A walk from Salt Lane to the sea wall passing Radar and Flamingo pools

Bird List
Little grebe, great crested grebe, cormorant, little egret (30+), grey heron, canada goose, shelduck, ruddy shelduck, mallard, pochard, tufted duck, marsh harrier, kestrel, coot, oystercatcher, avocet (500+), grey plover (17), lapwing, little stint(2), curlew sandpiper (5), dunlin (20+), black-tailed godwit, bar-tailed godwit (13), whimbrel(3), curlew, redshank (50+), greenshank (16+), green sandpiper, common sandpiper, turnstone, black-headed gull, great black back gull, herring gull, common tern, collared dove, woodpigeon, turtle dove (2), green woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker, swallow, pied wagtail, dunnock, blackbird, whitethroat (10+), magpie, carrion crow, starling, house sparrow, chaffinch, greenfinch, goldfinch, linnet, reed bunting, mute swan (54 species).

General Observations
Spectacular number of avocets especially when put up by a raptor. Greenshanks dotted all around the pools. The groups of bar-tailed godwits and grey plovers had evidently just arrived and almost all were in breeding finery. The curlew sandpipers and little stints were also in breeding plumage. The visiting ruddy shelduck did its best to hide behind the avocet flock for a time.

Still good numbers of butterflies and dragonflies including red admiral, whites, gatekeeper

Weather: Hot and sunny with little or no wind.

Elmley Marshes RSPB Reserve
Maurice Ewart and Eric Brown, Saturday 26 July 2008, 10.45am to 4.30pm

A walk from Kings Hill Farm to the Wellmarsh and Counterwall hides after birding from the car on the entrance track

Bird List or sightings of note (in format Waxwing (4), Jay (2) etc)
Cormorant, little egret (20+), grey heron, mute swan, Canada goose, shelduck, teal, mallard, marsh harrier (6+), kestrel (8+), pheasant, grey partridge (2), moorhen, coot, oystercatcher, avocet (50+), ringed plover, lapwing, curlew sandpiper (7), ruff, snipe, black-tailed godwit, whimbrel, curlew, spotted redshank (6+), redshank, green sandpiper (3+), common sandpiper (3+), wood sandpiper, black-headed gull, stock dove, woodpigeon, barn owl, skylark, swallow, meadow pipit, yellow wagtail (30+), pied wagtail, blackbird, reed warbler, magpie, carrion crow, starling, house sparrow, goldfinch, reed bunting, (46 species)

General Observations
The barn owl was scoped on the chimney of the old school house just before Kings Hill Farm. The wood sandpiper and snipe were on the pool to the left of the track to the hides near the first left hand bend but a garganey reported there could not be found.

The Counterwall hide was most productive with the spotted redshanks, curlew and other sandpipers, whimbrel and grey partridge all seen north of this hide.

Family groups of yellow wagtails were having a feeding bonanza alongside the tracks with the numerous butterflies there, mainly gatekeepers.

Weather: Hot with little or no wind. Mostly sunny

Oare Marshes KWT Reserve, Faversham
Peter Kite and Karen Hills, Wednesday 23 July 2008  10:00am to 4pm 

A gentle, rewarding  stroll around this reserve hoping for waders and anything else that might be in. 

Bird List
Collared dove, house sparrow, starling, meadow pipit, cormorant, lapwing, black-tailed godwit (300+), yellow wagtail (4), linnet, black-headed gull, little egret (12), skylark, mute swan, coot, redshank (80+), dunlin (4), avocet (6), mallard, sandwich tern, greenshank (6+), oystercatcher, little grebe, moorhen, ruff (20+), golden plover (3) full summer, house martin, tufted duck, little stint, teal, woodpigeon, reed warbler, whimbrel (40+), reed bunting, herring gull, great black backed gull, shelduck, hobby, common tern, pochard, pied wagtail, blackbird, carrion crow, bearded reedling, goldfinch,greylag goose, Canada goose, grey heron.  48 species.

General Observations
Lots of meadow browns , gatekeepers, small skippers and several 6 spot burnet moths, plus an emperor moth caterpillar.

Weather: Hot sunshine

Burnet Moth. Picture by Peter Kite	Small Skipper. Picture by Peter Kite
Emporer Moth Caterpillar. Picture by Peter Kite

A walk past Radar Pool to the first viewing mound followed by a brief visit to Northward Hill and a refuelling stop at The Red Dog, High Halstow

Bird List
Little grebe, great crested grebe, little egret, grey heron, mute swan, greylag, Canada goose, shelduck, teal, mallard, pochard, tufted duck, ruddy duck, common buzzard, marsh harrier, pheasant, coot, oystercatcher, avocet (100+), lapwing, ruff, black-tailed godwit (30+), redshank, greenshank, black-headed gull, collared dove, woodpigeon, swift, green woodpecker, house martin swallow, pied wagtail, wren, dunnock, robin, blackbird, mistle thrush, Cetti’s warbler, reed warbler, whitethroat, blackcap, blue tit, great tit, magpie, rook, carrion crow, starling, house sparrow, chaffinch, greenfinch, goldfinch, linnet, (52 species)

General Observations
Butterflies and dragonflies were seen in abundance along with marsh frogs and an unidentified newt.

