Wednesday 31st March 2010 Pegwell Bay
More horrible weather. I did 'try' to have a look around the cliff top
and Hover Port in the morning but after nearly getting my head blown off I
gave up. In one of the more sheltered spots behind the farm I did see a
Willow Warbler and I could hear a Chiffchaff but that was it
other than for 2 Redwings which I flushed out of the bushes on the
cliff top on my way down to the Country Park. There was a Black Redstart
hopping around on the wall of the garage but other than for 2 Swallows
and another 4 Chiffchaffs in Stone Lees these were the only migrant
passerines I saw before I made my way home at 1.00pm. The tide was fairly
lousy though eventually 50+ Sandwich Terns arrived as did the first
Spotted Redshank of 2010. The other wader numbers were very low.
There were also 2 sub adult Yellow-legged Gulls. I did count the
other bits which were 5 Brent, 22 Shelduck, 10 Curlew,
20 Redshank, 8 Grey Plover, 39 Sanderling, 120
Oystercatcher, 4 Knot and about 20 Turnstone which may
have been new arrivals? I had a lovely 50 minute walk home which was nice
which only added to my feelings towards whoever it was who stuck a knife
through both my bike tyres yesterday. Lets hope for his sake I don't find
out who it was that did it eh? (Phil M)
Tuesday 30th March 2010 Pegwell Bay Late
News
A day from hell today. I spent the first
two and a half hours of the morning waddling around in incessant rain seeing
virtually nothing. I did get naked eye views of a Black Redstart on
the cliff top - it was far too wet to get my binoculars from under the cover
of my waterproof coat. I also saw 2 Swallows fly n/east through the
drizzle across the farm. The big rarity of the day arrived when I went back
to unlock my bike and I flushed a Red-legged Partridge from the scrub
near the hover port access road. After a soggy bridles trudge around Stone
Lees I made my way back to the hide to watch the tide where I noticed
another 2 Black Redstarts hopping around on the fencepost on the
Country Park. Steve Ray turned up for the incoming tide and whilst chatting
both the gloom in my brain and the weather lifted and by pure coincidence a
few birds started to show up. As the rain eased off a few hirundines started
to move n/west plus later on a few groups of Meadow Pipits and finches.
(mainly Linnets) The mud flat was fairly barren though amongst the Gulls we
picked out first a 1st summer Mediterranean Gull then a gigantic 2nd
year Caspian Gull landed across on Shellness as a few Sandwich Terns
started to trickle in. The Caspian Gull flew off but about ten minutes later
another bird in second year plumage turned up which was probably another
Caspian? After the tide I did another circuit of the Country Park and Stone
Lees but apart from a Firecrest and a handful of Chiffchaffs there
wasn't much about. anyway around 2.30pm, my mood lifted by Steve's company,
the sun coming out and seen a few birds I went back to unlock my bike from
the Country Park car park only to find that some useless, good for
nothing berk had felt the need to puncture both the tyres on my bike. I hope
it made him/them feel better though of course it was pure good fortune on
their part that I didn't get my hands on them in the act of doing it. During
the winter I disturbed two blokes hanging around my bike in the same spot -
you could just tell by their reaction that they were up to something. I had
taken some counts which were: 16 Brent, 1 Shoveler, 2
Little Egret, 150 Curlew, 8 Bar-tailed Godwit, 11 Knot,
30 Dunlin, 38 Sanderling, 4 Lapwing, 1 Golden Plover,
3 Grey Plover, 2 Peregrine, 2 Sparrowhawk, 20+
Sandwich Tern, 50+ Swallow - n/west, 6+ Sand Martin -
n/west, 1 Water Pipit, 100 Meadow Pipit - n/west, 20
Fieldfare - west, 50+ Linnet - n/west and 2 Bullfinch. I
missed a raptor at about 1.00pm when everything between Sandwich and Pegwell
went up - I also had cracking views of 2 separate Water Rails whilst
it was raining. Unfortunately it was too wet to get the camera out. One of
the bird was standing right out in the open at about 15 metre distance for
ages. (Phil M)
Tuesday 30th March 2010 North Foreland
Apart from the Alpine Swift spectacular today, I saw 8 Swallow,
1 Sand Martin and a Blackcap in a garden near the lighthouse.
(John C)
Tuesday 30th March 2010 Whiteness, Captain Digby Pub
Getting in this morning from a night shift, I was greeted with news that
on the inter-web a hippy the day before found another Alpine Swift
over North Foreland. With the weather to say the least, inclement with heavy
rain over night and into this morning, i felt sure this time it may just
hang around, so with a break in the rain i headed over to Elmwood Avenue
wind assisted on the push bike. A few Swallows seemed to be on the
move northwards as i got to Joss Bay, onward to the area the bird was seen
yesterday and not a sniff, so i decided to do a bit of vis-miging at
whiteness keeping manly and eye or two our for the ''white belly'' and after
15mins scanning the chunky old thing appeared, i forgotten how big they are
like a ''mini-me'' Hobby, cracking. After a few phone calls etc i moved
closer to get better views of the bird as it settled into a circuit in the
lea of the Convent Road tree line. A few faces started to appear with the
bird happy to oblige with more photos taken. Other birds I had over the 2
1/2 hours I was there included c60 Swallows, 3 Sand Martins, 5
White Wagtails with small numbers of Chaffinch and Meadow
Pipits over. Cheers Dylan. (Craig Sammels)
Tuesday 30th March 2010 North Foreland
Craig Sammels put out an alert this morning around 11-20hrs saying
Alpine Swift hanging around the golf course by the Captain Digby, I
arrived at around 12-05hrs where the bird was showing very well, Others
birders arriving throughout the afternoon, other bit noted 60cc Swallows
moving inland and Chiffchaff's calling from off the golf course, I
have added more photos of the Alpine Swift that Dylan had Yesterday.
