Saturday
31st March 2007 Westcliff to Pegwell Hoverpad
I should have known better! Ever the optimist, I did
the walk along the cliff-top in the hope of a migrant or two. Just like
Phil, yesterday, they were conspicuous by their absence. I found 4 Pied
Wagtails on the bowling greens and that was it! A female Sparrowhawk
caused a bit of a reaction amongst the gulls at Pegwell village as it
soared over the caravan park but I didn't see another decent bird until I
reached the sunken garden. 43 Brent Geese were feeding
along the tide line and several Fulmars were perched on
their ledges as I peered over the edge of the cliffs. A pair of Grey
Partridge were flushed from the side of the ramp as I walked down
to the hoverpad and there were at least 3 Chiffchaff singing
along the hawthorn hedgerow below the Viking ship. Will we see a Wheatear
on Thanet this Spring? (Dylan)
Friday
30th March 2007 Pegwell Bay
Oh how I'm enjoying this wonderful early spring weather - it's a joy to be
out in the field!! Anyway - enough of that nonsense. I wandered down into
the 'gloom' surrounding Pegwell this morning. I started of on my normal
spring route by cycling down to see the awaiting throngs of newly arrived
Wheatears on the hoverport seawall. There wasn't any!! No problem -
surely overhead the heavy misty cloudy murk would surely force a few over
flying migrants into earshot or perhaps even be viewable? There would
surely be some finches or Meadow Pipits moving through the area? There
were none!! Being overly positive - my thoughts turned to the incoming
tide - perhaps a decent flock of Avocets in this weather - definitely some
Sandwich Terns ...definitely?? Not a sausage!! There were a few Gulls, a
smattering of leftover over-wintering common waders and 18 Brents. Awful!
A soggy bait digger sitting on his bucket smoking a rolly was almost as
interesting. This just about sums up the first half hour of my day out.
Then I spotted a duck - then two ducks. Then they were gone and I thought
I'd imagined the whole thing?? I have a fantastic imagination as you can
see from the above if you've read this far? Then...2 Red-breasted
Mergansers appeared and all was well again. Whilst i was looking for
the submerged
sawbills - I noticed 4 Wigeon sitting offshore out in the Bay -
then another Duck about half a mile away sitting on the sea below the
undercliff. I assumed it to be a Common Scoter and was proved
correct 15 minutes later when I caught up with the little critter sitting
off the sunken garden on my walk along the clifftop. There was even a
Firecrest on the clifftop!!! Ooooh!! Then - and I hope your sitting down
whilst reading this - there was Black Redstart at the back end of
the Farm!! Not much else of course - 4
Redwings in one of the horse paddocks and a flyover Grey Wagtail,
that’s about it. Phil M (sober)
Thursday 29th March 2007 Duncan
Road Ramsgate Thanet
A
bizarre incident to report. This evening, just before 8pm I was
setting off in the car along Duncan Road when I noticed a bird in the
road. As I got closer it ran ahead of me in the headlights and
proved to be a Grey Partridge. It seemed to be a bit dazzled
so I got out of the car at which point it flew off strongly over the
houses in Vale Road. Very strange that it chose to land in such a
built up area. (Nick Lever)
Thursday 29th March 2007 Foreness
A
walk around Foreness turned up nothing of interest, not helped by the
mowing of the putting greens. There was, however, a Firecrest
in the firs between the greens and Botany Bay - my 200th UK species, on my
50th birthday!
(Steve Coates)
Thursday 29th March 2007 Stodmarsh NNR
Took a leisurely walk around the reserve,
anti-clockwise, this am between 8:30 & 11:30am. Feeling cooler today
& the damp fog meant visibility not that great. Hoped for new migrants
still apparently absent but plenty of Chiffchaff & Cetti’s
singing (& easily seen) Just a handful of Linnets, plenty of Blue,
Long Tailed & Great Tits, 7 Bullfinches (3m, 4fem) &
the usual other common species I won't bother listing here! Surprise
(shows sign of desperation!) came in the form of 4 Jays in a group
with not a screech between them - even they are feeling a bit despondent
bird-wise at the moment! Eight Jays seen in total - a few more than
normal. As usual (& always great to see), a pair of Marsh Harriers
were displaying over & around the main Lake at Stodmarsh. (Ben Ring)
Thursday 29th March 2007 Dumpton Thanet
I looked out of the window at 11-35hrs this morning
and noticed a Black Redstart on the feeding station, only got the
record photo though the glass before it few away along the hedgerow.
