Saturday 30th September 2006 Oare Marshes KWT
Reserve
A late afternoon session at this wonderful reserve coincided with
high tide, so there were plenty of birds to be seen. I had hoped to get
some pics of Little Stint and/or Curlew Sandpiper but,
despite both species being present, they were rather distant. A large
flock of Black-tailed Godwits contained at least one C-R bird. I
could only get Lime Green over Orange on one leg as it slept blissfully
amidst the group. I also recorded 3 Ruff, 1 Knot, 17 Dunlin,
3 Greenshank, 8 Ringed Plover, 9 Little Stint, 4 Curlew
Sandpiper, 2 Sandwich Tern, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Peregrine
and 15+ Little Egret before the sun dipped behind the growing bank
of cloud and the light started to fade. 2 Green and 3 Wood
Sandpipers flew over the East Scrape, yet none of them attempted to
land. Lapwings and Common Snipe provided me with opportunity
to use my digi-scoping gear and there were good numbers of Teal around
the margins of the pool with several Shovelers also present. As the
Starlings started to flight into roost I made my way back to the
car having spent another excellent two hours at this jewel of a reserve!
(Dylan)
Saturday 30th September 2006 North Foreland
At North Foreland this morning, an Osprey
heading West at 09:35. It was at a fair height soaring and often
disappearing into the low scudding cloud. Other than that, a few Swallows,
House Martins and Meadow Pipits moving. (Simon Mount)
Thursday
28th September 2006 Pegwell Bay
I went back down for the tide, which was awful once again. Hardly any
small waders at all - only about 6 Sanderling and 20 Dunlin.
The counts turned up: 3 Grey Heron, 25 Little Egret, 2 Brent,
32 Wigeon, 35 Grey
Plover, 50 Golden Plover, 100 Lapwing, 2 Greenshank,
9 Sandwich Tern and 1 Gannet flying north offshore. There
were a few bits and pieces dotted around the Country Park including c20 Chiffchaff,
6 Blackcap and a
Firecrest near the car park. Overhead the Hirundines were still on
the move with another 3450 Swallows and a couple of hundred House
Martin flying west/northwest also 45 Linnets, 1 Siskin,
20 Meadow Pipits and a single Tree Pipit over. (Phil M)
Thursday 28th September 2006 King George VI
Park (06.30 - 08.00hrs)
Another dawn start saw me checking the plantations, in the vain hope of
an early Yellow-browed, as the birds left their roost sites. Alas,
my target species was absent, or at least unseen & unheard by me, as I
patrolled the various spots around the perimeter of the park. 20+ Chiffchaffs
provided the bulk of my sightings with the first Meadow Pipits
passing overhead at 07.25hrs. A female Sparrowhawk hunted the row
of sycamores by the cafe and a steady flow of Swallows numbered
150+ by the time I left. Odd Chaffinch and Greenfinch groups
headed south, but were probably local birds moving to feeding areas rather
than genuine migrants. Strangest experience was provided by calling Sandwich
Terns, somewhere beyond the clifftop, as I was walking through the
middle plantation. (Dylan)
Thursday
28th September 2006 Pegwell Bay
An hour and a half’s 'walk' proved virtually another waste of time saved
only by many thousands of Swallows moving mainly west mid morning.
One flock alone I saw moving towards the bay south of the Hoverport held
many thousands of birds. There was a steady trickle moving west along the
clifftop too but in far smaller numbers. Otherwise a Kingfisher on
the Hoverport sea wall, 12 Meadow Pipits west and 12-15 Chiffchaffs
scattered here there and everywhere was the best I could manage. It's got
to get better soon surely?? (Phil M)
Wednesday 27th September 2006
Broadstairs Thanet
In Broadstairs this morning, a Brambling
calling loudly from a sycamore in the middle of the town.