Butterflies : Large white, green veined white, red admiral, peacock, comma, meadow brown, gatekeeper, small heath, common blue. Possible marbled white. Also six-spot burnet moth.

Dragonflies/damselflies included Emperor (female) common darter and common blue damselfly.

Weather: Warm and sunny with a light wind

A quick trip to check on a birdline report of a black-winged stilt allegedly seen from a passing car at the end of Bob Dunn Way! Rubbish. No bird or birdwatchers about.

Bird List
Lapwing (2), kestrel (2), grey heron (4), black-headed gull (12), Canada goose (20+), lesser whitethroat, reed bunting, reed warbler (3), carrion crow, lesser black backed gull.

General Observations
Why do birdlines put out such fantasies?

Weather: Warm, sunny

A very brief evening visit but a surprisingly high number of species with black tern the highlight. I also saw black tern here on May 3.

Bird List
Blackbird, song thrush, mandarin (3), swift (4) swallow (20 +), house martin (6), mute swan (12), mallard, greylag goose (30 +), common tern (20+inc juvs), black tern, kestrel, lesser black backed gull, pied wagtail, little ringed plover, shelduck, pochard, great crested grebe, lapwing, linnet, house sparrow, starling, greenfinch, carrion crow, jay, great spotted woodpecker, green woodpecker, chiffchaff, tawny owl (heard), wren TOTAL 30 species.

General Observations
The water level is dropping fast. Soon there will be enough mud exposed to interest regular visitors like little egret, greenfinch and sandpipers.

Weather: Warm, no wind

Crayford Marshes
Maurice Ewart and Eric Brown, Wednesday 18 June 2008, 10.45am to 3.00pm

A walk from Slade Green station to the mouth of the River Darenth

Bird List
Great crested grebe, cormorant, little egret, grey heron, shelduck, mallard (with young), kestrel, hobby, moorhen, oystercatcher, curlew, redshank (pair), black-headed gull, herring gull, lesser black-backed gull, collared dove, woodpigeon, ring-necked parakeet, swift (50+), skylark, swallow, house martin, pied wagtail, wren, dunnock, stonechat (juv), blackbird, mistle thrush, reed warbler, whitethroat, blue tit, magpie, carrion crow, starling, house sparrow, greenfinch, goldfinch, linnet, reed bunting (39 species)

General Observations
This route is fully open again with new information boards, seats and signposts following recent flood defence work by the Environment Agency. Highlight was the hobby which posed on two different posts near the Cray Riverway path "crossroads" and caught dragonflies in hunting flight. There were good numbers of hirundines and starlings were constantly swirling about in flocks of varying size. Tide was high with almost all mud covered. There were no lapwings in the field on the Dartford side where they previously bred. The field now has a high crop instead of shallow pools and there is disturbance from a Cyclo-cross track nearby. But still a good number of species for this local spot.

Butterflies : speckled wood

Weather: Dull and breezy with occasional drizzle

Danson Park, Bexleyheath
John and Jeanna Turner, Monday 16 June 2008, 2.40pm to 3.50pm

A corner of the rock garden produced a magical period of bird watching. Drawn by the calls of nuthatch we spotted a greater spotted woodpecker being harassed for food by a juvenile. The nuthatch calls we realised were in the small tree above us and the pair appeared with four young. Following this a family party of great tits appeared in a nearby bush and two juvenile robins at the base of another. If this were not enough a family party of long tailed tits appeared in the same tree with two adults accompanying eight juveniles.

Bird List
Nuthatch, long tailed tit, great tit, robin, greater spotted woodpecker.

For full list see Danson Park records for 16 June.

Weather: Sunshine

A short visit for woodcock and nightjar, only one woodcock seen briefly, but excellent views of two nightjars flying right in front of us, no actual display.

Bird List
Woodpigeon, collared dove, jackdaw, blackbird, house sparrow, greenfinch, dunnock, chaffinch, wren, robin, chiffchaff (8+), willow warbler (15+), song thrush, long-tailed tit, coal tit, goldcrest, green woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker, carrion crow, swift, mallard, turtle dove (4), woodcock, nightjar (5), starling.

General Observations
Albino wood mouse, lots of common spotted orchids.

Weather: Very warm

Common Spotted Orchid. Picture Peter Kite

Encouraged by a weather forecast of "dull but brightening up later" we arrived in steady drizzle to search for tree pipit, common redstart and woodlark. As we sloshed along a top path waterlogged by several days’ rain a tree pipit lifted spirits by performing its parachute flight. A common redstart called. When the calling ceased a bird of the right shape, colour and size burst from a tree and flew away denying us a view of the head. Two birders with a better angle nearby confirmed it was a male redstart. Alongside the private road to Old Lodge we put up a woodlark from the ground. Drizzle had turned to steady downpour yet we had ticked off all three main target birds, and quite a few others, in a couple of fairly miserable hours. We paddled back up the hill to the car park and drove on to The Hollies car park on the Nutley Road to seek Dartford warbler. After a car bound lunch we debated tactics, deciding Dartford warblers would be more sensible than us and remain hidden out of the rain. We cut the trip short and headed home mumbling about weather forecasts being as reliable as a broken watch or a Steve Harmison loosener and wondering whether Michael Fish had come out of retirement to issue it. On our return to Sidcup we discovered it had been dry there all day. Grrrr..