(Gadget)
Wednesday 28 March 2007 Location not know
This morning at 0800am a Grey Wagtail landed on the roof of the
terraced houses opposite our back window. The bird landed where a
replacement roof of red tiles, which are now covered with Xanthoria
orange lichen, meets an original slate roof, which was damp and shiny from
the condensed mist. The Grey Wagtail stayed for some minutes
on the lichen-covered tiles, right next to the damp grey slates and
preened. And of course wagged its tail non-stop. We
watched it through binoculars. Could the wagtail have mistaken the tile roof
for rocks and the damp slate for a stream and decided to have a preen at what
it thought was a typical grey wag spot?
(Marianne and Steve Harper)
Wednesday 28th March 2007 Elvington Garden
I know I don’t report very often these days, but today in Elvington
garden I had seven (7) Jays this morning at about 1030 they
were chasing each other and any small birds daft enough to venture to
close, the irony is it a new garden tick, Talk about London Buses, By the
way lots of small stuff pairing up and nest site searching. (TRP)
Tuesday 27th March 2007
Ramsgate Cemetery
I spent a little time up at Ramsgate Cemetery today
hope in to see something new, maybe a migrant or two, well know back to reality
both Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers were in good
numbers also Jay's and of course lots of Rose Ringed Parakeets,
Great, Blue and Long-tailed Tits were very active all around the
Cemetery, while two Mistle Thrushes were seen over in the east
corner and a Kestrel was over the centre of the adjacent allotments,
on my return home a Peregrine
went over the field behind my house heading down towards Pegwell. (Gadget)
Tuesday
27th March 2007 Foreness
Took a little walk this afternoon along by the mini
golf cause by the pumping station at Foreness and amongst the numerous
Pied Wagtails was this Black Redstart, sorry for the poor photo but
the wire fence was in the way. (Mick S)
Tuesday
27th March 2007 North Foreland to Foreness
A very enjoyable session along the coast. Like Phil,
yesterday, I hoped for a few grounded migrants but had to admit defeat.
The local Meadow Pipits were putting on a good show and I
watched a smart adult female Sparrowhawk hunting the
hedgerow along Convent Lane. A handful of Linnet and Greenfinch
moved along the clifftop, but it could hardly be described as
"vis-mig" A pair of Grey Partridge and 7 Pied
Wagtails were around the "Pitch & Putt" by Foreness
and a check of the waders on the tide line revealed 14 Purple
Sandpipers amidst the regular Curlew, Oystercatcher,
Redshank, Sanderling and Turnstone.
