Danson
Park Sightings
Data supplied by John Turner |
|
|
Grove
Ferry NNR, Kent
Eric Brown, Doreen Newson, Tony Dunstan, Thursday 12 August 2010,
10.45 am to 3.30 pm
Bird List
Mute swan (pair with 6 cygnets), greylag goose (100+), teal, mallard,
garganey (3), shoveler, cormorant, little egret (20+), grey heron,
marsh harrier, water rail, spotted crake, moorhen, coot, ringed
plover, lapwing (200+), ruff, snipe (12), common sandpiper (2),
green sandpiper (20+), greenshank (3), wood sandpiper, black headed
gull, common gull, lesser black backed gull, common tern, feral
pigeon, woodpigeon, collared dove, turtle dove (2), green woodpecker,
sand martin (30+), swallow, house martin, robin, blackbird, reed
warbler (6), whitethroat (4), willow warbler, magpie, carrion crow,
starling (1,000+), house sparrow, chaffinch, greenfinch, goldfinch,
reed bunting. Total 47 species
General Observations
A spotted crake emerged from reeds opposite the David Feast hide
at 12.05pm and remained in sight for 10 minutes turning over waterside
vegetation to feed before dashing back into cover. It had also been
seen at 7.10am and was later seen around 3.00pm. Turtle doves perched
on bare tree branches across the river and rail line. The wood sandpiper
fed busily among green sandpipers and lapwings at the water meadows,
visible from the riverbank path. Garganey were spotted from the
ramp. The neighbouring pool is no longer visible from here as reeds
have been allowed to grow too tall. NB The Grove ferry car park
is no longer free. £1 daily charge.
Weather: Sunshine and
cloud. Warm |
Cliffe
Pools RSPB Reserve
Maurice Ewart, Eric Brown, Tuesday 3 August 2010, 10.30 am to
2.30 pm
A walk from
the car park along the west side of the reserve to the seawall and
back
Bird List
Great crested grebe, little grebe, cormorant, little egret (10+),
grey heron, Canada goose, shelduck, mallard, shoveler (6), tufted
duck, marsh harrier (2), sparrowhawk, kestrel (2), hobby (2), coot,
oystercatcher (30+), avocet (220+), lapwing, ruff (7/8), black-tailed
godwit (2), whimbrel (3), redshank (70+), greenshank, green sandpiper
(2), common sandpiper, black-headed gull, lesser black-backed gull,
common tern, collared dove, woodpigeon, green woodpecker (h), swallow,
house martin, dunnock, robin, blackbird, reed warbler (h), whitethroat
(25+), garden warbler, blue tit, great tit, jay, magpie, carrion
crow, starling, house sparrow, chaffinch, greenfinch, goldfinch
(49 species).
General Observations
Butterflies: red admiral, peacock, small tortoiseshell, gatekeeper,
meadow brown, large white, small white, holly blue
| |
Gatekepper
Picture by Tony Dunstan
|
Gatekepper
Picture: Tony Dunstan |
Dragonflies:
common darter, ruddy darter, common blue damselfly.
Fox, rabbit,
stoat or weasel (too quick to id)
With more ditches
and small pools the east side of the reserve is currently better
for butterflies/dragonflies. Low tide was around noon so not the
best time to see waders
Weather: Warm
and muggy, little or no wind |
Cliffe
Pools RSPB, Northward Hill RSPB
Eric Brown, Maurice Ewart, Doreen Newson, Tony Dunstan, Tuesday
27 July 2010, Cliffe 10.05 am to 12.40 pm Northward Hill 1.00 pm
to 3.30 pm
A trip mainly
in search of insects
Bird list
Cliffe: Avocet, blackbird, bunting - corn, reed, chaffinch, carrion
crow, coot, dove - collared, rock (fp), stock, tufted duck, dunnock,
little egret (18), goldfinch (20+), grrenfinch, black headed gull,
marsh harrier (juv), grey heron (10), kestrel, lapwing (20+), linnet,
magpie, mallard, house martin, moorhen, oystercatcher, greenshank,
redshank (40+), common sandpiper, shelduck, house sparrow, sparrowhawk,
starling (300+), swallow, swift, tit - blue, great, long-tailed,
pied wagtail, reed warbler, whitethroat, woodpecker - green, greater
spotted, woodpigeon. Total 43
Northward Hill:
marsh harrier (2 ads one juv)
Additional sp
only; chiffchaff, cormorant, goose - Canada, greylag (200 +), mute
swan, black tailed godwit, jackdaw, jay, mistle thrush. Day total
52
Butterflies
Cliffe: Large white, red admiral, wall, brown argus, meadow brown,
gatekeeper
| |
Red
Admiral
Picture by Tony Dunstan
|
Red Admiral
Picture: Tony Dunstan |
Northward Hill:
Peacock, Comma plus caterpillar of Cinnabar or Five-spot burnet.
Dragonflies
Cliffe: ruddy darter (numerous), blue tailed damselfly
Weather: Very
warm with showers then steady drizzle |
Crossness
Golf Centre area, Thamesmead
Eric Brown, Maurice Ewart, Steve and Sandra Sheppard, Friday
2 July 2010, 10.30 am to 11.45 am
Bird List
Blackbird, black headed gull, grey heron, mallard, lesser black
backed gull, yellow legged gull, great black backed gull, herring
gull, oystercatcher, cormorant, linnet (2), whitethroat (4), great
crested grebe (2), swallow, swift, house martin, common tern (30+),
shelduck (200+), starling (100+), house sparrow, mute swan. Total
21 species
Weather: Very
hot approx 26°C |
The
Glade, Sidcup
Eric Brown, Monday 28 June 2010, 4.15 pm to 5.00 pm
Bird List
Blackbird, great crested grebe (pair with young), mallard (10),
coot (two pairs, one with young), greater spotted woodpecker, collared
dove, woodpigeon, blue tit, Canada geese (16 with four young), greylag
goose (possibly domestic), carrion crow (25), magpie (2), starling
(6), mute swan, ring-necked parakeet (6)
Weather: Very
warm approx 26°C |
Dungeness
RSPB reserve, Dengemarsh Road, Arc Pit, Observatory area
Eric Brown, Doreen Newson, Maurice Ewart, Tony Dunstan,Thursday
25 June 2010, 10.40 am to 3.45 pm
A trip to look
for purple heron etc
Bird List
Mute swan (60+), little grebe, cormorant, little egret, grey heron
(5), purple heron, greylag goose, Canada goose, pochard (6), tufted
duck, marsh harrier (10+), hobby (6), peregrine, moorhen, coot,
oystercatcher (17), lapwing (50+), black headed gull, herring gull,
common tern, stock dove, rock dove (feral pigeon), woodpigeon, cuckoo,
swift (10+), skylark, swallow, house martin, pied wagtail, yellow
wagtail (6+), black redstart (family party of five), stonechat (fem
with two young), wheatear, blackbird, sedge warbler, reed warbler,
whitethroat, magpie, carrion crow, starling (300+), house sparrow,
tree sparrow, linnet, reed bunting, ring necked parakeet (on journey)
Total 47
General Observations
The breeding purple herons had not been seen for an hour but one
showed soon after we arrived at Dengemarsh Road. This male made
several low flights across reeds carrying twigs and other nest material.
It appeared at least 10 times in an hour but was not seen carrying
food which led to speculation about whether the eggs or young might
have been predated. Several hobbies hunted across the reeds, a peregrine
alighted on an electricity pylon and yellow wagtails caught insects
among a crop alongside the road. The farmer is getting increasingly
tetchy about birders' vehicles being parked. At the obs area a fine
male black redstart perched on the power station fence and soon
joined a family party near one of the cottages. Stonechat also had
young and a juvenile whitethroat showed in the same area. On the
return drive a single wheatear was spotted in a cottage garden.
Weather: Very
hot. 24 to 26°C |
River
Cray to Maiden Lane, Crayford, Barnes Cray to Crayford Marshes returning
via Jolly Farmers Open Space
Ralph and Brenda Todd, Saturday 19 June 2010, 8.30 am to 10.30
am
Timed Tetrad
visit for BTO Atlas
Bird List
Little grebe (2 + 3 young), little egret (2), grey heron (2), Canada
geese (16), gadwall (2), mallard (20 + 5 young), tufted duck, shelduck
(4), hobby (2 possibly 3), moorhen (4 + 5 young), coot (6 + 3 young),
lapwing (10), redshank (2), black-headed gull (8), herring gull
(27), lesser-black backed gull (3), stock dove (9), woodpigeon (17),
collared dove (11), great spotted woodpecker, skylark, grey wagtail,
pied wagtail (5), wren (8), dunnock, robin, blackbird (10), song
thrush (2), sedge warbler (2), reed warbler (8), blackcap (6), whitethroat
(12), blue tit (5), great tit (3), jay, magpie (6), carrion crow
(31), starling (35 along river with over 400 feeding on the marshes
– mostly juveniles), house sparrow (15), chaffinch, greenfinch
(6), goldfinch (7), linnet (2). 44 species
Weather: Cloudy
blustery cool – northerly wind. |
River
Shuttle. Black Prince to Blendon Road, Bexley
Ralph Todd, Thursday 17 June 2010, 8.55 am to 9.30 am
Part of BTO
Atlas Timed Tetrad visit
Bird List
Woodpigeon (7), ring-necked parakeet, great spotted woodpecker,
wren (7), robin, blackbird (7), song thrush (2), mistle thrush,
blackcap (2), long-tailed tit (2), blue tit (4), magpie (2),carrion
crow (3), starling (16), chaffinch (3), greenfinch (3), goldfinch
(2). 17 species
General Observationss
Mid June isn’t a good time to be surveying!
Weather: Cool,
high cloud, bright. |
Hall
Place North, Bexley
Ralph Todd, Thursday 17 June 2010, 8.25 am to 8.50 am
Part of BTO
Atlas Timed Tetrad visit
Bird List
Greylag geese (4 adults, 5 goslings), wood pigeon, ring-necked parakeet
(2), dunnock (2) robin, blackbird (4), blue tit (2), magpie (2),
jackdaw (7), house sparrow. 10 species
General Observations
Mid June isn’t a good time to be surveying!
