Sunday 30th November 2003 Reculver
I went over to Reculver this morning and had some
excellent views of the Desert Wheatear. It was on the clifftop to the west
of the Interpretation Centre and being watched by a very well behaved and
appreciative group of birders. Such a contrast to the reported behavior of
yesterday. I stayed with it for about 30 minutes before deciding to
head off to work. As I got to the gravel area between the Blue Dolphin
Caravan Park and the car park, the Desert Wheatear appeared on the seawall and I
had it by myself for about three minutes, as it sat preening within 15m of
me. I have got a few images, which I will forward tomorrow when I get home
from work. (Dylan)
Saturday 29th November 2003 Coldharbour
disgraceful behavior
As has been reported by other observers today the behavior
of many twitchers at Coldharbour this morning was disgraceful. Not only
was the Desert Wheatear being constantly harassed but many
observers were denied a reasonable view by the selfish attitude of others
constantly moving ever closer to the bird. After disappearing for a
considerable period the bird was relocated soon after 1100hrs some 50yds
short of the Towers, close to the gate which closes across the seawall.
Only about six or seven observers were present including myself &
Pete Laslett and the bird on top of the sea wall some 20yds away even so
one particular odious individual with a digiscope insisted on getting even
closer until the bird flew into the caravan park. The best example of good
behavior was set by a dog walker & his son who when asked to stop, he
was coming from the Tower direction, climbed over the sea wall and
scrambled down the beach to avoid disturbing the bird. Is it any wonder
news of rare birds is suppressed? (John W)
Saturday 29th November 2003 Chamber's Wall to
Coldharbour Lagoon
I went to Chamber's Wall, arriving at 06.30hrs (it
was still dark). I walked across to Coldharbour Lagoon and then along the
path to the shingle hump, staying around in this area until 08.20. I
didn't see a Desert Wheatear or another birder in all that time. I've
just been on Birdguides and the first report up is of Desert Wheatear at
Reculver 08.04hrs!! All I can say is it wasn't on the shingle hump!
Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour Lagoon
Long-eared Owl - 2 hunting along the riverbank
next to the fisherman's car park at 06.35hrs, 40+ Snow Bunting, 60+
Linnet, 1 male Stonechat, 1 Little Grebe on the
lagoon Several Redwings moving east and a few small groups of Starlings
were arriving from the north. At first light, Grey Partridges
were calling from around the marsh. Other than that, very quiet and
very windy! (Dylan)
Friday 28th November 2003 Ramsgate Cemetery
9.30 – 10.30hrs
Around to the east side of the cemetery I observed 9
Long tailed Tits, with at lest 4 Goldcrest, 2 Coal Tits, 3 Dunnock, 3
Robins, all within the vicinity. Looking over the towards the west side I
counted 17 Blackbirds, 9 Song Thrushes, 9 Magpies, 5 Crows, 7 Gulls, but
only 2 Green woodpeckers, on arriving at the chapel, I observed 5 Great
Tits, 7 Blue Tits 1 Wren and 2 Squirrels playing tag. (Gadget)
Friday 28th November 2003 Ramsgate Synagogue
10.45 – 11.15hrs
On arriving I observed 9 Blackbirds, 2 Song Thrushes,
20+ Collard Dove, 4 Robins, 5 Long-Tailed Tits, 2 Great Tits, 3 Blue Tits,
on leaven 5 Fieldfare arrived in the tops of the trees. (Gadget)
Friday 28th November 2003 King George VI Park
11.20 – 12. 15hrs
Welcomed with 7 Chaffinches along the cycle path and
2 Goldcrest on the cliff side over the park in general a count of 27
Blackbirds, 16 Song Thrushes, 14 Parakeets, 9 Long Tailed Tits, 5 Great
Tits, 3 Blue Tits, 4 Dunnock, Gulls over head on leaving the park at the
top of the Cliff 9 Goldfinches. (Gadget)
Friday 28th November 2003 R/gate Sea Front & Harbour
12.20–13.30hr
Along the under cliff starting at what was the
Swimming Pool just a few gulls along the beach but as the tide was coming
in not much in the way of waders, as I approached what was the amusements
now just a bit of waste ground I Observed behind the hording 23 House
Sparrows, 5 Blue Tits, 4 Dunnock, at one time 5 pied Wagtail, and 2
Stonechat, at the Harbour not much to see between 60 –70 Gulls Great
Black Backed Herring Gulls Black Headed Gulls 5 Cormorant 16 Turnstones.
(Gadget)
Friday 28th November 2003 Western Undercliff
13.40 – 14.20
38 Turnstones, on the jetties 9 Pied Wagtails, 5
outside the café 1 Kestrel along the cliff top 12 House Sparrows, 7
Goldfinches, Not much on the sea a few gulls and 4 Male Eider. (Gadget)
Friday 28th November 2003 Broadstairs to
Ramsgate
I ended up having to
go to Broadstairs and then walk back along the beach! Common Seal off
Viking Bay. Common Scoter, 1 female on and 3 males north 1 Great
Crested Grebe, 4 Rock Pipit, 2 Siskin north A male Kestrel was
enjoying the sun perched on the anti-pigeon netting on the undercliff
below the Granville Cinema. Plenty of common waders and gulls along the
shoreline, but very little else of note. Ramsgate Harbour was almost
devoid of bird life. The female Eider was in the ferry turning circle and
there were a few Rock Pipits about. No sign of the diver or kingfishers
today. As I walked back from Ramsgate past the cemetery, there was a small
flock of Long-tailed Tits with 3 Goldcrests and a Firecrest for company!