(Gadget)
Monday 29th March 2010 Ramsgate cemetery Area
A Blackcap sang at 11:00am today. It was in shrubs at the bottom
of the allotments, in Cecilia Road, outside Ramsgate cemetery. (Marianne and
Steve Harper)
Monday 29th March 2010 North Foreland
The gulls around Pyson's Road Industrial Estate had been very agitated
since about 14.00hrs, although I couldn't locate the source, I suspected a
decent raptor had passed by. When I finished my shift, I headed over to
North Foreland in the hope that this unseen bird would be in the vicinity. I
parked at the bottom of Elmwood Avenue and scanned the area. Loads of gulls
and Woodpigeons around, so obviously no birds of prey! Starting towards
Kingsgate, I scanned across towards Port Regis only to spot an Alpine
Swift patrolling the trees along Convent Road. I made my way to where I
could get better views (a UK tick, so quite exciting - sorry Franny!) The
bird performed in the general area for 10 - 12 minutes before disappearing
north beyond Kingsgate Castle. I didn't manage to refind it, despite
extensive searching. (Dylan)
Monday 29th March 2010 Pegwell Bay
Back out in the field again today. I
started off on the cliff top at 07.00 and stayed until 09.00 seeing nothing
at all other than for a few Redwings, alba Wagtails and
Chaffinch's overhead plus a I did hear a Brambling and a
Fieldfare calling unseen from the gloom that descended over the area at
about 08.00. I could hardly see my hand in front of my face at some points.
I then watched the tide from the Country Park (seeing more nothing) before
having a look around Stone Lees and the Country Park until dinner time. The
only migrants I could find were 3 Chiffchaffs. There were a few
Thrushes on the move today - I saw at least 50 Redwings fly s/west
behind the Country Park plus there were 20 - 30 more in Stone Lees where
there were a flock of 40 Fieldfare which flew n/west after I flushed
them from the tall trees near Pfizers fence. I did take a few counts which
were: 1 Little Grebe - calling in the reservoir near Little Cliffsend
Farm, 6 Wigeon, 4 Teal, 1 Shoveler, 120
Oystercatcher, 6 Grey Plover, 16 Bar-tailed Godwit, 75
Dunlin, 11 Knot, 25 Curlew, 60+ Turnstone, 1
Peregrine and 1 Corn Bunting. (Phil M)
Sunday 28th March 2010 North Foreland
A Common Buzzard at 9:00 came in from the South and then seemed
to land in the area after being hounded by the crows and gulls. A few
moments later, a Merlin chased a bird migrating in off the sea,
probably a Meadow Pipit, before catching it just at the clifftop. It then
landed among the cauliflowers to eat the kill. (Simon Mount)
Saturday 27th March 2010 North Foreland
Only a brief look in the North Foreland area today. Walking between Joss
Bay Car Park and North Foreland Sewage Works, I noticed a Raven
circling, which then dropped to field height and looked as though it was
going to land at Elmwood. A walk across to the lighthouse fields found it
strutting around with the local Carrion Crows. The only other thing
of any note was a female Merlin hanging around in the cauliflowers at
North Foreland - about the only thing to eat thanks to indifference towards
wildlife in the intensive local farming practices. (F Solly)
Saturday 27th March 2010 North Foreland
A Red Kite drifted South at 08:15 having been circling off the
point for some time, not brave enough to actually head out to sea. A few
White Wagtails in the horse fields. (Simon Mount)
Saturday 27th March 2010 Foreness & North Foreland Area
A pleasant morning and early afternoon but bird wise it was fairly quiet
again, the noteworthy bits were 3 Firecrest, 1 Brambling, 6
Siskin, 1 Wheatear, 1 immature Shag, 2 Chiffchaff
and 2 Reed Buntings. (Barry H)
Saturday 27th March 2010 King's Wood, near Challock
Knowing that the leaves appearing, thus making viewing much more
difficult, won't be too much longer; I ventured across to the King's Wood
area for a session around this excellent piece of Kentish woodland. So many
birds to be seen, in the very Spring-like conditions, included 2 drumming
male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Treecreeper,
Marsh, Coal, Blue, Great & Long-tailed Tit,
Sparrowhawk, Firecrest, Goldcrest plus the regular
Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers. Overhead, Common Buzzards
put on an amazing display as several pairs were establishing territorial
rites, whilst the local corvids did their best to disrupt proceedings. A
great morning's birding in this wonderful habitat, no peanuts or mealworms
required to get my photos, just the ability to work the area quietly,
using field craft to locate the plentiful inhabitants of this superb
place. (Dylan)
Saturday 27th March 2010 North
Foreland Area
A Raven was
spotted this morning at North Foreland area Elmwood Avenue By (F Solly) who
sent out a text, but by the time Barry H and myself arrived it had taken
flight, would suggest that Thanet Birders keep looking, (Gadget)
Friday 26th March
2010 Lydden Valley, Worth Marsh
The day started well with 3 Common Buzzard and a peregrine,
expectations were high, but unfortunately these were the only highlights
apart from 2 Chiffchaff and a Green Sandpiper. (Colin Fisher)
Friday 26th March 2010 Newington Ramsgate
The local Gulls alerted me to a
Common Buzzard flying in from the east onto the estate then south down
towards Pegwell at 11.45 today. (Phil M)
Friday 26th March 2010 Quex Park
Saw a Common Buzzard and a Marsh Harrier
circling over Quex Park at lunchtime today (12.30) (John C)
Friday 26th March 2010 Langdon Cliff area
A 2 hour stroll around the Langdon cliff/hole area produced many
Jackdaws, Magpies and Crows so the small bird population seems to
be at an all time low, hopefully some will return to breed in the summer.
