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Last update: Sunday 31st October 2004 at 17.10hrs

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September Report has been Archived

Sunday 31st October 2004 Jack Snipe Undisclosed site

I had a Phone call lunch time to say, we think that there is a Jack Snipe in our garden, Would you like to come over and confirm this and if you wish you can take some photos. So here they are (Gadget)

Sunday 31st October 2004 Sandwich Bay

Went over to Sandwich bay this morning to meet Graham at the Restharrow Scrape, Walked along the Ancient Highway to Mary Bax plenty of Corn Buntings, Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, 4 Stonechats, 60+Lapwings over head going towards the SBBOT Graham arrived at 08,30hrs we walk to the hide on the Scrape and observed 1 Pied Wagtail and lots of Sheep we left the scrape and went over to the elms were we had 2 Goldcrest, 2 Great Tits, 4 Blue Tits, walking back to the car we had 2 Stonechats. (Gadget)

Sunday 31st October 2004  Pegwell area

Very disappointing again today. Out for first light (6.40am) and stayed till just after 12.00.A little bit of vismig first thing soon tailed off and I was left bored for quite a while waiting for the bushes to warm up. Even then little about - 4 Chiffchaff, 20 Goldcrest, 7 Firecrest, 1 Ring Ouzel, 6 Stonechat plus on the vismig: 9 Brambling, 76 Chaffinch, 66 Greenfinch, 31 Linnet, 5 Tree Sparrow, 71 Redwing, 45 Fieldfare and a single Waxwing over the sunken garden (8.17am) - all flying west. I did most of the incoming tide - lots of the Plovers were spooked by bait diggers though there were 3500+ Lapwing and 1500 Golden Plovers present early am - and out on the mud from late morning 8 Little Egret, 1 Spotted Redshank, 5 Black T Godwit, 82 Bar T Godwit, 216 Grey Plover, 56 Knot, 730 Dunlin etc plus one of the Greenshanks was in the pools off the Hoverport earlier on. Looks as though these decent winds will be with us until Tuesday so hopefully something better will happen in the next couple of days? (Phil M)

Sunday 31st October 2004 Oare Marshes - 07.50 - 09.45hrs

A manic night in the soup-mine, compounded by the annual madness that accompanies messing with the clocks and the resultant extra hour in bed (or not if you're on the night shift!) I drove over to Oare Marshes purely on the strength of the long staying Grey Phalarope, we need it for the photo challenge! As it turned out, it was a good decision. Arriving just before 08.00hrs, I was amazed to find the carpark full - mystery solved when I walked along the seawall towards the new hide. The seawall was lined by wildfowlers - a bizzare concept along the boundary of a Kent Trust Reserve and public right of way? I had already seen the phalarope briefly, as I scanned the East Flood from the viewing point out of the car window. The light was lousy, so I walked around to Faversham Creek in order to get the sun behind me. A nice mixed flock of Green & Goldfinches were feeding on the cut grass inside the seawall. Reed Buntings, Bearded Tits, 2 Kingfishers and 3 Stonechats caused raised bins as I made my way past the massed ranks of shooters and dog-walkers. The Grey Phalarope was relocated swimming in open water, in the lee of a large reedbed. My initial attempts at a picture were hopeless, but as the sun rose higher, light levels improved and I managed to get some decent record shots. A Little Stint was spotted around the muddy fringes along with 2 Water Pipits. Water Rails called from deep within the reeds and there were at least 6 Little Egrets fishing around the ditches and fringes of the East Flood, no doubt there were more on the west side. Tony Swandale reported a few Twite along the seawall beyond the Interpretation Centre whilst Murray had seen one, of the two, Rough-legged Buzzards over Harty Hill. The back up species included large numbers of Dunlin, Redshank and Black-tailed Godwits with Teal, Greylag & Brent Geese, Grey Heron, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail and a Marsh Harrier also making it into my note book. (Dylan)

Saturday 30th October 2004 Shuart & Chamber's Wall

We walk out though Stuart's towards the railway line and a long Chamber’s Wall, observing on the way. 4 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, c60 Mute Swans, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Ringtail Hen Harrier, 2 Kestrel, 3 Grey Partridge, c700 Lapwing, good numbers of Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls 1 Adult winter Little Gull, 1 Short-eared Owl, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers good numbers of Skylark over head 2 Swallows, 3 alba Wagtails, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Stonechat c60 Redwing, 10 Fieldfare a few each of Blackbird, Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush, 3 Chiffchaff a few Goldcrest a group of 10+ Long-tailed Tit, heard some Bearded Tits, 1 Jay, 3 Tree Sparrow good numbers of Chaffinch, 1 Brambling, 1 Redpoll, 5 Goldfinch Reed Bunting, 6 Corn Buntings, (Craig & Gadget)

Saturday 30th October 2004 Grove Ferry

 Did a Couple of hours at the Ferry today with not much to report, all sightings from the ramp except the Beardies at Beardie corner. Harrison's was dead 'as usual'. 3 Little Egrets, 5 Cetti's Warblers and 2 Stonechats early on. 3 Marsh Harriers, 2 Sparrowhawks and 2 Kestrels. I estimated there to be at least 2000 Teal and 1800 Lapwing plus 1 Wigeon and 1 Tufted Duck among the more common ducks. A larger number than usual of Black Headed Gulls, 277 in all plus 1 Common Gull. 44 Bearded Tits, 4 Cormorants, 3 Golden Plover and a small wader seen in flight only that could only have been a Dunlin. 2 Green Sandpipers flew over and landed out of sight in one of the back pools. The paddock held 6 Fieldfare, 23 Redwing and 1 Green Woodpecker plus at least 5 Blue Tits, 1 Chaffinch and at least 18 Reed Buntings around the ramp area. On the way out there was a single Goldcrest in trees above the entrance gate. (Martyn W)

Saturday 30 th October 2004  Pegwell area

Down for first light (stayed 7.40-12.00) and nothing was going on vismig wise. A Kingfisher, the 2 Greenshanks in the pools and a few Rock Pipits were on or around the seawall area of the Hoverport plus a flock of about 50 Mipits were grounded on the pad itself. A single Firecrest and a male Black Redstart were the only decent quality bits I came across in the
whole area between the Farm and Stonelees. On the incoming tide - 15 Egrets, 2570 Goldie's, 3020 Lapwing, 51 Sanderling and a single Blackwit plus the first Pegwell Corn Buntings of the autumn showed up at long last - 2 birds which flew in and landed on the Country Park. (Phil M)

Saturday 30th October 2004 Deal Pier 10.00 - 11.30 hrs

Thankfully I was having breakfast in the cafe with Bev for 45 minutes. It was dire! 2 Common Scoter north and a few Cormorants south was about as exciting as it got. Just as I was starting to pack up a single Brent went north and 2 Turnstones south. A Grey Wagtail flew north along the beach as I was leaving the pier. I walked down to Deal Castle in the vain hope of finding a Black Redstart. Only 3 Pied Wagtails for my trouble plus a couple of Skylarks and 17 Redwings flying north over the town. (Dylan)

Friday 29th October 2004 Stonelees

We went to Stonelees this morning, hoping to relocate yesterday's Hoopoe. No such luck, just a handful of Goldcrest, 1 Chiffchaff and a few Redwings in the Hawthorn scrub, whilst a Peregrine was seen high up on the narrow chimney of Richborough Power Station. Chaffinches passed overhead in small numbers and Reed Buntings seemed numerous amongst the bushes on the Country Park.  A group of 15+ Twite were feeding on the old tip, but were very flighty and departed back to the saltmarsh before any scopes could be set up.  (Gadget & Dylan)

Friday 29th October 2004 Foreness Point

A trip over to Kingsgate was brief, but fruitful! Despite not being able to relocate the Dartford Warbler, 2 Black Redstarts provided ample compensation. The sun shone and there was a reasonable movement of hirundines. We estimated 400+ Swallows & 4 House Martins in 40 minutes. A Sparrowhawk showed above North Foreland Golf Course, causing a large flock of Starlings to group together in a spectacular aerial display. A Stonechat showed in brambles along the cliff-top, allowing a quick photo opportunity before moving off. The wader roost at Whiteness Point contained a nice mix of Ringed & Grey Plover, Knot, Oystercatcher, Sanderling and Turnstone with 11 Purple Sandpipers noted amidst the throng. A few Gannets and Auk spp. were seen moving east, far out at sea with a lone Great Crested Grebe landing on the sea just off the Captain Digby. (Craig, Gadget & Dylan)

Thursday 28th October 2004 Ramsgate Cemetery

Thursday 28th October 2004 cliff-top path near the Fayreness

A Swallow and 2 House Martins were over the chalk cliffs behind the Captain Digby. No sign of the Red-backed Shrike, so Gadget drove around to Palm Bay, whilst Dylan walked the cliff-top. A Skua spp. out at sea off of the pumping station was probably a Pom. As the tide was rapidly rising, plenty of common waders were on the exposed rocks. 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls were amidst the large number of birds loafing on the rocks and sea in Palm Bay with 2 Sandwich Terns fishing out in the bay. Northdown Park was very disappointing, just 2 Goldcrests, 2 Chiffchaffs, 15+ Pied Wagtail, 7 Mistle Thrushes and a Redwing sums it up. (Gadget & Dylan)

Thursday 28th October 2004 Seawatching from Broadstairs

I had a few minutes to waste, so watched the sea from above Viking Bay. 13 Brent Geese, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Dunlin and 9 Common Scoter flew south into the stiff breeze. (Dylan)

Thursday 28th October 2004 Ramsgate Harbour & Pegwell

After trying the West Cliff first thing where nothing was going I decided to have a quick look at the sea even though the wind direction was slightly naff. I started at about 10.00am on the East Pier and could only stomach half an hour, as it was so slow. Only 5 Kittiwake, 35 Scoter, an Auk plus a flock of 30 Wigeon and 4 more Pintail passed through offshore. I then cycled down to the hide to watch the incoming tide bumping into Frank who had just seen a bird in Stonelees that could only have been a Hoopoe judging
by his description. He flushed it mid morning from near the bonfire site and the last he had seen of it was when it flew into the s/west corner. He had phoned before I had got back and left me a message - confirming it was a Hoopoe - he wanted to have a look in a book to be sure. Anyway after watching the incoming tide for an hour or so I did pop down and have a quick 10 minute shifty around the main paths but didn’t come across anything. I had checked Pfizer’s playing fields but these were dead as a Dodo too. Anyway - the tide was another duff one with 2400 Golden Plover, 1180 Lapwing, 14 Little Egrets plus a flyover flock of 16 Shoveler, 4 adult Little Gulls south and 4 Redpoll flew north. Very little other than Crests around the bushes today. (Phil M)

Wednesday 27th October 2004 Pegwell & Ramsgate Harbour

Down at 7.30am for some reason - thought there might have been some migration today. Anyway after a goodish start - Woodlark s/west over the Hoverpad @7.45 plus a few finches and a flock of c20 Tree Sparrows etc it
went dead after about 8.30 and although I trudged around most of the area I saw virtually naff all passerine wise. Still 2 Greenshank in the Hoverpad
pools and on the way back to get my bike - a single Ring Ouzel on the Hoverport near the old steps. I couldn’t make my mind up where to go next - I fancied trying the East Pier for a seabird or two but out of sheer laziness decided to check the incoming tide instead. Bazza had just turned up as I cycled down the main path and we watched what was left of the incoming
tide - very little on the mud to get excited about (2700 Golden Plover an adult Yellow-Legged Gull etc) but there was a bit of stuff moving out at sea.34 Brent’s, a Red T Diver, the odd Gannet and Kittiwake plus an Arctic Skua passed through - so I decided to go and have a go at a quick seawatch - arriving on the East Pier as about 11.40am.As soon as I set up there were lots of Gannets piling through in groups of 10 - 30 birds. The main bulk of the 830 Gannets were between 11.40 and 12.00ish.Also during this time 2 Bonxies, a Manx Shearwater and a frustrating glimpse of a Petrel specie reasonably close flying south at around 12.00 -almost certainly a Leach's? Other bits during the watch: 82 Kittiwake, only 1 Little Gull (expected many more), 1 Red Necked Grebe, 3 Auks, 1 Scoter, 35 Wigeon and 25 Pintail in one flock - all birds heading south. I left at 1.15pm and cycled up to the west cliff to check any sheltered bits of habitat seeing an
amazingly late Hobby flying east out to sea. When I reached the bit of the west cliff I wanted to check - loads of kids were going berserk in the Park and the other bits on the sea facing side were so horrible looking that I couldn’t be bothered to get off my bike. (Phil M)