(Dylan)
Thursday 27th November 2003 Garden & Fields
R/gate Dumpton
The Garden first thing this morning had 1 Robin, 2 Dunnock,
23 House Sparrows, 1 Wren, 5 Blackbirds, 3 Song
Thrushes, and 14 Collard Doves over the fields 75 Woodpigeons,
60 Crows, 120 + Gulls 150 + Starlings, Lunchtime a Sparrowhawk
was seen over the field three times between 13.30 & 14.30 each time
the birds would lift and then return back to the old corn stubble all at
14.45 the Sparrowhawk returned and took a Collard Dove from
the wall of my garden then spent the next 25 minute having lunch 25ft from
my back wall, as this magnificent bird flew away the Crows didn’t
waste any time in taking the remains away leaving just feathers on the
ground. (Gadget)
Thursday 27th November 2003 K/G/VI Park &
Dumpton Gap
Sparrowhawk over West Dumpton Lane. 1 Goldcrest
and a few Song Thrushes and Chaffinches in King
George VI Park. 11 Common Scoter and 1 Red-throated Diver
off Dumpton Gap
Thursday 27th November 2003 Ramsgate Harbour
1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Kingfisher, 5 Rock
Pipit, Great Northern Diver still present, but very mobile,
last seen flying south over Pegwell Bay as the rain started. 2 Red-throated
Diver south 1 Red-breasted Merganser north Very few gulls
around the pontoons and even fewer cormorants, generally very
quiet! (Dylan)
Thursday 27th November 2003 late afternoon
Stodmarsh
At least 7 Marsh harriers + 1 hen
Harrier,Sparrowhawks,1 & probably 2 Barn owls, 1 Bittern,
Several hundred Fieldfares & several thousand Starling.
(John W & Pete laslett)
Thursday 27th November 2003 Bridge near
Canterbury 9.00 -13.15hrs
4 Grey Wagtails, c70 Redwing, 1 Green
Woodpecker, 10+ Long-tailed Tits, 3 Coal Tits, 2 Chaffinch,
7 Greenfinch, 40+Jackdaw, 3 Mistle Thrush. (Craig)
Wednesday 26th November News Update: Chillenden
Windmill
One of East Kent’s Landmarks the Chillenden Windmill
tumbled to the
ground today. This must be the only village where the windmill can't
actually stay up when it's windy, It will be missed by those that regularly
past through this part of Kent.
Wednesday 26th November R/gate Harbour
Great Northern Diver still present this
afternoon 1500hrs inner harbour near the bus stops, 1 f Eider (John
W)
Wednesday 26th November Stodmarsh NNR (15.10
- 16.30hrs)
2 Treecreeper, 4 Goldcrest, 1 Little Grebe, Fieldfare
1500+ into roost, 2 Water Pipit, 5 Marsh Harrier (1 adult Female & 4
immature) 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Hen Harrier - 1 male into roost @ 15.40hrs, Water
Rails and Cetti's Warblers were very vocal as it started to get dark!
Finally, Pheasants have got to be the most stupid birds in the world! They
spend all day creeping about, hiding from all and sundry, then, when it
starts to get dark, they fly up into a tree and shout their heads off.
(Dylan)
Tuesday 25th November 2003 Reculver to
Cold-harbour Lagoon
A walk along the seawall this morning produced the
following. Little Egret,1 at
Oyster Farm, 1 flying East, Brent Geese several hundred moving
along the coast on the rising tide, 20+ Linnet, Many Meadow
Pipits, Reed Buntings and Skylarks around the pools of
the Oyster Farm, Male & Female Stonechat, 50+ Ringed Plover,
20+ Grey Plover, Adult female Marsh Harrier (Dylan
& Gadget)
Tuesday 25th November 2003 Ramsgate Harbour
1 Kingfisher, Great Northern Diver in
the Inner Harbour. The colour ringed 2nd Winter Great Black Back is
still present around the fishing boats and another ringed, 4th yr (?),
bird was also noted. Sadly this bird only has a silver, BTO-type, ring on
its' right leg thus un-read as yet. It does go to show what a good idea
colour ringing is. At least the bird does not have to be caught, or turn
up dead!, for the details to be taken and passed on. (Dylan)
Monday morning 24thNovember 2003 Reculver
– Cold-harbour
480-500 Brent, ca 40 Snow Buntings, 3 Scoter,1
Peregrine. (John W)
Monday 24th November
2003 R/gate Harbour G/B/B/Gull Ring/Darvic
I found this bird in the Outer Harbour at mid-day. It
is a 2nd Year Great Black-backed Gull and the best
information I have says it's probably from Norway. I have set the ball
rolling, in order to get the info on this individual, but am not sure if
it will be as easy as the cormorant! (Dylan)
Monday 24th November
2003 Broadstairs to Ramsgate 09.00-13.20
9 Pied Wagtail, 6 Purple Sandpiper, 3 Rock
Pipit, 48 Turnstone, 5 Common Scoter – north, 4 Kittiwakes
- south, 34 Sanderling - next to the East Pier, 1 Dunlin, 8 Brent
Geese north, I watched the Great Northern Diver fly
north at 10.20hrs, back south at 11.00hrs and finally, saw it feeding on a
crab in the Inner Harbour at 11.30hrs! 1st winter male Black
Redstart on the fence of the Dry Dock Adult
male Eider in the Ferry "turning circle" also 4 Crossbills
