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Sunday 28 July 2013

Sunday 28/7

Another visit to ARC Hanson hide to try and see the Little stint was another dip. Wood Sandpipers were again in evidence and a delight to watch. Little Ringed Plovers again present with Common Sandpipers and a couple of Dunlin. a distant Godwit was seen and assumed as Black Tailed. Bird of the day was a summer plumaged Black Necked Grebe which stubbornly stayed as far away from Hanson hide as possible. This brought back memories of a BN Grebe seen in Majorca a few years back which was extremely tame.  
Informed of a drake Fudge duck at the Mipitts, This is an area I have yet to explore so a followed others to the site. A walk along the Shooting ranges gave up Shelduck, Skylark, Avocet and Kestrel but no sign of any ducks fudge or other.  A pleasant birding area and worth another visit especially in winter.

Saturday 27 July 2013

Saturday 27/7ound

Heat still with us but today a welcome spell of rain which is a shame as it was New Romney's fair day. As unable to pass thru New Romney due to carnival drove round the marsh first. A good number of Yellow Hammers were a nice sight. Eventually got to Hanson at ARC to find the water levels looking vey good for waders and so it was. Immediately got onto a Wood Sandpiper (154) and found 3. A handful of Golden Plover was a sight of autumn also Common Sandpiper no sight of Little Stint. Total 33  

Small Copper

Young newt

Friday 26 July 2013

Friday 26/7

A visit to Minnis Bay today for a seafood lunch being in the Isle of Thanet managed to see Ring Necked Parakeet returned via Stodmarsh here we saw Green Sandpiper , Common Sandpiper, Ruff great views of a pair of Snipe but also 2 Spoonbill (153) being bird of the day.



Thursday 25 July 2013

Wednesday 24/7

Another very hot day so an early trip to Dungeness. Sea watch first common tern with young Sandwich tern on the beach and great views of one adult Little Gull. Checked every tern but did not pick out any Roseate. neither any sign of the Odd Seal  which has been present for a while. On to the reserve and the only thing of note was a pair of Egyptian Geese. Still not located the Great White Egret which is now present. Total 31  

Tuesday 23 July 2013

Sunday 21/7

Another hottest day of the year so a quick trip down to Dungeness in the airconditioning. South end of ARC produced my first Common Sandpiper (151)of the year . Dengemarsh road did not offer up the Great White Egret and no Hobbies were seen. total 26
Garden is full of Butterfies but unable to get any good photos a Painted lady seen on Saturday ( is this a British Butterfly)
small white
   Meadow Brown

Sunday 14 July 2013

Sunday 14/7

A wonderful summers day so after a quick visit to the local auction decided on a walk along the Military Canal at West Hythe hoping for butterflies and Dragonflies. On the way a flyover of Marsh Harrier on arrival at the Car park the song and sight of a Blackcap was a welcome hello. Wren , Chiffchaff and Chaffinch were evident but not one Butterfly and only a few dragonflies. Rookery and heronry were very quiet. Total a small 21
Water lilies were resplendent

Garden flower are also looking wonderful





Saturday 13 July 2013

Saturday 13/7

A nice morning and decided on a morning stroll round Dungeness reserve. Little at the south end of Arc little of notice and a walk to the screen did not find Spotted Redshank but Black Tailed Godwits and the swallows young in the hide were eloquent. On to the reserve nothing on the notice board first thing of note was the number of Sand Martins non breeders or too young but an early return to Africa for them. Missed out Makepeace to later see a report of Common Sandpiper there.   Dengemarsh did not show any of the Red Crested Pochards nor any Hobbies . Young Common Terns doing well and surrounding the hide young Dunnocks / Sedge Warblers

 and Whitethroats near the mound a singing Cetti reminding me of NHGP. Total 43  

Thursday 11 July 2013

Thursday 11/7

Another beautiful day per the met office so off to Dungeness wearing fleece and winter top coat.
Patch first at least 5 Little Gulls plus Med Gulls Others found a Little Tern on beach but I was unable to locate. I also saw a quite dark tern which flew off without any proper ID did I miss a Black Tern ? .
On to the screen at Arc hoping for the Spotted Redshank without any luck
In a couple of hours 38 . When will I add any to the list ? 

Tuesday 9 July 2013

Sunday 7/7

A glorious sunny day and a change in medicines allowed a walk round the RSPB reserve. Still trying to see a Bearded Tit. Nothing on the notice board so a poor start. Moved quickly to the Dengemarsh hide watched the breeding Common Terns. Noticed that at least one bird flew back with a fish and flew round all the rafts before it landed on one " do they not remember which they breed on and need the young to call". At least 3 Hobbies were seen and a Bittern seen in flight. Nice calling Cetti . Total 38   

Wednesday 3 July 2013

TUESDAY 2/7

Another visit to the children today for a birthday party of course meant going via Oare Marshes ( a long detour)
Arrived weather was overcast and miserable and no sign of THE GULL but a near summer plummage Ruff was a great sight. with reed and sedge warbler close by masses of Black Tailed Godwit and a sprinkle of avocets sitting watching from the car was no hardship. After an hour an unusual gull appeared in the distance the wing patterns and size looked very "little Gull" on landing it was obvious it was no little gull but the much admired BONAPARTES GULL a vagrant from North America. The gull was much darker than photos seen and did not resemble any description in Collins . Also checking Field Guides of birds of the USA this would be a difficult ID. Noticable smaller than the Black headed Gulls. Watched for 45 minutes as it preened chased starlings and had a little snooze.  Bird number 150 for 2013 also a lifer and the second lifer for Oare Marshes ( should we have moved there instead of Dymchurch/Dungeness) A car pulled up beside us and out came Derek Tutt many a year since I met him, last time was showing him the Medway Valley Eagle Owl . Nice to meet up.
        Visit finished with a fly over hobby. Total only 35 but quality not quantity.