Weather: Cool,
high cloud, bright. |
The
Warren to Midhurst Hill/Broomfield Road Bexleyheath
Ralph Todd, Thursday 17 June 2010, 7.45 am to 8.15 am
Part of BTO
Atlas Timed Tetrad visit
Bird List
Woodpigeon (6), collared dove, ring-necked parakeet (8), great spotted
woodpecker (2), wren (4), robin (3), blackbird (6), blackcap (2),
chiffchaff, blue tit (3), great tit (2), nuthatch (2), jay, magpie,
carrion crow (2), starling (2), house sparrow (3), chaffinch. 18
species
Weather: Cool,
high cloud, bright. |
Upper
College Farm, Bexley
Ralph Todd, Date, Tuesday 15 June 2010, 7.45 am to 9.20 am
BTO Atlas Survey
Bird List
Canada geese (2 + 5 goslings), kestrel, moorhen (2), coot (pair
on nest), woodpigeon (8), ring-necked parakeet (7), green woodpecker
(2), great spotted woodpecker (4), skylark (4), swallow (2), swift
(4), wren (4), dunnock (2), robin (2), blackbird (2), song thrush
(2), mistle thrush, blackcap (2), whitethroat (24), chiffchaff (3),
blue tit (4), great tit (2), magpie (8), carrion crow (10), starling
(11), house sparrow (3), chaffinch, greenfinch (2), goldfinch. 28
species
General Observations
Six spikes of Bee Orchid found near Bexley Cricket Club.
Weather: Mostly
clear, some cloud, bright strong breeze, cool. |
Birchwood
Road and Golf Club Wilmington
Ralph Todd, Tuesday 15 June 2010, 6.10 am to 7.30 am
BTO BBS
Bird List
Moorhen (3), herring gull, woodpigeon (15), ring-necked parakeet
(9), green woodpecker (4), great spotted woodpecker, pied wagtail
(9), wren (7), dunnock (2), robin (4), blackbird (10), song thrush
(2), mistle thrush (2), whitethroat (2), long-tailed tit (3), blue
tit (9), great tit, magpie (5), starling (222), house sparrow (5),
chaffinch (6), greenfinch (8), goldfinch (7). 24 species.
Weather: Mostly
clear, some cloud, bright strong breeze, cool. |
Knole
Park, Sevenoaks, Bough Beech reservoir near Ide Hill
Steve and Sandra Sheppard, Eric Brown, Wednesday 9 June 2010,
10.15 am to 3.45 pm
Bird List
Knole Park: Blackbird, jay, magpie, starling, nuthatch (3), treecreeper
(2), common redstart (4), yellowhammer (2), tree pipit (6- 8), blue
tit, great tit, jackdaw, carrion crow, greylag geese (18 with four
young), mallard, herring gull, coot (two young), moorhen, goldfinch
(10+), green woodpecker (2), great spotted woodpecker, mistle thrush,
chiffchaff, willow warbler, chaffinch, ring necked parakeet, wood
pigeon, feral pigeon, pheasant, robin (30).
Bough Beech:
Shelduck, swallow, swift, house martin, grey heron, common buzzard,
lapwing, common tern, great crested grebe, tufted duck (10).
Shoreham (on
journey): Lesser whitethroat, skylark (6). Day total 42
Butterfly: orange
tip
Moth: Cinnabar
(3)
Mammals: rabbit,
fallow deer
General Observations
Knole Park came up trumps with woodland specialities common redstart,
treecreeper, nuthatch and vocal tree pipits all within a few hundred
yards beyond the keeper’s cottage near the bend beside the
golf course. Rain curtailed our visit to Bough Beech after a buzzard
floated over low while we had tea at the Oast House.
Weather: Very
hot sunshine, cloud then afternoon rain |
Dengemarsh,
Dungeness RSPB, Arc Pit, Observatory
Eric Brown, Stephen Sheppard, Sandra Sheppard, Doreen Newson,
Wednesday 2 June 2010, 11.10 am to 4.10 pm
A summer roam
around Dungeness with an unexpected highlight
Bird List
Blackbird, corn bunting, reed, chaffinch, coot, carrion crow, cormorant,
cuckoo, dove -collared, rock (fp), tufted duck, dunnock, little
egret, red-footed falcon, goose - Canada, greylag, barnacle, grebe
- great crested, little, gull - black-headed, herring, lesser black
backed, marsh harrier (12+), grey heron (3), hobby (10+), jackdaw,
kestrel, lapwing, linnet (20+), magpie, mallard, moorhen, oystercatcher,
ring-necked parakeet (on journey), red legged partridge, pochard
(6), black redstart (2), rook, shelduck, shoveler, skylark, house
sparrow, mute swan (50+), swift, common tern, wagtail - grey, pied,
warbler - reed, Cetti’s, sedge, whitethroat, wheatear (2),
woodpigeon. Total 54 species.
General Observations
From the small bridge off Dengemarsh Road we spotted an unusual
looking specimen hunting insects with half a dozen hobbies. Falcon
shaped, it was orange-buff on crown, nape and breast, which appeared
unstreaked. It barely showed moustachial stripes on its creamy face
(not white) and seemed to have red feet. This bird frequently balanced
on telegraph wires and dropped to the ground before returning to
its perch to consume prey. Flights varied from low passes over reeds
to high circling. It occasionally hovered momentarily. While we
were deliberating identity another birdwatcher appeared and asked
what we were looking at. He mentioned a red footed falcon had been
seen earlier. Not having considered this, we studied the bird again.
Fortunately it came closer, within a couple of hundred yards, on
a hunting flight, enabling all the features to be noted through
telescopes. It appeared to be an adult female red-footed falcon.
Warden Bob Gomes later confirmed the identity and said the bird
had been around for a couple of days. See his stunning pictures
on the Kentos
website. No sign of purple heron. Black redstarts near power station.
Weather: Fine,
sunny, very warm. |
Warden
Point, Leysdown, Capel Fleet, Harty Ferry Inn, Harty Church, Isle
of Sheppey
Eric Brown, Steve Sheppard, Tony Dunstan, Wednesday 26 May 2010,
10.09 am to 5.20 pm
A ramble round
Sheppey
Bird List
Avocet (20+), blackbird, reed bunting (6), common buzzard, chaffinch,
carrion crow, coot, cormorant, collared dove, rock (fp), dunnock,
little egret, gadwall, black-tailed godwit (94), goldfinch, greylag
goose, little grebe, greenfinch, gull - black-headed, herring, lesser
black backed, marsh harrier (12+), grey heron, hobby, jackdaw, jay,
kestrel, lapwing (30+), linnet (6), magpie, mallard, sand martin,
moorhen (one with five young), barn owl, oystercatcher, ring necked
parakeet (journey), peregrine, pheasant, peacock (3), meadow pipit,
redshank, robin, rook, shelduck, shoveler, skylark, house sparrow,
starling, mute swan, swallow, swift, common tern (10), mistle thrush,
great tit, wagtail - pied, yellow, reed warbler, whitethroat, green
woodpecker, wren, woodpigeon. Total 58
General Observations
Good to know Sheppey’s raptor interest is not confined to
winter with hobby, kestrel, marsh harrier, buzzard, peregrine and
even barn owl appearing. The peregrine took a starling over Capel
Fleet. Hobby at Warden Point, marsh harriers and barn owl Harty
Ferry Road. Godwits and avocets on pools below Harty Ferry Inn,
peacocks in Harty Church grounds. Yellow wagtail on fence by Elmley
approach road but only one seen. No cuckoos heard. A stoat gave
good close views at Capel Fleet viewing mound.
Weather: Cloudy
and cold wind at first. Sunny later |
Holborough
Marshes Kent Wildlife Trust Reserve
Eric Brown, Tuesday 25 May 2010, 10.45 to noon
A quick first
visit to a tucked away reserve in the Medway Valley during the official
opening of a new bird hide
Bird List
Blackbird, cuckoo, chiffchaff, chaffinch, cormorant, woodpigeon,
house martin (6 to 8), swift (3), carrion crow, mallard (pair),
sedge warbler, collared dove, starling
General Observations
Nightingales breed at the reserve on old cement works sandwiched
between the Medway river and the A228 which runs along the Medway
Valley from the M2 (J2) just before the Rochester bridge and the
M20 (J4). None were singing or visible during the visit.
The scrape in
front of the hide has potential for winter wader use.
Park in Churchfields
Road, Snodland, cross road by footbridge and take footpath onto
reserve. Can be combined with a visit to New Hythe gravel pits.
Butterflies:
Orange tip (f), holly blue
Weather: Warm
sunshine. |
Shuttle
Riverway between BETHS School, Bexley, and Parish Wood Sidcup
Ralph and Brenda Todd, Tuesday 18 May 2010, 9.00 am to 12 noon
Bird List
BETHS to Bridgen
Road, Bexley (TQ47R)
Woodpigeon (3), grey wagtail (3), wren (2), dunnock (3), robin (3),
blackbird (7), blackcap, whitethroat (3), willow warbler, blue tit
(3), great tit (3), carrion crow (2), starling (3), chaffinch, goldfinch
(5), kingfisher (pair).
Bexley Woods
to Willersley Park, Sidcup (TQ47R)
Mallard (pair), woodpigeon (19), ring-necked parakeet (4), green
woodpecker (2), great spotted woodpecker (2), grey wagtail (3),
wren (9), dunnock, robin (9), blackbird (12), mistle thrush (2),
blackcap (2), chiffchaff, long-tailed tit (2), blue tit (4), great
tit (4), magpie, carrion crow (3), starling (74), house sparrow
(6), chaffinch (3), greenfinch (3).
Hollyoak Wood
Park to Parish Wood Sidcup (TQ47L)
Collared dove, ring-necked parakeet (3), wren (9), dunnock (3),
robin (2), blackbird (8), song thrush, blue tit, great tit, magpie
(3), carrion crow (7), starling (37), house sparrow (3), chaffinch,
greenfinch.
General Observations
Starling numbers building up. Two speckled wood butterflies on the
wing.
Weather: Sunny,
warm some cloud. |
St
Mary’s Church Bexley, Churchfields Wood to Black Prince, Bexley
Ralph Todd, Saturday 15 May 2010, 9.20 am to 10.25 am
Bird List
Sparrowhawk, woodpigeon (5), ring-necked parakeet (4), grey wagtail,
wren (5), robin (7), blackbird (3), song thrush (2), mistle thrush,
blackcap (5), common whitethroat (13), chiffchaff (2), blue tit
(2), great tit (3), magpie (3), carrion crow (3), starling, house
sparrow, chaffinch, goldfinch.
General Observations
No sign or sound of nightingales
Weather: High
cloud,warm, sunny. |
Shuttle
River Black Prince to Bridgen Road Bexley
Ralph Todd, Saturday 15 May 2010, 10.30 am to 11.15 am
Bird List
Moorhen, woodpigeon (2), great spotted woodpecker, grey wagtail
(pair), wren (4), dunnock, robin (6), blackbird (9), blackcap, long-tailed
tit (2), blue tit (2), great tit, magpie (3),carrion crow(2), starling
(7), house sparrow, chaffinch (4), greenfinch.
