August 26th (Sandwich Bay)

Tree Pipit

This morning Jeanette and I went down to the Sandwich Bay,Wildlife and Conservation Fair.While we were there the ringers caught a nice Tree Pipit,a bird that has become scarce in Kent over the years.

Garganey and Teal

While we were sitting in the hide overlooking Restharrow scrape,two Garganey waddled over and sat with a small group of Teal.Its not that often you see the two species in such close proximity to each other,so that plumage and size differences can be compared.

August 23rd (Halling marsh)

Whinchat

Bright,SW, (08:15 -09:30).
I had a look at Halling marsh this morning,the river was on the way down.Although I only saw (24) species,a Whinchat was new for the year.

Mallard (6) Mute Swan (2) Grey Heron (3),Black headed Gull (100),Common Gull (3),Herring Gull (6),Great Black-backed Gull (1),Magpie (9),Greenfinch (4),Blackbird (1),Blue Tit  (1),Robin (1),Green Woodpecker (1),Wood Pigeon (15),Collared Dove (4),Carrion Crow (6),Lesser Whitethroat (3),Common Whitethroat (6),Reed Bunting (2),Moorhan (3),Starling (30),Dunnock (1),Jackdaw (3),Whinchat (1).

PAST TIMES (August 1968)

August 22nd,clear and warm.
New Hythe,sand flat (now east scrub) birds present - 7 British,1 Scan Lesser Black-backed Gull,2 Herring Gulls,50 juvenile Black headed Gulls and 30 Common Terns,10 of which were juveniles.

August 23rd,clear and warm.
I looked at the sand flat area again,the Common Terns had gone but had been replaced by 4 Sandwich Terns and one juvenile Little Gull.Also present were  - 3 Ringed Plover,2 Dunlin,several Meadow Pipits and 8 yellow Wagtails.

August 18th (Sandwich Bay)

Willow Warbler (young bird)

I spent the morning ringing at Sandwich Bay.Its one of those rare places these days where you don`t have the constant fear of a pack of dogs running through your nets.

I`m not sure of the true number we caught,but it was probably around twenty five.The catch included a handful of Swallows,several Garden Warblers,a Chiffchaff,I think just one Willow Warbler,several Common Whitethroats, a handful of Chaffinches,one Greenfinch and a nice re trap Wren,which I believe was either five or six years old.

The catches this month have been well down on previous years.

Garden Warbler

Before I made for home I had a look at the scrape.I only stayed for about fifteen minutes,but saw (1) adult and (1) immature Little Egret,(2) Green Sandpipers,(1) Redshank,(50+) Lapwing,(1) Pochard,a handful of Teal and (1) Little Grebe.

Little Egret (adult)

Little Egret (immature)

Lapwing

These two Lapwing were having a scrap.

Abbey Meads

I came across this young fox the other day.Eyeing up two rabbits along the track at Abbey Meads.

August 13th (Oare marshes)

Wood Sandpiper

Rather overcast to start,brigher later,high tide around 09:00.

Late last night I read on the KOS website that,Temminck`s Stint,Curlew Sandpiper,Wood Sandpiper and Garganey have all been seen at Oare marshes over the past few days.So early this morning I made for Oare,arriving at 07:15.

Birds that I saw  Common Buzzard,Kestral,Peregrine,Little Egret,Grey Heron,Herring Gull,Lesser Black-backed Gull,Black headed Gull,Oystercatcher,Curlew,Whimbrel,Ringed Plover (30),Black-tailed Godwit (800+),Redshank,Greenshank (1),Golden Plover (150+),Avocet (100),Little Stint (1), Curlew Sandpiper (1), Wood  Sandpiper (2),Garganey (3),Dunlin (1),Lapwing,Snipe (6),Wigeon (3),Water Rail (heard),Reed Warbler,Sedge Warbler,Reed Bunting,Bearded Tit,Linnet,Teal,Marllad,Tufted Duck,Pochard (family),Ruff (10),Carrion  Crow,Green Woodpecker,Yellow Wagtail (6),Greylag,Wheatear (1),Coot,Moorhen,Skylark,House Sparrow,Common Tern,Swallow,Wood Pigeon,Green Sandpiper (2),Marsh Harrier (1). (50) species.

Although the Temminck`s Stint wasn`t seen,a Little was a nice surprise.

Ruff

Wood Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper and Dunlin

Black-tailed Godwit

Black-tailed Godwit (adult)

Teal

B T Godwits,Ruff and Redshank

Avocets

The Avocet roost held at least 100 birds.

Little Stint

Little Stint,one was present on the east flood not far from the road.

August 11th ( Sheppey)

Clear and bright,with a cool easterly breeze.
Jeanette and I went to the isle of Sheppey this morning.It was the first time for as long as I can remember that I failed to see a Marsh Harrier on the island.

Turnstone (adult)

Turnstone (immature)

Ringed Plover

Ringed Plover

Good numbers of Ringed Plovers (150+),were present along the beach between Leysdown and Shellness.

Sandwich and Common Terns

Painted Lady

I saw my first Painted Lady butterfly of the year close to Muswell Manor.

August 9th (Winchelsea)

Jeanette and I had a run down to Winchelsea today.While Jeanette gave the dogs a good run on the beach,I had some fun photographing the Fulmars.

Fulmar

Fulmar

Fulmar

Curlew

Curlew

Our dog (Nimue)

August 8th (New Hythe)

Common Whitethroat (juvenile)

We all know that this summer has been a disastrous one for many of our breeding birds.This was brought home again this week,when two ringing sessions at New Hythe produced only three birds.Two juvenile Chiffs and one juvenile Common Whitethroat.