THURSDAY 23 /1

After many attempts for owls I managed Barn owl the day before yesterday. Yesterday went into Hythe shopping so dropped Val off and did a quick trip to the Groynes at Sandgate end and found 2 Purple Sandpipers avoiding the high tide and winds, on returning home a Barn Owl was hunting over the ditch at the end of my road no further than 200 metres from home. Like Buses.
Today another attempt for Black necked Grebe. Burrowes on the reserve was awash with birds including a huge number of widgeon , found goldeneye, pintail, gooseander, great white egret and also a stonechat Grebe eluded me. In the same field as the Bewick swans a very white buzzard was sitting and preening atop a bush. I tried to believe it was a Rough leg but just wistful thinking. Total 42  

Tuesday 21.1

After bad news from my consultant yesterday a bit if birding therapy was on the cards. Early doors and visibility was zero with thick fog and a temp of zero but went out anyway. Little or nothing in the fog until I arrived at the reserve where rain came down and with nothing on the board decided to move on. Arrived at Scotney in sunshine and blue skies and the water was flat calm. A Flock of Geese in flight as I arrived but did not get binoculars on them as they disappeared from view. Found the Long Tailed duck with ease as it looked great in the sunny flat conditions. None of the other specials were there only added a Reed Bunting. Later in the day one or possibly two Barn Owls at Walland Marsh as half a dozen Harriers went to roost all Marsh as far as I could see.
After sleeping on it am now happy that I did manage to see 2 Tundra Bean Goose at dusk on Walland Marsh

Friday 10/1

Returning home decided to go via Orlestone Forest as the weather was dry and sunny. Did not venture far as from the Car Park but managed Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Great Spot Woodpecker, Coal Tit and Goldcrest.
Tried for the Short Eared Owl on Littlestone Golf course with no luck
Total species 31

TUESDAY 8/1

A couple of hours free and it was not raining so decided on a quick Sea Watch at 11 am.  With a low sun and a strong wind the Patch was awash with birds. Kittiwakes were present, guillemots sitting on the sea, Red throated Divers and Brent Geese flew by. A reported Caspian on the beach was not located by me. No Gannets were present.
There was a few Naval vessels sailing by, one was huge and it was not until it was nearly out of sight that I realised it was an Aircraft Carrier.
Returning home via the reserve managed to see the Black Throated Diver on the new diggings and alongside the road.
Only 23 species but 6 were new for 2014.

Thursday 2/1/2014

Unlike yesterday today was wall to wall sunshine no wind and a reasonable temperature. Caldicott Lane gave up a flock of Bewick Swans arrived at the reserve to find a very busy car park . The hides were all full but did manage 5 Chiffchaff 3 Goosander 2 Red Head Smew and Pintail over to Arc where there was 2 more Smew 5 Goldeneye and surprise surprise a pair of Red Crested Pochard outside the hide the male looking stunning in the sunshine. Total species 44.

1/1/2014

After opening a bottle of 1966 vintage port on New Years Eve with friends awoke with a headache which lasted all day along with gale force winds and driving rain which also lasted all day. Not a great birding day.  Managed a couple of hours in the rain in the afternoon to get a total of 29. A small flock of Yellowhammers was a welcome sight. Dungeness gave Little and Great White Egret and a Marsh Harrier  .