Tuesday 30 December 2014

December 30th (New Hythe)

hybrid Pochard X Ferruginous Duck
An interesting hybrid between a Pochard X Ferruginous Duck,was first seen yesterday on Abbey Meads.

Other birds of note seen in the area - Green Sandpiper (2), river,Bittern (1),Abbey Meads,Common Buzzard,Sparrowhawk,Woodcock,west scrub,Wigeon (2) Allders lake,Blackcap,west scrub,

In general wildfowl numbers are low at present.No hard weather duck have been seen so far,such as Smew,Goldeneye or Goosander.There are no Siskin or Redpolls in the Alders.Only a few of Novembers rather late influx of Redwings and Fieldfare remain.

Over the past few years I have had a small flock of wintering Reed Buntings feeding in our garden.
This winter the first bird arrived on December 4th,at least two weeks later than last year,At present we have up to four birds (if the weather over the next few weeks turns colder,with snow,we can expect the numbers to increase.

Blackcap,we usually have 1-2 of these wintering in the garden,but as of yet,no sightings.

hybrid with two drake Pochard

Sunday 28 December 2014

December 28th (Sevenoaks (Wildfowl reserve)


Clear,light frost (0830 - 0930).

This morning I finally got round to seeing the American White Ibis at Sevenoaks.



Sunday 21 December 2014

I WOULD LIKE TO WISH MY READERS A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Saturday 6 December 2014

Tuesday 25 November 2014

November 24th (Dungeness)

  I saw more G W Egrets at Dungeness today than Little,seven in all.The bird on the extreme right is  a Grey Heron.

Friday 21 November 2014

November 20th (Harty,Isle of Sheppey)

Shelduck (adult male)
Along with four others,I had another excellent ringing session with members of the Swale wader ringing group on the marshes at Harty,Isle of Sheppey.We met up at 730pm,high tide was at 11pm.

We caught a nice variety of birds 72 in all.My thanks to Rodney Smith.

Teal  (1)

Shelduck (5) which included one nice adult male.

Knot  (1)

Redshank  (15) mainly adults.

Dunlin  (42)  mainly adults.

Bar-tailed Godwit  (3) + (1) retrap a female from Dec 2011.

Curlew (2)

Lapwing  (2) adults.

Driving along the Capel Fleet road to Harty.I had excellent close views of two Barn Owls out hunting.A third bird was seen close to our ringing base at Harty.

Teal (drake) and Knot
Bar-tailed Godwit and curlew
Lapwing (adult male)

Sunday 16 November 2014

November 16th (Sandwich Bay)

Lesser Redpoll (adult male)
(0700-1200) overcast and calm.

Birds ringed.

Lesser Redpoll  (7)

Blackcap  (2)

Blackbird  (5) + (2) retraps

Robin  (1)

Goldcrest  (2)

Chaffinch  (5) + (9) retraps

Dunnock  (1)

Blue Tit  (5) retraps

Wren  (1) retrap

Great Tit  (4) retraps

Chiffchaff  (1)

Wednesday 12 November 2014

PAST TIMES (New Hythe 1985)

October 14th (0930 - 1200)

One net was set in the Hawthorns and another one across the tidal creek between the river and Abbey Mead lake.

Birds ringed.

Wren  (1)

Reed Bunting  (2)

Robin  (3)

Goldcrest  ((2)

Great Tit  (1)

Blackbird  (1)

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker  (1)

Long-tailed Tit  (1)

Bearded Tit  (6)

Lesser Redpoll  (13)

Blackcap  (1)

Bullfinch  (1)