Wednesday 27th October 2004 King George VI Park & Ramsgate Harbour

A reality slap today. Yesterday's balmy conditions replaced by a brisk wind, with an element of an easterly bias, meant that it was always going to be difficult. The walk to the park was uneventful, so it was no surprise that I only managed 17 Goldcrests & 1 Firecrest as I worked my way around. A small group of Chaffinches were in the plantation nearest the "Lighthouse" and a family party of Long-tailed Tits buzzed through towards the gardens. Making my way towards the Harbour, a 10-minute stop at Winterstoke Steps revealed 26 Gannets & 1 Cormorant heading south. The Harbour was as expected. The tide was in and there were large numbers of birds roosting on the pontoons. 23 Cormorants included the colour-ringed "sinensis" adult (Red T/O) and a nice group of 70+ Great Black-backs, sadly none with any Norwegian jewellery! It was good to note an increase in the number of smaller gulls, with 30+ Black-headed & 2 adult Common Gulls, amidst the usual gathering of Herring Gulls. 2 Rock Pipits were feeding amongst the stowed fishing nets and 14 Turnstones busied themselves around the quay and pontoons. A group of 7 Pied Wagtails, around the back of the Casino, sums up the best of the rest as I made my way back home. (Dylan)

Tuesday 26th October 2004 Shuart & Chamber's Wall

The best day for some time weather wise, I Had a walk out though Stuart's towards the railway line and noticed, Blackbirds and Song Thrushes were plentiful with a few Redwings feeding on the berries, Robins, Chiffchaff's, Reed buntings, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Linnets, and Meadow pipits were also seen along the track, At Chamber's Wall I headed west towards the gathering of Mute Swans in the fields 62 in total. 3 Grey Heron, 2 Mash Harriers, 3 Kestrels, Chiffchaff's, Reed buntings, Blue Tits, Linnets, and Meadow pipits were also recorded around the bushes and  the fields. (Gadget)

 Tuesday 26th October 2004 Newlands Farm area

I could only manage to grab 90 minutes for a walk around the fields behind my house this morning. The change in the weather was a very pleasant bonus. 6 Tree Sparrows in hawthorns, next to the stubble, was a great start and my first record of this species on Thanet. 5 Skylarks and 10+ Meadow Pipits were present on the weedy field beside Pyson's Road, but a check of the old "Rose Garden" was disappointing with just a couple of Song Thrushes present. 4 Linnets were feeding amongst the cauliflowers and a flyover Rock Pipit was only my second record for the area. A small number of Chaffinches were passing overhead, but I didn't make any conscious effort to count them. Plenty of common birds to be seen, so I was really enjoying my stroll when a dog walker approached and enquired whether I had seen the owl? Apparently his dog had flushed it from the stubble as I was watching Linnets in the cauliflowers. From the description, I would have to guess at Short-eared, but try as I could, I didn't manage top relocate the bird. Round things - or words to that effect! (Dylan)

Monday 25th October 2004 Pegwell Bay

Very little over the weekend - a single Ring Ouzel on the Hoverpad the only thing of note. I went down today to watch the dropping tide at midday. Out on the mudflat - single Spotted Redshank, Black T Godwit, 1420 Golden and 128 Grey Plover, 4 Egrets plus 1 Sandwich Tern - presumably the wintering bird? The first decent amount of Twite were present today with a flighty flock of 25 birds up and down in the salt marsh near the car park. A separate group of 10 birds flew west as I left. (Phil M)

Monday 25th October 2004 King George VI Park & Synagogue

The real world is catching up with me, I've got work commitments that are going to have a dramatic impact on my ability to get out into the field over the next 2 weeks. I walked to King George VI Park, seeing a female Sparrowhawk over West Dumpton Lane as I made my way there. 70+ Goldcrest & 17 Chiffchaffs were noted in the area of mature Sycamores, along the western boundary, near the Tennis Courts. A few more Chiffchaffs were recorded in the plantations beside the cycle path and 2 House Martins flew west into the stiff breeze. Across at the Synagogue I recorded 2 Firecrest, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest and a male Great Spotted Woodpecker. There were still good numbers of Blackbirds and Robins around the area with a noticeable increase in the numbers of Song Thrushes present. Chaffinches, and Linnets, called as they passed overhead but the bottom line is that, the strong wind was keeping the majority of the birds well hidden! (Dylan)

Sunday 24th October 2004 Bockhill

Did a spot of birding in the Bockhill area of St. Margaret's Bay today, not a lot to report, I saw 1 of at least 4 Firecrest, 3 Stonechats and a couple of dozen Skylarks in the big field, no sign of any Shorelarks although they had been seen earlier. The windy and drizzly weather a bit of a hindrance. 20 odd Goldcrests and a couple of Chiffchaffs in the wood. A small flock of Linnets on the big field with the Skylarks. A steady stream of Swallows going south, at least 80 individuals. (Martyn W)

Sunday 24th October 2004 cliff-top path near the Fayreness

Red-backed Shrike still present at 09.30hrs today on the cliff top path + about 20 Swallows (John W)

Saturday 23rd October 2004 Garden Dumpton Thanet

No birding today, but photographed this Black-winged Red Bishop in my parents garden in Dumpton Thanet midway between Gadget and Dylan's homes.  (Martyn W)

Friday 22nd October 2004 Grove Ferry

Only did a couple of hours today, 10.00-Midday, not a lot to see anyway. 5 Golden Plover, a 100 or so Lapwing and 1 Snipe the only waders. There were 16 Wigeon and 9 Pintail but not as many Teal as of late. 1 Common Gull, 1 Water Pipit, 1 Marsh Harrier and 10 Black Headed Gulls. A couple of Reed Buntings and 18 Coots were about all that was to be had. The Photo of a (Pied Rook) was taken in cow fields along Stodmarsh Road just south of Westbere. (Martyn W)

Friday 22nd October 2004 Pegwell Bay

Had another lazy day today. I decided to do an evening Gull roost count - sad eh?? I stayed between 4.30 and 6.00pm - not as many Black Heads as I would have expected (3700 birds) but everything else was present in decent numbers - with 2730 Common Gulls, 1650 Herring Gull, 26 Lesser Black Backs and 860 Great Black Backed Gulls. Also 2 1st winter Little Gulls loitered offshore (notice they were not loafing!) one of the birds having totally black upper wings - something Ive only seen in pictures before ...I think? Also 2 Med Gulls (adult and 1 st winter) and a couple of Yellow-Legged Gulls. Other bits - at least 10 Egrets off to roost, 2 Sandwich Terns, 1 Black T Godwit, 1000+ Golden Plovers etc plus a pre-roost movement of 20 Pied Wags contained a single Grey Wag - strangely heading south? The normal roost in Ramsgate town ... perhaps they were lost? Don't know where they going?  (Phil M)

Friday 22nd October 2004 cliff-top path near the Fayreness

Gadget was about early this morning and managed to relocate the juv/1st winter Red-backed Shrike along the cliff-top path near the Fayreness Hotel. After getting some pix for the website, he contacted us and we were all able to enjoy some stunning views of this confiding individual. Whilst we were watching the shrike, a male Common Redstart and 2 Stonechats were found along the fence line and there were 65+ Swallows noted moving south. A few Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails were feeding on the cropped turf with a steady movement of Chaffinches passing overhead. Happy with our combined efforts with the shrike, we headed across to King George VI Park in the vain hope of clinching the id of the bird from yesterday. Many more birds in the park today. 6 Chiffchaffs, 2 Firecrest and 40+ Goldcrests were given a thorough grilling but, sadly, we were unable to find anything more interesting. 2 Goldfinches were feeding around the middle plantation, but the strengthening westerly wind meant that there was little chance of finding much else along the cliff-top. (Gadget, Craig & Dylan)

Thursday 21st October 2004 Pegwell area

Nearly didn’t go out at all today. Would have been a big mistake as I actually found a decent rarity today. Really didn’t fancy it - but boredom took over by the afternoon so I decided to go down at 2.30pm to watch the incoming tide. I miss-read the tide table (forgot to add the hour on!) and arrived with the tide miles out. I checked the Hoverport to waste a bit of
time - a single Wheatear plus a Greenshank and 2 Curlew Sands off the sea wall etc but the wind was so strong I popped up to seek the shelter of the bird hide earlier than I really should have. Lots of Gulls (1 adult Med Gull) a single Sandwich Tern plus all the common waders in varying numbers etc when a few Swallows started to move through. I had been keeping one eye on the sea as I had seen an interesting seabird fly through much earlier on - when a Swift flew into the Bay from the other side of Shellness. I kept on it as it flew closer and closer when after about 5 minutes it got close enough to see it was a Pallid. It swirled around over the mud showing most of the features (darker flight feathers almost showing a pale panel in the arm in the bright light/paler brown overall colour/wig-tip shape) before flying back off out to sea heading N/East. I had phoned Pete Forrest who I knew was heading for Stonelees and still had it in the scope when Pete got back to the hide but somehow he missed it (as is typical!) and we didn’t see
it again. How he missed it I don’t know - perhaps we jogged my scope whilst passing over to him? Ever so slightly annoyed we carried on looking for about 5-10 minutes but we didn’t get on it again. Anyway - the second Pegwell Pallid after Craig's bird a few years back. Couldn't stay long after that so I left about 4.50pm. (Phil M)

Thursday 21st October 2004 R/gate Cemetery, Synagogue & King G VI Park

Much brighter this morning, but still the brisk southerly winds continue. We started in the Cemetery where 14 Goldcrest and a nice flock of 12+ Long-tailed Tits made up the bulk of the interest. A small number of Redwings were moving about between the various berry sources, whilst a single Rook was amidst the regular Carrion Crow & Jackdaw flock. 3 Chaffinches passed overhead, as did a male Sparrowhawk causing some consternation amongst the corvids. The Synagogue was more sheltered, yet only produced 3 Firecrest, 3 Chiffchaff and 2 Goldcrest. As we walked towards the park, ominous clouds blocked out the sun and the view towards Deal from Winterstoke Steps revealed heavy rain out in the Channel. 3 House Martins battled into the breeze as we stood admiring the scene. In the park, the three plantations were really taking a buffeting as the rain started to fall. We managed to find 4 Goldcrests in the middle group of sycamores. Over at the North-west corner we came across another small flock of birds which contained 3 Chiffchaff, 4 Goldcrest and provided a tantalising glimpse of a possible Pallas's Warbler. We were unable to clinch the id, as the flock moved rapidly amongst the dense foliage, before being lost from sight beyond the concrete wall - very frustrating!  Another Chiffchaff called from a garden as we left the park, via Montifiore Avenue.  (Craig & Dylan)

Thursday 21st October 2004 Kingsgate area

Early am, Red-Backed Shrike still at Kingsgate, in the same general area, 2 Wheatear, 2 Black Redstart, 2 Stonechat and an imm Shag on the sea         (F Solly)

Wednesday 20th October 2004 Grove Ferry

Buff Breasted Sandpiper seen by Mark Heath at 8.45 this morning, and again by me at 12.56, both times briefly. 1 Water Pipit, 1 Bearded Tit, 11 Pintail, 37 Wigeon and 2300-2500 Teal. 2 Common Gulls (1 adult 1 1st winter), 150-200 Lapwings and 1 Stonechat. That's it,  all that was seen today!!!!! (Martyn W)

Wednesday 20th October 2004 October WeBS Count Thanet Coast.