Weather; High
cloud,warm, sunny. |
Garden
in Maple Leaf Drive, Sidcup
Eric Brown, Friday 14 May 2010, 6.35 pm
Bird List
Swifts (3), robin (2), blackbird (2), magpie, hobby
General Observations
I heard a swift call and looked up to see them from my garden for
the first time this year. I noticed a larger swift but realised
it was further away. As it came nearer it transformed into a hobby
– a new garden tick. It made a half-hearted attempt to chase
the swifts but soon gave up and headed off towards Chislehurst.
Weather: Warm,
sunny |
Crossness,
Abbey Wood, Dartford Marshes and Joydens Wood, Dartford
Eric Brown, Maurice Ewart, Wednesday 12 May 2010, 10 am to 2.30
pm
A local tour
of varied habitat
Bird List
Crossness: Reed warbler (3), swift (20+), little ringed plover,
Canada geese (12), reed bunting, carrion crow, linnet, whitethroat,
magpie, starling (30+), shelduck (10), mallard (pair), swallow,
black headed gull (40+), herring gull (2), cormorant (3), peregrine,
oystercatcher (2), wren
Dartford Marshes: Little egret, house martin, kestrel
Joydens Wood: nuthatch, blue tit, great tit, jay
(3), blackcap (m), blackbird, great spotted woodpecker (6), green
woodpecker, robin
General Observations
A little ringed plover dropped in while we viewed the scrape from
the public viewing screen. Crossness is a sad sight with building
encroaching steadily onto the ancient grazing marsh which is now
half the size it once was. How long will this patch survive? Shameful
this unique habitat has shrunk for the sake of another incinerator.
How did this get planning permission?
Dartford marshes is now also much disturbed and
has gates across what used to be a public track to the river.
Joydens Wood offered an unspoiled haven with plenty
of woodpeckers – except lesser.
Weather: Mixed. Sunshine, showers and wind, varying
from very cold to warm in the sun.
|
Birchwood
Park Golf Club and Birchwood Road, Wilmington
Ralph Todd, Monday 10 May 2010, 6.15 am to 7.40 am
Early visit
for BTO Breeding Bird Survey
Bird List
Mallard (4), moorhen (5), herring gull (2), woodpigeon (14), ring-necked
parakeet (13), green woodpecker (2), great spotted woodpecker, sand
martin, pied wagtail (2), wren (3), dunnock (8), robin (5), blackbird
(8), song thrush, whitethroat (7), blackcap, blue tit, great tit
(3), nuthatch, magpie (3), carrion crow (7), starling (49), house
sparrow (6), chaffinch (7), greenfinch (6).
Weather: Cool,
grey, overcast and breezy. |
River
Cray – Maiden Lane, Barnes Cray to Crayford Marshes returning
via Jolly Farmers Open Space
Ralph Todd, Tuesday 11 May 2010, 8.30 am to 10.30 am
BTO Atlas visit
– Another nightingale site found.
Bird List
Mute swan (3), shelduck (7), gadwall (4), mallard (21), tufted duck
(4), little grebe, little egret, grey heron, water rail (pair),
moorhen (11), coot (11), lapwing (13 – displaying), redshank
(2), black-headed gull (2), lesser black-backed gull (6), herring
gull (74), woodpigeon (4), collared dove (4), ring-necked parakeet,
swift (52), skylark (1), swallow (4), wren (10), dunnock, robin
(4), nightingale, blackbird (9), reed warbler (7), blackcap (6),
common whitethroat (10), chiffchaff (4), blue tit (3), great tit
(2), jay, magpie (15), jackdaw (2), carrion crow (53), starling
(58), house sparrow (10), chaffinch, greenfinch (6), goldfinch (2).
General Observations
Weather not conducive to active birds
Weather: Cold,
grey, breezy – brightening and warming up as the morning progressed. |
Lesnes
Abbey Woods
Ralph and Brenda Todd, Monday 10 May 2010, 2.30 pm to 3.30 pm
A walk primarily
for the blue bells
Bird List
Great spotted woodpecker (2), chiffchaff (2), chaffinches, great
tits, blackbirds, kestrel, common whitethroat (2)
General Observations
The bluebells are stunning but hurry before they go over.
Weather: Bright,
sunny but cool |
Upper
College Farm – open Space between Riverside Road, Albany Park
and Bexley Cricket Club
Ralph Todd, Sunday 9 May 2010, 7.45 am to 8.30 am, BTO Atlas
visit
Bird List
Little egret, grey heron, Canada geese (4), moorhen (4), coot (2),
stock dove (4), wood pigeon (26), collared dove (2), ring-necked
parakeet (16), green woodpecker, skylark, wren (4), dunnock (4),
robin (6), blackbird (14), song thrush (3), mistle thrush, blackcap,
common whitethroat (11), chiffchaff (3), long-tailed tit (2), blue
tit (3), great tit (12), nuthatch, magpie (5), starling (6), chaffinch
(2), greenfinch, linnet (4).
General Observations
Weather not conducive to active birds
Weather: Cold,
grey, breezy. |
The
Warren - Bexleyheath
Ralph Todd, Saturday 8 May 2010, 6.30 am to 7.15 am
BTO Atlas visit
Bird List
Stock dove (3), woodpigeon (9), collared dove (2), ring-necked parakeet
(6), green woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker, wren (4), dunnock
(2), robin (3), blackbird (2), song thrush, blackcap (2), common
whitethroat, chiffchaff (3), blue tit (2), great tit (3), nuthatch,
magpie (4), carrion crow (8), house sparrow (4), chaffinch (2).
General Observations
Weather not conducive to active birds
Weather: Cold,
grey breezy. |
River
Shuttle – Black Prince to Bridgen Road, Bexley
Ralph Todd, Saturday 8 May 2010, 7.30 am to 8.15 am
BTO Atlas visit
– nesting kingfishers confirmed
Bird List
Mallard, moorhen, woodpigeon (8), ring-necked parakeet (5), grey
wagtail (4), kingfisher (pair entering nest), wren (5), robin (3),
blackbird (5), song thrush (2), mistle thrush, blackcap, great tit
(4), carrion crow (3), starling (5), chaffinch, greenfinch.
General Observations
Weather not conducive to active birds
Weather: Cold,
grey breezy. |
Crossness
(Golf Club) and Bough Beech Reservoir
Eric Brown, Steve Sheppard, Sandra Sheppard, Maurice Ewart and
Dave Thompson, Tuesday 4 May 2010, 10.30 am to 4.10 pm
A quick look
for terns at Crossness and nightingale at Bough Beech
Bird List
Crossness: Common tern, Arctic tern, whitethroat, house sparrow,
cormorant, black headed gull, lesser black backed gull, shelduck,
oystercatcher, skylark, starling.
Bough Beech:
Blackbird, blackcap, chaffinch, chiffchaff, carrion crow, coot,
collared dove, rock (feral) dove, tufted duck, mandarin duck (5),
dunnock, gadwall, goldfinch, goose - Canada, greylag, grebe - great
crested, little, greenfinch, grey heron, hobby, jackdaw, jay, kestrel,
linnet, magpie, mallard (with four young), house martin, moorhen,
nightingale (2 poss 3), pheasant, robin, sparrowhawk, mute swan,
swallow, swift, teal, mistle thrush, tit - blue, great, long-tailed,
treecreeper, pied wagtail, reed warbler woodpigeon. Day total 58
General Observations
Two nightingales were easily observed at a Bough Beech spot becoming
reliable for them annually. A possible pair, one singing and one
silent, were observed on the grassy path behind a wooden gate on
the small reservoir side. They are fairly unperturbed by people
and spend long spells in the open. Nightingale song was also heard
from another direction suggesting there might be a third bird in
the area. One was observed chasing off a robin indicating that it
might be setting up a territory. Common and Arctic terns were at
both venues while treecreeper and garden warbler showed well at
Bough Beech. We missed a marsh harrier while admiring the nightingales.
Weather: Fine
but very cold wind |
Morrison’s
Supermarket Car Park, Sidcup
Philip Cliffe, Tuesday 4 May 2010,1pm
The cranes
flew over the car park quite low in a North Westerly direction.
They were probably the ones noted on the London Birders website
as being over East India Dock at 1:35 pm
Bird List
Cranes (2), feral pigeons
Slight North
Easterly breeze, dull, 12°C |
Chalk
Wood, North Cray
Philip Cliffe, Saturday 30 April 2010, 12:00 noon
Bird List
Lesser spotted woodpecker (male), great spotted woodpecker (h),
green woodpecker, blackcap, chiffchaff
Weather: Sunny,
cloudy spells, warm |
Bough
Beech reservoir
Eric Brown, Ron Veet, Saturday 24 April 2010, 8.00 pm to 8.15
pm
A very quick
look on a journey elsewhere turned up a first look at cuckoo, black
tern and nightingale for the year
Bird List
Blackbird, blackcap, black tern, cuckoo, carrion crow, chaffinch,
great crested grebe, nightingale, mallard, swallow
General Observations
The nightingale, not yet in full song, is in its usual position
around the wooden gates before the causeway. Black tern was flying
around towards the dam. Common and Arctic Terns were on the list
but not seen.
Weather: Dry
and mild, little wind |
Knole
Park, Sevenoaks
Eric Brown, Doreen Newson, Stephen Sheppard, Dave Thompson, Tuesday
20 April 2010, 10.15 am to 2.45 pm
Bexley Birdbrains'
annual Knole visit chiefly to seek redstart
Bird List
Blackbird, black headed gull, chaffinch, chiffchaff (singing), carrion
crow, cormorant (2 flyover), Canada goose, goldcrest (2), goldfinch,
greylag goose (3), jackdaw, jay (4), magpie, mallard (3), moorhen,
nuthatch (8+), redstart common, ring necked parakeet, robin, starling,
song thrush, tit - blue, great, willow warbler (singing), green
woodpecker (4+), wren, woodpigeon, feral pigeon, muscovy duck (Otford
pond). Total 29
General Observations
A fine male redstart was quickly located soon after entering the
third gate at the rear of Knole Park opposite the right turn to
Underriver. It flew from a low branch to the ground and back several
times near a black and white "Beware - golf course" sign.
This was nine days earlier than last year’s sighting in the
same area and the earliest the Bexley Birdbrains have ever recorded
for redstart. With no major aircraft noise, birdsong reached a crescendo.
Nuthatches were particularly vocal and abundant. One pair mated
several times on a branch. Yet no treecreepers were seen and have
never been recorded at this site by those present. No tree pipits
either.
