Wednesday 30th March 2011 Pegwell Bay
A good day out today - a nice mixed bag of 'bits' included potentially a
very good bird when I spotted a very small odd looking Lesser Black-backed
Gull sitting out on the sea at 10.00 which immediately raised suspicions of
being a fuscus. As luck would have it the bird decided to have a preen on
what was left of the exposed mud flat and gave us a half decent view which
did nothing to stop me thinking it was what I thought all along. The bird
was a 1st summer showing a dark mantle with browner wing coverts but it was
the size and shape which made it jump out - very long winged, very small and
slim and was far smaller than the two pairs of intermedius Lesser Black
Backed Gulls which flew in and landed almost right next to it. The head/bill
shape and size were very good for fuscus too. In flight the bird was very
slim - amazingly slim even, the wings being very long, thin and pointed with
a solid black terminal band on the tail and a pure white rump/upper tail
making it look like no other Gull I've ever seen before. After a decent
preen it flew off towards the sea before heading back inland to the n/west.
The fact that it was un-ringed did little to dampen my enthusiasm and
credibility as to it's identity - this bird was so obviously neither an
intremedius or graellsii as if they looked anything like this bird we'd be
seeing them all the time. It's a good time to see them too with birds being
seen at Dungeness and further up the east coast this past month. I'd started
my little session much earlier on, starting off on the cliff top just before
07.00 hoping to see some Thrushes as they'd been going over the garden all
night and were still moving when I removed my bike form the shed about
06.30. A small number were heading west along the cliff top for about half
an hour after my arrival as well as a few Siskins, Chaffinches,
2 Bramblings, Meadow Pipits and a surprise in the shape of a
late (ish) Lapland Bunting which came in over the cliff top calling
it's head off, did a 360 over the middle horse paddock then carried on
flying north. The Thrush tally ended up at 29 Fieldfare and 151
Redwing all flying west. There were also a few grounded migrants - a
handful of Chiffchaffs, Goldcrest, a Firecrest (or
two?) , a White Wagtail plus another Brambling sitting in the trees
on the edge of one of the horse paddocks. The hover port was quite - a
couple of Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap aside it was dead as a dodo. After a
quick walk around some of the Country Park I ended up watching the incoming
tide picking up a few bits and pieces overhead plus another Black
Redstart on the main path and a Sedge Warbler which gave a few
bursts from off the path 100 yards south of the car park. Other non-daily
stuff included 1 Avocet, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Mediterranean Gulls,
2 sub adult Yellow-legged Gulls, a 1st winter Caspian Gull, 36
Sandwich Tern, 80 Brents etc whilst overhead I saw a few more
Siskin, 2 more White Wagtails, 2 Swallow, 1 House
Martin, 4 Sand Martin and 3 more views of a single Raven
one of which was rather incredible as it flew in across the salt marsh at no
height before flying almost over our heads across the Country Park towards
Richborough. Other back up included a Hen Harrier, 2 Buzzards
and there was a Bullfinch calling in Stone Lees. The expected rain
even held off - I stayed until 12.30 and never saw a drop. A pretty nice
morning out all in all - the bay was quiet people-wise and a there were a
fair few birders out and about today too. (Phil M)
Wednesday 30th March 2011 Foreness Point
A Raven flew west calling at 9am today, otherwise very quiet,
(Rae Boulden)
Wednesday 30th March 2011 Kingsgate Bay
A lunchtime walk with the dog turned up a Chiffchaff
singing in the Elms by the farm, a White Wagtail by the Digby and a
single, very handsome Snow Bunting on Kingsgate Bay which allowed me
within ten feet for some very nice views. (John Carnell)
Tuesday 29th March 2011 Ash Levels
As I looked around the ash levels this morning looking for any migrants,
i.e. Wheatears, Black Redstarts, after a few hours It was plain to see there
wasn't any to be found, what I did see was 3 Common Buzzards, 2
Sparrowhawks, 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Raven which was
heading towards pegwell, other bits 4 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret,
6 Lapwings, 1 Snipe, 34 Mallard, 74 Mute Swans,
small birds was pleasing as 8 Yellow Hammers, cc40 Chaffinches,
7 Bramblings, 8 Greenfinches, 2 Blackcaps, cc20
Goldfinches, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 18 Reed Buntings, and
the only migrants 7 Chiffchaffs, cc37 Skylarks, cc19
Long-tailed Tits, many Blue & Great Tits, small numbers of
Meadow Pipits & Linnets, 5 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Great Spotted
Woodpeckers, still hundreds of Woodpigeons, cc 32 Stock Doves,
cc1000 Starlings, (Gadget)
Tuesday 29th March 2011 Pegwell Bay
I had another half hearted look around the area today. The weather was
lovely once again so I popped down after 10.00 stopping off on the hover
port before popping down for a raptor watch with Craig who had been watching
off the grassy knoll for a while - he'd seen 2 Red Kites fly north at
09.55 but not much else. Amongst the few grounded migrants today were 3
Black Redstarts (1 horse paddocks and 2 on the Country Park) plus 2 or 3
Blackcaps, 5+ Chiffchaffs and a White Wagtail. Overhead
only a handful of Chaffinches plus 3 Bramblings and 5
Siskins were all that we could manage between us which wasn't much
considering that Craig had been watching from 7.30. Amongst the ever
dwindling numbers of common wader on the mud were up to 23 Sandwich Terns.
We also had two different Ravens today - one which flew north over
the Country Park at 12.00 then another which we saw whilst checking the
hover port on our way home at 1.30. The second bird flew really close
towards us from the south eventually landing on the hover port apron - this
one had a bite shaped marked in the middle of the tip of its tail which was
very obvious. I wonder if anyone else has seen this bird? Its not the one
we've been seeing on a few occasions this past week as the tail is
immaculate. (Phil M)
Tuesday 29th March 2011 St Peters Broadstairs
Two Red Kites flying quite low over my back garden, in a south
westerly direction at 10.40hrs this morning, (John Carnell)
Tuesday 29th March 2011 Pegwell Bay
A text from Crag Sammels at 09-56hrs this morning which said" 2 Red
Kites over pegwell heading up to Newington area, (Crag Sammels)
Monday 28th March 2011 Pegwell Bay
The life of a nutter is never straightforward ... after not being able to
face even going down at all in the morning due to excessive brain bugs
(after a weekend of brain bugs) on the spur of the moment I decided to fight
back this afternoon and grabbed my gear together and just went for it ...
