wednesday 31.10 Walland Marsh

A days visit to Pembury hospital for a Nuclear bone scan gave me the opportunity to return home via Walland Marsh as darkness fell but did manage to add Whopper Swan to my annual List,

Tuesday 23/10 Dymchurch and Dungeness

An early morning walk from home produced all the usual Jackdaw/Collared Dove/Goldfinch/Sparrow/Wood Pidgeon/BH Gull/Herring Gull / Blue and Great Tit / Greenfinch/ Great and Green Woodpecker/ Blackbird / Oystercatcher and my first Song Thrush since we arrived in July.
Afternoon a walk on ARC up to the water works spooked a Snipe but no sign of any of the migrants that I am missing.
On to the estate where got good views of the Glaucaus Gull while watching that a Short Eared Owl flew in from the sea

Monday 16.10 Dungeness

Attempted a short walk along Sea Wall this am a very high tide with all the fishermen present but little at sea except Black  Headed Gulls. Landward side produced the usual Jackdaws,Magpies,Collard Doves, Great and Blue Tits with Green and Spotted Woodpeckers but also great views of Kingfisher. Late afternoon drive produced nothing of interest at either RSPB track or Dengemash except Marsh harriers, Stock Doves and Tree Sparrows.  A drive pass Scotney produced the flock of Barnacle Geese odd so early in the year.

WEDNESDAY 10.10 DUNGENESS

After 5 weeks with a back pain the reason has been diagnosed as a Fractured Vertibrae so anything strenous including walking is off the cards.
Val  offered to do a quick drive to get me out of the house so started at Dengemarsh road, At least 1 Marsh Harrier a couple of Stock doves a charm of Goldfinches the Great White Egret was seen in flight as well as a flock of Widgeon.
Then moved on to the reserve track a Whinchat jumping from bush to bush and further on a stunning male Stonechat a Fox was seen approaching the car so we waited and a young fox walked right up to the car and passed next to the drivers window. Finally a drive on the Dungeness Estate showed 3 Black Redstarts and my first Autumn Brent Goose.

Friday 05.10 Dungeness Hanson Arc

A quick afternoon visit added 2 Black Necked Grebes . New winter visitors included Pintail , Widgeon with still many hirundines passing thru. A Water Rail was just outside the hide but did not show itself.  

Thursday 04.10 West Hythe

A 9am start for an hours walk in a temp of 11 degrees produced 21 species including 8 Chiffchaff and 5 Blackcap. An interesting observation was a female mallard stretching out of the water to eat approx 15 blackberies an observation I have never seen before. Still plenty migrating hirondines mostly house martins and swallows.