KWT NOTICE
It's great to see
so many birders visiting Pegwell Bay Country Park in their efforts to see
the fan-tailed warbler. However, I'd like to echo Phil's comments and ask
all visitors to keep to the paths and resist the temptation to climb down
the seawall onto the salt-marsh and so risk disturbing other wildlife. Above
all, please respect other visitors (with or without dogs). Thank you. KWT
Warden (Jason Mitchell)
Saturday 31st October Pegwell Bay
I started off on the
cliff top at first light and at last a few things were on the move again -
nothing unusual but at least there was something going on to hold my
interest. Between 06.45 and 08.00 I counted 1470 Redwing, 55
Fieldfare, 90 Chaffinch, 1 Brambling and 8 Redpoll
flying west though grounded stuff was still poor with 1 Firecrest and
20+ Skylarks. I missed out the hover port and went down to watch the
incoming tide. The funny looking grey Golden Plover was in view once
again - but the only other oddity I saw was a flight view of a Jack Snipe
which jumped up and landed as the tide came up. Funnily enough - Barry
Wright had another Jack which flew in off the sea at some time during the
day. Dylan had the find of the day - 3 Yellowhammers which he spotted
on the country park!! Whoopee!! He also had 5 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
flying north during the morning too. Not bad for a man who from behind looks
like Miss Venezuela 1937 eh? Other stuff seen from the country park included
4 Little Grebe, 6 Brent, 82 Wigeon, 4 Pintail, 6
Teal, 1 Gadwall, 1000+ Golden Plover, 520 Lapwing,
1 Black-tailed Godwit, 40 Sanderling, 16 Snipe, 2
Corn Buntings and presumably the over wintering Sandwich Tern
which was posted in its normal high tide roosting spot amongst the
Oystercatchers across on Shellness point. The Fan tail was showing on and
off all morning out in the country park scrub too. By mid morning I'd had my
fill of it down there so went back up onto the farm via the hover port.
There were a scattering of Firecrests in the normal spot on the pad
and 35+ Turnstones roosting on the west cliff. A few bits were still
moving overhead too - Thrushes, Finches, Skylarks etc. I had a walk back
round to pick up my bike to go up to the park when I spotted a stunning
Great Grey Shrike sitting on a cliff top bush - I eventually flushed it
west but after a quick scout about couldn't relocate it so after picking up
my trusty steed I peddled my way up to the park where a Pallas' Warbler had
been reported. The bird was supposed to be at a place called Saint
Augustine's Park but it turned out that the bird was in fact in the bushes
at the top of what we locals refer to as the Chine. I had a walk around with
another bloke for about 15 minutes but gave up and came home to watch the F1
qualifying. We didn't see the Warbler but there were a few more Firecrests
about up there. I went back at 2.30 for another look for the Shrike
(couldn't find it) and whilst having another fruitless look for the Pallas'
spotted some desperate goon (cheers Francis ... it's such a great and
fitting word!) who desperate to see his ten thousandth Pallas' - ended up
wandering around the lower terrace gardens of Westcliff Terraces about 4
feet from the lower flat windows which is disgraceful behaviour. I just hope
that this desperate behaviour doesn't get me booted off the outer garden
area which is an area I've had to explain to the locals what I'm up to so
that I can watch without annoying the people who live in the flats? It took
me quite a bit of explaining with one of the residents to gain hassle free
access - lets hope I'm not back to square one with him because of this
incident because there's no doubt who'll be getting the blame as the local
'known' birder if someone tells him about it? There will be no more news
from me if I get anything good up there after this. The trouble with these
sorts is that they would trample on your granny to get a sub-rare year tick.
If I sound annoyed then its because I am - I'm fed up with the attitude of
some of these endless manic listing types who show up wherever the action is
at the time. I certainly don't even want to be anywhere near them. (Phil M)
Saturday 31st October 2009 North
Foreland and Foreness
A brief look in some of the area this
morning turned up a couple of Firecrests and a Grey Wagtail at
North Foreland. At Foreness a Snow Bunting at the sewage works plus a
Reed Bunting and a male Stonechat on the clifftop. About 300
yards offshore a Mute Swan was drifting along. (Simon Mount)
Friday 30th October 2009 Blean Woods Nature Reserve
We
walked the 'black route' yesterday & while it is long (approx 7 miles) it
was great fun in the autumnal conditions (loads of leaf kicking!). Very
pleased to see both male & female Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (not
together) as well as supporting cast of Coal, Marsh, Blue ,Great &
Long-tailed Tits. A single Treecreeper was also noted. Masses of
fungi at the moment for those interested & I managed to resist the lure of
Fly Agaric! (Ben Ring)
Friday 30th October 2009 West-cliff
/ Cant. Rd East Area
I've been out and about the last couple of days but it's been a bit
quiet. Today there were a 3-4 Firecrests in the bushes opposite the
entrance to Courtstairs Park on the Westcliff, a group of 10 Redwings
landed in the cliff top bushes and only 2 Fieldfares headed
west. Yesterday there was a Brambling with the regular Chaffinches
behind the shell garage on Cant. Rd. East plus 2 Marsh Harriers came
in off, circled for a bit then flew NW. (Scott)
Friday 30th October
2009 Pegwell Bay & Seasalter
The prearranged
meeting with Steve Ashton to meet at Pegwell bay this morning to look for
the Zitting Cisticola which was briefly showing at times but at
distance, other bits seen around
the bushes
were decent numbers of
Robin,
Reed Bunting, Chaffinch & Dunnock,
with Goldfinch, Wren and a pair of Stonechat,
out over the salt-marsh a
Merlin
scattered Golden Plover and Lapwings,
It was decided that Steve, Mike and myself would go to Seasalter where a
Snow Bunting had been recorded by Mike Gould on his local patch, It
wasn't very long before Mike located the little chap on the beach and
Photographs were achieved, other bit noted: an estimated count of 1500
Brent Geese, 200 Wigeon, 5 Little Egrets, Redshanks,
Oystercatchers, and few Pied Wagtails' some days are just great
to be out and about this was one of them, (Gadget)
Friday 30th October 2009 Pegwell
Bay
The normal early morning jaunt around
the cliff top, Farm and Hover Port was much as it's been only with even less
vismig! I stayed until almost 08.30 and saw a few Chaffinch, Skylark and
Meadow Pipits flying over plus 6 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare, 1
Yellowhammer and 2 Grey Wagtail flying west plus a pair of
Tree Sparrows flying north. Grounded stuff was abysmal, for want of a
better word and though there were quite a few Skylarks in the farm fields
and about 5 Firecrests on the hover port the only other thing I could
find was a single Goldcrest. I waited around hoping to see the
Ferrari 599 I saw yesterday at 8.30ish but when it didn't show I poodled off
down onto the country park. A few people were gathering for the Fan tailed
Warbler and as normal at these events a few people were misbehaving. I went
straight down towards the hide to have a look at the last knocking of the
incoming tide to find two of the twitches off the path in the salt marsh
obviously trying to flush the Warbler out. The fact that one of them was
wandering around right next to scrape where some of us like to look at the
waders had been overlooked by whoever it was desperate for another notch in
his bird list. Luckily Jason turned up to unlock the hide and put them
straight. This isn't the first incident of bad behaviour - one of the dog
walkers had her dog kicked by one of the birders when the crowd had the
public path completely blocked off when the bird was frequenting the area up
near the car park at the end of last month. When she complained some other
twitchier in the crowd swore at her too. Dog walkers are allowed in the area
and of course some of them are a pain in the backside (as are some of us
birders too) but there was no need for this sort of thing to happen. The
funny thing is that I know this woman and her two dogs and all three of them
are very well behaved which makes the whole incident even more deplorable.