the only minor excitement were 5 female Black Redstarts and bird of
the day, a nice male Ring Ouzel which hurtled into a large thick bush
never to be seen again. (Malcolm Mcvail)
Friday 26th March 2010 Ramsgate Thanet
Yet again the Gulls going potty at 11.25am, after a five minute wait 2
Common Buzzards cruised south in this moderate southerly, Thanet
rules. (Craig S)
Friday 26th March 2010 Broadstairs Thanet
Common and getting more common Buzzard over the back garden this
morning at 8.45 heading South. (John Carnell)
Friday 26th March 2010 Foreness Area
Quiet again but a Spoonbill headed South early on and a massive
tick in the shape of two Canada Geese which I saw a couple of times
over the sea and if that wasn't enough they were then joined by a Greylag,
it really doesn't get better than this. 1 Chiffchaff was about the
only migrant passerine I came across. (Barry H)
Thursday 25th March 2010 Sandwich and Pegwell Bay
Josh and I had a lovely bike ride into Sandwich today (dropping in at
Pegwell on the way home) getting thoroughly soaked on the way there - it was
so wet that we could have gone there by submarine. Eventually the weather
broke and by the time I got to Pegwell the sun was out though I was too wet
and cold to stand around for too long. I did have a few scans of Monks Wall
from the cycle path near Pfizers on the way into Sandwich and on the way
back seeing about a dozen Wigeon, a few Shoveler and many
Gulls. The only migrant I saw was a White Wagtail on the Pfizers
lawn. Pegwell was slow and I didn't wait for the tide to come in properly -
I did see 1 Brent, 35 Shelduck, 2 Wigeon, 100
Redshank, 100 Dunlin, 47 Sanderling, 2 Knot, 7
Grey Plover, 5 Golden Plover, 12 Ringed Plover, 8
Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Peregrine and 5 Grey Herons.
(Phil M)
Thursday 25th March 2010 Foreness Area
Again very quiet with just 3 Wheatear and a Swallow around
the Fayreness Hotel for five minutes early morning. (Barry H)
Wednesday 24th March 2010 Pegwell Bay
I checked the hover port, cliff top and farm then
popped down to the Country Park to watch the tide in the evening. I stayed
until about 4.30 – the tide was dull in the extreme though there were at
least two immature Yellow-legged Gulls and 160 Redshank – the
other waders were down to 60 Sanderling, 60 Dunlin, 8
Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Grey Plover and 1 Knot. There were
still no Sandwich Terns which was surprising so late in the month. Bird of
the day though not a ‘real’ one was seen as I scanned across towards the car
park from the hover port and I could see the adult Lanner (presumably
last year’s juvenile?) sitting on a tuft of dry salt marsh. Otherwise there
wasn’t much else – a single White Wagtail in the horse paddocks plus
7 Brent’s and 8 Wigeon. (Phil M)
Wednesday 24th March 2010 Foreness & North Foreland Area
A two hour bash this morning was very quiet with hardly anything of
note. 1 Merlin over North Foreland, 1 Wheatear and 1
Stonechat at Palm Bay and a couple of Chiffchaffs were about
it. A group of 6 Linnets south and a couple of Chaffinches
south was about it for visible migration. A bit disappointing in conditions
that felt good for a few birds to arrive. (Barry H)
Tuesday 23rd March 2010 Sandwich Bay
A walk from the Obs to the sea, then along as far as
the Chequers before returning alongside the Ancient Highway - 8 -
11:15am.Starting foggy, becoming sunny & clear. Four Eider, including
a drake, offshore; at least 5 Wheatear on scrub by the sailing club;
a Short Eared Owl being mobbed by Gulls near the Chequers & 2
Black Redstart there also. A single Swallow flew east (!) & 5
Grey Partridge noted. (Ben Ring)
Tuesday 23rd March 2010 Foreness Area
A few bits on the cliff-top between 5.45 and 7.30. 1 Swallow
west, 5 Wheatear, 2 Black Redstarts and 1 Stonechat. No
vizmig as such apart from small numbers of Woodpigeon. (Barry H)
Monday 22nd March 2010 Area around Ickham
Within the above area this morning, the following bits
were observed, 1 Swallow, 1 Red legged Partridge, 3
Wheatear, 20cc Fieldfare, 30cc Starling, 3 Mistle
Thrushes, 3 Chiffchaff, 4 Dunnock, 3 Robin, 5
Long-tailed Tit, 3 Blue Tit, 4 Great Tit, 1 Yellowhammer,
5 Skylark, 14 Greylag Geese, 3 Mallard, 4 Green
Woodpecker, 2 Grey Partridge, 4 Grey Heron, 3 Pheasant,
2 Stock Dove, 30cc Woodpigeon, 4 Kestrels, 1
Sparrowhawk, and 1 Ring-tailed Hen Harrier. (Gadget)
Monday 22nd March 2010 Ramsgate
A male Peregrine fairly low over the town centre at 10:45 today.
(Simon Mount)
Monday 22nd March 2010 Birchington Thanet
On the train off to jolly old work I saw a Red Kite, north of
railway over the houses just after leaving Birchington station at 08.56.
Which made up for missing the North Foreland bird yesterday (Barry H)
Monday 22nd March 2010 Ellington Park (approx; 10.00)
A Red Kite was seen in flight over Ellington Park being harassed
by three Herring Gulls, all the four birds were circling and slowly
drifting toward the St Laurence Church area. (Phil Charlton)
Monday 22nd March 2010 Dover to Canterbury
A trip to Canterbury this morning produced 6 Buzzard, 1 female
Marsh Harrier and 2 Kestrel between 09:20 - 09:40. (Graham
Crick)
Monday 22nd March 2010 Garlinge Thanet
My allotment visit this morning was enlivened by flyover Red Kite,
Sparrowhawk and Grey Wagtail. (Tim H)
Monday 22nd March 2010 Ramsgate Garden
The local gull population alerted me to 2 Red Kites one passing
low over the house at 10am from the North East moving towards the west, then
a second bird 10 minutes later again NE to WSW. (Craig Sammels)
Monday 22nd March 2010 Foreness Area
My early morning watch was fairly productive with at least 5 Black
Redstarts along the coast, only one male type the rest being
female/immature types, 1 Stonechat, 3 Wheatears, 2
Firecrest, 1 Chiffchaff and a Yellowhammer flushed from a
small bush near the Digby. Visible migration included a few bits, best was
my first Brambling of the year, 1 Grey Wagtail, 50 or so
Chaffinches and small numbers of the usual, Meadow Pipit, alba
Wagtails, Linnet, Siskin and Woodpigeons. A couple of flocks of Great
Tits 18 & 26 were seen and they climbed high in the sky before departing
across the golf course. A Peregrine drifted along the cliff-top and a
Grey Heron caused a panic for the local gulls as it flapped over the
housing estate. (Barry H)
Sunday 21st March 2010 North Foreland
A female Peregrine flew around the area at midday for some time
before heading off SW. Then at 1:10 the gulls went into a panic as a Red
Kite soared over the valley for ages before drifting off S at height.
