March 26th (New Hythe)

Goosander and Siskin (Streamside lake) Scaup,B N Grebe,Wigeon 14 (Abbey Meads) Great Black-backed Gulls (river) and Little Gull (Tesco lake).On March 24th,I saw,5 Common Buzzards and 4 Med Gulls over Sandhole (Leybourne).

March 20th (Dengemarsh Gully)

Yesterday,I believe four White-spotted Bluethroats were located.This morning,when I managed to get down there only one remained.Disapointed I was not,the bird that remained was a stunning adult male.Usually very skulking birds,this bird put on a great show for its many admirers.

Up to four Firecrests were also on show.Like the Bluethroat,taking advantage of the gully to get away from the biting northeast wind.

 

March 19th.(Garden)

This morning,I was photographing the above Blackcap from our window.When suddenly a young male Sparrowhawk flashed across the lawn and took the Sparrow.It then spent the next ten or fifteen minutes plucking and finally eating it,only feet from where I was.

March 16th (New Hythe)

Goosander and Egyptian Geese (Streamside lake),Little Egrets,Snodland (in fields just south of the Big World Motoring Collection and Service Centre).
Along the river I saw 2 Oystercatcher,1 Redshank and 40 Teal.The B N Grebe was still on Abbey Meads and the east scrub held 40 Rerdwings and 15 Chaffinch. .
                            

March 9th (Sheppey and New Hythe)

Black-necked Grebe (Abbey Meads) and Marsh Harrier (Isles Sheppey)

March 8th (New Hythe)

Bright,cool (14:00 - 15:00)

Both Goosanders were present on the Streamside lake.A Cetti`s Warbler was heard close by and 80 Pochard were counted on Abbey Meads,where Tufted Duck had greatly decreased in numbers.

A Black-necked Grebe was seen on Abbey Meads on March 4th.

March 4th (Garden)

The thaw which started yesterday,really set in today.Most of the Fieldfare have cleared out and are now probably roaming around the local fields.However,this morning in the garden a male Blackcap turned up (the first sighting in the garden this winter) and a Redpoll,the first for almost ten years.

A small proportion of Redpolls have a yellowish forehead,such as the bird above.