And people wonder why we don't ring the RBA or whoever? Well it's because of
years of being around these sorts of things - that's why. I did take a few
counts whilst I was down at that end but is was deadly quiet - there were 4
Little Egret, 17 Brent, 63 Wigeon, 1 Pintail, 1
Gadwall, 85 Grey Plover, c1000 Golden Plover, c300
Lapwing, 1 Merlin etc plus scanning the Gull flock from the hover
port early on turned up 580 Great Black Backed Gull, 55 Lesser
Black Backed Gull, 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull and a cracking 1st
winter Caspian Gull - the first of the autumn/winter. Jason saw a
flock of 6 Siskin's fly toward the car park at some time during the
morning. (Phil M)
Friday 30th October 2009 North
Foreland and Foreness
At dawn there were a few Redwings
and Fieldfares moving through. Then all passage stopped and all I saw
all morning was 14 Skylarks, a few Siskin's and singles of
Corn Bunting and Twite. The few bushes I looked at were also
quiet with 1 Chiffchaff and 4 Firecrests. At Foreness there
were 110 Ringed Plovers at the roost and 2 Black Redstarts at
the sewage works. A few scans over the sea revealed a trickle of Gannets
heading East. (Simon Mount)
Thursday 29th October 2009 Pegwell
Bay
A grueller of a days
birding today - I was out from first light till almost 3.00pm and found very
little at all. The day started off with a real pea souper which didn't break
till well into the morning by which time I was almost suicidal with
boredom!! Luckily there were a few people to chat with or else I'd have been
home well before dinner time. I ran into a man who I haven't seen for years
and like me the years haven't been too kind on him? Mind you he's got more
hair than I've got so perhaps I'm not one to point the finger?? I'm talking
about Martyn (ex ponytail) Wilson - resident of the Grove ramp who still
does getaway driving in his spare time. He'd popped down to see the
Fan-tailed Warbler, which after many hours he eventually saw. It was
showing just south of the hide again as it did yesterday but the assembled
throng had to wait for ages for the little blighter to show up. I also spent
the afternoon waddling around the farm and cliff top with Ian Harding -
luckily the chat was better than the birding of else I'd have thrown myself
off the cliff! Oh yes ... the birds ... the only things I took note of were
2 Little Grebe, 18 Brent, 65 Wigeon, 800 Golden
Plover, 350 Lapwing, 500 Great Black-backed Gull, 1
Blackcap, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Corn Bunting, 2
Goldcrest and 3 Firecrest. Overhead movement was hard to see due
to the fog early on but I could hear a few Redwing, Chaffinch
and at least 1 Siskin overhead. I did actually see a flock of 5
Fieldfare, 1 Grey Wagtail and 2 Tree Sparrows all flying
west. There were good numbers of Blackbirds and a few Song Thrushes kicking
around the cliff top bushes at dawn. Top thing of the day - that nice shiney
Ferrari 599 that poodled down the road past the Viking Ship as I cycled down
to the country park. (Phil M)
Wednesday 28th October 2009 Pegwell Bay KWT Walk
Me
and my other half went on the KWT walk this morning, while we were gathering
on the car park I joked about how cool it would be if we got to see the Fan
Tailed Warbler. We hadn't been standing by the hide for very long when a
figure appeared in the undergrowth gesturing and pointing, it was (Phil M)
and thanks to him me and about twenty others got very good views of the
Fan Tailed Warbler. (Mick Shrimpfarmer)
Wednesday 28th October 2009 North
Foreland
A few birds noted moving overhead
including Siskins, Starlings and Chaffinches - all in small
numbers. I did have 15 Skylarks, 3 Tree Sparrows, 2 Reed
Buntings and a single Grey Wagtail. The bushes were very quiet
with a single Chiffchaff, the usual 2 Stonechats at Joss Bay
and 5 Firecrests. (Simon Mount)
Wednesday 28th October 2009 Pegwell Bay
A splendid
lunch-time visit to Pegwell, apparently a National Nature Reserve and Site
of International Importance superbly mismanaged by KWT on behalf of Natural
England. I was afforded glorious views of bait-diggers just of the edge of
the salt marsh from the Hoverport right across to the river; particularly
fine views could be had right in front of the hide which was indeed
fortunate. Oh, I almost forgot to mention the birds…….. well a National
Nature Reserve isn't about wildlife or is it? (F Solly)
Wednesday 28th October 2009 Pegwell
Bay
The forecast cloudy morning was in fact
an almost non cloudy morning which was a little disappointing. As I wheeled
my bike out of the house just before 06.30 a few Redwings and Fieldfares
went over as did a few (?) Crossbills - they went unseen as they chipped
away overhead in the poor light. I watched for the first three hours of
daylight around the farm and cliff top - there was a 'bit' of visible
migration (but not much) and very few grounded migrants. I did come across 2
Firecrest and a single Ring Ouzel on the cliff top but
otherwise the bushes were as dead as a long dead Dodo. A few finches,
Thrushes and Skylarks moved west - also another Woodlark went over
the farm (which may have been in one of the fields as it was quite low when
I first saw it) at 9.37 and five minutes later I saw presumably the same one
again as one was seen circling around before heading off west. I locked my
bike up down on the country park at about 09.30 and wandered up towards the
hide but was put off by a large gathering of birders who were congregated on
the main path. To avoid them I walked through the scrub behind the hide
where I flushed the Fan Tailed Warbler up into one of the low bushes.
It showed well for about five minutes before diving into the salt marsh just
south of the hide - it called for a minute or so and wasn't seen again even
though I stood around the area for another hour. At least Mick
Shrimpfarmer got on the bird at last - he was amongst the large gathering (a
KTNC guided walk) as it turned out! By mid morning the weather was quite
ridiculous for a day only four days short of November. Flocks of Starlings
flew about overhead taking insects like they do in the summer, whilst loads
of Dragonfly's and other insects flew about taking advantage of the Indian
summer weather. Hundreds of Harlequin Ladybirds were on the wing too - they
were continually hitting me in the face or landing on me ... driving me up
the wall if I'm honest. The cycle path is full of them too. The birding
around the bushes is absolutely awful - its pretty much like birding in the
winter as there is nothing other than the obvious to be seen. If you don't
want to see common Finches or Reed Buntings then go somewhere else as that's
all that's about at the moment. Its been hard to find a Chiffchaff or a
Blackcap around the bushes lately. The mud flat was suitably uninspiring and
even though the weather was lovely I'd had enough by 11.00 so I came home. I
did see a Common Buzzard circling inland of the country park at 10.30
- otherwise there was virtually naff all going on. My notes for the day were
5 Little Egret, 8 Brent, 55 Wigeon, 800 Golden
Plover, 400 Lapwing, 54 Sanderling, 5 Bar-tailed Godwit
and 4 Stonechat and vismig turned up 270 Redwing, 67
Fieldfare, 38 Greenfinch, 115 Chaffinch, 3 Brambling,
17 Redpoll, 20 Siskin, 2 Grey Wagtail and 39 Skylark
all flying west. (Phil M)
Wednesday 28th October 2009
Sandwich Bay area
A quick look around the Elms and Gullies this morning bird of note: 6
Siskins, 3 Redpolls, 5 Chaffinches, a dozen or so Great
& Blue Tits 4 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Great
Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 5 Blackbirds, 4
Fieldfares, 3 Redwings 1 Song Thrush and the normal
Corvidae around the area, (Gadget)
Tuesday 27th October 2009 Westgate
Thanet
Couldn't get out today but from my
garden from 13:30 - 14:00 and a second spell 15:00 - 16:00 had the following
Vis-Mig heading West. 3,079 Redwing, 554 Fieldfare, 3
Mistle Thrush, 3 Song Thrush, 2 Blackbird, 1 Ring Ouzel,
21 Siskin, 18 Woodpigeon, 1 Mipit and a Sparrowhawk
that probably was impressed with the gourmet selection available in every
direction. The largest single flock of Redwing was 750 birds, but the
drawback of vis-mig alone is that with birds in all directions & varying
heights these numbers represent the minimum in a short space of time and
I've heard thrushes calling constantly overhead all evening. (Chris Solly)
Tuesday 27th October 2009 Pegwell
Bay
I started off at
first light and headed for the cliff top area hoping for a bit of vismig.
Conditions looked okay but the birds weren't playing ball today and I saw
very little at all. I stayed around up there for about an hour and a half
walking the farm and hover pad but other than a light scattering of finches,
which included a flock of 8 Crossbill and a few Thrushes - the only things
of note were the first Corn Bunting of the autumn, about 800 Wood
Pigeons west and a Firecrest in the farm cypress trees. A few more
Goldcrests were around today too but still poor numbers overall plus 2
Ring Ouzels dropped in onto the hover pad just as I was about to leave..
I got to the country park around 8.00 and after a quick look at the mud flat
and a few of the bushes I started to notice vast numbers of Thrushes moving
s/west inland so I set up on the highest bit of ground I could find and
watched the skies from there. Between 09.00 and 11.00 I counted at least
16,000 thrushes as they went s/west on a line between the west side of
Ramsgate/Manston heading inland of Richborough. At one point I estimated
there to be well over 1000 birds in view in about three groups on one scan
alone. Most of the birds were Redwing but I saw in excess of 2000 Fieldfares
in amongst them which is the most I've ever seen at Pegwell. I stayed until
nearly 12.00 when the cloud started to break up and the movement slowed
down. They were still moving when I left but in far smaller amounts. After
getting home I put the kettle on and had a quick bite to eat then whilst out
in the garden looking through my moth traps the cloud thickened and the
thrushes started to pour through again. The birds were very low even flying
through the gardens in-between the houses giving fantastic views - a flock
of 200 Fieldfare flew right overhead at about 50 feet at one point. I
quickly took my moth photos then popped back down for another look - I got
about 20 minutes of cloudy weather before the sun broke through but in that
time another 2000+ Redwing and about 1000 Fieldfare were seen. Quite a lot
of Lapwing arrived during the day too. I counted 840 sitting out on the mud
early morning but around 11.30 something spooked the birds whilst I saw up
on the cliff top and there were at least 3000 birds flying around over the
bay. Probably the most unusual thing I saw today was as I scanned the
horizon from the farm during the late morning I spotted a distant falcon -
it looked a bit like a Hobby and I must admit to panicking as I tried to get
a view of it through the scope hoping beyond hope that it could have been
this Elanora's Falcon that was spotted at Saint Margaret's a few days back.
