Wednesday
30th
June 2004 Grove Ferry
Things didn't quite turn out like I'd hoped. Once
again the call of the soup-mine interfered with my plans and I could only
manage a short session at Grove Ferry "en route. It's a bit like the
"lull before the storm", I am really expecting something to
happen yet, don't quite know when. My sojourn around the reserve revealed
3 Green Sandpiper, 1 Little Ringed & 4+ Ringed Plover,
77 Lapwing, 1 Pied Wagtail, 3 Redshank, 1 (juv) Water
Rail, 6 Little Egret and a female Marsh Harrier. Bearded
Tits, Cetti's, Sedge & Reed Warblers are all
still very active around the reserve and a family party of Goldfinches
were feeding on the thistles besides the ramp. A recently fledged Grey
Heron was trying its' luck around the margins of the pools and several
families of Common Terns were present on the exposed mud. There are
two issues that need attention as we approach the onset of autumn. One -
is there enough water? Two - What is to be done about the reed
infringement? This is the finest reserve in southern England yet, visitors
are put off by the inability to see anything from the various viewpoints
around the circuits (Dylan)
Wednesday
30th
June 2004 Lunch time Dumpton Garden
We have just had 15 Swallows going up and down the fields behind
the house and a Sparrowhawk going over (Gadget)
Wednesday 30thJune 2004 Fields between Dumpton & Broadstairs
Went
over the fields at the back of me house with my 4 year old grandson this
morning, and whilst he ran around kicking a ball and making me fell very
old. I could observe the birds on and over the fields, the high light
being when the Gulls went up giving a Grey Heron a hard time
as it flew over the fields heading towards Pegwell Bay, after this
excitement it went back to the norm 2, Mistle Thrushes on the
College playing field about 150 House Sparrows on the corn
crop with 30+ Woodpigeons, 40+ Gulls, 120+ Crows,
over the farmers newly worked fields, along the hedges and tree line 2 Common
Whitethroats, 3 Robins, 2 blue Tits, 4 Dunnock,
18 Blackbirds, 30+ Starlings, 7 Collard Doves, and
not much else but the joy of being able to still participate with my
grandson. (Gadget)
Tuesday 29th June 2004 Ramsgate Cemetery
A quick look around Ramsgate Cemetery this
afternoon. There were no great surprises, as expected in late June. Two
recently fledged Green Woodpeckers were on headstones near
the Chapel. Several family parties of Great Tits, Blackbirds and Wrens
were encountered along the path to the east. A female Kestrel
overhead caused a stir amongst the local gulls, whilst I was
surprised to find a singing Goldcrest in the trees along the northern
boundary. Blue & Long-tailed Tits seem to have had a good
breeding season, with several mixed groups present around the site. A pair
of Greenfinches became rather agitated when I stopped to watch a
feeding Jay, suggesting that they had a nest nearby. As I said,
nothing out of the ordinary but better than staying indoors! (Dylan)
Tuesday 29th June 2004 Ramsgate to Pegwell Bay
My first day without other commitments getting in the
way. I decided the right thing to do was spend a bit of time on Thanet,
seeing as we are called Planet Thanet. I parked the car by the Port
entrance already having noted a Sparrowhawk lazily
"flap-flap-gliding" its' was across the fields by the tunnel
approach road. The undercliff was awash with Red Valerian yet, apart
from a few butterflies, there wasn't much to be seen. A cock Linnet
sang its' piece from high up on the chalk cliffs and several House
Sparrows were noisily disputing territorial rights to a drainpipe
near the Harbour. Two families of Pied Wagtails were seen around
the area and the Herring Gull flock loafing on the pontoons was in
excess of 450 birds. There were also 6 adult Great Black-backed and
4 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls using the roost. Around
10.00 hrs something caused the gulls to get agitated and spiral up over
Ramsgate Town Centre. Try as I might, I failed to find the cause of this
activity. I then went over to Pegwell Bay to watch the receding tide.
