January 25th-29th (Wales)

Myself along with some other members of Sandwich Bay B O T.Went on a short bird watching holiday to North Wales,we stayed in a hotel along the beach front in Llandudno.

During our stay we visited Conway R S P B reserve,Anglesey,Caernarfon,Snowdonia National Park and Penrhos,Coastal Park.I personally saw 75 species.The overall total count for the group,was probably in the low 80s.Birds of note that I saw were - Great Northern Diver Red Kite Chough Raven Goosander Black Guillmot Pale-bellied Brent Goose Slavonia Grebe Shag and a Great Grey Shrike.The latter,was seen from the coach on the way up,twenty minutes away from Llandudno.

I also saw the long staying Rose Coloured Starling.Which was only a fifteen minute walk away from the hotel.

My thanks to Mike Briggs,who done an excellent job in organising the trip and Ken Chapman for planning ours days out.

21st January (Ringing control)

The adult female Reed Bunting that I controlled on the 18th of this month.Was ringed on Oct 16th 2016,as a young bird of the year (3),at Glyne Gap Marsh,East Sussex,53Km.

January 20th (New Hythe/Leybourne)

From the top   -  Ring-necked Duck (Abbey Mead) Shoveler,Mallard and Teal (Streamside lake),Goldeneye (small Alders lake),Snipe on the Medway,from the Bucket wood.I saw the Goosander  on the big Alders lake.

January 18th (New Hythe)

Another ringing session in the (west scrub) 0815 - 10:00

BIRDS RINGED

Blue Tit              8

Great Tit             5

Long-tailed Tit   1 re-trap (ringed in the west scrub on the 12 01 18)

Reed Bunting      1 (control)


Adult (6) female Reed Bunting and Long-Tailed Tit (below)

January 14th (New Hythe)

I was ringing this morning in the (west scrub) 08:30 - 11:00)

BIRDS RINGED

Blue Tit             17

Great Tit            9

Long-tailed Tit  3

TOTAL              29  +  4  re-traps

Z821036  Blue Tit  ringed in west scrub on 25 09 15 (as a young bird (3)

Z821429   ---------------------------------------05 12  17  -----------------------

Z821308  ----------------------------------------12 08  17 ------------------------

JAT903   Long-tailed Tit ----------------------10 10  16 as a (2) fully grown,year of hatching unknown.                        -                             

 

PAST TIMES (JAN/FEB 1987)

January 1987 will be remembered for the deep snow cover  that fell on the 10th.Cutting off many villages mainly along the North Downs.The deep snow also saw the decimation of Cetti`s Warblers in our area.It took a further six years before their song was heard again

NEW HYTHE - Bewick`s Swan 5   Brent Goose 3 (NE)   Pochard 670  Tufted Duck 660  Mallard 250  Pintail 10  Scaup 1  Goldeneye 6  Wigeon 125  Smew 25 Goosander 16 Red-breasted Merganser 1  Red-necked Grebe 3  Slavonian Grebe 1  Bittern 2  Long eared Owl 9  Short-eared Owl 1  Med Gull 1,

BURHAM MARSH - Teal 1,100  Wigeon 5  Mallard 50  Shoveler 1  Pintail 1  Canada Goose 124      Goosander 1  Brent Goose 3 (SW)  Shelduck 162  Redshank 60  Dunlin 40  Ruff 3.


Today January 11th 2019,I saw the tame Whooper Swan on the small Allders lake,at Leybourne.

December 8th (East Kent)

Myself,Bob Bland and big Jeff,spent most of the day in East Kent.It was nice and bright,but chilly,with a NW wind.At Margate,the windy conditions,combined with a probable spring tide,saw the waves breaking over the sea wall.Redshanks and Turnstones,along with a single Purple Sandpiper were forced to roost along the inner sea wall,by the Turner Gallery car park..

December 5th (NewHythe/Leybourne)

Cold and overcast (10:00 - 12:00).

From Top -Kestral with vole (Brookland lake) Wigeon (Abbey Mead) Ringed-necked Duck (Abbey Mead) Little Egret,one of four and red-head Goosander (Allders lake,Leybourne).I had no luck with the drake Goldeneye.That is sometimes present on the small Allders lake.

January (2nd and 3rd)

A few photos taken at Elmley on the 2nd and of a Grey Wagtail.That was seen at our garden pond on the 3rd,

From the top Linnet,Grey Wagtail,Corn Bunting.