321 Oystercatcher                   791 Turnstone              22 Purple sands

175 Ringed Plover                     22 Dunlin                   138 Redshank

  90 Grey Plover                      318 Sanderling              31 Curlew

 (John W; Phil Charlton; Don Worsfold)   

Wednesday 20th October 2004 Pegwell area

Only checked the cliff/fields/hoverport today. A few bits about - a biggish fall of Skylarks in the farm fields (at least 250) plus 2 Wheatear, a Black
Redstart, 2 Stonechat etc. Very little viewable in the bushes due to the stiff southerly wind. Quite a few Thrushes - though nowhere near what I expected after hearing them passing over all night coupled with the
overnight rain - but 250+ Blackbirds, 60+ Song Thrush, a few Fieldfares, 150 Redwing and at least 6 Ring Ouzel kicking about. Out on the mud 800 Golden Plover, 2 Greenshank and a few Egrets. I decided out of sheer boredom to give the pools a wade in the hope of spooking a few Jack Snipe. I did kick one out (only I Snipe too) but there were 25 Rock Pipits, 50+ Goldfinch and a single Lapland Bunting out in the salt marsh. Not looking forwards to this week’s weather. (Phil M)

Wednesday 20th October 2004 King George VI Park & Harbour

A strong southerly with overnight rain, hardly the conditions to inspire anyone into the field. I had been aware of Redwings moving overhead last night (before the rain) and hoped that there would a few migrants as I made my way to King George VI Park. Blackbirds and Robins were very numerous and vocal, but I only managed to locate 3 Chiffchaffs and 7 Goldcrests in the plantations beside the cycle track. A Grey Wagtail called as it flew south while I walked along the cliff-top to Ramsgate Harbour. The Harbour was relatively quiet and the 10 o'clock ferry had just a handful of Great Black-backs in tow as it entered the outer harbour. A 1st winter male Eider was successfully catching crabs below the Harbour Lights Cafe and There was a juvenile Shag in the harbour with the roosting cormorants! Cormorants numbered 17 birds either fishing or perched around the pontoons. A Kingfisher flew low over the water before being lost amongst the moored boats. A 1st winter Common Tern was fishing in the inner harbour and looked quite surreal as it searched the water in front of The Royal. I managed to get a record image when it perched briefly on the pontoons. Several Rock Pipits were foraging amongst the stowed fishing gear whilst a quick scan through the loafing gulls revealed nothing of note. (Dylan)

Tuesday 19th October 2004 Fields Dumpton Thanet

I spent a couple of hours wandering the fields behind my garden. Very little to get excited about in reality. 2 Chiffchaffs were around the main yard and the two coveys of Grey Partridge numbered 7 & 14 birds respectively. 5 Skylarks were flushed from the stubble areas where an incredible flock of Collared Doves was feeding. There were well over 350 birds with the added bonus of a very late Turtle Dove for company. 4 Redwings and a smattering of Blackbirds were all the thrushes I could muster plus 4 Sparrowhawks and 3 Goldfinches being the best of the rest. (Dylan)

Tuesday 19th October 2004 Pegwell area

Lots of decked Blackbirds about today (Ooooooh!) amongst which I came across 4 Ring Ouzel plus a few Redwing / Fieldfare. Also 4 Firecrest, Wheatear, 1 Stonechat, 140 Goldfinch (north) 4 Siskin (west) plus a few Mipits, Skylarks, Swallow still on the move. On the mudflat: 1420 Golden Plover, 1 Blackwit, 138 Wigeon, 13+ Little Egrets and an adult Yellow-Legged Gull. On arrival at the hide an imm Arctic Skua was flying
about in the bay - eventually flying north over Ramsgate town! (Phil M)

Tuesday 19th October 2004 Kingsgate & Foreness

The Kingsgate moth trap was in Phil’s terminology pants, so I actually did some birding in the Foreness area before work. The usual 3-4 adult Med Gulls and the tail-less Wheatear – looking sicker by the day. A trickle of Redpolls and Brambling flying over and larger numbers of Chaffinches, including a flock of 100 just as I was leaving. Small numbers of Blackcaps/Chiffchaffs/Gold and Firecrest in the bushes and a single Ring Ouzel. Of more interest was a very obliging juv Red-backed Shrike, a Yellow-browed Warbler, a grotty Dartford Warbler and a fly over Lapland Bunting. Almost enough to make me do a bit more birding up there. (FS)

Tuesday 19th October 2004 Foreness Point

We went across to Foreness just to have another look through the gulls. As the tide was well out, most of the birds were down on the rocks, thus not being continually flushed by dog-walkers. I found both adult Mediterranean Gulls with colour-rings. Happily we got close enough to confirm the French ring being white with black OHA. Despite spending over an hour, we were unable to locate any other ringed gulls. A small group of Common Terns were feeding off-shore where Gannets were passing east in small numbers. A Peregrine was watched flying in/off carrying an item of prey and 3 Kestrels were along the chalk cliffs by the pumping station. There was a bit of viz mig noted with Skylarks being the most obvious although we also saw our first 3 Siskins with a party of 14 Chaffinches arriving from the north. The only other sighting of note was a group of 4 Swallows by the "pitch & putt". (Craig & Dylan)

Monday 18th October 2004Jacky Bakers Playing Fields Thanet

A brief stroll around Jackie backers playing fields this evening, 3 Ring Ouzel, 17 Fieldfare, 100 Redwing and a Long eared Owl. (FS)

Monday 18th October 2004 Grove Ferry

Arrived to the pleasant sound of the first of at least 5 Cetti's Warblers. Everything seen today is from the ramp, tried Harrison's but well lets not go there. Lapwing are not as numerous as of late, about 4-500 birds, 25 Ruff and 6 Golden Plover being the only waders. Amongst the common duck, Mallard, Shoveler, Gadwall and 1200 Teal were, 5 Pintail, 24 Wigeon and 1 Ruddy Duck. The Buff Breasted Sandpiper put in an appearance at 8.38-8.55 on the island on the right hand pool, then again at 10.30 on the left spit left pool. Picked it up again in flight over the right pool at around 12.14 as it flew high and strongly south west turning towards Seaton before disappearing into a speck far of to the south lost to view at 12.21. Then lo and behold saw it drop onto the left spit left pool at12.47 were it showed until 13.01, elusive little bugger! Bearded tits numbered 40+, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Kestrels and 1 Sparrowhawk. Overhead were a steady stream of Fieldfare 282 in all plus 123 Redwing. Another 27 Golden Plover flew in plus another 84 to the southwest high over the Seaton area. 2 Grey Herons, 3 Snipe and 1 male Stonechat. Also a Bittern was seen flying low over the reeds, 62 Black Headed Gulls on left pool, 3 Swallows over and several hundred Starlings in varying flocks. Apologies for the poor photo of the Buff Breast, poor light and distance didn't help. (Martyn)

Monday 18th October 2004 K/G/VI Park, R/gate Synagogue & Cemetery

Walked my usual circuit, after signs of early promise over the back garden. Small numbers of Redwing, Fieldfare and finches were passing overhead. This was a wicked ruse to get me away from home. My totals for all three sites were 4 Chiffchaff, 10 Goldcrests and a sprinkling of Redwings and Chaffinches. 8 House Martins and 2 Swallows were feeding in the shelter of the cliffs below Winterstoke Crescent. It was only when I started to head for home around 11.00hrs that things started to pick up. Between 11.00 & 12.20hrs I recorded 380 Fieldfare and 1200 Redwings moving west accompanied by a small number of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks. (Dylan)

Monday 18th October 2004 Foreness Point

I went to Foreness for a couple of hours this afternoon. 3 adult Mediterranean Gulls included the French ringed bird whilst the wader roost contained 17 Purple Sandpiper, 6 Knot, 73 Ringed Plover, 84 Turnstone and 177 Sanderlings.  A pair of Stonechats were feeding along the cycle track by the pumping station. (Dylan)

Monday 18th October 2004 Garden & Field Dumpton Thanet

At lunch time today 5 Blackbirds & 1 Ring Ouzel drop into the garden and started to feed on the red berries on the bushes, also there were 24 House Sparrows, a lone Robin, 2 Dunnock, 2 Blue Tits, and 7 Collard Dove, fly over birds were 60+ Redwings, 18 Jackdaw, and out on the field a mixed group of Pigeons & Collard Doves about 170 in total. (Gadget)

Monday 18th October 2004 Pegwell area

Checked the whole area around the cliff/chine/hoverport. A single Wheatear on the small beach, 3+ Ring Ouzel, 2 Redpoll (west) 8 Siskin (west) 57 Skylark (west) 2 Grey Wag (west) plus 22 Goldcrest, 2 Firecrest,1 Stonechat and 2 Yellowhammers in the stunted bushes along the chine. We saw (Martyn, Richard and I) a strange looking Warbler on the Hoverpad yesterday but unfortunately no further sign today. There were quite a few Chiffs and Blackcaps. Down for the incoming tide: 12 Egrets, 87 Wigeon, 6 Shoveler,920 Oystercatcher, 37 Barwit,760 Lapwing,2120 Golden Plover,153 Grey Plover etc. (Phil M)

Sunday 17th October 2004 Pegwell area

Naff all going on today. A few Crests (4 Firecrest) Chiffs/Blackcaps plus 2 Tree Sparrow, 2 Wheatear,1 Stonechat between us. Just caught the back end of the tide seeing about 10 Egrets, 1000+ Golden Plover,1 or 2
Greenshank plus a late Common Tern perched on a pole offshore. (Phil M)

Saturday 16th October 2004 Grove Ferry

Going down hill fast, is all that can be said for this place. I know we've had a lot of rain over the past week, but its still no excuse for a prime reed marsh to be an oversized duck pond! Well over a 1000 Teal, 6 Pintail, 8 Wigeon plus Shoveler, Mallard and Gadwall on the two pools from the ramp. What was left of the left hand spit held a couple of hundred Lapwings, 8 Golden Plover and a solitary Ruff. A male Sparrowhawk flew along the river bank plus 3 migrant females passed over. The Buff Breasted Sandpiper put in an appearance from 9.35-9.45 on the island on the right hand pool. 1 female and 1 immature Marsh Harrier at different ends of the reserve. A Water Rail calling close to the footpath, 5 Snipe, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Common Gull and 68 Black Headed Gulls from the ramp. Yet again Harrison's hide was rubbish with just 1 Teal for a brief visit and the next pool on had 7 Mallard and 2 Coots (wow). A female Merlin flew threw at 10.27, 3 Stonechats, 1 Robin and 1 Chaffinch around the paddocks. Also in the paddocks 1 female Green Woodpecker, 14 Redwings and at least 4 Song Thrush's. It would seem they have cut back a few reeds in front of green hide and laid them in a pile a few feet into the water? What with these couple of reeds cut, the grass on the ramp cut and the steps up the ramp cleared of any overhanging vegetation, it seems like someone has got a new strimmer for Christmas, and like a child with a new toy, just cutting willy nilly without much thought of where to start and finish.

