December 27th (Dungeness)

The Buzzard was eating worms.

December 24th (New Hythe)

Bright,no wind (09;00 - 10:00.

This morning,I saw the Ringed-necked Duck on the Streamside lake.It certainly moves between the lakes a lot.
I also saw a mixed flock of Goldfinch and Siskin.Feeding in the alders along the southern edge of the lake.

December 21st (New Hythe)

08:30- 09:15) dull,mild,SW.

The Ring-necked Duck (drake) is still present on Abbey Mead lake.

December 16th (New Hythe)

09:00 - 10:30  Clear and calm.

River  nearing low tide.
Teal 50  Lapwing 9  Redshank 3  Mallard 15  Cormorant 3  Snipe  3  Great Black-backed Gull 1  Herring Gull 5  Black headed Gull 18  Little Grebe  3. Little Egret 1.

Abbey Mead
Pochard  130  Tufted Duck  200  Gadwall 40.

A Common Buzzard was seen perched on the Burham side of the river,A male Sparrow Hawk was seen on the edge of the Bucket wood and a Cetti`s Warbler called nearby.

Many of the Redwing and Fieldfare have now moved on.I have not seen any Siskin or Redpolls so far this winter.

I would like to wish my readers a very MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

.

November 21st (New Hythe)

Still remaining cold,but less windy.
This morning I decided to have a look at Abbey Meads lake.To see if the recent run of easterlies had brought in any goodies.As I scanned through the recent arrived flock of Pochard,which numbered about 100 and Tufted Duck 70+.I did see 3 Wigeon and what I first thought was a Scaup,but under closer scrutiny.It turned out to be a female Tufted Duck,with a very distinctive white forehead patch.

 Bottom,2 of the three Wigeon.

November 6th (Thanet,Kent)

Today I went to Margate with Bob Bland,Trevor Maynard and big and little Jeff.To see the adult plumaged White Billed Diver.

After a frustrating run around between Bottany Bay and Minnis Bay.We finally caught up with the bird at 13:15.It was watched swimming strongly east towards Westgate.From where we first looked for it at 08:30 this morning.

Our thanks to Simon,who sent us a text at 11:45,saying that it was in Minnis Bay

October 10th - 24th (Slovenia)

We had a two week holiday in the Village of Kranjska Gora (810m).The village has a wonderful setting surrounded by the northern mountains of the Julian Alps and the Karavanke range and is    within walking distance of the Italian boarder.It is best known as a winter sports centre (Skiing) but also has many walking and cycling routes all graded and well sign posted.

The weather during our stay,was exceptionally warm,considering it was mid October.Although it did turn colder towards the latter end of our last week.

Slovenia is well known for its range of Owl species and Woodpeckers.Although we looked very hard and long,we found no roosting Owls and only saw or heard three species of Woodpecker,Black,Grey-headed and Great Spotted.During our stay,numbers of Blackbirds,Song Thrushes,Redwings and Fieldfare were noted passing through.On the whole birding was rather slow,especially in the forests,In all we saw a total of (52) species,(41) of which were in the Kranjska area.

SPECIES LIST
Carrion Crow  Hooded Crow  House Sparrow  Tree Sparrow  Great Tit  Blue Tit  Marsh Tit  Crested Tit  Long-Tailed Tit  Black Redstart  Dipper  Chaffinch  Mallard  Grey-headed Woodpecker  Black Woodpecker  Great Spotted Woodpecker  Blackbird  Song Thrush  Fieldfare  Redwing  Water Pipit  White Wagtail  Kestral  Nutcracker  Starling  Goldfinch  Linnet Chiffchaff  Jay  Goldcrest  Siskin  Grey Heron  Treecreeper  Wren  Brambling  Serin  Alpine Chough  Crossbill  Raven  Common Buzzard.

Away from the Kranjska area - Cormorant  Goosander  Pintail  Jackdaw  Magpie  Mute Swan  Common Kingfisher  Mistle Thrush  Wood Pigeon  Nuthatch  Coot.

We saw three Butterfly species - Red Admiral  Clouded Yellow and one white (sper).