Mammals: roe
deer, fallow deer
Weather: Fine,
bright and sunny with cool breeze |
Sidcup
railway station
Eric Brown, Sunday 18 April 2010, 1.40 pm to 2 pm
Mental list
while awaiting train
Bird List
Blackbird, blackcap, black headed gull, carrion crow, chaffinch,
greenfinch, magpie, ring-necked parakeet, robin, starling, tit -
blue, great, wren, woodpigeon, feral pigeon. Total 15
Butterfly:
orange tip
Weather: Bright
sunshine, warm |
Haddon
Grove/Hollyoak Wood, Sidcup
Eric Brown, Friday 16 April 2010, 10 am to 10.45am
A quick visit
to see what’s around in spring at this small wood alongside
the River Shuttle on a day of deafening birdsong due to grounding
of all aircraft. Bliss.
Bird List)
| |
House Sparrow
Picture by Tony Dunstan
|
House Sparrow
Picture by Tony Dunstan
|
|
House Sparrow. Pictures by Tony Dunstan |
Blackbird (4), blackcap, carrion crow, chaffinch, chiffchaff (2),
dunnock, greenfinch, jay, tit - blue, great, long-tailed, ring necked
parakeet (4), robin, house sparrow (10+), starling (12), grey wagtail
(2) woodpecker - great spotted, green, woodpigeon (20+), wren, Total
20. Also
grey squirrel
General Observations
In the eerie quiet (no flights from London City Airport) a pair
of grey wagtails emerged from beneath the Willersley Avenue bridge
to seek bankside insects. A singing blackcap could not be sighted
in the wood but both woodpeckers showed well with green peering
into a nest hole and great spot tapping for food rather than drumming.
Amazingly no magpies or gulls. The house sparrow colony at the Oval
is thriving with birds chirping and peeping out from every crack
in brickwork above the shops.
Weather: Cool
but sunny, light breeze |
Dungeness
Observatory area and RSPB Reserve
Eric Brown, Doreen Newson, Stephen Sheppard , Tuesday 13 April
2010, 10.45 am to 3.15 pm
Bird List
Blackbird, reed bunting, common buzzard, chaffinch, carrion crow,
coot, cormorant, dove rock (FP), stock, tufted duck, dunnock, gadwall,
goldeneye (f), goose - Canada, greylag, grebe - great crested, Slavonian,
gull - blackheaded, lesser black backed, great black backed, herring,
marsh harrier (7), grey heron, jackdaw, jay, kestrel, lapwing, linnet,
magpie, mallard, house martin, moorhen, oystercacther, pheasant,
meadow pipit, plover - grey, ringed, pochard, redshank, black redstart
(2), rook, shelduck, shoveler, skylark, sparrow - house, tree, sparrowhawk,
mute swan (25), swallow (6), teal, mistle thrush, tit - blue, great,
wagtail - pied, yellow (2), warbler - Cetti’s, sedge, wheatear
(6), whimbrel, green woodpecker, woodpigeon, wren. Total 62
General Observations
A day of surprises for the Bexley Birdbrains with winter visitors
like goldeneye and Slavonian grebe still around and mixing with
newly arrived migrants like swallow, yellow wagtail and wheatear.
One black redstart in the moat, another of these post-loving birds
in a tree near Observatory feeders. Two yellow wags were also seen
in trees near feeders opposite the RSPB visitor centre. On the return
journey a buzzard was spotted sitting atop a small tree beside the
hard shoulder of the M20 in the Farningham/Horton Kirby area.
Peacock butterfly,
Bumblebees numerous.
Weather: Bright
and sunny but strong, cold wind
Slavonian Grebe, Dungeness
Picture by Tony Dunstan
|
Slavonian Grebe, Dungeness
Picture by Tony Dunstan
|
Slavonian Grebe, Dungeness
Picture by Tony Dunstan
|
|
Slavonian Grebe. Pictures by Tony Dunstan |
|
Albany
Park – behind Kelsey’s Farm – footpath to Bexley.
Ralph Todd, Sunday 11 April 2010, 7.45 am to 8.10 am
Quick visit
to see if nightingales have returned – they haven’t
Bird List
Whitethroat (2), chiffchaff (2), skylark (2), jay (5), wren, green
woodpecker, goldfinch (2), blue tit, linnet
Weather: Cold
north easterly wind – high cloud. |
Old
Bexley – waste ground adjacent St. Mary’s Church
Ralph Todd, Sunday 11 April 2010, 7.15 am to 7.40 am
A quick visit
to check if nightingales have returned – they haven’t.
Bird List
Wren (3), kestrel, green woodpecker, greenfinch, great tit, dunnock
(4), chiffchaff (2), blackbird (2), jay (2), mistle thrush, robin
(5), great spotted woodpecker, starling (4).
Weather: Cool
north easterly wind – high cloud. |
Thames
river and Crossness LNR
Ralph Todd, Saturday 10 April 2010, 9.15 am to 11.30 am
Bird List
Black-headed gull (60), house sparrow (2), starling (23), cormorant
(6), herring gull (1), lesser black backed gull (2), oystercatcher
(2), wren (1), greylag goose (2), chaffinch (7), shelduck (9), greenfinch,
dunnock (4), robin (2), great tit, grey heron (3), wood pigeon (8),
coot (9), moorhen (8), mallard (8), teal (198), linnet (7), redshank
(19), Canada goose (4), gadwall (38), pied wagtail, shoveler (20),
blackbird, stonechat, magpie (5), reed bunting (2), little grebe,
kestrel, blue tit (2).
General Observations
Peacock and small tortoiseshell butterflies
Weather: Warm,
sunny clear. |
Lesnes
Abbey Woods
Ralph Todd, Thursday 8 April 2010, 2.15 pm to 3.30 pm
A visit primarily
to view and photograph the wild flowers. The wild daffodils are
just beginning to go over but the wood anemones are the best I’ve
ever seen, three bluebells showing along with celandine and wild
violets – well worth a visit but make it soon for the daffodils/anemones.
Bird List
Chiffchaff (3), robin, blue tit (8), long-tailed tit (pair with
nest material), great tit (5), great spotted woodpecker (2), ring-necked
parakeet (4), woodpigeon (2), jay (2), carrion crow, green woodpecker,
blackcap, kestrel.
General Observations
Peacock and small tortoiseshell butterflies.
Weather: Warm,
sunny and clear. |
Martens
Grove/Woods - Bexley
Ralph Todd, Thursday 8 April 2010, 9.30 am to 10.45 am
Blackcaps arrive
in numbers – this site is well worth a visit in spring for
woodland birds
Bird List
Blackcaps (10 individual males singing and one pair), chiffchaff
(6), woodpigeon (25+), robin (5), wren, blackbird (7), chaffinch
(2), nuthatch (5), dunnock (3), blue tit (11), ring-necked parakeet
(14), collard dove (2), magpie(4), great tit (10), jay (6), song
thrush, carrion crow (6), great spotted woodpecker (5), long-tailed
tit (3)
General Observations
Single comma butterfly on the wing
Weather: Clear
sunny, warm Spring morning after cold night, slight NW breeze |
Shenstone
Park – Bexley/Crayford
Ralph Todd, Thursday 8 April 2010, 8.45 am to 9.15 am
This small
open space adjacent London Road, Crayford, is mostly amenity grass
but some good old ancient woodland and worthy of regular visits.
Access from Old Road, Crayford
Bird List
Robin (7), wren (5), woodpigeon (2), green woodpecker, blackbird
(2), song thrush (3), carrion crow (5), great tit (5), blue tit
(6), chaffinch (2), starling (7), chiffchaff (4), magpie, great
spotted woodpecker (3 – including one pair), stock dove, collared
dove, ring-necked parakeet, Dunnock (2), blackcap (a pair), jay
(4), mistle thrush.
Weather: Clear,
sunny warm morning following cool night – slight NW breeze. |
East
Blean Woods, Canterbury, Langdon Hole, Dover
Eric Brown, Doreen Newson, Stephen Sheppard, Wednesday 7 April
2010, 10.55 am to 4.45 pm
Bexley Birdbrains
continue the search for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and then go migrant
hunting near Dover
Bird List
Blean (10.55 am to 12.30 pm) Blackbird, blue tit, great tit, carrion
crow, chiffchaff, chaffinch, collared dove, cormorant (flyover),
great spotted woodpecker (3), green woodpecker (h), greenfinch,
jay, robin, song thrush, sparrowhawk, starling, willow warbler,
wren, woodpigeon. Total 19
Langdon Hole
(1.30 pm to 4.45 pm) additional species only: herring gull, lesser
black backed gull, great black backed gull, kittiwake (6), fulmar,
kestrel, pied wagtail (8), skylark (numerous singing), jackdaw,
long tailed tit, reed bunting, magpie (12), dunnock, meadow pipit,
swallow, rook, house sparrow, goldfinch, grey heron, wheatear, ring
necked parakeet (on journey). Total 21. Day total 40
General Observations
Plenty of great spots but no lesser peckers. One promising bout
of drumming could not be traced to its origin. No treecreepers or
nuthatches either but singing chiffchaffs numerous. Peacock and
red admiral butterflies appeared. Action on the Dover cliffs included
half a dozen kittiwakes on a cliff nesting ledge along with several
fulmar. As we returned to the car a wheatear popped up on a rock.
Weather: Warm
and mild. Cloudy with sunny spells. |
Bough
Beech Reservoir and Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve
Eric Brown, Doreen Newson, Maurice Ewart, Wednesday 31 March
2010, 10.10 am to 4.50 pm
Visit to two
reserves offering some shelter on a miserable day
Bird List
BB 10.10am to Noon: Blackbird, bullfinch (pair), reed bunting, chaffinch,
chiffchaff, carrion crow, coot, cormorant, tufted duck, house sparrow,
great crested grebe, greenfinch, gull - black headed, herring, lesser
black backed, jackdaw, magpie, mallard, pheasant, robin, rook, shelduck,
shoveler, snipe, starling, mute swan, woodpecker - great spotted,
green (h), woodpigeon. Total 29
SWR 12.30 pm
to 4.50 pm: many of above plus blackcap (M), stock dove, gadwall,
goldcrest, goldfinch, goose - Canada, Egyptian, greylag, dunnock,
common gull, grey heron, jay, kestrel, lapwing, martin - house (2),
sand (100+), swallow (60+), moorhen, redpoll, teal, song thrush,
tit - blue, great, long-tailed, treecreeper (2), pied wagtail, little
ringed plover, wren. Total 28 different species (plus another bullfinch
pair)
On journey:
little egret, ring necked parakeet.
