August 25th and 26th (Sandwich Bay)

Common Kingfisher

House Martin

Barn Swallow

Over the two days birds of note recorded at the Bay included  - up to (11) Whinchat,(1-2) Pied Flycatchers,(one of which was trapped), (2) Common Redstarts, (4) Spotted Flycatchers and singles of Red-backed Shrike and Wryneck.A Kingfisher was caught early morning on the 26th.

As a whole Kent missed out on the big fall of birds that occurred further north on the east coast in the NE winds.At Spurn in Yorkshire for instance an incredible (61) Icterine Warblers were recorded.

(61) Icterine,yes so incredible it wasn`t true,should be (7),corrected on 28th.(LATEST SIGHTINGS MAP).

August 19th (Kingsdown and Sandwich)

Bock Hill

Long-tailed Blue

This morning five of us walked from St Margaret`s,through Bock Hill farm to Kingsdown lees.The weather was kind,being bright and warm,though perhaps a little windy.We were hoping to see Long-tailed Blue Butterflies (rare migrants to Britain,from the south),which have been frequenting a patch of wild Sweet Peas along the cliff top.I`m glad to say,we did see at least two,with the help of two chaps who were already watching them,thanks.

In all we noted (17),different butterflies - Common Blue,Little Blue,Chalk-hill Blue,Adonis Blue,Brown argus,Wall Brown (9),Large White,Small White,Large Skipper,Gate Keeper,Meadow Brown,Clouded Yellow (4),Small Tortoiseshell,Marbled White,Peacock (2),Small copper and Long-Tailed Blue (2).

Long-tailed Blue

Wall brown

Large Skipper

Clouded Yellow

Marbled White

Small Copper

We left St Margaret`s at 12:00 and made for Sandwich Bay,where we had lunch.We then spent the next 45 minutes in the  Restharrow scrape hide and noted - Little Stint (1),Ruff (1),Common Snipe (1),Common Sandpiper (2),Little Egret (1) and Yellow Wagtail (2).

August 17th (Sandwich Bay)

At about 11:30,we were surprised when we saw a Barn Owl flying over the field just behind the ringing hut.

(5:am - 1200) moderate overcast,SW.

About (60) birds were ringed this morning.A large proportion of which were Reed Warblers and Willow Warblers,(3) Garden Warblers and a Linnet were of note.

Before I left  for home I had a look at Restharrow scrape,where I saw a young Grey Heron catch and swallow a Little Grebe chick.

August 12th (Oare Marshes)

Meadow Pipit

(8:am - 1200) birds of note - Temminck`s Stint (1),Bonaparte`s Gull (1),Greenshank (4+),Turnstone (3 flood),Dunlin (3+),Curlew Sandpiper (3),Whimbrel (2 over),B T Godwit (1,500+),Avocets,Golden Plover (100+),Wheatear (1),Green Sandpiper  (2+).Two Clouded Yellow butterflies were also seen.

Little Egret

Little Egret

Temminck`s Stint

The Temminck`s Stint spent most of the morning on a pool in the west flood,seen from the river wall and road.

Temminck`s Stint

Temminck`s Stint

Greenshank and B T Godwits

At least (4) Greenshank were in the area.

Greenshank

Golden Plover

At least (100) Golden Plover  are now present.

Golden Plover

Black-tailed Godwits

August 11th (Sandwich Bay)

Willow Warbler (young bird)

Overcast,but bright.(5:am - 11:00).

First decent catch of the autumn (107) birds,which included Willow Warbler 17,Reed Warbler 38,Chiffchaff 2,Sedge Warbler 12,Swallow 10,House Martin 9,Sand Martin 3,Common Whitethroat 4,+ a good selection of resident species and a Willow Warbler control.

August 7th (Holborough)

Sedge Warbler (juvenile)

Cloudy,cooler than of late,NE.

A good morning for ringing,at least it was until the wind got up at around 9:am,when I decided to take the nets down.
This morning was my second visit to the reed bed this year.The first was three weeks ago,when I caught five birds.This morning I caught just four,2 juvenile Reed and 2 Juvenile Sedge Warbler,by this time during July/August  2011,I had already caught 50+ acro.We know many breeding birds had a disastrous 2012 season,but I was hoping this year they might have recovered somewhat,but there again we did have a very cold spring,which hopefully may have just delayed nesting by a few weeks.

Reed Warbler (young bird)

August 6th

More photo`s from yesterday.

Curlew Sands

Curlew Sands

Curlew Sands and one Dunlin

Yellow Wagtail

August 5th (Elmley)

Peregrine

Peregrine

Today I went to Elmley with Bob  Bland,Jeff Wynn,Pete Tyler and Trevor Maynard.We had hoped to see the Buff-breasted Sandpiper that has been present there for the past few days.However although we arrived at 0900 and stayed until 1300,it didn`t show,that is until we were almost home when it came up on Pete`s pager damn.
Although we missed the Sandpiper is was still a good days birding,in good company.

Birds of note seen - Cattle Egret (1),Garganey (1,on pool by toilet block),Marsh Harrier (6),Common Buzzard (1),Little Stint (1) Ruff (4),Wood Sandpiper (1),Green Sandpiper (5),Avocet (30),B T Godwit (4),Whimbrel (1),Peregrine (2),Common Snipe (6) and Curlew Sandpiper (14+).

B T Godwit

Curlew Sandpipers

Up until the Peregrines went through the flood,we had only seen one Curlew Sandpiper.The others birds must have been hidden behind one of the islands.

Curlew SandPipers

Cattle Egret

The Cattle Egret flew over the flood from the east and went down into the fields just behind the hides.

Avocet

Avocets (young birds)

Ringed Plovers and Little Stint

Ruff

Common Snipe

August 3rd (Sandwich Bay)

Painted Lady