There were 120+ Sandwich Terns present on the saltmarsh and
riverbank, with good numbers out at sea. There were a few juveniles
amongst the flock and the adults were bringing a regular supply of small
fish, which they were catching from the mouth of the River Stour. 5 Common
Terns and a stunning adult Roseate Tern (with a possible 2nd
bird - confirmed by PM later) seen roosting with the birds along the
riverbank. The light conditions, sun position and heat haze conspiring to
prevent me getting a chance of any pictures. 100+ Oystercatchers, 7
Little Egrets, 42 Curlew & 25 Shelduck
provided the supporting cast out on the mud, with Blackcap, Common
Whitethroat and Sedge Warblers in song around the Country
Park. A Turtle Dove purred from a small Hawthorn as I
started my walk back to the car and a group of Swifts headed north,
probably returning to Ramsgate nest sites after a feeding sortie over
the surrounding countryside? (Dylan)
Monday 28th June 2004 Oare Marshes
Finished doing my stuff at the soup-mine by 09.30hrs so headed over to
Oare for another session of Black-tailed Godwit ring recording.
Despite the fact that over 650 birds were present I failed to find a
single colour-marked bird. A Cuckoo called it's
"onomatopoetic" song (I didn't know either, so ask Don Taylor!)
from the southern hedgerow and a Greenshank flushed from the
margins of the East Scrape, calling loudly as it headed west. Lots of
activity around the reserve with family parties of Mallard, Pochard,
Gadwall, Little Grebe and Coots all on display. 14 Avocets
were loafing on the West Scrape accompanied by 100+ Black-headed Gulls.
Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Little Egret and
Reed Bunting all added to the species total but, in reality, there
was nothing out of the ordinary to be seen. Tony Swandale reported a Spotted
Redshank earlier in the day and that's all folks!! (Dylan)
Sunday
27th June 2004 with ref :to 22nd June Oare Marshes
These are the only two images that make much sense for the period that
you've been away. They were both taken at Oare Marshes on 22nd June and
tie in with the report that was posted on that day. The Black Swan
was one of two present on the West Scrape and the male Ruff
was watched on the East Flood. The most significant thing about the
Ruff is that the dark head plumage suggests it is likely to be a
dominant bird at any "lekking" site. There is a really
complicated social hierachy involved in the breeding strategy of this
species with masses of information available in BWP (Vol III, pages 385 -
402) (Dylan)
Sunday
27th June 2004
Black-tailed
Godwit Oare Marshes
These
are the details that I have received from Jos Hooijmeijer, Project
Coordinator in Holland. The bird is an adult summer plumaged Black-tailed
Godwit of the race limosa. Ringed "on the nest" Spring
2004, at Workum in Friesland (North Holland). This project has just
started and is looking at population dynamics of the waders that have
populations that also breed in the high arctic. Disease suseptability and
genetic profiles are causing concern, thus the driver for this extended
study. I haven't got the exact details for this bird, but I was informed
that another individual from this project was found in France on the same
date. Dispersal from the breeding grounds is likely to be better
understood with the commencement of this colour-marking scheme. (Dylan
Sunday
27th June 2004 Goldstone Drove Nr Ash
Feeling
decidedly ‘unenergetic’ today, we eventually get out at noon for a
walk down part of Goldstone Drove then retraced our steps, cutting through
Chandler & Dunn, & along Knell Lane homeward. A few degrees warmer
than yesterday, 20oC, with more sun & occasional light breeze. Plenty
of House Sparrows in the wheat fields along the Drove &
also saw 7 Turtle Doves & a Cuckoo – a Blackcap
sang from the depths of a tree at the start of the Drove & there were
good numbers of Swallows & House Martins overhead. Aside from
this, nothing of any real note. Home by 2:15pm. (Ben
Ring)
Saturday
26th June 2004 Ash Levels
A family
wedding day so we decide on a ‘reduced’ Patch walk, cutting out
Goldstone, & heading through Weddington to Brooke Street & return.
Very overcast, & muggy, 15oC. Steady rain fell the latter part
of our walk, which started at 9:30am & finished at 11:40am. A pair of Yellow
Wagtails ‘busied’ themselves catching flies amongst the potatoes
along Cop Street & a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers noisily
called from trees nearby. Aside from Common Whitethroat & a
solitary Chiffchaff, there wasn’t much about by way of warblers.