over King George VI park on the way home. (Dylan)
Saturday 22nd November 2003 R/gate
cemetery 11.50 -13.25
5 Firecrest, 4 Goldcrest, 2 Sparrowhawk
1 male + 1 fem with very tatty secondary, 1 Grey Wagtail, c10 Redwing,
8 Jay, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker,3 Green
Woodpecker, 13+ Long-tailed Tit, 8 Greenfinch, 2+ Chaffinch,
25+ Ring-necked Parakeets, 6 Mistle Thrush 1 really
singing it's head off, 4 Song Thrush, c20 Blackbirds, 6 Robin,
c120 Woodpigeon, 11 Magpies,c20 Carrion Crow. Also of
interest, I thought I heard a House Martin call once but
cannot be sure. (Craig)
Saturday
22nd November 2003
Barn
Owl on roadside post near the A2, just outside Bridge. (Dylan)
Friday 21st November 2003 Ramsgate harbour
14.15 - 15.15
Great Northern Diver still present in the
middle harbour Kingfisher east side of the life boat station 2 Kittiwake
east pier few Rock pipits (Craig)
Friday 21st November 2003 Broadstairs to
Dumpton Gap
2 Rock Pipit, 4 Fulmar south, 6 Turnstone,1
Pied Wagtail, I was really struggling, but continued through a
deserted King George VI Park. The weather was so poor that not only were
there no birds, but no dog walkers either. It was really weird that five
or six Song Thrushes around the park were in full song. (some Fulmar
have returned to their nest sites along the Cliffs) (Dylan)
Friday 21st November 2003 Ramsgate
Harbour
1 Guillemot south Great Northern Diver
very elusive and harassed by gulls whenever it surfaced with food. Eider
a female near the Harbour Lights Café Kingfisher 1st Winter Yellow-legged
Gull 2nd Winter Lesser Black-back Lots of Great Black-backs
and Herring Gulls around the fishing boats with a few Cormorants
for good measure. On my way back through the Park I managed Sparrowhawk
adult male, 35+ Chaffinch feeding under the sycamores next to the
Tennis Courts I'm afraid that's it for today (Dylan)
Friday 21st November 2003 Thanet Wader Count (November
2003)
Thanet Wader Count (November) Ramsgate to Epple
Bay (that’s Birchington Phil) produced the following: 266 Oystercatchers,
66 Ringed Plover, 33 Grey Plover, 453 Turnstone, 20 Dunlin,
119 Sanderling, 17 Purple Sands, including 5 @ St
Mildred’s bay Westgate, 179 Redshank, 14 Curlew, 1 f Black
Redstart playing on the Children’s rides at Westbrook 0830 Thurs. (John
W; Phil Charlton; Don Worsfold)
Thursday 20 th November 2003 Chamber's Wall and
coast
10 Red-legged Partridge, 31 Grey Partridge,
4 Hen Harrier all ring tails, 1 Marsh Harrier, 40+ Redwing,
Cetti's Warbler male singing near railway crossing, Sparrowhawk
female, Peregrine a juv harrying Brent Geese before
settling on the ground,1 Little Egret, 20 Canada Geese
west, 2,800 Lapwing (13 seen arriving in/off at Cold harbour
Lagoon) (Dylan & Gadget)
Thursday 20 th November 2003 Chitty Lane
Marshside
Hen Harrier male, 16 Fieldfare, 10 Grey
Partridge (Dylan & Gadget)
Thursday 20 th November 200 Grove Ferry
10 Pintail (including 2 adult males), 2 Dunlin,
1200+ Teal, 2500+ Lapwing, Water Rail seen well from
ramp - others heard, 1 Water Pipit, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Ruff
(Dylan & Gadget)
Thursday 20 th November 2003 Sandwich
Desert Warbler Sandwich Princes old club house
early morning for more information please Telephone SBBOT:01304617341 (G
Crick)
Wednesday
Tuesday 18 th November 2003 Dungeness Kent
No Desert Wheat, No White Headed Duck,
2 Female Scaup, 7 Whooper, 9 Barnacle, 1 f Marsh
Harrier, 1 adult Male Hen Harrier, 1 Peregrine, 5 Golden
Eye, 1 Little Egret,
Offshore; 9 Red Throated Diver. 3 Scoter,
Several Guillemots
& Great Crested Grebes (30mins sea watch)
(John W & Phil C)
Tuesday 18 th November 2003 Ringed
Cormorant
This is what I've got on the colour - ringed Cormorant
that we photographed in Ramsgate Harbour on 14.11.03 The bird is a Great Cormorant
of the "continental" Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis race.
It was
ringed on 5th May 2000, as a nestling, by Stef van Rijn at the famous Oostvaarderplassen
colony (5,000+ pairs)
Flevoland, Holland. The metal ring on its' right leg is Arnhem 9005406,
the red Darvic is white T/O. Our sighting in Ramsgate Harbour, on
14th November 2003, is the first report of this bird since it was ringed!
(Dylan)
Tuesday 18 th November 2003 North Foreland
A trip around North Foreland today started at the
pump house on top of the cliff 20+ Starlings and 5 Greenfinches
at the top end by lighthouse, riding down towards the Golf Course and up
Elmwood avenue then around Elmwood Farm observed along the way 30+ Blackbirds,
12 Song Thrushes, 19 Magpies, 7 Crows, 1 Green
woodpecker, 7 Great Tits, 5 Blue Tits 7 Meadow Pipits
flew over the field around the barn and stables 9 Grey Wagtail,
over the golf course in the tops of trees 250+ Wood Pigeons.
