Saturday 31st May 2008 Dane Valley Margate

A Common Buzzard flew over at 12 o'clock moving south towards Westwood Industrial Estate (Rae Boulden)

 Friday 30th May 2008 Newland's Farm

I left work at 19.00hrs, having arranged to meet some friends in Ramsgate at 20.00hrs. My short walk, across the fields, made rather hectic by the discovery of a stunning male Red-backed Shrike, in the Old Rose Garden. I rushed home to grab my digi-scoping gear and making a quick call to Gadget. Luckily the bird was still present and I managed to grab 9 record pics before I had to leave. There was a female Whinchat in the same area and I recorded a singing Reed Warbler in the same bushes as I walked home on Wednesday, in the rain! (Dylan)

Friday 30th May 2008 Garden, Broadstairs

Another surprising addition to the garden list today in the form of a Common Pheasant, and a Rose-ringed Parakeet was also showing well. (Jerry Lanfear)

Tuesday 27th May Ash Levels

Acting on a hunch I had an evening session, scanning the fields of sheep and cattle, looking for the Cattle Egret that had been seen in the Stour Valley yesterday afternoon. I failed to find the bird, although I'm still hopeful of it being relocated somewhere locally, given the present weather patterns. A pleasant enough couple of hours, despite the dank drizzle and murk. Three Yellow Wagtail, a Cuckoo, Reed & Sedge Warbler, Common Whitethroat and a Common Sandpiper were the best of the migrants and I noted a very un-seasonal Stonechat, perched out on the tussock-grass. Yellowhammer and Skylark were present in the area, although the fact that they are worthy of mention is testament to their current status in Southern England. A nice bonus was a Barn Owl, watched hunting over the water meadows. (Dylan)

Sunday 25th May 2008 Dumpton Thanet

Bank Holiday week-end - so the compulsory "crap" weather forecast!  An impromptu BBQ, hastily arranged, proved to be a great success - wall to wall sunshine? Where was the rain? How I wish that I was employed by the Metrological Office. How bad do you need to be before you get the sack? Two Common Buzzards passed overhead at 13.20hrs, whilst I was waiting for the charcoal to reach optimum departure. A Sparrowhawk, spiralling on the thermals, was my first sighting for a few weeks. Common Swifts, House Martin and Swallow were all noted as Gadget & I chomped on our outdoor feast. (Dylan)

Friday 23rd May 2008 Hales Place estate in Canterbury

 A White Stork was soaring over Hales Place estate in Canterbury this afternoon at 3.50pm before moving north, perhaps the same bird seen at Chillingden yesterday? (Will Salmon)

Friday 23rd May 2008 Dumpton/Newland's Farm area

I've been back, from Greece, for just a week. Not much chance to get out birding due to the desire to get a trip report posted (click the Pefkorhori link in the top right hand corner of this page) and the reality slap of work! How is it that the best two weeks for grass growth always coincides with your holiday? I've managed a couple of sorties around the immediate area. Two pairs of Grey Partridge, Linnets, Greenfinch and Song Thrush are all audible as I stroll around the adjacent farmland. Very few summer migrants? A Chiffchaff is still singing from a Prestedge Avenue garden and three Swallows perched on the telephone wires, but it is very quiet! Common Swifts are hunting over the surrounding fields, with a Yellow Wagtail noted early this morning as it passed overhead. A female Common Redstart, on Wednesday, is probably the best record for the area. Now I've got the grass cut, and the plants watered, things should return to normal - watch this space! (Dylan)

Thursday 22nd May 2008 Chillingden

Whilst driving between Wingham to Nonington I came down past Chillingden windmill and there is a large tree in the dip by some houses that normally has a family of Little Owls in, approaching we could see a large white bird in the top, as we stopped under the tree we had a real close view of this large white bird with black wing tips orange legs and beak, identified it as a White Stork  (John Odonnell)

Thursday 22nd May 2008 Coldharbour Area

A female Montagu’s Harrier was hunting around the fields in the Coldharbour area this morning. The same bird had earlier been seen flying east at Swalecliffe and Beltinge, Also a Wheatear, a Greenshank, 3 Grey Plovers and all the usual bits. (Tim H)

