Birds News and Updates

Last update: Friday 31 st October 2003 at 17-20

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Septembers Report has been Archived

Friday 31st October 2003 Ramsgate Cemetery 09.00 - 09.50

The place was very quiet Sparrowhawk adult female hunting the eastern side 1 Redpoll over south-west 6 Goldcrest  present.

Friday 31st October 2003 King George VI Park (via the Synagogue)

4 Swallow south, 4 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Redpoll south1 Pallas's Warbler mobile bird around the first plantation Yellow-browed Warbler spp. a very "grey looking" bird was watched on two occasions, the first time seen really well. Behaving like a Yellow-browed, it spent some time low, in thick ivy covered hawthorn, but also ventured into the canopy of a Holm Oak. At one point it became quite aggressive, chasing off a Chiffchaff. However, the bird remained silent, and I saw nothing else that would clinch an id, other than Yellow-browed. "The Hair" turned up but, as yet, I do not know if he got anything on it?

Yesterday, however, he had 3 Dartford Warblers along the cliff-top between Joss Bay and Foreland, and this morning had turned up a Yellow-browed somewhere around the Golf Course! (Dylan)

Friday 31st October 2003 Scaup SPP.Update:

I went and had another look at it later yesterday morning and suffered with the same light problems. With more wildfowl around, it quickly became clear that I had seriously miss-judged the size of the bird. When I watched it on Wednesday, it was one of very few ducks present and spent most of its' time feeding in open water. That's the excuses out of the way!

I still have reservations about this individual. If it is such a glaring obvious Greater Scaup, why do the photos show so many features that are not consistent? I am quite happy to hold my hands up and say that I've made a mistake!

1) Head shape was very peaked and head-on views revealed an almost "Ring-necked Duck" like narrow profile, not the typically wide, rounded profile of the Scaup.

2) The white mask, so often a feature of Greater Scaup, is restricted to two small Loral patches that do not meet above the bill and the pale ear-covert patch of an imm/female has not been visible at any time.

3) My perception of the wing markings may have been a little "rose-tinted" , but I am sure that the white is restricted to the secondaries only and given the views of the bird preening, I have seen nothing to contradict this.

Whatever the origins, I am now convinced that this bird is not a Lesser Scaup, but how the "great and the good" have dismissed it as a juv Scaup is equally puzzling. Even a dead-head, such as myself,  would have gone for Scaup had it been that apparent. Surely, at this time of year, most wildfowl are now in 1st winter plumage?

I have attached a few pix to back up my thoughts. (Dylan)

Thursday 30th October 2003 Grove Ferry 08.55 - 11.00

I am now convinced that the bird is not a Lesser Scaup, but I am un-convinced that it is a Juv Greater Scaup. Who knows?

Scaup spp.1st year bird on pool from ramp Water Pipit several in flight, Bearded Tit many in flight and very vocal, 1 Little Egret, Marsh Harrier – imm 1 Swallow   from "Green" hide, 1 Kingfisher Lots of waterfowl, Lapwings and Golden Plover.

Thursday 30th October 2003 King George VI Park 11.30 - 12.45

Pallas's Warbler - at least two birds present, possibly a third?  Goldcrest 5 Chiffchaff 3 Good numbers of Song Thrushes in the park and lots of Long-tailed Tits, especially along the cycle track.              A Chiffchaff in the wooded area next to the synagogue, also a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers. "Continental" Coal Tit near Dumpton Park Station (Dylan and Den)

Wednesday 29 th October 2003 Grove Ferry13.40 hrs - 16.10

On my way back from the soup-mine today, I chanced upon this waif inhabiting the pool directly in front of the Grove Ferry ramp. Having been robbed of the Ham Road Pits bird, back in 1999, I am a bit more hopeful for this one. Although my pix are distant, the only feature that I failed to discern was that of the bill pattern. Size, shape and wing patterns all hold good for this bird being a Lesser Scaup. Sadly, my library does not have much info that will help clinch id, although what bits I do have all point me towards acceptance. Have a look at the pix and see what you think. I have loads more images, of varying quality, but the essence of the bird is captured in these few pix. Whatever the outcome, I think it will cause a few ruffled feathers if it's gone tomorrow! 3 Little Egret, 6 Stonechat, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Dunlin. Water Pipit at least 6, but there may have been more as they were very mobile. 1 Ringed Plover (1st winter) from the "In Focus" hide 3  Pied Wagtail. Fantastic numbers of Teal (1200+), Wigeon and other ducks. The geese were feeding on the meadows over by the Marsh Hide, so I didn't get to see them. Bearded Tits and Cetti's Warblers were very vocal and I had good views of one adult Water Rail, with many more remaining unseen, but vocal, within the reed beds. Highlight of the day was the discovery, of what might prove to be the 1st Kent record, of Lesser Scaup. A female type bird feeding on the pool below the ramp. Although distant, my x50w eyepiece allowed me to see enough detail to convince myself that it is a correct id, but my pix may need others to see the bird before it gets the thumbs up! (Dylan)

Wednesday 29 th October 2003 Clifftop, Hoverpad & Bushes

Started off on the clifftop {10.00am} with nothing much going on the fields Hoverpad was much the same. I watched the tide coming in intending to go home as soon as the mud was covered but I received a text from "the Hair" whilst I was in the hide telling me he had seen 4 Pallas', 1 Yellow-Brow and a Dusky Warbler this morning so I decided to thrash all the suitable bits of "Sibe" habitat that I hadn’t already checked. I gave up after one and quarter-hours of bush bashing virtually bird free zone today I’m afraid. Rubbish!!!  (Phil)

Wednesday 29th October 2003 Pegwell Bay10.00 - 13.15

Tuesday 28 th October 2003 Ramsgate Cemetery 07.25-09.00

Yellow-browed Warbler near eastern gate. Otherwise usual stuff, with 12 Goldcrest, Skylarks, mipits and brambling over, plus 2 Lapwing flying NW. (Phil Beraet)

Tuesday 28 th October 2003 over Garden

24 Golden plover flushed from stubble field and off towards Manson / Pegwell @ 07.00, 4 Mistle Thrush south

Tuesday 28 th October 2003 Ramsgate Cemetery 09.00 - 09.55 hrs

6 Goldcrest, 4 Common Snipe over north-east, Siskin, Redpoll

Tuesday 28 th October 2003 Dumpton Gap

6 Rock Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail

Tuesday 28 th October 2003 King George VI Park

Pallas's Warbler stunning views of a very active bird feeding in Hawthorn, Holm Oak and Sycamore along the cliff-top. I located it by call, but it was very active and stayed quiet for long periods. A fantastic little bird!1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest,1 Redpoll over north Sparrowhawk an adult female hunting, probably a cemetery bird.

Tuesday 28 th October 2003 Cliff top & Bushes

Did 8.30 - 12.00pm there was very little on the move and very little round the bushes and very little on the mud and very little on the sea. VERY LITTLE! 3 Tree Sparrows in a bit of Hawthorn on the beach & Hover pad plus the odd Siskin redpoll, wagtail flying over. As I left a flock of 16 Twite flew north over the salt marsh {probably not migrants?} then a Merlin was chasing a little brown job about near the garage pools. Pete Forrest had a Yellow-Brow on the Hoverpad on
Saturday and 6 more Firecrest so the day total for the area was 22. (Phil)

Tuesday 28 th October 2003 Pegwell Bay  8.30 - 12.00

  10 Little Egret, 8 Brent, 270 Wigeon, 6 Teal, 8 Eider
2 Sparrowhawk, 1 Merlin, 8 Black-t Godwit, 73 Bar-t Godwit
1 Greenshank, 125 Golden Plover, 117 Grey Plover, 53 Knot
680 Dunlin, 2 Stonechat,12 Pied Wagtail west, 6 Rock Pipit
30 Chaffinch, 1 Brambling,16 Redpoll 10 nth / 6 west
2 Siskin nth,16 Twite,17 Goldcrest,4 Tree Sparrow 3 p/1 west
20 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare. (Phil)

Monday 27th October 2003 Garden Dumpton

I was out in the garden by 06.15 hrs (still there at 16.00 hrs!)