(Simon M)
Wednesday 27th September 2006 Pegwell Bay
A two and a half session taking in a bit of vismig and the incoming tide
turned up: 330 Curlew, 12 Bar-tailed Godwit, c300 Redshank,
17 Greenshank, 50 Lapwing, 50 Grey Plover, 26 Ringed
Plover, 60 Dunlin, 26 Sandwich Tern, 12+ Common Tern,
4 Brent, 21 Shelduck, 129 Mallard, 23 Wigeon,
1 1st winter Mediterranean Gull and 30 Little Egrets. A
little bit of vismig overhead - 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail
plus a trickle of Meadow Pipits and the occasional Reed Bunting
and small Linnet flock. A few half decent flurries of Swallows
during the early afternoon from the Country Park plus Gideon Beale spotted
a nice pale phase Arctic Skua flying
south out at sea. (Phil M)
Wednesday 27th September 2006 Foreness
There was a roost of 50+ Ringed Plovers on the rocks at the rising
tide, with the juveniles looking distinctly Kentish, on closer inspection,
no blacklegs, though. Nearby, four Sandwich Terns were among the
gulls, curlews, turnstones and redshanks, while the ubiquitous Little
Egret waded around off the beach. (Steve Coates)
Wednesday 27th September 2006 Chamber’s Wall &
Coldharbour area
Derek Smith and I had a 3-hour meander around the Chamber’s
Wall/Coldharbour area this morning. Hirundines were piling through, with
an estimated 45,000 Swallows and 15,000 House Martins, a
very impressive sight. Other bits included a Short-eared Owl in
off, 1 Tree Pipit, 19 Chiffchaffs, 1 Peregrine, 2 Marsh
Harriers, 1 Whinchat, 15 Skylarks W, 120 Linnets
and 5 Gannets. (Tim Hodge)
Wednesday 27th September 2006 Newland's Farm (06.30 - 07.45hrs)
A
dawn start allowed me to check the fields around the farm before other
users disturbed the footpaths. There were 30+ Meadow Pipits in the area
of stubble that remains beside the main track with other small
groups over as the daylight intensified. A lone Wheatear flicked
past me as I neared Pyson's Road and a Grey Wagtail flew
south, calling as it went. I found several Chiffchaffs in the
remnants of the hedgerows around the fields and the first 2 Reed
Buntings of the autumn were perched on cabbages behind the storage
sheds. 3 Swallows went south, a Kestrel and a Green
Woodpecker also made it into the notebook before I headed home to wake
Bev for work and get a welcome cup of coffee! (Dylan)
Tuesday
26th September 2006 King George VI Park Thanet
A glorious morning, so I took the opportunity to have a stroll over to
King George VI Park. A Chiffchaff was singing in a garden along
West Dumpton Lane and there was a steady trickle of Meadow Pipits
passing SW overhead. The park full of the usual occupants, Parakeets,
dog walkers, joggers and cyclists! Robins seemed particularly
numerous as I checked the area of mature sycamores besides the tennis
courts. The hedge along the northern boundary held single male Blackcap
and Firecrest, however, it wasn't until I reached the northern
plantation that it became clear that there were large numbers of Chiffchaffs
present. Birds were constantly on the move, but a very conservative
estimate was 70+. I also had nice views of a Lesser Whitethroat
feeding on blackberries and 3 Sparrowhawks (migrants?) as they
moved south over the park. (Dylan)
Tuesday 26th September 2006 Pegwell Bay
A couple of hours this morning turned up 1 Wheatear, 1 Whinchat,
12+ Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, c100+ Meadow
Pipits, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Peregrine and a couple of
local Sparrowhawks. (Phil M)
Monday
25th September 2006 Pegwell Bay
I popped down for the incoming tide taking in a few of the rather bird
less bushes between the Hoverport and the Country Park where I saw naff
all in the bushes and another naff all overhead. There was a Kingfisher