Fledglings have obviously swelled the local bird numbers, with Robin,
Great, Blue, & Long tailed Tit, & Song Thrush all in evidence.
It was however sad to find 5 of various species that were not so lucky
along our route, along with road-kill Wood Pigeon & Song Thrush!
Today’s ‘bonus’ bird
turned out to be a Little Owl near Brooke St farm defying the need
for sunshine to sit out in the open
for a little R & R!! (It was actually sitting in the rain when we saw
it). 37 Species. (Ben Ring)
Thursday 24th June 2004 Pegwell Bay
Little
Egret was feeding on the garage pool at Pegwell (2nd day) early this
morning. (Dylan)
Wednesday 23rd June 2004 Oare Marshes
I had a wasted journey attending the soup-mine so, by
11.30hrs, I headed over to
Oare Marshes, hoping to re-locate the adult colour-ringed Black-tailed
Godwit. Nothing doing, I went into the hide on the East Flood to be
greeted by two guys from North Kent. We spent the next two hours enjoying
the birds, and the ambience, of this fantastic reserve. I picked out a
Black-tailed Godwit wearing a combination of a Yellow Flag and 4 x 10mm
colour rings. All of this information points towards this being a bird of
Dutch origin and a very rare occurrence. I have sent the details off to
the various ringing groups, so hope to be able to up-date planetthanet
very shortly! Despite the wind, there were 5 Avocet, 4 Little
Egret, 1 Hobby and the dark male Ruff visible from the
main hide. Not much, I know, but at least I got away from the
soup-mine! (Dylan)
Wednesday 23rd June 2004 Late News Pegwell
Bay
Tuesday
22nd June 2004 Pegwell Bay
2 Crossbill flew north over Pegwell Country park at 16.45hrs (Phil
M)
Tuesday 22nd June 2004 Oare Marshes
I couldn't face another slog around Grove, or the
Harbour, so I headed over to Oare Marshes. The "Tattooed Two"
were already present on the seawall as I made my way past the East Flood.
I had a quick chat then sauntered off along the coastal path to view the
West Flood. Two Black Swans with the Mute Swan flock provided
a touch of the exotic. Plenty of Black-headed Gulls on and
around the reserve, with good numbers of ducks, Lapwings and
9 Avocets. A male Ruff, with a Rufus head-dress, 1 Green
Sandpiper, several Black-tailed Godwits and a lone summer
plumaged Sanderling provided the bulk of the interest, although a
male Marsh Harrier over flew the marsh and 2 Little Owls
were enjoying the sunshine, perched on a concrete building away beyond the
hide. Back
at the East Flood a group of 300+ Black-tailed Godwits had
assembled as the rising tide moved them off of the Swale. I refound the
Orange/White - Red/White colour marked bird along with another, but due to
the depth of the water and lack of time, I failed to note the complete
combination. It was an adult summer bird, so not the bird from 16th June!