A female Stonechat was by Botany Bay as I retraced my
steps and despite the lack of wind several Fulmars were
patrolling the cliffs, giving excellent views. (Dylan)
Tuesday 27th March 2007 Pegwell Area
A couple of hours 'walk' turned up: 1 Fieldfare, 3 Redwing,
1 Sandwich Tern, 1 Avocet, 1 Little-ringed Plover, 58
Turnstone, 1 littoralis Rock Pipit, 6 White Wagtail,
1 continental Coal Tit, 64 Brent and c20 Meadow Pipit
flew west. (Phil M)
Tuesday 27th March 2007 North Foreland
At North Foreland 1 Common Buzzard SW at 11:25
today. (Simon Mount)
Tuesday 27th March 2007 Newington Thanet
Senegal Parrot in Newington, Ramsgate, this morning. (Neil F)
Tuesday 27th March 2007 King Georges Park Ramsgate
Two Coal Tits in King Georges Park, at 07-45hrs, near old toilets
thought that might be of interest. (Frank F)
Monday
26th March 2007 Pegwell area
I went down this morning hoping to see a Wheatear or a Black Redstart but
there were no grounded migrant passerines other than a single White
Wagtail today. I checked all the likely looking spots but there was
nothing going on. It was very clear overnight I suppose? Out on the mud
new arrivals included 136 Brent, 6 Avocet, 7 Ruff and
112+ Sanderlings. Otherwise the only things I took note of were 320
Dunlin, 25 Knot, 13 Bar-tailed Godwit, 12 Lapwing,
1 Little Grebe, 4 Moorhen and 2 Peregrine. (Phil M)
Saturday 24th March 2007 Cliffsend Farm Thanet Late
News
Yesterday
afternoon on my way home from Ramsgate I had a fleeting glimpse of an
interesting bird crossing the field between Little cliffsend farm and the
old hoverport approach road, Pegwell Bay. I was driving at the time, but I
am pretty sure it was a male Montagu's harrier; I first saw it
against the palw of the sea and noticed longer, narrower wings than
any gull around. It then dropped low across the green field and appeared
quite dark grey above and showed distinct dark upper wing marks consistent
with an adult male monties. Unfortunately some moron on a motorcycle, not
to mention several other road users, demanded more of my attention and as
i looked back I lost sight of it as it crossed the road towards the
Canterbury road. Couldn't stop and had no binoculars, but i am 85% sure.
Keep your eyes open (Norman M)
Thursday 22nd March 2007 Capel
fleet Sheppey
Possibly a little way out of our area, but a visit to Capel fleet
yesterday (Thursday) afternoon was delightful. On arrival I immediately
found the Rough-legged Buzzard sitting in a small tree. Excellent
scope views. I turned away and back again only to find it had flown but
not far as I relocated it in flight, accompanied by a Common Buzzard,
which was much smaller, and two Marsh Harriers. All four birds in
the bins at once. There must have been between 10 and 20 Marsh Harriers
around during the two hours or so I was there. A
quick visit to Harty ferry resulted in loads of waders including a
roosting flock of about 90 Avocets and about 110 Brent’s.
A completely white Pheasant was a little bizarre but it did
not have pink eyes. (John
van der Dol)
Thursday
22nd March 2007 Newland's Farm & Dumpton
A male Grey Partridge was
calling as I walked over to Pyson's Road this morning and there was a
light passage of Meadow Pipits heading SW just after fist
light. Several times the gulls went up, but I was unable to locate the
cause. After work, I took a slow wander around the fields, noting several
pairs of Linnet back on breeding territories and spotted
a Merlin as it dashed over the remnants of the,
recently cut, cauliflower field. The local Sparrowhawks
continue to display high up over West Dumpton Lane whilst a pair of Kestrels
are very vocal around the old barn. Resident species seem to be well into
their breeding routines, Carrion Crows are already
incubating eggs along Vine Close, whilst Blackbirds and Magpies
can be seen ferrying nesting material around the gardens. (Dylan)
Thursday 22nd March 2007 Minster Thanet
Hen Harrier (ringtail) and Barn Owl at
Minster sewage farm this morning. (Neil F)
Thursday 22nd March 2007 Thanet Coast Late
News
10th March - Merlin 1 heading
south at North Foreland.
11th March - Common Buzzard 1 present all morning at North
Foreland then heading SW.
13th March - Ramsgate - Rock pipits displaying and using
nest hole at the Harbour. Blackcap, male in song at Albion Gardens
(1st heard on 26th February).
16th March - Flock of 6 Common Buzzards soaring high over
Ramsgate town centre at 13:20 before heading off West.
17th March - Imm. Male Peregrine Falcon at North Foreland,
landed on cliffs. (Simon Mount)
Wednesday 21st
March 2007 Thanet Coast
It seems that reports of the demise of the winters waders on our shores
have been grossly exaggerated, as indeed have reports of the early spring.
There are still Purple Sandpipers and Sanderlings (some
starting to get
their summer plumage) at Foreness, feeding up for the flight north.