arriving at the most wonderful birding hour of the day ... 3.00pm! Well at
least I got out of the house for the first time since Friday which was the
object of the exercise. Then after getting home Craig rung to say he'd just
arrived so I went down for another hour just after 6.00 for a quick look at
the tide - don't ask me what's going on in Thanet's most interesting brain
as even I haven't got a clue! Anyway ... in the afternoon I started off on
the cliff top and farm where I came across 2 Black Redstarts, 1
Wheatear, 2 White Wagtails and there were a group of 23
Sandwich Terns sitting on the mud just below the sunken garden. The
Little Grebe and at least one Moorhen could be heard calling from
the farm reservoir and there were a few Chiffchaffs scattered between
the cliff top and the hover port. In the evening I met Craig on the Country
Park and we watched the tide most of the way in. It was very quiet - no
Sandwich Terns was a surprise and apart from a flock of 41 Brents the
only things that made it as far as my notepad (not diary - hee hee) were 2
- 3 Little Egrets, 1 Grey Heron, 29 Shelduck, 3
Mallard, 2 Teal, 175 Curlew, 12 Knot, 28
Sanderling, 20 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Lapwing, 3 Grey
Plover, 140 Oystercatcher, 35 Turnstones and 1
Peregrine. I didn't see the large flock of Buzzards which have been seen
between Stonar and Thanet but I was outside just after 11.00 amongst the
calling Gulls but saw naff all. (Phil M)
Monday 28th March 2011
Pfizer Sandwich lunchtime stroll
Someone I know at work is just
getting into birding so we went for a lunchtime stroll around Pfizer. At
about 12:45 the gulls went up and I was explaining how this is a good sign
of a raptor. He said "Like that one there?" and pointed in the sky. I got
onto it and saw it was a Red Kite which gave lovely views as it
slowly circled around then headed over towards Sandwich town. (Scott)
Monday 28th March 2011 Ramsgate Newington Area
A group of at least 12 Common Buzzards have just drifted over my
house high up on the thermals sending the local gull population crazy. Time
11-15hrs (Pete Spain)
Monday 28th March 2011 Dumpton Thanet
The local Gulls went potty about 11-10hrs as a group of Common
Buzzards drifted over high heading west, there were at least 7 maybe
more as other birds were to high for proper I'd, (Gadget)
Saturday 26th March 2011 Sandwich Bay & Dumpton
Thanet
I took My grandson over to his Wildlife Explorers Group
at SBBOT this morning at 10-00hrs and stayed around the bay area until
14-00hrs when he had finished, While I was having a coffee looking out the
window 2 Rooks came over the observatory chasing a Raven
across the field and over towards the Restharrow Scrape, I drove up to the
Scrape area in search of the Raven with no luck, a quick look over the
Scrape its self birds recorded, Teal, Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Shoveler,
Canada Geese, Little Grebe, Lapwing, Curlew, Coot, Moorhen, then at the
back of the Scrape a Red Kite flying low it just cleared the trees at
the Elms, heading out to sea then it turn back and flow over the fields by
the observatory and was seen by others before drifting towards pegwell area,
I arrived home at around 16-00hrs and as I looked out of the upstairs window
I noticed a Black Redstart on the wall, just moved to get my camera
and it flow down the field. What a day , (Gadget)
Saturday 26th March 2011 St Peters Broadstairs
I was surprised to see a female Redstart
flitting around my decking this morning. A first for the back garden. (John
Carnell)
Friday 25th March 2011 North Foreland Area
Endured the cliff-top again this morning and it was still a lovely sunny
start, a 1st winter Iceland Gull, loafing on the chalk ledges at
North Foreland, certainly lifted the spirits as did 4 Black Redstarts
which were new in, a very smart male amongst them. Was joined by Gadget too
who managed to get some photos of the Gull, then the mist began to descend
and we parted company as I headed back home for a well earned breakfast.
(Barry Hunt)
Friday 25th March 2011 Pegwell Bay
A half hearted effort today ... I didn't arrive until
9.45 and started my walk around the hover pad where it was immediately
noticeable that there were more Chiffchaffs around. I also stumbled
across my first Blackcap of the spring (Nick Lever had the only other
one last week) then at 10.10 after a slight commotion amongst the local
Gulls a Red Kite appeared very (very) low onto the hover port before
flying off n/west inland. To cut a long story short I checked the cliff top
before ending the session off down on the Country Park where I did a bit of
vismig with Craig and Mick Shrimpfarmer. Our combined totals were: 4 migrant
Sparrowhawks - north, 1 Common Buzzard, 60 Bar-tailed
Godwit, 100 Dunlin, 1 Wheatear, 3 White Wagtail, 10
Chiffchaff, 6 Sand Martin - south east plus 43 Siskin,
30+ Chaffinch and 3 Brambling all north. I also had a pair of
Common Buzzards fly south over the estate at 2.30pm. (Phil M)
Thursday 24th March
2011 Foreness
It was good to see a
flock of 15 Purple Sandpipers at the rising tide at Foreness today,
but otherwise there were few waders to be seen. A Wheatear was on the
pitch and putt green, and 50 Brents were along the shoreline. (Steve
Coates)
Thursday 24th march 2011 Pegwell Bay and
Newington
Craig and I watched between 09.00 and 13.30 going through the usual routine
of checking the farm, cliff top and hover port before scanning the skies
from the Country Park. The weather was still very nice today but slightly
more windy and cooler with the air flow coming in off the sea. We saw a few
bits and pieces - 5 White Wagtails and a stunning adult summer
Mediterranean Gull around the cliff top paddocks plus Dylan's brown pale
headed Peregrine (seen about a week back at Foreness/North Foreland a week
or so ago) showed up down near the garage flying eventually off n/west at
10.15. It is a very odd looking bird? The sky-watching was slow and we had
to make do with 15 Siskins, 41 Chaffinch and a flock of 8
Brambling flying north whilst the only large raptors that we laid bins
on all day were a group of 7 Common Buzzards which flew south at
12.10 ... presumably a group of migrants on the move? We did also see at
least 3 Sparrowhawks and the Peregrines were having a light
bit of display mid morning. On the tide - 150 Dunlin, 10
Sanderling, 16 Knot, 260 Curlew, 170 Oystercatcher,
60 Bar-tailed Godwits and an Avocet were all that I took note
of. Once again this afternoon a Peregrine was annoying the Gulls outside my
house ... it's most odd to see birds three afternoons on the trot here,
something is going on? (Phil M)
Thursday 24th march 2011 Foreness Area
A brief look this morning only produced single Wheatear and
Swallow, with the usual heard only Siskins and Chaffinches
at 30,000 feet. (Barry Hunt)
Wednesday 23rd March 2011 St Peters Broadstairs
Just a single Common Buzzard to report today, flying in an
easterly direction about 2.30pm. (John Carnell)
Wednesday 23rd March 2011 Cliftonville Area
At 2.15pm this afternoon the local gulls went berserk and I looked out
the back to see 5 Common Buzzards together in the air, they drifted
eastwards towards Foreness. (Barry Hunt)
Wednesday 23rd March 2011 Pegwell Bay and Newington
Another day of glorious weather ... shame it's not going to last. As I
prepared the old cycle for the pre-planned trip to Pegwell, I heard a few
Gulls calling around the estate and just before I left at 08.50 the cause of
the Gulls attention (A Raven) flew south right over the garden down towards
Pegwell. I sent Craig a text and headed off in pursuit but on getting as far
as the bottom of the hill at the west end of Little Cliffsend Farm could see
no sign of it. I wasn't too bothered and headed off for a quick look around
the hover port etc. Craig had thought he'd seen the Raven across on the west
side of the roundabouts at the end of the Haine Road and his 'thought' was
verified at 10.00 when the bird got up from somewhere west of the Country
Park and continued south across towards the Ash Levels. When it passed my
house it appeared to be heading towards the farm but must have drifted off
across the road when out of sight of me. We ended up staying until about
2.00pm mainly scanning the skies once again which as well as the Raven
produced umpteen Buzzards and many Marsh Harrier sightings.