Redpoll - 3 south, Grey Wagtail - 1 west, 2 north, Brambling - 1 north, Good numbers of Redwing, Skylark, Siskin, Chaffinches and Mipits mainly S / south-west. The most interesting news was of 16 Swallows going south between 14.00 & 15.50 hrs. Gulls got excited on a couple of occasions, but I couldn't see anything - such is life! (Dylan)

Monday 27th October 2003 R/Gate Cemetery 

A slow walk around the Cemetery uncovered a few bits this lunch time, within the first 20 minutes I had recorded 7Jay’s 17 Blackbirds, 5 Song Thrushes, 11 Goldcrest, 4 Firecrest, 1 Coal Tit, 9 Long-tail Tits, 3 Blue Tits, 3 Great Tits, continuing my walk around a few birds going over head Goldfinches, Redpoll, Siskin, also 5 Siskin in tree top, 2 Green woodpecker, were moving around the trees making lots of noise, only had 3 Redwing, 1 Fieldfare, on leaven the Cemetery a small flock of Chaffinches over the allotment coming up past the School 1Sparrowhawk over head. (Gadget)

Monday 27th October 2003 Bushes & Stonelees

I had a lazy day today not arriving until 9.30am then poodled around for a few hours before coming home. Very little around the bushes. A few Goldcrests, 1 Firecrest and the odd flyover finch and Skylark. I had a stomp around Stonelees pools flushing 2 Jacksnipe and about 15 common Snipe. There were also 2 Goldeneye and an F type Merg on the high tide offshore. I went back at 1.45 to watch the tide down with Barry Child who phoned up when I got in. He's lost quite a bit of weight but was in good spirits. He's seen the specialist and by the sounds of it the new medication he gave him is helping. Lets hope he doesn’t have to go under the knife. He should find out in the next month or so? Not too much different on the dropping tied a Spotshank, 14 Blackwits and Scoter etc. (Phil)

Monday 27th October 2003 Pegwell Bay

Sunday 26 th October 2003 Cliff top & Fields

Vismig 08.00 till 09.20hrs with little going over odd thrush / finch etc. There were 2 Coal tits in the sunken garden and a Firecrest on the clifftop. I watched the tide in {pants} then stayed till 11.00. (Phil)

Sunday 26 th October 2003 Pegwell Bay 08 -11.00hrs

4 Little Egret, 16 Brent 4 nth/12 p, 28 Shelduck, 92 Wigeon
2 Eider, 2 Sparrowhawk, 1 Peregrine, 15 Black-t Godwit
127 Bar-t Godwit, 450 Golden Plover, 112 Grey Plover
47 Knot, 2 Snipe, 1 Water Rail, 36 Redwing 12p/24 west
36 Fieldfare 4p/32 west, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
160 Swallow 72 west/88 nth, 3 Stonechat, 15 Pied wagtail west, 20 Skylark west, 12 Linnet west, 15 Goldfinch west
22 Greenfinch west, 12 Chaffinch west, 4 Brambling west
12 Redpoll west, 8 Siskin 4 nth/4 west, 1 Firecrest
22 Goldcrest, 3 Tree Sparrow 1 nth/2 west, 2 Coal Tit (Phil)

Saturday 25 th October 2003 Cliff top Park & Bushes

I started off at 7.15 in the hope of a bit more vismig. Unfortunately there was very little going on. I hung around the cliff/park area until 8.30 and had only seen a few Greenfinches, Chaffinch plus the odd Redpoll, Siskin, Brambling all in all very disappointing on the vismig front though there were still lots of Firecrest in the Holmes Oaks around the park. I counted 15 but there were certainly more than that. I moved next to the Chine area - nothing except a couple of Crests in the sunken garden and zilcharoo in the weedy field. A few more Redpolls + Chaffinches were coming in plus Skylarks had started to move then at 9.00am - shock of shocks - a Waxwing flew low west across towards Little Cliffsend Farm! I have never seen one as early as October. There were also Sprawls all over the place - with 4 definite migrants {north} plus odd birds present before I left at 12.00pm. A few
Thrushes in the Hoverpad Hawthorns {no Waxwing though
unfortunately} but generally poor around the bushes away from the Park. I decided to go onto the reserve next to watch the tide in and continue raptor watching/vismig keeping one eye on the sea {sounds like Lee E doing a sea watch trouble was the tide came in so quick that by the time I had walked from the Hoverpad back to the sunken garden where I had locked my bike up the tide was virtually right up! Didn’t look like I had missed too much as I saw most of the waders in flight and it appeared it was pretty much what had been around recently anyway. As the tide {which was very high today} came in it pushed 100+ Reed Buntings out of the salt marsh. At 10.15 I heard a strange call high up over the hide, which turned out to be a pair of Bearded Tits going s/west. At 10.25 I had 4 more going west this time. Then at 10.22 {and 14 seconds} I saw 4 wild swans coming in off the sea about half a mile plus to the s/east of me flying low s/west inland. The visibility was awful - hazy and sunny but they looked too long necked for Bewicks? I was reasonably sure of their id - but I texted Dullard {at SBBO} and told him to shoot out and get on them - which after about three quarters of an hour by the sounds of it he did. Of course by then they were well gone although I didn’t see them after they went behind the Pines over on Princes Golf Course so it was possible they either landed or changed direction? Anyway - he phoned me back later and redeemed himself - as Ian Hunter had seen them if you read this Dullard ... this act of kindness saved you an enormous kicking! Watch it sonny! Other than that a migrant Short-eared Owl dropped into the 100 acre field and at last I heard a Water Rail - they're flip pin late turning up this year. Also there are still very few Snipe about? This high tide should have had them all out in the open but I only saw one!  (Phil)

Saturday 25 th October 2003 Pegwell Bay 7.15 - 12.00

Friday 24 th October 2003 This Photograph of a Stonechat has been  sent into Planetthanet  so we have placed it on the web site. well done (Pete Young)

Friday 24 th October 2003 Ramsgate Cemetery 

this morning not much except for 8 Firecrest (Craig)

Friday 24 th October 2003 King George VI & Grove Ferry 

I must have just missed you at King George VI. I didn't get much that you hadn't seen, just a few Brambling and Siskin overhead and a total of 23 Goldcrests & 4 Firecrest. Grove Ferry on my way home produced:- 4 White-fronted Geese (adults) 1 (Feral) Barnacle Goose,375 Greylag Geese,1 Ruff, 7 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 1 Water Pipit, 2 Stonechat, Loads of assorted wildfowl, Teal the commonest species with over 600 around the reserve. A few Snipe, Bearded Tit and Cetti's Warblers made up the best of the rest. Lastly, there was a single Swallow patrolling the hedge near the gateway from the Grove Ferry Inn. (Dylan)

Friday 24 th October 2003 Foreness & Northdown Park

Richards pipit east Foreness, Dartford Warbler Foreness Cliff Top, Hooded Crow 1 West, 5 Continental Coal Tits in Northdown Park. (The Hair)

Friday 24 th October 2003 Cliff Top & Bushes

Did 8.00am - 13.15 covering the whole stinking area yet again. Quite a bit of vismig early on tailing off after 9.00 - though odd few bits and pieces were still on the move all morning. It was mainly Finches and Sparrows today - with a few Thrushes on the sidelines. Lots of Firecrest in the clifftop park {there could easily have been 20 odd?} though difficult to make a proper estimate? In the late morning I picked up a few Coal Tits making their way west along the bushes and scrub. Rarity of the day {other than the House Sparrow passage} was a Jack Snipe which flew about 200 yards along the salt marsh at high tide I have only ever seen a handful that I haven’t had to flush and none of them flew so far as this one. (Phil)

Friday 24 th October 2003 Pegwell Bay

10 Little Egret, 111 Brent {50 p/61 west}, 57 Shelduck,95 Mallard, 74 Teal, 71 Wigeon, 9 Eider, 120 Curlew, 1 migrant Sparrowhawk {nth}, 9 Black-t Godwit 195 Turnstone {high tide roost}, 1 Woodcock, 1 Jack snipe
1 Adult Mediterranean Gull,2 Sandwich Tern173 Redwing {60p/113 west} 50 Fieldfare {10p/40 west} 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 Swallow {nth}, 1 House Martin {nth}, 7 Pied Wagtail {west}1 Grey Wagtail {west}, 15 Rock Pipit {5p/10west} 69 Meadow Pipit {west}, 40 Skylark {west}, 30 Linnet {west} 75 Goldfinch {west}, 170 Greenfinch {west}, 58 Chaffinch {west}, 49 Brambling {west}, 27 Redpoll {west}, 34 Siskin {west}, 16 Twite {probably all west? A group of c15 may have landed?}, 1 Chiffchaff, 17+Firecrest, 70 Goldcrest 29 Tree Sparrow {west odd 1s and 2s decked} 13 Coal Tit
90+ House Sparrow {50nth/40+west},14 Reed Bunting {west} (Phil)

