatyard then another in the Holmes Oaks in Courtstairs Park. The
tide at Pegwell turned up everything that's to be expected and nothing else
today. Divers continued to move south - even though I only had a few scans
from the Country Park I still saw another 29 birds heading south and must
have missed a whole lot more too. The only other non-daily things that
showed were single Merlin and an adult Yellow-legged Gull. My
counts were: 5 Great Crested Grebe, 29 Divers - south, 4
Brent, 49 Shelduck, 92 Mallard, 310 Wigeon, 23
Teal, 430 Oystercatcher, 5100 Lapwing, 840 Golden
Plover, 210 Grey Plover, 194 Bar-tailed Godwit, 170
Curlew, 370 Knot, 102 Sanderling, 820 Dunlin and 1
Cetti's Warbler. In the afternoon I took a rare trip out to Grove
where I watched between 14.10 and 15.40. No Bitterns or Glossy Ibis
(unfortunately) but the rather lovely afternoon weather made up for that so
I had to make do with seeing: 1 Little Egret, 12+ Mute Swan,
100+ Greylag, 300+ Teal, 6+ Marsh Harrier, 500+
Lapwing, 4 Ruff, 300+ Fieldfare and 2 Water Pipits
whilst a few Cetti's Warblers and Bearded Tits were heard.
(Phil M)
Wednesday 11th January 2012 Grove Ferry
After all
the dredging work carried out last week on the Water Meadows, I thought I
would go along and see if the 2 Glossy Ibis were still present. After
a little searching I found them feeding together on the far side of the
meadows, in front of which has been dredged a large shallow lake. I only saw
them briefly before they disappeared out of sight but one did have a large
white band on it's left upper leg whilst the other one seemed to have no
rings. As well as the usual large number of wildfowl present, I did see 1
Bittern flying, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1
Water Pipits. (Ron Dubbins)
Tuesday 10th January 2012 King George VI
Park / Dumpton Gap to Louisa Bay
Good day for a stroll. Birds quite vocal today in
the Park, lots of Robins, Blue-tits and Great-tits, Song Thrush
and Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming. Saw 20 Brent Geese
flying towards Ramsgate and 4 Turnstones. (Sue Smith)
Tuesday 10th January
2012 Ebbsfleet / Minster area
A few bits noted this
morning 19 Blackbirds, cc60 Goldfinches, cc26 Chaffinches,
9 Skylarks, 5 Reed Buntings, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 4
Great Tits, 3 Pied Wagtails, 5 Robins, 2 Kestrels,
1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Peregrine, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Green
Sandpipers, 19 Moorhens, 5 Coot, 14 Mallard, 12
Teal, 7 Mute Swans, and a few hundred Woodpigeons.
(Gadget)
Sunday 8th January 2012 Shuart Farm to Coldharbour
Arrived at Shuart at 9.00 a.m. Dull overcast morning with a brisk
westerly wind. 1 Cock Pheasant darted out of lane into hedgerow. 4
Goldcrest, 9 Blue tits, 3, Great tits, 1 Wren, 1
Robin, 7 Long Tailed Tits, and 5 Chaffinch around the farm
area. A single Kestrel hovering over dyke and around 20 scatty
Blackbirds criss crossing the track as I walked towards the railway
crossing. c60 Brent Geese feeding in a wheat field were joined by a
further 30 birds which flew in from the sea. 1 Kestrel was hunting by
the horse stables and 3 Mute Swans flew in towards the Shuart
reservoir headed towards the sea wall where there were 40 Lapwings in
a field near the stables. Walking towards Coldharbour, birds seen
were c 30 Turnstones, c250 Oyster Catchers (mainly on shingle
bank at plumb pudding island) 7 Ringed Plovers, c20 Sanderling,
c30 Grey Plovers and 63 Redshanks in the Coldharbour
lagoon 2 Stonechats were seen on the field side of the sea wall.