Luckily after missing it about 4 times through the telescope I eventually
got on the bird as it flew along the main road opposite me - it was a
Hobby! I've certainly never seen one so late - let's face it it'll be
November in less than a week! This is far and away the latest ever Pegwell
record ... I wonder what the latest date for Hobby is? This can't be far off
surely? Other 'bits' of note for today came in the shape of a flyover
Woodlark - south over the country park at 10.30, the Cetti's Warbler
which was singing on the country park plus single 1st winter
Mediterranean and Yellow Legged Gulls out on the mud. My
counts/notes for the day were 2 Little Grebe, 3 Little Egret,
52 Wigeon, 4+ Sparrowhawk, 1 Peregrine, 7 Bar-tailed
Godwit, 1480 Golden Plover, 35 Turnstone, 220 Dunlin,
37 Sanderling, 6 Stonechat, 2 Blackcap, 2 Firecrest,
22 Goldcrest, 100 Chaffinch etc. Overhead/vismig included 4
Swallow, 17,800 Redwing, 3000 Fieldfare, 160 Chaffinch,
6 Brambling, 6 Siskin, 22 Redpoll, 17 Crossbill
and c20 Reed Bunting. (Phil M)
Monday 26th October 2009 Pegwell
Bay
I watched from 07.30 until about 12.00
today. I started off watching a little bit of vismig that was going through
the cliff top (not literally ... perhaps 'past' would have been a better
choice of word?) then after a look around the bird free bushes watched from
the country park on and off all morning. Other than a few finches over that
included 29 Redpoll, 12 Siskin and 2 Crossbill the only
thing of any note was a singing Cetti's Warbler that was doing a tour
around the country park all morning. My counts/notes were 5 Little Egret,
3 Brent, 40 Mallard, 47 Wigeon, 4 Teal, 1
Merlin, 1 Peregrine, 1160 Golden Plover, 115 Grey
Plover, 680 Lapwing, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Redwing,
8 Stonechat, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap and 6
Goldcrest. A few Redpolls were landing on the country park and
about 45 Chaffinches flew west early on. (Phil M)
Sunday 25th October 2009
N/Foreland, N/down Park & R/ Cemetery
The extra hour meant that we were out,
and about, by 06.50hrs - enjoying the very pleasant autumn sunshine. First
stop was Elmwood Avenue, where we spent quite a while walking the cycle
track and cliff top in a vain search for the Dartford Warbler. A couple of
Stonechat, a nice flock of Long-tailed Tits and a handful of
alba/Pied Wagtails provided distraction from the ever present
Robins, Dunnocks and Blue Tits. Overhead, there were a few
Chaffinch, Meadow Pipit and a single Siskin. Onwards to
the park where birds were conspicuous by their absence, we found just 3
Chiffchaff and a female Blackcap. A few crests were high in the
canopy, where they remained very elusive. Finally to the cemetery where,
again, the lack of birds was blatantly obvious. We found just 2
Firecrests before calling a day, nice weather though! (Gadget & Dylan)
Friday 23rd October 2009 Newington
Ramsgate
A Common Buzzard
flew south over the garden just before 1.00pm today. (Phil M)
Friday 23rd October 2009 North
Foreland
This morning a bit better with some
movement overhead. Birds seen heading South included :- 2 Reed Buntings,
16 Tree Sparrows, 4 Grey Wagtails, 15 Skylarks and 2
Redpolls. In the bushes around Joss Bay there were 2 Stonechats,
1 Firecrest, 3 Chiffchaffs and the star bird a Dartford
Warbler. (Simon Mount)
Friday 23rd October 2009 Grover Ferry
I
went to Grove Ferry / Stodmarsh today to pay my respects to the Great
Grey Shrike (as did just about everyone else!) and received an
unexpected bonus in the shape of a Red Kite (photo attached) which
circled over the Feast Hide at 10:50 AM before drifting off to the
northeast. (Mark Kilner)
Friday 23rd October 2009 St Margarets Cliffs
A
very enjoyable 3 hours this morning spent taking in the sunshine & wonderful
views between the Bluebirds cafe & Hope Point. Plenty of House Martins
& a few Swallows to begin with ,frequent sightings of up to 6
Stonechat, a Curlew flew from the direction of the golf course &
out to sea & a Kestrel clung to the Memorial. A Firecrest was
spotted in front of the cafe, as was a splendid Yellowhammer. A
Peregrine caused brief annoyance to the gulls as it headed down to the
Bay. No shortage of Robins but few Thrushes. I left just
before the black clouds chucked down some wet stuff around midday. (Ben
Ring)
Thursday 22nd October 2009 North
Foreland
Another very quiet day with nothing
overhead other than a few Grey Wagtails, Skylarks and a
Redpoll. Nothing on the sea of course and I could not face much of the
bushes. (Simon Mount)
Thursday 22nd October 2009 Stodmarsh NNR
In much better and
pleasanter conditions than Ben had yesterday the Great Grey Shrike
was showing well but only distant views, it was very mobile which gave good
flight views which also reviled it hovering on moor than one occasion, the
hovering was something I had not seen before It was quite fantastic to
watch, other bit noted were 8 Cetti's Warblers in song as i
made my way along the path, 30+ Long-tailed Tits within two flocks,
Blue Tits with a few Goldfinches, and 5 Swallows moving
overhead towards the Marsh Hide, a Marsh Harrier and Grey Heron
also few overhead towards Grove Ferry end (Gadget)
Wednesday 21st October 2009 Pegwell
Bay
I had a lay in today for the first time
in a few months so didn't arrive until the rather half hearted hour of
10.30. The weather was quite poor so I just hung around/in the hide for two
and a half hours then cycled home during the worst of the weather! The only
things I took note of were 6 Little Egret, 11 Brent, 29
Wigeon, 3 Teal, 1120 Golden Plover, 570 Lapwing,
102 Grey Plover, 66 Knot, 85 Curlew, 8 Bar-tailed
Godwit, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 280 Dunlin, 2 Sanderling,
28 Turnstone, 590 Oystercatcher, 2 Peregrine and c450
Common Gull. (Phil M)
Wednesday 21st October 2009 Stodmarsh NNR & Grove Ferry
A
walk around the reserve in less than pleasant conditions nevertheless had
some reward with single Grey Wagtail overflying Marsh Hide, the
Great Grey Shrike near the crossroads (Middle Drove) between Harrisons
Drove & Marsh Hide, a Kingfisher successfully despatching a fish up
on the river and my first Fieldfares (12) of the winter in the
treetops by the alder wood. One or 2 Redwings around as well. It was
noticeable that the Grey Heron population seems to have increased &
plenty of Mallard on the Stour. (Ben Ring)
Tuesday 20th October 2009 North
Foreland
Cold and quiet this morning. Overhead 2
Grey Wagtails and 3 Skylarks plus a few small flocks of
Starlings heading inland. A decent look at a few of the bushes revealed
4 Firecrests and a few Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests.
Overhead 5 Crossbills headed SW and a few Siskins. Nothing on
the sea. (Simon Mount)
Tuesday 20th October 2009 Pegwell
Bay
After a fruitless
half hour seawatch off the east pier first thing (1 Grey Plover - in
off, 1 Common Scoter - north and 3 probable Larks south) I had a
quick look along the cliff top, farm, hover port and finally the country
park where I got immensely bored by about 10.00 so came home early to write
this rubbish up on an e-mail, have a nice hot cuppa and cook my din dins. A
little bit of vismig was noticed moving west across the cliff top then the
mud flat was much as its been only with less wildfowl, Egrets, Wildebeest,
Lesser Crested Mud Octopuss etc. My counts for the session were 3 Little
Egret, 7 Brent, 4 Wigeon, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 820
Golden Plover, 436 Lapwing, 190 Dunlin, 3 Snipe,
45 Lesser BB Gull and 225 Great BB Gull plus there were a few
more Goldcrests calling from the windblown trees in the park and
along the cliff top/farm - not loads about ten in total? Westwards moving
passerines included 3 Redwing, 11 Skylark, 1 Grey Wagtail,
c50 Chaffinch, 6 Siskin, 11 Redpoll - four things and a
wotsit. (Phil M)
Monday 19th October 2009 Pegwell
Bay
A quiet session today with very few new
birds showing. I started off on the cliff top at 7.15 and after a mooch
around all the bushes between the farm and Stone lees and an hours vismig I
watched the tide until 11.30 when I felt a bit birded out and left. Quality
today was provided by another Lapland Bunting that I flushed from the
derelict garden on the cliff top early on plus a couple of flocks of
Crossbills over. The counts/notes for today were 10 Little Egret,
9 Brent, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Peregrine, 5 Bar-tailed
Godwit, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 116 Grey Plover, 1300
Golden Plover, 270 Lapwing, 60 Turnstone, 42 Knot,
260 Dunlin, 2 Snipe, 22 Lesser Black Backed Gull, 134
Great Black Backed Gull, 1 Sandwich Tern, 4 Stonechat,
50+ Meadow Pipit, 60 Chaffinch, 8 Redpoll, 2
Goldcrest, 6 Chiffchaff and 3 Blackcap whilst vismig
turned up 24 Swallow , 4 Redwing, 1 Fieldfare, 10
alba Wagtail, 16 Greenfinch, 75 Chaffinch, 70 Goldfinch,
27 Crossbill, 6 Siskin and 6 Redpoll. Most of the
overhead birds were heading west. (Phil M)
Monday 19th October 2009 North
Foreland
Not much in the bushes this
morning other than a few Chiffchaffs, Goldcrests and 2 Stonechats
but a few things flying overhead to keep me interested. Birds heading South
included 16 Swallows, 2 House Martins, 3 Grey Wagtails.
At 9:15 Francis had to head off back to the real world, not before we had
seen a juvenile Peregrine heading due East out to sea. Offshore a
drake Eider, 2 Common Scoter and a Fulmar. A few
Blackbirds and Redwings started moving overhead. I also saw 3
Grey Herons heading along the coast plus a further 2 at roost at
Northdown. Popping out in the afternoon a Common Buzzard was present
at George Hill Road. (Simon Mount)
Monday 19th
October 2009 Restharrow Scrape & Worth Marshes
Very
quiet this morning on the Scrape birds noted: 1 Jack Snipe, 8 Teal,
2 Moorhens, 7 Pied Wagtails, 12 Pheasants, 3 Meadow
Pipits, 5 Swallows, 1 Common Gull, 1 Great Black-backed
Gull and 2 Reed Buntings out on Worth Marsh; 60+ Starlings,
24+ Blackbirds, 5 Redwings, 16 Goldfinches, 9 Meadow
Pipits, 80+ Lapwings, 2 Grey Partridge, 8 Teal, 2
Mallard, 2 Stonechat 1 Marsh Harrier (juvenile male)
was being harassed by a few Crows & Rooks while a Kestrel
sat on a fence post by the gate, (Gadget)
Sunday
18th October 2009 Pegwell Bay
A lovely
morning weather wise today though I was pretty much scratching around for
things to look at. The passage has been a bit too good of late - it was back
to normal today with a little bit of vismig and very few grounded birds on
show. I started off on the farm/cliff top at 7.15 where there were a few
finches and thrushes on the move but hardly any by comparison with what's
been of offer of late. It was so clear overhead that no doubt that this had
put the mockers on things. After a look around all the bushes at the top end
I made my way down onto the country park where a violent attack of apathy
overtook me and I stopped even looking in the bushes well before I'd even
reached Stone Lees. Other than an increase in grounded Linnets and
Chaffinches amongst the Reed Buntings, Stonechats etc it was hard going on
the country park. I ended up just watching the incoming tide along with
whatever decided to fly over the country park. I did however get two
surprises during the morning - firstly when I 'flushed' (?) two Serins
from the car park north of the toilet blocks. I say I flushed them - I got
the impression that they were on top of the bushes as I approached a flock
of Crests and Long Tailed Tits - they whizzed off low overhead and flew
north west over the road towards the golf course. I went back and had a
couple of looks for them during the morning but couldn't relocate them
unfortunately. The second surprise was when the Fan tailed Warbler
put in an appearance for the first time in over three weeks. It showed up
behind where I was set up - in the scrub behind the bird hide where it was
originally in early September. It hung around there between 10.15 and about
10.30 sunning itself in Stonechat fashion atop the dead scrub and bushes. I
even took some photos it was showing so well. Even though it was around for
so long it only called twice which is probably why it hasn't been seen for
so long? Anyway - my counts/notes for the day included 2 Divers -
north, 2 Mute Swan, 31 Brent, 18 Wigeon, 3 Teal,
7 Pintail, 280 Dunlin, 1 Little Stint, 65 Knot,
600+ Golden Plover, 51 Grey Plover, 350 Lapwing, 2
Peregrine and 8 Little Egret plus overhead 21 Swallow, 43
Skylark, 15 Reed Bunting, 16 Redwing, 1 Fieldfare,
14 alba Wagtail, 45 Meadow Pipit, 40 Goldfinch, 25
Greenfinch, 16 Siskin, 8 Redpoll, 31 Crossbill, 95
Chaffinch and 1 Brambling. All I could find amongst the bushes
were a few Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, a handful of Goldcrests
and a Firecrest. (Phil M)
Sunday
18th October 2009 King George VI Park to Cliffsend
My first
session, for quite a while, was a very pleasant morning in the autumn
sunshine. KG VI Park held at least 9 Firecrest and 4 Chiffchaff
with a trickle of Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Meadow Pipit,
Brambling, Siskin and "alba" Wagtails. I also
had a few decked Redwings and a couple of flyover Grey Wagtails.