Friday 24 th October 2003 Early Morning Update

A walk around King George VI 07-30 to 09-10hrs the 1st thing that was very apparent the number of Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Redwings, in the Park only had 4 Fieldfare in amongst them, wile inspecting the bushes along the path by the cliff edge I observed 4 Firecrest,9 Goldcrest,3 Chaffinch, 4 Robins, 5 Blue tits, 7 Great tits,5 Dunnock, over head 5 pied wagtails South,30+ Goldfinches South, 9 Meadow pipits South. on leaving the park 15 Parakeets few over towards the park and 100+ Starlings were a long the cliff to  (Gadget)

Thursday 23 rd October 2003 King George VI

11 Goldcrest, 2 Firecrest, 1 Grey Wagtail - north (Dylan)

Thursday 23 rd October 2003 North Foreland 10.25 - 11.20 hrs

Common Scoter - 13 south, Kittiwake - 3 south, Gannet - 3 south Brent Goose - 9 south, Wigeon - 48 north, Red-throated Diver - 1 south Bloody hard work in the ridiculously windy conditions!  (Dylan)

Thursday 23 rd October 2003 Cliff Top & Fields

Watcher - itsmeeeeee again. Ive had a fantastic morning. I started off on the clifftop anticipating a bit of vismig but there was very little on the move - just the odd Thrush and Wag pipit etc. It looked like it was going to rain so about 7.45 I decided to go down into the cave on the western Undercliff {a depressing place if ever there was one} to see if there was anything moving over the ocean blue {or dingy grey?} but after about half an hour with only a few Scoter and Brent to show I gave up and started making my way back towards Pegwell. By then {8.30} there was a bit of visible movement going on - lots of Redwing/Fieldfare plus 2 reasonable flocks of Skylarks. In the Park there were quite a few Firecrest and at 8.25 I heard a yellow-brow calling it's head off but as I waited to see it and got a bit closer the call changed and started to sound weird – I thought it was either another bird or perhaps even a Hume's as I still hadn’t seen it - when after a bit of pishing a coal tit popped up ... so it hadn’t been a Yellow-brow at all! Coal Tit hadn’t even entered my mind. Anyway whilst I was stalking the Yellow-browed Tit a Lapland Bunting flew west calling – low overhead. The first definite one of the autumn so far. I tried vismiging it from the sunken garden but got bored {and cold} so I wandered along the cliff a bit. As I walked up the side of the farm I saw a bird drop into the weedy field making a couple of mipits jump up. I completely misjudged its size because after wandering 100 yds out into the field I flushed a Richards Pipit, which flew off strongly west but low. After a chat with the Dumpton Midget {via - "ello on the phone!”} I went looking for it - in the hope it may have dropped into the stubble field on the far side of the cycle path - but couldn't relocate it. Mind you it's a big field to check on your own - though I didn’t see it come down anyway so perhaps it kept going? A bit annoying as I wasted about half an hour away from the clifftop where all the vismig was going on and when I went back it had slowed up quite a bit. Most of the vismig lasted between 8.30 and 10.00am - with the odd trickle of stuff thereafter. In fact by 11.30 I was bored and came home - checking St Lawrence churchyard on the way home. It was completely blown out - a few assorted Thrushes and a couple of calling Goldcrests only. The weather forecast is for lighter northerlies tomorrow so it looks as if there might be a bit more vismig stuff than today and perhaps some wildfowl etc. Almost forgot the bird of the day - a Yellowhammer in the weedy field! An enormously huge bird these days. (Phil)

Thursday 23 rd October 2003 Pegwell Bay  7.30 - 11.30.

8 Little Egret, 31 Brent {3 sth/4nth/24 p}, 18 Shelduck c50 Wigeon, 6 Eider, 4 Common Scoter {1 sth/3 nth} 2 Greenshank, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 120 Turnstone183 Redwing {west}, 255 Fieldfare {west} 6 Pied Wagtail {west}, 2 Rock Pipit, 25 Meadow Pipit, 1 Richards Pipit {west 9.45}, Skylark 65 west c40 present, Goldfinch 160 west
6 Greenfinch Nth, 12 Chaffinch nth, 13 Brambling west 6 Siskin west, 1 Chiffchaff, 4+ Firecrest, 10+ Goldcrest 2 Tree Sparrow west, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Lapland Bunting west 8.30 1 Yellowhammer (Phil)

Wednesday 22nd October 2003 Cemetery & Park

Met up with Craig in the cemetery at 09.10hrs, having already seen 5 Swallows heading southwest over Vine Close. Redwings and Fieldfares were moving overhead and there were groups dropping in to feed on Rowanberries on two trees by the Chapel. There were good numbers of crests still present with at least 7 Firecrest, although no sign of yesterday's "Sibes" At least 3 Sparrowhawks were about, whilst vis-mig provided 12 Brambling and a scattering of Siskin, Chaffinch and Mipits. We then walked across to King George VI Park, via the Synagogue: - 2 "continental" Coal Tit in the sycamores by the synagogue was the highlight, then on to the park. Plenty more crests, with another 8 Firecrest (minimum) In the 2nd plantation along the cycle track, we found a Yellow-browed, which gave us good but brief views before it flew into the cliff-top bushes. Still a few thrushes about, with Redwings being the most numerous. (Dylan & Craig)

Wednesday 22nd October 2003 Cliff Top & Fields

Just got back after 5+ hours of trudgery and drudgery in which I checked every bush, tree, Field etc between Stonelees and the sunken garden. A reasonable scattering of Firecrest today though unfortunately no Sibes. A bit of vismig first thing
{mainly Skylarks/few Mipits and Wagtails} but very slow after about 10.00ish. The most common finch today apart from the decked Goldfinches were Brambling also a group of 5 flyover Twite {first ones so far} 2 migrant Sprawks and a first winter Yellow-legged Gull in the newly ploughed field on Little Cliffsend Farm. Pete heard a Lap Bunt on the footpath up near the Shell Garage off the Canterbury road yesterday – but no sign of it today. The Peregrine was interesting today. While I was stomping one of the stubble fields I noticed a large female stooping – eventually disappearing out of sight below the clifftop. I tried to ignore it as it came back into view but it
wouldn’t fly off the crows were giving it loads of stick but still it kept coming back for more. The reason was revealed - when I flushed a Starling out of the field with a broken wing and a gammy leg so I assume the peregrine must have dropped it there and was loathe to give it up? It gave me some spectacular views down to about 15 to 20 yards. (Phil)
Wednesday 22 nd October 2003 Pegwell Bay 8.45 to 14.00

Wednesday 22nd October 2003  Mid Morning Update

1 Yellow-browed Warbler King George VI Park (Dylan & Craig)

Tuesday 21 st October 2003 North Foreland (09.10 - 10.40 hrs)

2 Red-throated Diver north, Common Scoter - 12 on, 10 north & 1 south, Brent Geese - 256 north & 21 south, Wigeon - 21 south & 1 north, Eider 1 south, Mallard 1 drake north, Swallow 2 north (Dylan)

Tuesday 21 st October 2003 King George VI Park

19 Firecrest, 60+ Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, Redpoll - 40+ north Goldfinch - 70+ north, Siskin, 15+ Redwing, Treecreeper bird of the day! I tried really hard to get Short-toed, but had to admit defeat and settle for the obvious. Still a very rare bird on Thanet (except Big Phil SBBOT ringer had one in the cemetery on Sunday!) (Dylan)

Tuesday 21 st October 2003 Broadstairs to Dumpton Gap 

Brent Geese - 55 north & 4 south, Grey Wagtail, 2 Rock Pipit, Sandwich Tern - 1st Winter (Dylan)

Ramsgate Cemetery (late afternoon)

3 Brambling,1 Crossbill north-east (Dylan)

Tuesday 21st October 2003 Cliff Top & Hover Pad

Lots of stuff about this afternoon. I couldn’t go out until about 12.30 due to the rain. I started off on the clifftop where there were only Thrushes then onto the Hover port where I had a Dotterel which flew low north across the hover pad/fields with c40 Golden plovers at 1.30pm. A surprisingly late record. On the Hover pad - lots of Thrushes {inc 1 Ring Ouzel} but little else so I checked out the rest of the cliff bushes where a few Brambling, Thrushes, Skylarks and Pied Wags had started to move. After a chat with the local midget Village idiot and his mate who had just arrived from Ramsgate Cemetery - I decided to try to stomp out a Jack Snipe from the Garage pools. Only 2 Snipe there and a single Jack. In the evening a reasonable movement of Swallows started up – first going north - then west - then north again. Out on the mud a group of 8 Avocets and still 21 Blackwits around. (Phil)