Bird List
Chaffinch, blackbird, robin, carrion crow, cuckoo, woodlark, blue tit, great tit, coal tit, tree pipit, c redstart, green woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker, goldcrest (2), woodpigeon, collared dove, song thrush, blackcap, chiffchaff, willow warbler, pied wagtail, magpie. Total 22.

Cliffe Pools RSPB Reserve
Anthea Reynolds Sunday 25 May 2008 11.00am to 1.30pm

Open Day RSPB family day event

Bird List
Hobby, cuckoo, barn owl, whitethroat (12), linnet (8), skylark (4), swallow, oystercatcher (5), lapwing (2), redshank, avocet (5), little egret, shelduck (2), gadwall (1), sedge warbler (10), stonechat.

General Observations
Several stalls for children's activities including pond dipping, making models, colouring. Cooked food provided by local scouts (sausages, burgers, bacon rolls), and tea/coffee cakes. A good event for children

Weather: Very warm and humid following local storms and flooding

A walk to the three nearest hides. A small party of Temminck's stints showed well in front of Counterwall hide until flushed by an aggressive ringed plover. Only one returned but fearlessly approached within feet of the hide while feeding. A county tick for me. A greenshank was on the same pool. Near the Wellmarsh Hide a pair of grey partridges scuttled into long grass – the first I had seen in Kent since 2002, also at Elmley. A fine male garganey was on pools at the bottom of the hill near Kingshill Farm and a hobby perched in a dead tree near the farm. The reserve looked splendid, a credit to the warden and his team with plenty of water in the creeks and pools

Bird List
Avocet (200+), blackbird, reed bunting (12+), carrion crow, coot, cormorant, tufted duck, little egret (14), gadwall, garganey, black tailed godwit (250+), bar tailed godwit (2), Canada goose, greylag goose, little grebe, greenshank, black headed gull, lesser black backed gull, grey heron (4), hobby, jackdaw, kestrel, lapwing (some with young), linnet, magpie, mallard, moorhen, oystercatcher, grey partridge (2), pheasant, meadow pipit, pochard, redshank, robin, common sandpiper, shelduck, shoveler, skylark, house sparrow, starling, little stint, Temminck's stint (3), mute swan, swallow, swift, common tern (12), yellow wagtail (20+), reed warbler, sedge warbler, woodpigeon, collared dove. Total 51 species

General Observations
Brown hares abundant

Rainham Marshes RSPB Reserve
John and Jeanna Turner, Tuesday 13 May 2008, 2.40pm to 3.50pm

The Purfleet Scrape held 3 Temmincks Stint, a wood sandpiper, a greenshank, a little ringed plover and two ringed plover. We just missed a blue headed wagtail.

Bird List
Temmincks stint (3), wood sandpiper, little ringed plover, ringed plover (2), greenshank, avocet, redshank, little egret, gadwall, shellduck.

Weather: Sunny but breezy.

Old Lodge Sussex Wildlife Trust Reserve, Ashdown Forest
John and Jeanna Turner, Monday 12 May 2008, 11.30am to 2.30pm

The walk round the reserve produced a pair of wood lark on the ground, many tree pipits singing and song-flighting and a solitary redstart which sang unseen all through lunch, but finally made a brief appearance as we finished. A search for Dartford warbler proved unsuccessful – none have been seen this year.

Bird List
Wood lark, tree pipit, redstart, cuckoo, willow warbler, chiffchaff, goldcrest, stonechat, green woodpecker, greater spotted woodpecker and kestrel

Weather: Sunny but windy.

Oare Marshes, Kent Wildlife Trust Reserve
Eric Brown, Maurice Ewart, Tuesday 6 May 2008, 10.45am to 4.00pm

A walk around the reserve and to Dan’s Dock. Highlights were a hobby perched on a tree 100 yards to the west of Harty Ferry Road, two wintering little stints now in emerging breeding plumage, a little owl sitting on a door frame in front of one of the concrete huts and at least 40 whimbrel in the fields. No sign of bearded tits, yellowhammer or the usual corn bunting on the telegraph wires.

Bird List
Avocet (5), blackbird, blackcap, reed bunting 20), chaffinch, carrion crow, coot (with young), cormorant, cuckoo, collared dove, stock dove, rock dove (feral pigeon), tufted duck, ruddy duck, dunnock, little egret (3), gadwall, black-tailed godwit (2), Canada goose, greylag goose (7 young), little grebe, greenfinch, black headed gull, herring gull, grey heron, hobby (3), kestrel (3), marsh harrier, lapwing, linnet, pied wagtail, mallard, sand martin, nightingale, little owl, oystercatcher, pheasant, meadow pipit, ringed plover, pochard, redshank, shelduck, shoveler, skylark, house sparrow, sparrowhawk, starling, little stint (2), mute swan , swallow, teal, common tern, little tern, mistle thrush, blue tit, pied wagtail, Cetti’s warbler, reed warbler, wheatear, whimbrel (40+), whitethroat, lesser whitethroat, woodpigeon. TOTAL 64 species.