(Gadget)
Tuesday 18 th November 2003 King George VI Park
Set off towards King George VI Park along the cliff
top with the stop start mode so to look out to sea not that much going on
a few birds 3 Oystercatchers north 2 Great Crested Grebes on
the sea off Dumpton Gap 7 Pied Wagtails in off the sea along the
way. In the park its self 40+ Blackbirds all over the park and at
lest 12 Song Thrushes around and about the bushes 9 Long-tail
Tits, 3 Goldcrest, 5 Blue Tits, 3 Great Tits,
3 Robins, 4 Dunnock, 1 Green Woodpecker, 20+ Parakeets,
5 Greenfinches, (Gadget)
Onward down to Ramsgate Harbour could not see the Guillemot
but Great Northern Diver still in outer Harbour 14 Turnstones,
30+ Great Black Back Gulls, with 20+ Black Headed
Gulls, resting on the pontoons, 3 Cormorant not the one with
the Ring O/T White on Red but one with a Silver ring on left leg as
looking from front. 1 kingfisher on the steps, a total of 8 pied
Wagtails around the harbour 3 around by port Ramsgate Cafe. 20+Oystercatchers,
19 Turnstones along the under cliff towards the west cliff
end of Pegwell Village. At the top of the cliff in the park 2 Firecrest,
3 Goldcrest, at lest 5 Long tail Tits, 7 Blackbirds,
2 Song Thrushes, 4 pied Wagtails, 1 Green Woodpecker, on my
way down to Pegwell Bay going threw the Village in the top of the Sunken
garden 3, Siskin. (Gadget)
Tuesday 18 th November 2003 Pegwell Bay
13.30 - 16.00
4 Little Egrets, 1 Diver nth, 7 Eider, 470 Wigeon, 2
Shoveler
3 RT Hen Harrier, 1 Peregrine, 118 bar-T Godwit, 54 Twite
10 Black-T Godwit, 1 Spotted Redshank, c8000+ Lapwing
6330 Golden Plover, 73 Sanderling, 150 Snipe
1 Adult Yellow-L Gull, 1 Short-Eared Owl, 1 Stonechat
5 Shore Lark, 1 Siskin sth (Phil)
Monday 17 th November 2003 Pegwell Bay
13.30 -15.30
3 Little Egret, 240 Wigeon, 12 Teal, 4 Avocet, 5
Black-T Godwit, 1200 Lapwing, 2500 Golden Plover, 5 Jack Snipe, 420 Common
Gull, 810 Herring Gull, 33 Lesser BB Gull1175 Great BB Gull, 1 (adult)
Yellow-Legged Gull (Phil)
Sunday 16th November 2003 Ramsgate Harbour
Great Northern Diver, Shag, Kingfisher,
Female Eider in Ramsgate Harbour Saturday &
Sunday. (Phil Charlton per JW)
Sunday 16th November 2003 Field near Ashford
Kent
White Stork The bird is showing well in same
field.
Sunday 16 th November 2003 Pegwell Bay
12.00 -16.00
4
Little Egret, 3 Divers sth, 6 Brent, 4 Eider, 208 Mallard
470 Wigeon, 35 Teal, 18 gadwall, 5
Shoveler, 1 Merlin
127 Bar-T Godwit, 8 Black-T Godwit, 4200 Lapwing
6240 Golden Plover, 122 Grey Plover, 84 Knot, 80 Snipe
65 Sanderling, 1 Ruff,266 Great BB Gull, 1 Kittiwake
1 Short-Eared Owl,1 Firecrest (Stonelees) (Phil)
Saturday 15th November 2003 Pegwell Bay
5 Little Egret, 1 Brent Goose, 150 Mallard, 390
Wigeon
8 Teal, 3 Gadwall, 1 RT Hen Harrier, 2 Sparrowhawk
1150 Oystercatcher, 96 Curlew, 128 Bar-T Godwit
8 Black-T Godwit, 2 Spotted Redshank, 1700 Lapwing
5460 Golden Plover, 10 Ringed Plover, 1250 Dunlin
55 Sanderling, 120 Snipe, 1 Short-eared Owl,2 Grey Wagtail. (Phil)
Saturday 15th November 2003 Field near Ashford
Kent
White Stork Bird showing well but does move
into corner of field, it maybe dropping down into stream or it maybe small
pond. Bird has no rings or signs of wings being clipped, has very dirty
neck but otherwise in good plumage. There is also Grey Heron in field plus
gulls and there was a Little Egret in field opposite. This maybe the
same bird that has been floating around the Ashford area the last two
month. Photo of White Stork supplied with Report: (Pete Young)
Friday 14th November 2003 Pegwell Car Park 1410
-1445
Steady southerly passage of Wood Pigeons. Approx
600 in 35mins. Largest flock 32. (John W)
Friday 14th November 2003 Pegwell Bay
6 Little Egret, 350 Wigeon, 1 Merlin, 159 Bar-T
Godwit
6 Black-T Godwit, 3800 Lapwing, 5470 Golden Plover, 154 Grey Plover, 12
Ringed Plover, 152 Knot, 1060 Dunlin, 86 Sanderling, 157 Common Gull, 1
Kittiwake, 1 Redpoll nth, 4 Yellow-Legged Gull {3 adult 1 2nd winter} 80
Skylark s/west, 1 1st winter Caspian Gull,
(Phil)
Friday 14th November 2003 Minster Thanet
Flock of seventeen tree sparrows moving
through hawthorn bushes behind the sewage works at Minster, my first
sighting of these in Minster for 6 years, also a Cetti's has been
singing all week in the same area. (Don Wilks)
Friday 14th November 2003 Garden at first
light.