near the Hoverport sea wall with a second bird seen perched on top of the
no speeding signs (ha ha) located in the river-mouth. There were also 2 Short-eared
Owls seen from the pad flying around across the river near
the 100 acre/point.' Thing of the day' went to the 14-15 Pink-footed
Geese seen flying n/east over the bay - eventually out to sea. Always
nice to see some proper wild Geese. Still lots of Little Egrets (38)
present in the bay as the tide came up also 4-500 Swallows, 1 Whinchat,
1 juv Hobby and the first Merlin of the autumn (as far as
I'm aware?) were seen from the Country
Park. The bird counts turned up: 3 Brent, 17 Shelduck, c60 Mallard,
2 Gadwall, 33 Wigeon, 5 Teal, 490 Oystercatcher,c200+
Curlew, 1 Whimbrel, 22 Bar-tailed Godwit, 300+ Redshank,
5 Greenshank, 1 Lapwing, 13 Golden Plover, 56 Grey
Plover, 4 Ringed Plover, 8 Snipe, 37 Knot, 6 Sanderling,
180 Dunlin, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Little Stint, 1 Ruff
and 27 Sandwich Tern. (Phil M)
Saturday 24th September 2006 Reculver
A
shoal of fish offshore attracted quite a few feeding terns and Gannets,
and also a Balearic Shearwater, plus 3 Arctic Skuas and a Little
Gull. Birds moving through included 4 Manx Shearwaters E and 2 Bonxies
W. (Tim Hodge)
Friday 22nd September 2006 Brook Reculver
A rainy male Sparrowhawk at Brook
(Reculver) this morning. (Tim Hodge)
Wednesday 20th September 2006 Restharrow Scrape
SBBOT
Not very much to see from the hide today 16 Wigeon,
11 Mute Swans, 1 Little Egret, 8 Rooks, 13 Crows,
5 Jackdaws, 4 Woodpigeons, 200+ Starlings, 15 Swallows,
5 House Martins and 3 Sand Martins, the worth track didn't
holed much better with 1 Blue Tit, 1 Great Tit and 1 Long-tailed
Tit, 1 Robin,1 Willow Warbler, and 1 Cetti's Warbler
and a few House Sparrows with Woodpigeons and Collard
Doves in support 1 Kestrel over the fields with a few Gulls.
(Gadget)
Monday
18th September 2006 Pegwell Bay
At long last some birds!! Yippee!! I did three sessions this morning -
firstly between 06.45 where I saw very little other than 100 Meadow
Pipits over plus a few Grey Wagtails, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler
and Blackcaps then just before I left it was obvious there was a
bit of hirundine movement which I did my best to ignore so I could go home
and have a look in my moth traps. Earlier on in the morning I had seen 20 Little
Egret, 630 Oystercatcher, 4 Greenshank, 300 Dunlin,
120 Curlew, 120 Lesser Black Backed Gull, 260 Great Black
Backed Gull, 30 Sandwich Tern, 50 Wigeon and 15 Brent
out in the bay. I had intended to try a raptor watch from id-morning so
about 10.15 I shot off towards Pegwell stopping off near the mound (at the
south end of the Haine Road) where I could see a large Raptor being
harassed by a mob of Crows in the distance. Eventually I got across
the road, through endless traffic, set up and spotted a Common Buzzard
immediately heading south - no doubt the raptor I'd seen a few minutes
earlier. At 10.40 another Buzzard took the same route then at 11.05
I became aware of a big funnel of Gulls looking out to sea off
Pegwell. Just south of them were 3 large raptors circling high up and the
closest one wasn’t a Buzzard. It turned out to be a Red Kite
(the other 2 were both Buzzards I think?) and I watched it for
about 5 minutes as it gained height and flew off out to sea. It's very
unusual to see raptors crossing at Pegwell - though the French coast could
clearly be seen from my vantage point with the naked eye so perhaps this
had a bearing. I scanned around for the other 2 birds picking up a single Common
Buzzard flying quite fast north over Thanet amongst a big flurry of Gulls.
The third bird went unseen. Still a trickle of Hirundines and Meadow
Pipits when I left at 11.30 as I had arranged to come home for dinner.