A nice dark coloured male Ruff put on a good display close to the
road and a Common Sandpiper was on the small pool beyond the main
hide. Meadow Pipits "parachuted" overhead, singing their
frantic song. Bearded Tits and a Water Rail called from
within the thick reeds and a couple of Grey Herons caused panic
when they flew over the roosting Godwits. The whole reserve is
alive with new life, as broods of ducks, coots, swans and moorhens
dabble about in the muddy fringes. A pair of Cuckoos were up to
their mischief along the southern hedgerow, prospecting for foster
parents, no doubt! Four hours flew by and I had really enjoyed my time out
and about. (Dylan)
Monday 21st June 2004 Grove Ferry
I went to Grove Ferry for an hour this morning just
so I could try out my 30x eyepiece and camera. As is always the way, there
was bugger all to photograph. I saw 5 Ringed Plover, 7 Little
Egret, 8 Redshank (including 2 fledglings), 30+ Lapwing
and an assortment of moulting wildfowl. Still a few House Martins
over the pools and a few Swifts feeding high up. A rather brown,
1st year Hobby was hunting along the trees by the river and Grey
Herons seemed more numerous today, I counted at least 7
individuals. A female Sparrowhawk, carrying prey, flew in front of
the car as I headed over towards Preston and there were a group of 40(ish)
Lapwings high up, flying south-west as I neared Ash. Autumn is on
its' way! (Dylan)
Sunday 20th June 2004 Black-tailed
Godwit color ring report
Sunday
20th June 2004 Reculver 08:25 – 11:40hrs
First
visit this year and took the circular route from the Towers to
Coldharbour, then cut along the Wantsum Channel to the railway then back
to the car park. Started off sunny with a breeze, which made it feel
cooler than the 15oC it claimed to be. By the time we got back to the car,
dark clouds had formed & the first spots of rain fell. The
birding was as quiet as anticipated, save for several hundred Swifts that
swept across the route. Gulls were limited to Herring, Black
Headed, & a few Common. Noted 2 Common Terns. Waders
restricted to Oystercatcher, Redshank, 3 or 4 Ringed Plover,
and a Little Stint . Frequent scans of the sea failed to produce
the sought after Gannets. The
Wantsum Channel was ‘home’ to numerous Reed & Sedge Warblers,
as well as Reed Bunting. Small groups of Linnet
‘twittered’ overhead from time to time & Meadow Pipits
parachuted to earth at the slightest encouragement. 5 Shelduck chicks
were happily bobbing along with parents & back at the oyster farm, 4
juvenile Pied Wagtails were attempting to catch flies. 33
Species.
(Ben Ring)
Sunday 20th June 2004 Garden Dumpton Thanet
I must be getting old, just finished my second night
shift and couldn't muster the energy to do any birding on my way home! I
got up around 10.30hrs and sat in the garden eating some toast. A
spectacular weather front was approaching from the south, drifting slowly
Northwest. Along the leading edge were 100+ Common Swifts and a
lesser number of House Martins, feeding in the clear sky. To my
utter amazement 2 Sandwich Terns flew over the field behind my
garden, calling noisily as they headed from St. Lawrence towards
Broadstairs. They were not a garden tick; I have recorded them on several
occasions, but always at night whilst I've been in the garden with the
moth trap. A trickle of gulls were also moving north and
contained a few adult Lesser Black-backs which may be an indication
of a poor breeding season for that species? (Dylan)
Saturday 19th June 2004 Ash Levels
A walk
around The Patch from Ash to Goldstone, the Brookestreet from
10:20 – 12:45hrs on a sunny day with a light breeze. Approx 16oC.
Started off slowly but good to see 4 Yellow Wagtails among the
usual ‘commoners’. Plenty of Swallows & House Martins
throughout the walk & occasional Swift. Real ‘bonus’ came
on the return leg when we saw the White Stork that has been showing
for several weeks in various spots. Noticed it first above the Europa
Nursery at noon & watched it for 15 minutes as it steadily gained
height before initially heading NW then circled & eventually, when not
a lot more than a dot in the sky, it headed SW over Ash & off toward
Staple. 30 Species. (Ben
Ring)
Saturday 19th June 2004 Grove Ferry
Having been at work all night without a sound, it was
nice to hear the male Black Redstart greet the dawn with a few
bursts of song. I saw the female collecting food from the pallet yard just
after 05.00hrs, so would assume this is confirmation of breeding? My drive
home was a scenic one, as I returned to the area where the White Stork had
been on Thursday, however the ploughing was completed and the Stork gone.
I continued on towards Grove Ferry, seeing a female Marsh Harrier
fly over the road near the "Blue Bridge". Stopping just long
enough to walk to the ramp, amongst the assortment of rapidly moulting Mallard,
Teal, Shoveler and Gadwall, I found 8
"Icelandic" Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Little Ringed & 4
Ringed Plover, 1 Green Sandpiper and a Little Egret. (Dylan)
Friday
18th June 2004 Grove Ferry
Finally
‘escaped’ from painting after a couple of other jobs this morning
& we popped over to Grove Ferry. Spent a very pleasant 2 and a half
hours from 11:20am – 2pm wandering around the hides & back along the
river. Dark threatening clouds never quite delivered what was expected
& the temp was lower than the last few days, at about 17oC.The sun
burst through just as we were heading back to the car park. Whilst
the birding was not outstanding, we did encounter a family of at least 4
playful Fox cubs, affording great views, on the path leading to The Ramp.