(Steve Coates)
Sunday 18th
March 2007 Larkeyvalley & Chilham Late
News
A pleasant walk around Larkeyvalley produced a good
selection of species. A pair of Marsh Tits foraged across the
wood, calling loudly, and a Brambling (my first) was seen in party
of Chaffinches. No Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers were spotted,
but I had a ringside view of a territorial scrap between male Great
Spotted Woodpeckers. A walk around a favourite wood beyond Chilham
produced a calling Hawfinch. (Steve Coates)
Friday 16th March 2007 Faversham &
Sittingbourne
A visit to the downs south of Faversham/Sittingbourne
with Rob Clements today included 4 Hawfinches, 1 Lesser Spotted
Woodpecker calling and nest-excavating, 5 Mediterranean Gulls
flying over and about 18 Common
Buzzards. The latter species is still increasing rapidly, with
significant numbers now breeding in several parts of the county. (Tim
Hodge)
Friday 16th March 2007 Pegwell Bay
Very little going on this morning. I did go down a bit earlier in the hope
that the early morning cloud might help with a bit of vismig - but on
arriving there was very little going on, either grounded or on the move
overhead. There were 2 Chiffchaff on the hoverpad and a single Brambling
flew over heading south, otherwise a virtual bird-free zone. I did watch a
bit of the
dropping tide seeing: 8 Avocet, 4 Brent, 2 Peregrine
and 1 Sparrowhawk. There were 3 Moorhens on the garage pool
when I left. (Phil M)
Thursday 15th March 2007 Dumpton Thanet
A single Chaffinch came to the feeders
today with 9 Greenfinches but no return of the Brambling. (Gadget)
Thursday 15th March 2007 Pegwell Bay
It looked quite good for a Buzzard or two this morning so I tried yet
another raptor watch from the country park seeing none!! I stayed between
10.00 and 12.30 but it proved to be another waste of time. Earlier on in
the morning I'd seen single flyovers of White Wagtail and Yellowhammer
but little else between the cliff and the hoverport. From the Country Park
I saw: 88 Chaffinch s/west, 1 Grey Wagtail south, 510 Curlew,
16 Bar-tailed Godwit, 300+ Oystercatcher, 21 Golden
plover, 2 Lapwing, 49 Sanderling, c200 Dunlin, 2 Peregrine,
2+ Sparrowhawk, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Little Grebe,
1 Moorhen, 50+ Lesser Black Backed Gull, 26 Shelduck,
2 Wigeon and 1 Gadwall. (Phil M)
Wednesday 14th March 2007 Pegwell Bay
A few more migrants around today. On the cliff &
hoverpad there were 20+ Redwing, 1+ Fieldfare, 1 Chiffchaff
and 1 White Wagtail before I moved down onto the Country Park where
tried a raptor watch, eventually giving up at about 1.00pm. From here I
saw: 65 Linnets over plus a few Meadow Pipits and Chaffinch,
2 Little Egret, 1 Brent, 12 Wigeon, 1 Shoveler,
1+ Sandwich Tern, 2 Peregrine, 2+ Sparrowhawk, 1 Marsh
Harrier (n/west, 1 Common Buzzard (s/west) 1 Lapwing, 23
Golden Plover, 1 Little ringed Plover (heard only), 2 Avocet
plus all the other normal bits and pieces. (Phil M)
Wednesday 14th March 2007 Langdon Cliffs
Signs of migration at Langdon Cliffs with 200+ Chaffinches
through in an hour yesterday morning. This morning there was a Firecrest
in the bushes around the Coach Park and a singing Chiffchaff in
Langdon Hole. (Pauline McKenzie Lloyd)
Wednesday 14th March 2007 Stodmarsh NR &
Grove Ferry
A
very enjoyable circuit of the reserve between 7 & 11am, in warming
sunshine & not a breath of wind. Sadly, still no obvious sign of
migrants but plenty of song from Chiffchaffs, which may of course be
newcomers. The reserve is drying up a bit now so it wasn't so much of a
struggle along by the river or the path back to Stodmarsh via the Marsh
Hide there was even a couple of Redshank & Ruff on the flooded
meadow near the Grove end! I witnessed a courting pair of Great Crested
Grebe on the main lake, with, presumably, the male passing a fish to
its partner after a bit of head shaking! That's love for you!! Pleased to
see more prolonged views of 4 Bearded Tits along Harrison’s Drove
& later I was treated to a couple of minutes viewing of a Little
Owl at Undertrees Farm. Nothing out of the ordinary then but plenty to
see all the same. (Ben Ring)
Tuesday 13th March 2007 Dumpton Thanet
A female Brambling dropped into the garden
this morning with the Greenfinches, Great & Blue Tits and 2 Grey
Partridge were observed over the field behind my house. (Gadget)
Monday 12th March 2007 Pegwell Bay
I popped down in the morning hoping for a bit of raptor migration.