DAY TOTAL 59
Egyptian Goose
Picture by Jenny Curran
|
Egyptian Goose
Picture by Jenny Curran
|
|
Egyptian Goose. Pictures by Jenny Curran |
General Observations
The appearance of three hirundines at SWR was a reminder that summer
must be on the way – although it certainly didn’t feel
like it. A solitary little ringed plover must also have wondered
about the wisdom of arriving in March. This was the first time any
of us could recall seeing a pair of bullfinches at two different
venues on the same day. The new café in the Bough Beech Oast
House provided welcome respite from foul weather.
Weather: Cold
wind, constant drizzle and cloudy. |
Crossness
Reserve, Thamesmead
Philip Cliffe and Kevin Jarvis, Thursday 26 March 2010, 8.00
am to 10.00 am
The kite flew
over the hide in the protected area at about 0930
Bird List
Oystercatchers (8), curlew, blackcap, chiffchaff, willow warbler,
shoveler (9), peregrine, kestrel, red kite, reed bunting, skylark
(3)
Weather: Sunny,
cool, 8-9°C, South West wind |
Dungeness
RSPB via Romney Marsh
Anthony Dunstan,Wednesday 24 March 2010, 10.30 am to 5.00 pm
Unscheduled
visit by car
Bird List
Sand martin (3), wheatear (6), common redstart, yellowhammer (3),
tree sparrow, reed bunting, greenfinch, chaffinch, house sparrow,
skylark (3), goldeneye (6 ), starling, jackdaw, crow, rook, meadow
pipit, cormorant, tufted duck, pochard, coot, moorhen, shoveler,
mallard, teal, gadwall, oystercatcher, shelduck, blackbird, pied
wagtail(12), herring gull, common gull, black headed gull, lesser
black back gull, kestrel, dunnock, magpie, red legged partridge,
pheasant, firecrest, little grebe, black necked grebe, great crested
grebe, slavonian grebe (2), little egret, great white egret, grey
heron, mute swan,Canada geese, greylag geese, lapwing, Cettis warbler,
green woodpecker, wood pigeon, stock dove, marsh harrier, ruddy
duck (4), linnet (4), corn bunting, blue tit.
General Observations
Penduline tits were flagged up on pagers but not seen despite two
visits to their location. A mystery raptor was seen on the outward
and return journeys across Romney Marsh resembling a small sized
harrier/medium hawk, dove grey in appearance that flew with strong,
steady wing beats or glided with flat wings with large protruding
"fingers".
Weather: 12°C,
light westerly wind. Bright but cloudy. |
Kensington
Gardens, East India Dock, Mudchute Farm & Nature Reserve
Eric Brown, Doreen Newson, Maurice Ewart, Wednesday 24 March 2010,
10.45 am to 4.00 pm
London ramble
starting with an owl hunt
Bird list
KG 10.45 am: Tawny owl (2 ads, 4 young), treecreeper (5 - one singing),
blue tit, great tit, long tailed tit, carrion crow, magpie, jay,
woodpigeon, feral pigeon, ring-necked parakeet, Egyptian goose,
Canada goose, greylag goose, grey heron, cormorant, great crested
grebe, little grebe, tufted duck, mallard, red-crested pochard (2
pairs), mandarin, shoveler (10), coot, moorhen, mute swan, blackbird,
starling, robin, greenfinch, chaffinch, goldfinch, black headed
gull. Total 33 (also brown rat (5), grey squirrel (numerous)).
EID 12.30 pm:
many of above plus teal, shelduck, sand martin (2), dunnock, wren,
pied wagtail, lesser black backed gull, herring gull. Additional
8 species
Mudchute 2.40
pm: additional species: song thrush, chiffchaff, willow warbler,
monk parakeet (6), house sparrow. Total 5
DAY TOTAL 46
General Observations
The owls were easily found about five mins walk from Lancaster Gate
tube station (Central Line). The four owlets huddled together in
a single tree while the male and female perched in different, nearby
trees. Treecreepers were numerous. One was heard singing and another
seen pulling a large grub from beneath bark. A pair of red crested
pochards flew in as we observed mandarin on the lake and the species
total of 33 was encouraging for just an hour in a busy London park
alongside bustling Bayswater Road. East India Dock failed to produce
black redstart or little ringed plover but a couple of incoming
sand martins turned up. At Mudchute, chiffchaff and willow warbler
could be compared while we all got a first sighting of monk parakeet.
A total of 10 trains were used in the course of the day which produced
good species and numbers for London.
Weather: Mild
and warm, occasional drizzle with sunny periods. |
Haddon
Grove, Sidcup
Eric Brown, Tuesday 23 March 2010, 9.30am
Bird list
Little egret
General Observations
A little egret waded in the River Shuttle at the junction of Willersley
Avenue with Haddon Grove, Sidcup. Little Egret was regular here
during winter but had gone missing for a couple of weeks.
Weather: Warm
sunshine |
Boughton
Park, Boughton Monchelsea and Park Wood, near Woodchurch
Eric Brown, Maurice Ewart, Stephen Sheppard, Doreen Newson –
The Bexley Birdbrains – plus Tony Dunstan, Wednesday 17 March
2010, BM 10.10 am to 1 pm PW 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm
Two woodland
settings none of us had visited before
Bird list
BM: great spotted woodpecker (4), green woodpecker (3), blackbird,
starling, house sparrow, chaffinch, redwing, fieldfare, mistle thrush,
song thrush, kestrel, blue tit, goldfinch, great tit, carrion crow,
magpie, black headed gull, jay, rook, jackdaw, greenfinch, woodpigeon,
mallard, tufted duck, moorhen, coot,
PW: many of
above plus: chiffchaff, nuthatch (2), wren, treecreeper (2), marsh
tit, long tailed tit, grey heron, dunnock, stock dove, pheasant.
Total 36
General Observations
No sign of lesser spot at either venue although plenty of noise
and activity from green and great spotted. Boughton held good numbers
of redwing, fieldfare and mistle thrushes. Lunch was taken in the
Boughton churchyard to enjoy its superb panoramic view of the park.
At Park Wood a pair of active treecreepers seemed to be seeking
a nest while the chiffchaff, though silent, was equally busy. Was
it a migrant or an overwintering bird? A marsh tit called constantly
from a branch near the path.
Weather: Warm,
cloudy with sunny periods |
Danson
Park, Bexleyheath
Eric Brown, Steve Sheppard, Friday 12 March 2010, 9.45 am to
11.45 am
A short trip
mainly to seek reported water rail
Bird List
Blackbird, robin, thrush - song, mistle (6), redwing (8), tit -
blue, coal, great, long-tailed, magpie, jay, carrion crow, mallard,
tufted duck, coot, moorhen, Canada goose, black headed gull, cormorant,
water rail, chaffinch, greenfinch, kestrel, great spotted woodpecker
(2), green woodpecker (2), house sparrow, starling, pied wagtail,
wren (6), woodpigeon, ring necked parakeet, mute swan. Total 32
species
General Observations
Immediately we arrived on the bog garden bridge a water rail appeared
less than 20 yards away, unhurriedly crossing the stream from left
to right near a fallen tree. In the next 15 minutes it crossed and
re-crossed the stream five times and could be seen foraging in streamside
vegetation. It might have remained in view longer but for the increasing
number of dogwalkers who stopped to ask what we were looking at
with attendant rise in human and canine decibels. On its last excursion
from left to right the rail showed alarm by running and tail flicking,
disappearing deep into vegetation. A total of 32 different species
was unexpected and welcome for a two hour stint in a local park.
Yet we missed out on other Danson possibilities like nuthatch, treecreeper,
siskin, kingfisher, great crested grebe and black backed gulls.
Weather: Cloudy
but fairly mild up to 9°C |
Leysdown,
Capel Fleet, Harty Ferry Inn, Elmley approach track, Isle of Sheppey
Eric Brown, Doreen Newson, Maurice Ewart, Tony Dunstan, Wednesday
10 March 2010, 10.20 am to 3.45 pm
Bird List
Blackbird, reed bunting (50+), common buzzard, chaffinch, carrion
crow, coot, cormorant, curlew, stock dove (50+), tufted duck, dunlin
(30+), dunnock, little egret (3), fieldfare (200+), gadwall, goose
- brent (1,000+), Canada, greylag, white-fronted (approx 200), greenfinch,
gull - blackheaded, common, herring, lesser black-backed, marsh
harrier (12), jackdaw, kestrel, knot, lapwing (300+), magpie, mallard,
red-breasted merganser (2m 1f), merlin (2), moorhen, oystercatcher,
ring-necked parakeet (on journey), red-legged partridge, pheasant,
pintail, golden plover (1,000+), grey, ringed, pochard, redshank,
redwing, sanderling (100+), shelduck, shoveler, house sparrow, starling
(1,000+), mute swan, teal, song thrush, tit - blue, great, long-tailed,
turnstone, pied wagtail, wigeon (2,000), green woodpecker (2), woodpigeon
(2,000). Total 61 species
General Observations
Most memorable feature of this trip (apart from an icy wind which
at one point blew us into a Leysdown café!) was the large
flocks of birds. No one could recall seeing so many sanderling on
Leysdown beach while dunlin, fieldfare, lapwing, golden plover,
starling, wigeon, woodpigeon and stock dove were all seen in considerable
numbers. The white front flock located in a field near Harty Ferry
Road viewpoint numbered at least 200 with many first year birds
among the adults. A field with stubble near the Inn attracted many
finches and tits and at least 50 reed buntings plus a couple of
shoveler and mallard.
Weather: Dry
but icy wind making 3C temperature feel much colder. |
Dungeness
RSPB reserve
Eric Brown, Doreen Newson, Maurice Ewart, Tony Dunstan, Thursday
4 March 2010, 10.50am to 3.45pm
Main target
was garganey which arrived two days previously, the earliest date
ever recorded for this species at this site
Bird list
Blackbird, bunting reed (12), common buzzard, chaffinch, carrion
crow, coot, cormorant, duck tufted, fieldfare, gadwall, garganey
(2m), goldeneye (m and f), grebe great crested, little, slavonian,
gull black headed, common, lesser black-backed, greater black-backed,
marsh harrier (4), grey heron, jackdaw, kestrel, lapwing, magpie,
mallard, moorhen, oystercatcher, parakeet r-n (on journey), pheasant,
pochard, redshank, redwing, shelduck, smew (4f), sparrowhawk, starling
(200+), swan m, teal, thrush song, tit blue, great, long tailed,
wagtail pied, wigeon, woodpecker green, woodpigeon, rock dove(feral
pigeon)
Scotney Pit:
Geese Barnacle (36), greylag, Total 50
General Observations
Three garaganey present. Two observed on Burrowes Pit, one opposite
visitor centre and one from Scott hide. The slavonian grebe showed
well down to a few feet on Hooker’s pit. Bittern and firecrest
were also present but not seen.