Also a Merlin headed NE out to sea at great speed at 1:30 (Simon
Mount)
Sunday 21st March 2010 Foreness & North Foreland Area
Two visits today, I must be getting keen, the first between 7am and 9am,
in a chilly NW breeze off the sea with drizzle as well. Birds noted were 8
Wheatears, 1 Black Redstart, 1 White Wagtail, 6
Chiffchaffs, 2 Stonechats, 4 Firecrests and 3 Rock
Pipits. A bit of visible migration with 550 Chaffinches, 59
Meadow Pipits, 6 Siskin, 1 Grey Wagtail, 18 alba
Wagtails, 12 Linnets and a few Starlings and Woodpigeons.
The second visit coincided with the appearance of the sun and I made my way
to North Foreland as I thought there may be the chance of the odd raptor or
two, I did get a Merlin, which came in off the sea and dumped
straight down in the cauliflower field for ten minutes before going back out
to sea again and a couple of Sparrowhawks, which were behaving like
migrants. Gave up at 12.30 and headed home. (Barry H)
Sunday 21st March 2010 Newington Ramsgate
I had this extremely high flying Red Kite fly south over the back
garden at 1.20 this afternoon. After the local Gulls went potty I looked
upwards into the heavens spotting an unidentified speck. I fired off a
couple of shots fully expecting the bird to be another Common Buzzard - it
wasn't until I looked at the picture I found out it was a Kite. It's the
third one I've seen over the estate this spring. (Phil M)
Sunday 21st March 2010 Joss Bay to Foreness
A walk from about 9am 'till 11am produced 2
Stonechats at Joss, and a curious-looking tailless Long-tailed Tit,
which I suppose will go in my book as 'Tit'. At Foreness I saw 1 Black
Redstart (female) 9 Wheatear and a male Ring Ouzel on the
pitch and putt. (John C)
Sunday 21st March 2010 Ash Levels
Light drizzle eventually clearing.7:40 - 11am. Migrants
thin on the ground so far with 4 Chiffchaffs all I could muster this
morning. Two singing - 1 at Goldstone & 1 at Europa Nursery (a Green
Sandpiper here also) & a pair along Goldstone Drove. An aggravated
Mistle Thrush alerted me to a partially concealed Little Owl
opposite the Lower Goldstone butchers & a flock of 8 Yellowhammers by
Swallowsbrook was a good number. Considerably less Redwing & Fieldfare
now around the Goldstone orchards. (Ben Ring)
Sunday 21st March 2010 Sandwich Bat Area
A quick look over at Sandwich this morning, outside the
observatory window, Reed Buntings, Chaffinches Blue & Great Tits,
House Sparrows and 1 Brambling down to the Restharrow
Scrape where Lapwings were displaying, Shoveler, Tufted, Teal
Coots, Moorhens, and 2 Little Grebe were noted, along to Mary
Bax, 3 Skylarks overhead singing 2 Firecrest and 7 Grey
Partridge were noted, travelling back to Thanet 2 Kestrels and 1
Peregrine (Gadget)
Saturday 20th March 2010 Foreness & North Foreland Area
Out at first light this morning on the trusty bicycle along the
cliff-top still a few bits around with 6 Wheatears, 5 Black
Redstarts, of which 3 were very smart males, 6 Chiffchaffs, 1
White Wagtail on the golf course and a Peregrine. A little vizmig
included a small number of Chaffinches, Meadow Pipits and a few
Jackdaws and Rooks. I also heard a bird call twice high in the
sky which sounded like a Serin but I could not locate the bird and it will
have to go down as the one that got away, as I haven't heard one for a few
years now and I cannot be 100% certain. (Barry H)
Friday 19th March 2010 Pegwell Bay
After missing the earlier excitement of
Alpine Swift I managed to catch up on a Pegwell tick in the form of a 1st
winter Glaucous Gull. It was first seen directly in front of the hide
through the dull drizzle for 2 minutes at
16.20 (bad record shots obtained), then flew over Shellness point and South
along the beach out of view. Other than that there were quite a lot of
common birds in the Bay this evening including 72 Sanderling, 1
Avocet 16 Brent Geese as well as large numbers of Knot,
Dunlin, Curlew and a Red throated diver quite close inshore. (Ben
L)
Friday 19th March 2010 Pegwell Bay
I had a half hearted mooch around today from mid morning then went down
to look at the incoming tide. It was very quiet with very little grounded
other than a scattering of Chaffinches (about 100 west too) and the
tide turned up single Sandwich Tern, Yellow-legged Gull and a
nice summer plumaged Black-tailed Godwit. The Tern was probably the
wintering bird as it turned up dead on time at high tide a settled in its
normal spot right amongst the roosting Oystercatchers on Shellness.