A juvenile Cuckoo sat on a fence post & a Kingfisher
shot off when we entered the Turf Hide. Also saw a male Marsh Harrier
passing food to a female in mid air – always a great sight. There were
numerous Sand Martins skimming the water & these were backed up
by lesser numbers of other hirundines. The Harrison’s Hide had an
interesting batch of what looked like Stints but could not be sure
(Temminck's Stint has been noted recently, but there were 5 of these
guys). Also noted LR Plover & Spotted Redshank, amongst the
more usual pool birds. 4 Little Egrets were present at the pool a
little further on the same track. Finished with 45 Species. (Ben Ring)
Friday 18th June 2004 Sandwich Bay
A bit of a non-avian day today. I went across to Sandwich Bay for a
walk around the Estate and the coastal dunes. Birds were at a premium,
with nothing exceptional to report. The "new scrape" had a few Lapwings,
Oystercatchers and Tufted Ducks with Common Whitethroat,
Turtle Dove and Blackcap singing from the Elms. Out at sea a
lone Fulmar flew south and a handful of Black-headed Gulls
moved north towards Pegwell. There were a few Skylarks and Meadow
Pipits on Royal St. George's Golf Course, yet the highlight of the day
occurred when a male Kestrel snatched a newly fledged House
Sparrow from a garden fence along Waldershare Avenue. (Dylan)
Thursday 17th June 2004 Grove Ferry
I've had a strange sort of a day. I spent the morning
"somewhere" in East Kent watching a distant pair of Buzzard
spp. I then went to Grove Ferry, via Elmstone, to spend a couple
of hours doing the rounds. The "Tattooed Two" were already ensconced
on the ramp and had very little to report. A drake Garganey,
several Little Egrets and 34 Teal about summed up the
display. I went around to Harrison's Drove Hide and recorded 2 Little
Ringed Plover and 2 Black-tailed Godwit. A 1st year Hobby
and at least 5 Marsh Harriers (including 1 newly fledged
youngster) were seen before I returned to the ramp. From the raised
viewpoint I picked up a distant White Stork being mobbed by some Rooks
as it drifted west over the Preston Marshes. I then went off in search
of the bird, as it appeared to have dropped down towards Seaton. With a
little local knowledge and a great deal of good fortune, I eventually
re-located the bird feeding in the company of "gulls and corvids"
behind a plough! After seeking permission from the landowner, I got
fantastic views of the bird and was able to get some great shots. However,
the farmer requested that the venue was not disclosed, due to
the sensitive location. (Dylan)
Wednesday 16th June 2004 Oare Marshes
Got away from the soup-mine slightly earlier than I
expected, so I went across to the reserve at Oare Marshes. My arrival
coincided with high-tide and there were at least 500 Black-tailed
Godwits roosting on and around the islands of the East Flood. Knowing
that there is a very successful colour-ringing scheme for this species, I
carefully scanned through the flock and found two marked birds. There was
also a female Garganey and a Green Sandpiper on show along
with the usual array of ducks, Lapwings, Little Egrets and Greylag
Geese. (Dylan)
Wednesday 16th June 2004 Grove Ferry
Almost a repeat of yesterday. I had to go over
to Ashford for a meeting, so called in at Grove Ferry for a quick
look. A Blackcap sang loudly from the bushes along the entrance
track and a small group of Goldfinches flew across the paddock as I
approached the ramp. There was an adult Spoonbill feeding
energetically in the pool to the left, accompanied by 6 Little Egrets.
