January/February 1979,did not equal January/February 1963 in severity but it was fierce.The repeated pattern was for frosts and snow,followed by milder periods.
Hard weather movements were most extensive for many years.Good numbers of less common species were seen in the area and they were present in good numbers.
The year began well with 86 Wigeon and 2 Goosander at New Hythe.The following day there was only 8 Wigeon,but the Pochard flock totaled 130,a Goldeneye was seen and a flock of 5 Bewick`s passed over.The 3rd saw 14 Wigeon,4 Shoveler.5 Gadwall,the Goldeneye,250 Pochard,250 Tufted Duck,19 GreatCrested Grebes,10 Little Grebes,50 Brambling and 100 Tree Sparrows.A Chiifchaff was seen on the 4th and there was now 3 Goldeneye.Fifty Wood Pigeon passed over north the the next day and 3 Jack Snipe were seen.On the 6th,a Bittern,35 Teal,2 Smew and 50 Mallard were seen at Burham,along with a Black necked Grebe at New Hythe.At New Hythe on the 8th,there were 14 Smew,which included 4 adult drakes and a female Merganser was seen flying into the area from the north along the river.On the 9th a Ruddy Duck (first) was seen with the Pochard flock.There was another first on the 13th,in the form of a immature Arctic Skua.Also seen that day were 5 Scuap,8 Gadwall and 18 Smew.The Bittern was seen at Burham again on the 20th,on which day 30 White fronted Geese passed over west and 1 Oystercatcher was seen.The 22nd,saw 5 Goosander at New Hythe,1000 Skylarks passing over south in twenty minutes.and a second Black necked Grebe,which stayed until the 26th.There was a count of 38 Great crested Grebes on the 25th.
Other interesting birds seen during the month included,Spotted Redshank,Stonechat,Red throated Diver,ring tail Hen harrier,Long eared Owl and 1-2 Ruff.
FEBRUARY
The month proved to be just as interesting as January,with many of the birds still being present.
Highlights were a Red throated Diver from the 12th-17th,a Grey Plover on the 13th Two Red necked Grebes on the 16th,which stayed until March 31st.An influx of Mergansers on the 17th,on which day 17 White fronted Geese passed over SW..On the 19th,3 Short eared Owls were seen,along with a fine male Hen Harrier on the 25th.
MARCH
March was mostly bleak and wet,there were a few mild days in the first week.It then remained cold and unsettled with snow at times.
The month started with a pair of Pintail at New Hythe and on the 4th,a Short eared Owl was seen at Holborough marsh.There was still 6 Mergansers,along with 4 Goosanders in the New Hythe/Leybourne area on the 15th and a Black necked Grebe was found the following day.On the 17th,60 Redwing,20 Pied Wagtails and 25 Meadow Pipits were on the move.A Slavonian Grebe was present from the 22nd-27th and 9 Grey lag Geese called in at Leybourne,a high count for this locality.
The first real sign of spring occurred on the 27th,when 1 Black Redstart and a Wheatear were seen at New Hythe.The following day there were 2 Wheatear,one Short eared Owl and 3 Sand Martin.The 29th proved to be an excellent day with 3 Black Redstarts,one Firecrest,3 Wheatear and the first Chiffs and Willow Warblers.
APRIL
April was mainly cold and unsettled,with snow in East Kent from the 2nd-3rd.
On the 1st the Firecrest and the 2 Red necked Grebes were last seen,although one of the red necked remained until the 9th.Five Sand Martins were present on the 4th,with 5 Chiffchaffs on the 7th and 8 Shoveler,2 Garganey and 20 Sand Martins on the 9th.The 10th was another excellent day with 3 Little Gulls,1 Yellow Wagtail and a Black necked Grebe in full summer plumage. were seen on the 11th.Four Swallows,3 Yellow Wagtails,14 Lesser black backed Gulls and 1 Black Tern were seen the following day.On the 13th,Yellow Wagtails had incresed to 5,including a fine male of the Sykes type a Sedge Warbler and a Nightingale were also seen.The first House Martin was seen on the 14th and a red head Goosander was seen on the river,which stayed until the 28th.Sand Martins had increased to 100 by the 18th,on which day 1 Whitethroat and a Blue headed Wagtail were seen.Two Reed Warblers were heard on the 19th and on the 20th,4 Common Terns were seen along the river.By the 27th,Swallows had increased at New Hythe to 50 on which day the Short eared Owl was seen again.
MAY
Snow fell several times in the first week.The month on the whole was cool and unsettled,there were a few warm spells from the 12th-14th and 19th-20th.
May had a good start with a fine male Pied Flycatcher at New Hythe on the 1st and another Black necked Grebe in summer plumage the following day.A Curlew was seen on the 3rd,4 Swifts and 2 Green Sandpipers on the 4th and Common Sandpiper,Blackcap,Turtle Dove,Cuckoo and 4 Nightingales on the 5th.Two Wheatear were present from the 8th-9th and by the 12th,1000 Sand Martins were roosting in the Burham/Holborough reed beds.On the 13th at Halling a Hobby and a Short eared Owl were seen.Unfortunately the remainder of the month was poorly recorded.
JUNE
June on the whole was also mainly unsettled,warm sunny periods were brief.
Notable birds seen at New Hythe were 2 Oystercatcher on the 9th,2 Common Sandpipers from the 8th-9th,with one on the 26th.At Burham Lapwing had increased to 150 by the 30th.
JULY/AUGUST/SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER
The autumn proved to be less spectacular than the spring,but some good birds were still seen.
A Wheatear which had been seen all though the summer (Abbey Meads) was seen again on August 17th,at which date things started to happen .Two Black Terns on the 18th were the first of a small influx on this species.Seven were seen on the 19th,with 8 by the 22nd,then decreasing to 2 by the 25th,on which day 2 Greenshank were found,followed by a Ringed Plover on the 28th.
Other highlights were 4 Whinchats on September 1st a Wheatear on the 11th,2 Black necked Grebes on October 1st and another Ringed Plover on the 4th.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
Interesting occurrences during this period were Red necked Grebe on November 6th,Goldeneye on the 8th,Green Sandpiper on the 14th,Woodcock on the 15th with 3 on the 23rd,female Goosander on 18th,Spotted Redshank on the 23rd and a Ruff on the 24th.A Short eared Owl on December 8th Great Grey Shrike from the 12th onward,29 Bewick`s over on the 19th,Oystercatcher on the 29th and 2 Shags on the 31st,all at New Hythe.