Weather: Warm sunshine but cool breeze

Following the appearance of a black throated diver in Bexley on Easter Monday it seemed unlikely another rarity would turn up in the Borough on the next Bank Holiday Monday. Yet a Richard's pipit was reported on a scrape at Crossness in the morning. By the time we arrived it had gone but there was plenty by way of consolation.

Bird List
Wood sandpiper, little ringed plover, lapwing, whimbrel, mallard, mute swan, sparrowhawk, starling, linnet, Canada goose, swift, stonechat, whitethroat, cuckoo, magpie, reed warbler, shelduck, cormorant, grey heron, swallow, little grebe, carrion crow, dunnock, blue tit, kestrel, pied wagtail, meadow pipit, oystercatcher, moorhen, reed bunting, blackbird, black headed gull, herring gull, woodpigeon. TOTAL 34 species.

General Observations
Three birders remained hoping for the RP to return but alas....

Weather: Fine, warm sunshine

Bough Beech Kent Wildlife Trust Reserve
Maurice Ewart/Eric Brown, Friday 2 May 2008, 12.30pm to 3.00pm

A walk along the causeway and beyond looking for migrants

Bird List
Great crested grebe (20+), cormorant, grey heron (10+), mute swan, greylag goose, Canada goose, shelduck (25+), gadwall, mallard, tufted duck, buzzard (2), sparrowhawk, kestrel, pheasant, moorhen, coot, common sandpiper (2), lesser black-backed gull, common tern (5), black tern, collared dove, woodpigeon, cuckoo (h), swallow, house martin, pied wagtail, wren, dunnock, robin, nightingale, blackbird, song thrush, reed warbler, lesser whitethroat, whitethroat, garden warbler, blackcap (h), chiffchaff, willow warbler, long-tailed tit, blue tit, great tit, jay, magpie, jackdaw, carrion crow, starling, house sparrow, chaffinch, greenfinch, goldfinch, linnet, reed bunting (53 species).

General Observations
Good close views of nearly all migrants including the nightingale. The black tern conveniently sat on a buoy for a while and was conspicuous in its breeding plumage. Orange tip among butterflies seen.

Weather: Warm and sunny

Knole Park, Sevenoaks
Maurice Ewart/Eric Brown, Friday 2 May 2008, 10.30am to 12.00

A short walk along two of the rides looking for summer migrants. Highlight was two common redstarts found on our way out of the park after giving up the search! Female heard then eventually located sitting nicely posed on a branch abut 30 yards from path. A smart male found about 100 yards away perched on top of a large tree. Tree pipit song-flighting from a dead tree with two yellowhammers nearby

Bird List
Sparrowhawk, woodpigeon, ring-necked parakeet, green woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker, tree pipit, wren, robin, redstart (2), blackbird, mistle thrush, song thrush, willow warbler (2+), goldcrest (2), blue tit, great tit, magpie, jackdaw, carrion crow, starling, chaffinch, yellowhammer (2)

General Observations
Butterflies: small white, brimstone, peacock, orange tip (many). Plenty of fallow deer and sika deer.

Weather: Warm and sunny

Grove Ferry NNR, Kent
Peter Kite, Jacky Foot, Karen Hills, Saturday 26 April 2008, 10:00am to 5pm

Bird List
Collared dove, robin, chiffchaff, willow warbler, chaffinch, blue tit, great tit, swift(6), dunnock, blackcap, carrion crow, magpie, greylag goose, skylark, mute swan, reed warbler(8+), sedge warbler (20+), cetti`s warbler 15+), shelduck, teal, gadwall, lapwing, lesser black backed gull, little ringed plover(4), tufted duck, marsh harrier(6+), mallard, sparrowhawk, kestrel, greenshank, black-headed gull, hobby(12+), grasshopper warbler, linnet, reed bunting, moorhen, coot, great crested grebe, swallow, house martin, grey heron, house sparrow, goldfinch, herring gull, cuckoo, wren, common tern (12+), greenfinch, nightingale (2), long-tailed tit, pochard, shoveler, dunlin(4), grey plover (4), ruff (6), mistle thrush, blackbird, rook, pheasant, song thrush, green woodpecker, pied wagtail, starling, woodpigeon, ,jackdaw, cormorant, whitethroat Total 67 species.

General Observations
Butterflies; Many orange tip, peacock, speckled wood. Marsh frog.

Weather: Low cloud at first, then very hot.

Hobby at Grove Ferry. Picture by Peter Kite	Marsh Frog at Grove Ferry. Picture by Peter Kite

Bough Beech KWT Reserve
Maurice Ewart/Eric Brown, Tuesday 22 April 2008, 10.30 – 13.30

A walk along the causeway and a look in the orchard. Highlights were close views of singing nightingale, willow warbler, reed warbler, blackcap, chiffchaff and linnet. A single arctic tern was very active. Hirundines present in good numbers while four late bramblings were still feeding in the orchard.