6 Fieldfare, probably newly arrived, as we
haven't seen any of late, 1 Grey Wagtail south, Still around 60 Lapwings
on the ploughed field beyond the garden. (Dylan)
Friday 14th November 2003 Dusky Warbler
No sign of the Dusky Warblers today, although
conditions were not ideal. (Dylan)
Friday 14th November 2003 Ramsgate Harbour
1st Winter Great Northern Diver, Guillemot,
2 Kingfisher, 1 Rock Pipit (there must have been
others) Cormorant with a red Darvic ring with white T/O suggesting
German origin. We are awaiting details from the scheme organizers, Quite a
few gulls loafing around the pontoons. (Dylan)
Friday 14th November 2003 Broadstairs &
walked back along beach
11 Common Scoter south, 1 Guillemot,
There were a few Linnets along the undercliff, but nothing to
suggest any migration. (Dylan)
Friday 14th November 2003 Apologies for the Confusion
Regarding
the message posted on Planetthanet Thursday13th November 2003. I
would like to apologies for any inconvenience caused. It turned out that
the whole story about the rarity at North Foreland was
indeed a joke devised by one of the news contributors. The news was passed
on without considering the magnitude of the response to it. The news has
since been removed from the news page. Please note this will not happen
again. The said contributor has been reprimanded and threatened with
expulsion from the group if this happens again. (Gadget)
Thursday 13 th November 2003 North Foreland
Recorded whilst we were out and about today 2 Brent
Geese north, 2 Common Scoter north, A few Robins and Song
Thrushes around the bushes on the Golf Course, but generally very
quiet.
Thursday 13 th November 2003 Westcliff &
Pegwell Village
Dusky Warbler - one, but probably two birds,
still present. Showing briefly, but calling well when "pished"! Firecrest
also present plus a Wren with "dusky" tendencies!!
Thursday 13 th November 2003 R/gate Harbour
complex
Guillemot in the outer harbour, Great
Northern Diver still present, seen in the outer harbour on the rising
tide, probably went into the Inner Harbour at high tide. Kingfisher,
two birds present around the Lifeboat Station Rock Pipits are very
numerous at present, showing particularly well around the outer harbour.
28 Turnstones roosting on the groynes near the Port entrance.
(Dylan & Gadget)
Thursday 13 th November 2003 Pegwell Bay
Pegwell there were lots of birds on the incoming tide
including a third winter Caspian Gull and at least 3 adult Michahelis.
Otherwise nothing too unusual though an unidentified flock of Grey Geese
flew south at 1.00pm.
5 Little Egret, 3 Divers sth, 7 Grey Geese sth 1300,
20 Teal,240 Mallard 730 Wigeon, 2 Peregrine,1 Merlin,1 Avocet,164 Bar-T
Godwit, 7 Black-T Godwit, 1 Spotted Redshank, 2800 Lapwing, 2500 Golden
Plover, 100 Snipe, 229 Lesser BB Gull, 3 Adult Yellow-Legged Gull
1 third winter Caspian Gull, 3 Redpoll nth. (Phil)
Thursday 13 th November 2003 Foreness
1 Lapland Bunting, 40 Brambling
(The Hair)
Wednesday 12 th November 2003 Grove Ferry before 13.00 hrs
2nd c y male Hen Harrier,
Female
Merlin, 2
Stonechat
, 6+ Water Pipit, 57
Common Snipe, 60+ Golden Plover
, 4,500+ Lapwing (including the birds beyond the reserve boundaries)
12 Pintail (including 3 adult males)
4 Pied Wagtail, 1
Kingfisher, 3 Marsh Harrier - 1 adult female, 1 imm
female & 1 imm (juv) 1
Ruff
, 200+ Fieldfare along the hedges nr the Marsh Hide. Plenty
of Teal and other ducks, Beardies and Water Rails very vocal, yet unseen
due to the rather dodgy weather.
A
very pleasant interlude, but nothing special - a Bittern had been reported
in front of they Green Hide before I arrived.
(Dylan)
Wednesday 12 th November 2003
I
hung around hoping that the rain might stop {which it didn’t} and
didn’t get down till nearly 9.00am. I bumped into John Websper and Phil
Charlton who had been looking for one of the Duskies since just
after 8.00am (in vain!) so we popped over to the area to see if anything
was going on. As it happened one of the birds was still there but was
incredibly quiet. After about 15 mins it let out 2 very quiet ticks and a
single barely audible tick about 15 mins later. John had good but brief
views of it by going up onto the back of the building on the north side of
the bushes but although you could see it from the bottom it was very
difficult to get any decent views of especially so as it wasn’t calling
at all by then. There were also 2 - 4 Firecrest calling in the park
plus a couple of Redpolls flying around not really going anywhere.
I went next down to the Harbour. No sign of the Diver {last seen in the
inner harbour by the hair on Sunday} but there was a grotty 1st winter Shag
feeding in the inner Harbour near the bus shelter. As it left it was
flying about in circles over the Harbour but I feel sure it was only going
to re-land. On the way home I stopped in St Lawrence churchyard where
there were c10 - 12 Goldcrests and a single Firecrest.
(Phil)
Tuesday 11th November 2003 R/gate cemetery
Nothing much to report, I did the cemetery at 09.00
hrs whilst I waited for the polyfilla to set! At least 15 Jays were
about the site, 1 Coal Tit, 5 Firecrest, 8 Goldcrest,
3 Green Woodpecker, 4 Redwing, 1 Lesser Redpoll over
(Dylan)
Tuesday 11th November 2003
At least one of the Dusky warblers showing very well this morning
{10.00am} in the normal area and in the scrub blackberry bushes 30 yards
to the east where the 2 walls meet. I also heard it {or the other one?}
calling in the scrub in front of the western bit of the building at 9.15.