Tuesday 21st October 2003 Pegwell Bay 

6 Little Egret, 243 Brent {120 p, 90 sth and 133nth.}29 Shelduck, 470 Wigeon, 8 Teal, 2 Pintail, 5 Eider 1 Sparrowhawk, 8 Avocet, 1160 Oystercatcher 21 Black-t Godwit, 4 Greenshank 180 Redshank,1170 Golden Plover, 1 Dotterel {nth c1.30pm} 500 Lapwing, 2 Snipe, 1 Jack Snipe, 1230 Herring Gull 160 Great BB Gull, 62 Redwing, 6 Fieldfare, 1 Ring Ouzel 1 Kingfisher, 610 Swallow {340 nth/270 west} 10 House Martin {west}, 2 Stonechat, 5 Rock Pipit 100 Meadow Pipit, 20 Skylark {west}, 20 Linnet, 240 Goldfinch, 32 Brambling {23 west}, 5 Redpoll {west] 1 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 12 Goldcrest, 60 Reed Bunting (Phil)

Tuesday 21st October 2003 Ramsgate Cemetery {PM}

5 Firecrest,1 Yellow-browed Warbler {pm},1 Pallas' Warbler {pm},   lots redwing/fieldfare/Goldcrest etc}

Tuesday 21st October 2003 Northdown Park

Tuesday 21 st October 2003 R/Gate Cemetery 13-00 to 14-40

As I arrived it was very apparent that there were lots of birds moving around Black birds Redwings And Fieldfares seamed to be every were you looked, walking round the paths I met up with Craig so we wandered around together until 14-40 in this time we observed the following Birds. 60+ Fieldfare 40+ Redwing in bushes and on the ground with about 200 + Blackbirds, Starlings and Song Thrushes showing up all over the Cemetery, Within the bushes and Tree mostly on the east side Were small bunches or small flocks of which ever you wish of the following, 12 Brambling, 26 Siskin, 20+ Goldcrest, 1 Redpoll, 6 Firecrest, 1 Yellow Browed Warbler, and a nice surprise 1 Pallas’s warbler, 6 Jay’s and 2 Grey wagtails flew over head going south to south-west. (Craig & Gadget)

Monday 20 th October 2003 Pegwell Bay

5 Little Egret, 63 Brent, 14 Shelduck, 42 Wigeon, 9 Eider, 60 Lapwing
1 Sparrowhawk, 6 Black-t Godwit, 29 Bar-t Godwit,1 Greenshank, 41 Golden Plover, 75 Grey Plover, 370 Dunlin, 3 Rock Pipit, 50 Meadow Pipit
90 Goldfinch, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest, 65 Redwing, 7 Fieldfare (Phil)

Monday 20 th October 2003 Ramsgate Cemetery 13-00 to 15-00

A walk around the Cemetery in this wind turned up a few bits just right of the chapel had a 1 Firecrest and a Possible Yellow-browed  but could not get on it long enough to be positive, as I walk around the paths I had 20 Goldcrest, 6 Jay's, 35 Redwing, 12 Fieldfare, and a assortment of Tits , Pipits,  (Craig)

Monday 20 th October 2003 King George VI  Park

Popped into King George VI  Park this a.m. from 07:30 - 08:30 during a break in the rain before work. The aforementioned rain seems to have brought in a 2nd wave of Firecrest (saw none on Sunday  just Goldcrests  so I am assuming the previous wave moved away Saturday night).  About 2 in 1st copse (walking from Victoria Parade entrance) and 2 in the 2nd copse, then about 3 in the evergreen section.  Also 3 redwings, 4 fieldfare flying about plus numerous finches. Might be something more exciting in there if my "2nd wave" theory is correct, but not enough time to fully check myself. (Scott)

Sunday 19 th October 2003 Northdown Park Late Update:

Pallas' warbler as well as the red breasted fly
in Northdown Park today. 

Sunday October 19th 2003 Pegwell

Cold and flipping windy {again} at Pegwell today.
There was an extremely tame Snow Bunting on the main
path which didn’t even fly off when I cycled past it
and the paths only about 8 foot wide! I checked all
the bits in shelter but came across very little. (Phil)

Sunday October 19th 2003 Pegwell Bay

Sunday 19 th October 2003 Dumpton Garden

Just spent a couple of hours in the garden. Lots of birds, but not much of interest. 9 Lapwing on burned area of stubble, 50+ Fieldfare, Skylark a few grounded plus others overhead, 1 Grey Wagtail north, Plenty of Herring Gulls and Starlings on the fields, with a few corvids for company. At least two Sparrowhawks causing havoc when they appear and good numbers of Collared Doves and House Sparrows around the gardens. (Dylan)

Sunday 19 th October 2003 Northdown Park

 09-30 Red-Breasted Flycatcher (The Hair) 

Sunday 19 th October 2003

Walk around Dead-mans & the Paddock 07 –15 to 07- 45 produced 7 Blue tits, 4 Great tits, 5 Robins, 14 Long-tail tits, 3 Chiffchaffs, 9 Goldcrest, 2 Firecrest, 4 Dunnock, 8 Blackbirds, 3 song Thrushes, 7 Redwing, 5 Ring neck Parakeets, Down to North Foreland 07-55 to 08 30 not much on the golf course itself about 60+ Meadow pipits over head (north) and 40+ Goldfinches (north) a variety of tits along the cycle path bushes with 9 Blackbirds and 5 Redwings. Went on around the cliff top to Dumpton Gap And then up to the King George VI Park, 09-05 to 09- 50 there was a few small flocks of Goldfinches over the cliff tops along the way with 5+ Goldcrest in the park itself 14 Blackbirds, 4 Song Thrushes, 8 Redwing, 2 wren, I had a chat to a man who was out bird watching in the park he said that there where Siskin around but I did not see them his name is Scott and he seamed to be a nice sort of Chap maybe he will have a look at the web site and decide to participate within the group. (Gadget)

Saturday 18 th October 2003 Grove Ferry 

Started at Grove at 7.00am, first thing was a large movement of Starling 5800-6200 moving North East 7.00-7.20 also Carrion Crows in smaller numbers 64 N/East. Highlight of the day was a juvenile White Winged Black Tern at 11.27 came in from the north low over the reeds past the Green hide on the west side over Baillon’s pool heading South East over Avocet pool then lost to view approaching Grove village.
The counts: -
Starling 5800-6200 plus 200+ in the fields Carrion Crow 64 plus local birds in area 21 Cormorant,11 Little Egret, 2 Marsh Harrier female & immature, 9 Grey heron,  5 Cetti’s Warbler, 40 Fieldfare, 3 Dunlin, 8 Bearded tit, 2 Black Tailed Godwit, 126 Lapwing, 747 Teal, 9 Ruff,
8 Shoveler, 14 Reed Bunting, 4 Blue Tit, 2 Water Rail, 30 Black Headed Gull, 3 Stonechat, 60 Golden Plover, 1 Ringed Plover, 3 Water Pipit, 14 Meadow Pipit, 1 Little Stint, 2 Green Sandpiper, 38 Gadwall, 10 Skylark
18 Snipe, 1 Chaffinch, 40 Wigeon, 1 Curlew, 550 Greylag, 1 Barnacle Goose, 3 Swallow, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 White Winged Black Tern (juvenile) 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Wren, 1  Little Grebe. (Martyn)

Saturday 18 th October 2003

Did the cliff-top from Dumpton to Broadstairs, and then went inland to the Golf Course and Northdown Park. Nothing much to report, just Brambling, Siskin and a single Redpoll of note amongst a steady trickle of Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Mipits. Northdown Park was busy with loads of dog-walkers (almost as anti-social as twitchers!) I got some nice views of Redwing and "crests", but only managed to locate a Yellow-browed by call. A Swallow south and more Brambling were the best of the rest. There was a calling warbler (?) along the western boundary, but I was unable to get anything on it. King George VI park provided more of the same, plenty of Goldcrests and a couple of Firecrest, plus the 2nd quiz bird of the day. An un-id'd warbler in the canopy of the sycamores was a challenge, but I can only say that the light and wind was against me and the bird will probably turn out to be a Reed Warbler! (Dylan)