Overhead small numbers of Chaffinch and Siskin were heading
north and the day total added up to 99 and 81 birds respectively - a good
spring total for Siskins though there were single flocks of 30 and 20 so it
sounds better in total than it was at the time. Some other notes from the
day included: 65 Brent, 10 Shoveler, 6 Avocet, 11
Snipe, 60 Bar-tailed Godwit, 70 Dunlin, 1 Brambling,
3+ Peregrine, c4 - 6 Sparrowhawks and 17 Bat Nosed
Flotsnofflers. When checking my moth traps in the late afternoon I
became aware that the local Gulls were not too happy about something and it
turned out to be the two Peregrines again (they were there yesterday too)
which were soaring about right over my back garden. Perhaps they've got
their sights set on a balcony apartment on Staner court affording excellent
views over the Newington Estate or is it the bloke across the road's 70
strong Pigeon collection that's the big draw? Time will tell. (Phil M)
Tuesday 22nd March 2011 Pegwell Bay
Craig and I spent from 09.00 until 14.30 sniffing around Pegwell, looking at
the sky, looking in a bush, on the grass and even up a tree. We saw all our
targets today - the sky, bush, grass and tree all getting ticked off well
before midday. The weather was glorious - not a breathe of wind, no nasty
mist or fog and the temperatures were off the scale for a day in mid/late
March. Once again we spent most of our time sky watching, the mud flat being
more and more free of wintering birds and apart from 90 Brent Geese
there were no new arrivals on the mud front today. The raptor watch turned
up 13 Common Buzzards, 4+ Marsh Harriers, 2 Hen Harriers,
a handful of Sparrowhawks and the obligatory Peregrines. A few
of the Buzzards, 1 of the Marsh Harriers, both the Hen Harriers and one of
the Sparrowhawks looked like migrants today. A bonus Raven flew high
north right over head at 12.15 before soaring around over at Cliffsend for
ten minutes or so, plus a few Chaffinch, Brambling, Siskin,
Alba Wagtails and lots of Starlings went mainly north. The
semi resident dog shouter flushed a Woodcock off the Country Park and
there were about 3000 Starlings loitering around the area south of the
Samphire, otherwise it was much as expected for the time of year. Our other
notes were as follows: 20 Great Crested Grebe, 1+ Little Egret,
4 Shoveler, 75 Bar-tailed Godwit, 35 Knot, 3 Golden
Plover, 60 Turnstone, 1 Fieldfare - west etc. After
getting home I received a phone call off young Craig to tell me that there
were 2 Peregrines soaring overhead just south of my house - they were
naked eye view and soon were picked up as they whizzed off over the next
door neighbours roof top then headed off the east soon-after. (Phil M)
Tuesday 22nd March 2011 Minster Marshes
I drove out to Minster Marshes Thanet late afternoon and early evening,
sadly only the one Barn Owl recorded which was over on the Ash Levels
side and distant, a Kestrel was sitting on a post and a
Sparrowhawk glided over one of the fields away from me, small birds
around the car park included Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Chaffinches,
Chiffchaff, Great, Blue and Long-tailed Tits, Robins, Dunnock's, Blackbirds,
then along the river Reed Buntings, Linnets, more Goldfinches,
but only 1 Cetti's Warbler, also a loan Moorhen walking the
river bank, flyover bits were 6 Siskins, 4 Mallard, 1
Cormorant, and cc500 Starlings which crossed the river towards
the Ash Levels side, (Gadget)
Tuesday 22nd March 2011 St Peters and Dumpton Gap
At about 12.15 the G.E.W.S. (Gull Early Warning System) alerted me to 3
Common Buzzards riding the thermals. I watched them climb for about
15 minutes, drifting in a S/Westerly direction. They were joined by another
single Common Buzzard and then another pair, making 6 in all. Just
after 12.30 they drifted in a westerly direction, at quite a height, but
could have dispersed in any direction! A swift bike ride to Dumpton Gap saw
me chasing a Woodcock along the promenade until it disappeared up
onto the clifftop towards King George park. (John Carnell)
Tuesday 22nd March 2011 Joss Bay Area Thanet
Spent 45 minutes around the Joss Bay area late this afternoon. Didn't
see a great deal, but did see 2 Stonechats, 3 Linnets and a
Sparrowhawk dispatching its dinner just across from the cycle path,
(John Slade)
Tuesday 22nd March 2011 Saltwood Late
News
Also on Sunday, March 20th, at 12.20, a Red Kite coasted low east
at Sandgate. On Monday 21st March 6 Buzzards together, gaining height
and drifting ENE. (Paul Howe)
Tuesday 22nd March 2011 Kingsgate Area
With such a beautiful morning I decided to head over to
Kingsgate and try and locate the Northern Long-tailed Tits, which have been
around for a few days, arriving at 07-45hrs at Elmwood Avenue, there were
Linnets moving along the foot path with Robins, Blackbirds,
Greenfinches, and Pied Wagtails out on the golf Course, at
Convent Road I encountered a flock of Long-tailed Tits mixed with
Blue & Great Tits but none of the Northern Long-tailed with them, other
bits included Jay's, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Chiffchaff, Wren,
and on returning to the car Linnets were landing in the field in
Elmwood Avenue, (Gadget)
Tuesday 22nd March 2011 North Foreland
Another fairly quiet morning the only spring migrant being a Swallow
at Whiteness early on but very little else of note. (Barry Hunt)
Monday 21st March 2011 Pegwell Bay
I'm feeling grotty today (booh hoo!) but eventually decided to pop down
after a particularly rough night where I awoke at 3.00am sweating and cold
and feeling much like I'd been ten rounds with Mike Tyson. In view of how I
felt I decided to give much of the area walk a miss and settle down on the
mound from hell amidst various dog shouters and to cap it off the usual man
with a whole pack of dogs decided to set up just inland of me to train his
mutts with the usual whistling and aggressive shouting and hollering. No-one
respects anyone's space any more ... but that's life. I did have a quick
cycle around the hover port on the way down (a waste of time) and other than
13 Redwing flying s /east, which is quite odd at 9.15 on a late March
morning I saw absolutely naff all so I headed for the mound where I scanned
the skies and the incoming tide until early afternoon. The wind was a light
s/east and the weather was quite lovely save a bit of misty stuff which was
lurking about inland. A few bits and pieces were on the move - a few
Chaffinch's, 6 Siskin, 1 White Wagtail, 1000+ Starlings,
1 Swallow, 1 more Redwing and 7 Golden Plover arrived
from inland and settled on what was left of the marsh around high tide.