After gulping down a huge roast - I got back for 12.00 seeing another
group of 3 Common Buzzards flying south inland but no other big
raptors for an hour so I left. I had seen quite a few Sparrowhawks (mostly
local ones) also 2 Peregrine, a Hobby and a single Turtle
Dove. (Phil M)
Sunday
17th September 2006 SBBOT path to Worth
Walking along the path from the Bird Observatory to Worth this afternoon
we came across a bush with 8 Yellow Hammers, also in the hedge row
were 4 Willow Warblers, 2 Chiffchaff, 5 Blue Tit, 4 Great
Tit, 3 Chaffinch and a Lesser Whitethroat. (Graham
Crick)
Sunday 17th September 2006 Shuart to Coldharbour
A mid-day session around the Shuart area of the Reculver Marshes. I
walked the track out to the Riding Stables at Minnis noting several Chiffchaffs
as I passed. A flock of 17 Long-tailed Tits were in the scrub
between the stables and the seawall with a large flock of House
Sparrows feeding on the rough ground beyond the buildings. A walk to
Coldharbour, along the seawall, allowed me to get some nice images of a
female Eider and a rather sickly Bar-tailed Godwit that were
along the shoreline. Plenty of gulls to scan through, but I failed to
locate anything unusual. A couple of Sandwich Terns were feeding
out at sea, whilst a small flock of Corn Bunting were found feeding
around the edge of a newly ploughed field near to Coldharbour. Walking
inland to the railway embankment allowed me to get some nice views of
several more Chiffchaff and a lone Willow Warbler feeding in
the Hog's Fennel below the seawall. A Whinchat was noted perched
prominently atop a small Hawthorn besides the Wantsum and several flocks
of Swallows moved westward overhead, accompanied by odd House
Martins. I didn't attempt to make any accurate counts, but I'm sure
that the total would be in excess of 100 birds during my walk. Meadow
Pipits and Linnets were particularly conspicuous around the
fields and I found a second Whinchat as I got back to the Shuart
track. A very enjoyable 3 hours wandering around the area, the only
other birds of note being a couple of Yellow Wagtail, a Blackcap
and 2 Reed Warblers. (Dylan)
Sunday 17th September 2006 Minnis Bay
Quite a large movement of Meadow Pipits this morning, with 1580
west. Other birds recorded moving west included 19 Grey Wagtails,
18 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Tree Pipit, 2 Song Thrushes,
380 Swallows, 3 Chaffinches, 2 Snipe and 12 Goldfinches,
whilst 27 Wigeon flew west offshore. A distant call probably
belonged to a Lapland Bunting, but I couldn’t be definite. Other
bits included 3 Wheatears, 2 Whinchats, 1 Lesser
Whitethroat, 1 Eider, 8 Gadwall, 35 Gannets, 1 Merlin,
1 Hobby, 2 Guillemots, 2 Kingfishers and 22 Corn
Buntings. (Tim Hodge)
Friday 15th September 2006 Reculver
An enjoyable seawatch at the Towers this morning included 2 juvenile Long-tailed
Skuas west, 32 Great Skuas west, 57 Arctic Skuas west, 1
Pomarine Skua east, 4 Little Egrets west, 110 Gannets
mainly east, 12 Brent Geese west, 37 Teal west, 14 Wigeon
west, 38 Common Scoter, 9 Little Gulls west, 1 Kittiwake,
15 Black Terns, 104 Common Terns east, 4 Arctic Terns
east, 90 Sandwich Terns, 2 Little Terns east and 2 Guillemots
east. (Tim Hodge)
Friday 15th September 2006 Backsand
scrape SBBOT
As
a new member to SBBOT, I made my first visit to Backsand scrape today very
pleasant. The sightings are shown below. As the scrape is open to members
only, I don't know if the Observatory has a problem with listings being
published elsewhere? I'll leave it to your judgment. At the scrape
this evening were a Common Sandpiper and a Green Sandpiper,
17 Redshanks roosting together with 3 Greenshanks, 4 Snipe,
35-ish Teal, 10+ Moorhens, a family of 6 dabchicks including
summer plumage parents, a Grey Heron, two Little Egrets and
a Kingfisher. On the walk to and from the scrape were seen a Turtle
Dove, a group of 6 Pheasants, a flock of at least 50 Ring-necked
Parakeets and another Kingfisher at the Black Sluice. (Steve
Coats)
Thursday 14th September 2006 King George VI
Park
A quick session around the park produced very little in the way of
migrant activity. Single Swallow, Blackcap and Chiffchaff
were all I could muster in 45 minutes. The usual residents were present in
decent numbers, particularly Stock Doves which seem to have had a
very successful breeding season. A glance at the sea revealed zilch! Is
this really mid-September? (Dylan)