Bird List
Little grebe, great crested grebe, cormorant, grey heron, mute swan, greylag goose, canada goose, shelduck, gadwall, mallard, pintail (2), shoveler, tufted duck, sparrowhawk, kestrel, pheasant, moorhen, coot, lapwing, black-headed gull, lesser black-backed gull, common tern, arctic tern, collared dove, woodpigeon, green woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker, sand martin, swallow, house martin, meadow pipit, pied wagtail, dunnock, wren, robin, nightingale, blackbird, song thrush, reed warbler, whitethroat, blackcap, chiffchaff, willow warbler, long-tailed tit, blue tit, great tit, jay, magpie, carrion crow, rook, jackdaw, starling, chaffinch, brambling (4), greenfinch, linnet, bullfinch (57 species).

Also seen : fox, weasel, rabbit

Weather: Becoming bright after early rain. Wind light NE

Rainham Marshes RSPB Reserve
John and Jeanna Turner, Monday 21 April 2008, 2.30pm to 4.30pm

The walk round the reserve produced a pair of garganey on the pool beyond the butts and a black tern on the Avely pool.

Bird List
Garganey, black tern, many gulls.

Weather: Sunny but windy

Dungeness/Rye Harbour Local Nature Reserve
Maurice Ewart/Eric Brown/Doreen Newson, Monday 21 April 2008, 11.00am to 3.40pm

A visit to Rye Harbour with a short detour to Dungeness for ring ouzel near the old lighthouse and to Denge Marsh unsucessfully for garganey.

Bird List
Little grebe, great crested grebe, cormorant, little egret, grey heron, mute swan, greylag goose, canada goose, brent goose (3), shelduck, gadwall, mallard, shoveler, pochard, tufted duck, marsh harrier (2), kestrel, pheasant, red-legged partridge, moorhen, coot, oystercatcher, avocet, ringed plover, golden plover (60), grey plover (10+), lapwing (one with 2 young), dunlin, bar-tailed godwit (3), whimbrel (6+), redshank, turnstone (30+), Mediterranean gull, black-headed gull, common gull, lesser black-backed gull, great black-backed gull, herring gull, sandwich tern, common tern, little tern (3), collared dove, stock dove, woodpigeon, skylark, swallow, meadow pipit, yellow wagtail (4+), pied wagtail, dunnock, robin, stonechat (2), wheatear (6+), ring ouzel (2), blackbird, mistle thrush (2), cetti's warbler, sedge warbler (5), reed warbler(h), whitethroat, magpie, carrion crow, jackdaw, rook, starling, house sparrow, chaffinch, greenfinch, linnet, reed bunting (70 species)

General Observations
Surprising number of winter visitors still present at Rye Harbour. No time to visit Castle Water where a black tern, cuckoos and lesser whitethroats were reported

Weather: Becoming very warm and sunny as the NE wind dropped away in the afternoon.

Cliffe Pools RSPB Reserve
John and Jeanna Turner, Sunday 20 April, 9.30am to 12.30pm

A common crane was seen form the mound distantly in long grass. It gave brief complete views as it moved through the grass. Five nightingales were heard while walking round the reserve.

Weather: Sunny

Oare Marshes Kent Wildlife Trust Reserve, Faversham
Maurice Ewart/Eric Brown/Doreen Newson, Steven Sheppard, Sandra Sheppard, Wednesday 16 April 2008, 10.30am to 4pm

A walk round both the west flood as far as Dan’s Dock and then round the east flood.

Bird List
Little grebe, great crested grebe, little egret (6), grey heron, mute swan, greylag goose, brent goose (50+), shelduck, gadwall, teal, mallard, pintail (4), shoveler, pochard, tufted duck, common buzzard (3), marsh harrier, kestrel, peregrine, pheasant, moorhen, coot, oystercatcher, avocet, lapwing, dunlin, black-tailed godwit (150), whimbrel (6), curlew, redshank, black-headed gull, great black-backed gull, common tern, cormorant, collared dove, stock dove, woodpigeon, cuckoo, green woodpecker, skylark, sand martin (20+), meadow pipit, dunnock, blackbird, song thrush, cetti’s warbler (3), sedge warbler (2), blackcap, great tit, blue tit, magpie, carrion crow, rook, starling, house sparrow, chaffinch, greenfinch, linnet, reed bunting (59 species)

General Observations
Also seen: red fox, rabbit, common seal, peacock butterfly, green-veined white

Weather: Sunny periods. Cool but light NE wind

Cliffe Pools RSPB & Northward Hill RSPB Reserves
Eric Brown, Stephen Ansell, Wednesday 9 April 2008, Cliffe Pools 10.30am to 12.15pm Northward Hill 1.00pm to 4.30pm

A visit to Cliffe to look for early arriving migrants proved unsuccessful, the afternoon was spent at Northward Hill where again migrants were elusive.

