( PAST TIMES )

December 30th,1985.Clear,cold,freezing.

New Hythe,birds noted - G C Grebe (14),Little Grebe (4),Slavonian Grebe (1),Mute Swan (18),Canada Goose (94),Greylag (2),Gadwall (35),Pochard (388),Tufted Duck (499),Mallard 202,Shoveler (4),Ruddy Duck (1),Coot (618),Shelduck (4),Redshank (20),Dunlin 240) and Tree Sparrow (100).

December 30th (BELATED CHRISTMAS PRESENT)

I caught just three birds in my garden net first thing this morning,two Reed Buntings and one Blackcap.Its always nice to catch a winter Blackcap,I usually manage to catch at least one each winter,but this bird was  special,it was already ringed and it was from the Czech Republic (PRAHA MUSEUM).
Its been known for a while now that many of our wintering Blackcaps come from central Europe and to catch one which helps to confirm this is very special indeed,one of my best controls.

I WOULD LIKE TO WISH YOU ALL THE VERY BEST FOR THE NEW YEAR AND GOOD BIRDING.

Scaup

I had a quick walk around New Hythe this afternoon.Apart from (80+),Gadwall on Abbey Mead and a flyover Sparrowhawk,I saw very little of note.That is until I reached the Streamside lake,where I saw a very nice duck Scaup.

December 19th.

Had a female Blackcap today (first this winter) feeding on apples in the front garden.The apples have been put out to hopefully attract Waxwings,but  so far I havn`t had any luck..

December 17th (Cliffe Pools)

Velvet Scoter

Six of us went up to Cliffe Pools (RSPB) reserve this morning,with two species on our minds,Velvet Scoter and Scaup,happily both were still present.

In all we managed to see sixty species,the more notable being - Common Buzzard (1),Marsh Harrier (1), Raven (1),Greenshank (2-3),B T Godwit (100s),Little Grebe (100s),Pintail (8),Goldeneye (8),Kingfisher (1),Corn Bunting (4),(Velet Scoter (1) and Scaup at least (2),Radar Pool).

Scaup

Scaup

Greenshank

December 13th (East Malling/Ditton,Waxwings)

Rather cold,dull and overcast,(9:30 -11:30 ).

I walked into the Research Station via the East Malling end (by the church).I had only gone a short distance  along the path when I bumped into John Davis,who was also on the lookout for Waxwings.Although we saw good numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare,which were mainly feeding on the fallen apples.It wasn`t until we had almost walked all the way through the Site,that we had our first sighting.Seven in all,which came up from one of the orchards and flew across to Ditton quarry,which is on the very edge of the Research Station.(eastern end).It was there that we spent the next hour watching the birds feeding, which was mainly on wild Rose hips.

Our thanks to Adam Whitehouse (East Malling/Ditton and Barming Blog)

.

December 10th (Dungeness and Walland marsh)

Common Buzard (Walland marsh)

Waxwing

Six of us spent a bright,but cold day in the Dungeness,Walland marsh area.We managed to see a total of (73) species,the most notable being - ( Dungeness)  B T Diver (1 New Diggings),R T Diver (1 sea),G W Egret (3),Avocet (1),Goldeneye (3),Smew (2),Goosander (2),Pintail (2),Tree Sparrows and Marsh Harrier (3).Good numbers of Guillemots were seen on the sea.

Walland Marsh - Common Buzzard (4),Marsh Harrier (6),Sparrowhawk (1),Kestral (2),Tree Sparrows,Yellowhammer (5) Bewick`s Swans and Whooper Swan (3).Hundreds of Fieldfare were present in the area.

Lydd (roundabout) Waxwing (8).

We failed to see the drake Ring-necked duck,which was seen at Dungeness yesterday.

Waxwings

G W Egret

Whooper and Bewick`s Swans

Wigeon

drake Goldeneye

red-head Goldeneye

December 8th

I only saw one of the Waxwings today.Two Ravens flew east over Brooklands car park and on Holborough marsh three Little Egrets were present.

I have just received three recoveries from the BTO.

Y221956  Reed Bunting. ad female. ringed at Snodland (garden) Kent.24-Jan -2012.

found dead (cat). Beeston Regis,Sheringham,Norfolk. 28-Mar-2012.188 Km NE.


TP94656  Greenfinch  juv male  ringed at Snodland (garden) Kent. 26-Aug-2012.

found dead.Tick attached to neck.Snodland Kent.02-Sept-2012.


EW87927 Sparrowhawk.young female.ringed Snodland (garden)Kent.09-Sept-2011.

found dead (hit wire).Aylesford Kent.24-Oct-2012.4Km east.

December 7th (Snodland)

Waxwing

I saw two Waxwings this afternoon feeding in the same tree at Snodland (juntion of St Katherines road and Birling road),where a flock was present from December 23rd 2010,into January 2011.

Waxwing

Abbey Mead lake this morning produced (6) Wigeon,(30) Gadwall,(50) Tufted Duck,(100+) Coot and (4) Bullfinch,small numbers of Fieldfare and Redwing were also in the area.

December 3rd (East Kent)

Waxwing

Four of us went chasing Waxwings today in East Kent.First we made for Stonelees where only yesterday two hundred had been seen,but despite us stomping all round the area at times through thick mud and not seeing a single one,we came to the conclusion that they must have moved on.We thought this rather surprising as the bushes were still covered in berries.However we didn`t give up hope of seeing Waxwings today and next made for the observatory at Sandwich,where fifty had been reported,also only yesterday.
Still we saw no Waxwings,although three had been seen in the car park earlier in the morning,these and the others yesterday must also have moved on.By this time we had giving up hope,but while we we sitting in the hide overlooking the scrape a report of a flock of thirty birds at Yorckletts,behind Young`s lorry Park came up on the pager.At last Waxwings (34),but no sooner had we got out the car,down came the rain,shame,but I guess this winter we will hopefully see many more and in better light.

Waxwings

Waxwing

Waxwings

Waxwings