Two Marsh Harriers, overhead, put on a nice display and a Hobby
flew up to join them briefly. The Spotted Redshank remains on the
pool in front of Harrison's Drove Hide, although I only saw 1 Green
Sandpiper there. A lovely day, shame work had to spoil it! (Dylan) Photos
to follow
Tuesday 15th June 2004 Pegwell
Bay Spring Updates
Tuesday 15th June 2004 Grove Ferry
We went down to Grove Ferry hoping there would be a few
dragonflies about. This was not the case, despite superb conditions. We
did see a few larger species distantly from the mound and Harrison's
Drove Hide, yet they remained un-id'd. There were a nice array of birds on
display; 8 Little Egret, 1 Ringed Plover, 3 Green
Sandpiper, 2 Marsh Harrier, 24 Teal, 50+ Lapwing,
2 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Little ringed Plover, 1 Hobby
and a Spotted Redshank being the pick of the crop. Plenty of Reed
& Sedge Warblers around the reed beds and Water Rails
calling, from deep within the tangled stems. A couple of Grey Herons
were fishing the pools and City's Warblers continue to dominate
the airwaves. A very pleasurable way to waste 2 hours! (Gadget &
Dylan)
Monday 14th June 2004
Ringed Bird Report Great Black backed Gull
Monday 14th June 2004 Ramsgate Cemetery
Having just spent the past three days involved in the
celebration of a family "christening", I finally arrived back
home mid-afternoon. The June doldrums continue, with no news of any
significance from anywhere around the county. Knowing that the birding
would be difficult, I chose the soft option and walked around Ramsgate
Cemetery. It is obvious that the local breeding birds are having an
excellent season with broods of Wrens, Robins, Blackbirds, Long-tailed
Tits and Magpies seen as I made my way around. There was a
group of 70+ Carrion Crows loitering around railway border and Rose-ringed
Parakeets were conspicuous, yet surprisingly quiet, as they chased
across the sky. The highlight of the day was provided by a pair of male Green
Woodpeckers. They were involved in a territorial dispute with ritual
posturing, as described in BWP (Vol IV, page 829-830). This is the second
time I've been privileged to whiteness this behavior, strangely enough; it
was also in the cemetery last year! (Dylan)
Thursday 10th June 2004 Broadstairs
Walk Dumpton
I really struggled to get motivated today. I had some
work to sort out in Broadstairs, so walked the cliff-top back to Dumpton.
There was not to be a repeat of the "Whale" incident just a
steady trickle of Herring & Greater Black-backed Gulls, moving
south a long way out at sea and a couple of Fulmars patrolling the
coast. I had fantastic views of an adult male Kestrel hunting the
rough vegetation along the cliffs near to Dumpton Gap. A Mistle Thrush
sang from atop a lamp post and I was treated to an insight into Blue
Tit etiquette, whist watching a family party in King George VI Park.
As the rain set in, I headed back home (I had left the washing out!) and
saw an extraordinary display of bathing technique from the Rose-ringed
Parakeets. They were flying to the outer most branches of the
sycamores and hanging upside down to allow the droplets to soak their
feathers. A Chiffchaff sang from the railway embankment and a
family of Magpies were at Dumpton Park Station. (Dylan)
Wednesday 9ty June 2004 Grove Ferry
After a morning in the soup-mine, I called in at
Grove Ferry on my way home. The weather was glorious and I bumped into
Messrs Hollyer & Laslett to enhance my enjoyment further. As with my
trip over to Shuart, there was very little to get excited about but there
is still plenty to see. I saw 5 Hobbies (John & Pete reported
12 from the Lampern Wall!), 7 Little Egret, 2 Ringed Plover,
8 Redshank, 3 Marsh Harrier, 1 Cuckoo and 9 Teal
(returning birds - failed breeders?). Reed and Sedge Warblers,
Bearded Tits and Reed Buntings all appear to be enjoying a
very good breeding season and a group of 60+ drake Mallards
suggest similar success for their missing partners. A few Common Terns
were fishing the pools and there were good numbers of House Martins
collecting mud from the margins of the pool below the ramp. There was a
pair of Redshank with 2 young in front of the Harrison's Drove
Hide. The male was perched on the screening and allowed me to get some
nice images. (Dylan)
Wednesday 9ty June 2004 Common
Buzzard
Common
Buzzard being mobbed by crows on the A256 just past the Eastry bypass
at 18.15hrs
(Graham Crick)
Tuesday 8th June 2004 Chamber's Wall
I went over to Shuart Lane. Parking by the old barn,
I walked across to the railway embankment, then along to Chamber's Wall and
across to Coldharbour Lagoon. The birding was very ordinary. Loads of
common warblers collecting food to feed unseen broods all along the track.