Friday 17th October 2003 Pegwell Bushes

I went back down to Pegwell as I couldn’t be bothered
to go to the cliff this morning {el Laze!} and there
was a Yellow-brow in the sunken garden which I almost
"strunge" into a Pallas’ {which I was desperate to see
for some reason} as it took me about half a flipping
hour to actually say for certain due to the flipping
wind and the sun shining in my eyes! I kept seeing it
as one or the other - but in the end it showed
properly and it was a Yellow-brow. There was also a
dodgy looking Chiffchaff in the same area - which may
or may not have been a Tristis - though some of these
abietinus things look fairly brown and two tone at
this time of the year. A few more crests and Thrushes
about today.
 I spoke to Barry Child earlier {on't phone} and he's
still not right yet. He's seeing a specialist this
week so hopefully he will give him some good news. He
had a Red Kite yesterday on the Ash Levels side of the
road where that Gt Grey Shrike was in February.
Still a few butterflies about - as today I saw 2
Clouded Yellow, Lots of Small White, a few Red
Admiral/Painted Ladies and at least one Holly Blue in
the sunken garden. Also still on the wing in Stone
Lees both Common Blue and Speckled Wood. Next weeks
weather will sort them out until next spring no doubt!
Looks like we should be getting some colder
northerly next week if the weather forecast is
correct? Should bring more wildfowl/waders etc. (Phil)

Friday 17th October 2003 Pegwell Bay:

5 Little egret, 36 Brent, 35 Wigeon, 7 Eider, 8 Black-t Godwit
17 Bar-t Godwit, 1 Greenshank, 200 Golden Plover
450 Dunlin, 18 Redwing, 41 Fieldfare {29 west}
10 Swallow {nth}, 2 Stonechat, 1 Rock Pipit, 40 Meadow Pipit
4 Chiffchaff, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler {2.15-2.45ish at least}
5 Firecrest, 40 Goldcrest

Yesterday:
1 Red Kite - early pm Ash Levels. (Phil)

Friday 17th October 2003 Russell Gardens River

This morning in Russell Gardens, River, I had 10 Firecrest within a few meters of each other, also had 11 Redwings feeding in near by Ewe trees. I then went over to Sandwich where there was another 13 Firecrest on the Estate, also 70+ Goldcrest, 14 Redwing flew over. There was also 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Brambling showing plus a pair of Stonechats. 1 Speckled Wood and 2 Red Admiral were sunning them
selves. (G. Crick)

Thursday 16 th October 2003 Pegwell Bay

Thursday 16 th October 2003 

I've been outside in the Garden since the dawn appeared 2 Brambling, 8 Fieldfare south, 16 Redwing -all directions, so probably leaving roost sites not migrants., 31 Goldfinch west 6 "alba" Wagtail south, 1 Reed Bunting south, 1 Skylark south, 4 Swallow north, 21 Jackdaw south - a very unusual bird around Dumpton, but I assume these are birds from the Broadstairs/St Peter's area just moving locally and not "continental" migrants? A few Chaffinches, Meadow Pipits and Song Thrushes overhead and a single Lapwing. (Dylan)

Wednesday 15 th October 2003 Grove Ferry

I called in at Grove on my way home and got these photos for the site, 9 Dunlin, 11 Ruff, Female & imm Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, 1 Water Pipit, Good numbers of Lapwing and wildfowl being panicked by an imm Peregrine. Not a lot else to report in the very windy conditions  (Dylan)

Wednesday 15 th October 2003 Hover-Pad & Cliff top

Checked the Hover-Pad, cliff and fields seeing very little save yesterdays Yellow-brow which was still in the Crest flock in the n/west corner of the horse paddock. Only a Firecrest in the Hoverpad bushes and a late Hummingbird Hawk-moth on the Buddleia of any
interest whatsoever. I went to the Raddes spot on the Country Park {naff all} and the waders on the incoming tide were difficult to gauge as there was some berk wandering around on the mud for about half an hour! Dog walkers all over the place again today -AGHHHHHHHH! (Phil)

Francis had 2 more Firecrest and a pied fly at pegwell today so add these on to the counts (The Hair)

Wednesday 15 th October 2003 Pegwell Bay 8.45 - 11.15

3 Little egret, 112 Brent, 20 Shelduck, 57 Wigeon
12 Black-t Godwit, 1 Greenshank, 130 Lapwing
182 Golden Plover, 75 Grey Plover, 110 Dunlin
12 Redwing, 1 Fieldfare, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
60+ Jackdaws {s/west}, 1 Grey Wagtail {nth}, 2 Rock Pipit
70 Meadow Pipit, 150+ Goldfinch, 20 Chaffinch
1 Brambling, 6 Chiffchaff, 20 Goldcrest, 1 Firecrest
1 Yellow-browed Warbler {calling at 10.10}

Tuesday 14 th October 2003 Botany Bay 16.40-17.50

1 Leach's Petrel east at 17.08, 2 Common Scoter, 4 Kittiwake
1 Little Gull, 20 Brent west, 157 Sanderling on the beach plus 1 Purple Sandpiper 75 Oystercatcher & 3 Turnstone. (Martyn)

Tuesday 14 th October 2003

Stuck in the garden for yet another round of building work! Lapland Bunting 1 over South @ 08.10 hrs Swallow, a steady trickle of birds moving South into the wind 7 Fieldfare West Plenty of Meadow Pipits, Redwing, Skylark & Chaffinch plus odd Brambling and Grey Wagtails moving overhead. Song Thrush numbers are very buoyant, with 20+ over in less than 10 mins at first light. There were a lot of finches and other bits moving, but I was pointing a patio, so missed all but the calling birds! (Dylan)

Tuesday 14 th October 2003 Hover pad & Bushes along Cliff top

A bit of a day today. On arrival I was surprised how dead it was - nothing moving and hardly any Thrushes about - though I took the Dog out for a walk last night Thrush Listening - and only heard about half a dozen Redwings in about three quarters of an hour. After a walk around the cliff bushes and the Hoverpad I heard well - almost certainly a Richards Pipit - flying south at 9.10am. Unfortunately the views were poor but I am reasonably sure this was what it was? I decided to go and check little Cliffsend farm and the weedy field - coming across first a Firecrest then after hearing lots of alarm calls - I saw a Little Owl in the Farm bushes, the first one I have ever seen there. There were a couple of decked brambling and a flock of 80 Goldfinches {north} before on the north side of the Farm I came across a Yellow-browed Warbler in amongst a small group of crests. Also on the cliff:
1 Wheatear, 6 Siskin, a couple of Blackcaps etc and 2 more Firecrest in the sunken garden. The dog walkers were driving me POTTY! Everywhere I went it was as if they were following me. Next stop the cycle path on the way to Stonelees. Quite a few chiffs and a couple of Blackcaps/crests etc. There was a work party in the southwest corner of S Lees which was annoying as it's the best bit! The day was turning into a bit of a wind-up. on the way back to the hide I spotted a little gathering of birds: about 6 chiffs, a few Reed Bunts and Mipits etc. I saw a rather pale looking Chiffchaff, which lead me to ignore a ticking call to my right. All the birds were on the move - further away from the path and it was as I followed them I pished the Raddes out of the scrub into a Hawthorn bush. Extremely lucky as two minutes before I had had enough and was heading to the hide to watch the tide in. Anyway I was sure at the time it was a Raddes/Dusky and the only decent view I had of the bird for the next five plus minutes was the initial one when I was in no mood to take it all in. I put a few texts out - seeing the thing flitting low through the scrub now and then – before it settled at the base of a small bit of Hawthorn. I had excellent views even seeing the orange/yellow of the legs etc a really smart yellowish one - excellent! It flew into a bit of scrub with an Apple tree and a
bit of Elder about 10 yards away at about 12.00ish and that was the last I saw of it. I tried pishing it out but no show. I left the area as I had left my bike on the path where I first noticed the group of things 100 yards away - so I went back to lock it up. We looked until 1.15 but no sightings - when I had to come home. I did pop back in the late afternoon and looked for it {twice but half-heartedly} but nothing doing. There was a twitchier there still looking for it about 5.30 but he wasn’t within 200yards of where the bird was as he was checking the bushes around the bird hide! (Phil)

Tuesday 14 th October 2003 Pegwell Bay morning and 17.00 -18.00

Tuesday 14 th October 2003 Ramsgate Cemetery 14-00 to 15-20

A Walk around to Ramsgate Cemetery produced the following few bits in just over an hour 1 Brambling, 5 Goldcrest, 14 Long tail tits  1 Chiffchaff, 6 Robins, 4 Dunnock, 1 Sparrowhawk hunting in the cemetery  Still a few birds moving overhead, mainly Meadow Pipits and Goldfinch, on the far side of the cemetery 3 Greenfinch and 4 Song Thrush  There was also a pair of Green Woodpeckers and 1 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, (Gadget)  