Conditions were not perfect but I thought there might have been a chance
of a Buzzard or two even if the overall 'feel' of the conditions didn’t
look entirely right. I failed miserably!! Before I started raptor watching
I had a quick look around the hover port where there was a singing
Chiffchaff but not a lot else. Onto the Country Park where I watched from
10.30 - 12.15 until boredom took over, all I saw were the normal pair of Peregrines
plus another interloper (a third bird an immature male) and there were 2
pairs each of displaying Sparrowhawks and Kestrels on show.
A Marsh Harrier (non-migrant) was watched soaring up into the sky
before I left too. Otherwise 30-40 Chaffinch flew s/west and
amongst the dwindling numbers of Waders and wildfowl out on the mud there
was single Black-tailed Godwit plus 60 Golden Plover, 5 Brent
and 16 Wigeon. A nice day anyway. (Phil M)
Saturday 10th March 2007 Whiteness 4.30pm
The roosting waders comprised 42 Purple Sandpipers,
150 Sanderling, 92 Turnstone, 20 Grey Plover and 4 Redshank.
(Nick Lever)
Thursday 8th March 2007 Monk's Wall 10 to
10.40am Late News
66 Wigeon, 17 Shoveler, 8 Mallard,
8 Greylags, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Lapwing, 1 Little
Egret, 2 Little Grebe, 1 Kingfisher and 2 Cetti's
Warblers heard. (Nick Lever)
Saturday
10th & Sunday 11th March Roy Dennis MBE & Wilstone
Reservoir
It would have to be something special to get me to
attend a local bird club event. To also loose a weekend's birding in Kent
- it would need to be life changing, and so it was! I travelled
up to Harpenden to attend the Herts Bird Club conference, purely
because it hosted a talk by Roy Dennis MBE. If you don't know who he
is, then you should feel ashamed. The re-introduction projects of White-tailed
Sea Eagles, Red Kites and Ospreys
have all benefited from the involvement & expertise of this extraordinary
conservationist. His talk was entitled "Back to the Future" and
offered a vision of the UK where it was once again home to the
species of bird and mammal that have fallen victim to the
activities of mankind during the last millennium. His well reasoned
arguments and infectious enthusiasm captivated the audience and left us
all wanting to know more. I can only recommend to every visitor to this
website that you take any opportunity to hear this guy speak - he is
absolutely brilliant. It will certainly make you think! I didn't
completely miss out on a spot of birding. On Sunday I took an early
morning stroll around Wilstone Reservoir where I spent much of my
formative birding years. 7 Goldeneye included 2 splendid
drakes, there were at least 6 Chiffchaff around the site,
4 of which were in song and I added 3 Goldcrest, 2 Treecreeper,
1 Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Chaffinch,
Great Crested Grebe and a decidedly "plastic" Barnacle
Goose. Grey Herons were actively nest building
and several Cormorants were perched in the dead trees on
the centre bank. A very pleasant, if nostalgic, session (Dylan)
Sunday
11th March Monks' Wall
NR
Checked out Monks' Wall this morning on what must be the best day of the
year so far - spring is here? Plenty of birds about including a Kingfisher
seen on the walk towards the hide, 10 Shoveler, 20 Wigeon,
6 Greylag, 1 Little Grebe, 6 Coot,
2 Mallard, 1 Reed Bunting, 2 Cetti's
Warblers, 1 Green Woodpecker and the usual
hedgerow birds. Nothing out of the ordinary but great to be out
nonetheless. (Jerry Lanfear
)
Thursday
8th March 2007 Minster Marshes Thanet
A glorious afternoon, so I went down to have a walk
around Minster Marshes. Plenty of water laying on the fields, particularly over
on the Ash Levels and a few bits to be seen, as I picked my way along