Common Whitethroat, Sedge & Reed Warblers
dominant, along with Linnets and Goldfinches, close to the
farm. Reed Buntings were very obvious along the dykes, males
finding time to sing, even though the females were fully engaged in
maternal duties. Turtle Doves were very numerous and 2 Cuckoos
called from the scrub. I bumped into Tim Hodge along the embankment, he
had seen no more than I had to report. June doldrums - as expected.
(Dylan)
Monday 7th June 2004 Ramsgate Harbour
Nothing much to report today. I went down to Ramsgate
Harbour to see if the colour-ringed Great Black -back was still
present. Negative news but, all the previous ringed birds have been just
one tide birds, it was no surprise that J43A was missing. There was plenty
of activity from the local breeding birds, 2 pairs of Pied Wagtails were
around the Port entrance, with another family party further along the
undercliff. Several Fulmars patrolled the cliffs and 2 male Rock
Pipits were displaying around the harbour. The only Greater
Black-back was an adult, feeding on a Dogfish, and the
"controversial" 3rd yr Lesser Black-back was behind
the A&P Shipyard. Several Cormorants were fishing out in the
bay and their behavior was something that I had witnessed before but taken
no notice. They were sitting on the sea with their wings spread,
attempting to dry them (much akin to the accepted practice of
perching on exposed sites to allow the element to dry the wing feathers).
(Dylan)
Sunday
6th June 2004 Pegwell Country Park & Stone
Lees
A rare
visit (this year) to Pegwell Country Park, arriving at 8:40am. Warm &
sunny, at 17oC,with increasing cloud during morning. Common
Whitethroats were very vocal & certainly not shy! Meadow Pipits
displayed at every opportunity & a couple of Mistle Thrush
had a ‘punch-up’ over, I assume, a female MT, which looked on. Sadly,
the tide line was nearer France than England & so waders on view were
limited to Redshank, solitary Curlew & Oystercatcher
(!), & 10 Black tailed Godwit. Stone
Lees has obviously been ‘manicured’ since my last visit, affording
greater views of the reserve & more trails. Several Willow Warblers
in fine voice, along with the more usual Chiffchaffs. Turtle
Doves were evident although in single figures. Back at car at 11am
& 33 Species. (Ben Ring)
Sunday
6th June 2004 Church
Wood
1 Spotted Flycatcher, 3+ Nightingale, lots of Woodcock,
sightings, 1 Nightjar plus Lesser Spotted Woodpecker calling
near north gate. (Phil M and
Gadget)
Saturday 5th June 2004 Trip to Folkestone Warren
1 Common Buzzard (c.2.00pm) seen off the side of dual carriageway
half way between Sandwich and Deal flying over small section of
woodland. Also at Folkestone - 1 Hobby and 1 Peregrine.
another 1 Peregrine seen at Richborough. (Phil M)
Saturday
5th June 2004 Samphire
Hoe
Stopped off at Samphire
Hoe as I hadn’t been here for at least 2 years. Arriving at 7:45am it
was already feeling warm at 15oC & hardly a breath of wind, the sea
being calm. Making my way to the tunnel at the east of the site I spotted
my first Fulmar (5 seen in total) of the year & also 2 Common
Redstart on the rocks. There were also a good many House Martins
here. Retracing my steps I walked along the concrete apron to the west
side & apart from a couple of fisherman, it was deserted. Meadow
Pipits were frequently displaying over the grass but there wasn’t a
bird to be seen on the water & indeed only the occasional Herring
Gull & a solitary Cormorant flew past. Walking back across the top, a fem Kestrel hunted the scrub by
the cliff face & a party of some 10 Jackdaw shifted back &
forth. Whitethroat could be heard but not seen. By the time I reached the car at 9:45 the car park was filling up
rapidly with ‘ankle-biters’ & equally noisy adults & it was
definitely time to leave. A disappointing 16 Species!