6+ Firecrest in the park and a single Coal Tit behind Little
Cliffsend Farm. I did go down and try the tide coming in but obviously the
visibility made it impossible to see what was going on past about 30yds
further out than the edge of the saltmarsh. (Phil)
Tuesday 11th November 2003 Pegwell area 9.00 - 12.15
2 Little Egret, 16 Brent 1 p/15 nth, 6 Eider,
100+ Wigeon
1 Sparrowhawk, 8 Black T Godwit, 1500 Lapwing
400 Golden Plover, 124 Turnstone (high tide roost)
12 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare, 9 Rock Pipit, 2 Redpoll east
1 Dusky Warbler, 17 Goldcrest, 6 Firecrest,1 Coal Tit (Phil)
Monday 10 th November 2003 R/gate Cemetery
14.00 – 15.30
Walked around the cemetery in what can only be
described as a beautiful sunny autumn afternoon. With in two minuets of
arriving I had 2 Firecrest, just on the right hand side of the
chapel. Walking around towards the eastern side of the cemetery in the
Holm oak’s
5 Goldcrest, 7 Long-tail Tits, 2 Coal Tits, after
about 30 minuet, continuing across and around towards the far back
Observed 5 Jay’s, 17 Magpies, 60+ Starling, 19 Blackbirds,
4 Song Thrushes, 3 Dunnock 5 Robins, 7 Parakeets,
2 Sparrowhawks, one of which was chasseing one of the Parakeets
across the tops of the gravestones. (Gadget)
Monday 10 th November 2003 Harbour, W/cliff
& Cliff top
I went out whilst it was still almost dark arriving
on the clifftop at 6.45 to see what was going on. No vismig - though there
were a few Firecrest in the park so I popped down to the Harbour.
Zilch in the Harbour, nothing moving on the sea but there was a Black
Redstart on the undercliff. Anyway on the way back I re-checked the
area of scrub and Sycamores immediately in front of Westcliff Terraces. It
was by then 8.00am and I could hear a Dusky Warbler ticking in some
scrub and Ivy at the base of a tall Sycamore. The bird was active and hard
to pin down properly but I was 100% it was a Dusky so phoned around whilst
getting brief glimpses of the thing every minute or so. Luckily Gadget
said he was coming down so I decided to hang around a bit because at 8.45
I thought I heard 2 birds? By this time I had also seen a probable Dusky
fly across into some Wych Elm - when I could still hear one clearly
ticking its head off in the normal spot? Then at 9.45 I had both of them
showing in the same tree! Francis turned up at 10.00 so I cleared off to
check the sunken garden {more zilch} before shooting down to watch the
tide in. Lots of stuff on the tide all the normal stuff plus a Woodcock,
Spotshank and a Ruff. I then popped back with Gadget who was
out on his action man sized electric bicycle - to see the Duskies one
was still showing and calling every now and then with both together again
about 12.30.
Monday 10 th November 2003 Pegwell Bay 6.45 -13.00
5 Little Egret, 8 Brent Goose 5nth/3 p, 230 Wigeon
1 C Scoter nth, 1 Peregrine, 3+ Sparrowhawk, c100 Bar T Godwit, 7 Black T
Godwit, 1300 Lapwing, c900 Golden Plover
2 Woodcock, 1 Ruff, 8 Redwing west, 1 Black Redstart
1 Redpoll west, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Dusky warbler, 8 Goldcrest
4 Firecrest. (Phil)
Sunday 9 th November 2003 Garden
& Fields lunch time
In the garden and the fields behind my house about
500+ Starlings, 20 Gulls over the back of the field, 150+ Collard
Doves, 19 of which were in my garden, 4 Song Thrushes, 19 Blackbirds,
32 Carrion Crow, 60+ House Sparrows, 4 Robins 2 Wren’s,
2 Dunnock, 2 Blue Tits, 1 Great Tit, 1 Sparrowhawk
Hunting over the field he will not go hungry today strike one Collard
Dove from list. (Gadget)
Saturday 8th November 2003 Pegwell
I only did a couple of hours around the tide with
nothing but a few Avocets and an Adult Yellow-L Gull of any
note. Also lots of Lapwings in the general area {Sandwich/Ramsgate
fields} perhaps 4 - 5,000 in all? (Phil)
Saturday 8 th November 2003 Pegwell Bay
4 Little Egret, 58 Brent 27p/31 nth, 240 Mallard, 640
Wigeon
12 Teal, 2 Gadwall, 1 Peregrine, 1 Merlin, 4 Avocet
110 Bar t Godwit, 11 Black T Godwit, c1000 Lapwing
1960 Golden Plover,, 138 Grey Plover, 42 Ringed Plover
83 Knot, 890 Dunlin, 1 {Adult} Yellow-Legged Gull. (Phil)
Saturday 8th November 2003 R/gate Cemetery 14.25
-15.10
9 Goldcrests, 2 Sparrowhawks, 5 Chaffinch,
1 Goldfinch, 2 Jay, 7 Parrots,
38 Carrion Crow, 9 Magpies, (Craig)
Friday 7th November 2003
After an early start, I left Thanet at 03.25hrs! On
my way to work I had Long-eared Owl over the road at Coleman's
Fields (just outside Sandwich) Little Owl perched on a post at
Shalmsford Street
Friday 7th November 2003 Stodmarsh NNR
around 13.00 hrs
2 Firecrest along the track to the Reedbed
Hide Goldcrest around the reserve, 1 Treecreeper 7+ Cetti's
Warbler, 1 male Hen Harrier 2 Marsh Harrier - 1
imm/female & 1 sub-adult male 2 Chiffchaff along the R.Stour
Still quite a few Redwing about. Water Rails were very
vocal, yet unseen and there were big numbers of Long-tailed Tits
present. There were big numbers of Shoveler on the main lake, with
lesser numbers of Teal and Mallards. Three drake and a duck Gadwall
were feeding along a channel near the boat-house, (Dylan)
Friday 7th November 2003 Harbour and Pegwell
Did most of the area between the Harbour and Pegwell.