Wednesday 21st May 2008 Restharrow Scrape SBBOT

Temminck's Stint distant photograph on the Restharrow Scrape SBBOT am today> (Gadget)

Wednesday 21st May 2008 Reculver Country Park

Decided to cycle through the nearby Reculver Country Park down to the towers. I have not done this for a while and I have to say I won't be doing so again, Loads of dog walker’s loads of dog mess, the warm easterly breeze wafting the delightful odour over the area. The clifftop meadow reduced even more by the new cycle path, with coastal erosion here should disappear much quicker now, a great job done by the Kent Wildlife Trust and the Canterbury City Council. It really makes me think if these people know what there doing. I have seen other postings on this subject and I have to say what have the benefits been to the wildlife in this area since the KWT took over, the answer I'm afraid is none at all and worse of all its actually been detrimental to the wildlife in the area. Still at least I have the choice not to go there again and I won't. (Barry H)

Wednesday 21st May 2008 Broadstairs Garden

Quite surprised to find this Spotted Flycatcher in the garden first thing this morning (Jerry Lanfear)

Tuesday 20th May 2008 The Point Sandwich bay

A visit to the point monitoring breeding birds proved exciting with some great migrants around. Just before 7am a ringtail Montagu's Harrier flew through moving north, the rusty tones below suggesting a second year female. Later in the morning a female Marsh Harrier paused to quarter the ditches before following the Monty north. Walking back along the beach, four Sanderling moulting into their smart breeding plumage were on the tide line and a Rufous morph female Cuckoo flew over the dunes. (Jason M)

Monday 19th May 2008 Fowlmead & Grove Ferry

Paid my first visit to Fowlmead CP yesterday afternoon for an hour or so, the very windy conditions were not ideal but pleased to see a few more House Martins (20) then of late. Two Hobbies battled bravely against the elements to plunder insects. A Sparrowhawk made a brief appearance & also noted a Cetti’s Warbler. I was somewhat disappointed not to see one of the species illustrated on the 'Things to look out for' board near the visitor's centre -'Kentish Plover'! A visit to Grove this morning between 6:50 & 12:15, spending some time in the Turf Fields & Marsh Hides, produced little of great note but afforded great close views of Marsh Harriers & low flying Swifts. The Ramp produced, amongst others, a Little Ringed Plover as well as 2 of its commoner cousins, a Greenshank, a drake Garganey, 2 Little Egrets & a Ruff. (Ben Ring)

Saturday 17th May 2008 Manston Late News

There was a ring-tailed Montagu's Harrier, hunting the fields beside the airfield at mid-day. Bev and I saw it from the car as we headed towards Canterbury. (Dylan)

Saturday 17th May 2008 Pegwell Bay Late News

16/5/2008, A bit of luck on the way to the pub in the evening, as I approached Pegwell Village, the Gulls starting making a racket, Being 8.50pm and nearly dark, I was in two minds as to whether to bother looking up, when an Osprey appeared over the roof-tops. It circled the Pegwell Hotel before continuing out across the Bay. (F Solly)

Thursday 15th May 2008 Pegwell Bay

14/5/2008, Evening tide at Pegwell, An annoyingly stiff NE breeze, a scattering of waders but little else. 86 Ringed Plover, 10 Grey Plover, 6 Sanderling, 32 Bar-tailed Godwits, 6 Greenshank, 5 Whimbrel and 15 Dunlin. Other than that a paltry 30 Sandwich Terns, (F Solly)

Wednesday 14th May 2008 Shellness Point area

During a visit to the Shellness Point area a hirundine like bird circling quite high caught my attention. On scrutiny it turned out to be a Bee-eater. I watched this stunning bird for a couple minutes as it hawked for insects slowly drifting south-west. (Jason Mitchell)

Tuesday 13th May 2008 Pegwell Bay NNR

This isn't to report any bird sightings, but to agree with F Solly about the human interference which seems to remain unchecked in the area. Not that I have anything against dog walkers as such, but surely the mudflats and (possibly) Stonelees could be made off-limits? Birds have little enough chance to breed as it is without being disturbed by a yapping terrier. Likewise with Shellness Point, which used to entertain great numbers of Sandwich and Little Terns as well as a good variety of breeding waders - now it's home to thoughtless tourists and jet-skiers out to enjoy the sun. The mudflats seem lifeless as a result. I would hope that the great weather we're having means that such careless behaviour is the exception to the rule - but somehow I doubt it. (Richard Jermy)

