September 29th (Sandwich and Oare Marshes)

Long-billed Dowitcher and Common Snipe (Oare)

During the morning I was at Sandwich ringing.Blackcaps,Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests,were again prominent in the nets,although in much smaller numbers than of late.Just before the rain arrived we took advantage of the large numbers of Swallows and House Martins that were moving through,60 House Martins and 3 Swallows were duly caught.

BITS AND PIECES

Male and female Blackcap,Treecreeper,Goldcrest (New Hythe,West Scrub)
Common Buzzard (Birling))

This morning 26th,I was ringing in the West Scrub (0700-1030).

BIRDS RINGED

Blackcap  26 (a few were still in post juvenile moult,while others are now laying down fat.

Song Thrush  1

Goldcrest  1 (the Goldcrest was probably a local bird.(although a few migrants are now turning up at Sandwich)

Wren  1

Chiffchaff  9 + 1 control

Blue Tit  1

TOTAL  39

BITS AND PIECES

On my way home from Sandwich on the 20th,I looked in on Oare Marshes,As at Sandwich,House Martins and Swallows were much in evidence, all heading west,at Sandwich they were heading north.

Photo`s Peregrine,Little Stint,Curlew Sandpiper,Dunlins and Ruff.

During the morning of the 20th,I was busy ringing at Sandwich.Clear conditions,with a light SW wind opened the flood gates and Swallows and House Martins came poring through,with estimates of 100,000 House Martins and 40,000 Swallows.Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs,were also much in evidence with an estimate of 300 for each.A total of 675 birds were ringed,of which 342 were House Martins,202 Blackcaps and 106 Chiffchaffs.On the 19th a Blyth`s Reed Warbler was trapped,a first for the Bay and a Arctic Warbler was caught on the 10th.

New Hythe (West Scrub)  17th.

BIRDS RINGED

Blackcap  6

Chiffchaff  11

L T Tit  2

Great Tit  3

Willow Warbler  1

Wren  1

Goldcrest 1

TOTAL  25

September 13th (Halling marshes)

I had an hour or so to spare,so I thought I would nip along to Halling for a change.I was hoping a Stonechat or two might be on show.The marsh there nearly always turns up trumps for this species,especially at this time of the year.On this occasion though it didn`t,but I did see its close relative the Whinchat,an increasingly scarce migrant in our area.Other birds I saw are as follows - Common Sandpiper 1,Mallard 2,Cormorant 1,Little Egret 1,Blackbird 2,Moorhen 3,Crow 10,Jackdaw 8,Magpie 3,G B B Gull 2,Herring gull,4,B H gull 40,Common gull 2,Starling 40,Blue Tit 2,Wood Pigeon 10,Collared Dove 4.The windy conditions made for a poor species total.

BITS AND PIECES

During the afternoon of the 8th,I saw 3 Yellowhammer and 3 Hobbies between Snodland and Paddlesworth and on the 9th a group of 6 Common Buzzards.

10th.New Hythe,west scrub,clear at first then a light mist (0630-0930).

BIRDS RINGED

Blackcap  25

L T Tit  1

Reed Warbler  1

Chiffchaff  3

TOTAL  30

September 7th (Sandwich Bay and Oare Marshes)

This morning at Sandwich there was a large fall of Blackcaps.Which coincided with a pre-dawn shower at around 0500,an estimate of 500 were present in the trapping area alone (273 were ringed).There was also smaller numbers of other warblers present,Chiffchaffs,Willow Warblers and Garden,in all,327 birds were ringed.Singles of Redstart,Pied Flycatcher and Spotted were seen.

Away from ringing,raptors were on the move from about 1030.With 25-30 Common Buzzards,2-3 Honey,6 Hobbies and 2 Sparrowhawks seen over Worth marshes.

On my way home I stopped off at Oare marshes and saw an Osprey,which capped off an excellent day.

Photo`s Osprey and Long-billed Dowitcher.

September 3rd (Sandwich Bay and Oare Marshes

Curlew Sandpiper and Long-billed Dowitcher.

Sandwich (0630-1100) clear at first,light overcast later.

BIRDS RINGED

Blackcap  74

Reed Warbler  4

Blue Tit  1

Goldcrest  2

Whitethroat  1

Chiffchaff  11

Willow Warbler  5

Re-traps  3

Control  Blackcap 1

On the way home I looked in on Oare Marshes.I was hoping to see the Red-necked Phalarope,but apparently it departed some time on Friday.I did however managed to see the Long-billed Dowitcher,but only at long range.