I then drove over to Westcliffe and walked the cliff top to Little Cliffsend
Farm. Very much the same, with Firecrest and Chiffchaff seen
steadily working their way along the coastal bushes in the direction
of Pegwell. I also noted a few other bits, including 14 Grey Partridge
in the horse paddocks, 7 Swallow, 2 Skylark and another
Grey Wagtail. My walk back towards the car was enlivened by the
discovery of 2 Black Redstart by the cliff top cafe - shame they
didn't co-operate with the camera! (Dylan)
Sunday
18th October 2009 Minnis Bay up to Coldharbour
A lovely crisp, sunny autumn morning beloved of those birders who don’t like
raising their binoculars too much. I walked from Minnis Bay up to
Coldharbour and back along the railway embankment. The only occasional
disturbances to my walk included 6 Crossbills W, a ringtail Hen
Harrier, 1 Kingfisher, 7 Siskins W, 2 Lesser Redpolls
W, 3 Brambling W, 750 Starlings W, 2 Snipe, 3 Curlew,
8 Stonechats and 55 Golden Plovers. (Tim H)
Saturday 17th October 2009 Manston
road Thanet
A Short-eared Owl over Manston
road at 10:00 heading SW. (Simon Mount)
Saturday 17th October 2009 St
Peters, Broadstairs Thanet
A Picture of a
Turtle Dove (Juvenile) that I took in my garden this Morning (17-10-09)
Location was St Peters, Broadstairs Thanet (Mark Milham)
Saturday 17th October 2009 Pegwell
Bay
Another lazy day
today as the bushes were a bit blown out so I ignored most of them and just
watched what was either going overhead or out on the mud during the incoming
tide. I set off just after 7.00am and was heading for the harbour but by the
time I'd got to Saint Lawrence it was already evident that there was a bit
of Thrush movement going on overhead - so I had a quick detour through
Nethercourt and watched from the farm as there was a bit of entertaining
vismig going on for about the first hour of daylight. Afterwards it slowed
down so much that I had a quick look around the bushes on the cliff
top/hoverport before watching from the country park until about 11.00am when
I got bored and headed off home. The early morning vismig included 1115
Redwing, 150 Fieldfare, 95 Chaffinch, 13 Brambling,
37 Greenfinch, 6 Siskin and a Crossbill heading west.
There were also a few Goldfinch going north plus a Firecrest
and a few Goldcrests kicking around the bushes up there. 125
Parakeets flew from Ramsgate down into Cliffsend with some clearly seen
heading inland towards Minster (Stour valley?) from the high vantage point.
From the country park I counted 8 Little Egret, 5 Gannet -
south, 103 Brent (50 north, 4 south and 49 present) - 3 Pintail,
73 Wigeon, 4 Common Scoter - north, 1 Marsh Harrier -
north, 1 Peregrine, 4 Avocet, 4 Bar-tailed Godwit, 700
Golden Plover, 400 Lapwing plus the combined total of birds
passing north overhead between the two areas watched this morning were 6
Redpoll, 430 Goldfinch and 22 Skylark. (Phil M)
Saturday 17th October 2009 Sea watches on Thanet Late News
16/10. Three Sea watches during the
course of the day, the first of which was with Gadget at North Foreland in a
north-westerly - truly appalling, the seawatch was poor as well. I then
checked the blown out bushes and confirmed that they were blown out! A
seawatch in a now fresher northerly at Fayreness from 10.30-11.30 produced a
few Gannets, Kittiwakes, Little Gulls, 24 Divers, I adult
Great Northern Diver in summer-ish plumage and a female Scaup. A
final seawatch in a much stronger wind after the cold front had moved
through from 1.30 - 4.00 produced much better movement that included; 3
Leach's Petrels, 3 Sooty Shearwaters, 1 Mediterranean
Shearwater, 10 Manx Shearwaters, 160 Gannets, 180
Kittiwakes, 55 Little Gulls, 2 Black-throated Divers and a
juv Sabine's Gull. Nice not to be part of the real world for the day.
(F Solly)
Friday 16th October 2009 Minnis
Bay
I sea-watched from 0930 to
12 noon today in the company of Mike Buckland and Chris Solly. Whilst it was
generally a bit slow we did see one scarce bird, a female Scaup,
which flew east. Other bits included 2 Manx Shearwaters E, 3
Bonxies W, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers E, 130 Little Gulls W
and 15 Kittiwakes E, plus a scattering of Brent Geese,
Wigeon, Common Scoter, Gannets and Red-throated Divers. (Tim H)
Friday 16th October 2009 Pegwell
Bay
I watched from two
vantage spots today firstly from the east pier between 07.15 and 08.00 then
after a quick check of a few (blown out) bushy areas on my way to the
country park where I stationed myself near the hide for a further three
hours. I should have stayed a bit longer as there were lots of Goldfinches
moving as well as a few 'bits' moving on the sea or landing inside the bay
offshore. My three quarter of an hour watching the sea off the harbour
earlier on was fairly quiet though I did see a nice close in drake Scaup
moving north with three Common Scoter. I haven't seen a Scaup in the area in
years. Otherwise all I saw were 2 Red-throated Divers and 1 Teal flying
south plus 5 Brent north, though there were a few distant Ducks
moving far out at sea which were too far out to identify. After leaving
the harbour I made it down into the bay for the incoming tide. The main
activity down there was made up by a constant movement of Goldfinches plus
the occasion flurry of Swallows plus a few bits out on the sea. The movement
consisted of 49 Brent - north plus another 44 in three groups which
flew west inland across the country park and golf course, c10 Gannet
- north, 1 Diver - north, 39 Common Scoter - north and c20
south, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 116 Swallows - north, 975
Goldfinch - north plus a few Linnet, Chaffinch and
Reed Buntings over. I also had a female Goldeneye, a female
Tufted Duck and a Red Breasted Merganser land on the sea in the
bay plus a small Grebe specie at 9.45 which flew in from the south, landed
on the sea just off Shellness, dived and I never saw it again. There were
also 2 adult Little Gulls flying about offshore. My counts of the
wildfowl/waders present were 55 Brent, 67 Shelduck, 160
Mallard, 67 Wigeon, 5 Pintail, 3 Gadwall, 34
Teal, 1 Avocet, 690 Oystercatcher, 245 Curlew, 9
Bar-tailed Godwit, 47 Grey Plover, 480 Golden Plover, 350
Lapwing, 7 Ringed Plover, 7 Ringed Plover, 20
Turnstone, 80 Knot, 14 Sanderling, 320 Dunlin, 6
Snipe and about 100 Redshank. Other stuff included singles of
Merlin, Sandwich Tern, Firecrest plus a few Goldcrests
and Chiffchaffs. (Phil M)
Friday 16th October 2009 North Foreland
Sea
watching from North Foreland this morning was slow; the most notable bird
was 400+ Goldfinches moving along the cliff top, other bit out at sea
13 Brent Geese, 16 Oystercatchers, 5
Kittiwakes,
and 1 Diver sp, 5 Cormorants, 15 Great Black-backed Gulls,
1 Red-breasted Mergansers and a few Gannets, there was a
Sparrowhawk and Kestrel overhead just inland. (Gadget)
Thursday 15th October 2009 Pegwell
Bay
Another early start today saw me walking
the cliff top just after first light where I saw a flock of 10 Crossbill
(east - the first ones I've seen up there) plus a Hawfinch which went
low west and flew over paddocks and the farm at about 7.10. I ended up
staying around the farm for almost three hours as every time I thought the
vismig had ground to a halt another flock of finches would pass by and keep
me in the area. The vismig never really got going at all - just the
occasional flock of Thrushes, Chaffinch plus quiet a few Brambling today. I
went back up there about 1.00pm and stayed for another hour as the cloud had
moved in again. There were still a few finches and thrushes moving - I
probably would have been better off staying up there all day as there was
very little going on down on the country park and Stone Lees. There was a
little bit of Sparrowhawk migration this morning - I had at least 6
fly north over the country park then a group of 4 fly west on my second go
at vismig from the farm during the early afternoon. I also saw a group of 5
Little Gulls flying from inland - high up over the country park
whilst raptor watching! My notes for the day were: 8 Little Egret,
107 Brent inc 65 south, 66 Shelduck, 60 Wigeon, 13
Teal, 1 Peregrine, 400 Golden Plover, 500 Lapwing,
30 Turnstone, 420 Dunlin, 800 Starling - west, 215
Redwing - west, 1 Fieldfare - west, 1 Ring Ouzel - west,
40 Song Thrush - west, 15 Blackbird - west, 4 Rock Pipit,
6 Stonechat, 20 Chiffchaff, 6 Blackcap, 12 Goldcrest,
1 Firecrest, 68 Greenfinch - west, 280 Chaffinch -
west, 42 Brambling - west, 73 Goldfinch - west, 24 Siskin
west plus 20 north, 4 Redpoll - west, 12 Reed Bunting - west,
10 alba Wagtail - west, 2 Grey Wagtail - west, 20 Skylark
- west, 40 Meadow Pipit - north and west and 14 Crossbill - 10
east and 4 west. I could hear a Cetti's Warbler contact calling just
inside the north gate at Stone Lees. On Tuesday - the day when I missed all
the Thrushes by standing in wrong spot it turned out that Ben had 7 - 8000
Redwings fly west at the Stone Lees end that morning. Talk about rubbing