Saturday 16th October 2004 Pegwell area

A few bits of late news for the area - Pete flushed a very late Nightjar off the Country Park yesterday afternoon - I forgot to mention I saw a Short-eared Owl yesterday plus this morning I received a late report of a Shore lark on the Hoverpad from last Sunday. Apparently I cycled right past it in my haste to avoid the dog walkers! Back to today little was going on. I arrived at 8.00am - checking the Hoverport/cliff areas seeing - a handful of Blackcaps and Chiffs (6 of each) and amongst the flyover stuff - 5 Tree Sparrow, 2 Redpoll, 45 Chaffinch, 25 Goldfinch etc plus a local sub-rarity - a high flying Bearded Tit over the Hoverpad heading north. Nothing else of any note. did attempt to check the incoming tide but left soon after (10.30) due to the amount of bait diggers out on the mud. I did see 7 Little Egrets and 1180 Golden Plover, 117 Grey Plover, 640 Dunlin etc. Yawningly poor. A single Firecrest once again near the Car Park. (Phil M)

Friday 15th October 2004 R/ Cemetery, Synagogue and King G/ VI Park

We met up at the entrance to Ramsgate Cemetery at 09.00hrs. It was immediately obvious that there were a lot of birds in the area. We counted 27 Goldcrest, 2 Sparrowhawk, 11 Redwing, 8 Fieldfare, 3 Firecrest, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Brambling, 20+ Goldfinch, 49 House Martin and a handful of Meadow Pipits overhead. The Jackdaw numbers were also very high at 70+ birds. Sure that there would be more birds closer to the coast; we walked across to the Synagogue. We worked the area more thoroughly than the cemetery and counted 9 Blackcap, 23 Chiffchaff, 40+ Goldcrest, 7 Firecrest and 2 flyover Skylarks. There were plenty of Blue & Great Tits and Robins around the site with a single Great Spotted Woodpecker noted by the clearing. Continuing our journey, we made our way to King George VI Park where we recorded 29 Chiffchaff, 36 Goldcrest, 6 Firecrest, 13 Blackcap, 2 Brambling around the plantations and large sycamores with1 Grey Wagtail and 2 Swallows over south. There were 5 "commic" Terns feeding off Dumpton Gap. Returning to the Cemetery, we added a few more Redwing and Fieldfare to our total along with 2 Swallows.  (Craig & Dylan)

Friday 15th October 2004 Dumpton Fields & Newlands Farm 

Craig needed some kip and I was hungry, so we parted company at 13.00 hrs. After a quick sandwich and check with Birdguides, I headed back out across the fields that back onto my garden. Two coveys of Grey Partridges were flushed from an area of stubble and numbered an amazing 25 birds! I walked all the hedgerows around Newlands Farm and the adjacent fields  noting 2 Firecrest, 1 Brambling, 17 Goldcrest, 10 Chiffchaff, 32 Redwing, 16 Fieldfare, 1 Blackcap, 70+ House Sparrow, 220+ Collared Dove, 1 Reed Bunting and a cracking Ring Ouzel whilst overhead I recorded 1 Grey Heron, 3 Swallow, 2 "alba" & 1 Grey Wagtail and 2 Skylark. Most enjoyable. (Dylan)

Friday 15th October 2004 Pegwell area

Overslept and didn’t get down until just before 9.00am.A little bit of vismig was going on as I checked the Hoverport - a few Tree Sparrows, 12
Redpoll, 2 Siskin plus a few Thrushes/Common Finches over etc. There were good numbers of Blackcaps about today (total of 47 birds) also little isolated groups of Chiffchaffs and a single Lesser Whitethroat on the
chine. After checking the sunken garden I flushed a Dartford Warbler out of the scrub/bushes on the west side of Chiltern Lane at 10.05am.It ended up flying about 100 yards along the path before I eventually lost it - though I could still hear it calling in deep Hawthorn as I walked off. As I continued on a distant raptor (an Osprey as it turned out) had spooked a few
large Gulls (at 10.25am) over a mile or so inland. It took me a while to pick it up before it flapped it's way westward out of sight. I don’t think ive ever seen one so late in the year? Anyway - there were also a few Firecrest, 4 Wheatear, a Ring Ouzel in the horse paddocks on the Farm plus decent numbers of House Martins (800+) and Skylarks flying over. By this time I
decided to cycle down onto the reserve to watch the incoming tide. On the way down my phone went off in my pocket - but by the time I had dug it out the darn thing had stopped ringing. I did notice the call was from Barry (who I had seen all morning perched in front of the hide) when he rang again. Apparently he had seen an imm Purple Heron fly upriver (at 10.45am)
though of course by the time I got into position it was well gone. Slightly annoying as I was only 2 minutes away when it flew through - but there you
go. The tide was uneventful (1 Blackwit, 1500+ Golden Plover etc) but there were a few raptors on the move - I did a few hours on raptor watch picking up at least 8 migrant Sparrowhawks, a Peregrine (south) and an
unidentified large Raptor flew through south behind us at 12.00 o'clock. (A Kite by the looks of it?) Pete also saw 11 Tree Sparrows on the Country Park earlier this morning. A lovely day to be out with the added bonus of a few birdies on view too. (Phil M)

Thursday 14th October 2004 Pegwell

Didn’t fancy it this morning. The weather was very blowy and rainy so I stayed indoors and popped down for the dropping tide arriving at 1.45pm - bumping into John veal in the car park. We wandered up towards the hide
hearing a very late Whimbrel calling in the salt marsh. There was an adult Little Gull sitting on the tide line plus soon after the first Twite of the autumn was heard prior to it being seen flying west over the hide. No sign of the Shorelarks - but Barry Child had seen 3 on the incoming tide in the morning. Perhaps there were 3 yesterday? As the tide dropped - plenty
of birds on show - 1 Blackwit amongst all the common waders plus later on 3 Spotted Redshanks (presumably the wintering birds?) and the first autumn Hen Harrier showed at long last. Amazingly late for the first record. There was also a Lesser Whitethroat in the Hawthorns behind the bird hide and a steady trickle of Hirundines wandered through westward - 310 House Martin and 710 Swallows. It was nice to be out in the first bit of decent weather in what seems like ages - at least that horrible wind had dropped. (Phil M)

Thursday 14th October 2004 Hover Pad & Westcliff

A walk around the old hover pad at high tide was very disappointing, we did find one bird of note a male Wheatear, there were no waders on the apron only a few Mallard out in the reed edges, a few meadow pipits going over head towards pegwell county park, up at the Westcliff we did find 20+ Goldcrest and 2 Ciffchaff, but very little else. (Ian H & Gadget)

Wednesday 13th October 2004 Pegwell area

Didn’t go down until 9.00am - a very half-hearted effort for a mid October session. Very little going on the Hoverport/Chine so I concentrated on the incoming tide for no other reason than I could dive in the hide if the rain started up again! A few Skylarks were moving mainly west plus a few Chaffinch (20) Goldfinch (35) 1 Brambling and 60 Swallow all south - plus 2 Shorelarks were running about on the mud/salt marsh out in front of the hide (c10.00am?) which was nice - though views were a bit naff! Wader wise - all the normal suspects in normal October numbers plus a 1st winter Yellow-Legged Gull and a f/juv Red B Merganser offshore. A none too well juv Gannet was sitting on the point. (Phil M)

Wednesday 13th October 2004 North Foreland & Foreness Point

I dropped Bev off in Broadstairs before heading over to North Foreland. Parking at the pumping station, I walked along the cliff-top to Joss Bay and the "triangle" before continuing on to Foreness Point and  Cliftonville.  Although I recorded nothing out of the ordinary, there was still plenty to see. Viz Mig included 47 Goldfinch, 17 Greenfinch, 29 Linnet & 370+ Swallows all east along the cliff-top. A Goldeneye flew south and there were a few Song Thrush and Redwings feeding on the hawthorns, with 3 Eider (2 male & 1 female) on the sea below Foreness Point. I counted 5 Chiffchaffs and 4 Wheatears as I wandered along the coastal path. 3 Sparrowhawks passed overhead, obviously migrants. There were 3 adult winter Mediterranean Gulls at Foreness, two of which were colour ringed! The green ringed bird was the Belgian individual that I recorded back on 14th August (3EV0); the other ring was a White darvic with black OHA (French I believe?). A male Stonechat was along the golf course boundary as I made my way back to the car and 50+ Goldfinches whizzed overhead as I reached the pumping station. (Dylan)

Wednesday 13th October 2004 Broadstairs King G VI Park & Synagogue

Morning over, I dropped the car back with Bev then walked back towards Dumpton via the cliff-top. There was nothing moving out at sea and the Swallows had ceased passing along the coast. Reaching King George VI Park, it was obvious the Goldcrest numbers had decreased, but I found 5 Chiffchaffs and 2 Firecrest. The Parakeets were incredibly active and noisily ripping the acorns from the Holme Oaks. A large group of gulls loafing on the Hugin Vikings football pitch were given the once over. A nice mix of Herring, Lesser Black-backed and Black-headed Gulls, I was unable to find any wearing coloured rings! Continuing my journey, I walked along to the Synagogue. Being sheltered from the winds, I was treated to a nice mix of resident and migrant species. 29 Long-tailed Tits mingled with a loose flock of 7 Great & 16 Blue Tits, 14 Goldcrest, 7 Firecrest, 6 Chiffchaff & 1 Yellow-browed Warbler. Well pleased with my efforts, I walked back home to the sound of Redwings passing steadily overhead into the southeasterly wind. (Dylan)

Wednesday 13th October 2004 Foreness & North Foreland

Observing a group of mixed Gulls on the clifftop greens about 80+ Herring Gulls, 200+ Black-headed Gulls, 20 Lesser Black-backed Gulls one with a BTO metal ring on Its Right Leg, and 5 Mediterranean Gulls two with Coloured Darvic rings photos to be obtained, the flock of Starlings grew from 200 to about 2,500 within the time spent along the clifftop, other birds noted were 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Swallows 5 Pied Wagtails, 10 Meadow Pipits, we proceeded around to North Foreland not much to report, heading towards Broadstairs along the clifftop a disturbance lifted 70+ Goldfinches out of the grass. (Craig & Gadget)

Tuesday 12th October 2004 Garden Dumpton Thanet

Looking out on the field behind my house their were180 Herring Gulls. 42 Jackdaws, 81 Carrion Crows, 130 Woodpigeons, 90 Collard Dove, 84 Feral Pigeons, about 1200 Starling, and 10 Grey Partridge, overhead birds consisted of 40 Redwings, 14 Fieldfare, 1 Jay, 12 Goldfinches, in the garden itself on the feeders lawn and bushes, 7 Blackbirds, 2 Song Thrushes, 3 Goldcrests, 2 Chiffchaffs, 4 Blue Tits, 2 Robin, 4 Dunnock, and about 40 House Sparrows. (Gadget)

Tuesday 12th October 2004 Foreness & Northdown park 08.00hrs

2 Shore Larks, 6 Swallows, 10 Redwings, 1 Ring Ouzel. (John W & Phil C)

Tuesday 12th October 2004 Chambers Wall;

Lots of Redwings, Blackbirds and Song Thrushes, 1 Ring Ouzel, 5 Fieldfare Chiffchaffs, Goldcrests, Blackcaps.  Ad. Female Marsh Harrier. (John W & Phil C)

Tuesday 12th October 2004 Coldharbour to Reculver:

Merlin, about 80 Swallows, 30 Scoter, 8 Wigeon, 2 Scribes, Abundance of Reed Buntings, 2 large flocks of Goldfinches total 150+, 1 Greenshank, some Grey Plover still in summer plumage. (John W & Phil C)

Tuesday 12th October 2004 Grove Ferry

No sign of Buff Breasted Sandpiper  although it had been seen earlier. 15 House Martins. (John W & Phil C)

Tuesday 12th October 2004 Sandwich Bay

At least 10 Firecrest, 1 Sparrowhawk. (John W & Phil C)

Tuesday 12th October 2004 Dumpton & R/gate Harbour

Overnight rain and the continuing easterlies raised my hopes of a few grounded passerines. Early indications around the garden suggested that Song Thrush, Redwing and Robin numbers had increased significantly, and so it was to prove as I walked around the circuit. 6 Goldcrests & 1 Chiffchaff in the Sycamores at the southern end of Vine Close foretold of what was ahead. King George VI Park held at least 45 Goldcrest, 15 Chiffchaff and 6+ Firecrest, whilst a 20-minute stop at Winterstoke Steps revealed just 3 Brent’s, 10 Oystercatchers & 9 Skylarks west. The Harbour was disappointing, as it was frustrating. I arrived to find the East Pier closed, so viewing from the beach below the Casino; I got glimpses of a Petrel sp. (almost certainly Leach's) in my binoculars, but was unable to confirm the record with my scope due to the heavy seas and strong winds. 38 Great Black-backs, 1 Lesser Black-back, 9 Cormorant, 150+ Herring Gulls and a solitary Rock Pipit was all I managed to record on the pontoons, with a few Turnstones for company. Hirundine movement was restricted to 25 Swallows & 1 House Martin moving steadily westward into the stiff breeze. My return journey allowed me to catch up with Craig and 2 Brambling in the middle plantation in King George VI Park. Nothing spectacular, but better than watching the tele! (Dylan)

