March 27th (Stodmarsh)

 This morning I went to Snodmarsh with Bob Bland.We only visited the Bittern hide,Tower hide and the wood..We saw 38 species,including the Ring necked Duck.

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March 22nd/ 23rd/ 24th/25th/26th (Alpine Swift)

With reports of Alpine Swifts all over the country and in Ireland.On the moring of the 22nd,I went to try my luck at Alders lake,Leybourne.This lake over the years has often turned up early sightings of hirundine.Although I did see a small number of Sand Martin,no Swifts were sighted,

I tried my luck again this morning (23rd) this time at Brooklands lake.Still no Swifts or even a Sand Martin.Then at 08:35 I decided to check my phone to see if any of the regular New Hythe birders had seen anything of interest and blow me,Jerry had reported a Alpine Swift over the Road Island lake at 08:30.It must have taken me fifteen or twenty minutes to reach the lake.Where I was met by at least twenty other birders all looking skywards.Unbeknown to me it had first been reported yesterday,during the evening going to roost on the housing estate on the southern edge of the lakes.All present did eventually see the bird either in the Road Island/Brook House or Tesco lake. area.It was last reported as far as I know over Tesco lake at 16:44,by Glenn Honey during a spell of heavy rain.Hopefully it will still be around tomorrow. 

This is the second record for the area.The first was seen over Castle lake Leybourne on March 27th 2010.

Also today two L R Plover were seen along the river from the Bucket wood. 

The Swift was seen the following day (24th) I watched it between 08:00 and 08:45.It went to roost on one of the houses that edge the southern part of the lakes.

This evening (25th).Before it roosted it gave a fantastic performance at close quarters..

I was back the following morning to watch it leave its roosting site (26th).It left later than usual,probably to to the fact that it was dull and raining.That evening it failed to return,the wind had turned to a northerly.

On morning of the 26th,a nice drake Red crested Pochard was found on Tesco lake.   

March 14th-18th (CATCH UP)

 

On March 7th,along the river there were 5 Oystercatchers,1 Green sandpiper,8 Gadwall ,50+ Teal and

1 Shelduck.The Heronry on Eccles island had 13 occupied nests.

A Little Ringed Plover along the river and a nice drake Goldeneye on Brookland were found on the 11th.The L R P goes down as the earliest spring date for this species (recording area).The Goldeneye was still present on the 14th.

A Lesser Black backed Gull was seen on Abbey Meads on the 2nd,with 3 on the 7th.

On the 7th,not far outside the area,10 Yellowhammer were seen feeding in a newly seeded field at the foot of the Downs at Birling.

During the morning of the 18th,a Brent Goose was found on Tesco lake.I have only two more spring records of Brents for the area,both in March.

In the afternoon I came across Glenn,he had just seen a Red Kite passing over east and some Sand Martins high over Abbey Meads.While were were standing talking 6 Common Buzzards came into view and a while later a Sparrowhawk.Two of the Buzzards were local,as they stayed around for a while displaying.Glenn during his walk had also heard good numbers of singing Chiffchaffs.The Goldeneye was still present of Brooklands. 

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