(Ben Ring)
Friday 4th June 2004 Minnis Bay, Reculver
After learning of a Squacco Heron at Minnis Bay, we took a drive
over late in the afternoon. What a result. The bird performed brilliantly
along a reedy dyke, posing motionless then, with lightning quick
reactions, catching frogs from the weedy surface. We got some reasonable
images, despite the poor light conditions. Many thanks to Graham Crick for
the original phone call and congratulations to Tim Hodge for finding such
a wonderful bird. (Gadget & Dylan)
Friday 4th June 2004 Dumpton Gap to North Foreland
After my time spent following the northerly progress of a Minke
Whale (see Non-avian page) birding was secondary. There were very few
bits out at sea with Sandwich Terns predominant. A group of
9 Turnstones and an adult Kittiwake were visible from the
pumping station and a large group of gulls were loafing on the ploughed
field below North Foreland Lighthouse. I did give them a grilling for
colour-ringed Greater Black-backs - no dice, I'm afraid. The triangle had
the usual mix of Meadow Pipits, Linnets and Common
Whitethroats and just about sums up birding on Thanet at present.
(Dylan)
Thursday
3rd June 2004 Pegwell Bay
We spent a couple of hours at Pegwell, watching the falling tide. There
were no great surprises, as is the norm at this time of year. We counted
102 Oystercatcher, 3 Ringed Plover, 25 Curlew, 1 Dunlin,
2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Little Egret, 1 Brent Goose, 8
Sandwich Tern, 7 Black-headed Gull, 3 Great
Crested Grebe and 2 Grey Partridge. There were the normal array
of Redshank, Shelduck and large gulls dotted around the bay,
with 2 male Common Whitethroats displaying from the bushes near the
hide. (Gadget & Dylan)
Thursday
3rd June 2004 Pegwell Bay Honey Buzzard
Honey Buzzard - loitered over Pegwell c10.40am before
flying off west inland over 10 minutes later. I also saw another large
Raptor flying distantly away from me north/northwest towards Manston at
9.45am which looked like a Kite sp? Didn’t appear to have the
springy wing action of a Red Kite annoyingly – though it may have been
one? (Phil M)
Thursday 3rd June 2004 Ramsgate Harbour
I went back to Ramsgate Harbour, hoping to relocate
the colour-ringed Great Black-backed Gull. Thankfully, it was still
present, although asleep and sitting down when I first saw it. I had to
wait for over 30 minutes before it stood up, allowing me to read the ring
number, and started to preen. There was a sub-adult Shag fishing in
the outer harbour and a Rock Pipit collecting food by the
Lifeboat Station. (Dylan)
Wednesday 2nd June 2004
Recovered
Ringed Bird Report
of Adult Shag Ramsgate Harbour Kent on the 28th January 2004
Wednesday 2nd June 2004 Ramsgate Harbour
and Cliff Top
I had to go to the Bank, so had some time to scan
Ramsgate Harbour. There were over 150 Herring Gulls (of various age
groups) loafing on the pontoons in the outer harbour. The
"graellsii" Lesser Black-back is still present along with
a Pied Wagtail and a 2nd summer Great Black-backed Gull (wearing
a blue darvic ring (from the Norwegian scheme). I watched 2 Swallows
arrive in/off and a pair of Shelduck were on the sea below King
George VI park, Dumpton. A lone Fulmar patrolled the cliffs and a Jay
flew from the park towards the Synagogue. (Dylan)
Wednesday 2nd June 2004
Madness in the drizzle 1st June 2004
Report (Dylan)
Tuesday 1st June 2004 out & about
I
spent the best part of 16 hours in the rain today. It had been my
intention to do another 24hr cycle ride around the same route as on 1st
May. The weather conditions dictated otherwise! The drizzle and reduced
visibility meant that I ended up putting my bike on the back of the car
and driving to the, various points along my route. I managed to clock up
104 species before throwing in the towel. I will write up a proper account
of the day later. The birds that I didn't manage to see included Dunlin,
Pied Wagtail, Fulmar, Hobby, Peregrine, Lesser Whitethroat, Greater
Black-back and many, many more. I did have a wonderful time,
despite the conditions, and recorded some really smart birds. The
only addition to my year-list was a Nightjar in the Church Woods
RSPB complex. (Dylan)
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