October 31st (Holborough marsh)

Overcast,with a light drizzle. 9.30am-10.30am.

Along the river I saw (2) Little Egret (1) G B b Gull (2) Herring Gull (25) B h Gull (2) Little Grebe (6) Lapwing and (1) Redshank.Bearded Tits were heard calling from the main reed bed and (2) Cetti`s Warblers called from the reed filled dyke that runs around part of the marsh.The hawthorn scrub held a flock of (100) Redwing and (20) Fieldfare.Four Teal were seen in the southern meadow,along with (2) Stock Dove.

October 27th (New Hythe)

Cloudy and dull,with occasional drizzle,SW. 8.am-9.30am.the river was nearly at low tide.

What this morning needed to brighten it up was a good bird,maybe a Waxwing or two,unfortunately it remained dull.The main difference this morning over the past few days,besides it being milder,was that there was more Redwings in the area than Fieldfare.There must have been at least (100) with (60) of them being in the sunken marsh area.

Other birds that I noted were - Redshank (2) Mallard (10) Teal (12) Heron (3) G B b Gull (1) Herring Gull (1) Common Gull (2) B h Gull (20) and Kingfisher (1) all being seen along the river.Brookland Lake held - Tufted Duck (60) and Abbey Mead - Tufted Duck (25) Pochard (1) and Great Crested Grebe (6).

October 25th (Halling Common)

Clear and bright 8.30am-10.am. river low.

Birds that I noted were - Cormorant (20) this is the most that I have seen at Halling.The fishing must have been good,one bird was seen with a decent sized flat fish.Little Egret (1) Herring Gull (6) Lesser black backed (2) Great Black backed (1) Black headed (100),Common (4) Little Grebe (2) Curlew (3) Redshank (20) Lapwing (10) Mallard (4) Greylag (4) Pied Wagtail (2) Meadow Pipit (4) Green Woodpecker (1) Skylark (2) and Goldfinch (10).

October 23rd (New Hythe)

Clear and bright,light NW. 8.30am-10.30am.river low.

Birds that I noted this morning were - Peregrine (1) Little Egret (3) Teal (8) Mallard (6) Heron (3) Redshank (1) and Little Grebe (4) all of which were seen along the river.Two calling Water Rails and (2) Bearded Tit in the sunken marsh.Two Pochard,one of which was on Abbey Mead lake,with the other on the streamside lake.The latter lake also held (2) drake Shoveler.Five Redwing in the west scrub,a flock of (80) Fieldfare which flew over heading NW and at least (120) Greylags on the big Tesco lake.

Two Foxes were also seen this morning,both of which were scavenging along the river bank

During the afternoon Jeanette and I had a walk across the fields to the church at Paddlesworth.In one of the stubble fields it was nice to see a flock of at least (50) Skylarks.

October 22nd(New Hythe)

Still and bright,not as cold as yesterday.8.am-9.30am.

Birds that I saw were - Fieldfare (20) which came up from the hawthorns on the edge of the sunken marsh,I think they had probably roosted there overnight.Eight Teal and (6) Little Grebe along the river.One Shoveler,the first for this autumn on the Railway lake.One Pochard and (1) Gadwall on the Little Tesco lake.Twenty Redwing in the east scrub and a Kingfisher which flew across the path as I walked back to the Brookland car-park along by the millstream.

I see there was a record of 2,500 Fieldfare flying over New Hythe lakes during one hour on the 20th,it must have all kicked off after I had left for home.

October 20th (New Hythe)

Clear and cold,light NW,becoming stronger later.

Just a brief visit this morning to the sunken marsh area between 8.am-9.am.

On my arrival I could hear the chattering of Fieldfare coming from the hawthorns along the edge of the marsh.I then noticed that small flocks were coming in from an easterly direction,some of which were dropping down into the hawthorns to join the birds already there,whilst others were continuing on their way northwest.A Common Buzzard,which was being mobbed by two Carrion Crows was seen high over Abbey Mead lake and when I looked across the river I could see (2) more over the Downs at Wouldham.I was hoping there might have been a chance of seeing or hearing the Bearded Tits that Phil had seen yesterday,but there was no sign of them.Instead I had to be content with (2) Water Rails and (3) Cetti`s Warblers.

Later on during the early afternoon,two flocks of twenty and thirty Redwings flew over the garden NW.

October 18th (Halling,Common)

Colder today,little wind 8:am-9:30am,the river was high.

Not a lot to report but I did see amongst others - (1) STONECHAT (8) Linnets (2) Skylark (2) Kestral (1) Reed Bunting (10) Meadow Pipits (6) Goldfinch (1) Heron (50) Starlings and (1) Green Woodpecker.

After I got back from Halling I put the small garden net up for a while and caught - Goldfinch (1) Starling (2) Blue Tit (1) and Goldcrest (1).

It seemed the only way I was going to see a Goldcrest in the area this autumn was to catch one,but I must admit I didn`t think it would be in the garden.

At least five different Goldfinches are now visiting the garden feeder,two adults and three juveniles.

We normally only see Hedgehogs in the garden after dark.So to find one feeding on the front garden during the daytime was very unusual.Anyway Jeanette gave it some of the dogs` food and after it had finished and had its photo taken,it waddled off happily on its way.

October 16th (New Hythe)

Another walk as far as the river this morning produced a kingfisher,a Grey Wagtail and the adult Common Seal.A Sparrowhawk was also seen which was being harassed by a crow over the sunken marsh.

October 15th (New Hythe)

Ringing in the east scrub this morning 7:am-9:am.