(Phil M)
Friday 19th March 2010 Kingsgate Bay Area
12:40hrs. Just returned from Kingsgate Bay, saw the
'Alpine Swift' good views for about 5 minutes, viewed from front of Holland
House Kingsgate Bay, flying along the cliff edge between the folly on the
point to the Captain Digby, then over Kingsgate Castle, this was between
11:53-11:57hrs when it flew in a ENE direction out to sea until it
disappeared into the gloom, visibility about 3-4 nm. (Chris Turner)
Friday 19th March 2010 North Foreland area
Late News
Hi, Wednesday 17th March one 'Long Tailed Tit'
in my garden Reading Street,
Thursday 18th March, in the grounds of N/Foreland Lighthouse 1 male
'Black
Redstart', on the Horse Field Elmwood Farm two 'White Wagtails',
saw no
'Wheatears' on the Farm Footpath. (Chris Turner)
Friday 19th March 2010
Kingsgate / North Foreland Area
A short but productive pre 'real
world' session at Kingsgate this morning. Shortly after arriving I met Barry
who had just had an Alpine Swift that headed off south at Whiteness. I
guessed that if it was going to hang around it was likely to be at North
Foreland. As I got to the sewage works the Alpine Swift was circling
overhead, which it did so for about 5 minutes before drifting off back
towards Whiteness - a vital year tick (19). Birding after this minor
distraction produced 12 Chiffchaffs, 10 Wheatears, 10 Black
Redstarts, 6 Firecrest and 4 White Wagtails. Surprisingly
no visible migration although the migrants mentioned were clearly arriving
during the session. (F Solly)
Friday 19th March
2010 Whiteness / Foreness Area
Alpine Swift
at Whiteness I believe its still around (Barry H)
Thursday 18th March 2010 North Foreland to Foreness
A few hours spent over the Kingsgate area from lunchtime turned up a few
spring migrants, starting at Elmwood paddocks; 7 White Wagtails, 8
Pied Wagtails, 1 female Wheatear a handful of Meadow Pipits,
another Yellowhammer (one seen this morning) a calling Chiffchaff
and Firecrest near the lighthouse, offshore 5 Great Crested
Grebes. Onward past the bottom of Convent Road 3 more Firecrest
and still a trickle of Great Tits moving bush to bush. A Black
Redstart briefly at Fairness and a Diver sp east, arriving at the
pitch & put at Foreness 4 male Wheatears and single Stonechat
on fence posts there, inland around the houses another Firecrest
called. Not much else, many Meadow Pipits in song etc. On to palm bay
the resident 1yr Mediterranean Gull, back along the cliff top at the
pumping station 19 Purple Sandpipers, c250 Sanderling and
smaller numbers of Turnstone and Grey Plovers, a nice few
hours rounded of with yet another Firecrest at the top end of Convent
Road. (Craig Sammels)
Thursday 18th March 2010 Pegwell Bay
The cliff top and hover port were poor
this morning even though the wind had gone properly round to the south it
didn't make one jot of difference. The only grounded migrants on view were 2
White Wagtails and a little bit of vismig turned up a flock of 60
Chaffinch flying east plus 15 - 20 Great Tits bush hopping across
the cliff top and not very much else. There were only 3 Grey Partridge
in the horse paddocks so I left and headed for the Country Park for the
incoming tide. It was dull down there too - single first summer Kittiwake
and Mediterranean Gull plus a new flock of 80 Golden Plovers
were the highlights until high tide when a pair if Little Ringed Plovers
were seen flying around in circles over the salt marsh before heading off
high n/west. Presumably they had been around all morning and were pushed off
by high water? I hadn't laid an eye on them until they flew off. Overhead a
flock of 12 Siskin and 700 Starlings flew north and a distant
vee winged raptor was spotted circling around inland during late morning at
great distance - presumably another Common Buzzard I couldn't be sure? (Phil
M)
Thursday 18th March 2010
Seaton Area
Male Wheatear on the fields at Seaton this
morning. Also Marsh Harrier, Wigeon and Green Sandpiper (one
each) around the lake. (Peter Loudon)
Thursday 18th March 2010 Kingsgate area
An excellent Great Tit movement through the Kingsgate area before
I had to leave and join the 'real world', a total of 254 moved south-west in
flocks of up to 48. Other than that a trickle of mixed Finches, Meadow
Pipits, Jackdaws and Rooks with 3 White Wagtails on the
Golf Course. (F Solly)
Wednesday 17th March 2010 North Foreland
A Merlin flew NW out to sea at 07:50. In the bushes one each of
Stonechat, Black Redstart and Reed Bunting. The thrushes from
a few days ago have moved out and 2 Redwings remained. (Simon Mount)
Wednesday 17th March 2010 Pegwell Bay
I had a waddle around most of the scrub between Stone Lees, the Country
Park and the Cliff top from 8.30. It was quiet though I did come across
White Wagtail on the cliff top and 2 Fiercest on the Country Park
also another White Wagtail on the lawn near the Viking Ship on the
way home too. Overhead the only thing of note were 8 Siskin's. We
also spent many hours sky watching from the grassy knoll (Franny and Craig
had turned up by then) seeing very little. 2 single very distant Buzzards
flew west and north and a couple of Marsh Harrier were drifting
around in the afternoon. Craig also had another Firecrest up near the
farm too. Otherwise just singles of Avocet and Peregrine and
still no sign of either a Chiffchaff or Sandwich Tern as yet. (Phil M)
Tuesday 16th March 2010 Pegwell Bay
I didn't fancy going out at all and with great effort eventually arrived
on the cliff top at about 8.30 to see if there was any vismig going on?