Tuesday 14 th October 2003 North Foreland 7-00 to 10-15

Great Grey Shrike on the golf course Elmwood Avenue the time 08-10 showing well observed for 20mins before moving on to the Dead-mans and Paddocks 5 Ring-necked Parakeet, and 1 Monk Parakeet, small birds 5 Goldcrest, 1 Firecrest, 14 Long-tail tits, 5 Blue tits 3 Great tits, 2 Chiffs,  4 Robins, 7 Redwing, good start to the day (Gadget)

Monday 13 th October 2003

Had a look from the Cliff top in front of the Fairness Hotel over looking Botany Bay after work this evening 5.00 - 5.40pm.
Leach's Petrel 1 lingered for 7-10 mins then drifted west and past Foreness Point, 13 Common Scoter east, 9 Wigeon  (east) That's it for now (Martyn)

Monday 13th October 2003 Pegwell Bay

Day in the Garden started with 2 Brambling went over at 07.10 hrs whilst I was checking it. Meadow Pipits, Song Thrushes and Redwings made up the bulk of the migrants passing overhead during the day. 6 Lapwing went north at 15.00 hrs and 3 Skylarks went west just afterwards. The first Fieldfares of the autumn were seen today when 4 went east. An imm Sparrowhawk chasing Collared Doves brightened up an otherwise mediocre day in the garden. The only other birds of note were Grey Wags that went west at 07.25hrs & 14.50 hrs. (Dylan)

Dead-mans and the Paddock time 13-30 to 14-15 produced 3 Goldcrest, 2 Firecrest, 9 Long-tail tits, 3 Great tits, 5 Blue tits, 5 Robins, 4 Dunnock, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Wrens, 14 Redwing, 9 Blackbirds, 5 Song Thrushes, 3 Ring Neck Parakeets, (Gadget)

Monday 13 th October 2003

North Foreland today 60+ Goldfinches, 30+ Meadow pipits, on the fields at the bottom of Elmwood Avenue by the car park.2 Robins, 3 Great tits, 4 Blue tits, 7 Long-tail tits, in the bushes along side the golf course, 7 Redwing, 3 song Thrushes, 2 Fieldfare, 1 Kestrel, over the top field by the pumping Station. Out at sea between 12-00 to 13-15 wile having lunch, 1 Cormorant on the sea, 5 Gannet going (south) 22+ Common Scoter going (south)   (Gadget)

Monday 13 th October 2003 North Foreland 

Great Grey Shrike on the golf course Elmwood Avenue the time 08-54 a Dartford Warbler Foreness Cliff top the Time 11-03  (FS)

Sunday 12 th October 2003

There is a free flying flock of about 20 odd Monk Parrots from Wingham bird park, so perhaps it originates from there although they are a commonly kept medium sized parrot, could have come from anywhere. The head not normally all grey but aviary and cage breeding and cross breeding with Father Daughter, Mother Son is a regular practice to try for color mutations lie Albino, Lutino, Blue or Grey.

Went to St Margaret’s today so just out side our region, not much down there though most cleared out over night. Had 3 un identified Shearwaters and a few Brent & gannets not much else. Dropped in at North Foreland but wind had moved round had these few things between----- 14.45 &15.45 18 Gannet, 13 Redwing in off, 1 Sandwich tern, 1 Red Throated Diver, 2 Little Auk, 5 Kittiwake, 6 Brent.  (Martyn)

Sunday 12 th October 2003 Pegwell Bay

I popped down after the race at Suzuka - I got there about 9.00am. The bushes and skies were dead - no vismig whatsoever - though there was a Snow Bunting on the Hover Pad at 9.15 {flew north at 9.50} and only the
odd chiffchaff / blackcap / Redwing - PANTS! On the tide up - a few bits including a 2nd winter Caspian Gull Which continually attacked a Little Egret on the shoreline.

Pegwell Sunday 12th Oct 03; 9.00 - 11.30.
11 Little egret, 51 Brent {17 north}, 102 Wigeon, 32 Teal
8 Pintail, 11 Eider, 1 Sparrowhawk, 8 Black-t Godwit
27 Bar-t Godwit, 1500 Lapwing, c1000 Golden Plover
105 Grey Plover, 6 Ringed plover, 9 Knot, 300 Dunlin
26 Sanderling, 3 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 1 2nd winter Caspian gull, 1 Sandwich Tern, 3 Redwing
1 Red-t Diver south, 2 Rock Pipit, 20 Meadow Pipit
3 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat {Stonelees}, 4 Chiffchaff
1 Snow Bunting {Hover pad 9.15 nth clifftop 9.50}

Saturday 11th October Pegwell Bay 2003 15.00 -17.00

A reasonable influx of both Lapwing and Golden Plover
since yesterday the only thing of interest.

Saturday 11 th October 2003 Grove Ferry 7.00 till 11.00.

5 Cetti’s Warbler, 2Green Woodpecker, 417 Lapwing, 9 Ruff
1 Little Stint (worn ad) 91 Golden Plover, 5 Grey Heron
2 Marsh Harrier (female & Immature) 591 Teal, 7 Wigeon
22 Blue Tit, 3 Great Tit, 1Jay, 20 Reed Bunting, 2 Robin
25 Bearded Tit, 1 Sparrowhawk (large female)
1 Water Pipit, 4 Water Rail, 1 Little Egret, 4 Green Sandpiper
8 Skylark, 13 Gadwall, 32 Black Headed Gull, 32 Snipe
7 Long Tailed Tit, 1 Stonechat, 7 Redwing. ( Martyn)

Friday 10 th October 2003

Did a full shift at work this morning, then found out that the White Stork had been in the field next to the factory for all of Thursday! When I finished my shift, I took a detour around the lanes hoping to re-find the bird, but best I could do was this Red-legged Partridge from the car window. I then drove across to Grove and spent about an hour there. 25+ Ruff, 1 Little Egret, 150+ Golden Plover, 1 Green Sandpiper, Imm Marsh Harrier Still lots of assorted wildfowl and Lapwings, with Beardies still very vocal and obvious flying low over the reed beds. There were a few Skylarks overhead moving north.

(Dylan)

Friday 10 th October 2003 R/gate Cemetery 14.45 - 16.10

Friday 10th October 2003 

North Foreland & Golf Course between 9-30 to 10-30 

A walk around North foreland and part of the golf course between 9-30 to 10-30 12 Meadow pipits, 5 linnets, 40+ Goldfinches,2 Chiffchaff, 3 Blue tits, 2 Great tits, 4 Robins, 1 Dunnock, 2 Kestrel, Down on the rocks 1 Curlew, 3 Redshank, 5 Oystercatchers, 2 Sandwich terns going (south) & 1 very strange Parakeet, Grey head with Red to Orange beak Green back and wings yellow Belly, about 1/3 smaller than the Parakeets in the park. (Gadget)

Friday 10th October 2003 Pegwell Bay, Cliff top & Hoverpad 7.30 11.15

For some strange reason I started off {on the Hoverpad} at 7.30am. There were a few finches, Grey and Pied Wags etc on the move plus the Leucistic Starling {present since early September} on the sea wall. The clifftop/bushes were dead - well virtually - with only the odd Chiffchaff and a few Redwings on the Hoverpad hawthorns. I watched the tide in - then tried to stomp out a Jack Snipe on the Garage pools
{unsuccessfully} before leaving at 11.15.

Friday 10th October 2003 Pegwell Bay 

Thursday 9th October 2003 King George VI Park, R/gate

I went to the park, arriving at 08.45hrs. I quickly found the Yellow-browed, but have not been able to get any pix.

8 Chiffchaff, 4 Goldcrest, 7House Martin (south) 8 Swallow (South), Yellow-browed Warbler (possibly a 2nd bird nr the Scout Hut - heard but not seen) 1 Firecrest (Dylan)

Thursday 9th October 2003 Pegwell Bay

69 Brent,75 wigeon,2 Stonechat,3 Little egret,13 Black-t Godwit . If you are interested (and don't already know) 1-2 Seals in Pegwell most days.     (The Hair)

Wednesday 8th October 2003

A bit of a Teaser for our visitors, who can ID this Bird? Just a bit of fun Filmed on fields by the roundabout at Sandwich on the ash bypass a TR 318 587on the 24/10/2001 by Martyn  

Wednesday 8th October 2003

Without knowing it, the dial on my camera was set on movie, so when I attempted to picture this Grey Wag I ended up with this! 