the muddy footpaths. At least 3 Chiffchaff (2 singing), 1
Grey Wagtail, 2 Cetti's Warbler and a Water Rail were
notable amongst the more mundane fare. It was also nice to see, and
hear, the first Linnets back on their farmland breeding
territories. Grey Partridges were calling from several points along
my route and I counted 4 Kestrel in one sweep of my binoculars. Grey
Herons numbered 7 all, but one, over on the Ash Levels standing
motionless around the various flooded fields and ditches. As the sun
started to sink, I was fortunate enough to watch a Barn Owl hunting
the set-a-side between the fishermen's carpark and the power station. A
fitting end to my session. (Dylan)
Thursday 7th March 2007 Oare Marshes
Had a trip down to Oare Marshes, as the weather was so nice today. There
wasn't a lot about the Dowitcher was there but distant. Snipe,
Avocet. Redshank, Oystercatcher, Mute Swans a reported Black Swan
(never see that) Reed Bunting, Cetti's, Pipit's, and Shelduck.
Shoveler, Teal, Wigeon, Greylag Little Egret. The
tide was out so there may have been more bird out on the mud. (Pete Young)
Thursday
7th March 2007 Minster Marshes Thanet
Walking the Minster
Marshes this afternoon in the Spring sunshine did not produce very much
except lots of Skylarks and Reed Buntings,
one egret, one heron, a few pairs of mallard,
two linnets and lots of starlings, wrens
singing every where However just before reaching the railway line in asset-aside
field good views of a Short eared owl. (Don Wilks)
Wednesday 7th March 2007 Thanet in early Spring
The
high tide roosts only hold a handful of Grey Plovers and a few Turnstones
now, so farewell to the Sanderlings and others that have given so
much entertainment over the winter. Black-headed Gulls are slowly
leaving the coast for their nest-sites, having been increasingly noisy and
combative, and the Fulmars have settled into their own nests along
the cliffs. The first Chiffchaff song tells me that I should spend
less time sea watching and more time in the woods. (Steve Coates)
Wednesday 7th March 2007 Stodmarsh & Grove
Ferry
I
started at 6:30am from the Stodmarsh car park & it was great to hear
so much bird song after the last few days’ poor weather. However, the
early promise of a rain-free is proved false as I trudged around the
reserve in variations of drizzle to very wet rain! A Water Rail by
the Reedbed hide was pleasing as my first seen this year & as I made
my way through the Alder Wood some commotion from a pair of Moorhens
heralded the arrival of a male Marsh Harrier, which plunged into
the reeds after the noisy pair! Sadly, for it, without success & it
made off, probably suddenly becoming aware of my presence, only some 20
feet away! Excellent experience for me, if not the somewhat annoyed Moorhens.
Otherwise, the circuit proved an exercise in balance, being even muddier
than the last time & water levels very high. A singing Chiffchaff
by the junction of the river & Harrison’s Drove was another first
for the year. By way of info for anyone heading out from or to the Marsh
Hide via Stodmarsh, there is currently a tree down across the path running
alongside the alder wood, which makes a fair obstacle in wellies &
wielding a telescope! (Ben Ring)
Tuesday 6th March 2007 Little Egrets
I appreciate this is not a Thanet sighting, but I have just counted 14 Little
Egrets in a field adjacent to Ongley Lane, Biddenden, close to where I
live. This
is the most I have seen together (perhaps I have lived a sheltered life!)
I often come down to Sandwich / Thanet having been born in the area so I
was aware of your website. The birds are wintering here as I have seen
them about three times in the same field. Easy to see from the car.