Wednesday
13th September 2006 Pegwell Bay
I popped back down in the evening to watch the dropping tide from the
seawall. Luckily I missed all the rain on the rather impressive
thunderstorm, which passed through during the early evening - only the odd
drop at Pegwell but the road was soaked from the Hoverport northwards. The
storm forced lots of Black-headed Gulls in from the south. I
counted 6350 flying into the area from downriver which when added with the
2000+ already present and the 5000+ which jumped up during a huge clap of
thunder from the other side of the point added up to over 13000 bird
present. Probably the most unusual thing seen were 4 flocks of Ring-necked
Parakeets moving north at pre-roost time over the Country Park adding
up to 82
birds - I've not seen any counts over 20 birds in the past years even
though 20-40+ birds are seen regularly from the Cliffsend end of the area
in the evenings. The other bird counts turned up: 480 Oystercatcher,
3
Whimbrel,c350 Curlew, c150 Redshank, 12 Greenshank,
19 Bar-tailed Godwit, 45 Grey Plover, 16 Knot, 50 Dunlin,
27 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 110 Great Black Backed
Gull, c20 Lesser Black Backed Gull, 1600 Herring Gull,
c500 Common Gull, 1 1st winter Mediterranean Gull, 140 Sandwich
Tern, 25 Common Tern and 1 Black Tern.17 Rooks
and 8 Swifts flew over last knockings plus there were at least 2 Lesser
Whitethroats behind what’s left of the bird hide. (Phil M)
Wednesday
13th September 2006 Worth Marshes
A nice walk before it got to hot south of the Sandwich Bay Bird
Observatory towards the Worth Marshes produced the following birds. 18 House
Sparrows, 2 Great Tit, 69 Starlings, 3 Collared Dove,
2 Blackbirds, 9 Linnet, 50 Crows, 3 Swallows,
23 Wood Pigeon, 5 Magpie, 8 Blue Tit, 1 Herring
Gull, 11 Lapwing, 6 Coot, 6 Moorhen, 6 Stock
Dove, 1 Kestrel, 2 Wrens, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Lesser
Whitethroat, 12 Greenfinch, 2 Willow Warblers, 9 Rooks
and 5 Jackdaw. (Graham Crick)
Wednesday
13th September 2006 Reculver/Shuart area
Derek
and I had a walk from Chamber’s Wall and covered the sea wall from the
Oyster Farm to
Minnis
Bay
and the railway embankment, then did a raptor watch at Shuart. There were
very few migrants in the area, but the raptor watch was more productive.
Totals were: 1 Honey Buzzard circling with 3 Common Buzzards
around Shuart, 8 Marsh Harriers, 4 Sparrowhawks, 1 Peregrine,
10 Little Egrets, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 20 Teal, 3 Wigeon,
105 Common Terns, 2 Gadwall, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 40 Golden
Plovers, 44 Lapwings, 9 Yellow Wagtails, 6 Wheatears
(including 1 Greenland), 1 Brent Goose, 1 Eider, 300 House
Sparrows, a handful of commoner warblers and 2 Gannets. (Tim
Hodge)
Wednesday 13th September 2006 Pegwell Bay
I don't know why I refer to what I do as 'birding' these days - it's more
like a nice walk there is so little going on at the minute. During my
'walk' between
7-9.00am this morning taking in the sights between the west cliff and the
Hoverpad and all in-between my eye was caught by very little on the avian
front. Don't worry - I'm getting used to this type of thing this autumn.
Grounded migrants were about as common as a full beer glass at the end of
a Dylan's night out, with only c12 Pied Wagtails (if they were
indeed migrants at all?), 2 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff and
a pair of Blackcap. Slightly better overhead with 6 Swift, 2
Grey Wagtail, 2-Pied Wagtail, 3 Meadow Pipit, 1 Tree
Pipit and the locally scare these days - Yellowhammer all west
over the area. There were also a few Egrets, Greenshank, 25 Teal
and 16 Wigeon in the Bay. By 09.00 I got bored and left. I'd been
bored for nearly 2 hours previous of course. (Phil M)
Wednesday 13th September 2006 Dumpton garden
Nothing
much going on, just a single Chiffchaff in the garden hedge and 2 Yellow
Wagtails over, as I emptied the moth trap. Work beckoned, so I sat
around hoping for a raptor, alas the best I could do was this rather weird
pic of a Blue Tit! (Dylan)
Tuesday 12th September 2006 Newington
Ramsgate
A Common Buzzard loitered over the estate for
5-10
minutes at just after 14.00 this afternoon before flying off west around
14.15. (Phil M)
Monday 11th September 2006 North Foreland
At North Foreland this morning a flock of 11 Tree
Sparrows heading South. The highest count I have had for years.