Weather: Sunny
and dry with bitterly cold wind |
Thamesmere,
Thamesmead and Crayford Marshes
Eric Brown, Maurice Ewart, Tuesday 2 March 2010, Thamesmere 10.40
am to 11.45 am, Crayford Marshes 12.30 pm to 3.40 pm
A trip to check
out reports of scaup at Thamesmead and to see what's around at Crayford
Marshes
Bird List
Thamesmere: pochard, tufted duck, mute swan, scaup (pair), teal,
gadwall, mallard, great crested grebe, little grebe, cormorant,
coot, moorhen, reed bunting, chaffinch, linnet (8), wren, dunnock,
greenfinch, black headed gull, song thrush, goldfinch (6), Canada
goose, feral pigeon (23).
Crayford Marshes:
green woodpecker, little owl, magpie, skylark (singing), redwing
(7), fieldfare (12), redshank (4), little egret (4), grey heron
(3), common gull, lesser black backed gull, grey wagtail, linnet
(8), oystercatcher, carrion crow, robin (8), dove collared, stock,
woodpigeon, kestrel, wigeon, starling, lapwing, ring necked parakeet
(12+), shoveler, house sparrow, tit blue, great, long tailed (28).
Day total 51
General Observations
The scaup dozed in a reed-fringed lake alongside Morrisons supermarket
with a good assortment of other ducks. On a rare fine and sunny
day birds were active and singing from dunnocks and wrens in almost
every hedgerow to skylark at Crayford Marshes. An exceptionally
high tide covered mud and reduced wader sightings to just a couple.
A little owl sat in a tree before disappearing into a split in a
branch. In and around the same tree were a noisy bunch of parakeets.
They were not mobbing the owl – yet. Fieldfare and redwing
searched for food in muddy fields and a grey wagtail whizzed over
the footpath to drink at the riverbank.
Weather: Fine,
mild and sunny |
Thamesmere,
Thamesmead
Stephen Ansell, Monday 1 March 2010, 9.45 am to 10.30 am
A quick visit
to see if reported Scaup were still present.
Bird List
Great crested grebe, mute swan, Canada goose, mallard, shoveler,
pochard, tufted duck, scaup (2), buzzard, moorhen, coot, black-headed
gull, collared dove, carrion crow, robin and blackbird. Total 16
species
General Observations
The pair of scaup were quickly found among numerous tufted duck.
A buzzard was seen circling in the area towards the Thames. Park
in Morrisons car park to view the lake.
Weather: Bright
sunshine and fairly mild at last! |
Hollyoak
Wood Park, Haddon Grove, Sidcup
Eric Brown, Thursday 25 February 2010, 9 am
A little egret
perched in a tree at the back of gardens above the river Shuttle
and opposite Hollyoak Wood. The bird, and sometimes another, has
been a regular winter visitor to this urban spot beside busy Willersley
Avenue. A great photo opportunity.
Weather: Dull,
cloudy |
Upper
College Farm – between Riverside Road, Albany Park and Bexley
Station
Ralph Todd, Thursday 25 February 2010, 9 am - 10.30 am
Skylarks holding
on in Albany Park, wren numbers seemed to have crashed.
Bird List
Little grebe (2), Canada goose (10), mallard (5), sparrowhawk, kestrel
(4 including an active pair), moorhen (5), coot (a pair on nest),
stock dove (7), woodpigeon (76), collared dove, ring-necked parakeet
(14), green woodpecker (2), great spotted woodpecker (2), skylark
(3), wren (3), Dunnock (4), robin (10), blackbird (16), song thrush
(2), redwing (2), long-tailed tit (3), blue tit (8), great tit (11),
magpie (30), jackdaw (2), carrion crow (12), starling (2), house
sparrow (3), chaffinch (12), greenfinch, goldfinch (5), siskin (two
flocks of approximately 30 and 20 respectively).
General Observations
The walk followed a prolonged period of rain following prolonged
cold period – the possible reason for smaller number of songbirds.
Weather: A
dry, bright morning |
Sevenoaks
Wildlife Reserve, Bough Beech Reservoir
Eric Brown, Doreen Newson, Wednesday 24 February 2010, Sevenoaks
10 am to 1.30 pm, BB 1.50 pm to 3.10 pm
Bird List
Sevenoaks: blackbird, chaffinch, carrion crow, coot, cormorant,
dove stock, duck tufted, dunnock, fieldfare, gadwall, goldfinch,
goose - Canada, greylag, Egyptian, snow, barnacle-greylag hybrid,
great crested grebe, gull blackheaded, grey heron, jackdaw, jay,
kestrel, lapwing, magpie, mallard, moorhen, pheasant, pochard, redwing,
robin, siskin (3), snipe (40-50), house sparrow, sparrowhawk, starling,
mute swan, teal, thrush - mistle, song, tit - blue, great, long-tailed,
pied wagtail, green woodpecker, woodpigeon. Total 46 species
Bough Beech: Many of above plus: great spotted woodpecker,
shoveler, wigeon, greenfinch, common buzzard (6). Also 1 snipe.
Day total 51
General Observations
A second visit of the year again failed to turn up the large flock
of siskins (100-200) logged at Sevenoaks and we had to work hard
to find a couple together, then a single bird. A snow goose in first
winter plumage among greylags was of doubtful origin. An interesting
goose rested on marshy land to the left of the main hide. It had
the white face and black crown of a barnacle, the body of a greylag
and a pink bill! The legs could not be observed as it was resting
but there were white spots on the back of its black neck. Seemed
like a hybrid but any ideas, anyone? At Bough Beech there was a
remarkable flypast of buzzards.
Weather: Heavy rain showers am brightening to patchy
sun by 1pm
|
Hollyoak
Wood, Haddon Grove, Sidcup
Eric Brown, Friday 19 February 2010, 9.45 am to 10 am
A quick look
on a shopping trip (no binoculars)
Bird List
Blackbird, blue tit, great tit, long-tailed tit, robin, great spotted
woodpecker, song thrush, starling, carrion crow, magpie (7), dunnock,
little egret, house sparrow, ring-necked parakeet, black-headed
gull, woodpigeon, greenfinch (6). Total 17 species
Weather: Bright
but cold |
Leysdown,
Capel Fleet, Elmley RSPB reserve approach track
Eric Brown, Doreen Newson, Maurice Ewart, Tony Dunstan, Dave
Thompson, Thursday 18 February 2010, 10.45 am to 3.45 pm
A look around
Sheppey for waders and raptors
Bird List
Blackbird, bunting reed (4), carrion crow, coot, cormorant, curlew,
collared dove, dunlin, dunnock, little egret, fieldfare (1,000+),
gadwall, black-tailed godwit (200+), greenfinch, gull - blackheaded,
common, herring, lesser black backed, marsh harrier (7), grey heron,
jackdaw, kestrel (3), knot, lapwing, magpie, mallard, merlin (2),
moorhen, barn owl, oystercatcher, red legged partridge, pheasant,
pintail, meadow pipit (3), golden plover, grey plover, redshank,
redwing (200+), robin, rook, sanderling, shelduck, shoveler, house
sparrow, sparrowhawk, starling (2,500+), Bewicks swan (7), mute
swan, teal, turnstone, song thrush, pied wagtail, wigeon (4,000+),
woodpigeon. Total 58 species.
General Observations
A good selection of waders approached within feet of the promenade
at Leysdown allowing us to watch from a rain-battered car. A large
mixed flock of fieldfare and redwing were in a field opposite Leysdown
cemetery, the Bewick’s herd was spotted on Harty Marshes but
the only raptor species visible in the gloom from Capel Fleet viewpoint
was marsh harrier. Merlin were spotted from the Elmley approach
road and a rather damp day ended with Maurice spotting a barn owl
hunting near the riverbank below Kingshill Farm. Considering the
appalling conditions and reduced visibility we considered the number
of species seen excellent.
Weather: Rain,
rain and more rain. Oh and cloud and mist. |
Conyer
and Oare Marshes
Anthony Dunstan, Monday 15 February 2010, 9 am to noon (Conyer)
12.15 pm to 3.30 pm (Oare)
Bird List
Collared dove, house sparrow, song thrush, starling, blue tit, great
tit, chaffinch, marsh harrier (5), teal (70), grey plover (30),
avocet (100), curlew, brent geese (200), shelduck (100), wigeon
(200), little grebe(5), eider, dunlin, black-tailed godwit, bar-
tailed godwit, mallard, oystercatcher, red breasted merganser, great
crested grebe, lapwing, snipe (12), coot, shoveler, long eared owl,
pintail, tufted duck, moorhen, kestrel, reed bunting, ring plover,
herring gull, common gull, black headed gull, greylag geese, pheasant,
meadow pipit, wood pigeon, crow, jackdaw, little egret, common buzzard,
bearded reedling (2), rock pipit, magpie, turnstone, iceland gull,
blackbird, mistle thrush, redwing, gadwall.
General Observations
Much of Oare marsh main scrape was frozen over.
Weather: Minus
1° to 3°C. Sunny, no wind of note. |
The
Warren - Bexleyheath
Ralph Todd, Saturday 13 February 2010, 9.30 am to 10.30 am
Located between
Broomfield Road and Midhurst Hill TQ493646
Bird List
Wood pigeon (24), ring-necked parakeet (10), great spotted woodpecker
(4), wren (4), robin (2), blackbird, redwing (2), long-tailed tit
(4), blue tit (18), great tit (8), nuthatch (3), jay, magpie (5),
carrion crow (5), starling (2), house sparrow (5), greenfinch (2).
Weather: Broken
cloud, bright, cold. |
River
Shuttle between the Black Prince interchange and Blendon Road, Bexley
Ralph Todd, Saturday 13 February 2010, 10.45 am to 11.30 am
Bird List
Little egret, mallard, moorhen (3), black-headed gull (1), woodpigeon
(33), ring-necked parakeet, great spotted woodpecker (2), wren (2),
robin, blackbird (2), redwing (27), mistle thrush (2), blue tit
(3), great tit (4), magpie (6), carrion crow (10), starling (4),
house sparrow (8), chaffinch (2), greenfinch.
General Observations
The little egret was feeding within 20 metres of the busy A2.
Weather: Broken
cloud, bright, cold. |
Darenth
Country Park, Dartford
Stephen Ansell, Wednesday 10 February 2010, 9.00 am to 10.15
am
A walk around
my local country park.
Bird List
Sparrowhawk, kestrel, stock dove, wood-pigeon, collared dove, green
woodpecker, starling, magpie, carrion crow, wren, robin, blackbird,
song thrush (3), mistle thrush (3), redwing (50), long-tailed tit,
blue tit, great tit, chaffinch, greenfinch, goldfinch, ring-neck
parakeet. (Total 22 species)
General Observations
Redwing, mistle thrush and song thrush feeding together in a field
where horses were grazing.
