January 17th (Capel fleet,sheppey)

 Fieldfares   Stonechat  Common Buzzard  Marsh Harrier  Hen Harrier  Peregrine

(PAST TIMES) January 1987.

January 1987,will be remembered for freezing temperatures and the deep snow that fell,cutting off villages.

The local population of Cetti`s Warbler was decimated. 

Brent Goose 3 flew SW over Burham on the 2nd,followed by 3 over Abbey Meads on 14th

Bewick`s Swan  1 first seen on Tesco lake on 18th,remained for most of the month.

Shelduck  8 on Abbey Meads on 14th,with 20 on 18th.

Wigeon  15 Abbey Meads on 11th,with 125 on 12th,the latter flew in from a westerly direction with 10 Pintail.

Pochard  circa 400.

Tufted Duck circa 500 on Abbey Meads.

Teal  max 1100 at Burham.

Smew  max of 25 during the month'

Goosander  up to 11 by 19th,7 of which were drakes.

Red breasted Merganser  1 was seen on Brookland lake on 14th and 24th.

Red necked Grebe  3 on Tesco lake 17th,1 18th.

Slavonian Grebe  1 on Abbey Meads on 24th.

Bittern  2 Abbey Meads 26th.

Bar tailed Godwit   1 flew over 14th.

Ruff  up to 3 at Burham during the month.

Redshank  up to 50 at Burham during month.

Curlew  1 along the river.

Dunlin  circa 40 along the river.

Long eared Owl  up to 9 in the roost.

Short eared Owl  1 on 25th.

Skylark  100s flew NE on 24th.

GARDEN BIRDS  Fieldfare 7 Redwing 5  Mistle Thrush  1  Song Thrush 3  Greenfinches 7  Blackbirds 4  Tree Sparrow 1.amongst others.

 

  .

January 3rd

 A walk along the Downs above Birling this morning produced two Red Kites,2 Common Buzzards and one Raven.

Later during the morning the Common seal was showing well on the Medway at New Hythe.

Both male and female Blackcaps,first seen in our garden during December are still present.

 

December 16th (BITS AND PIECES)

This period of very cold weather,which is due to end on Sunday.Has so far pulled in just one cold weather duck.an immature Goldeneye.Although the Bittern has been on show more,along with Snipe at low tide.seen from the Bucket wood.

In my garden a male Blackcap which first appeared on on the 13th,was joined by a female on the 16th,along with two Redwing and a rarity these days,a Song Thrush. 

The Bucket wood Robin is back again this winter.

Two Peregrine were seen on a pylon along with c 100 Skylark in the fields between Snodland and Paddlesworth on the 12th.

WISHING YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS

December 8th (Dungeness)

 Glossy Ibis Whooper Swans (ARC) Cattles Egrets Peregrine Green winged Teal (RSPB)

December 5th (BITS AND PIECES)

On November 30th,a Bittern was seen in flight along the Mill stream and on December 2nd a drake Goosander was seen flying north over Brookland lake.

Yesterday afternoon (4th),Glenn found a Slavonian Grebe on Abbey Meads,but a search this morning failed to locate it.Although I was compensated in some way,by a nice Peregrine on the Pylon at the edge of the Sunken Marsh.

Pochard have increased to circa seventy,with the majority being present on Alders lake (Leybourne). 

RECENT RINGING CONTROLS

Chiffchaff (3) ringed Icklesham Sussex 18 10 22 controlled  West scrub 24 10 22. 50 Km NNW 6 days.

Robin (5) ringed Northward Hill (north Kent) 30 03 21 controlled West scrub 21 11 22  20Km SSW.

The Yellowhammer was ringed on a farm in central Kent.