December 29th (Burham marsh)

I looked in on Burham marsh this morning.BIRDS SEEN - 1 Red-breasted Goose,98 Canada Geese,6 Greylag,19 Teal,32 Mallard,1 Grey Heron,70 Lapwing,1 Redshank,1 Common Sandpiper,50 Goldfinch,1 Peregrine and 1 Kerstral.The Red-breasted Goose will probably go down as being of feral origin.

December 28th (New Hythe)

Railway Lake -1 red-head Goosander,1 female Scaup,300 Tufted Duck,2 Shoveler and 6 Gadwall.

December 12th (Isles of Sheppey)

I WOULD LIKE TO WISH MY READERS A HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND BEST WISHES FOR 2018.

December 5th (New Hythe)

I was ringing again this morning in the West Scrub (1X40ft) 0900-1100.overcast,quite mild.

BIRDS RINGED

Goldcrest  4

Bullfinch  1

Blue Tit  4

Great Tit  1

Chiffchaff  1

Long-tailed Tit  2 + 4 re-traps

TOTAL  11+4 re-traps

2 of the L T Tits were ringed in the West Scrub during September of this year,one during September 2016 and one during September 2014.

December 3rd (New Hythe)

I was ringing in the West Scrub this morning 0900-1100,overcast,mild.(1X40ft)

I didn`t see much of interest,apart from a Little Egret on the Streamside lake and small numbers of Redwing,flying about the bushes.

BIRDS RINGED

Blue Tit  3

Long-tailed Tit  8

Chiffchaff  3

Goldcrest  3 + 2 re-traps

Wren  1

TOTAL  18 + 2 retraps

Goldcrest re-traps  HPD983 was ringed in the West Scrub as a (3) imm male on 09 11 15.

JAT947  was ringed in the West Scrub as a 3 imm female on 26 09 17.

The above photo shows the tail feathers of a known adult Goldcrest.Tail feathers of adults are  broader.less narrow and pointed than the tail feathers of juveniles,but there are exceptions to the rule.One of the reasons which makes bird ringing so fascinating.