Weather: Cloudy
and very cold. |
Romney
Marshes and Dungeness RSPB Reserve
Doreen Newson, Eric Brown, Maurice Ewart, Wednesday 10 February
2010, 10.45 am to 3.30 pm
An expedition
to the Arctic corner of Kent!
Bird Lst
Romney Marsh: Fieldfare (1,000+), redwing (60+), tree sparrow (7),
yellowhammer (6), corn bunting (7), mute swan (100+), jackdaw, carrion
crow, blue tit, great tit, chaffinch, greenfinch, dunnock, goldfinch,
song thrush.
Dungeness: reed bunting, coot, cormorant, curlew
(4), black throated diver, red throated diver, stock dove, rock
dove (fp), ruddy duck, tufted duck, little egret, gadwall, goldeneye,
greylag goose, black necked grebe (3), great crested grebe, black
headed gull, common gull, great black backed gull, herring gull,
marsh harrier (7), lapwing, magpie, mallard, merlin, moorhen, red
legged partridge, pheasant, pintail, pochard, robin, rook, shelduck,
shoveler, smew (7 red-heads), snipe, house sparrow, sparrowhawk,
starling, stonechat (pr), pied wagtail, wigeon, woodpigeon. Total
61 species.
Mammals: rabbit, hare, badger (deceased).
General Observations
Mixed yellowhammer, corn bunting flock at ruined farm building site
on RM where every field seemed to contain a fieldfare flock. Black
throated diver performed within yards of the Dengemarsh hide from
which two black necked grebes and a pair of great crested grebes
performing a courtship dance could be seen. Red throated diver seen
three times in flight and briefly on water from Christmas Dell hide.
Smew were widespread. Big surprise was a merlin flashing across
the car park as we arrived. We missed reported bittern and Slavonian
grebe but as horizontal, heavy snow showers at times reduced visibility
to about 50 yards this was not surprising. At least an inch of snow
piled up on the paths before we left having seen only two other
birders all day.
Weather: Very cold, windy and heavy snow showers
|
Haddon
Grove, Willersley Park, Marlborough Park, Sidcup
Jacky Foot, Tuesday 9 February 2010
Bird List
Hollyoak: carrion crow, woodpigeon, blackbird, robin, blue tit,
great tit, long tailed tit, chaffinch, black headed gull, goldfinch,
starling, great spotted woodpecker, grey wagtail (2), little egret
(2), ring neck parakeet, magpie, wren. 17 species.
Willersley Park:
carrion crow, woodpigeon, magpie, blue tit, blackbird, ring neck
parakeet, long tailed tit, house sparrow, great tit, song thrush,
little egret, collared dove, black headed gull, robin, grey wagtail,
dunnock. 16 species.
Marlborough
Park: collared dove, carrion crow, jackdaw, magpie, blue tit, dunnock,
robin, blackbird, ring neck parakeet, great tit, grey wagtail, starling.
12 species |
Foots
Cray Meadows
Philip Cliffe, Tuesday 9 February 2010, 10.30 am to noon
A wander around
the southern half of FCM ie below Five Arches Bridge to look for
water rail etc as I haven’t seen any at Danson Park for a
while.
Bird List
Water rail, little egret, siskins (12+), tufted duck (16), gadwall
(2), little grebe (8), great spotted woodpecker (a pair with one
member drumming and a single)
Weather: Cold,
calm, dry with sunny intervals |
Woolwich
Cemetery, Rockcliffe Gardens, East Wickham, Winns Common, Bostall
Woods
Peter Kite, Jacky Foot, Saturday 6 February 2010, 10.30 am to
3.30 pm
A visit to
some local areas.
Bird List
Woolwich Cemetery: woodpigeon, goldfinch, greenfinch, dunnock, coal
tit, blue tit, robin, jay, carrion crow, ring neck parakeet, redwing
(20+), magpie, cormorant (fly over), chaffinch, fieldfare (10+),
mistle thrush (4), starling, great spotted woodpecker, great tit.Total
20 species.
Rockcliffe Gardens:
great spotted woodpecker, coal tit, greenfinch, jay, blue tit, great
tit, robin, blackbird, carrion crow, woodpigeon, chaffinch, ring
neck parakeet, magpie, collared dove, long tail tit, house sparrow.
Total 16 species.
East Wickham:
fieldfare (30+), blackbird, woodpigeon, wren, chaffinch, blue tit,
dunnock, great spotted woodpecker, ring neck parakeet, redwing (60+),
carrion crow, greenfinch, great tit, long tail tit, jay, black headed
gull, great, lesser black back gulls, common gull, mistle thrush,
goldfinch. Total 23 species.
Winns Common:
black headed gull, carrion crow (200+), robin, woodpigeon, blackbird,
magpie, starling, goldfinch, jay, blue tit, great tit, long tail
tit, song thrush, green woodpecker, greenfinch, chaffinch. Total
16 species.
Bostall Woods:
great spotted woodpecker, woodpigeon, blue tit, magpie, great tit,
marsh tit, green woodpecker, jay, blackbird, song thrush, black
headed gull, common gull. Total 12 species.
General Observations
Surprised just how many blue and great tits seen at these locations,
as well as green and great spotted woodpeckers and jays.
Weather: Misty
grey start but fairly bright by mid afternoon |
Haysden
Country Park, Tonbridge
Stephen Ansell, Friday 5 February 2010, 10.45 am to 12.30 pm
A pleasant
walk around Barden and Haysden lakes to seek goosanders.
Bird List
Great crested grebe, mute swan, greylag goose, Canada goose, Egyptian
goose, mallard, pochard (20), tufted duck (100+), goosander (7 –
3 drakes), moorhen, coot, black-headed gull, woodpigeon, starling,
magpie, carrion crow, robin, blackbird, blue tit, great tit, chaffinch.
Total 21 species.
General Observations
Goosanders found on Haysden Water, excellent views of both male
and female.
Weather: Sunny
spells and feeling mild. Area around Haysden Water very muddy. |
The
Hollies and Lamorbey Park, Sidcup
Eric Brown, Maurice Ewart, Thursday 4 February 2010, 11.00 am
to 12.45 pm
A short local
walk during a let up in rain
Bird List
Blackbird, starling, redwing (6), robin, wren, nuthatch (4), ring-necked
parakeet, blue tit, great tit, long-tailed tit, coal tit, dunnock,
magpie, jay, carrion crow, black headed gull, herring gull, moorhen,
Canada goose, greylag goose, little grebe (3), great spotted woodpecker,
green woodpecker, mallard, chaffinch, greenfinch, cormorant (7),
grey heron, woodpigeon, feral pigeon, stock dove. Total 31 species
General Observations
Excellent total with nuthatches busy calling in both venues. Greenfinch,
chaffinch, robin, dunnock, green woodpecker and woodpigeon were
all calling while the great spotted woodpecker was drumming.
Weather: Dull
and cloudy. Very wet after heavy rain. |
Sutcliffe
Park, Eltham
Peter Kite, Tuesday 2 February 2010, 10.00 am to 11.15 am
A brief visit
to see what changes have been made to the reserve.
Bird List
Carrion crow (100+), magpie, redwing (60+), moorhen, coot, mallard,
tufted duck, pochard, mute swan, greylag goose, Canada goose (20+),
black headed gull, herring gull, common gull (8), woodpigeon, pied
wagtail, grey wagtail (1 pr), goldfinch, greenfinch, blackbird,
starling, blue tit, great spotted woodpecker, jack snipe. 24 species
Surprised to
almost tread on the jack snipe. It flew to two locations and then
was flushed by a dog. Last seen heading towards the river Quaggy
on the other side of the road.
Weather: Overcast
and dull with shower |
Lamorbey
Park, Sidcup
Jacky Foot, Monday 1 February 2010
Three-quarters
of lake frozen
Bird List
Magpie, blue tit, blackbird (100+), Canada goose, black headed gull,
jay, robin, long tailed tit, goldfinch, song thrush, woodpigeon,
great tit, ring neck parakeet, coot, moorhen, redwing (6), wren,
common gull, chaffinch, goldcrest, mallard, water rail. 22 species
Weather: Bright
but very cold |
Rockcliffe
Gardens/East Wickham Open Space
Jacky Foot, Sunday 31 January 2010
Bird List
Rockcliffe Gardens: magpie, robin, blackbird, great spotted woodpecker,
great tit, woodpigeon, jay, blue tit, song thrush, wren, ring neck
parakeet, carrion crow. 12 species.
East Wickham:
carrion crow, robin, great tit, green woodpecker (4), black headed
gull, woodpigeon, magpie, blue tit, blackbird, redwing (30+), common
gull, starling. 12 species.
General Observations
Three foxes together at Rockcliffe.
Weather: Sunny
but chilly. |
Footscray
Meadows
Peter Kite, Jacky Foot, Saturday 30 January 2010, 9.30 am to
12.40 pm
Bird List
Starling, long tailed tit, blue tit, great tit, ring neck parakeet,
great spotted woodpecker (8+), woodpigeon, collared dove, stock
dove, jackdaw, carrion crow, robin, goldfinch, greenfinch, dunnock,
wren, chaffinch, fieldfare, black headed gull, malllard, shoveler
(3), moorhen, coot, tufted duck, little grebe (10), mute swan, gadwall
(4 prs), little egret, grey wagtail (2), song thrush, greylag goose,
kestrel. 33 species.
Weather: Bright
sunshine, fresh no breeze. |
Rockcliffe
Gardens/Woolwich Cemetery
Jacky Foot, Saturday 24 January 2010
Bird list
Rockcliffe Gardens: robin, carrion crow, woodpigeon, blue tit, great
tit, great spotted woodpecker, goldcrest, wren, jay, blackbird,
song thrush, magpie, long tailed tit, ring necked parakeet. 14 species.
Woolwich Cemetery:
robin, woodpigeon, carrion crow, great spotted woodpecker, ring
necked parakeet, fieldfare, blue tit, great tit, blackbird, jay,
starling, dunnock, wren, magpie. 14 species.
General Observations
Also grey squirrels, white deadnettle in flower.
Weather: Overcast,
damp. |
Crossness
protected area
Philip Cliffe, Tuesday 19 January 2010, 11.00 am to 12.30 pm
The hen harrier
was first seen being mobbed by a sparrowhawk over the end of the
protected area and adjacent island field at about 11.15 am then
again at 12.15.
Bird List
Hen harrier (m) , sparrowhawk, wigeon, gadwall, teal, shoveler,
reed bunting (2), redwing (large flock), chaffinches, goldfinches,
etc.