(Dylan) movies/DSCN2447.MOV

Grove Ferry 09.20-11.00 on my way to Ashford

Little Stint 1 Juv, Green Sandpiper 2, Dunlin 2, Little Egret 1 Sparrowhawk 1 imm, Redwing 28 in the paddock behind the ramp, Pintail 3, Marsh Harrier 1 imm, Golden Plover 6 Plenty of assorted ducks and other bits

Seaton Gravel Pits on my way home

Grey Wagtail 2, Little Egret 3, House Martin 4, Sand Martin 1 (very late), Green Sandpiper 1 flushed along the river Kingfisher 2, Redwing 4, Stonechat 1 imm male Chiffchaff 1, Plenty of Wigeon, Pochard and Tufties. The Common Snipe was along the riverbank.

Wednesday 8th October 2003

It appeared that a few bits had dropped in overnight as there were 20+ Redwing on the Hoverpad and 230 Turnstones on the high tide roost. I last did the roost at high tide on the 1st of this month and there were only 80. Considering the wind direction there were a reasonable amount of Chiffs {10} and 6 new Goldcrests {cliff} plus a flyover Brambling, a grey Wag and 2 Tree Sparrows which as it was mid-day probably meant there had been a few bits on the move earlier in the morning?
Rarity of the day was a single Tufted Duck ... wow!

Wednesday 8th October 2003 Pegwell Bay 11.30 - 15.15.

6 Little egret, 23 Brent, 18 Shelduck, 96 Wigeon, 121 Teal
16 Eider, 1 Tufted Duck, 1180 Oystercatcher, 237 Curlew
18 Black-tailed Godwit, 25 Bar-tailed Godwit, 380 Redshank
12 Lapwing, 46 Golden Plover, 91 Grey Plover, 76 Ringed Plover, 22 Knot, c450 Dunlin, 4 Sanderling, 230 Turnstone {roost}, 5 Sandwich Tern, 23 Redwing, 5 Stonechat, 4 Pied Wagtail {nth}, 1 Grey Wagtail {sth} 4 Rock Pipit, 12 Skylark, 4 Chaffinch {sth}, 1 Brambling {sth}
1 Blackcap, 10 Chiffchaff, 6 Goldcrest, 2 Tree Sparrow {nth}

Wednesday 8th October 2003 King George VI Park, R/gate, 10.30 

 Yellow browed Warbler 400m along cycle path from South entrance (3rd day)

Tuesday 7th October 2003

Forgot about these,  6 Porpoise feeding close off North Foreland on the 3rd October 2003  (The Hair)

Tuesday 7th October 2003 Pegwell this afternoon

I popped down to Pegwell this afternoon {half-heartedly} and stayed until about 6.00pm. There were quite a lot of Goldfinches about including a flock of about 100 in the salt marsh near the garage. Out on the mud a fair scattering of blackwits {28} and the first Hen Harrier of the autumn hunting over the marsh in tandem with a Merlin. (PM)

Tuesday 7th October 2003 Pegwell Bay
6 Little Egret, 9 Brent, 14 Shelduck, 180 Mallard, 36 Wigeon
17 Eider, 1 RT Hen Harrier, 1 Merlin, 1 Sparrowhawk,  28 Black-t Godwit, 4 Greenshank, 100 Lapwing, 40 Golden Plover, 56 Ringed Plover, 2 Knot, 300 Dunlin, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Turnstone, 8 Sandwich Tern, 4 Rock Pipit 70 Meadow Pipit, 150+ Goldfinch

Tuesday 7th October 2003 North Foreland 09.15 - 10.20 hrs

Sandwich Tern - 3 lingering off shore, Rock Pipit 3 around the pumping station (still) Swallow 11 Gannet 6 South, Red-throated Diver 1 South @ 10.07 hrs, Walking along the coast from Broadstairs to Dumpton House Martin 1 nr Louisa Bay, Purple Sandpiper 1 Turnstone 4 Linnet 15+ feeding along the undercliff, Rock Pipit 1, Swallow 1 @ Dumpton Gap Pied Wagtail 5 @ Dumpton Gap (Dylan)

Monday 6th October 2003 North Foreland for 16.00 hrs till 17.15 hrs

Back to North Foreland for 16.00 hrs and stayed till 17.15 hrs.  Swallow 23 South, Gannet 4 North, Kittiwake  4 North Little Gull 2 (adults) North, Arctic Skua  Juv South @ 16.41 hrs then back North @ 16.47 hrs, Sparrowhawk in/off @ 16.47 hrs ( a very large, dark imm/female) A Common Seal was lingering just off of the rocks near Joss Bay (Dylan)

Monday 6th October 2003 Foreland 11.20 - 12.50 hrs afternoon update:

Goldfinch  10 North, 30 South, Rock Pipit  3 around the pumping station, Gannet  8 South, 1 North, Brent Goose 5 North, 4 North (all adults), Sandwich Tern  2 North (both juvs), Arctic Skua  1 South @ 12.43 hrs, Swallow - 11 South, Plus quite a few mixed waders moving back north on the falling tide. (Dylan)

Monday 6th October Ramsgate Cemetery 09.30 - 11.00 hrs

Firecrest  2 in bushes near the Chapel, Goldcrest  8 Redwing  7 over South & West, 5 feeding on Yew Berries near Chapel, Goldfinch  55 North, Sparrowhawk  a pair still hunting the area. (Dylan)

Monday 6th October North Foreland Joss Bay 8-30am

Short-Eared Owl was seen over the golf course at North Foreland around  8-30am (FS)

Monday 6th October Garden this morning before 08.30 hrs

I've already had 10 Redwings, 1 Brambling and a Sparrowhawk female hunting over the field. (Dylan)

Sunday 5th October 2003 Sea watching at Grenham Bay Birchington with Giblet this morning (05/10/03)
Gannet 15 east 29 west (44), Little Gull 25 west, Guillemot 1 east, Arctic Skua 3 west, Bonxie 1 west, Curlew 1 west. Wigeon 3 west, Common Scoter 4 east 3 west (7) Kittiwake 12 east 75 west (87), Sandwich Tern 8 west ( Martyn )

Sunday 5th October 2003 Pegwell Bay

6 Little Egret, 21 Eider, 53 Brent, 90 Wigeon, 42 Shelduck140 Mallard--- 37 Teal, c100 Meadow Pipits {in to roost} 24 Knot, 15 Black-t Godwit,--- 17 Bar-t Godwit, 39 Grey Plover, 220 Dunlin, 1 Little Stint

Saturday 4th October 2003 Pegwell Bay

12 Little Egret, 15 Brent, 8 Shelduck, 146 Mallard, 4 Teal
13 Wigeon, 15 Eider, 3 Common Scoter {nth},1 Sparrowhawk
5 Black-t Godwit, 21 Bar-t Godwit, 2 Greenshank,55 Lapwing, 67 Grey Plover, 180 Ringed Plover, 6 Knot,380 Dunlin, 3 Sanderling, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 6400 Black-headed Gull, c200 Common Gull, 1750 Herring Gull, 44 Lesser bb Gull, 960 Great bb Gull, 1 Mediterranean gull {1st winter}, 5 Sandwich Tern, 12 Rock pipit. 50 Meadow Pipit

Saturday 4th October 2003

Yellow browed Warbler South Foreland, by Lighthouse 

Friday 3rd October 2003 North Foreland

I went across to North Foreland on my bike, The weather was not particularly favorable but I stayed for 1hr 40 mins before heading home. Little Egret - 4 south on the rising tide, Oystercatcher - 250+ on the tide, Sandwich Tern - 2 south, Little Gull - 5 adults south Red-throated Diver - adult south @ 15.30hrs, then back north @ 16.07hrs. Gannet - 2 imms north, 3 adults south Kittiwake - 2 juvs south, Rock Pipit - 1 north, Goldfinch - 27 north, Chaffinch - 9 in/off: (Dylan)

Friday 3rd October 2003 over the fields Dumpton

As I was compelled to stay in awaiting the delivery of the conservatory, I spent three hours in the back garden watching across the fields. Although I didn't hold out much hope, I was pleasantly surprised by the birds that showed up Merlin - adult male (probably the bird I photographed in September) Sparrowhawk - an adult male and an imm/female, both hunting meadow pipits across the stubble Goldfinch - 23 North-east Song Thrush - 4 over Meadow Pipit - 20+ over and several on stubble field Whinchat - 1 along the garden hedge Grey Wagtail - 1 East Skylark - 1 over Chaffinch - 3 West Redwing - 6 over and others heard Greenfinch - family party feeding on rose-hips in the hedge Kestrel - resident pair soaring overhead a few times. Plus the usual supporting cast of Collared Doves (60+) House Sparrows (35+) and Ring-necked Parakeets! ( Dylan )

