October 26th (Sandwich Bay)

Little Owl (adult)

(0630 - 1430) light SW,overcast at times.

After a week or so of strong south-westerlies.We were all hoping this morning that birds would at last be on the move,but in never materialized,We did however have a nice selection of birds,but all caught in small numbers.
The Little Owl was nice to see in the hand.The last one to be caught at the Bay was five years ago.

Birds ringed,

Song Thrush  (4)

Redwing  (1)

Green Woodpecker  (1) re-trap

Chiffchaff  (5)

Siskin  (2) first this autumn

Blue Tit  (2)

Reed Bunting  (1) re-trap

Blackbird  (1)  (2) re-traps

Blackcap  (3)

Little Owl  (1)

Collared Dove  (1)

Goldcrest  (1)

Great Tit  (1)

Chaffinch  (2)

October 20th (Isle of Sheppey)

I went to Sheppey today with Bob Bland,Jeff Wynn and Trevor Graves.Our target bird for the day was Long-eared Owl.Two of which at the moment are roosting in the old orchard at Elmley reserve.

Along the Elmley track it was rather quite,but we were entertained on the way by two Marsh Harrier,which gave us a nice aerial display.

Marsh Harrier

Long-eared Owl (one of two seen)

Our timing on reaching Leysdown was just right for high tide.We walked along the beach as far as Shellness.

Birds of note that we saw,Wheatear (2) Stonechat (1) Black Redstart (1) Brent Goose (400+) Grey Plover,Dunlin,Ringed Plover (40+),Curlew (300+) Knot,Bar-tailed Godwit,Oystercatcher (1000s) and Kestral (2).No Sanderling were seen,which we thought was rather unusual.

One Clouded Yellow was seen at the point.

Brent Geese and leucistic bird

Wheatear and Stonechat

Black Redstart

We finished the day at the (Raptor Watch Point),along the Harty Ferry road.While we had our lunch,we all remarked how quite it was,to previous visits we had made.Over the past few years there does seem to have been a change in farming practices in some of the fields

Birds of note that we saw,(2) Marsh Harrier,(2) Kestrels and (11) Corn Buntings.

October 15th (New Hythe)

Cetti`s Warbler

(0700 - 1000) A dull and overcast morning.(west scrub).

As would be expected,I caught far fewer Blackcaps and Chiffs this morning.A re-trapped Cetti`s Warbler was a nice surprise.

Other birds of note seen - Green Woodpecker (2),Great Spotted Woodpecker (1),at least (20) Rooks and (50) Jackdaws passed over from a roost again,heading in the direction of Leybourne and I saw my first (4) Redwings of the autumn.

Birds ringed.

Blackcap  (4)

Chiffchaff  (4)

Cetti`s Warbler  (1) re-trap (first caught 28-04-14,west scrub,5 male,hatched 2013,wt.16grms.
                                           
                                              (15-10-14,west scrub,15grms).
 

October 14th (Halling marsh)

Stonechat (male)

(0830 - 1000) overcast,mild,light SW.

birds seen - Little Egret 1,B H Gull 300,Common Gull 4,Herring Gull 8,G B B Gull 1,Mute Swan 2,Mallard 55,Grey Heron 2,Cormorant 2,Common Sandpiper 1,Carrion Crow,Starling,Blue Tit,Great Tit,Song Thrush 1,Blackbird 6,Cetti`s Warbler 1,Wood Pigeon,Stock Dove 1,Goldfinch 6,Linnet 3,Meadow Pipit 15,Snipe 1,Magpie 4,Moorhen 8,Water Rail 1.Teal 1,Green Woodpecker 2,Dunnock,Collared Dove,Lapwing 20,Robin,Reed Bunting 6,Stonechat 2,Curlew 1,Common Sandpiper 1.

Stonechat (female)

Mallard,a flock of (50) on one of the flooded pools.

October 12th (Sandwich Bay)

Chiffchaffs ( right hand bird,collybita,left hand bird abietinus.

(0600 - 1300) clear overnight,morning calm.with a light overcast.

Yet again very little noticeable overland movement,save for a few Skylark.

Blackcaps are now on the decline,but as for Chiffchaffs,good numbers are still passing through.

Hopefully by the beginning of next week we can look forward to the start of big arrivals of Thrushes,Redpolls and Goldcrests.


Bird ringed.

Chiffchaff  (105) + (1) retrap

Blackcap  (20)

Goldcrest  (3)

Song Thrush  (1)

Blackbird  (3)

Jay  (1)

Great Tit  (1)

Jay (3) young bird

October 5th (Sandwich Bay and Oare marshes)

Atlas Moth (female) worlds largest Moth,females can grow up to 12 inches.

No,it wasn`t caught in one of the nets,or a moth trap either.A chap who breeds exotic moths brought it in.All the same,it was nice to see,seeing as I had missed the species during a trip to Borneo a few years back.

A clear night resulted in the first frosts of the autumn.(0700 - 1300)

Again there was very little noticeable overland migration.Although we thought we might have seen the first of this autumns Redwings (4).

Birds ringed.

Chiffchaff  (13)

Blackcap  (25)

Blackbird  (4)

Song Thrush  (1)

Reed Warbler (1)

Robin  (2)

Goldcrest  (5)

0n my way back to Snodland,I called in on Oare Marshes.

l

Ruff and Little Stint

Little egret

October 3rd (Sandwich Bay)

There was far less visible migration this morning.(0630 - 1330).

Birds ringed.

Chiffchaff  (32)

Blackcap  (12)

Green Woodpecker (1 ad Female)

Goldcrest  (1)

Robin (1)

Wren  (1)