salt in the wound? He also had 100+ Redwing and few Brambling over Stone
lees today. (Phil M)
Thursday 15th October 2009
Sandwich Bay Area
A few hours over at Sandwich Bay this morning, a walk around by the Elms
and down Waldershare Avenue, looking for Firecrest & Goldcrest both were
observed Goldcrest numbers around 25 with only 2 Firecrest,
news of 2 Jack Snipe on the Restharrow Scrape had me sitting in the
hide hope in they would come closer as to get a photo they didn't
other bit on the Scrape were 6 Teal, 2 Moorhen, 7 Pied
Wagtails, 9 Meadow Pipits, 3 Reed Bunting, 2 Stonechat,
1 Pheasant, 70 Starlings, with Crows, Rooks and
Jackdaws. (Gadget)
Wednesday 14th October 2009 Pegwell
Bay
All excited I jumped out of bed (not
literally) got myself ready for the big day - as I just knew Pegwell would
be swarming with stuff today. The alarm bells should have been ringing as in
the preceding 30 minutes of darkness as I fooled around with the moth traps
in the back garden listening to what was going on overhead I didn't hear a
single Redwing, though the gardens were full of Robins and Blackbirds
chattering away all over the place. The ground was dry in the garden but on
my manic cycle down to the bay as I got to the roundabouts at the top of the
hill the road was wet!! Yippee ... I thought ... its been raining. To cut a
long story short within the next thirty minutes all boyish enthusiasm was
killed by a total lack of birds plus an absolute soaking to boot! I was
still hopeful - thinking that perhaps when it dried out there might have
been something good about. There wasn't. Don't think I'm moaning as its been
really good birding lately - it was just such a surprise. Even then I did
see a nice flock of 19 Pink Footed Geese flying n/east at dawn plus
there were single Ring Ouzels on the cliff top and on the hover port
so it could have been worse. Numbers of wildfowl and waders have increased -
especially the waders today but the vismig was mainly Starlings, Chaffinch
and Goldfinch - all the other autumn passerine vismig was in very low
numbers. The counts/notes for today from dawn until mid afternoon included 1
Diver sp - south, 5 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Greylag -
north, 320 Brent (70 south), 450+ Wigeon (c200 south), 4
Pintail, 44 Teal, 55 Common Scoter - south, 1 Common
Buzzard - circling inland, 4+ Sparrowhawk, 1 Peregrine, 7
Avocet, 18 Bar-tailed Godwit, 35 Grey Plover, 800+
Golden Plover, 350 Lapwing, 22 Ringed Plover, 125 Knot,
8 Sanderling, 940 Dunlin, 6 Snipe, 90 Redshank,
1 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull, 40 Lesser BB Gull, 1800
Starling - north and east, 100+ Meadow Pipit, 8 Rock Pipit,
4 Stonechat, 29 Blackcap plus there was a rather showy
Cetti's Warbler singing quite a lot in the s/east corner of Stone lees.
The other vismig was made up of birds mainly passing west today - hardly
anything was going north - they were 52 Redwing, 4 Fieldfare,
16 alba Wagtail, 32 Skylark, another 100+ Meadow Pipit,
350 Chaffinch, 270 Goldfinch, 9 Siskin, 1 Redpoll,
1 Yellowhammer and a flock of 9 Tree Sparrow which flew north
over the car park. I did hear some Crossbill calling at one point but
couldn't see them. (Phil M)
Wednesday 14th October 2009 King
George IV Park Ramsgate
A stroll up to the
coast in light easterly and drizzle in the hope of a rare but sadly not
today. A few things of note were seen but much of the same as has been
around the last few weeks. En route to the park 2 Firecrest in
Ramsgate Synagogue were new with a tit flock and a few thrushes etc.. A
quick look at the sea by Winterstoke steps produced a Little Gull and
3 Brent Geese north plus a Chiffchaff on the clifftop. Into
the dog walker city and birds in and around included 6 Firecrests,1
Goldcrest, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Black Redstart and late
Willow Warbler was a surprise near the north end and single Great
Spotted Woodpecker, all the rest was either at sea or over head; 9
Brambling, 5 Siskin, 5 Linnet, 138 Chaffinch, just
4 Meadow Pipit, 1 Rock Pipit, 5 Skylark and c450
Starlings in off the sea inland and at sea; 22 Brent Geese (4 N,
18 S), 8 Common Scoter with 8 Teal south and single Gannet.
On leaving the park a Wheatear had arrived on the clifftop (Craig
Sammels)
Wednesday 14th October 2009
Dumpton Thanet
Around 07-30hrs this morning while emptying the moth trap, amongst
normal garden birds i.e. 7 Blue Tits, 4 Great Tits, 8
Goldfinches,1 Robin 2 House Sparrows, 2 Blackbirds
with Redwings flying over head a Black Redstart dropped into
the garden and started to look for food and finding a (juv) Bush Cricket
amongst other bits. (Gadget)
Tuesday 13th October 2009 Pegwell
Bay
Another funny old day
- although I had a really good day out today it always seemed like I was in
the wrong spot. I started off on the cliff top just before first light
proper as I'd heard lots of Redwings passing over the garden at
6.00am when I went out to have a look at the moth traps. The Redwing passage
was a non event as it turned out as when I got to the cliff top there were
very few moving at all. I saw less than 100 during the two hours I spent up
that part of the area and not much else was moving or was grounded even
though I was expecting a bit of action today given the weather conditions.
It was a bit clear overhead but even then it was hard to find anything. 70
Brent's flew east out of the bay, I flushed a Ring Ouzel off
the cliff top twice (seeing it for a combined two seconds as it flew off and
hid calling its head off) and there was a Firecrest up there too.
Oops nearly forgot - a single Pink Footed Goose flew east over the
paddocks early on as well! Anyway - by about 09.00 after checking the hover
pad I went down onto the country park where I spent much of the time
standing around watching the mud flat and the vismig as few finches, Larks,
Mipits etc were passing over. Whilst chomping on a meat pie scanning through
my scope I noticed there were 'loads' of Thrushes moving - stacks of them.
The only problem was they were a quarter of a mile away back up on the cliff
top/farm where I'd been earlier on. There were so many moving that in the
end it got the better of me and I packed up and went for a closer look -
setting up on the farm approach road. After a few minutes the movement
stopped completely - well almost. The occasional flock of Fieldfare and
small groups of Redwing but nothing like I'd been watching earlier on from
the other end of the area! I just couldn't be bothered to go back down to
the country park again so I watched from up there. I saw a Buzzard
circling over towards the airport - then two more which I presume were
migrants that flew strongly south down towards Dover. Then at 1.00 a Red
Kite flew in heading quite low initially - northwards over the farm and
ended up having two goes at heading off. It eventually gained height and
slowly went off over the west side of Ramsgate about ten minutes later.
Scott, who was hiding from me (can't blame him) over near the Shrike spot
came across for a chat about the Kite and he had lots of interesting
information about the Thrushes. He'd been watching for most of the day and
had seen thousands of them from as early as 08.00am!! The reason I wasn't
seeing them was because they were inland away from my vantage spot so
presumably all I had been seeing earlier on was the edges of the movement?
From the country park I could see beyond the cliff top and see all these
birds moving at great distance on the opposite side of the farm. I asked him
how many he'd seen (you know me I want a count!) and he comes out with "Oooh
thousands?" Now this was a little vague for my manic recording brain so I
said "How many thousands?" His reply was dry and once again a vague "Oooh
...lots." I did want to ask How many lots - but I thought this might come
across a little pushy! He did have some more info of use - as he'd seen
about 45 Crossbills which when added to my 60 birds (groups of 29, 23
and 8) added up to an area best ever in the whole universe of Pegwell
Crossbill counts - err umm ... well you do the maths! I haven't got a
hundred plus fingers or else I'd write it out here! If you want sense here
readers then you'd best scroll down to another entry. He'd also seen a
flyover Ring Ouzel from the Shrike spot (we'll christen it the shrike
spot from now on eh?) plus 8 more Brambling and 11 Tree Sparrow etc.
Whilst we were chatting we saw a funny Bunting fly over. After hearing a
couple of weird calls I got a view of the bird as it flew over the farm -
but the call didn't fit the bird as it looked like a Lapland Bunting
and part of the call did too but the 'choo' bit of the call sounded a bit
like Grey Wagtail or a Yellowhammer - perhaps slightly softer? That said it
was neither of these species as the other call was spot on for Lapland.
Perhaps I didn't hear it properly - we were yakking when it came through?
