November 19th (Sheppey)

Marsh Harrier (Raptor Watch Point)

Marsh Harrier (Raptor Watch Point)

A small group of us went to Sheppey this morning.We were hoping the Desert Wheatear seen there yesterday,near Harty would still be around.When we arrived we were told it had been reported earlier,at about 8:30 am,but despite us and several others looking we saw no sign of it.

Bearded Tits

A flock of about ten Bearded Tits was present by the Raptor Watch Point.

Bearded Tit (male)

Bearded Tit (male)

Marsh Harrier (Capel Fleet)

Marsh Harrier (Capel Fleet)

Marsh Harrier (male,Elmley)

Golden Plover (Elmley)

November 14th (Holborough marsh)

Marsh Harrier

Beautiful day,mild,sunny,very little wind.

I walked around Holborough marsh this morning,it proved to be very interesting.
Birds of note seen - Little Grebe (1),Kestral (1),Lesser Redpoll (1),Redwing (10),Green Woodpecker (1),Bullfinch (1),Water Rail (2 heard),Green Sandpiper (1),Kingfisher (1),Bearded Tits (6),Teal (5) and Marsh Harrier (2).

Two Reed Buntings turned up in the garden this morning,both birds have a ring.

Marsh Harrier (male)

Marsh Harrier

November 12th (Dungeness)

Glaucous Gull

Overcast to start,rain by the early afternoon.
This morning I went to Dungeness with Bob Bland and Jeff Wynn,where we met up with Trevor Maynard at the fishing boats.The first bird of note we saw was a Yellow-legged Herring Gull.Its back was a darker grey than nearby Herring Gulls,its head was pure white and the legs yellow.A little while later we came across the Glaucous Gull,back for its third winter.
We then spent the next thirty or so minutes looking at the sea,in which time we saw - (2) R T Divers,(2) Kittiwakes,(3) Eider Ducks,(1)Guillemot,(40) G C Grebes and (1) Velvet Scotor.

Glaucous Gull

Glaucous Gull

Guillemot

From the fishing boats we moved along the coast to Lade Pits and added a rather distant Long-tailed Duck to our list.

Wigeon and Gadwall

Pintail

On the RSPB reserve,good numbers of duck were in,which included - Goldeneye,Pochard,Shoveler,Tufted Duck,Gadwall,Teal,Wigeon and Pintail (4).Ten Snipe were roosting on one of the islands and on Burrows Pit we saw two of the G W Egrets.

Common Crane

While we were having our lunch at the reserve.We heard that a Common Crane had been seen earlier during the morning at Scotney Pits.Being only a few miles from Dungeness,we decided to go and try for it.After a great deal of searching,with no luck,we moved further along the road towards Camber.It was here that we came across the Ploddingbirder,parked in his car overlooking the marsh.Yes,he was looking at the Crane and quickly put us onto to it.Although it was at some distance,a scope job,none the less,it was very nice to see,thanks.

Whooper Swans

Our  last port of call before heading back to Maidstone,was Romney Marsh.It was here that we hoped to see two Whooper Swans.Our luck was in,in more ways than one,both birds were quickly  found and they were feeding very close to the road.

November 10th (Harty,Isles of Sheppey)

I went wader ringing this evening with members of the (Swale Wader Group).We met at Harty (Isles of Sheppey),at 1800,three hours before high tide.The weather was nice and calm,with a clearing sky.

We had a nice variety of birds,but the re traps proved to be more of interest.

Teal  (1) young female.
Grey Plover  (2) and (1) re trap,ringed in 1990.
Knot  (1)
Dunlin (43) mostly adults and (2) re traps,one recent and the other from November 2008.
Bar-tailed Godwit  (7) and (2) re traps,one ringed five years ago and the other eight.
Curlew  (4) and (1) re trap,ringed in October 2003.
Redshank  (5) and one re trap from October 2010.

Thanks to Rodney Smith for a well organized session,spent in good company.  

Teal (Female)

Grey Plover

Dunlin

November 6th (New Hythe)

A beautiful bright morning gave way to a rather dull afternoon.

The duck Common Scotor was still present on Brookland.Out of the twelve or so New Hythe records of this sea duck,this bird is the most long staying.All of the others have only stayed around for one or two days
Over the past few weeks Tufted Duck numbers have been increasing and numbered at least (80) on the above lake,2 Shoveler were also present.Abbey Mead produced (6) Mute Swans,(2) Canada Geese,(96) Coot,(2) Wigeon,(10) Pochard,(63) Tufted Duck,(6) Gadwall and a Sparrowhawk.
Along the river I saw  (5) Teal,(1) Lapwing,(2) Little Grebe and (1) Redshank.Good numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare remained in the Sunken marsh,where (6) Reed Bunting and (2) Bullfinch were also seen.Three Siskin and ( I ) Lesser Redpoll were feeding in the area of the Streamside lake,a Chiffchaff was heard along the millstream and in the small marsh by the car park a Water Rail was seen.

November 5th (Brookland lake,New Hythe)

Common Scoter and Tufted Duck

A duck Common Scoter,first seen last Friday (2nd),is still present on Brookland lake).