(Simon Mount)
Monday 11th September 2006 Pegwell Bay
I walked around the area for a couple of hours from 07.30 wondering why I
had bothered if I'm honest. Virtually no migration once again – 7 Chiffchaffs
and a couple of Blackcaps on the Hoverpad, c6 Meadow Pipits
west over the clifftop plus the odd Swallow the only things new in.
(Phil M)
Monday 11th September 2006 Langdon Hole
Dover
1 Whinchat, 2 Blackcap (male &
female) 3 Whitethroats, 40+ Swallows, 1 Kestrel, 1 Jay,
1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Yellowhammer, 1 Goldfinch, 24 Linnets,
and usual Blackbirds, Tits, Robins, ect. A party of 5 Grey
Herons flew West over the sea, then headed out further to avoid flying
over the docks.
3 Wheatears in the fields along the path to Reach Road lay-by.
(Pauline McKenzie Lloyd)
Sunday 10th September 2006 North Foreland
At North Foreland this morning 5 Wheatears, 1 Whinchat,
4 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Grey Wagtail and 2 Hobbies.
(Simon Mount)
Sunday 10th September 2006 Dungeness
Bev, her Mum & Dad, wanted to go to the Lydd Air show, so I took the
opportunity to visit Dungeness, my first since 2000! Dave Walker bemoaned
the lack of birds, as we chatted over a cup of coffee in the Obs. We are
both of the opinion that this has been the worst year in recent times,
particularly for common migrants, thank God for the moths! I wandered down
to the beach and could see that there were large numbers of terns feeding
over "The Patch". As the tide was rising, several groups of Common
Terns were feeding right along the shoreline and I managed to get
several nice images by sitting down amongst the massed ranks of fishermen.
I noted 3 Black Tern and 9 (adult winter) Little Gull amongst
the several hundred Common, and lesser numbers of Sandwich,
Tern. A group of birds were gathered on the beach, beyond the 2nd
hide, and I managed to get close enough to digi-scope a few images,
despite the fact that heat haze was a problem. A walk around the trapping
area produced very little, hence Dave's pessimism, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Firecrest,
5 Wheatear (including 1 "Greenland" type), 1 Stonechat
and a steady trickle of hirundines overhead Swallows dominated the
numbers, but House & Sand Martins were also present. The only
other birds seen around the area were a few Magpies, 2 Green
Woodpecker, a male Kestrel, and a Dunnock with a shiny
new ring and a Grey Wagtail within the Power Station compound. I
had forgotten what a great place "Dunge" is to go birding - it
won't be another five years before I return. And finally Happy
Birthday Planetthanet - 3 today! Would you "Adam & Eve" it?
How time flies when you're enjoying yourselves. (Dylan)
Sunday 10th September 2006 Pegwell Bay
A lovely morning to be out but very little bird wise. The only migrants we
could find were singles of Whinchat and Wheatear plus a Hobby
on the farm plus a few scattered Blackcaps, Whitethroats and
Lesser Whitethroats around the hoverport and clifftop bushes. Cycling
along Chiltern Lane on my way home a Redstart flew out into the
road - the only one of the autumn so far. (Phil M)
Saturday 9th September 2006 Deal Pier & Bockhill Farm
Stupidly, I had hoped that the fresh easterly wind might produce a few
seabirds from Deal Pier. I stayed for just 40 minutes before giving up. I
had recorded just 2 Gannets, a few Common Scoters and a Cormorant!
I then made the decision to have a walk around Bockhill Farm. I parked by
the monument and walked the circuit to Hope Point, via the paddock, Farm
Wood and the Freedown. My reward for this effort was 3 Blackcap, 2 Common
Whitethroat, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Firecrest
(1 singing male in McSwiggan's & 2 in wild privet at Hope Point) plus
good numbers of Swallow and Sand Martin over the stubble
besides the cliff-top footpath. The only other record, of note, was of
unseen Whimbrel calling as they flew down channel. Not a Wheatear
or Whinchat to be seen, surely this autumn will get started soon?