There could have been a fair few Chaffinches today as I could hear them but
not see any at times - I counted 40 flying s/east and 25 n/east but had
others flying all directions from time to time. I also heard another Siskin
call at one point but didn't see it. I was hoping for some raptor movement
but is was quiet today - I did see 3 possible migrant Sparrowhawks
all flying n/west but I didn't see any Buzzards at all until just
after Gadget sent me a text saying there were 2 birds on their way to
Pegwell I picked up one high flying bird flying in from Ramsgate at 12.22
which lost height overhead and flew s/west inland. I presume this one was a
migrant bird? Both the Peregrines and up to 3 Marsh Harriers
were showing inland of the Country Park. There were also at least 2 singing
Chiffchaffs today between Stone Lees and the car park. The mud flat
was very quiet as virtually all the over wintering stuff has left now. All
that I saw were 29 Brent, 28 Shelduck, 3 Mallard, 2
Teal, 1 Wigeon, 1 Eider, 1 Avocet, 195 Curlew,
80 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 90 Knot,
13 Sanderling, 2 Dunlin, 11 Grey Plover, 160
Oystercatcher and 1 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull. (Phil M)
Monday 21st March 2011 Pyson's Road
Single Common Buzzards at 09:00 and 12:00 - not seen by me as I
was busy in the `real world` - but by "her indoors". (Simon Mount)
Monday 21st March 2011 Dumpton & Ash Levels
This morning in the garden had Chaffinches, Siskins and
Goldfinches moving over the field west, then at mid day 2 Common
Buzzards drifted over high heading towards Pegwell Bay, after lunch I
drove over to the Ash Levels and spent the afternoon in mild sunny
conditions, birds noted: 3 Common Buzzards, 3 Marsh Harriers
all female, 3 Grey Herons, 1 Little Egret, cc36 Mallard,
18 Moorhens, 64 Mute Swans,
cc1,500
Starlings, cc42 Fieldfare, 7 Redwings, 4 Jay's, 11 Lapwings, 2
Green Woodpeckers, cc40 Skylarks, the 2 Stonechats
were still in the same dike, 2 Grey Wagtail, 4 Pied
Wagtails, cc24 Reed Buntings, 2 Cetti's Warbler along the
river, cc30 Siskins, 14 Goldfinches, 22 Green Finches,
cc180
Chaffinches, 4 Yellow Hammers, 30 Long-tailed Tits, cc30
Blue Tits, cc20 Great Tits, 3 Wrens, 5 Robins, 7
Dunnock's, 4 Goldcrest, cc60 House Sparrows, I had noted
the River Stour was at a very high level, this had made two small boats run
aground this not being the fist time I've seen this and not the last I
expect, the number of Woodpigeons was around 1000 and most of them
were just sitting up in the hawthorn bushes, cc40 Stock Doves on the
fields, but only 9 Collard Doves and they all at the farm, (Gadget)
Monday 21st March 2011 St Peters & Kingsgate Bay
A couple of hours in the garden this morning 10.30-12.30 turned up more
migrant Chaffinches cc50, 3 Sparrowhawks and a Merlin.
At Kingsgate Bay there were 50 Brent Geese feeding. (John Carnell)
Monday 21st March 2011 Duncan Rd, Ramsgate
Spent some time working outside in the sun. Heard the Blackcap singing
again plus a Chiffchaff that appeared and did a little singing.1
Common Buzzard flew East at 12.10pm. (Nick Lever)
Monday 21st March 2011 North Foreland
Clear blue skies was not going to ground
many migrants and that was the case this morning, the best I could muster
were 3 White Wagtails in the horse field, 2 Chiffchaff and 1
Brambling over.