I was hoping to catch a few thrushes today but the area proved to be very quite,most of them appear to have moved on.

Birds ringed - Long tailed Tit (3) Robin (1) and Blue Tit (2).I had two re-traps both of which were Long tailed Tits.

AAT154 was ringed in the east scrub on 19 09 08.caught again on 02 08 09 and again today.

BHV508 was ringed in the east scrub on 02 08 09.

While I was there I heard a CURLEW call twice but unfortunately I couldn't tell in what direction it was flying.

When I got back home I put my small net up in the garden and caught - Starling (2) Blue Tit (1) House Sparrow (1) and Goldfinch (1).So far this autumn our Goldfinch feeder has attracted at least three different birds (1 adult and two juveniles).

While I was in the garden I was lucky enough to see my first FIELDFARE of the autumn,it passed over heading NW.

October 14th (New Hythe)

A walk as far as the river this morning produced a nice flock of (5) Little Egrets.

Just before the photo was taken one flew off down the river.

October 13th (Sandwich Bay)

Far fewer birds were on the estate today,especially Goldcrests.None the less some nice birds were ringed - Bramblings,Firecrest (1) Sparrowhawk (1) Chaffinches,Great Tit,Long-tailed Tit,Chiffchaffs,Goldcrests,Robins,Song Thrush,Redwing (1) and Blackbird.

October 11th (New Hythe)

Clear,NE breezy.8:am-10:am.

Birds of note this morning were (7) Pochard and (6) Gadwal on Tesco lake (1) Wigeon on the railway lake and the first (2) Redwings of the autumn in hawthorns by the water treatment works.

Two flocks of 50+ Starlings flew through NW,along with small numbers of Chaffinch.So far this autumn I still have not recorded a Goldcrest at New Hythe (I can`t hear them) so until they stop hiding in the bushes and come out into the open,I could be walking past hundreds.

The Whooper Swan which has been present in the area for most of the year,was seen on the streamside lake this morning and seems now to be more tolerated by the Mutes Swans.

October 10th (Sandwich Bay)

Clear,SE/E breeze.This morning saw the first ringing of the autumn of Brambling and Redwing.Goldcrests continue to be present in good numbers and 600 Goldfinch and 83 Siskins passed through.Birds ringed - Brambling (1) Magpie (1) Jay (1) Green Woodpecker (1) Robin (11) Chaffinch (7) Blackcap (1) Goldcrest (17) Chiffchaff (2) Redstart (1) Blue Tit (1) Song Thrush (2 continental) Redwing (1) Long-tailed Tit (1) Green Woodpecker (1) and Great Skua (1).

The Skua was brought to the centre yesterday after being found in a field.It was fed,watered and then released on the beach this afternoon.We also controlled a Polish ringed Goldcrest.

October 7th (Scotney pit and Dungeness)

Not one,not two,but three BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS.Just how do they locate each other.Unless of course there was always three in the area and they have only just come together.

After I had watched the Sandpipers for a while I went round to the RSPB Dungeness reserve.I walked from the reserve centre out to the Dengemarsh hide and then back again.Once in the hide I quickly located the egret and shortly after the Bittern (pic) came into view.

Walking along the path towards the Dengemarsh hide I came across a very obliging Wheatear.

October 6th (New Hythe)

Cloudy with occasional light drizzle,SW.8:am-10:am.

A walk round the lakes this morning notched up forty species.Those of note being Grey Wagtail (2) Gadwall (1) Kingfisher (1) and Little egret (2).Although there was still no sign of Redwings small numbers of very flighty Song Thrush and Blackbirds (probably migrants) remain in the east and west scrub areas.For most of the visit small flocks of Swallows were passing through all heading SW, good numbers of Chiffchaffs remain in the area.

Although Goldfinches have been noticed flying over our garden in small numbers for about a month now (probably just local feeding movements),this afternoon was the first time one has dropped into the garden to feed this autumn.

PAST TIMES (OCTOBER 1980)

WILDFOWL Pochard up to (170) at New Hythe by end of month.Tufted Duck up to (100) at New Hythe by end of month.Red-breasted Merganser (1) was present at New Hythe from 29th to the end of the year (injured). KESTRAL (2) Leybourne 2nd,(2) Holborough marsh 31st.WADERS Curlew (2) N W over New Hythe 20th.Snipe (20) Burham marsh by 25th.Redshank 8 Burham marsh by 25th.Green Sandpiper (2) New Hythe 27th.Common Sandpiper (1) New Hythe 27th.Lapwing 200 Burham marsh 25th.THRUSHES Redwing (30) over New Hythe NW 3rd.Fieldfare much in evidence by the end of the month.GOLDCREST influx at New Hythe from 16th.SWALLOW (1) New Hythe 29th.PIED WAGTAIL (300) at the Holborough marsh roost 22nd.MEADOW PIPIT (50) at the Holborough marsh roost 22nd.BEARDED TIT present at Burham marsh by the 18th.FINCHES Linnet (100) at New Hythe during the month.Goldfinch (50) at New Hythe during the month.Redpoll small numbers over New Hythe NW on 23rd.

October 2nd (New Hythe)

Misty at first,slowly clearing 8:am-10:am.

The main interest this morning was in the east and west scrub areas where some very flighty Song Thrushes and Blackbirds were very much in evidence,but try as I may,no Redwing were found.Other species present were Blackcap (2) Chiffchaff (2) Chaffinch (10) Green Woodpecker (1) Jay (2) and Swallow (2).Although there was no sign of them this morning,yesterday I saw five Pochard on the railway lake.