(Dylan)
Friday 8th, September 2006 Stone Bay, Broadstairs Thanet
North end of beach at Stone Bay, Broadstairs at high water (11.30 am)
Single Purple
Sandpiper with small mob of juvenile Turnstones. (Philip
Hurst)
Thursday 7th September 2006 Pegwell Bay Hoverpad
Flushed with optimism following my factory encounter (see the non-avian
page) I headed down to the hoverpad to check the buddleia. Birds were
particularly scarce, I recorded just 2 Willow Warbler and a Chiffchaff
in the bushes along the undercliff whilst, out on the mud, there were just
a few Oystercatchers, Curlew, Little Egret and several hundred,
very distant, gulls and terns. Odd House Martins passed
overhead and a smart adult male Sparrowhawk hunted over the
stubble field by Little Cliffsend Farm. I really did have a great day at
work! (Dylan)
Thursday 7th September 2006 Minnis Bay Thanet
A seawatch from 0730-0930 and 1000-1130 this morning included 1 Sooty
Shearwater E, 1 Manx Shearwater W, 1 Pomarine Skua W, 4 Bonxies
W, 27 Arctic Skuas W, 2 large auks, 7 Pintail W, 1 Arctic
Tern, c200 Common Terns mainly W, c150 Sandwich Terns
mainly E, 40 Gannets, 2 Kittiwakes and 22 Common Scoter
W. (Tim Hodge)
Wednesday
6th September 2006 Pegwell Bay
2 rare birds at Pegwell today a Melodious Warbler on the Hoverpad
between 09.00-09.15 at least and Franks White Stork. I walked the
entire area between the west cliff and the Hoverpad seeing a few Willow
Warblers, Whitethroats, Blackcaps (very few), 4 Wheatear,
1 Whinchat, 13 Yellow Wagtail (8 p 5 over), 5 Grey
Wagtail (west) 1 Cuckoo, 1 Hobby, 2 Sparrowhawk,
1 Spotted Flycatcher, 6 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Black-tailed
Godwit, 25+ Little Egrets, c30 Sandwich Tern plus there
were 50-60 Blue Tits bush hopping moving west through the area.
(Phil M)
Wednesday 6th September 2006 Dumpton Thanet
Alone Wheatear in the field behind my house
this evening. (Gadget)
Wednesday 6th September 2006 Green Wall area
Sandwich
A walk down to the Green Wall area produced 4 Moorhens, 32 Wood
Pigeon, 2 Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Wren, 2 Robins,
13 Stock Dove, 3 Chaffinch, 2 Lesser Whitethroat and
a single Whitethroat, 28 Crows, 106 Rooks and perched
on the telegraph wires were 7 Turtle Dove. There were numerous Swallows,
Sandmartins and House Martins feeding up, Also 2 Hobby
went over spooking the Lapwings and 150 plus Starling.
(Graham Crick)
Tuesday 5th September 2006 Grove Ferry (16.00 -
19.00hrs)
An excellent afternoon spent at the reserve, although nothing to get the
adrenalin pumping, it was great to be out birding. Birds seen included an
eclipse drake Pintail (from the ramp), 7 Green & 1 Wood
Sandpiper, 2 Ruff, 2 Golden Plover, c25 Common Snipe,
3 Marsh Harrier and 300+ Lapwing. All of the pools have some
water, of varying levels, yet the Harrison's Drove pool looks particularly
arid! 7 Whinchat were feeding around the reedbed by the bends south
of the Baillon's Pool and I was pleased to note 2 Swifts drifting
west beyond the reserve boundary. A juvenile Sparrowhawk caused
panic amongst the gathered waders and there were large numbers of Yellow
Wagtails dropping into the reedbeds as I walked back towards the car.
