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Friday 31 October 2014

30/10

After a call from Phil Sharpe we arranged a visit to Dungeness syarting at Hanson Hide at 10 am.
With all the usual ducks there was Little and Great Egret stunning drake Pintail and a female Red Crested Pochard.From there over the road hoping for Ring Ouzel which we missed but Stonechats both male and female.and Tree Sparrows on the feeders.Over to the new Lighthouse where a walk around saw nothing at all. Over tpo the sea where Gannets and Scoter were seen but it was also the start of seeing Brent Geese flying in . Over the day we must have seen in excess of 1000 birds migrating in.After a quick trip to Scotney which showed Golden Plover and the usual feral geese and the first Buzzard of the day. To Finish the day a trip back to Boulderwall Farm as Phil Hoped to see the Cattle Egret which again was dipped
The day as it was so warm we did see a few Butterflies but also a Clouded Yellow
Many thanks Phil for a great day out.
Species total 54

Monday 27 October 2014

SUNDAY 26/10

A excellent day.
Another nice day and managed to get out for a few hours leaving home at 12.30.
Kestrel was the first suprise seen behind the house and then a further 8 birds in the next few hours.
Further into the marsh got a glimpse of something on a post and cruised up and stopped next to a Buzzard which had little intention of flying. Luckily no car came along so spent about 10 minutes admiring this classy bird before it moved on.
Scotney had the usual geese Barnacle/Snow/Canada and Grey Lag but no Golden Plover but a large flock of birds was flushed in the far distance which were Golden Plover.
Moving along a farmyard had about 30 stock Doves which gave stunning views.
Arrived at the reserve the track did not give up the large numbers of Stonechat which it has of late.
But over to Hanson hide which was empty unusual on a Sunday. A female Red Crested Pochard was located amongst the Coots.Great White and Little Egrets were all standing together which gave a nice example of size difference.. Pintail was seen which is early. . By now a few others had joined me in the hide which was lucky as a Kingfisher landed in front of the hide before moving right and standing on a reed stem this stayed about 8 minutes. As I was ready to leave a Wren was calling in the trees behind the hide on locating this got a brief glimpse of a Yellow Browed Warbler as it moved past.
Total species 47 but stunning views
All birders would of course know that the  reason I had such good views was because the Camera was at home.

Sunday 19 October 2014

SATURDAY 18/10

Another good day and managed some time out so decided on a quick scan round Scotney/Sea/Lighthouse Garden/Moat and Reserve track.
No little owls on road to Dungeness and arriving at Scotney all the Golden Plover were present but still no sign of American Golden Plover. MOved on to a quick sea watch with Gannet / Kittiwake and Sandwich Terns. Lighthouse garden gave little and the Moat even less . Reserve Track did at last give up a Female Ring Ouzel a handfull of Stonechats. And best of all on the track a stunning CLOUDED YELLOW Butterfly.
Total species 41

Thursday 16 October 2014

WENESDAY 15/10

What looked like another good migration day with Ring Ouzels being reported again I dipped .but managed to locate the Cattle Egret amongst the cattle at boulder Farm . But find of the day driving across the marshes saw a group of 40 + birds flying in front of the car after a few attempts to get up close they were all tree Sparrows a fine and rare sight now a days ..Total species was a miserable 26 but as I am having to be  driven by Val at the moment trips must fit round her schedule and not one that I would like , but great to get out for a short while anyway.

12/10

A day of possible migration with low cloud and drizzle. A little owl in the usual place but since then the hole in the roof has been fixed so will it be seen again?
Ringed Ouzels had been reported but I was unabe to locate any.
On Scotney I saw a large group of watchers to be told an American Golden Plover was present but difficult to locate in the very large flock of Golden Plover so again I dipped.also present was Ringed Plover Barnacle Geese and a few blue phased Snow geese.Total a lowely 32 species