Went back for an hour for a raptor watch but no joy as I didn't see any but
a smart male Wheatear on the grass at Joss Bay car-park, (Barry Hunt)
Monday 21st March 2011 Ramsgate
This morning two Siskins visited the feeders (see photo) along
with the numerous Chaffinches. Other regular visitors include lots of
Starling, a few Goldfinches, a pair of Dunnock's, great
and blue tits, a solitary Robin, a few House Sparrows and
Blackbirds. At present visits by Greenfinches are far from
regular. (Pete Spain)
Sunday 20th March 2011 Margate Area & Ramsgate
garden
3 Purple Sandpiper roosting at the base of the
sea wall at the Winter Gardens at lunch time today. Also a Rock Pipit
on the cliff nearby. And in the garden in Ramsgate this morning a
Blackcap singing. (Nick Lever)
Sunday 2oth March 2011 Minnis Bay
A pleasant walk from Minnis Bay to Reculver produced the following birds
of interest.3 Brambling, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Firecrest, 1
Black Redstart, 21 Pale Bellied & 1 Dark Bellied
Brent, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Red Kite,
W 1 Little Egret, 2 Red Throated Divers on sea (Rae Boulden)
Sunday 20th March 2011 North Foreland Area
A couple of hours in the area early on produced a Woodlark over
at 6.55, which even broke out into song, 4 Firecrest, 1 Coal Tit,
4 Bramblings and small numbers of the usual vismig bits. (Barry Hunt)
Sunday 20th March 2011 Two Chimneys Area
Late News
15 Corn Buntings on wires to the west of the
camp site this evening Saturday 19th. (Nick Lever)
Saturday 19th March 2011 Newington Ramsgate
I was out in the garden from about 09.30 (making a moth trap) and kept my
binoculars and camera at hand hoping for a Red Kite but expecting a Buzzard
or two. Soon the local Gulls were in full alarm call and between just before
11.00 and just past midday I saw 6 Common Buzzards but not a sniff of
a Kite unfortunately. The times were 1 strong north at 10.50, 1 south at
11.10, 1 north at 11.35 and a group of 3 south at 12.30. (Phil M)
Saturday 19th March 2011 Ramsgate
Friday 18th, after only recording one or two Chaffinches a month,
Mike had 50+ just in our small garden on the Nethercourt Estate by 5.00p.m,
and on Saturday 19th still 5 - 6 males and 2-3 females. All the gulls went
crazy at 11.30 and as we scanned we counted at least 3 possibly more
Common Buzzards heading north east getting ever higher as they
thermal-led away. Blue Tits in our nest box, a pair of Great Tits
around, 3 Greenfinches, a Jay, a pair of Crows and a
pair of Magpies, over 30 House Sparrows, 5 Dunnock's, a pair
of Robins, and 2 male and one female Blackbird. The males
always fighting crash landed in the pond late afternoon. Last year Mike had
to rescue two which had got their talons locked, they just fell onto the
patio! (Linda Kember)
Saturday 19th March 2011 Dumpton Thanet
Small flocks of Chaffinches around cc250 in
total were
moving though the garden and out over the fields between 06-45 & 07-45hrs,
the resident Blackbirds was busy taking building material to there nest for
most of the morning and
the Blue Tits, Great Tits, Goldfinches and Greenfinches were
on the feeders, the female Merlin was seen out on the field at
08-55hrs and at 10-54hrs the local Herring Gulls went potty, on
scanning the sky I located 4 Common Buzzards high in the distances heading
between Manston & Pegwell Bay, today's lunch in the garden was most pleasant
sitting in the warm sunshine with a glass of wine, and now with most of the garden chores up to date,
I'm ready for the Spring migration,
(Gadget)
Saturday 19th March 2011 Pegwell Area
Started with a Blackcap singing in the sunken
garden at 6am. A pair of Long-tailed Tit also there. Very little
along the cliff top but two Moorhen in the field by Little Cliffs End
Farm and a Redwing heard. Along Chalk Hill in the half hour from 6.50
there was a movement of 416 Chaffinch heading East. Also about 300
Starling and a Siskin heading in the same direction. (Nick Lever)
Friday 18th March 2011 St Peters Broadstairs
In response to Pete Spain's question, I had about
twenty Chaffinches in my back garden today in St Peters. And noticed
another ten or so flying over with over cc200 Chaffinches at Sandwich Bay.
(John Carnell)
Friday 18th March 2011 Pegwell Bay
I was up very, very early so decided to pop down Pegwell for a quick look
after finding the cherry tree in the back garden had attracted a few
Redwings. I ended up staying down for the incoming tide - except for a
singing Chiffchaff on the Country Park and a 1st winter
Yellow-legged Gull it was fairly dull. In fact on second thoughts
including those two birds it was fairly dull! The only thing that I wrote
down were 1 Little Grebe (garage pools), 8 Great Crested Grebe,
33 Shelduck, 13 Mallard, 90 Redshank, 45 Grey Plover,
99 Dunlin, 80 Knot, 115 Bar-tailed Godwit, 220
Oystercatcher, 42 Curlew, 47 Sanderling, 2 Little Egret
and 2 Peregrine. (Phil M)
Friday 18th March 2011 Garden Newington Area
Chaffinch count feeding in the garden this afternoon was over 30.
This is the highest number that has ever visited my garden in the 25 years I
have lived here. Is any one else experiencing such high numbers? (Pete
Spain)
Thursday 17th March 2011 Dumpton Thanet
My wife was looking out over the field behind our house from the
upstairs window this morning, she called out to say "what are the little
birds in the field" my observation reviled a small flock of Chaffinches
had dropped down on the seed that I have been scattering, on a in-depth
scanning the field I found 2 Wheatears and another small mixed flock
of Chaffinches & Goldfinches, then everything took flight the
course was a female Merlin hunting the field, It finally landed and
stayed for about an hour just sitting on the edge of the winter wheat field
a good distance away from my house, (Gadget)
Thursday 17th March 2011 North Foreland
Whilst wasting my time searching for newly arrived migrants around the
cliff-top I was confronted by a 2nd cy (calendar year)
Peregrine which showed features of one of the northern races. My initial
impression being that I was looking at a Lanner, due to the pale fore crown,
nape and supercillium. Viewing conditions were far from good and my poor
photo does nothing to aid confirmation, yet if you are in the area it might
be worth keeping an eye open for this strikingly different bird? (Dylan)
Wednesday 16th March 2011 Fowlmead Country Park
A walk to Fowlmead from Deal on a misty and cold afternoon, a N E
breeze, I started with 1 Water Rail, 1 Grey Heron, 8 House
Sparrows, 4 Great Tits, & 21 Grey- lag Geese, in a Field
to the left of the path. in Fowlmead birds noted cc70 Siskins, 15
Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Kestrel,
16 Teal, 5 Mallard, 4 Moorhen, 2 Robin, Jackdaw
& Carrion Crow all in good numbers 1 Green Woodpecker, 100+
Starling & Woodpigeon, 2 Stock Dove, ( Mike
Divito)
Wednesday 16th March 2011 Worth Marshes
