February 24th (Dungeness and Pett level)

Drake Smew (Burrowes pit)

Glaucous Gull 1st winter (by the fishing boats)

Turnstone (at least twenty were on the beach by the fishing boats)

Glossy Ibis (Pett level)

February 17th (Minster and the South Swale reserve)

Shore lark

I took a chance with the weather this morning and headed for Sheppey.Thankfully the weather held,being bright for most of the time I was there.

Although I saw the Richard`s Pipit.It wasn`t performing as well for me as last week.The Geese on the other hand put on a great show.

Whilst watching the Geese,I saw three Marsh Harrier and one Common Buzzard.

February 16th (New Hythe,Streamside lake)

I spent a pleasant couple of hours this morning,snapping away with my camera.

Siskins (female birds)

Siskin (male birds)

(Chiffchaff) I saw at least six this morning.

February 12th (Garden update)

So far this winter,I believe only three individual Reed Buntings have visited the garden,A male and a female both with rings and one female without.So far I have only managed to catch the female with the ring.She proved to be a bird I first caught in the garden on the 24 01 2014.Last winter was also poor for garden Reed Buntings (2014/15),which was also mainly mild throughout.

Unusually so far,I have not seen any Blackcaps in the garden.

This morning I caught an interesting Chiffchaff in the garden.The upper parts were brownish with greyish tones and the under parts and supercilium were whitish.Leading me to believe it might be a P.c. tristis bird (Siberian).

I know that P.c.tristis should have some buff on the flanks and in the supercilium.In my bird whilst in the hand these areas looked mainly white.Although in the hand held photo`s there does seem to be some buff on the breast area and part way along the flanks.Also the supercilium looks less white than the underparts and the ear coverts also look warm buff  this along with no olive on the upper parts are all characteristics of tristis.(subtle colours can change under differing light conditions).

It was seen again feeding in the garden during the afternoon and photographed.

The bird was seen in the garden again on the 27th,of this month.

February 11th (Sheppey)

I thought is was about time I caught up with the wintering Richard`s Pipit.

Richard`s pipit (back for a second winter)