A short trip out at 2.30 to Varne no sign of Snow Buntings but 2 red throated divers seen and what appeared to be many more just out of ID range. Beach held Turnstone/redshank/sanderling and oystercatcher . A flyby of 7 Curlew and Kittiwake/ blackheaded gull and herring Gulls.
returned via the dungeness road to have all the usual on arc including 2 male and 2 female smew.
BIRDING AND WILDLIFE IN KENT
Thursday, 31 January 2013
Sunday, 27 January 2013
Sunday 27/01
Wednesday, 23 January 2013
Wednesday 23/1
Tuesday, 22 January 2013
Tuesday 22/1
A visit to Jempsoms at Peasmarsh gave us a run thru Walland marsh on way there Bewick swans could be seen but not whooper or white fronted geese.Return via Appledore and sea road gave us barnacle geese , blue phased snow geese and a peregrine falcon as it was getting dark a green woodpecker showed itself. Snow has gone on all roads except those in full shade.
Monday, 21 January 2013
Monday 21/01
Yesterday gave us 10 cm of snow so no venturing out, So today a little drive around to see if roads were passable. Side roads were not good but main roads all clear.Parking next to ARC and checking none frozen parts showed a Female Goldeneye a chiff chaff in the bushes and a flyover Sparrowhawk. 3 new birds to 2013 list.
Friday, 18 January 2013
Friday 18-1 West Hythe & beach
Had to walk Mums Dog today so decided on West Hythe where the Military canal was frozen over and added a merlin and Long tailed tits .
Returning via beach added Curlew , ringed plover, meadow pipit
Returning via beach added Curlew , ringed plover, meadow pipit
Thursday, 17 January 2013
17/01 wednesday Dymchurch
Managed a very short walk up to the beach to find a large flottila of birds which I could not ID so walked home for the scope. Returned to find 296 Widgeon a dozen Black Headed Gull and a grey Seal. A nice sight so close to home. Hope the walk does not put my back out too much.
Tuesday, 15 January 2013
TUESDAY 15/01 Walland/Dungeness
A short trip out with my mum starting at Littlestone beach where we got first Kittiwake of 2013 . The causeway at Dungeness a pair of smew gave great views with no camera on me. Walland marsh showed very little only one Buzzard of note.
Wednesday, 2 January 2013
Tuesday 01/01/13
Happy New Year
After an evening of celebration without any drink we woke to find a beautiful sunny New Years Day, so David and Lynda decided to stay a little longer for a trip round the marshes. As I am still not up to hiking around so everything was done from the car. With such a short time and confined to the car the daily tally was only 36 species. Walland Marsh lived up to its name as a marsh with roads and fields flooded. There was a group of birders near the flying club with reported bewick/whooper/crane and waxwing none of which I saw. At the feeding station yellowhammer , Mistle Thrush and tree sparrows were present and still only Mute swans to be found. Returning via Scotney produced huge numbers of Golden Plover and Lapwing but only geese seen were Greylag. Dropped into Dungeness and was amazed at the amount of visitors have never seen the car park so full. The sunny weather and New Years day Holiday had everyone out in droves. Little on the notice board considering the amount of birders there was out and about. Parked on the causeway to have a Great White Egret sitting on a bush then to our suprise a Bittern flew alongside the car and dropped into the reeds further along the road . The Dungeness Estate was again awash with cars so chances of Glaucous was slim so we did not even stop. So probably one of the lowest counts I have ever had on New Years day list. No geese other that Greylag and not one raptor. Heres hoping my back gets better so I can do some walking and add to the list. I have never recorded more than 200 birds in Kent in one year ( 198) and was hoping that my first year in retirement would exceed that total so my health has to improve a lot to enable me to meet that total. Also have to rely on Val to be my chaffeur.
After an evening of celebration without any drink we woke to find a beautiful sunny New Years Day, so David and Lynda decided to stay a little longer for a trip round the marshes. As I am still not up to hiking around so everything was done from the car. With such a short time and confined to the car the daily tally was only 36 species. Walland Marsh lived up to its name as a marsh with roads and fields flooded. There was a group of birders near the flying club with reported bewick/whooper/crane and waxwing none of which I saw. At the feeding station yellowhammer , Mistle Thrush and tree sparrows were present and still only Mute swans to be found. Returning via Scotney produced huge numbers of Golden Plover and Lapwing but only geese seen were Greylag. Dropped into Dungeness and was amazed at the amount of visitors have never seen the car park so full. The sunny weather and New Years day Holiday had everyone out in droves. Little on the notice board considering the amount of birders there was out and about. Parked on the causeway to have a Great White Egret sitting on a bush then to our suprise a Bittern flew alongside the car and dropped into the reeds further along the road . The Dungeness Estate was again awash with cars so chances of Glaucous was slim so we did not even stop. So probably one of the lowest counts I have ever had on New Years day list. No geese other that Greylag and not one raptor. Heres hoping my back gets better so I can do some walking and add to the list. I have never recorded more than 200 birds in Kent in one year ( 198) and was hoping that my first year in retirement would exceed that total so my health has to improve a lot to enable me to meet that total. Also have to rely on Val to be my chaffeur.
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