Walking along the Wantsum river, 1 Kingfisher flew out from its
normal perch on the sluice gate. On returning to Shuart 1 Green
Woodpecker flew through the farmyard and was soon calling from the
trees. (Colin Musselwhite)
Sunday 8th January 2012 North / West end of Worth
Marshes
The Great White Egret out on Worth Marshes
showed Well this morning also cc40 Teal, 11 Coot, 7
Moorhens, 2 Little Grebes, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 9 Reed
Buntings 7 Wrens, and 1 Green Sandpiper along the dikes a
Marsh Harrier flew west and a cc130 Lapwings landed in one of
the fields, (Gadget)
Saturday 7th January
2012 Joss Bay
Spent an our on the beach at lunchtime today - 12
Great Crested Grebes decked on the sea, another dozen passing through. 8
Diver sp. 1 Bonxie 1 Brent Goose! On the beach were 40
Ringed Plover and a Black Redstart flitting along the cliffs.
In the field by the lighthouse there were 30 Curlew. (John Carnell)
Saturday 7th January 2012 Thanet Area
Bright and blustery morning. Large flock c60 Black headed Gulls
in fallow field (shallows rd). 3 Goldcrests in fur trees (Buddies
Stables). c50 Goldfinch, 7 Linnets feeding on weeds in
overwintered cauliflower behind silentgliss, also around headlands were1
Robin, 4 Long Tailed Tits, 1 Kestrel, 2 Dunnock's,
7 Grey Partridge , 30 Woodpigeon. Drove over to Kingsdown farm
(Pyson's rd) several small groups of Linnets and one flock of c50
birds also in cauliflower feeding on nettle seed). 27 Carrion Crow
and c25 Starlings feeding on emerging wheat crop also 17 Pied
wagtail on same field. 2 scatty Blackbirds and 1 Dunnock
(Rose garden). (Colin Musselwhite)
Thursday 5th January 2012 Ellington Park,
Ramsgate
About 600 Ring-necked Parakeets in their
pre-roost gathering as I walked through this afternoon. Also a Goldcrest
heard. (Nick Lever)
Wednesday 4th January 2012 Restharrow Scrape SBBOT
I'm glad everything is getting back to normal after the festivities. I
took a trip to the bay today and popped into the hide at Restharrow it was
busy, everyone trying to get a shot of the American Green Winged Teal.
It was a long way off, but I managed a couple of shots, as this is a new
"tick" for me. Also making an appearance was a Ring Tail Hen Harrier,
that put every bird on the pond into the air, which brought the photo
session to an end. Hope you like the pictures, but not the best I've taken.
(Roly Wells-Colyer)
Wednesday 4th January 2012 Botany Bay
On a walk to Botany Bay today I didn't see much of note
but did catch a Grey Cockatiel. If you know anyone who's lost one
ring me on - 07791657763 - it's driving me mad already! (John Carnell)
Monday 2nd January 2012
Garage Pools Pegwell
I received an e-mail from one
of the local Dog walkers saying he'd found a piece of a Benbo tripod
up near the garage pools so if by any chance you hear that someone's
misplaced it let me know and I'll retrieve it. (Gadget)
Monday 2nd January 2012 Margate Cemetery
Nice bright day after the recent gloom. Good sightings of the normal birds.
2 Jays, 3 Magpies, 2 Greater Spotted Woodpecker, 1
Green Woodpecker. A nice flock of 14 Greenfinch, flew in from the
allotments. 2 Firecrests showed well behind crematory. c30
Chaffinch flitting from tree to tree in main cemetery with 1 male
Bullfinch close by. 2 Chiffchaff near to cement works. 1
Woodcock (flushed out by dog walker) flew past near council entrance . 7
Long Tailed Tits near Surf boat memorial with a few Blue Tits
and Great Tits mingled in. Various sightings of Robin,
Dunnock, and Blackbird. Large numbers of Goldcrests which
seemed to be all around the crematory and Cemetery. (conservative estimate
probably 20 birds). 5 Goldfinch also present with 1 Wren, 1
Song Thrush c25 Carrion Crows. (Colin Musselwhite)
Monday 2nd January 2012
Wagtail Lake area
The
weather forecast was for dry sunny day with a west south west wind at about
10 to 15mph and tempter of around 9 degrees, I arrived at Wagtail Lake around 09-30hrs
birds noted while i was there, 2 Common Buzzard, 1 (male) Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrels,
27 Linnets, 9 Chaffinches, 1 Green Woodpecker, cc80
Woodpigeons, 21 Coot, 109 Mallard, 2 Mute Swans
and cc27 (male) Pheasants were scattered around the farm yard and
fields adjacent to the out buildings. (Gadget)
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