Had a look out over Worth Marshes this lunchtime in
poor visibility, just a few duck seen i.e. Teal, Mallard & Shelduck,
a small flock of Lapwing with 5 Golden Plover drifting around
the mash 3 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 1 Merlin, and a
(female) Marsh Harrier were also seen, and the highlight was around
3,500 Starlings milling around the area, (Gadget)
Monday 14th March
2011 Newington Ramsgate
A Chiffchaff was singing in Kingston Close at 08.00hrs this morning
(Philip Solly)
Monday 14th March 2011 Kingsgate & North Foreland Area
Had a couple of hours in the area this morning but with the return of a
moderate Northerly it felt very chilly along the cliff-top, Birds noted
were; still at least one Northern Long-tailed Tit present but the
small flock was extremely mobile and were probably feeding in the more
sheltered gardens today, bumped into Francis too who had found two
Firecrests which I managed too see along the cycle track, the male even
broke out into full song, very little else, 5 Siskin went over and a
few Rooks were evidently migrants. Seemed to be a lot of Carrion
Crows around too. Migrants? A trickle of Red-throated Divers
flying East. (Barry Hunt)
Monday 14th March 2011 Dumpton Thanet
The return of Greenfinches on the feeders around the garden is
good news, other birds on the feeders were Chaffinches, Blue Tits,
Great Tits, a lone Wren in the woodpile Blackbirds under
the bushes and Collard Doves on the lawn, out in the field Carrion
Crows, and a mixed flock of Wood & Feral Pigeons, a few
Starlings and Pied Wagtails (Gadget)
Monday 14th March 2011 Nethercourt R/gate & Stonelees Pegwell
Mike had a Chiffchaff in our garden in Nethercourt on Saturday
and on Sunday we both saw a Willow Warbler in Stonelees. (Linda
Kember)
Sunday 13th March 2011 Pluck's Gutter area
Spent a few hours birding near Pluck's Gutter today. Initially I walked
beside the Little Stour. Highlights included: 3 Buzzards, 2 Marsh
Harriers, 2 Yellowhammers, 2 Skylarks, a Green
Woodpecker and a small flock of Siskins high in the trees on the
river bank. I then doubled back and walked alongside the Stour towards
Sandwich. Added a few more Yellowhammers, a Bullfinch (in the
small wooded area beside the riverside path), 3 Long-Tailed Tits and
another Buzzard which I flushed from the side of the river. (John
Slade)
Sunday 13th March 2011 Ramsgate
A Firecrest and female Blackcap in the
gardens of Duncan Rd this afternoon, also a Firecrest in Vale Square
this morning. (Nick Lever)
Sunday 13th March
2011 Kingsgate Area
A small flock of Long-tailed Tits present at Kingsgate this
morning contained at least 4 Northern type birds, very white heads
and extremely easy to pick out amongst their more dowdy relatives. 2
Stonechats decked and a Pheasant was on the path by the folly
first thing. (Barry Hunt)
Saturday 12th March 2011 Ramsgate
2 Firecrest spent a few hours in the gardens of
Duncan Rd this afternoon. (Nick Lever)
Friday 11th March 2011 Pegwell Bay
A fairly nice day out today - a breezy west - s/west wind aside the overhead
conditions were fairly conducive to a bit of movement but not too much
happened really. Craig and I set up on the mound bit on the Country Park and
watched the sky until we got bored around 1.00pm when we slowly made our way
home via the farm. We were hoping for some migrant raptors but even though
we did see quite a few raptors its difficult to say how many of them were
migrants? One Sparrowhawk and a Marsh Harrier appeared as if
arriving from in off but otherwise there were 6 Buzzards and 5
Marsh Harriers up in one funnel looking across west of the country park
at one point but these were semi local birds no doubt? There had been 3
Buzzards seen s/west and west of us on and off all morning so once again
it's anyone's guess how many birds were involved? Craig had the first
Redpoll of the spring before I arrived (they are like hens teeth in
springtime) and as well as a few (about 40) Chaffinches moving southwest and
north we had 2 Alba wagtails, plus a few Jackdaws, Wood Pigeons,
Black-headed Gulls and Lapwings over. The mud flat was bleak a 3rd summer
Yellow-legged Gull, 5 Brent, 2 Little Egret, 45 Golden
Plover and 89 Sanderling being the only birds that made it into
my notepad. There were also a couple more local Sparrowhawks and at
least 3 Peregrines today. That's all folks. (Phil M)
Friday 11th March 2011 Worth Marsh
Not much happening on the marsh today, but I still managed to see Hen
Harrier (ringtail), Marsh Harrier, 2 Sparrowhawk,
Kestrel, male Bullfinch, Chiffchaff, Cetti's Warbler, 2
Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Snipe and a Water Rail at Roaring
Gutter see photo attached, Last but not least a Worth Marsh lifer for
me in the shape of 2 Red-legged Partridge (Colin Fisher)
Friday 11th March 2011 Ramsgate Harbour
A couple of hours wandering around the harbour was not without reward. A
Kingfisher and 2 Little Grebe in the marina with C-R
Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls located in the outer harbour
and a 1st winter male Eider found in the area behind the
Lifeboat Station (it has been present for up to three weeks according to the
fishermen) (Dylan)
Friday 11th March 2011 Ash Levels
Ash Levels today birding with anticipation of
maybe finding the 2 Common Cranes that had
been seen of late but not today sadly, bits noted today were, 2 Marsh
Harriers, Male & Female, 5 Common Buzzards, 2 Kestrels 1 Female
Hen Harrier, 1 Peregrines , 14 Teal, cc120 Mallards,
2 Grey Herons, 1 Little Egret, 74 Mute Swans, cc500
Starlings, 29 Fieldfare, 4 Jay's, 14 Lapwings, 2
Green Woodpeckers, cc36 Skylarks, the fist 2 Stonechats of
the year and out on the Levels and for me, 1 Grey Wagtail, 7 Pied
Wagtails, cc24 Reed Buntings, 12 Green Finches, cc36
Chaffinches, 7 Yellow Hammers, 12 Long-tailed Tits, 16
Blue Tits, 12 Great Tits, 5 Wrens, 2 Robins, 4
Dunnock's, 2 Goldcrest, cc60 House Sparrows, were seen
in more than one of the hedgerows, (Gadget)
Friday 11th March 2011 Foreness Area
A Woodlark and 2 Wheatears along the cliff-top at Foreness
this morning. Other than that about 60 Brent Geese feeding on the
foreshore and 100 Chaffinches moving west (F Solly)
Friday 11th March 2011 Ellington Park Ramsgate
Walking through the park to and from the station this
week I've noted a small flock of Redwings on their usual spring
stop-over, Great- spotted Woodpecker drumming, Green Woodpecker
yaffling, a pair of Long- tailed Tits and several Chaffinches
singing, one of which was making I sound that, had I been anywhere else, I
would have taken to be a singing Coal Tit. Also male and female Sparrowhawk seen overhead.
(Nick Lever)
Thursday 10th March 2011 Pegwell Bay
Very quiet today ... a Little Grebe, a Little Egret and little
else! A Buzzard was seen soaring around over near Richborough around
12.00 and a Peregrine buzzed the waders out on the mud when I left.