Weather: Cold
(7 degrees), calm, dull |
London
Wetland Centre, Barnes
Eric Brown, Maurice Ewart, Tuesday 19 January 2010, 10.45 am
to 2.30 pm
Bittern found
skulking in reeds and black-tailed godwit an unusual record for
the site. Redpolls located feeding in birch feet above a busy path
stayed at least one hour. Surprisingly, no water rails, siskins
or jack snipe seen.
Bird List
Blackbird, wren, bittern, moorhen, coot, wigeon, gadwall, shoveler,
shelduck, pochard, teal, mallard, tufted duck, pintail, mute swan,
chaffinch, greenfinch, redpoll (2), robin, starling (100+), black
headed gull, cormorant, green woodpecker, black tailed godwit, stock
dove, Egyptian goose (2), greylag goose, Canada goose, fieldfare,
grey heron (12+), lapwing (100+), blue tit, great tit, long-tailed
tit, carrion crow, jackdaw. magpie, woodpigeon, grebe great crested,
little, ring-necked parakeet, snipe, house sparrow, TOTAL 43 species
General Observations
An admission price of £9.75 will prevent frequent visits.
Weather: Dull,
dry, cold breeze. |
River
Thames from Thamesmead Golf Club to and including Crossness West
Paddock
Ralph Todd, Friday 15 January 2010, 10.45 am to 12.30 pm
Bar tailed
godwit unusual here in winter.
Bird List
Blackbird (2), wigeon, tufted duck (8), shoveler (8), cormorant
(38), moorhen (3), black-tailed godwit (51+), bar-tailed godwit
(2), lapwing (at least 190), dunlin (at least 300), shelduck (45+),
teal (over 1,000), redwing (35), yellow-legged gull, lesser black-backed
gull (22), common gull (3), black-headed gull (at least 300), herring
gull (4), curlew, sparrowhawk, mallard (4), gadwall (at least 136),
wren, dunnock, skylark (2), snipe, fieldfare (48), robin (2), greylag
goose (2), Canada goose (54), woodpigeon (c150).
General Observations
Rising tide
Weather: Overcast
– some inland areas still frozen |
Southmere
Lake - Thamesmead
Ralph Todd, Friday 15 January 2010, 12.45 pm
A very brief
stop to see if the goldeneye was still present – it was.
Apart from one
undated record from Crayford Creek this appears to be the only Thamesside
record. Only others for Bexley are: 3 from Foots Cray Meadows (Five
Arches) 1984, 1987 and 1991, two from Danson Park lake (1953 and
1957) and once by Barry Wright at Crayford Creek undated.
Bird List
Goldeneye, mute swan (14), pochard (26), tufted duck (42), coot
(30+), black-headed gulls, common gulls, lesser black-backed gulls.
Weather: Overcast,
much of lake still frozen |
Danson
Park, Bexleyheath
Ralph Todd, Friday 15 January 2010, 1.45 pm to 2.45 pm
Bird List
Coot (78+), black-headed gull (124+), common gull (65), moorhen
(43+), mallard (118), blackbird (4), Canada goose (51), ring-necked
parakeet (4), chaffinch (1), blue tit (2), carrion crow (30+), fieldfare,
wren (5), grey heron (5), great tit (3), cormorant (7), mute swan
(2), woodpigeon (28+), tufted duck (3), starling (3), redwing (82+).
Weather: Overcast
– most of lake still frozen |
Reculver
KWT Reserve
Peter Kite, Jacky Foot, Friday 15 January 2010, 1.15 pm to 2.30
pm
A walk from
the towers to the end of the oyster farm.
Bird List
Pied wagtail, white wagtail, house sparrow, starling, meadow pipit,
reed bunting, stonechat, goldfinch, great tit, mute swan, little
egret, mallard, pochard, little grebe, redshank, ringed plover,
cormorant, black headed gull, herring gull, common gull, brent goose
(3,500+), pale bellied brent (6+), black brant, spotted redshank
(2), lapwing (2,500+), golden plover (100+), hen harrier (f), kestrel,
buzzard, woodpigeon, magpie, carrion crow, song thrush, rook, robin.
Total 34 species
Weather: Bright,
fresh breeze. |
Footscray
Meadows, Sidcup
Ralph Todd, Friday 8 January 2010, 2 pm to 4 pm
Bird List
Lesser spotted woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker (2), green woodpecker,
kestrel, dunnock (2), mute swan (2 adult 2 1st winter), grey heron,
little egret, cormorant, stock dove, carrion crow (20), great tit
(5), shoveler (3 male 4 female), coot (14), moorhen (24), mallard
(34), black-headed gull (74), common gull (2), gadwall (4), tufted
duck (16), little grebe (13), teal, ring-necked parakeet (14), chaffinch
(7), blue tit (7), robin (3), wood pigeon (35), blackbird (3), wren
(9), snipe (2), song thrush, redwing, grey wagtail (2), water rail,
fieldfare (9), magpie (6), siskin (16), jackdaw (3), long-tailed
tit.
Weather: Snow
on the ground, freezing conditions, clear blue sky – great
sunset. |
Danson
Park, Bexleyheath
Ralph Todd, Thursday 7 January 2010, 2.30 to 3.30 pm
Wondered what
an iced up Danson Park Lake would produce.
Bird List
Black-headed gull (57), common gull (22), mistle thrush, moorhen
(47), coot (22), carrion crow (16), lesser-black backed gull (3),
mallard (83), mute swan (2), cormorant , wren, Canada goose (13),
great spotted woodpecker, ring-necked parakeet (10), shoveler (4),
woodpigeon (13), collared dove (2), goldfinch, meadow pipit, starling
(8), redwing (4).
Weather: Below
freezing - snow and ice covering ground. Gloomy.
Redwing
Picture by Tony Dunstan
|
Redwing
Picture by Tony Dunstan
|
Redwing
Picture by Tony Dunstan
|
| Redwing.
Pictures by Tony Dunstan |
|
Sevenoaks,
Bough Beech Reservoir, Kent Wildlife Trust Reserves
Eric Brown, Steve Sheppard, Maurice Ewart, Tuesday 5 January
2010, Sevenoaks 10.15 am to 1.00 pm BB 1.30 pm to 3 pm
A first trip
of the year to locate commoner species
Bird List
Sevenoaks WR: Blackbird, chaffinch, carrion crow, coot, cormorant,
dove collared, rock(feral pigeon), duck tufted, dunnock, fieldfare,
gadwall, goldcrest, goldfinch, goose canada, Egyptian, greylag,
snow, grebe great crested, little, gull black headed, common, great
black backed, egret little, heron grey, jay (3), kestrel, lapwing
(60+), magpie, mallard, moorhen, pochard, redwing, robin (30+),
shoveler, snipe (6), sparrowhawk (2), starling, swan mute, teal,
thrush song, tit blue, long-tailed (40+), great, treecreeper, wagtail
pied, grey, wigeon, woodpecker great spotted, woodpigeon, wren.
Total 50 species.
Bough Beech:
included all of the above EXCEPT treecreeper, goldfinch, goldcrest,
egyptian goose, snow goose, great black backed gull, common gull,
sparrowhawk and grey wagtail. Additional species were: goosander
(2 pairs), mandarin, kingfisher, jackdaw, nuthatch, pheasant, greenfinch.
On Journey:
ring necked parakeet, house sparrow. Day total 59 species
General Observations
There were huge numbers of (very tame) robins at both venues, some
venturing as close as a couple of feet. At Sevenoaks, two female
sparrowhawks perched in the same tree, regularly chased pigeons
and one was mobbed by a crow. Half a dozen snipe were on the main
lake when a noisy flock of Canada and greylag geese dropped in with
a single snow goose among them. No siskin or redpoll were found.
After a pager alert of a drake smew at Bough Beech we arrived within
half an hour but the target eluded us and three other birders. Compensation
came with two pairs of goodander, plenty of mandarin and entertaining
feeding frenzy on the orchard feeders (why aren’t they squirrel
proof?). Two grey squirrels were busy depriving birds of food.
Weather: Very
cold, thick frost with large areas at Sevenoaks frozen. No snow.
|
Garden
at Dorset Avenue, Welling
Steve and Sandra Sheppard, Saturday 2 January 2010
Bird list
Fieldfare (4), redwing (1), green woodpecker, black headed gulls
(3) (the gulls were a first in our garden), plus dunnock, robin,
starling, feral and wood pigeons, great and blue tits, carrion crow
and house sparrow.
General Observations
The winter thrushes were a rare treat for us. Their reason for visiting
was a mass of unharvested apples on the lawn.
Weather: Bright
cold dry |
Shellness,
Capel Fleet, Isle of Sheppey
Peter Kite, Jacky Foot, Friday 1 January 2010, 9.30am to 3.30
pm
First trip
of the new year to Shellness followed by a brief visit to Capel
Fleet.
Bird List
Shellness: blackbird, jackdaw, rook, woodpigeon, black headed gull,
robin, wren, herring gull, lapwing (5000+), golden plover (6000+),
grey plover (300+), redshank, sanderling (400+), turnstone (800+),
brent goose (2500+), whimbrel (80+), lesser black back gull, great
black back gull, kittiwake, little gull, stonechat, skylark, marsh
harrier, hen harrier, peregrine, sparrowhawk, merlin, red legged
partridge, house sparrow, carrion crow, pied wagtail, linnet, snow
bunting (6), greylag goose, mallard, shelduck (60+), bar tailed
godwit (350+), spotted redshank, knot (2500+), meadow pipit, oystercatcher
(3000+), starling, magpie, reed bunting, cormorant, rock pipit,
little egret, snipe, fieldfare, moorhen, ringed plover (150+). Total
52 species.
Capel Fleet:
marsh harrier, hen harrier (3), kestrel, woodpigeon, mallard, lapwing
(3000+), golden plover (4000+), starling, shelduck, red legged partridge.
Total 10 species.
Weather: Clear,
bright and sunny, stiff north westerly wind. |
Haddon
Grove, Sidcup
Eric Brown, Friday 1 January 2010, 11 am to noon
A short local
walk to start the new year
Bird List
Little Egret
Picture by Peter Kite
|
| Little
Egret. Picture by Peter Kite |
Blackbird, dunnock,
chaffinch, carrion crow, blue tit, great tit (6), house sparrow, ring-necked
parakeet (10), goldfinch, little egret, magpie, redwing (9), robin,
starling, feral pigeon, woodpigeon, wren. Total 17 General
Observations
A little egret perched in a tree overlooking the river Shuttle while
small groups of redwings circled in search of berries. A couple
landed in my garden.
Weather: Bright
but very cold |
If you would like
to report any rare or unusual sightings then please email Eric
Brown |
|
|