Tuesday 12th October 2004 Pegwell to West Cliff

Started off about 8.00am on the West Cliff where - as it happened very little was going on at all. After about an hour of boredom - I cycled down to the reserve to watch the incoming tide. This did little to relieve the boredom - quite a few birds but absolutely nothing I couldn’t have guessed would be there before I arrived. A few Swallows flew over and there was a Firecrest in the Car Park - very poor. On my way up to the chine I had a quick scoot around the Hoverport - flushing a Woodcock but little else other than common stuff. Most of the birds I did come across were seen from the chine and farm fields. Quite a few decked Fieldfare and Redwing, 2 more Firecrest, the odd Blackcap - quite a few Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests in the sheltered areas plus a fair few Skylarks with 80+ west and over 100 present in the surrounding fields. I was home by 12.00 o'clock. (Phil M)

Tuesday 12th October 2004 Ramsgate Synagogue 09.50-11.05hrs

With over night ESE wind and rain just before dawn, I decided to do the synagogue after the hectic school run. And on my 10-minute walk to the site I had a Brambling over-head. Arriving at the site there was calls coming from everywhere, with Long-tailed Tits and Crests the most obvious. On my walk round I had: 9 Firecrest, 2 Brambling, c30 Goldcrests, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 male Blackcap, c15 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Redwing, 5 Mistle Thrush, 2 Swallows south plus a few Skylarks/Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails over too. Then on to the park where the three plantations were surprisingly sheltered from the wind by the cliff top trees. (Craig)

Monday 11th October 2004 Reculver Towers

We spent some time at Reculver Towers mid-morning. There was a steady procession of birds into, and out of, the Swale. The totals were 2 Arctic & 11 Sandwich Terns, 8 Cormorant, 1 Red-throated Diver, 11 Teal, 20 Pintail, 15 Wigeon, 28 Common Scoter, 4 Little Gull, 2 Bonxie, 1 Pomarine Skua, 127 Brent Geese and 103 Gannets. 20+ Redwing and 3 Pied Wagtails arrived in/off, with a Wheatear also seen.

(Gadget, Jon Van der Dol & Ian H & Others)

Monday 11th October 2004 North Foreland & Foreness Point

After dropping Bev off in Broadstairs, I attempted to do a bit of seawatching from North Foreland. No chance - the easterly wind was so strong that I couldn't find anywhere to shelter. I noted a small group of Lapwings stoically flapping into the gale. I didn't have their conviction, so headed around to Foreness Point, where I found shelter in the lea of the pumping station. As I walked past the "pitch& putt", a Black-throated Diver flew behind the pumping station, cutting the corner and allowing fantastic views. Once in position I recorded 81 Gannet, 65 Swallow, 26 Skylark, 70+ Goldfinch, 18 Brent Geese, 1 Grey Plover, 3 Red-throated Diver, 36 Common Scoter, 1 "alba" Wagtail, 5 Dunlin, 3 Auk sp., 13 Sandwich Tern, 4 Common Snipe and 3 Red-breasted Merganser - all east, into the prevailing wind. 2 Wheatears were noted, one on the pumping station and one on the "pitch & putt" along with 2 Shorelarks on the short grass below Palm Bay School. Starlings were arriving in/off in a steady stream. Two birders reported a Montagu's Harrier in/off at Margate, whilst another had seen 7 Purple Sandpipers and a "white-flagged" Turnstone amongst the wader roost at Whiteness.  (Dylan)

Monday 11th October 2004 Pegwell to West Cliff

Out all morning (until 1.15pm) covered every bush, tree, patch of mud, blade of grass in the whole of the area between Stonelees and the West Cliff seeing an extremely disappointing amount of stuff. I was half
expecting something of a bit of quality and whilst constantly irritated by "The Hair's" text messages informing me of all the goodies he was getting at
Foreness - saw nothing better than a few Firecrest and a single Ring Ouzel all day. Very little on the mudflat (I watched the incoming tide for a laugh -
hilarious) though there was a huge looking Falcon creating havoc at high tide - not exactly sure what it was? Hope it wasn’t something too interesting? Anyway - on my travels I came across 2 late Redstarts in Stonelees, 8 Firecrest, 70+ Goldcrest, 250 Swallows (north) plus 120 Redwing and 50 Fieldfare flying west. (Phil M)

Sunday 10th October 2004 Ramsgate Synagogue/Cemetery 12.15pm-1.10pm

On the walk home from the seawatch I decided to check the sheltered area of the synagogue for any migrants that might be lurking there as I would guess the park would be blown out, and the place was alive with birds in the form of: 3 Firecrest, c20 Goldcrests, c25 Chiffchaffs, a female Blackcap, a few Redwings, Blackbirds and Song Thrushes feeding on berries plus good numbers of Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits with the Great Spotted Woodpecker still making a right noise, and a fly-over Jay and Brambling which was my second of the autumn. With all this going on I popped into the wind swept Cemetery in the hope of something better but no… not this time just a few calling Goldcrests a handful of Jays and c30 Jackdaws feeding on the grass near the row of Scott’s pines was a good number for there … but little else. If the easterly wind ever drops then who know what might be lurking waiting to be found?? (Craig S)

Sunday 10th October 2004  Stonar lake, Pegwell &

Good to see the weathervane on clock tower opposite our flat on Broadstairs seafront with the arrow pointing to "E". Went to Stonar lake, not much about, 30 Coot, 42 GBB Gulls, Kestrel, 4 Tufted duck, 10 BHG, 12 Cormorant, 2 Mallard and 2 Little Grebes, one of which still in summer plume. Brief stop at Pegwell, usual stuff about but more Brent returning now. Also noticed Little Egret in reeds close to hoverport. Brief seawatch at Ramsgate, quite a few Gannet and gulls drifting about, flock of 100 + Brent and a Skua of some type. Not lots but not bad in time I had, still much better than omnibus Eastenders!! (Adrian C)

Sunday 10th October 2004 North Foreland

Decided on a change from Grove Ferry today, so thought I'd do a sea watch from North Foreland and my friend Richard hadn't had a decent sea watch for several years. Arrived at 8.40 and after setting up, the first bird seen was a Leach's Petrel South at 8.45 followed shortly after by another at 8.55, Gannets and Kittiwakes trickling through in 1s and 2s with one flock of 17 and another of 13 Kittiwakes and the largest Gannet flock was 8. A total of 101 Kittiwake and 123 Gannet plus 1 north. A total of 10 Great Skuas (Bonxies), 84 Common Scoter with another 3 going north. 7 Auk species and 7 Guillemots and 4 Red Throated Divers south and 1 north. A text message from my good friend Pete Solly informed me the Buff Breasted Sandpiper was still at my usual haunt at Grove Ferry, on the main pool left hand spit for at least 5 minutes at 7.20. A single Pintail flew south with a flock of 21 Brent Geese, a total of 100 Brent's South and 6 north, 2 Rock Pipits around the cliff top and 1 Sandwich Tern south. Stopped sea watch for lunch at Foreness at midday with a walk around the cliff top by the Pitch and Putt green and the Water Treatment Works. 2 Knot on the beach with several Turnstone an Sanderling and a single Oystercatcher. Back at the car I had a quick scan of the lawns in front of Palm Bay School and located 2 Shore-larks. Back to sea watching at 1.30 and a female Wigeon on the sea. (all the above totals include birds seen before and after lunch). At 2.40pm a superb adult Sabine's Gull flew past giving excellent scope views and a Lifer For Richard. The only other thing of note was a Seal just off shore, I have no idea whether it was Common or Grey just that it was a Seal. A very rewarding sea watch and a brilliant change to seeing nothing but water or reeds at Grove Ferry!!!! (Martyn W & Richard Hoult)

Sunday 10th October 2004 Pegwell to West cliff

Started off first thing checking the Hoverport/clifftop etc. I stayed until 8.00am seeing 920 Redwing, 30 Fieldfare and a single Ring Ouzel all west plus a couple of flyover Brambling and a few Chaffinch etc. Next stop - the west cliff. The Thrush movement had stopped and the bushes were completely blown out - with only a few Crests and the odd Chiff heard calling from deep cover. A single Wheatear on the short grass plus the odd decked Finch/Wagtail. By 8.30 I arrived at the Harbour. I did try and set up on the east pier but conditions were too bad and a few direct hits later (and Craig flat refusing to set up there) we moved west eventually finding cover just off the main beach. We stayed until 11.00 seeing: 4 Red T
Diver, 123 Brent (25 more north/west over Ramsgate on the way home) 1 Shelduck, 18+ Common Scoter, 5 Little Gull, 101 Kittiwake, 3 Sandwich Tern, 27 Auks, 6 Bonxie, 3 Arctic Skua plus 4 more Skua sp mainly heading
south. We found an exhausted Song Thrush on the beach, which I put in the sun out of the wind behind where we were watching from. Fully expecting it to conk out any minute - we were shocked (and highly delighted) when after at least an hour it flew off strongly. Best bit of the day  (Phil M)

Sunday 10th October 2004 Fields Dumpton Thanet

Time is 16.25hrs just looked out over the field from the bedroom window and there are about 2500 Starlings on the group, as they are moving around the field, when they take of its just fantastic to watch. (Gadget)

Sunday 10th October 2004 Fields Dumpton Thanet Lunch Time

A walk over the fields and around the farm boundary just before lunch today I observed 300+ Jackdaws (I Never seen this many Jackdaws before in the fields at Dumpton) with 160+ Carrion Crows were feeding on the open fields with a flock of about 850 Starlings which moving round the field, only 20 Herring Gulls and they were just sitting on the ground. In the corn stubble there 120+ Woodpigeons, 80 Collard Dove, and 60 Feral Pigeons, walking around the farm boundary there were 44 House Sparrows, 15 Linnets, 5 Pied Wagtails, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Wren, 12 Blackbirds, 2 Song Thrushes and 1 Robin. As I walked back across the fields to home 22 Redwing overhead heading west and 3 magpies landed in the bush next to my house. (Gadget)

Sunday 10th October 2004 Ash Levels

A walk around Goldstone & Brooke St from 9 – 11am on a very windy day. Occasional bright sunshine & plenty of cloud cover. Approx 10oC. A case of out with the old & in with the new today, with sightings of 5 incoming Fieldfare & a Redwing near Brooke St & 3 Swallows still fly catching. Plenty of Gulls in the fields (BH & Herring) but the majority of small passerines were seeking shelter in the bushes & trees. Those that did venture out shot past at alarming speeds & kept their identities secret! A spot of conker gathering & a solitary Ring neck Parakeet squawked overhead near the Europa nursery. Heading back towards Queens Rd, a pair of Chiffchaffs was singing. 32 Species. (Ben Ring)

Saturday 9th October 2004 North Foreland 

A seawatch at North Foreland from 09.25 - 12.30hrs was reasonable, although birds were not moving on the scale of yesterday. We saw, in no particular order, 231 Gannet, 241 Brent Geese, 139 Common Scoter, 20 Great & 3 Arctic Skua, 301 Kittiwake, 9 Little Gull, 2 Diver sp., 74 Auk sp., 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Manx Shearwater and 30 Teal (mainly south!) The highlight of the day was provided by a Great Grey Shrike that arrived in /off at 11.20hrs. It perched briefly around the pumping station and houses before disappearing inland over the gardens. 