Very little about - no sign of the Gt Northern Diver in the Harbour
today - in fact I saw virtually nothing. I missed a raptor at 12.00ish
everything going potty but I wasn’t in the best position at the time to
view the sky. I also had the birds up outside my house about 10.30 - but
yet again missed the culprit.
Friday 7th November 2003 Pegwell Bay 10.45 - 15.15.
4 Little Egret, 19 Brent, 46 Shelduck, 160 Wigeon, 21
Eider
4+ Sparrowhawk, 78 Bar t Godwit, 22 Black t Godwit,1 Spotted Redshank, 1500 Lapwing, c1000 Golden
Plover, 73 Knot, 1 Sandwich Tern, 15 Twite, 8 Goldcrest, 4 Corn Bunting.
(Phil)
Friday 7th November 2003 R/gate cemetery
13.50 to15.30
9 Continental Coal tit, 2 Firecrest, 2 Redpoll,
1 Sparrowhawk 8
Goldcrest, 10 + Chaffinch, 5 Goldfinch, 2 Long-tailed
tit, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Green Woodpecker,
3+Jay, 3 Redwing
7 Ring-necked Parakeets. Craig & Gadget)
Friday 7th November 2003 R/gate Harbour
3.40pm-4pm
No sign of the Great Northern Diver in a brief search
but 3 Rock pipit
(Craig & Gadget)
Thursday 6th November 2003 Oiled Razorbill
See Photos
I'm not too sure how we deal with this one?
I have put these pix onto the web site knowing that
those responsible will never look at our site, or even consider the
implications of their actions. I can have no problem with "The Global
Oil Industry"; I drive a car, use the trains and generally accept
that oil is what makes the world go round. My issue is with the
inconsiderate, blinkered skippers, who chose to save a few quid by
cleansing their tanks at sea (The Channel) instead of paying for a
"bona fidi" company to do the job.
The numbers of bird affected are relatively small
when compared with a major incident, however the cumulative result is much
the same. These birds visit the Kent coast because of the quality of our
marine habitat. That unscrupulous skippers/ ship owners can wreak such
havoc is unacceptable. This is our heritage and, as such, that of our
children; surely we must attempt to do something to protect it?
I have no answers, but feel sure that the majority of
ordinary folk, e.g. oil users, are not happy with this situation! (Dylan)
Thursday 6th November 2003 Garden & Ferry
Port R/Gate
Big news for my Vine Close garden list at 08.55hrs,
when I had a Dartford Warbler fly from next doors garden across the
road and into some lavender plants. Fantastic views of a nice male, before
it flew between the bungalows and into the back garden and were lost to
view. Not a bad start to the morning. 51 Turnstone roosting on
groins near entrance to Ferry Port,1st winter male Black Redstart
along the undercliff, Great Northern Diver still present near the
Lifeboat Station Adult Kittiwake. (Dylan & Den)
Thursday 6th November 2003 R/gate cemetery
13.50 to14.50
1 continental coal tit, 2 Firecrest, 5 Goldcrest, 3
redwing, 1 great spotted woodpecker, 1 green woodpecker, 2 jay, 2
Sparrowhawks displaying 18 long-tailed tit, 1 red admiral butterfly
(Craig)
Thursday 6th November 2003 Cliff Top &
Country Park
Another good day what is going on? I started at 6.45
on the Westcliff seeing if there was any vismig. Last night there were
loads of Redwings going over after 11.00pm but very few were in evidence
at first light. I did get a few Brambling Redpoll etc also another
Woodlark at 7.05, which lingered overhead circling and calling before
flying off strongly north. I still didn’t recognize the damned call! In
truth though its not very distinctive weak and nondescript. There was a
reasonable post roost movement of Wood Pigeons {spit!} - 840 West
including a flock of in excess of 400 birds. I even had a migrating group
of Bullfinches - I don’t often see them on the move these days. A few
more Crests and Chiffs today including 4 Firecrest {including another with
bright orange/yellow feet} in Stonelees and at least 1 in the Park.
I went down to watch the tide coming in and had a flyover Lap Bunting and
then as I was leaving the Country Park a Dartford Warbler just off the
main path 100yds south of the car park. I thought I heard one about an
hour earlier too about 3 - 400 yds south of where I saw this one but if it
was one {or it?} it wouldn’t show itself. (Phil)
Thursday 6th November 2003 Pegwell Bay 6.45 - 11.10
9 Little Egret {probable highest ever November
counts?} 3 Brent Goose, 11 Eider, 142 Mallard, 410 Wigeon, 25 Teal,1
Gadwall, 1 Peregrine, 1
Merlin, 6+ Sparrowhawk {inc 4 in the sunken garden}, 122
Curlew, 69 Bar T Godwit, 17
Black T Godwit, 320 Redshank, 1100 Lapwing, 120
Golden Plover, 129 Grey Plover, 60 Knot, 670 Dunlin, 44 Sanderling, c50
Snipe, 500 Gt BB Gull, 1 Sandwich Tern, 3+ Water Rail
80 Redwing 20 west/60 p, 7 Fieldfare, 56 Ring necked
Parakeet, 840 Wood
Pigeon west, 6 Stonechat, 1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Rock
Pipit, 20 Meadow Pipit
west, 30+ Skylark west, 1 Woodlark nth
7.05am,
4 Chiffchaff, 14 Redpoll 5 west/3 east/6 p, 75 Greenfinch, 2 Siskin sth
9 Brambling 6 west/1 sth/2 p 7 Bullfinch 5 west/2 p 1 Dartford Warbler
10.30am 42 Goldcrest, 5+ Firecrest, 80 Reed Bunting, 8 Corn
Bunting, 1 Lapland Bunting sth 8.40am (Phil)
Wednesday 5 th November 2003 (Phil)
Another feeble effort today was rewarded with a
couple of goodies. I didn't even get down today till nearly 12.00pm {after
checking St Lawrence Churchyard on the way down} and decided to have a
quick whiz along the clifftop before making my way down to Pegwell to do a
few counts. I wasn't expecting much there were a few Crests calling in the
Park but little else but it was quite a nice day so I decided to check
along the western promenade to see if any Black Redstarts or Snow Bunts
were around? Anyway I ended up going as far along as the west pier where I
had fantastic views of a first winter Gt Northern Diver down to about 20 meters
which was in the outer part of the Harbour on the south side of the life
boat
station. When I first saw it was surrounded by about 20 Herring Gulls and
it was swimming about with its head and neck outstretched level with the
water which I assume is some sort of threat posture? I stayed with it for
about 10 mins {which is good for me} watching it feeding - catching Crabs
and
swallowing them in a single gulp on the surface. There was also a
Kingfisher and a Grey wagtail there as well as quite a few Rock Pipits. On
the way back I stopped to grill the Crests in the trees around Westcliff
Terraces {on the clifftop} and
I heard a funny call overhead which turned out to be a
Woodlark flying west. {1.12pm} Just as well I saw it as I didn't have a
clue what the call was? I also had a single Tree Sprog in the bushes from
the Hoverpad. I did pop down to Pegwell but didn't stay too long {about an
hour?} The Twite flock were hanging around in the saltmarsh before flying
over towards Shell ness and settling in the river mouth area but little
else you wouldn't expect to see at this time of the year.