Friday 3rd October 2003 Pegwell Bay

10 Little Egret, 6 Brent, 2 Sparrowhawk,6 Black-t Godwit
4 Greenshank, 210 Lapwing, 32 Golden Plover
207 Ringed Plover, 12 Knot, 360 Dunlin, 6 Sanderling
1 Little Stint, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 6 Turnstone
3 Sandwich Tern, 1 Kingfisher, 160 Swallow {nth}, 1 Black Redstart { Hover pad }, 22 Pied Wagtail {nth}, 1 Grey Wagtail {nth} 1 Rock Pipit, 60 Meadow Pipit, Skylark 25p and 6 west
28 Linnet {nth}, 122 Goldfinch {110 nth and 12 sth}
12 Redpoll {nth}, 20 Siskin {nth}, 1 Reed Warbler
3 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 6 Goldcrest,31 Reed Bunting {nth

Friday 3rd October 2003 Morning update

A Walk around to Ramsgate Cemetery just after 08.15hrs and had the following few bits in just over an hour 3 Brambling, 7 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Coal Tit - 1 "continental" race, Sparrowhawk - a pair hunting in the cemetery plus a migrant south over Ramsgate, Still a few birds moving overhead, mainly Meadow Pipits but a few Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Song Thrush to swell the numbers. There was also a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers and the really bizarre sight of an adult male Green Woodpecker hanging upside down to feed on elder berries! ( Dylan ) Yellow-browed Warbler in Northdown Park this morning (Neil Faulkner)

Thursday 2nd October 2003

I started off at the sunken garden end of the cliffs I couldn’t get to the bay due to the amount of traffic there at 7.45! I wrongly thought there might have been some vismig but after a 10-minute stay for only 2 pied wags and 2 chaffinch's I decided to give it up as a bad job and make my way along the clifftop. In amongst the crests and chiffs in the farm bushes there were at least 2 Firecrest and on the Hoverpad a few more song thrushes/blackbirds/Dunnock than of late also a Redstart and I flushed a Wryneck at 9.25, which I had a few quick glimpses of as it hopped about in the bushes. About mid morning a few mipits, skylarks and goldfinches started to go over - though the c200 mipits I counted make it sound a lot better than it actually was in reality. The mud was poor - but there was a definite increase in small waders from yesterday. Most of the Chiffs and Blackcaps were in Stonelees.

Thursday 2nd October 2003 Pegwell Bay

12 Little Egret, 4 Brent, c100 Mallard, 27 Wigeon, 33 Teal
14 Eider, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Peregrine, 10 Black-t Godwit
5 Greenshank, 115 Lapwing, 40 Golden Plover
99 Ringed Plover, 2 Knot, 530 Dunlin, 1 Little Stint, 1 Snipe
10 Turnstone, 70 Lesser bb Gull, 160 Great bb Gull
5 Sandwich Tern, 1 Wryneck, 50 Swallow {nth}, 1 Redstart
2 Stonechat, 13 Pied Wagtail {nth}, 1 Grey Wagtail {nth}
2 Rock Pipit, 200 Meadow Pipit {120 south}, 20 Skylark {west} 60 Linnets, 240 Goldfinch {170 nth}, 1 Brambling {nth}
2 Sedge Warbler, 19 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat
1 Whitethroat, 28 Chiffchaff, 2 Firecrest,30 Goldcrest
30 Reed Bunting.

Thursday 2nd October 2003 King George VI Park

Song Thrush a small fall, up to 20 present, Goldcrest 4, Blackcap 1 male, Great Spotted Woodpecker, a pair Rose ringed Parakeet, bloody loads Swallow 1 south I did a quick Sea-watch from below the lighthouse and recorded , Pintail 1 female south with 2 Mallard G.C.Grebe 1 South, Arctic Skua 1 South @ 09.30 hrs Common Scoter 1 male South, Brent Goose - 14 South Teal - 3 South, After an abortive attempt at the Wryneck on the Hoverpad, Den and I went to North Foreland for a Sea-watch Swallow - 97 South, Gannet - 5 South, Sandwich Tern - 2 North & 2 South (not the same birds), Black-throated Diver - an adult south , Common Scoter - 60+ South Meadow Pipit - 17 South (minimum coz there were quite a few grounded!), Grey Wagtail 1 South, Greenfinch - 2 in/off Turnstone - 2 North, Arctic Skua - 2 South Wheatear - 2 around the cabbage field  ( Dylan & Gadget)   

Wednesday 1st October 2003

We make no apologies for yet another Kestrel image. This bird was hunting the cliff-top just beside the pumping station, so I couldn't help myself. ( Dylan )

Sea watching from North Foreland P/ Station 14.10 - 16.30hrs

Common Scoter 33 South, Wigeon 4 North, Gannet 1 North Brent Goose 2 North (then 2 South - the same birds?) Red-throated Diver - adult summer drifted North on rising tide, Arctic Skua, 1Juv North @ 15.37hrs, Teal 1 on, then South, Sandwich Tern 4 South, Harbour Porpoise - 1 North @ 15.25hrs, Common Seal - 2 off shore (Dylan)

Wednesday 1st October 2003 Pegwell Bay

2 divers {on sea after flying in off}, 16 Little Egrets,13 Brent
5 Eider, 41 Wigeon, 6 Shelduck, 2 Teal, 1 Pintail, 117 Mallard
26 Cormorant,1 Peregrine,1 Wheatear,195 Curlew
1140 Oystercatcher, 3 Lapwing, 58 Golden Plover
56 Grey Plover, 37 Ringed Plover, 3 greenshank
340 redshank, 16 Black-t Godwit, 8 Bar-t Godwit
3 Curlew sandpiper, 80 Turnstone {rocks}

Wednesday 1st October 2003 North Foreland to Fairness 

A walk along the cliff-top from North Foreland to Fairness Point (09.00hrs - mid-day). There was a little visible migration occurring involving a few Meadow Pipits and around 200 Goldfinches headed south along the coastal fringe. There was a family party of two adult and three Juv Grey Partridge at North Foreland. A single House Martin at Kingsgate Bay and two Swallows at Whiteness Point were the only hirundines. Two Wheatears were on the "pitch & putt" area behind Fairness Pumping Station and a lonely Whinchat was on the fence line at Joss Bay as I walked back. The sea was very disappointing, with just eight Common Scoter and four Gannets South. I did manage to save the day when, at 11.50hrs, I watched two Harbour Porpoises heading north past North Foreland - a very pleasing encounter! (Dylan)

Wednesday 1st October 2003  Fields  Dumpton Thanet

A walk out the back of the house over the fields with my Grandson this morning Between 10-15am to 11-25am Produced one Hobbies and two Sparrowhawk 1 Kestrel, 140+ Starlings, 60+Sparrows 7 Linnets, 240 +Gulls, 70   Woodpigeons, 100 + Collard Dove, 5 Meadow Pipits, 12 Goldfinches went over going south 2 Pied wagtails, 1 Green Woodpeckers, also in the bushes 3 Blue Tits, 2 Dunnock, 1 Great Tit, 2 Gold Crests, (Gadget)

Scaup SPP. Update

Scaup

Grove Ferry

29th October 2003

Rock Pipit

28th October 2003

Stonechat

From Pete Young

White- fronted Geese

24 th October 2003

(Feral) Barnacle Goose

24 th October 2003

Ringed Parakeet

21st October 2003

1st Winter Sandwich Tern

21st October 2003

Oystercatcher

21st October 2003

Dunnock

21st October 2003

1st Winter Herring Gull

21st October 2003

Collared Doves

19th October 2003

Northdown Park

Redwing

18 th October 2003

Northdown Park

Green woodpecker

18 th October 2003

Northdown Park 

Mistle Thrush

18 th October 2003

Fieldfare

16th October 2003

Heron Grove Ferry

15th October 2003

Red-Legged Partridge

Ashford Kent

Friday 10th October 2003

Golden Plover 

Grove Ferry 

Friday 10th October 2003

Common Snipe

Wednesday 8th October

Little Stint Juv Wednesday 8th October 2003

 Purple Sandpiper

Tuesday 7th October 2003

Linnet feeding 

along the undercliff

Tuesday 7th October 2003

Grey Plover

Monday 6th October 2003

Curlew on Rocks  Monday 6thOctober 2003

Greenfinches 

October 3rd 2003

Rose ringed Parakeet

   2nd October 2003

   Kestrel Hunting

     1st October 2003

Grey Partridge

1st October 2003

Wheatear 

1st October 2003