(Craig, John W, FS, Dave M & Gadget)

Saturday 9th October 2004  A28, near Wye

A Barn Owl flew over the A28, near Wye, as I travelled into work at 05.45hrs this morning. There were a few Redwings moving north at first light and I saw Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail along the River Stour (it forms the western boundary to the site) as I undertook the environmental checks this afternoon. (Dylan)

Saturday 9th October 2004 Botany Bay

A seawatch at Botany Bay by Andrew Lawson, Marc Reid and myself between 1-2.30pm produced the following: 3 or 4 Bonxies, 5 Arctic Skuas, 2 Pomarine and one adult Long-tailed Skua. Also a 1stW Sabine’s Gull, several hundred Kittiwakes, single Guillemot and Razorbill and about 200 Gannets. All were flying south. An "Eared " Owl was also seen a long way out also flying south, presumable a Short-eared. (John van der Dol)

Saturday 9th October 2004 Grove Ferry

An ‘enforced’ visit to Grove this morning having been dropped off there by J while waiting for my car to be serviced. 8:30 – 12:30pm. Decidedly overcast, with frequent light showers & a blustery wind, feeling colder then the 13oC claimed. Did the circular to Stodmarsh & noted incoming migrants – a flock of some 40 Fieldfare & 30+ Redwing. A Merlin shot low through the cow field near Harrison’s Hide, passing within 15 feet of me! I had just passed a flock of some 20 Goldfinch in bushes in its flight path so one of them may have succumbed. Also had 4 sightings of Kingfisher, 3 at least being different birds. A number of perching posts have been placed in front of the hides, presumably to attract Kingfisher & this tactic certainly seems to have worked. I watched a female from a distance of no more than 15 feet from the Reedbed Hide & it seemed totally oblivious to my presence! The main lake had a sizeable population of Cormorants & BH Gulls, with lesser amounts of ducks in various stages of moult, particularly Shoveler. Several Great Crested Grebe showing, some with winter ‘buzz cuts’ & at least one individual still with full (ish) ear tufts. Walking back along the river, a single Green Sandpiper was flushed. Kestrels seemed very active this morning & I saw 6 birds (all male) in my travels. This included 2 males in very close ‘formation’, engaging in a number of acrobatic manoeuvres. 39 Species seen. (Ben Ring)

Saturday 9th October 2004 Pegwell area

Due to not being able to sleep much last night, I was up at 5.00am and down Peggers 15 mins before it got light! A continual stream of Thrushes (mainly
Redwings) had been passing over the house since it had got dark so I decided to go down in the hope of seeing a bit of Thrush movement. Of course they came to a virtual halt around dawn - though I did see 60 Redwing and 3 Fieldfare west plus a decked Ring Ouzel soon after dawn. Also a few finches and Pipits over - not too many (c80 Mipits) though the first Brambling of the autumn showed up at last with 6 west and 2 present. A few Chiffs and Sylvia warblers showed before I had flushed views only of what was probably a Barred Warbler in the tunnel of bushes just east of where the Wryneck stayed for a few days. I booted it out twice just before 7.45am before it disappeared into thin air. By 8.15am I was setting up on the East Pier of Ramsgate Harbour. Lots of stuff piling through - mainly Gannets and Kittiwakes when at 8.30am a juv Sabine's flew into view right off the end of the Pier eventually landing on the sea close offshore. I picked it up a few times as it bobbed about in the waves - jumping up and relanding. Stunning views - it had a gap in between its primaries and secondary on it's right hand wing by the looks of it? I didn't see it fly off (though it may have done?) as I kept losing it in amongst the waves. As the morning progressed the bird activity started to tail off with just the odd flurry of activity. At 9.25 I picked up a juv Long-Tailed Skua heading south - things were looking up - also at 10.00am a Black Throated Diver. By then lots of Brent's had started to move with large flocks mainly heading south. By the time I decided to pack up at 12.00pm ish I had seen: 9 Little Gulls, 530 Kittiwake, 5 Arctic Skua, 21 Great Skua, 1306 Brent's (plus 61 north) 161 Common and 2 Velvet Scoter, 509 Gannets and 5 Diver sp heading south. There were a few dabbling Ducks and a few Commic/Sandwich Terns too plus 29 Auks and 5 unidentified Grey Geese south at 9.35am. Someone had an adult Ross's Gull flying east past Birchington earlier on this morning - now that would have put the tin hat on it! (Phil M)

Saturday 9th October 2004 Grove Ferry 

Viewing from the ramp this morning was not the best as light conditions were terrible. Water levels are gradually rising pushing any non aquatic birds with short legs out! 4 Ruff on left hand spit at the point in amongst the Teal and 1 Ruff flying over towards back pools. The Buff Breasted Sandpiper dropped onto the spit at 7.30am into the goose grass? and showed on and of till 7.50 when flushed. Unfortunately because of bad light and the tendency of the bird to stay in the foliage a photograph was not possible. Lapwing numbers are well down with only 600 that went down to a couple of dozen by 9.00am, 12 Golden Plover flew off south with just 2 individuals left. No other wading birds at all apart from 10+ Snipe. Wildfowl are on the increase with at least 1800 Teal, 11 Pintail and 9 Wigeon plus Mallard, Gadwall and Shoveler in larger numbers. 80 Black Headed Gulls but no sign of Med Gull. 339 Redwings past overhead with 70+ stopping in the paddock before carrying on, a single Fieldfare followed by half a dozen in with a group of Redwing then a flock of 27 Fieldfare only. Still a large number of Goldfinch and Blue Tits around. Bearded Tits don't seem to like the windy conditions as only a small party of 3 were seen flying low and short distance over the reeds. Green Hide and Harrison's Hide are complete waste of time with far to much water and no birds except 1 Stock Dove briefly at Harrison's. I have noticed a little bit of management at the reserve just lately as the grass has been cut on the viewing ramp (very helpful).  (Martyn W)

Friday 8th October 2004 Pegwell/Chine/West Cliff

I started off on the reserve (@7.30am)- lots of Chiffchaffs on the Country Park (20+) plus a few bits'n'bobs on the mud including: an adult Yellow-Legged Gull, 3 Avocet etc plus a female type Red-Breasted Merganser south and although the Spoonbill wasn't present first thing I did see it distantly from the West Cliff in it's normal feeding spot in the Bay - mid morning. I made my way along the Hoverport and Chine towards the West Cliff checking the bushes and the little bit of vismig on the way. A
few bits over included a Hobby, 20 Redwing,23 Goldfinch,39 Linnets,12 Greenfinch,3 Chaffinch,11 Redpoll,12 Tree Sparrow,4 Grey Wag,51 Mipits,26 Reed Bunting, a few Skylark (all mainly west) plus 2 Lapland
Buntings west at 8.55am plus a really late Turtle Dove. The odd little groups of Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Crests showed around the bushes. By about 9.30am I had got all the way along to West Cliff Terraces - where at 9.45 a group of about 10 Chiffchaffs flew west into the clump of mixed Sycamore/Holme Oak etc to the left of where the 2 Dusky Warblers were last autumn. I can't say I noticed a smaller thing amongst them but in the top of one the Sycamores I had a good but quick view of a Yellow-Browed Warbler (c9.45am) flitting about and feeding in perfect light - very
nice. I saw it a few more times - though very briefly before it disappeared out of view. I heard it call a couple of times about ten minutes later and it sounded as if it had moved across the path into the garden of the building opposite. I left to check the rest of the overgrown stuff - returning at 10.05am when I saw it moving towards the Park where it eventually flew into (the N/east corner) at 10.05am. I did have another look/listen when I left at 11.00am but didn't see or hear it. After cycling the rest of the cliff top I went down onto the promenade where I saw a flock of 9 juv Arctic Terns flying south into the Bay plus a few Brent's and Gannets offshore (c20 - 30 loitering) and a summer plumaged Razorbill sitting on the sea just
offshore.110 Turnstone on the rocks and scanning the Bay I counted 1190 Great Black-Backed Gulls. I checked St Lawrence Cemetery on the way home (normal Chiffs/Crests) plus the odd group of Redwing flew over
whilst I was cycling home. (Phil M)

Friday 8th October 2004 Foreness/North Foreland 07.00-15.30hrs

Started of at Foreness in the hope of some seabirds but the weather did not look very promising with a slight westerly at 07.15hrs. As I made my way to the point the dog walkers were already roaming the area but they done me a turn in the form of 2 Lapland Buntings flushed from the stubble, but they flew off west at 07.20hrs. So of to have a look at the sea: 07.30-09.00hrs 1 Arctic Skua, 1 Little Egret, 14 Pintail, 12 Brent Geese, 2 Razorbill on the sea, 1 Teal, 4 Eider, 7 Wigeon. From there off to North Foreland via whiteness where I relocated the colour ringed Lesser Black-backed Gull from Dumpton the other day, There was  also a 1^st year Herring Gull with a (Red ring on its left leg and Green ring on its right) but was unable to get any numbers or letters. I arrived at North Foreland at 10.00hrs for a seawatch here are the counts:-1 Pomarine Skua, 27 Arctic Skua, 16 Great Skua, 1057 Kittiwake, 786 Gannet, 184 Auk spp, 4 Razorbill off shore, 1 Manx Shearwater, 155 Brent Geese, 1 Arctic Tern, 31 Common Tern, 16 Sandwich Tern, 35 Little Gull, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, c40 Great Black-backed Gulls, 58 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 3 Red-throated Diver, 2 Grey Wagtail, 3 Rock Pipit. A great day in the field, lets see what the next few days of easterlies brings?? (Craig S)

Friday 8th October 2004 Grove Ferry &

I don't know how the weather forecasters are able to get it so wrong and yet remain in a job? I had hoped that the winds would have picked up and a seawatch be the best option. There wasn’t enough breeze to move the Pampas Grass as I emptied my moth trap so, after dropping Bev off at work, I opted for Grove Ferry. I got brief flight views of the Buff-breasted Sandpiper when a female Sparrowhawk over flew the pool to the right of the mound. Plenty of Bearded Tits actively moving around the reedbeds and I found a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull amongst a large group of Black-headed Gulls on the left hand spit of the main pool. Several small flocks of Redwings passed overhead, moving into the strengthening wind. Where next? I opted for Reculver Towers, where Tim Hodge and Mickey Baldock were already well into their stride. (A full account will be found at the Reculver section of the KOS website) I only had 90 minutes, but enjoyed a steady stream of birds moving distantly off shore. Great & Arctic Skua were recorded with a probable Pomarine also seen. Gannets were putting on a spectacular display, gleaming in the mid-morning sunlight. Brent Geese, Common Scoter, Little Gull and Kittiwakes all made their way onto my day list with the star bird appearing just as I was packing to leave. A Manx Shearwater flew east very close to shore whilst a Wheatear picked about for insects on the coastal defence rocks. (Dylan)

Friday 8th October 2004 Fields Dumpton Thanet 08.00 to 09.45hrs

Looking though the group of Gulls out in the field searching for colour darvic rings with no luck, only 57 Herring Gulls and one 1^st winter Common Gull, over the far back an assailment of Woodpigeons, Feral Pigeons and Collard Doves about 200 in all, 170+ Starlings, 45 House Sparrows, a small flock of 7 to 8 Linnets, 200+ Carrion Crows, were over on the to field following the tractor with 8 Magpies, coming back across the fields a Sparrow Hawk flew over towards the farmyard disturbing a small group of meadow pipits and one Green Woodpecker, back in the garden 2 Blue Tits, 2 Dunnock, 8 House Sparrows, 1 Robin. (Gadget)

Thursday 7th October 2004 Colour Ring Report 

Lesser Black-backed Gull Field Dumpton Thanet 6th October 2004

Thursday 7th October 2004 Fields Dumpton Thanet

No great shakes today, I'm afraid. Loads too sort out in the real world meant that birding was out of the question until late afternoon. I opted for a walk around the fields that back onto my garden. There is still a nice patch of stubble over by Pyson's Road, so I started there, finding a large flock of Collared Doves (130+) and 3 Meadow Pipits. Continuing around to Newland's Farm; 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Goldcrests,10+ Chaffinches and a Kestrel were they best of the records. There was a large group of gulls loafing on a ploughed field made up of mainly Herring Gulls, but 4 Lesser Black-backs were also with the group - no sign of yesterday's ringed bird. However, the best bird in the flock was a 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull that flew in to join them at 16.50hrs. Getting back home, I sat in the garden and watched the sun go down. Binoculars round my neck and a glass of "Stella" it was great. 69 Rose-ringed Parakeets, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel & 3 Grey Heron were watched flying over whilst a male Grey Partridge called, unseen, from just beyond my hedge. (Dylan)

Thursday 7th October 2004  West cliff - Stonelees.