Thought this may be of some interest as I
recall the days when we didn't see any! (Peter Dale)
Sunday 4th March 2007 Mary Bax &
Restharrow Dunes, Sandwich Bay
I spent a short while, at daybreak, driving along the
Ancient Highway in the hope of an owl or two. Nothing doing, I parked my
car and checked the area of gorse around Mary Bax's Stone before
driving along to Restharrow. Grey Partridges were
particularly vocal as the sun started to rise and in the distance Greylag
& Canada Geese were noted flying towards Cottington
Lakes. Redwings passed overhead in dribs and drabs whilst
the songs of Skylark, Mistle Thrush,
Blackbird, Wren, Dunnock
and Reed Bunting could be heard from various points
around my route. A Kestrel hovered over the Cinque Ports
Golf Course and four groups of Shelduck (30+ birds) flighted
into the flooded fields to the west. A Little Owl called
from the bales besides the footpath and two cock Pheasants
were proclaiming their territorial rites along the raised bank beside
Restharrow Scrape. Woodpigeon were regularly passing
overhead, in the direction of the Worth Marshes, and several noisy parties
of Jackdaw were engaged in aerial displays over the
houses of the Bay Estate. Not bad for half an hour? (Dylan)
Sunday 4th March 2007 Reculver
Took a short walk east from Reculver this morning in colder than expected
conditions. There was pretty much the usual mix of birds, although
the Shore Larks weren't found. A Peregrine
put on a brief show, remorselessly chasing an unfortunate wader. Meadow
Pipits were much in evidence as they performed their parachute
display flights, using the sea wall as a starting point. The
highlight though were the Brent Geese, as large numbers
were loafing just off shore. When a group of them started to walk
onto the beach I thought I'd take a proper look and see if any were
colour-ringed. I wasn't to be disappointed, there were in fact 2.
The first was the bird reported by Dylan on November 11th 2006 (Pale green
ring on left leg with digit 2, dark blue ring right leg with letter
V) the second a different bird (Pale green ring on left leg with letter K,
dark blue ring right leg with letter U). These birds were ringed as
part of a large Dutch scheme, I've sent off the details. I even
managed to capture a couple of images. (Jerry Lanfear)
Saturday 3rd March 2007 Mocketts Wood Thanet
I had a spare hour in the afternoon and the sun was shining
gloriously so I stopped in Mocketts Wood for a while. No dog walkers or
children meant I could stand and observe the wildlife uninterrupted. Blue
and Great Tits were both very numerous along with a few Long Tailed
Tit. At least two Green Woodpecker and two Great Spotted
Woodpecker were seen or heard. Numerous Ring-neck Parakeets
were looking for nest holes. Blackbirds, Robins, Dunnocks and Wrens
were all very vocal. Magpies, Wood Pigeons, Collared Doves, (Simon
P)
Saturday 3rd March 2007 Garden Ash
I
spent some time in my garden this afternoon attempting to bring order to
the chaos. Two ornithological highlights were of note, a single Siskin
arrived on one of my niger feeders and stayed for ten minutes before
departing who knows where; a little later I noticed a fine male Blackcap
in my beech hedge. There has not been one at all this winter, but I guess
that this is not yet a harbinger of spring, as it was not singing. They
were much in evidence in Andalucia a couple of weeks ago, so they cannot
be far away! (Norman M)
Saturday
3rd March 2007 Preston Churchyard to Seaton GPs
The violent overnight storms had abated as I
parked my car by Preston Church. I walked the track to Dereson
Woods before descending into the valley, of the Little Stour, via the very
slippery footpath. A Moorhen posed nicely besides the
river and 5 Little Egrets were feeding in the flooded
water meadow towards the North Pit. Walking upstream, I climbed the
style and had my first scan of the main pit. Tufted Duck,
Shoveler, Mallard, Teal and
Wigeon were all noted, whilst further along the path,
another scan produced a lone female Goldeneye, 7 Great
Crested Grebe and a few Pochard. A pair of Bullfinch
called quietly, as they fed on emergent buds. A Cetti's Warbler
burst into song before flying from a dense area of brambles and diving
into the pit-side reeds. On reaching the end of the pit, I surveyed
the meadow and surrounding gardens finding a nice mixed flock of Redwing
and Fieldfare. 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
were drumming and a Little Owl called from the old
hedgerow to the north of the site. My return walk was rewarded with
superb views of a singing male Grey Wagtail, on the
woodwork of the small weir. The distant "honking" of Canada
Geese alerted me to the arrival of a flock of 30+. Apart from a
couple of accompanying Greylags, a smaller bird was amidst
the group proving, on closer inspection, to be a Barnacle
Goose. The whole flock pitched down on the main pit for a short
while before relocating to the quieter surroundings of the North Pit. The
only other birds of note were 3 Kestrel, a Sparrowhawk and a
singing Chiffchaff, in the woods, as I walked back towards the car.