There wasn't! The sun was starting to break through and this wouldn't have
helped with any overhead passage. Its rubbish up there most days during the
spring anyway so it didn't come as a complete surprise. The bushes were dead
as a dodo so I decided to go down to the Country Park for the tide and see
what was drifting over down there. I thought the raptor watching might have
been affected by the cloud which hung around all night so once again
expectations were low in this regard too. As it happened it was surprisingly
good. There were still quite a few winter waders hanging about - also 3
migrant Avocets. The only other thing of note other than a handful of
Brent and 25 Teal was an adult Caspian Gull which was
'loafing' around on Shellness. Three were a few bits and pieces moving - a
few Pigeons, far less than yesterday and far fewer Starlings though I could
make out a few thousand flying around in tightly packed balls over at
Sandwich at a vaste distance. No doubt the local Sparrowhawks were having a
field day? Anyway - the raptor watch stole the show today. Proceedings got
underway when 2 Common Buzzards flew south at 10.05 - one of which
was a sandy brown juvenile bird which was mainly white below. Then at 10.35
(ish) I saw a strange looking bird of prey approaching from the n/west - it
was distant and on my first view I did think it might be a Hen Harrier? It
was low down and I soon lost it to view behind the bushes between me and
'it'. Soon though it gained height - eventually circling up into full view
and I didn't know what it was?? Soon the penny dropped - it was a
Goshawk! It flew south eventually veering off behind the cooling towers
at Richborough. Other bits included 5 Buzzards n/west at 11.00, 1 n/west at
11.15 then 2 more south at 12.00 plus a migrant Hen Harrier west at
12.10. Oh yes and I nearly forgot a Red Kite which flew west over
Ramsgate then low west past Manston. My old man also had a Red Kite fly
north right over the garden whilst I was at pegwell (at 10.05) so I presume
that this was the bird I saw an hour later on? I did also see another
ringtail Hen Harrier flying around across the river plus 1 Peregrine
- only 1 brief sighting all day mind you. The pair were obviously not around
today as at one point a Crow was raiding their larder up on the middle
cooling tower, the first time I've ever seen this happen. I was fully
expecting a bit of territorial behaviour from the Peregrines but nothing
happened. (Phil M)
Tuesday 16th March 2010 Church Woods
A look around the bottom end of Church Wood this morning in glorious
sunshine with two friends, good number of birds moving around the wood
mostly cc30 Great Tits, cc20 Blue Tits, cc17 Long-tailed
Tits, other bits seen 9 Chaffinches, 5 Treecreeper, 7
Coal Tits, 11 Robins, 12 Blackbirds, 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, 3
Green Woodpecker, 1 Redwing Singing and 2 Crossbills
flew over head Gadget)
Tuesday16th March 2010 Manston Thanet
The
resident Little Owls are still with us in the hangar and are very
vocal over the last couple of weeks. Both sit in different parts of the
hangar and call to each other all day. They have been here for at least four
years now. (Simon Piggott)
Monday 15th March 2010 King George VI Park
Decided to have a wander around King George VI Park this lunchtime as
the weather was so inviting. Saw the usual Parakeets, a fair amount
of pairing activity amongst Blue-tits and Great-tits, a couple
of Robins and Blackbirds. I could hear some elusive
Long-Tailed Tits and was also pleased to see a Greenfinch and a
Redwing. (Sue Smith)
Monday 15th March 2010 Pegwell Bay
I met Craig down the bay just before
11.00 - he'd been down most of the morning. The weather was nice but the
westerly wind was much stronger than the forecast said which made the
weather slightly irritating away from cover. Almost immediately after I
arrived Craig picked up a Red Kite flying n/west (at 10.55)
eventually disappearing behind the cooling towers. Then at 11.10 a group of
3 Common Buzzards flew in from the n/west and after a five to ten
minute sour around inland, they flew off south. The only other large raptor
we saw was a probable migrant Marsh Harrier which flew n/west at
12.40 though there were the two normal Peregrines and quite a few
sightings of Sparrowhawks during the morning and early afternoon.
Other birds on the move today included a few hundred plus Wood Pigeons
n/west, 300+ Lapwings - north, and many hundreds of Starlings
either mainly north though there were 7 - 800 southeast today too. Craig did
see a few finches, meadow pipits etc earlier on too. The tides turned up 5
Avocets amongst quite a few hundred wintering waders that are still
hanging around and there were also 35 Shelduck, 90 Wigeon and
130 Teal which got flushed into the are from further south and
disappeared out to sea. Pete and Penny came across 6 Redwing in Stone
lees and we saw two more in the horse paddocks up on the cliff top on the
way home. (Phil M)
Monday 15th March 2010 Swanton Lane Woods area
I took a look around Swanton Lane Woods this morning just for a change,
not much to show for it sadly, there were good numbers of Blue, Great and
Long-tailed Tits though out the wood with Chaffinches, Robins,
Wrens Dunnocks, Blackbirds and 4 Firecrest with 3 Goldcrest
were noted around just one tree, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2
Green Woodpeckers, 2 Common Buzzards over the top end of the
wood, leaving the wood and driving towards Stodmarsh 1 Mash Harrier,
2 Kestrels and cc100 Woodpigeons on the fields. (Gadget)
Sunday 14th March 2010 Foreness and North Foreland
I decided to surface after the NE wind has finally dropped. At Foreness
there was a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull, a few Great Crested
Grebes offshore and a Meadow Pipit deciding to sing. At North
Foreland there were a few Chaffinches moving through plus a Grey
Wagtail. In the fields, about 20 Redwing, a few Fieldfares
and Mistle Thrushes. A drake Mallard flew by which came from
inland. The best bird was a very dark Common Buzzard that came to the
headland from the West at 14:40 and then gained in height before drifting