I checked the whole area today - every bush, tree, ditch etc. Absolute cack! Zilch - naff all - nuffink!! Well nuffink worthy of any attention. Another migrant Great Spotted Woodpecker (south) plus a few Blue Tits still on the move. I saw a few drop in out of the sky and a group of half a dozen fly high out of a Sycamore in the park and fly all the way down to Pegwell village. The odd Chiff/Blackcap/Crest - though in far smaller numbers than the past week. Down on the mud most of the birds had been spooked by 6 bait diggers digging the hide end of the mud. A flighty flock of 1500 Golden Plover and c50 Teal the highlight. Didn't see the Spoonbill today but no doubt it's still about? 300+ House Martin and 60 Goldfinch flew west. Lets hope the 3 predicted days of easterlies blow some birds our way. (Phil M)

Wednesday 6th October 2004 West cliff to Pegwell

Spent much of the morning on the west cliff and chine/farm fields seeing very little. I did try for 20 mins (a long time for me!) to see the Yellow-Browed Warbler in the sunken garden (unsuccessfully) but weather conditions were quite bad - really blown out. I heard Goldcrests calling on a number of occasions but failed to see them despite trying from all different angles. I hoped the Yellow-Brow might be with them y'see. A little bit of vismig - 1 Tree Sparrow, 6 Pied and 1 Grey Wag, 30 Mipits, 12 Skylark west and a few grounded bits of common stuff. A few hirundines over plus another Great Spotted Woodpecker (west) lots of Blue Tits again today. I checked St Lawrence graveyard on my way home where there lots of Blue
Tits, Chiffchaffs/Crests. Good numbers of Jays knocking around Pegwell too plus a few Jackdaw and Rooks on the move. The odd Holly Blue in the sheltered spots on the west cliff. (Phil M)

Wednesday 6th October 2004 King George VI Park

I arrived at King George VI Park around 06.45 hrs. Stupid really, as it had been clear overnight and the majority of birds would have moved out? I had hoped that there would be a Yellow - browed somewhere, I was disappointed today. Chiffchaffs were numerous, with at least 60 present. 12-ish Goldcrests, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 5 House Martins (south) and a mixed flock of Blue, Great & Long-tailed Tits about summed up the birding action for the site.  (Dylan)

Wednesday 6th October 2004 Ramsgate Cemetery

We met at the Cemetery entrance just after 09.00hrs. The clear skies overhead didn't inspire confidence so we did a circuit expecting very little. 17 House Martins south, 4 Chiffchaffs, 12 Goldcrests, 3+ Sparrowhawks and the usual array of Jays, Magpies and Green Woodpeckers were  noted about the site, whilst a single Skylark flew overhead. As we couldn't cope with much more excitement, we made our way back towards Dumpton where there were a large group of gulls loafing on the field beyond West Dumpton Lane. Craig picked out a 3rd year Lesser Black-back Gull wearing 2 darvic rings. Right leg - white ring, black E; left leg - red ring; white B14.  (Dylan & Craig)

Wednesday 6th October 2004 Western undercliff

Out on my bike down to the western undercliff 1 Rockpipit, 1 Kingfisher, good number of Redshank & Oystercatcher, 47 Turnstone, 4 Pied Wagtails the harbour was very quiet. (Gadget)

Wednesday 6th October 2004 Grove Ferry

My first trip out to Grove since the spring (yesterday Tues) with my friend Som from Nepal was eventually rewarded with good (although distant) views of the Buff-breasted Sandpiper. It fed in the right hand pool on the edge of the vegetated island with several Ruff and Reeves for comparison. It behaved like a clockwork Mouse (as described by Lars Johnson), looking left, then right, running, stopping and repeating the procedure. Although distant all the plumage details were clearly visible with a good scope. We watched it for at least 10-15 minutes before we left. I suspect it would have been visible for much longer than that. We saw it about 3.45-4.00pm.   (John van der Dol)

Tuesday 5th October 2004 Pegwell Bay

Went back down for the incoming tide - much of which was ruined by Kite Boarders offshore yet again. The first reasonable amount of Golden Plover of the autumn with 1370 present on the mud and a larger group over
to roost on the top fields. A single juv Curlew Sandpiper and 2 Little Stints showed after the disturbance died down - also 1 Black T Godwit,9
Greenshank,15 Sandwich Tern and the juv Spoonbill showed up. 1000+ Hirundines streamed through before I left and there were quite a few Chiffchaffs/Blackcaps and a single Lesser Whitethroat on the Country Park.  (Phil M)

Tuesday 5th October 2004 King George VI Park & Synagogue

I couldn't sleep, knowing that there had been some overnight drizzle. Having made Bev a cuppa and a slice of toast, I had to get back into the field. I avoided the Cemetery; choosing, instead, to walk directly to King George VI Park. (Where I bumped into Craig who had done a similar thing!) There were 70+ Chiffchaffs, 5 Blackcaps, 12+ Goldcrests & a Reed Warbler in the three plantations. A single Redpoll headed south as did a Swallow, the only hirundine of the day! The Synagogue held a few more Chiffchaffs and 2 Blackcaps plus a male Great Spotted Woodpecker that allowed me to position two legs of my tripod before flying away! Oh what joy to be out during the autumn. (Dylan & Craig)

Tuesday 5th October 2004 Grove Ferry 07.00 - 07.35hrs

I stopped off at Grove Ferry, on my way home after a night shift, hoping to locate the Buff-breasted Sandpiper. I only had 35 minutes to spare before getting the car home for Bev, so I scanned from the ramp. Sadly there was no sign of the star turn. 5 Ruff, 15+ Common Snipe, 3 Pintail, 1 Wigeon & 2000+ Lapwing provided the bulk of the interest, but there were loads of wildfowl to be seen along with the regular Bearded Tits, Cetti's Warblers and Reed Buntings.  (Dylan)

Tuesday 5th October 2004 Field Dumpton Thanet

Looking out over the fields behind my house at lunchtime. I observed a group of 63 Carrion Crows, 9 Jackdaws, 150+ Woodpigeons 70 Collared Doves, 82 Feral Pigeons, a flock of 60+ House Sparrows and 17 Linnets. The number of Starlings has dropped; only 32 today. A flock of 12 Grey Partridges dropped into the field and started to feed. Time for Lunch (Gadget)

Monday 4th October 2004 Pegwell & Stonelees

Back down in the early afternoon for the incoming tide. I checked Stonelees first where there was a surprising amount of small passerines 20+Chiffchaff, 1 Garden Warbler, 6 Blackcap, 20 Goldcrest etc) plus a flyover Hobby and a Swift before cycling back for the tide. The Spoonbill was back also 1
Little Stint, 1000 Golden Plover, 28 Barwit, 2 Blackwit,1 Greenshank, 72 Turnstone and 30+ Egrets. Lots of Sparrowhawks about too (perhaps 6?) also 500 Swallows and the odd House Martin milling about overhead. Quite a few Gannets loitering out at sea too. At least 2 Lesser Whitethroat in the scrub on the Country Park. (Phil M)

Monday 4th October 2004 Ramsgate Harbour to Pegwell Village

The stiff southerly forced me into choosing to seawatch off Ramsgate East Pier - I did try the west cliff for passerines first but as there was nothing
going on I thought the sea was the best bet even though the wind direction wasn’t much cop. Anyway I watched from 7.30 - 8.45am. Very slow going though I did see a rather close Puffin at 8.10am plus single Arctic Skua's (1 north 1 south) another distant Skua sp, 3 Auks, 1 Common Scoter, 21 Gannet, 3 sandwich and 4 Common Tern all heading south. On the way back I spent half an hour on the cliff between the west cliff and Pegwell village seeing very little save the odd Chiffchaff and Goldcrest. (Phil M)

Monday 4th October 2004 North Foreland

I couldn't face the drudgery of a walk to the harbour so elected, instead, to have a bit of a seawatch / viz mig at North Foreland. After dropping Bev off at work and sorting out a couple of bits, I arrived at 10.30 hrs. Wind direction and the state of the tide meant that it was never going to be hectic. I managed 20 Gannets, 17 Sandwich Terns, 3 Common Terns, 1 adult summer Red-throated Diver, 3 Brent Geese and a steady passage of Great Black-backed Gulls (300+) moving down channel. Rough counts of the hirundines resulted in 470 House Martins and 60 Swallows moving along the coast towards Broadstairs, whilst 11 Starlings, 1 Pied Wagtail and a few small groups of House Martins arrived in/off the sea. The usual mix of Curlews, Turnstones and Oystercatchers were moving along the shoreline as the tide started to rise.

Sunday 3rd October 2004 Pegwell Bay

Went back down at 4.30 and stayed until the light went.1000s of Gulls in to roost but no sign of yesterdays Ring-Billed Gull unfortunately. Can't say I
expected to see it anyway more in hope than expectation. A lovely adult Pom Skua was flying around the Bay - eventually south 100 yards past Shellness point plus a reasonable movement of Commic Terns out at sea - mainly flying south (150+) but some landing on the mud. A group of 9 Arctic Terns were sitting on the mud but all the others within identifying range
were Commons. A single Black Tern flew south as did an Arctic Skua and 20+ Common Scoter. Amongst the 9200 Black-Headed, 470 Common,940 Herring Gulls was a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull. (3 yesterday evening) 2 Grey Wagtails flew south over the hide and a pre-roost count of 30 Meadow and 8 Rock Pipits dropped in as the light faded. Single Little Stint and juv Curlew Sand on the mud. (Phil M)

Sunday 3rd October 2004 West Cliff and Pegwell

Very little going on yet again this morning bushes/vismig wise. A dozen Chiffchaff - a handful of Goldcrest plus a flyover Grey wag ... awful! I did see 2 migrant Sparrowhawks before the weather closed in and forced me to leave. I saw 7 Geese flying over Ramsgate just before I got home - they wheeled over Pegwell village as they hit the coast before flying inland at 11.30am. I could just make out they were Pink-Feet - though I had assumed they were probably going to be as there have been quite a few about
lately. (Phil M)

Saturday 2nd October 2004 West Cliff to Pegwell

Awful this morning with very little on show at all until the tide came in around midday. A remnant of yesterdays Chiffchaff fall (c25) the odd Blackcap and Goldcrest and a negligible amount of vismig (50 Goldfinch north in 2 groups the best bit) though "The Hair" claimed a Sand Martin and a flyover Grey Wag whilst checking his moth traps earlier on in the morning. As the morning moved on - 1000+ House Martin and c200 Swallows started to mill about or move slowly through. There were also a few Swallows flying south over the sea when I scanned in that direction. Down into the Bay for the incoming tide - the Spoonbill, 1100 Golden Plover, 2 Curlew Sand and a single Blackwit the only noteworthy bits. It can only get better passerine wise - we need a change of wind direction and it's not forecast in the near future unfortunately!! (Phil M)

Saturday 2nd October 2004 Grove Ferry

All today's birds seen from the ramp, the Harrison's pool is a complete waste of time unless you are looking for diving ducks or a passing Gannet?? There is so much water here now, the only bits of mud left for wading birds is from the ramp. Walking the path to the ramp a lone Fieldfare flew over, my first of the Autumn, a Cetti's Warbler singing in its usual place by the start of the ramp and a Sedge Warbler in the dead tree. 8 Ruff on the main pool in with the Lapwings 1 greenshank and 1 Golden Plover. I was counting the Lapwings had just got onto the right hand pool & 375 birds when a small orangey wader walked out of the undergrowth on the island, it was a Buff Breasted Sandpiper it soon took flight, flew over and around the pool before dropping in to the top left corner out of view, that was at 7.25. I saw it briefly again at 8.30 as it flew into the bottom right corner out of view and I didn't see it again by 11.20 when I left because of rain! While constantly trying to relocate the Buff Breast I came across 2 Little Stints, 2 Dunlin and 2 Green Sandpipers, the Golden Plover Increased to 66 and a tatty worn female Marsh Harrier flew over at 8.43. I also saw 5 Wigeon, 18+ Bearded Tits, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Little Egret, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Great tit and 8+ Blue Tits. Overhead was a flock of 200+ mixed Hirundines 90% being House Martin the rest were Swallows.  (Martyn W)