Bird List
Little grebe, great crested grebe, cormorant, heron, little egret, mute swan, shelduck, canada goose, ruddy duck, wigeon, gadwall, teal, mallard, shoveler, pochard, tufted duck, marsh harrier, kestrel, red-legged partridge, moorhen, coot, oystercatcher, avocet (20), lapwing, snipe (2), redshank, black-headed gull, woodpigeon, collared dove, barn owl, green woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker, skylark, meadow pipit, starling, magpie, jackdaw, rook, carrion crow, wren, dunnock, chiffchaff (heard), robin, blackbird, blue tit, great tit, house sparrow, chaffinch, greenfinch, goldfinch, linnet (9), reed bunting. (52 species).

General Observations
Cliffe Pools quiet although another birdwatcher mentioned a spotted redshank. We could only find a common redshank. Chiffchaffs were singing everywhere. A distant marsh harrier at Northward Hill was seen displaying, at one point being mobbed by a kestrel. A mobile group of 5 linnets gave good views in warm afternoon sunshine. The highlight of the day was a barn owl that left the barn at Northward Hill, circled and returned..

Weasel (2), fox, rabbit (numerous)

Butterflies: Peacock (numerous), comma.

Weather: Sunny, warm with very little wind.

Danson Park, Bexleyheath
Philip Cliffe, Sunday 6 April 2008, 6pm to 6.45pm

The rail was in the tiny stream through the bog garden. The grebes seem to have paired up. Some were on nests and two pairs involved in courtship display.

Bird List
Water rail, fieldfare, grey wagtail, lesser black backed gull, pied wagtail, great crested grebe (12), tufted duck (4), numerous moorhens, coot, mallard, Canada goose (20)

Weather: Very cold but calm, snow on the ground from recent fall.

Foots Cray Meadows, Sidcup
Peter Kite, Friday 4 April 2008, 8.30am to 11.30am

Bird List
Song thrush (14), robin, greenfinch, wren, green woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker, lesser spotted woodpecker, ring necked parakeet, carrion crow, magpie, woodpigeon, dunnock, collared dove, blue tit, blackbird, chaffinch, great tit, jay (6), jackdaw, stock dove, mallard, tufted duck (16), moorhen, coot, mute swan, shoveler (2f), grey wagtail, kestrel, mistle thrush, chiffchaff (12), long tailed tit, pied wagtail, goldfinch, siskin (25+), 34 species

Weather: Sunny, some cloud but very warm

Chiffchaff in Danson Park. Photo by Peter Kite

Kestrel in Danson Park. Photo by Peter Kite

Sevenoaks Wildfowl Reserve/Bough Beech Kent Wildlife Trust Reserve
Maurice Ewart/Eric Brown/ Doreen Newson, Wednesday 2 April 2008, Sevenoaks 10.15am to 11.30am Bough Beech 12.00 – 16.00pm

A quick visit to Sevenoaks looking for lesser spotted woodpecker (unsuccessfully) then on to Bough Beech

Bird List
Great crested grebe, cormorant, grey heron, mute swan, greylag, Canada goose, shelduck, wigeon, gadwall, shoveler, teal, mallard, tufted duck, ruddy duck, sparrowhawk (3), pheasant, moorhen, coot, little ringed plover (4), lapwing, snipe (11), green sandpiper, black-headed gull, lesser black-backed gull, herring gull, collared dove, woodpigeon, green woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker, sand martin, grey wagtail (4), pied wagtail, wren, dunnock, robin, blackbird, fieldfare (3), song thrush, mistle thrush, blackcap, chiffchaff, long-tailed tit, blue tit, great tit, nuthatch, jay, magpie, carrion crow, rook, jackdaw, starling, chaffinch, brambling (16), greenfinch, goldfinch, reed bunting, (56 species).

General Observations
The red-crested pochard and garganey at Bough Beech reported the previous day had moved on but the bramblings there (some coming into breeding plumage) gave very good views. Chiffchaffs were singing everywhere as were several blackcaps at Sevenoaks. The little ringed plovers at Sevenoaks were constantly on the move. The nuthatches at BB were constantly coming and going with nyger seed which they were hoarding away close to the visitor centre. A blue tit frequently visited a nestbox.

Butterflies : peacock

Mammals: a small unidentified vole, black with white underside, ran down the join between walls of the information centre to a bottle inverted on a stick, ran back up again and disappeared in a crack between brickwork.

Weather: Steady drizzle clearing in the afternoon

Brambling on feeder at Bough Beech. Photo by Eric Brown

Hyde Park
Maurice Ewart, Saturday 29 March 2008, 12.00 – 12.30pm

A short walk from Lancaster Gate central line tube station to see the tawny owls in lime trees 200 yards west of Peter Pan statue.

Bird List
Tawny owl (1 adult + 4 owlets), also ring-necked parakeet, green woodpecker, jay (3), blue tit, great tit, robin, blackbird (1 albino), starling, coot, moorhen, pochard, tufted duck, grey heron, cormorant, black-headed gull, herring gull, lesser black-backed gull, mute swan.