(Dylan)
Tuesday 5th September 2006
Broadstairs Garden Thanet
I
looked out of my kitchen window this evening to see a Spotted
Flycatcher on the fence. Nice one, and a first for the
garden. (Jerry)
Monday 4th September 2006 Newington Thanet
A nice Hobby flying around taking insects over the back garden plus
a flyover Green Sandpiper mid-afternoon. (Phil M)
Monday 4th September 2006 Ramsgate Thanet
4 Swifts were over Duncan Rd at 8am this
morning. (Nick Lever)
Sunday
3rd September 2006 Pegwell Bay
I
popped down for the evening tide - it was quiet bird wise but quite
pleasant all the same. On the mud there were c40 Sandwich, c100 Common
and 1 Black Tern, 1 juv Mediterranean Gull, 2 Greenshank,
1 Curlew
Sandpiper, 180 Dunlin etc. I had checked the Farm &
Hoverport earlier on in the day seeing singles of Whinchat and
Wheatear. (Phil M)
Sunday 3rd September 2006 Dumpton Thanet
Sparrowhawk Checking the wind direction in my
back garden this afternoon. (Gadget)
Saturday 2nd September 2006 Pegwell Bay
Dave and I popped down for the incoming tide seeing: 1 Arctic Skua,
1 juv Mediterranean Gull, c60 Sandwich Tern, 300 Common
Tern, 2 Black Tern, 1 Peregrine, 40 Mallard, 4 Shoveler,
5 Avocet and 1 Curlew Sandpiper. (Phil M)
Saturday 2nd September 2006 Pegwell Bay
I had a wander between the west cliff and the Hoverpad this morning. It
was very quiet as is normal these days. Virtually nothing until I got to
the farm where there were c30 Grey Partridges, 15 grounded Yellow
Wagtails, 1 Corn Bunting plus 2 Tree Pipits, 3 Yellow
Wagtail and 100+ Swallows over heading west. A bit more going
on around the Hoverpad with a small selection of Syvia Warblers (1 Garden
Warbler amongst them) plus a couple of Reed Warblers and a
handful of Willow Warblers fly catching in the sunshine. There were
singles of Kingfisher and Common Sandpiper on the
seawall plus 20+ Little Egret, c50 Sandwich Tern and 22 Grey
Plovers out on the mud. A steady trickle of Swallows and House
Martin were on the move from the pad. (Phil M)
Saturday
2nd September 2006 Shuart to Reculver & Ramsgate Harbour
A dawn start proved to be a wasted effort, although it was a very
pleasant session wandering around the Reculver marshes. I started at
Shuart and had recorded 6 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Sparrowhawk, Reed
& Sedge Warblers, several Common Whitethroats, 63 Greylag
& 9 Canada Geese before I met up with Derek Smith at Chamber's
Wall. We continued around the circuit together and enjoyed nice views of
27 Golden Plover, 3 Marsh Harrier, 2 Common Sandpiper,
12 (more) Yellow Wagtail, 1 Willow Warbler, 6+ Little
Egret, 7 Wheatear, 1 Whinchat and 4 Swallows (I
added 2 more later). We had independently noticed large numbers of Starlings
moving west at first light, but were both of the opinion that they were
birds leaving Thanet roost sites, to forage over the surrounding
marshland, rather than visible migration. 2 Turtle Doves were seen
perched in distant hawthorns, but it really was rather hard work - we need
some east in the wind! Bev needed to get some retail therapy, so I offered
to take her into Ramsgate. This strange behaviour was purely because it
allowed me to get a look around the harbour. Nothing much to report, just
a couple of Rock Pipits near the Harbour Lights Cafe amongst the
usual hoards of Herring Gulls on and around the pontoons with the
occasional Turnstone pecking around the stowed fishing gear.
(Dylan)
Friday
1st September 2006 Pegwell Bay
I went down for the last knockings of the dropping tide this evening.
There were lots of common birds out there, nothing unexpected. The counts
turned up: 420 Curlew, 1 Whimbrel, 4 Bar-tailed Godwit,
4 Greenshank, c30 Ringed Plover, c10 Grey Plover, 220
Dunlin, 15 Sanderling, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Common
Scoter (south) 23 Little Egret, 220 Sandwich Tern, 370 Common
Tern, 7500 Black-headed Gull, 70 Common Gull, 540 Herring
Gull, 12 Lesser BB Gull, 45 Great Black-Backed Gull, 2 Mediterranean
Gull and 25 Cormorant. (Phil M)
Friday1st September 2006 Sandwich Bay SBBOT
A pleasant day spent down at Sandwich. The Restharrow scrape produced Dunlin,
Common and Green Sandpiper, Teal, Linnet, Goldfinch, Stock
Dove, Wood Pigeon. I had just missed the Spotted Redshank,
which was on there earlier. Moving down towards the Obs were Numerous Swallows
and House Martins, Lapwing, a single Hobby was
hunting, and Thirty plus Meadow Pipit and a two Tree Pipit
were in the Whitehouse area. There were also several Blackcaps, Willow
Warbler; Great Spotted Woodpecker and a juvenile Little Owl.
Also a Montagu’s Harrier passed over mid afternoon. (Graham
Crick)
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