Monday 12th May 2008 Pegwell Bay NNR

11/5/2008, Another excellent visit to Pegwell NNR for the late afternoon tide. A site that is having over £300,000 spent on it but still cannot offer a hide. When I arrived, two lots of dog walkers on the mudflats and 2 four wheel drives, multiple occupants and their two dogs all over Shellness Point. Barely time for a breath before 5 canoes hauled up on the Pegwell side before then continuing just off the tide line before returning and hauling out on the point, three jet skis zipping up and down the river and finally a motor bike tearing across the mudflats. Not forgetting the endless shouts and whistles from the dog walkers on the Tip. Almost forgot to mention the birds - didn't see anything, still trying to work out why. (F Solly)

Sunday 11th May 2008 North Foreland

In the last few days at North Foreland there has been little sign of any migrants other than a Whinchat on 8th and a few Wheatears and a Hobby. Of interest there has been up to 5 singing Firecrests this weekend. In the `valley` area there are 5 Whitethroats singing and a Lesser Whitethroat. (Simon M)

Saturday 10th May 2008 Stodmarsh NNR & Grove Ferry

A very enjoyable walk around the reserve in increasingly warm sunshine this morning between 7:10 & noon. With warblers in fine voice, the common species were easily picked out - even saw a 'showy' Cetti’s! The Ramp produced, amongst others, a single Greenshank, 2 Ringed Plovers & 4 Common Sandpipers. The Marsh Hide provided close-ish views of a Preening Green Sandpiper & a pair of Reed Warblers collecting nesting material. A Treecreeper was spotted in the alder wood. The main lake had an obliging Red Crested Pochard & watching the Hobby's proved very entertaining as they went about their insect-hawking in an efficient manner. Only saw a couple each of Swallows & Swifts. As I drove along Nash Road towards home in Ash, a large raptor caught my eye & proved to be a Red Kite. I stopped the car & watched it for 2/3 minutes before it drifted off NE towards Waddington (12:20pm) suitably pleased (& confident), I sat in my garden having lunch (2pm) watching the skies & was treated to a further 2 Red Kites drifting NW high over my garden - excellent! (Ben Ring)

Friday 9th May 2008 Ramsgate & Pegwell

8/5/2008. Another Black Kite flew over the office (Ramsgate), came in from the west at 10.20, was set upon by the local heavy mob (Herring Gulls) and departed the Concrete Isle to the south-west - the Gulls undoubtedly doing it a favour. Pegwell in the evening produced a nice selection of Shorebirds - mostly in summer plumage. A Temminck's Stint was the highlight, also present were; 32 Grey Plover, 12 Whimbrel, 10 Knot, 10 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Avocet, 15 Dunlin, 5 Little Egret, 30 Sandwich Tern and 3 Little Tern. (F Solly)

Wednesday 7th May 2008 Sandwich Bay & Park-gate Down

Out over the bay area in glorious sunshine this morning looking at the Orchids Skylarks were out in good number over the golf course with Meadow Pipits, Whitethroats, Swallows, House Martins in support, after lunch off to Park-gate Down KWT to look at more Orchids birds of note: Chaffinches, Whitethroats, Willow Warblers, Blue Tits and Yellowhammers. (Gadget)

Monday 5th May 2008 Pegwell & Stonelees

62 species seen, At least two Nightingale singing in Stonelees throughout the day 1 Whimbrel, 8 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Grey Plover, 6 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 1 Greenshank, 2 Curlew, 4 Little Egret, flock of 20+ Sandwich Tern, several pairs of Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Tree Pipit, 3 Turtle Doves (Richard Jermy)

Sunday 4th May 2008 Dumpton Park

A Golden Oriole was singing in trees at Broadstairs cricket ground for 10mins before moving out (Rae Boulden)

Thursday 1st May 2008 St Peters Broadstairs

A Common Buzzard flew west over the village at 10.15 shortly before a heavy shower (Rae Boulden)