That's it I think - other than the fact I saw another inland flock of
Brent's flying north along the Haine Road! The counts/notes for the day were
2 newly arrived Little Grebe, 220 Brent, 215 Wigeon, 58
Teal, 3 Pintail, 1 Shoveler, 80 Grey Plover, 660
Golden Plover, 7 Ringed Plover, 250 Lapwing, 415
Dunlin, 10 Sanderling, 32 Knot, 3000+ Black Headed Gull,
20 Chiffchaff, 6 Blackcap, 4 Stonechat and there were
well over 100 Meadow Pipits scattered around the area. Overhead birds
passing mainly west or north were 20 Swallow, 1 House Martin,
1200 Redwing (my count not Scotts), 27 Fieldfare, 7 Mistle
Thrush, 25+ Song Thrush, 18 alba Wagtail, 2 Grey
Wagtail, 50 Skylark, 120 Meadow Pipit, 8 Jackdaw,
28 Greenfinch, 34 Chaffinch, 10 Brambling, 40+
Linnet, 580 Goldfinch, 144 Siskin, 3 Redpoll and
about 20 Reed Bunting. Tony Swandale saw two more Ring Ouzel
in Stone Lees too. (Phil M)
Tuesday 13th October 2009 Sandwich
Bay & Worth Area
As I arrived at Obs Car-park Steve Ray and others were look into bushes
on the side of the road, There was a Radde's Warbler showing now and
again briefly, before I had arrived Steve Ray Had great views and has taken
some good photos which he said he would post on Birdguides, out over to
Worth Marsh birds noted: 100+ Goldfinches, 30+ Meadow Pipits,
4 Skylarks, 2 Stonechats, 2 Common Snipe, 1 Kestrel,
and 1 Marsh Harrier, there were all so a few Redwings flying
over Worth Marshes 32+, the Radde's Warbler was still showing along the road
side when i left at 15-00hrs. (Gadget)
Monday 12th October 2009 Pegwell
Bay
I watched until 11.45 when I had to give
up due to my back giving me a load of gyp!! The morning was spent watching
from around the country park where there was a bit of movement both offshore
and overhead. I didn't even bother going up onto the cliff top due to the
stiff northerly. The passerines were on the whole taking a rather weird
route, flying pretty much straight north after coming from inland though
some of the finches were coasting it too which was annoying given my rather
distant vantage point. The flocks I picked out through the telescope were
all Goldfinch - though many flocks of birds went unidentified. There were
lots of Brent passing through too with many landing out on the mud (for a
rest/feed?) after flying against the stiff wind. Then many of the birds
instead of heading back out to sea as they would normally they headed off
overland inside of the harbour! This is very strange behaviour but it did me
a favour as about 1.00pm when I went outside to look in my moth traps a
flock of about 50 flew north over the garden - I've never seen them here
before though I have on occasion seen them cutting the corner, flying
overland as they head up the north sea. Other news included a vast increase
in Duck and small waders with 11 Avocet and many Wigeon in off plus a
weird looking pied Crow which turned out to be just a Carrion Crow (bad 70's
comedy film?) with a grey back and wings. The pick of the passerines were a
single Lapland Bunting, 65 Siskin, another 54 Crossbill
(flocks of 37 or 38 and 17) and 7 early Twite - they don't normally
turn up here until November. One other bit of Pegwell info was that I had a
chat to Ben today and he had an extra 55 Crossbill (heading n/west whilst I
was still watching off the cliff top) so the day total was a staggering 95
birds. He also saw another 70 Siskin too so there were 378 of those
yesterday too which isn't too shabby. Anyway - my counts for the morning
were 799 Brent, 500 Wigeon, 125 Teal, 13 Pintail,
2 Red Breasted Merganser, 2+ Sparrowhawk, 1 Peregrine,
37 Grey Plover, 640 Golden Plover, 10 Snipe, 490
Dunlin plus overhead 1 Swallow, 57 Skylark, 32 Reed
Bunting, 55 Meadow Pipit, 420 Goldfinch and 59 Linnet.
(Phil M)
Monday 12th October 2009 Minnis
Bay Thanet
Sea-watched from 07:00 until
10:30. Only birds East were Great Crested Grebe 1, & Scoter 3,
all other sightings were heading West. Steady flow of Gannet's 111,
Red-Throated Diver 1, Kittiwakes 64, Brent Goose 68,
Leach's Petrel 1, Wigeon 2, Juvenile Sabine's Gull 1,
Bonxies 14, ( some really nice close views ) Goldfinch 21,
Arctic Tern 5, juvenile Pomarine Skua 1, Common Tern 13,
Sandwich Tern 5, Arctic Skua 1, and a single Little Gull.
(Chris Solly & Roger Thompson)
Sunday 11th October 2009 Pegwell
Bay
I watched the area
from dawn until dinner time. I'd have liked to have stayed a bit longer as
birds were still moving when I left but I had other commitments today. I
watched the visible migration up on the cliff top for the first couple of
hours and then ended up down on the country park watching the skies from
down there. I did have a quick look around most of the bushes and scrub but
there wasn't much going on amongst the grounded stuff - all the action was
going on overhead. My counts for today were 10 Little Egret, 28
Brent, 60 Mallard, 10 Wigeon, 30 Teal, 2
Sparrowhawk, 1 Peregrine, 60 Grey Plover, 350 Golden
Plover, 150 Lapwing, 6 Snipe, 60 Dunlin, 5
Stonechat, 40 Chiffchaff, 10 Blackcap, 2 Firecrest,100+
Meadow Pipit, 100 Goldfinch plus there was a Yellowhammer
in Stone Lees. Overhead included 13 Swallow, 45 House Martin,
18 Redwing, 18 Song Thrush, 1 Fieldfare, 42 alba
Wagtail, 5 Grey Wagtail, 48 Skylark, 130 Meadow Pipit,
3 Greenfinch, 71 Chaffinch, 2 Brambling, 80 Linnet,
910 Goldfinch, 308 Siskin, 13 Redpoll, 40 Crossbill
and 11 Tree Sparrow. Most of the passerines were heading west over
the cliff top or northwest over the country park/Stone Lees. The Crossbill
flocks were a 20 and 16 which I saw plus Roly had another group of 4 birds
which almost landed on the Country Park before thinking better of it and
carrying on with their journey. (Phil M)
Sunday 11th October 2009 Ramsgate
Cemetery
Late News from yesterday as i headed
home feeling unwell with the Highlights being; 3 Firecrest and 2
Chiffchaff also over head 4 Grey Wagtail, 4 Siskin, 11
Redwing, 7 Meadow Pipit, 8 Chaffinch and 3 Swallow.
Back to today, more things seem to be moving over head for this site anyway
counts were 2 Crossbill, 6 Siskin, 1 Redpoll, 31
Meadow Pipit, 2 Brambling, 4 Jackdaw, 3 Skylark, a
Swallow, 14 Goldfinch, a Grey Wagtail, 7 Redwing,
and 9 Song Thrush. I bumped into Phil Beraet yesterday and after some
chit-chat like you do, told him I'm sure i heard a Yellow-browed Warbler calling
on the west side very briefly but was to distant to be 100% and couldn't
find it after a brief look. Well Phil joined me again today to confirm that
it was one and was showing well yesterday afternoon. We walked most of the
open areas as things seem to be ''vis mig'ing'', and we checked the warbler
site to see if it was still around but it felt it had moved on, then the
Yellow-br started to call loudly and showed well for 5min at 9.20am,
nice. (Craig Sammels)
Saturday 10th October 2009 North
Foreland and Foreness
This morning a trickle of Meadow
Pipits, Siskin's, Chaffinches and Goldfinches overhead. A few
Swallows along the clifftop along with a Wheatear and a few
Chiffchaffs. One Firecrest and in the afternoon a few Redwings
moving West. At Foreness the high tide roost held 108 Ringed Plovers.
Unfortunately the waders were constantly disturbed by endless dog walkers.
On the putting green a good flock of 200 Goldfinches. (Simon Mount)
Saturday 10th October 2009 Pegwell
Bay
A quick look off the cliff top to see if
anything was going on turned into a two and a half hour 'quick look' as
there was a bit of vismig going on up there just after dawn. The westerly
movement was mainly made up of Thrushes and Chaffinch but it did include a
few semi unusual 'bits' which included singles of Yellowhammer,
Snow Bunting and a rather nice Woodlark which I heard call once
as it flew over the horse paddocks. Out on the waters edge another Pale
Bellied Brent was feeding on the waters edge amongst a flock of c25 dark
bellied - they flew off south eventually. I also kept one eye on the sea -
setting my scope up near the paddocks as I watched the vismig but it was
very quiet out there with only 2 flocks of Brent - c40 birds south, 1
Gannet - north plus 1 Arctic Skua and 2 Sandwich Terns
passing south offshore during a two hour watch. The wind was in completely
the wrong direction of course but the visibility out at sea was quite good
for such a cloudy day - I could easily see France even with the naked eye
from up there. After a look around the hover port (where there were 2
Wheatear) I spent a couple of hours checking out the country park and
didn't see a single migrant Thrush down there but on my way home at about
11.30/45 there were still a few Thrushes flying up along the cliff top
moving inland. It was like two different days by comparison and only about
half a mile between the two spots. The country park did produce a couple of
'extra added bits' in the shape of a flock of 20 Siskin, 9
Crossbill (a 2 and a 7) plus a very late Yellow Wagtail. There
was still a trickle of Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting etc going on down
the bottom end but as I say no Thrushes or flyover Chaffinch - though there
were a few more decked Chaffinches around the bushes than there have been of
late. The mud flat was much as it's been of late and the bushes were a
little bit blown out after the first hour of daylight. So the other
counts/notes were as follows: Grounded stuff - 6 Little Egret, 85
Brent - 40 south and 45 present, 35 Wigeon, 3 Pintail, 10
Teal, 4 Sparrowhawk, 1 Peregrine, 40 Grey Plover,
700 Golden Plover, 420 Lapwing, 50 Dunlin, 11 Snipe,
10+ Redwing, 100+ Blackbird, 20+ Song Thrush, 15
Chiffchaff, 6 Blackcap, 1+ Rock Pipit, 60+ Meadow Pipit and
30+ Reed Bunting plus overhead (mainly all west and n/west) 240
Redwing, 2 Ring Ouzel, 10+ Blackbird, 70 Song Thrush,
4 Fieldfare, 1 Mistle Thrush, 28 Alba Wagtail, 10
Greenfinch, 215 Chaffinch, 2+ Brambling, 3 Redpoll,
33 Siskin, 50 Goldfinch, 20 Linnet and 41 Reed
Bunting. One of the Ouzels was flushed rather than a flyover job - it
did head off west. The other one was in with a flock of Redwing high
overhead. I'm pretty sure I heard another one in the jungle behind the old
hide site too? (Phil M)
Saturday 10th October 2009 Dumpton Gap Area
A quick look around Dumpton Gap this morning turned up very little 2
Great Black-backed Gulls, 7 Herring Gulls, 9 House Sparrows,
5 Starlings, 3 Redwings, 2 Pied Wagtails, 3 Rock
Pipits and a small flock of 6 Oystercatchers flew over the sea,
(Gadget)
Friday 9th October 2009 Pegwell
Bay
I watched from just after first light