South along the coast. In from Stone Bay there are already 4 pairs of
Lesser Black-backed Gulls holding territory. Not much but a few signs of
the warmer weather hopefully approaching. (Simon Mount)
Sunday 14th March 2010 Dumpton Thanet Area
Phone call from Craig at 10-45hrs put me onto a
Common Buzzard going over heading west, (Gadget)
Sunday 14th March 2010 Pegwell Country Park Area
Walking in the Pegwell country park this morning, came
across a male Grey Partridge trotting along the coast path just
adjoining the green by Mo's caravan. It then flew up and round us in a
short arc to land in the covert. Appeared to be almost into full breeding
plumage with the red areas prominent. Unusual to see one in that
particular area, especially as lots of people and dogs about. Otherwise, in
our garden, having for most of last year not having any Chaffinches
visiting, for the last 2-3 months consistently had two females, but all of
a sudden over the last three days we've been inundated with multiple males
(6+) competing fiercely with the multiple Greenfinches and Goldfinches
for the seed feeders. And, one male Siskin has deigned to visit
several times. (Philip Hayes)
Saturday 13th March
2010 Worth Marshes
Only had the energy to cover the inner marsh area beyond the railway
line today, best bits as follows. Stonechat, Cetti's Warbler, Water
Pipit, 3 Yellowhammer, 2 Marsh Harrier, male Hen Harrier, the
lads at the observatory had a Red Kite, Great White Egret, 120+
Golden Plover [over], and a Green Sandpiper. (Colin Fisher)
Saturday
13th March 2010 Park Wood &
Seaton Area
I called into Park Wood today ( 13-03.10 ) between 07.30 am to 09.15 am
and saw the following : 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Great
Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Marsh Tit, 5
Coal Tit, Tawny Owl ( heard ) Nuthatch ( heard ) 1
Goldcrest, plus all the usual commoner species , really impressed and will
defiantly be going again, did not meet anyone else other than a birder when
i was on my way back , thanks for the info you gave me on this site i really
appreciate it , of interest i popped into Seaton on way back and saw 2
female and 1 male Goosander plus 1 female Goldeneye , there were
still cc 50 + Wigeon amongst the more regular ducks , also had 5
Common Buzzards together flying over . (Rob Stocks) (Rob Roy) (my nick
name)
Saturday 13th March 2010 Dumpton Area Thanet
Around 06-30hrs this morning the local Herring Gulls
went potty as a Grey Heron flew over head, between the Gulls &
Carrion Crows they pushed it down into the field on Newlands farm, where
they harassed It for a while until two Sparrowhawks flew over the
field taking the attention away from the Grey Heron allowing it to
take flight heading west, (Gadget)
Friday 12th March 2010 Pegwell Bay
I popped down for a couple of hours with Josh - there wasn't much going
on. Ben had seen a Marsh Harrier, 4 Twite and between him and
Jason they had seen around 12 Siskin fly north during the day. We did
also see a Jack Snipe but that was the only non daily thing other
than a group of 12 Redwing that were in Stone Lees. There were still
800 Golden Plovers around but the only Lapwings seen were a
flock of about 25 that flew north along the river. Other than a Peregrine
on the towers and 58 Wigeon offshore that was it for today. Ben also
saw 2 Caspian Gulls yesterday - a 1st winter and a 2nd/3rd year bird.
(Phil M)
Friday 12th March 2010 Dumpton Thanet
Here we are again the end of the week and another
Friday, and how quiet has it been this week, with know reports sent into the
website I would say very! Monday 8th I had a look at Park Wood and as Dylan
had already reported this site on Sunday, I can only say I noted the same
birds, Wednesday 10th the most noteworthy occurrence was the movement of
cc1000 Fieldfares at Hersden area more within the Ash area about
cc1500 and cc300 dropped into the field at Sandwich Bay just outside the
Observatory, then today at home while waiting for goods to be delivered I
noted, besides the normal birds on the feeders, with an increase of 9
Chaffinches and the male Blackcap was still feeding on the pears
which I have placed around the garden, lets hope things pick up soon.
(Gadget)
Monday 8th March 2010 Minnis Bay / Coldharbour
area
Took a trip to Minnis Bay today & instantly spotted 18
Brent Geese on the waters edge (low Tide) on leaving the car &
heading to the sands there were 2 Rock Pipits by the Beach huts..
Heading along the shoreline towards Reculver as far as the Watsum there were
(mostly estimated) 1 Bar-Tailed Godwit, 5 Grey Plovers,
3 Cormorants, 30 Oyster Catchers, 60 Dunlins, 20
Turnstones, 9 Sanderling, 40 Herring Gulls, 15 Black
Headed Gulls, 3 Redshanks, Then a Black swarm headed towards me
from the Reculver direction it was a flock of about 300 Brent
Geese which landed in the sea about 200 yards in front of me, Later
moving into a field the other side of the sea wall, there were some other
birds that i could not recognise.. On heading back along the see wall i saw
4 Reed Buntings & 4 Mute Swans, (Mark Milham)
Sunday 7th March 2010 Park Wood,
nr Challock
Since mid-February, I have been chasing
around the Canterbury "ring-woods" in the hope of connecting with some of
the scarcer (on a county basis) woodland species, before the leaves appear
and make the job even more difficult. I have a "wish list" of birds that I
would like to photograph during 2010, all of which are most likely to be
encountered in woodland! Steve Coates had alerted me to the potential of a
small patch of woodland, called Park Wood, which is part of the larger
King's Wood complex and easily accessible from the Canterbury/Challock road
(A252). I have spent two sessions there, over this weekend, seeing some very
nice birds in the process. Two pairs of Common Buzzards were
displaying over the adjacent woodland, their calls reminding me of time
spent fishing in Scotland during the 1980's, an evocative sound indeed!
Nuthatch, Common Treecreeper, Marsh and Coal Tits
are found easily amongst the roving flocks of Long-tailed, Blue
and Great Tits. Luckily, all three species of Woodpecker were seen, a
male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker providing the first photos for me.