General Observations
Blue tits/great tits, robin feeding from hand

Weather: Bright and breezy

Haysden Country Park, Tonbridge
Maurice Ewart, Eric Brown, Tuesday 25 March 2008, 10.15am to 3.00pm

A walk from the car park to Hawden Lake and on towards Powdermill Lane. In the afternoon a walk round Haysden Lake. Footpaths very muddy.

Bird List
Great crested grebe, cormorant, grey heron, mute swan, greylag goose, Canada goose, wigeon, mallard, pochard, tufted duck, sparrowhawk (2), kestrel (3-one with prey), pheasant, moorhen, coot, lapwing, green sandpiper, black-headed gull, common gull, collared dove, woodpigeon, little owl, green woodpecker (4), great spotted woodpecker, sand martin (20+), pied wagtail, wren, dunnock, robin, black redstart, blackbird, fieldfare (100+), song thrush (5), chiffchaff (2), goldcrest (2), long-tailed tit, blue tit, great tit, magpie, carrion crow, jackdaw, starling, chaffinch, goldfinch, reed bunting. (45 species)

General Observations
Chiffchaffs and song thrushes were all singing. Two sparrowhawks displayed over Hawden Lake where wigeon and green sandpiper were feeding. The black redstart was hawking for insects from the fence surrounding the sheep pen towards Powdermill Lane . The little owl could be seen on the roof of a shed from the bridge over the stream between Hawden Lake and Powdermill Lane. Sand martins were all hawking insects over Haysden Lake.

Weather: Bright at first, becoming cloudy with a cold NW wind

Photo by Dave Thompson

Danson Park, Bexleyheath
Maurice Ewart, Eric Brown, Monday 24 March 2008, 12.30pm to 2.05pm

Following reports of a black-throated diver on the birdlines at approximately 11am the bird was located close to shore on the A2 side of the main lake. It rested and preened but was not seen feeding. Heavy streaking along the flanks suggested a 1st winter bird.

Bird List
Black-throated diver, fieldfare (2), grey wagtail (2), pochard, tufted duck, black headed gull (numerous), cormorant (12+), coot (numerous), moorhen (numerous), Canada goose (8+), lesser-black back gull, mallard, blackbird, robin, wren, starling.

General Observations
Interest in the diver quickly built up and by 2.05 at least 10 birders were studying it.

Weather: Cold with snow flurries

Black throated diver, Danson Park, Bexleyheath, 26 March 2008. Photo by Peter Kite

Black throated diver, Danson Park, Bexleyheath, 24 March 2008, Photo by Stephen Sheppard

Delisle Road, West Thamesmead
Dawn Smith, Sunday 23 March 2008, Noon

Male pheasant strutting around my front garden and "grazing".

Weather: Fine

Cock pheasant visits West Thamesmead garden. Photos by Dawn Smith

Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve
Maurice Ewart, Eric Brown, Doreen Newson, Steve & Sandra Shepherd
Tuesday 18 March 2008, 10.15am to 3.00pm

A good walk round with a stop for lunch outside the visitor centre.

Bird List
Great crested grebe (12+), little grebe, cormorant, grey heron, mute swan, greylag, Canada goose, shelduck, wigeon, gadwall ,teal, mallard, shoveler, pochard, tufted duck, ruddy duck, hen harrier (f), pheasant, moorhen, coot, lapwing, black-headed gull, common gull, lesser black-backed gull, great black-backed gull, collared dove, woodpigeon, green woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker, sand martin (6), grey wagtail, pied wagtail, wren, dunnock, robin, blackbird, song thrush (10+), mistle thrush, chiffchaff (6+), goldcrest (3+), long-tailed tit, coal tit, blue tit, great tit, treecreeper (6), jay, magpie, jackdaw, carrion crow, starling, chaffinch, greenfinch, bullfinch (f), (53 species).

General Observations
A brief flyover ringtail hen harrier was a big surprise. Chiffchaffs were singing all round the reserve. The siskins have disappeared, no snipe were seen and wildfowl and lapwing numbers are much lower now. Some great crested grebes were displaying . Treecreepers were much in evidence with a pair on dead horizontal tree by main patch behind willow hide, three on one tree near a small bridge just off main path and a single nearby.

Weather: Mainly dull with a cold northerly

Foots Cray Meadows
Philip Cliffe, Tuesday 18 March 2008, 9:30am to 10:30am

Highlight of the visit was a female brambling among a flock including linnets and chaffinches at start of path to Old Bexley.

Bird List
Sand martin , grey wagtail , stock dove (2), gadwall (3), brambling, linnet, chaffinch.

Weather: Cool, dull, slight easterly wind

Danson Park, Bexleyheath
Alan Willis, Friday 8 February 2008

A White-Cheeked Pintail was present in the pond at Danson Park on Thursday 7 and Friday 8 February. This is a resident of southern South America - I saw one in Argentina (Buenos Aires) last
year. This bird is presumably an escapee from some local site. Nevertheless, it is a lovely bird to watch and seems pretty fearless among the mallards and tufted ducks in the pond.

Bird List
White-cheeked pintail, mallard, tufted duck

Weather: Bright, sunny

White-cheeked pintail Danson Parks. Picture by Alan Willis

Foots Cray Meadows
Trev Minns, Sunday 3 February 2008, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm

A walk along the river on the church side then up to the stable block and back through the woods to the bridge.