until 2.00pm today - mainly focusing on the sea watching a decent southerly
movement of Brent along with a few other bits and pieces, mainly Gannets
plus a few Skuas etc. Unfortunately many of the birds were very distant and
I was only able to have a stab at identifying 3 of the Skuas though there
were a few more at such range that it just proved impossible. Later on in
the afternoon a few more Thrushes started to move - I saw a Fieldfare flying
south past the hover pad as I left just after 2.00 plus could hear Redwings
out in the garden when I got back. There were very few Thrushes early this
morning - I only saw 1 Fieldfare and 3 Redwing west over the cliff top then
another 6 Redwing decked in Stone Lees where I also booted out the first
Ring Ouzel of the autumn. Much of the area was blown out anyway so I
pretty much concentrated on vismig, the sea and the mud flat. Other
passerine visible migration was down to a few flocks of Goldfinch, a few
Siskin and a few flurries of Swallows. Barry Child joined me during the day
as we sat watching the sea chatting about old times. I haven't seen him in a
while - he's in fine fettle as always. Anyway - the counts for today were:
61 Gannet - south, 1045 Brent - south plus 100 present, 4
Pink Footed Geese - south, 1 Common Scoter - south, 25 Wigeon,
2+ Arctic Skua - south, 1+ Bonxie - south, 18 Kittiwake
- south, 2 adult Little Gull - south, 2+ Arctic Tern, c10
Sandwich Tern, 17 Knot, 60 Dunlin, 28 Grey Plover,
520 Golden Plover, 200 Lapwing, 2 Ringed Plover, 2
Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Fieldfare, 19+ Redwing, 1 Grey
Wagtail, 1 Stonechat, 180 Swallow - n/west, 220
Goldfinch - north, 3+ Siskin - north, 10 Chiffchaff and 1
Firecrest. I also saw a flock of grey Geese fly in off which I'm
pretty sure was an early group of 5 White-fronted Geese. (Phil M)
Friday 9th
October 2009 North Foreland
57
Gannets, 3 Great Skua (Bonxie), 3 Fulmars, 9 Great
Black-backed Gulls, lots of Herring Gulls, 3
Sandwich Terns,
5 Kittiwake,
2
Skua sp (Possible Arctic), 19 Brent Geese, 2 Kestrels, 1
Peregrine Falcon, 15 Meadow Pipits, 22 Goldfinches and
7 Pied Wagtails. (Gadget)
Thursday 8th October 2009
Northdown Park & Palm Bay
A day off work produced the rich haul of
a Yellow-browed Warbler showing well in the north-east corner of
Northdown Park from 9.30am-11.30am at least, a shedload of Chiffchaffs,
a couple of Blackcaps and not a whole lot else. There was, however, a
splendid adult Med Gull on the cliff-top at Palm Bay and there seemed
to be a decent movement of Brent Geese offshore - I counted 180-odd
in four flocks. (Dave Mairs)
Thursday 8th October 2009 Northdown
park
Had a stroll round before a drop of
dinner to see if anymore ''sibs'' were about as they seem to be a few around
the county today and was rewarded with a Yellow-browed Warbler on the
west side calling its head of at 3.30pm, not much else around just a hand
full of Chiffchaffs the odd Meadow Pipit over and a
Sparrowhawk. On getting home i see that a bird information service
saying that where are 2 Yellow-browed Warblers
in the park independent of my sighting. (Craig Sammels)
Thursday 8th October 2009 Margate
Harbour
High water, mid-afternoon, 4 Purple
Sandpipers roosting with Turnstones in a boat by the harbour wall
- in front of the cafe, unconvincing pic attached, taken with
punycam, (Philip Hurst)
Thursday 8th October 2009 Pegwell
Bay
A funny old day out today. It started
poorly with very little going on first thing. There were a few
Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps as you'd expect plus the occasional
thing flying over and luckily I put off coming home early as I have been
doing this past couple of days. After walking the entire area and having
seen nothing much I stopped off to keep and eye on a few bits and pieces
that were passing overhead plus whatever was out on the mud/sea. There was a
significant increase of wildfowl and waders plus overhead a small movement
of Lapwing and Starlings were heading north as were the odd flock of
finches. At 11.10 I noticed a bird flying north over the country park - I
pretty much knew what it was before I even lifted the bins - it was a
Glossy Ibis. It flew quite low all the way up over the car park then all
the way up to Manston. I made a couple of phone calls then after a few
minutes noticed a bird flying east over Manston towards Ramsgate well over a
mile away - I put the telescope on it (It was the Ibis again) and watched
the bird bank round and head back towards me. Unfortunately as it headed
south pretty much over Saint Augustine's golf course, it started to lose
height and I lost it to view behind the trees on the opposite side of the
country park between me and the bird. It may have landed over there as there
is a bit of water on the golf course or even on the larger pool of
Richborough power station which is ideal habitat for an Ibis? Anyway - other
bits today included a few Crossbills. Ben had a flock of 15 in Stone
Lees then I saw a flock of 15 (presumably the same ones?) flying north over
the country park. Phil Charlton saw two flocks - today. He did tell me how
many but as I write it's completely slipped my mind! The other highlights of
the day were 42 Siskin and 3 Redpoll (all north) plus I saw a
flock of 18 or 19 Pink-footed Geese flying s/east late morning then
at 11.45 saw a similar sized flock of Geese about a mile south of me land in
the marsh just inland of Pfizer's which were very likely the same group of
birds? My notes/counts for the day were as follows: 15 Little Egret,
73 Brent, 82 Shelduck, 100 Mallard, 115 Wigeon,
1 Pintail, 61 Teal, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2+ Peregrine,
1 Merlin, 290 Curlew, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 25 Grey
Plover, 500 Golden Plover, 370 Lapwing, 2 Ringed Plover,
28 Knot, 120 Dunlin, 6 Snipe, 2 Stonechat, 2
Redwing, 2 Goldcrest, 50 Chiffchaff, 25 Blackcap, 1
Garden Warbler and 1 Lesser Whitethroat. Passing north were 21
Swallow, 1150 Starling, 6 Alba Wagtail, 31 Skylark,
40 Meadow Pipit, 50 Linnet, 115 Goldfinch and 30
Reed Bunting. I did see a large Pipit (almost certainly the Richard's
Pipit) flying n/west earlier on in the day. Jason and Ben had it yesterday
in the 100 acre field so I would presume its the same bird that's hanging
around? It flew across the main road as viewed from Stone Lees where no
doubt it landed? (Phil M)
Thursday
8th October 2009 King George VI Park, Ramsgate
I
spent 45 minutes in the park up to 9.30am. In the sycamores behind
the toilet block a Yellow-browed Warbler seemed settled and
showed well. There were a couple of Common Redstarts but other than
that just 10 Chiffchaff, 4 Goldcrest and 2 House Martins.
(Nick Lever)
Wednesday 7th October 2009 Pegwell
Bay
Yet another soaking
wet session today so I knocked off early (giving myself a written warning
and only half pay) after checking all of the area as far south as half way
across the country park before bumping into Chris Solly and his mate who had
checked the other bits I hadn't yet got to. Chris' mate had seen a single
flyover Crossbill head east over the country park but other than 2
Stonechat plus a few Blackcap and Chiffchaff they hadn't
seen much at all. All I'd seen up till then was a Wheatear on the
hover pad, lots of grounded Meadow Pipits on the farm, hoverpad and
salt marsh (200+) - a flyover Grey Wagtail, a few more Chiffchaffs
and Blackcaps plus the Pale Bellied Brent which was on the
tideline up near the cliff top amongst a group of 9 other dark bellied
Brent. The P.B. Brent is a juvenile bird. The only other notes I made
for today was of 23 Wigeon sitting on the sea that I could see from
the cliff top. (Phil M)
Tuesday 6th October 2009 King
George IV Park/Cemetery Ramsgate
A mooch round the park from 7.50am for
just over an hour in showers didn't turn up a great deal but because of the
weather the number of pouch walkers were down so it was well worth the
visit! Anyway birds noted were; just 8 Chiffchaff, 26 Blackbirds
with small mobs of feeding Blue/Great Tits, over head just 2
Siskin, 18 Goldfinch, 1 Pied Wagtail and the odd
Meadow Pipit. On leaving the park a summer plumage Red-throated Diver
was busy feeding just offshore. On to the cemetery via the synagogue
(nothing there) turned up the 2 Firecrest still by the main entrance,
2 Chiffchaffs and the normal group of Jays etc, and over head
1 Fieldfare, 11 Redwing, 9 Meadow Pipit, 4 Siskin,
10 Goldfinch and 2 Chaffinch. (Craig Sammels)
Tuesday 6th October 2009 Pegwell
Bay
A dull old day with
not much going on. I watched from just before 7.00 and knocked off early
just after 10.00 am due to lack of enthusiasm/birds! I started off at the
cliff top/hover pad the watched the mud for a bit - then watched the country
park - then the mud for a bit - then the country park for a bit - then the
mud and so on and so on ... I did see two local scarcities - both Gooses ...
a Pale Bellied Brent and a Canada Goose! The hrota
flew in off the sea with about 10 dark bellied Brent - otherwise it was
dull, dull The Golden Plovers flocks were just that - Golden Plovers
and the only counts I took were of 1 Teal, 14 Wigeon, 210
Golden Plover, 46 Grey Plover, c40 Dunlin, 1 Bar-tailed
Godwit, 1 Peregrine, 30 Chiffchaff, 30 Blackcap, 2
Reed Warbler and 2 Stonechat. Overhead a few Goldfinches,
Alba Wagtails, 1 Grey Wagtail and a handful of Reed
Buntings were seen and about 100 Linnets flew west. Overall there
were also about 150 Meadow Pipits between the farm, hover pad and the
salt marsh and numbers of Rock Pipits and decked Reed Buntings continue to
rise. A dog walker said she'd seen the Fan tailed Warbler yesterday morning
- she described it quite well. The bird was seen in the scrub/bushes just
off the side of the main path about 50 yards south of the car park. (Phil M)
Tuesday 6th October 2009 River Stour Area
Birds noted this morning along the river 7 Cetti's Warbler, 6
Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcaps, 5 Reed Buntings, 9 Long-tailed
Tits, 5 Robin's and 3 Grey Heron, while out on the fields
7 Curlew were feeding, with 400+ mixed Herring Gulls &
Black-headed Gulls roosting, a flock of 22 Meadow Pipits flew
overhead and 5 Pied Wagtails were by the cattle feeders by the
gates, 7 Teal & 5 Mallard flew towards Pegwell and there was
an estimated count of 2000+ Starlings which gave me a fantastic
display for a few minutes, out over the back of the old power station.