Otherwise a few counts only - 2 Greylag, 8 Brent, 18
Shelduck, 6 Mallard, 1 Pintail, 13 Golden Plover,
77 Grey Plover, 26 Ringed Plover, 170 Dunlin, 280
Knot, 79 Sanderling, 167 Bar-tailed Godwit and 1
Sparrowhawk. (Phil M)
Wednesday 9th March 2011 Pegwell Bay
I went down for my usual three plus hours of standing around sky watching
during the peak soaring hours. The wind was a stiff westerly on arrival and
still sunny initially, though eventually some rather bleak looking cloud
enveloped the area ... matching my mood given all the noise and hassle the
various members of the public were causing today. The dog shouters were in
full voice (as usual) and to make matters even worse a bloke with lots of
dogs set up a training school downwind of me so all I could hear for over an
hour was him hollering and whistling at his dogs - the noise was unbearable
at times and was so loud that the sound of their dogs barking in the wind
was scaring the birds off the mud over a hundred yards away! If you want
any peace and quiet then give Pegwell a miss as you've little chance of
getting any these days - there are so many people about with absolutely no
self awareness or thought for others - of course some of them are plain pig
ignorant. Anyway - soon after setting up I started to pick up a few raptors
- 2 migrant (?) Sparrowhawks got the ball rolling then a Buzzard
started soaring inland (in the usual spot) before a group of 3 Common
Buzzards were seen moving high west at 11.05 which may have been
migrants? I had another possible migrant Sparrowhawk today as well as
a couple of local birds. Birds of the day arrived when I picked up two
soaring Common Cranes about a mile south of me about midday. They
were very high in the sky but eventually they lost height and flew a bit
closer, flying n/west over the power station then north towards Manston when
they turned around and went inland and were lost to view. A few Lapwings
(70 east) and Golden Plovers (35 west) were moving as were a few
Rooks, Jackdaws, Wood Pigeons etc. A Water Pipit showed twice in
flight around the close salt marsh and the first two Sandwich Terns
of the spring arrived on the mud about an hour prior to high tide. The only
other newsworthy bird that I saw today was a 1st winter Caspian Gull
otherwise my notes for the day were: 2 Diver species - 1 north and 1
south, 2 Little Egret, 3 Greylag, 26 Shelduck, 4
Mallard, 4 Shoveler, 1 Teal, 170 Bar-tailed Godwit,
150 Dunlin, 130 Knot, 45 Grey Plover, 4 Ringed
Plover, 86 Sanderling, 1 Peregrine and 2 Redwing.
(Phil M)
Wednesday 9th March 2011Shuart area
/ Sandwich Bay area
A phone call from Tim Hodge this morning
at 09-40hrs to tell me there were 2 Common Cranes over at the field
adjacent to the public footpath east of Shuart, I arrived just in time to
see them overhead at St Nicolas round about head towards Minster Thanet, I
turn around and went looking for then with no luck, I had decided to have
lunch over at the SBBOT, at about 12-10hrs we were alerted by Ian Hodgson of
2 Common Cranes heading towards the Observatory coming from Pegwell,
from the observation tower we had distant views as the turned towards the
Ash Levels, a Common Buzzard was also seen at the same time drifting
west, Thanks for the phone call Tim, (Gadget)
Tuesday 8th March 2011 Pegwell Bay
A fairly nice day today - still a bit nippy but the wind had dropped and
moved right around to the south. The main downside being the swarms of
people down at Pegwell mind you - incredible amounts for a midweek day, I
dread to think what the weekends/holiday periods are going to be like? The
birding was okay without ever getting even close to properly interesting as
there were a few migrants on the wing today with a few Mipits,
Skylarks and Chaffinches moving overhead (north) during the first
hour especially and 3 White Wagtails in full gleaming white/grey
plumage jumped out against the backdrop of a blue cloudless sky. The raptor
watching was hard work - there were at least 3 Common Buzzards, 1
Marsh Harrier and a pair of Kestrels looking west inland of the mound
and I also saw what I think may have been migrants Buzzards too with
two very high north at 10.40 and another which zipped through north at
11.30. I also saw at least 2 Sparrowhawks and another 4 Kestrels
(maybe more?) plus the Peregrines were active all session even taking
a Dunlin from amongst the ever dwindling groups of waders present out on the
mud. Other new birds included 33 Wigeon, 15 Lapwing high
s/west and there were about 70 Golden Plover getting up every now and
then across on the sampher area. Other notes from the day included 1
Little Grebe (Garage pool), 1 Red-throated Diver - south, 17
Brent, 9 Mallard, 1 Pintail, 2 Gadwall, 13
Ringed Plover, 275 Curlew, 215 Bar-tailed Godwit, 150
Knot,190 Dunlin, 71 Sanderling, 1 1st winter
Yellow-legged Gull, 90 Great Black-backed Gull and 60 Lesser
Black-backed Gull. (Phil M)
Tuesday 8th March 2011 Ash Levels
Early start down the levels this morning repairing nest boxes, then out
over the marsh birding, for an hour, just a few bits noted this morning, 2
Marsh Harriers, Male & Female 3 Buzzards, 2 Kestrels 1
Female Hen Harrier, 2 Peregrines , 20+ Skylarks, 9
Teal, 70 Mallards, 3 Grey Herons, 18 Fieldfare,19
Lapwings, small birds in the spiny 9 Long-tailed Tits, 8
Blue Tits, 6 Great Tits, 4 Wrens, 5 Robins, 3
Dunnock's, 3 Goldcrest, on leaving the levels 40+ House
Sparrows, were seen in one of the hedgerows, (Gadget)
Monday 7th March 2011 Pegwell Bay
I watched the area from mid morning the early afternoon concentrating on the
sky for raptors whilst keeping one eye on the incoming tide. It would appear
that there were still people looking for the Whale but there was no sign of
it out on the mud when I arrived at 10.00am. The sky watch was extremely
quiet until 10.50 when the first Buzzard soared up into view west of
the Country Park closely followed by a bit of display from the Peregrines.