Saturday 2nd October 2004 Pegwell Bay 

We stopped off at Pegwell en-route to Tesco’s this morning just before 10am. It was mainly bright with thickening cloud & always the threat of rain. The temp was around 13oc & tide line was nearer France than England! Edging past the Burger van crowd, we were greeted by a flock of some 500 Golden Plover (& lesser number of Lapwings) on the mud, together with the more usual species, including Oystercatchers, Redshank, & Little Egret. A Spoonbill was ‘resting’ on one leg & there were a handful of Black tailed Godwit probing in the mud. Four Brent Geese were also present, first for the year as somehow seemed to have missed them in the early months. House Martins numbering in the hundreds wheeled overhead, & a single Swallow also seen. Sadly, no sign of the Common Cranes reported of late but a very nice way to spend an hour this morning. (Ben Ring)

Friday 1st October 2004 Westcliff to Pegwell

I started on the west cliff today. What a beautiful day - stunning. Not a breathe of wind etc - mind you very little going on bird wise. Once again no vismig to talk about and very little about other than 2 large groups of Chiffchaffs - one mainly concentrated around the Westcliff Terraces/Park area (45 birds) plus another 78 whilst checking the edges of the farm fields/chine. I did see single Redstart and Wheatear on the west cliff and a pair of Tree Pipits flew west plus a fair few Great S Woodpeckers about today with 6 flying west over the farm area alone. I did see 2 flyover Grey wags and 8 Tree Sparrows (west) plus a few Skylark / Mipits / finches etc. Down at Pegwell on the incoming tide - most of the smaller waders had hopped it (Peregrine causing havoc earlier) though there was quite a bit of newly arrived wildfowl present offshore with 28 Brent, 182 Wigeon, 274 Teal, 11 Shoveler, 57 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 1 Pintail and 72 Shelduck. I had seen the Spoonbill earlier from the clifftop as it got flushed off by some bait diggers and it was back just prior to high tide. It roosted in the salt marsh with the Egrets. Egret numbers still high - 38 today probably an October record? 2400 House Martin flew west and north whilst I was there (Dyl and Den had a further 2500 Martins and 450 Swallow earlier) plus 100
more Swallow and a few more Mipits/Skylarks went over. I decided to raptor watch after high tide - deciding to give it until 1.00pm.I had seen a single Hobby flying west (plus the odd Peregrine sighting) when at 12.55 a single Crane flew in from the west right over the hide and settled in the
saltmarsh. Although the mud was completely covered the tide was still rising which forced the bird to keep moving further through the salt marsh towards the river - eventually flying across the river and landing in the 100 acre field when the water got too deep. I have trouble with it being one of yesterdays 3 birds as it was duller looking - the white area on the neck
being quite dingy - but what's the chance of seeing another separate Crane landing in the same area?? After sending out a few text messages Martin (ex
pony-tail) phoned telling me that the 3 Cranes had been seen flying together over St Margaret’s at 10.30am this morning. Still thinking it was probably a different bird to yesterdays group at 1.35pm I packed up my scope, walked towards my bike when another Crane flew over the Bay. It stayed high - eventually flying n/east right over Ramsgate. I lost sight of it whilst sending another text message - eventually seeing it fly back towards me calling its head off. The first bird (still standing in the 100 acre) started calling back to it - eventually joining it in the air and flying around for a while before landing in the Sampher  (Sampher?) area on the Sandwich side of the river at 1.45pm.It was lovely to hear them calling (ive not heard them before) it really added to the spectacle. They are really lovely birds.
(Phil M)

Thursday 30th September -2004 Pegwell bay

Ian phoned about 4.00ish to say the Cranes were back in the Bay - so I jumped on the old bicycle and went down. On arrival - no Cranes! Apparently they had flown off just prior to my arrival and no-one seemed sure how far off they had gone. Anyway - sometime after Gadgets arrival they flew back in and landed in the salt marsh. They couldn't have picked a better spot - right in front of us and the light was perfect. I forgot to mention Ian turned up first with some old duffer from Reculver - can't remember his name but he wasn't half old and decrepit. Over 50 years of age apparently. Other bits and bob's. Well the Spoonbill I so expertly predicted had cleared off was back in the normal spot this afternoon. It turned out it had been seen there yesterday afternoon too! Where's it going in the mornings? We also witnessed a 20/30 minute Swallow extravaganza with 20,000 birds passing through north and west in this short space of time. Also a tiny immature male Merlin flying north. (Phil M)

Thursday 30th September 2004 Pegwell Bay

News of the re-appearance of the 3 Common Cranes was catalyst for a small gathering of Thanet birders (with a few others from the wrong side of the Wantsum!) at Pegwell Bay. The birds showed wonderfully in the late afternoon light, about 300m out on the saltmarsh in front of the hide. The second time, in two days, we've been twitching-must be going soft? (Gadget, Craig & Dylan)

Thursday 30th September 2004 R/gate Harbour King VI Park & Cemetery

We started independently of each other, meeting in Ramsgate Harbour. Craig had done the Cemetery, Synagogue and King George VI Park whilst I had just done the park. Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests were numerous around the area, Craig noted a single Tree Pipit & 15 Redwings over the Cemetery along with 35 Meadow Pipits south. The harbour contained 23 Cormorants, 16 Great Black-backs and 6+ Rock Pipits. A short sea-watch, from under the Harbour Lights Cafe, produced 6 Wigeon, 14 Common Scoter, 11 Gannets, 1 Arctic Skua, 8 Black-tailed Godwits & a few Sandwich Terns. Nothing to get excited about, but better than staying indoors.

(Dylan & Craig)

Thursday 30th September 2004 Pegwell to Harbour

Very disappointing bird wise on and over the land this morning. I expected a few bits today and arrived at the ridiculous hour of 7.15am.The wind was southerly with the odd veer towards the southeast with total cloud cover and the odd spit and spot of rain. I bumped into that bloke with the dog (Frank?) and he said the Cranes were in the Bay opposite the hide, on the mud at about 4.00pm yesterday. Anyway - vismig first thing was nonexistent other than the odd Redwing (3 over the house when I was getting my bike out the shed this morning too) etc plus the Cetti's was letting rip along the fence line of the pad about 7.30.A few Chiffs/Blackcaps/Crests around the Pad before I checked the Chine/Farm where I came across much the
same. A single Siskin flew over plus the odd Mipits/Skylark but the whole area turned out to be a complete waste of time and energy. Next stop - the west cliff. A few flyover Redwing,13 more Siskin, more Chiffs etc plus I heard a Firecrest calling in the Park .. very poor. The wind was blowing into the south facing cliff so I thought it would waste a bit of time if I went down to the Harbour for a look out to sea. The tide wasn't due in for at least 3 hours or so - so it was the Harbour or go home? On arrival
(9.00am) I set up on the end of the east pier and straight away I started to see a few seabirds - the odd group of Gannets then a few Little Gulls and some Scoter etc. At 9.40 I saw a Manx heading south. As I watched it going through there was another shooting along behind it. A few Terns were moving and I picked up 4 very obvious juv Arctic Terns in amongst a group
on Sani's. The best was still to come. At 9.50 I saw a really close Skua flying in towards the seawall of the Ferry terminal. At first I thought it was the Arctic Skua I had seen on the previous scan - but then as it moved sideways on I could see it had those long wings and thin arms of a Long -Tail. t got closer and closer - started circling around - seemingly picking at the water before landing about 500yards offshore briefly. It was around this time that I noticed its pale chest - it was an adult bird (no tail) it sauntered about for 30 seconds or so before flying south around the Ferry Terminal - by then being so close in I had to reposition the telescope - the last I saw of it - it was flying right into Pegwell. I did check the Westcliff in the hopes of relocating it on my way back to Pegwell (to watch the incoming tide)
but saw naff all except a single Eider. Just for good measure I saw a couple of Porpoises surface on a couple of occasions before I left. At least 2 of them - heading southwards. The total for the seawatch 9.00am - 10.30 am was: 2 Manx Shearwater,11 Little Gulls,4 Arctic Tern,10+ Commic Tern,34 Sani Tern,71 Gannet,1 Long-T Skua,1 Arctic Skua,119 Common Scoter plus a few Wigeon and Teal all flying south. I also saw 2 very distant Skua sp. which were probably Bonxies? After a quick check of the bits of the farm I hadn't checked previously I went down into Pegwell. A few Hirundines had appeared (1000 birds three quarters of which were House Martins - the rest Swallows) and while I was there a few Mipits and Skylarks started to move through plus a pair of Tree Pipits flew south and a couple of Grey Wags. No sign of the Spoonbill today for the second day in succession. Bearing in mind the amount of time ive spent in the area during wed/thurs I would assume that at long last it has hopped it? It arrived on August 22nd so it's had a good innings. On the incoming tide: 3 Avocet, 1060 Dunlin,1 Little Stint, 23 Curlew Sandpiper,480 Golden and 79 Grey Plover. Also 18 Brent and 17 Little Egrets. (Phil M)

Wednesday 29th September 2004 Reculver

We travelled across to Reculver, purely on the strength of a Wryneck reported around the Caravan Park - bloody twitchers!  Bumping into John Cantello, as we left the carpark, we walked towards the Oyster Farm as John had done a circuit of the caravan park without any success. A Yellow Wagtail was on the grass behind the Towers and a scan across the fields revealed a couple of Stonechat and a Turtle Dove. No sign of the Wryneck around the Sluice Gates, so we continued along the seawall where we recorded 1 Heron west, 33 Common Scoter on & 3 Gannets out at sea. 1 Swallow & 45 House Martins east along the beach and a Kingfisher around the pools was the best of the rest. Noticing a group of birders scoping across the sluice gates, we retraced our steps, noting 35 Lapwings and 20+ Golden Plovers flying over the fields. Arriving at the sluice, a Peregrine was watched in the distance with 2 Marsh Harriers and a Common Buzzard. After a short wait, we located the Wryneck on a concrete post around the caravan park. Mathew and Anne Hindle then told us about 3 (possibly 5?) Lapland Buntings that they had seen by the Oyster Farm extension. We did walk down to the area, but didn't relocate the birds. 2 Little Egrets, 1 Common Snipe, 2 Sedge Warblers and a Merlin were ample reward for our efforts, whilst 4 Grey Herons flew west, well out at sea and 2 Sandwich Terns went east. Other birders had recorded 18 Little Gulls from the Towers, yet we were unable to locate any, as we made our way back to the car. We had spent around 3 hours in the area and enjoyed another great afternoon birding. The area has so much more to offer than simple "tick & run" twitching. (Gadget & Dylan)

Jack Snipe

31st October 2004

Corn Bunting

31st October 2004

Grey Phalarope

31st October 2004

Great Spotted Woodpecker

30th October 2004

Stonechat

29th October 2004

Black Redstart

29th October 2004

Green Woodpecker

28th October 2004

Magpie

28th October 2004

Jay

28th October 2004

Common Snipe

28th October 2004

Black-winged Red Bishop

23rd October 2004

Pied Rook

22nd October 2004

Common Redstart

22nd October 2004

Red-backed Shrike

22nd October 2004

Common Tern

20th October 2004

Buff-Breasted Sandpiper

18th October 2004

Ring Ouzel

18th October 2004

Knot

18th October 2004

Fieldfare

15th October 2004

Redwing

15th October 2004

Mediterranean Gull

13th October 2004

Brambling

12th October 2004

Great Tit

12th October 2004

Shore-Lark

11th October 2004

Shore-Lark's

10th October 2004

Lesser Black-backed Gull

6th October 2004

Green Woodpecker

6th October 2004

Pied Wagtail

6th October 2004

Oystercatcher

6th October 2004

Grey Partridge

5th October 2004

Common Cranes

30th September 204

Wryneck

29th September 2004