(Gadget)
Monday 5th October 2009 Pegwell
Bay
Quite a bit going on today at the bay
from hell. I started off at dawn and headed off to the cliff top/farm after
a quick whizz around the hover port on my bike to get a feel of what (or
wasn't?) going on. It felt a bit birdy but there wasn't much going on early
doors other than a few Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and a single Coal Tit
amongst the grounded stuff whilst overhead the vismig was particularly
disappointing with just a hand-full of Pipits, Wagtails and Reed Buntings
plus the occasional small group of Finches flying over. The only non-daily
thing was a single Tree Sparrow which circled over the cliff calling
before flying back west the way it had come from. The rain started picking
up so I ended up heading off down to the country park so I could dive in and
out of the hide during the heaviest bits of today's weather. I had to take
cover after getting roughly half way through the country park by which time
it was evident there were quite a few new birds around. Only common
Warblers, Reed Buntings, Pipits etc but at least there was the potential of
something of a bit better quality. Anyway - during one of my dull and boring
stints sitting in the hide looking at nothing very much as the cloud and
rain poured in off the sea I received a text off Ben who reported he'd seen
a probable Lesser Golden Plover which had flown south amongst a small
group of Golden Plovers. This was very interesting as on Thursday I'd seen a
Golden Plover flying in amongst about 50 others which clearly showed a
darkish underwing. Ben wasn't aware of my sighting as I'd only told a couple
of other people as I found it incredulous that there may have been 2 rare
Golden Plovers at Pegwell in consecutive years. The thing that I'd seen on
Thursday actually landed for about 1 minute before flying off but
unfortunately although I'd seen it land (through my bins) I couldn't find it
through the telescope and when I moved along the path for a better angle the
whole flock got spooked and flew off! It was greyer and a bit more rakish in
flight - the underwings stood out really well too. In fact when it landed -
quite close to me too right in the edge of the salt marsh - it alighted head
on which showed the underwing really well. I stayed until 2.00pm and
although about 200 Golden Plovers did show the interesting thing didn't
unfortunately - though for much of the time the bay was underwater of course
given the midday tides. The mud flat birds were only the usual though there
were a few Gannets heading south out at sea. I also saw a close in
Bonxie (south) plus at least 1 Arctic Tern - a juvenile lingered
in the river mouth feeding but I did see a few more Commic Terns heading
south offshore. The wader/wildfowl counts were 11 Brent, 43 Wigeon,
1 Teal, 630 Oystercatcher, 70 Dunlin, 6 Knot, 42
Grey Plover, 200 Golden Plover, 70 Lapwing, 1 Ringed
Plover and 170 Redshank plus there were 22 Little Egret
and 2 Sandwich Tern. Inbetween bouts of watching the sea I did get
around to checking the rest of the area in-between the heaviest showers. On
my first venture out quite near the hide things got quite exciting for a
while when I noticed a Richard's Pipit flying right towards me! It
almost landed on main path near my raptor watching spot - it hovered at
about 30 feet legs dangling - but then continued flying south west right
down over the rest of the country park. At the time there was a rush of
small passerines making the most of the break in the weather and about five
minutes after watching the Richard's flying off I heard Lapland Bunting
but couldn't see it? I heard the call quite a few time before I noticed that
the call was coming from a presumed group of Mipits which were all as it
happened, Lapland Buntings - six in all. The biggest flock of Lapland
Buntings I've ever seen and given the previous few minutes quite exciting!!
They flew off south - heading low out over the salt marsh and out of sight.
I managed to check the rest of the country park before taking shelter in the
hide where I was forced into watching the sea and the twenty foot of the
point which was still exposed. I eventually got all the way around Stone
Lees during the afternoon too. There was a 2nd winter Yellow Legged Gull
over on Shellness - I'm pretty sure an adult too? The bushes were full of
Warblers - overall the day count was about 120 Chiffchaff and 50+
Blackcaps. I couldn't find anything unusual in amongst them I had to
make do with 2 Redstart, 2 Reed Warbler, 1 Lesser
Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warbler - one of which was still singing -
2 Stonechat, 1 Firecrest etc I also saw/heard a latish
Yellow Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail and 2 Tree Pipit. After
getting home about 50 Meadow Pipits flew west over my back garden
during the late afternoon. (Phil M)
Monday 5th October 2009 North
Foreland
A short sea watch between 11.45 and 1pm
produced 250 Gannets and 2 Great Skuas (Bonxies) south.
(Rae Boulden)
Monday 5th October 2009 Ramsgate
Cemetery
A quick walk round for 1-1/2 hours from
7am this morning in light rain produced; 2 Firecrest, 2 Ring
Ouzels, 11 Chiffchaff, 5 Redwing, 15 Song Thrush, 9
Jay, 17 Magpie and over head 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Siskin,
5 'Alba' Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Skylark, 1
Grey Heron, and a flock of c30 Goldfinch south. The Rock Pipit
could be a new site record for me, or at the very least a 2nd. (Craig
Sammels)
Sunday
4th October 2009 Sandwich/Worth/Backsand/Dumpton
Area
A
look along the highway and a bit of Worth Marshes at first light this
morning birds of note: 38 Goldfinches, 18 Meadow Pipits, 6
Reed Buntings, 7 Stonechats, 2 Skylarks and 9
Chiffchaffs, with 8 Siskin's
and 7 Alba Wagtails overhead, a drive down to
Backsand Scrape stopping at the Polly tunnels and having a quick look around
the river 3 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Robins, 1 Grey Wagtail
2 Redshank, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Moorhens, and 3
Cormorants flew overhead, on the drive down the track to Backsand 12
Meadow Pipits, 2 Stonechats, and 250+ Woodpigeons on the
Backsand Scrape only 32 Redshank, 3 Little Egrets, 3
Moorhens, 1 Little Grebe, 5 Meadow Pipits, 1 Common Snipe
and a plastic decoy Canada Goose so to attract Ducks and Geese for the
shooters, back at home on the fields out back of the house 3 Wheatears,
2 Jackdaws amongst the Herring Gull and Pigeons.
(Gadget)
Saturday 3rd October 2009 Pegwell
Bay
I wandered around the area from dawn
starting off on the cliff top/farm where although there wasn't much going on
I did see 6 Tree Sparrow - west, 4 Redwing - west plus a
scattering of Song Thrush's and Chiffchaffs. After a second
whizz around the hover port I went down to the Country Park where I bumped
into the Hippy and a few other old faces a couple of which I couldn't
actually put a name to its so long since I've run into them? I must
apologise - I'm such a dullard. I only just recognised Dylan and Barry
Wright such is the bad state of my memory these days! Of course I'm not used
to bumping into birders down at Pegwell. I ended up scouring Stone Lees
(where we heard a Firecrest and I saw an extremely grey looking
Chiffchaff) and the rather blown out Country Park where I came across
various little groups of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps in the more
sheltered spots. I also caught the back end of the incoming tide seeing 19
Brent, 17 Wigeon, 115 Mallard, 6 Bar-tailed Godwit,
1 Snipe, 170 Golden Plover, 33 Grey Plover, 80
Lapwing, 40 Dunlin, 3 Knot and 15 Little Egrets.
The main activity from mid morning was an arrival of House Martins
which were heading west in little flurries on and off. I saw over 1000
before I left at 10.30 but then had to stop off on the cliff top as there
were lots more coming in off the sea or along the undercliff. They were also
moving inland as I could still see a few flocks moving west over the estate
when I arrived home at about 11.00. I only hope I didn't miss a large
movement by coming home much earlier than normal? That said the weather was
blinking horrid down there and I did well to stay as long as I did. My other
counts for the day were 86 Goldfinch, 9 Siskin, 14 Alba
Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 11 Skylark and 17 Reed Bunting
over plus 5 Stonechat, 35 Chiffchaff and 17 Reed Bunting.
The hirundine movement count was roughly 100+ Swallow and 2150
House Martin - west. There was no sign of the Fan Tailed Warbler whilst
I was in birding mode this morning. (Phil M)
Saturday 3rd October 2009 King
George IV Park Ramsgate
In increasingly windy conditions this
morning the only things of any note were c40 Chiffchaffs scattered
about the sycamore trees, 2 Willow Warblers in the north hedge, 4
Redwing over and offshore 2 Gannets north. On Thursday 1st there
were at least 120+ Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 3 Grey Wagtails
over and 6 ''Grey'' Geese north out at sea were almost certainly Pink-feet,
will these run of westerly's ever end....(Craig S)
Thursday 1st October
2009 Pegwell Bay
I watched the area from first thing and
ended up hanging about until 11.45. It was quiet, though there were a few
Thrush's still moving off the cliff top just after dawn which included 10
Redwing. There were a scattering of Song Thrushes throughout the
area early morning too but I only saw about ten or so on vismig. The only
unusual thing I saw today was a Bonxie which flew into the bay off
the sea and as Roger Lawrence and I watched it - it flew right through the
bay and crossed overland, eventually flying right off and out of sight. I've
not ever seen one do this here before? My counts for the day were 42
Brent, 69 Shelduck, 16 Wigeon, 1 Pintail, 18
Grey Plover, 180 Golden Plover, 80 Lapwing, 65 Dunlin,
5 Knot, 3 Snipe, 2 Greenshank, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit,
2 Stonechat, 40 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 15
Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat and 2 Lesser Whitethroat. Overhead
there were 10 Redwing - west and 1+ south, 56 Alba Wagtail -
north, 1 Grey Wagtail - north, 6 Skylark - north, 40 Meadow
Pipit - north, 20 Linnet - north, 160 Goldfinch - north, 6
Chaffinch - west and 14 Reed Bunting - north. (Phil M)
