September 28th (Garden)

I photographed this Hummingbird Hawk moth (below) this afternoon,which makes it the fourth sighting for the garden this year.

We don`t have breeding Robins in our garden,but they do occur during the autumn and winter months.The first to return this autumn (above) was seen drinking from our pond on Monday (26th).

September 25th (Dungeness)

Misty at first,later bright and warm,light SW.

I went to Dungeness this morning hoping that the juvenile Rose-coloured Starling that was seen there yesterday would still be around.Unfortunately despite looking for it when I first arrived and again later in the early afternoon,there was no sign of it.

I did see a Short-eared Owl on the RSPB reserve,which I believe was a Dungeness tick for me.

If only the Great White Egret had come as close.

Hirundines,mainly Swallows were passing through all morning,I stood and watched for a while as some headed out to sea towards France.

September 19th (New Hythe and Garden)

Bright NW 8:am-10:am.

New Hythe remains rather quite at the moment,I think we need a change in the wind direction.Birds of note (6) Lapwing along the river (4) Cetti`s Warblers (1) Blackcap (2) Chiffchaff (1) Kingfisher and (1) Sparrowhawk.

When I got back from New Hythe I had a short ringing session in the garden and caught (3) more Goldfinch and (1) Chiffchaff.

PAST TIMES (SEPTEMBER 1982)

POCHARD (4) New Hythe 4th (60) in the area by the end of month WADERS Green Sandpiper (2) at New Hythe (river) 1st Lapwing (200) at Burham 18th Snipe (3) at Burham 18th.TERNS Common Tern (5) at Alders lake 4th.Black Tern (3) at the new Tesco lake 12th.HOBBY (1) at Burham 17th COMMON SWIFT (1) at New Hythe 4th KINGFISHER (4) at Alders lake 12th WHINCHAT singles at New Hythe 4th and 26th FINCHES Linnet (500) feeding along the banks of the new Tesco lake 5th Lesser Redpoll family party feeding in our garden Silver birch tree 8th.

September 16th (New Hythe)

Patchy cloud,light SE 10.am-11.15. river low.

This morning I had a look at the river and also had a forty five minute stint at sky watching from Brookland mound (Raptor watch point).

Along the river I saw (3) Gadwall (10) Teal (35 Mallard (5) Cormorants (7) Grey Herons (1) Little Egret (5) Lapwing (2) G B B Gulls (1) Herring Gull (32) B H Gulls and (2) Kingfishers.

Due to the change in the wind direction I had hopes that something good might pass over but it wasn`t to be,but none the less I didn`t do that badly.

Sparrowhawk (3) Buzzard (1 up over the Downs) Hobby (1) Stock Dove (4) and Jackdaw (1).There was also a light but steady movement of Swallows with a sprinkling of Sand Martins passing through south.

Although Jackdaws are not very often recorded at New Hythe there is in fact a movement of birds between Leybourne where the roost is located and Burham where the birds feed,these flocks can sometimes be seen passing over the the lakes.

September 14th (Halling Common)

Clear SW 8.am-10.am river low.

I had a walk out on Halling Common this morning and one of the first birds I saw was a Common Tern flying up the river.Although they turn up regularly at New Hythe lakes and I have seen them on the Medway many times in the past,this is my first record for Halling since I started this Blog in 2009.

Other birds that I saw Cormorant (8) Grey Heron (1) B H Gull (100) Common Gull (6) Herring Gull (5) Lapwing (3) Jackdaw (3) Common Crow (4) Starling (100) Magpie (8) Greenfinch (20) Meadow Pipit (4 over) Swallow small movement south (40) Sand Martin (3) south,Common Whitethroat (3) Lesser Whitethroat (2) Robin (2) Pheasant (1) Blue Tit (2) Great Tit (3) and Blackbird (2).

September 9th (Garden)

A ringing session in the garden today produced (4) Goldfinch (4) House Sparrows and a fine young female Sparrowhawk (note the chestnut fringing).

September 7th (New Hythe)

Although it was brighter today there was a cool southwesterly 8am-930am.

Along with the cooler weather this morning there was a mixed feeding flock of at least (100) hirundine (mainly House Martins) feeding low over Abbey Meads.On the Warbler front only Blackcap,which were quite numerous,Common Whitethroat,Chiffchaff and Cetti`s were seen or heard..The river was high so very little of note was seen apart from perhaps (4) flyover Stock Doves.While looking over the Sunken marsh towards Burham I saw a Common Buzzard fly from east to west and a little later a Kestral flew in and hovered for a while over the marsh.The east scrub was again quite,but as passed the Little Tesco lake I noted my first Gadwall since April and a flyover Sparrowhawk.

September 3rd (Dungeness)

I made a quick visit to Dungeness this morning,I was back in Snodland by 1230.

Birds of note Great White Egret (1) Cattle Egret(1) Garganey (4 at Dengemarsh) Hobby(2) and Glaucous Gull (1).

The Glaucous Gull spent a lot of its time following the bait diggers around,waiting for its opportunity to snatch a worm or two.

September 2nd.

I saw my first Painted lady of the Autumn in the garden this morning and we still have a few Small whites and one Red admiral visiting the herbs and Buddleia.

September 1st (New Hythe)

Clear and calm 8am-9.30am,river on the way out.

Although the morning was on the whole rather quite,especially the east scrub which in contrast to the last few visits was almost dead,I did manage to record 37 species.Birds of note being (40) mallard (2) Teal (1) Whooper Swan (1) Common Sandpiper and (3) Lapwing along the river (2) Water Rails calling from within the Sunken marsh (2) Swallows flying over south (1) Kingfisher which flashed passed me as I crossed over the railway line and (1) Sparrowhawk which I saw as I walked back along the Millstream path.Warblers on the whole were rather scarce with just a handful of Chiffchaffs,Common Whitethroats and Blackcaps being seen (1) Cetti`s was heard.