Then for the next 30 - 40 minutes it was like Piccadilly Circus across the
way with umpteen Buzzards (a flock of 6 at 11.00am) and at least 4 Marsh
Harriers. There were at least two more Buzzards seen (possibly more?) as
the first bird was a pale thing which flew off inland virtually as soon as
it got up the after the group drifted off inland there was a bird floating
about with substantial damage to it's right hand primary's and secondaries
which none of the six had. I would presume all today's larger raptors were
semi local birds. One of 3 Sparrowhawks seen today was doing a bit of
display flight over near Saint Augustine's Golf Course as were a pair of
Kestrels towards Richborough. A few Chaffinches passed by
overhead and an Alba Wagtail sounded and looked a bit like the first
White Wagtail of spring but given the views that I had I couldn't be
certain? The tide/mud was as it's been this past week ... dull. The only
other notes that I took for today were of: 61 Brent, 18 Shelduck,
3 Mallard, 1 Pintail, 204 Curlew, 280 Bar-tailed
Godwit, 1 Black-tailed Godwit and 42 Sanderling etc. (Phil
M)
Monday 7th March 2011 Ebbsfleet and Minster
Marshes
I drove out over the Ebbsfleet Mashes and around to
Minster Marshes this morning in beautiful sunshine and what a difference
that makes, fist I had 1 Grey Wagtail, with 3 Green Sandpipers,
flushed from the dikes as I continued my journey 2 Grey Heron, 26
Mallards, 5 Teal, 7 Moorhens & 11 Coots and 14
Reed Buntings were also seen, raptures in sky were 1 Kestrel, 2
Peregrine 2 Mash Harrier, and 4 Common Buzzard, as I
continued cc24 Skylarks and a flock of cc80 Linnets
were out over the fields, on my way back there were cc60 Chaffinches
along the hedgerows with 2 Grey Partridge and 2 Redshank noted
by the railway line, Mixed Corvids i.e. Rooks & Carrion Crows
were also out over the fields at Minster fields with over cc1200
Woodpigeons, (Gadget)
Sunday 6th March 2011 Pegwell Bay
Just to let you know I saw a female Hen Harrier
flying low over Stone Lees yesterday.
(S Cotton)
Saturday 5th March 2011 Richborough Power Station
After putting our horse out in his paddock, the missus and I went for a
sub lunch at the power station and was treated to a display by a pair of
Peregrine Falcon. I first spotted the male and female sitting on top of
the large towers, about five minutes passed before they upped and started
their aerial display. They were soaring high and stooping, almost on top of
each other, never more than a few feet apart, this continued for at least
10mins, before they disappeared behind the towers, what a show! The birds
make regular visits to the towers, so if you fancy seeing them, get yourself
a sub lunch, grab a window seat and keep those eyes peeled on the towers,
don't forget your bins. Best entertainment of the day, (Roly Wells-Colyer)
Saturday 5th March 2011 Fowlmead
Had a short walk around the North side of the Country
Park but it was very quiet. Did record 1 Little Egret, 2 Grey
Heron, 40+ Teal, c20 Mallard, 6 Long-tailed Tit and
c20 Chaffinch. (Nick Lever)
Saturday 5th March 2011 North Foreland & Fairness
Area
Walked from Botany Bay to Joss Bay and back today (also
inland along Convent Road and Elmwood Avenue) Species seen included:
Greenfinch, Jay, Linnet, Stock Dove, Long-tailed Tit, Curlew, Oystercatcher,
Turnstone, Fulmar, Rock Pipit and Redwing. (John Slade)
Saturday 5th March 2011 Dumpton Broadstairs
A female Blackcap feeding on the fat-ball in my garden today
which is probably an over wintering bird. (Rae Boulden)
Friday 4th March 2011 Dumpton Gap to
Louisa Bay Broadstairs
Whilst walking along the seawall at high tide
I saw the following birds 3 Rock Pipits at Dumpton Gap and 10
Turnstones, 2 Purple Sandpipers and 1 Pied Wagtail at
Louisa Bay. (Ron Dubbins)
Friday 4th March 2011 Dumpton Thanet
There were 2 Blue Tits and 2 Great Tits
that have been busy gathering bits of nesting material from around the
garden for most of the day, the 2 Blackbirds have been following me
around the flowerbeds, grabbing the grubs and worms as I have been turning
the soil over, only 3 Chaffinches and 5 Goldfinches on the
feeders throughout the day and a Wren was in and out of the Log pile,
overall very quirt in the garden today, (Gadget)
Friday 4th March 2011 Pegwell Bay
I popped down for a look at the incoming tide (past the circus surrounding
the Sperm Whale that was found washed up yesterday morning) arriving just
before 09.00. The weather was grotty initially but slowly improved but it
was still a tad cold. The Plover numbers were well down (only 3 Golden
Plover and 1 Lapwing) and there were no Wigeon at all even though I stayed
until high tide. The only unusual things that I laid bins on were a group of
4 flyover Waxwing that flew north along the cycle path about mid way
along the Country Park at about 10.30. I did take a few counts which were:
189 Brent, 13 Shelduck, 2 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 1
Pintail, 5 Teal, 155 Curlew, 260 Bar-tailed Godwit,
8 Redshank, 145 Grey Plover, 280 Knot, 460 Dunlin,
15 Sanderling, 330 Oystercatcher, 1 ring-tail Hen Harrier,
1 Peregrine, 1 Chiffchaff and a Water Pipit flew up out
of the close salt marsh during the morning too. (Phil M)
Wednesday 2nd March 2011 R/Gate Cemetery & North Foreland
Ramsgate Cemetery was the starting point today, but sadly the shrubbery
has been removed, trees have been cut down or trimmed back and the
paths are more in keeping with a building site than a cemetery pathway, this
was once a good place for all wildlife and has held many good memories for
me over the past years, but alas no more, birds noted in the cemetery 4
Blue Tits, 2 Great Tits, 4 Long-tailed Tits,4 Jay's
2 Green Woodpeckers, 18 Magpies, 32 Carrion Crows, 22
Rose-ringed Parakeets and 7 Herring Gulls, I left the cemetery
and drove over to North Foreland area Joss-bay car park but the wind was
bitter 20+ Herring Gulls were hovering in the wind and only 1 Pied
Wagtail was by the pumping station, (Gadget)
Tuesday 1st March 2011 Dumpton Thanet
Commitments at home have been in the forefront for most pat of last
month and hopefully things will get better in time, so the best for today
were bit in the garden and the fields out the back, the Robin is
still holding on in the garden with 4 Chaffinches, 6 Goldfinches,
4 Blue Tits, 4 Great Tits, 2 Blackbirds, 6 House
Sparrows, 16 Starlings, 1 Wren, 6 Collard Doves,
and 2 Rose-ringed Parakeets, out over the field which held 38
Herring Gulls, 26 Black-headed Gulls, 41 Carrion Crows, 19
Jackdaws, 80 Woodpigeons, 6 Stock Doves,42 Feral
Pigeons with the odd Lapwing, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted
Woodpecker seen most days throughout the winter, (Gadget)
