Thursday 30th June 2005 Odd Photo
The impression of an Owl on my kitchen window.
(David Wanostrocht)
Monday 27th June 2005 Garden Dumpton Thanet
I
had every intention of trying to id the various species of Hoverfly
that I have been seeing around the garden. However, my attention
was drawn to a juvenile Starling at the feeding station and the Hoverflies
were quickly forgotten. The individual that caused all of the fuss was
wearing a metal BTO ring. Using my scope I was able to read the code CL63586
and, after a chat with the Obs, has almost certainly been ringed
at Sandwich Bay. I was now completely distracted from my original plan and
enthralled with the behaviour of these birds in the garden. Large groups
of juveniles were visiting the fat-ball feeder, yet any adults that
came in went directly to the peanuts. I have no explanation, but this was
consistent throughout the morning. Odd butterflies noted included Small
Tortoiseshell and Large White whilst other birds were limited
to Common Swift and House Martin overhead and Greenfinch,
Blackbird and House Sparrow at the feeders. Anyway, I reported
the ring number to the British trust for Ornithology, via the internet and
now have to wait for SIX weeks for the details to be
returned, via the Royal Mail. What a contrast with the rest of Europe
where I am able to get a reply within a few days by E-mail. (Dylan)
Saturday 18th June 2005 Garden Dumpton Thanet
So
I know it's not natural history but, the Red Arrows provided a spectacular
backdrop to an afternoons' sun bathing in the garden, as they went through
their paces for the Thanet Air Show at Palm Bay. (Dylan)
Friday 17th June 2005 Garden Dumpton Thanet
Not
much time for birding today, so much else to attend to, hence Bev and
I spent a couple of hours enjoying the sunshine in our garden. The feeding
station is still quite busy with Blackbirds, Blue Tits, House Sparrows,
Starlings and the mandatory Collared Doves all in attendance. It
was nice to see a smart male Greenfinch that allowed me
to get a few pics as it fed from the sunflower heart feeder. A large
group of Common Swifts were hunting over the wheat field beyond our
hedge and it was good to see an adult Swallow joining in the feast.
It is probably a bird from the breeding pair at Newland's Farm. I was
really hoping for sight of the Broadstairs Honey Buzzard but, was
equally happy when an adult Hobby appeared overhead. It treated us
to a superb flying display before heading off back towards the nest site.
A few insects of note included both Large and Small White
butterflies and a single Migrant Hawker dragonfly. A most
enjoyable interlude before another shift at Pyson's Road! (Dylan)
Friday 10th June 2005 Garden in Broadstairs
Today I was approached by one of my colleagues tightly clutching her
video camera, she asked me to identify a bird of prey sitting on a seat in
her garden in Broadstairs, yesterday 9th June. I though probably Kestrel,
maybe Sparrowhawk, but was surprised to see it was a Honey
Buzzard! Interestingly
one flew over Margate Cemetery this morning.
(Chris Hindle)
Thursday 9th June 2005 Garden Dumpton Thanet
The
Great Tits and Blue Tits family in the garden have 3 young chicks
each and all
look that they are doing fine. (Gadget)
Thursday 9th June 2005 Garden Ash
A good week for my garden in Ash this week as at
4:15pm I spotted a Common Buzzard being a source of annoyance to
the local Rook population before rising in the thermals &
gliding off towards the Ash Levels - another first! (Ben Ring)
Wednesday
8th June 2005 Garden Dumpton Thanet
This evening over 250 Rose-Ringed Parakeets
came to roost at the edge of the field beside my house, this not the 1st
time this has happened they did the same last year but only stayed for a
few days. (Gadget)
Sunday
5th June 2005 Garden over in Ash
The
Thanet Invasion has started!! A first for my small garden in Ash yesterday
morning (07:30hrs) as a Ring Necked Parakeet screeched in to
investigate the peanut feeder, scattering the House Sparrows! After a
minute, it shot off towards the Rec. I've only previously seen them in
this immediate area over at Brooke St so this could herald the start of more
ariel cacophony, usually only reserved by the extra plane traffic at
Manston! (Ben Ring)
Friday 3rd June 2005 Garden Dumpton Thanet
At 15-42hrs the roof top Herring Gulls lifted high
into the air making lots of noise, a Common Buzzard circled over
the roof top before heading (due North West) we also had a Stock
Dove taking shelter from the rain under the bushes in the garden.
(Gadget)
Thursday 2nd June 2005 Garden Dumpton Thanet
Arrived home from another late shift and decided to run the moth trap. It
must be like a bloody Mc Donald's sign to the local Hedgehogs! It
had only been on for 40 minutes when this prickly specimen turned up -
let's hope that the Milton Mk VII intices most of the moths to drop into
the funnel. (Dylan)
Wednesday 1st June 2005 Garden Dumpton Thanet
A really nice garden year tick today when, at 09.20hrs, a female Marsh
Harrier flew low over the bungalow headed towards Pegwell Bay. Still
plenty of activity around the feeding stations with Starlings dominating
proceedings, but 2 pairs of Greenfinch and a family party of Blue
Tits are regular visitors to the sunflower heart feeder. Juvenile Dunnocks
and Blackbirds are positive signs of local breeding
success - the adult male Blackbird is now looking very tatty! Butterflies
are quite numerous but restricted to just two species, Small
White and Holly Blue! Hedgehog activity has been noted around
the moth trap the past couple of nights - not much I can do about it
though other than switch off the light! At least, with the moth numbers
being so poor, the prickly visitors might find time to consume some of the
surplus snails that are hammering the bedding plants. (Dylan)