(Dylan)
Friday 2nd March 2007 Ramsgate Cemetery
Yesterday, Thursday 1 March 2007 at 0930 am, Marianne heard a Blackcap
singing on the south and then east edge of our allotment site, on Cecilia
Road, outside Ramsgate Cemetery. We
note that Dylan's list for 1 March says Jackdaw not on Thanet year
list. We have heard them calling in Cecilia Road, Ramsgate, in
recent weeks and Marianne heard Jackdaws calling in Fordoun Road,
Broadstairs, behind Hilderstone Adult Ed building, on Weds 28 Feb at 1230
pm.
(Marianne & Steve Harper)
Friday 2nd March 2007 Undisclosed site Thanet
I spent two hours this morning on private land in glorious
sunshine, on my arrival two Red-legged Partridge took fight over
the fields, following them over the towards the river I picked up on a
(female) Hen Harrier drifting along one of the ditches, I was
distracted by Lapwings, Golden Plovers and many Woodpigeons
taking flight, there was two Marsh Harriers heading up the valley,
I counted 9 Moorhens and 1 Redshank and 2 Mallards in
one of the dikes and a Green Sandpiper flew away from me, in amongst
the sound of Skylarks all around a Green Woodpecker made an announcement
and a small flock of Meadow Pipits changed there location two or
three time, on my departure a Little Egret landed in one of the
dikes. (Gadget)
Thursday
1st March 2007 Grove Ferry & Ramsgate Harbour
We had a quick look from the ramp at Grove Ferry this
morning besides seeing Dylan and his muddy boots, I managed to get photos
of Reed Bunting, Marsh Harrier and Greenfinch, other birds
seen at Grove were covered on Dyl's report, Down at Ramsgate harbour we
observed Rock Pipit, Turnstones, Pied Wagtails,
Great Black Backed Gulls, Black Headed Gulls, Herring Gulls. (Don
Wilks & Gadget)
Thursday
1st March 2007 Grove Ferry
A glorious morning so, after dropping Bev at work, I
drove over to Grove Ferry. On my way I recorded Rook at the Monkton
roundabout and Jackdaw in Sarre. Both species being glaring
omissions from the Thanet Year List! Grove Ferry was deserted as I
wandered around the very muddy pathways. A stiff westerly breeze was
blowing down the valley and keeping the vast majority of the birds out of
sight. I walked out to the Marsh Hide, taking in Harrison's Drove and the
Green Hide en route. Ducks included Gadwall, Pochard, Mallard, Teal,
Shelduck, Shoveler and Tufted Duck. A lone Little Egret
was scant reward for my squelch to the Marsh Hide, although I did see 3 Yellowhammers
as I made my way there. Reed Bunting and Meadow Pipit were
regularly flushed from the tracks, whilst overhead several Skylark
were in fine voice. As I prepared to leave, I bumped into Gadget & Don
Wilks and we enjoyed some nice views of displaying Marsh Harriers
over the ramp and 5 Ruff on the main pool. I said my god-byes and
headed home for a bite to eat then another fun-filled shift at Sericol!
(Dylan)
Thursday 1st March 2007 Margate
Cemetery
A single Firecrest was a nice find in the crematorium, with a
total of 15 Corn Buntings and 4 Redwings in the horse
paddocks. Several Long-tailed Tits, 2 Goldcrest and 10 Chaffinches
were also present. (Steve Tomlinson)