Bird List
Black headed gull (50+), mallard (25), tufted duck (10), coot (12), moorhen (20), little grebe (6), gadwall, mute swan (2), carrion crow (30), chaffinch (4), robin (2), blue tit (6), great tit (10), long-tailed tit (4), jay (3), magpie (5), jackdaw (2), dunnock (4), feral pigeon (8), woodpigeon (20+), blackbird (4), house sparrow (5), white-cheeked pintail.

Weather: Cold clear dry day. Light wind to give chill factor. Soft underfoot.

White-cheeked pintail near Five Arches Bridge, Foots Cray Meadows. Picture by Trevor Minns

Foots Cray Meadows
Eric Brown, Wednesday 30 January 2008, 1.00pm to 2.30pm

A short walk to check on a report of redpoll. Not seen but male kingfisher posed on branch overhanging Cray about 200 yds downstream from Five Arches Bridge until disturbed by dogwalker.

Bird list
Blackbird, song thrush, mistle thrush, redwing (5), robin, dunnock, jay, magpie, carrion crow, ring necked parakeet (numerous), great spotted woodpecker, blue tit, great tit, long-tailed tit, grey wagtail, kingfisher, mallard, tufted duck, coot, moorhen (20+), mute swan, black headed gull, little egret, goldfinch, wren, woodpigeon, little grebe (5). Total 27.

General Observations
Red fox, grey squirrel.
Dogs 24. Dogs in River Cray 5. Illegal fishermen 2.
Weather: Bright sunshine, mild.

Southfleet Village Pond
Maurice Ewart and Eric Brown, Friday 25 January 2008, 10.30am

Falcated Duck on village duck pond beside the main road! There will always be doubts about origins of unusual wildfowl but this bird, back for a second successive winter, was being busily scanned and photographed just in case. Whether wild or not this spectacular Asiatic species is well worth seeing. It is absent from most guides but Lars Jonsson describes it as gadwall-sized. The iridescent head of this male changes from green to brown depending on the light. It has a white chin and neck with a clear black line, grey vermiculations on flanks and wings and a dark, curled tail. Superb! It showed interest in bread being thrown by visitors but was generally beaten to it by quicker and more aggressive mallards plus some dodgy "farmyard ducks".

Falcated Duck, Broaditch Farm Pond, Southfleet, Kent. Photograph Stephen Ansell

Falcated Duck at Southfleet Pond by Stephen Shepherd

Falcated duck is not on the official Kent list in the latest Kent Bird Report (2003) as it has not been accepted by the KOS Editorial & Records Committee.

Bird List
Falcated duck (M), mistle thrush, song thrush, mallard, blue tit, great tit, greenfinch, chaffinch (30+).

General Observations
For Southfleet village take A2 turnoff signed Northfleet. At roundabout take fourth exit marked Southfleet and cross motorway. Pond is two miles from A2 after cricket ground and opposite Manor Barn pub. Park in pub car park.

Weather: Bright sunshine

Foots Cray Meadows
Maurice Ewart, Monday 21 January 2008, 11.00am to 12.15pm

A walk from the traffic lights at Cray Road to Five Arches then on to the next bridge returning along the opposite bank of the Cray.

Bird List
Little grebe (4), tufted duck (12), mallard, gadwall, coot, moorhen, mute swan (2), herring gull, black-headed gull, carrion crow, magpie, jay, ring-necked parakeet, redwing, song thrush, blackbird, robin, dunnock, wren, starling, woodpigeon, stock dove, collared dove, great spotted woodpecker, blue tit, great tit, long-tailed tit, chaffinch, goldfinch, grey wagtail (30 species)

General Observations
Plenty of water in the Cray which was flowing fast although I thought it was clear enough not to deter the local kingfishers. The strong wind was not conducive to seeing passerines and heavy rain cut short my visit.

Weather: Mild, windy with squally showers developing

Bough Beech Reservoir KWT Reserve
Maurice Ewart, Eric Brown, Friday 4 January 2008, 10.00am to 12.30pm

A walk along the causeway after some time observing birds at the feeding station and in the orchard

Bird List
Great crested grebe, cormorant, grey heron, mute swan, greylag goose, Canada goose, mandarin (2), wigeon, gadwall, teal, mallard, pochard, tufted duck, pheasant, moorhen, coot, snipe (8), black-headed gull, collared dove, woodpigeon, great spotted woodpecker, pied wagtail, wren, dunnock, robin, blackbird, fieldfare, song thrush, redwing, chiffchaff, long-tailed tit, marsh tit, coal tit, blue tit, great tit, nuthatch (2), jay, magpie, carrion crow, rook, jackdaw, starling, house sparrow, chaffinch, brambling (60+), greenfinch, goldfinch, (47 species).

General Observations
Many bramblings particularly round the feeding station where nuthatch and marsh tit were also seen. The only mandarins were east of the causeway . Water levels high so no lapwings.

Weather: Cold dull and drizzly with a moderate SW wind