July 21st (Oare marshes)

Bonaparte`s Gull

Sedge Warbler

I went for the Bonaparte`s Gull at Oare marshes this afternoon.I first looked for it on the east flood,but without any luck.I was just about to make my way to the river wall to see if it was feeding out on the Swale,when along came Bob Bland and Jeff Wynn.They said they had seen it earlier that morning,feeding out on the Swale,not far from the slipway.Then though,the tide had been a lot closer in.When I arrived at the wall the tide was almost at its lowest.I scanned through the feeding Black-headed Gulls for almost thirty minutes,when eventually I noticed a Gull that looked promising,but it had its back to me and was standing way out on the tide-line.I watched it for about five minutes,before it turned its head and yes,it had a Black bill !.It then started to feed,but all the time walking even further away.After about thirty minutes it took flight and looked as if it was making its way towards the east flood.

As I was making my way along the road back to the east flood,I came across a very obliging Sedge Warbler.

After looking over the east flood again,with out any luck.I walked back to the car park,but I thought I might as well look for it one more time out on the Swale,in case it had doubled back.My luck was in,I found it out on the mud and it was not far from the end of the slipway.I slowly made my way along,until I was almost opposite to it.Although still not that close,I was a lot closer than earlier.I went home well pleased.

Its probably the same second summer plumage bird,that spent several months at Oare last summer.

July 19th (New Hythe)

Nightingale (well advanced juvenile)

This morning I was ringing with Kieron (Offham Blog) (0500 - 09:30).Although we only caught seven birds,two were new Nightingales,both  of which were juveniles.One was in typical spotty plumage,which I would expect in July,but the other bird was so much more advanced into its post juvenile moult.All the spotty body plumage had moulted out,only leaving the pale tip spots to the tertials and outer primary coverts.
When I first looked at the bird,I thought it must be a (5),one of last years birds,but looking more closely I could see the plumage was completely fresh,with no wear at all.
I think some of our Nightingales must be breeding earlier in the season than formerly.

17th July (New Hythe)

Green Woodpecker (3 male) young bird

05:00 - 09:30 (west/east scrub)

John Buckingham joined me this morning.

Birds ringed.

Blackbird   (2)

Reed Warbler   (1)

Common Whitethroat   (1)

Blackcap   (5)

Bullfinch   (1)

Song Thrush   (1)

Cetti`s Warbler   (1) young bird

Robin   (1)

Chiffchaff   (1)

Green Woodpecker   (1)

July 12th (New Hythe)

Chiffchaff (juvenile)

Dull and overcast,still, (5am - 9:30am) west/east scrub.

Another early start,no Nightingales calling this morning.Although a slow start,things picked up around 8.30.

An Oystercatcher was heard flying over and a Reed Bunting was singing in the west scrub.

Chiffchaff  (5) all juveniles.

Goldfinch   (1)

Blackcap   (1)

Robin    (2)

Garden Warbler  (3) all juveniles.

Common Whitethroat   (3)

L T Tit   (3)

Great Tit  (2)

Blue Tit  (3)

Dunnock   (1) retrap.

Garden Warbler (juvenile)

Common Whitethroat (juvenile) note the dull eye.


During the afternoon,I saw my first Painted Lady of the year near Paddlesworth.

July 7th (New Hythe)

I was down at New Hythe nice and early this morning (05:00).I had three nets up by 05:45 and with churring and whistling calls of Nightingales all around me,I sensed it could be quite a good session.

(05:00 - 09:30) Birds ringed. (west and east scrub)

Nightingale  (2) 1 ad and 1 juv)

Reed Warbler   (1)

Sedge Warbler  (1)

Chiffchaff   (1) + (2) retraps

Blackcap   (2)

Common Whitethroat  (2)

Great Tit   (3)

Blue tit   (1)  

Dunnock (3)        

Sedge Warbler (juvenile (3J) ) 

Sedge Warblers are now a very scarce breeding bird at New Hythe.The above bird was a well advanced (3J),so may have been just feeding up in the area.

During 1980,25 pairs were recorded breeding around Abbey Mead Lake.

Nightingale (adult,age (5).Later this month the bird will moult and gain full adult plumage.

Nightingale (age (5) last summer`s bird) pale tips of retained coverts,just noticeable.

Nightingale (juvenile)