Sparrowhawk, Stock Dove, Siskin, Woodcock,
Bullfinch were recorded, over the weekend, with many other common
species ensuring that it has been a very enjoyable couple of days (Dylan)
Sunday 7th March 2010 Minster Thanet area
A
quick look out over Minster this late afternoon Birds noted: Common
Snipe, Redshank, Mallard, Skylark, Little Egret, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel,
Peregrine, Mute Swans, movement of 1000 cc Starlings, 300
cc Thrushes, and 1500cc Woodpigeons. (Gadget)
Sunday 7th March 2010 Dumpton Gap
Took
a walk down to Dumpton Gap today (07-03-10) and was rewarded with a sighting
of a Bar-Tailed Godwit, There was also 6 Rock Pipits (if I've
named them correctly) (picture added).. 9 Turnstones, 2 Sanderling
as well as the usual gulls flying around. (Mark Milham)
Saturday 6th March 2010 Buckland
Dover
On my way through to town via the
Buckland Cemetery path, I glanced up when I heard a loud call and saw a
Raven being mobbed by many Black-headed and Herring Gulls, a Crow
which seemed dwarfed also decided to have a go. The Raven was heading
inland through the valley at 09.40. (Graham Crick)
Friday 5th March 2010 Pegwell Bay
A sunny but cold day with very little
going on. I watched from the grassy knoll from 10.30 staying to 14.00 when
mister Johnny Websper made an appearance so I ended up walking around with
him for the next hour or so, which was nice. It was good to see John - he
feeds me boiled sweets as if I'm one of his favourite great great grandsons
and fills my head with historical avian news of the area from days long
gone. He's not in such great shape in the twenty first century - his third
century on planet earth. He's got a bad knee - its playing him up since the
Crimean war and the original diagnosis of chronic arthritis of the right
knee has now been upgraded to fossilisation of the right knee. He's a semi
walking miracle. Oh yes the birds! As I say it was poor - many of the
wintering birds have upped and gone this week and there is more chance of
Gadget measuring in at six foot plus than us getting any migrants in this
weather. My near four hour raptor watch turned up a distant large raptor
flying west at 11.05 then nothing else other than the local Peregrines
and 3 Sparrowhawks. I might have identified the raptor but found out
after it had flown off unseen through the scope (I picked it up through the
bins and thought I was missing it through the scope) that during a bit of
close range digiscoping I'd forgotten to refocus the telescope to long
range! The only counts/notes I took were of 85 Wigeon, 12 Teal,
440 Golden Plover, 220 Lapwing and amongst a few Skylarks
and Starlings flying n/west I saw a nice low flock of 19
Fieldfares fly east as if they were going out to sea. Jason saw a
Marsh Harrier after I left but that was it today. (Phil M)
Friday 5th March 2010 Minnis Bay
Had a look at the sea at 08:00 for an
hour or so which was well represented by an estimated 150 plus Red
Throated Divers, and singles of Great Northern & Black Throated that
were feeding offshore. A couple of large Auks headed East and on the edge of
the rocks were 180 Dunlin, 84 Grey Plover, 1 Bar-Tailed
Godwit with a handful of Redshank & Turnstone. On the sandbanks
were 60 Seals and estimated 110 Cormorants. Bit chilly by the end!
(Chris Solly, Roger Thompson)
Thursday 4th March 2010 Pegwell
Bay
Cold - windy and awfully dull today. I
watched from about 09.45 - 13.15 seeing very little. The only notes I took
were of c25 Wigeon, 2 Ringed Plover, 280 Golden Plover,
145 Lapwing, 1 presumed 3rd summer/winter Yellow-legged Gull,
80+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 Peregrine blah blah blah etc.
A Buzzard flew fairly low n/west at 10.20 too - nearly forgot! (Phil
M)
Thursday 4th March 2010 Dumpton
Thanet
While working in and around the garden today in much appreciated sunshine I
would add, the normal garden birds were busy on the feeders, and the signs
of males displaying was evident, one Dunnock was singing for most of
the day, with Blue & Great Tits Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches,
with Blackbirds and a long Robin looking for food as I moved
the flower pots, a Sparrowhawk visited the garden two or three times
though the day but with no success. (Gadget)
Wednesday 3rd March 2010 Pegwell
Bay
Due to the stiff bitterly cold easterly
wind I went down hoping for a few Avocet - a movement of Brent or a bit
of early Sandwich Tern passage but had to make do with a measly 1 Avocet.
Other 'bits' that did turn up on the incoming tide this morning included: 28
Shelduck, 41 Wigeon, 8 Pintail, 1 Ringed Plover,
88 Grey Plover, 380 Golden Plover, 250 Lapwing, 340
Knot, 840 Dunlin, 66 Bar-tailed Godwit, a 1st winter
Kittiwake, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls (a sub adult and a 2nd winter) a
2nd winter Caspian Gull, a 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull plus
presumably the wintering Sandwich Tern as one turned up in the usual
place amongst the roosting Oystercatchers across on Shellness at high tide.
(Phil M)
Tuesday 2nd March 2010 Grove
Ferry
A
large pale bird of prey drifting high over the Grove Ferry car park at
13:25. I only had time to fire off one shot (attached) before it disappeared
behind the trees, heading west or north-west. (after enhancing it
on the computer) It's a Buzzard (Marc Kilner)
Tuesday 2nd March 2010 Grove
Ferry & Sandwich area
Sitting in what was old Green hide at
Grove this morning with a few other bird-watchers birds noted: 2 Common
Snipe on the little island, 5 Coot, 2 Tufted Duck, 2
Shelduck, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Stonechat,
1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Reed Buntings, 4 maybe 5 Marsh
Harriers and a Red Kite and another Cetti's Warbler as I
was heading to the car park, over to Sandwich and Worth not much to report 1
Sparrow Hawk by the Restharrow Scrape 18 Corn Buntings by the
Chequers area the Worth Marsh didn't hold many birds but the sunshine was
great. (Gadget)
Tuesday 2nd March 2010 Newington
Ramsgate
I did a bit of
watching around the garden today as the Gulls were 'at it' from about 10.30
onwards. Other than a couple of Sparrowhawk sightings drifting over
the estate I did see two large raptors today - a Red Kite flying low
n/west at 11.05 and then a pale (ish) Common Buzzard high in from the
west then s/west at 11.20. I also saw a few migrant Rooks heading
west - its not too often I see them from the garden. (Phil M)
Monday March 1st 2010 Pegwell Bay
A few bits today included: 45 Brent,
132 Wigeon, 3 Shoveler, 19 Teal, 3 Sparrowhawk, 1
Red Kite - s/west, 1 Common Buzzard - west, 1 Water Pipit
etc. Of note there were 120 Great Crested Grebes offshore at high
tide. (Phil M)
Monday March 1st 2010 Dumpton
Thanet
The
Sun was shining and I was stuck at home waiting for delivery's, lots of
garden birds around the feeders so I took a photograph of a Blue Tit
to relive the boredom, (Gadget)
Monday March 1st 2010 Botany
Bay
Fleeting views of a rather bedraggled Dartford Warbler in the
brambles at Botany Bay this Saturday. Seems to have survived the winter -
just! (John C)