Wednesday 5 th November 2003 Harbour to Pegwell 12.00 - 14.45
1 Great Northern Diver {Harbour}, 3 Little
egrets, 2 Brent
2 Sparrowhawk, 5 Black t Godwit, 1840 Lapwing
1110 Golden Plover, 45 Snipe, 1 Kingfisher {Harbour}
12 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 30+ Skylark, c24 Twite
1 Woodlark west 13.12pm, 12 Goldcrest, 1 Tree Sparrow
(Phil)
Wednesday 5 th November 2003 King George VI
Park (09.10 -11.00)
2 Pied Wagtail, 9 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff (including
a singing male!) 1 Redpoll north & 1 in the park 1 Brambling a male in
the sycamores next to the Tennis Courts, 1 Redwing, 2 Grey Wagtail north.
Wednesday 5 th November 2003 Dumpton Gap
Broadstairs
2 Purple Sandpiper, 4 Linnet feeding along the
undercliff at least 7 Pied Wagtail, 6 Rock Pipit.
Wednesday 5 th November 2003 Ramsgate Harbour
1 Eider female, Great Northern Diver 1st winter bird
in outer Harbour, but quite mobile, 1 Kingfisher near Lifeboat Station, 3
Rock Pipit, (Dylan)
Tuesday 4th November 2003 Stonelees & Hover
pad
Well I made it down today - staying from 12.00 -
3.00pm - a bit late, but there you go. The bait diggers were digging the
bit in front of the hide, which caused a few problems, but there were a
flock of 24 Twite bumming around in the salt marsh for most of the
afternoon. Also a few flyover Redpoll and a group of 8 decked in Stonelees
plus the odd raptor etc. There was a probable Water Pipit on the
Hoverpad too but I flushed it and then it got put up again by a dog walker
and I didn’t see it again? (Phil)
Tuesday 4th November 2003 Pegwell Bay 12-3.00pm
6 Little Egret, 2 Brent, 28 Shelduck, 126 Wigeon, 67
Teal
1 Gadwall, 1 RT Hen Harrier, 2 Peregrine, 1 Merlin
2 Sparrowhawk, 980 Oystercatcher, 41 Bar t Godwit
7 Black t Godwit, 2 Spotted redshank, 760 Lapwing
100 Golden Plover, 75 Grey Plover, 440 Dunlin, 12 Sanderling
15 Snipe, 127 Great bb Gull, 2+ Water Rail, 12 Redwing
2 Swallow south, 4 Stonechat, 24 Twite, 11 Redpoll 8p/3 nth
2 Bullfinch, 1 Chiffchaff, 6 Goldcrest, 2 Corn Bunting. (Phil)
Tuesday 4th November 2003 Garden Dumpton Thanet
I spent most of the day in my garden, so I have very
little to report. 3 Redpoll
south (or the same bird around 3 times!) 1 Grey Wagtail north Skylark
& Meadow Pipit a steady movement south, though not in big numbers.
(Dylan)
Monday 3rd November 2003 King George VI
I really struggled to get anything today.
A female Sparrowhawk was hunting the garden @
09.10 hrs
King George VI
1 "continental" Coal Tit,3 Goldcrest,
2 (Lesser) Redpoll, 3 Redwing, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Pied
Wagtail (Dylan)
Monday 3rd November 2003 early morning update
Hooded Crow Fields of Reading Street 08.45
(The Hair)
Sunday 2nd November 2003 Sandwich Bay
A walk along Sandwich Bay this morning in that
atrocious weather produced 5 Snow Buntings, 2 Ring Plovers,1 Turnstone, 6 Meadow Pipits, 4 Linnets. (Graham)
Sunday 2nd November 2003
Fields Dumpton Thanet
A
walk out the back of the house over the fields after Lunch between
13-45 to 14-15 Produced one Sparrowhawk
, 240+ Starlings, 60+Sparrows ,
240 +Gulls, 200+ Woodpigeons,
100 + Collard Dove, 3 Meadow Pipits, 1 Pied wagtails, 1 Green Woodpeckers, also in the
bushes 3 Blue Tits, 2 Dunnock, 1 Great Tit, 21Gold
Crests, (Gadget)
