Danson
Park Sightings
Data supplied by John Turner |
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| Squacco
heron at Crossness Southern Marshes on Wednesday May 30,
2007, a species last recorded in London in 1866. Pictures by
Mick Southcott. |
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| Click
pictures to enlarge |
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Cliffe Pools RSPB Reserve
Maurice Ewart and Eric Brown, Wednesday
30 July 2008, 10.30am to 2.45pm
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.
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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
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| Burnet
Moth. Picture by Peter Kite |
Small
Skipper. Picture by Peter Kite |
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| Emporer
Moth Caterpillar. Picture by Peter Kite |
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Cliffe Pools/Northward
Hill
Maurice Ewart, Eric Brown, Doreen Newson and Dave Thompson,
Tuesday 22 July 2008, 10.45am to 2.45pm
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 |
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Dartford Marshes
Eric Brown, Wednesday 16 July 2008,
10.20am to 11.30am
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 |
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Bough Beech Kent Wildlife
Trust Reserve
Eric Brown, Monday 23 June 2008, 7.50pm to 8.30pm
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
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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 |
Blean
Woods, Canterbury
Peter Kite, Karen Hills, Monday 16 June 2008, 6.30pm to 9.30pm
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
Albino wood mouse Picture
Peter Kite
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Old
Lodge Sussex Wildlife Trust reserve, Ashdown Forest
Eric Brown, Maurice
Ewart, Wednesday 28 May 2008, 10.30am to 3.00pm
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.
Weather: Rain,
rain and more rain |
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 |
Elmley
Marshes RSPB Reserve, Sheppey
Eric
Brown, Wednesday 14 May 2008, 10.30am to 4.15pm
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
Weather: Warm
sunshine but very cool breeze |
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 |
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Crossness
Nature Reserve, Abbey Wood
Eric Brown, Maurice Ewart. Monday 5 May 2008, 3.30pm to 5.15pm
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 |
Foots
Cray Meadows, Sidcup
Peter Kite, Monday 28 April.2008, 10:00am to 12:30pm
Bird List
Collared dove, wren, song thrush, blackcap (6), chiffchaff (8),
starling, blue tit, ring necked parakeet, woodpigeon, greenfinch,
chaffinch, robin, magpie, blackbird, great tit, mallard (16), carrion
crow, dunnock, tufted duck (10), coot, grey heron, green woodpecker,
long-tailed tit, mute swan, great spotted woodpecker, starling,
stock dove (4), whitethroat. Total 29 species
General Observations
Orange tip butterfly, red eared terrapin
Weather: Bright
and warm at first, then heavy showers
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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.
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| 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
|
Danson
Park, Bexleyheath
Peter Kite, Monday 31 March 2008, 10:20am to 1.30pm
Bird List
Shoveler, great crested grebe (12), grey heron (2), green woodpecker
(6), great spotted woodpecker, kestrel (2), grey wagtail (4), nuthatch,
stock dove, jay (2).
General Observations
No sighting of the black throated diver first seen a week ago.
Weather: Cloudy. Brief sunny periods

Great Crested
Grebe in Danson Park. Photo by Peter Kite |

Mistle
Thrush in Danson Park. Photo by Peter Kite |

Grey
Wagtail in Danson Park. Photo by Peter Kite |
|
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. |
Foots
Cray Meadows
Peter Sussex, Tuesday 29 January 2008, 11.00am to 1.00pm
Two redpolls sighted in riverside bushes, approximately
200m downstream from Five Arches bridge on the North Cray Road bank
of the river, opposite the two Scots Pine trees. Sightings of siskins
and redpolls here were once regular events, but I hadn't seen either
for some years.
Bird List
Redpoll (2), black-headed gull (50+) on main lake, mute swan(pair),
dabchick(5), mallard, carrion crow (50+), little egret, kingfisher,
grey wagtail, woodpigeon (40+) on Royal Park School field, song
thrush, blackbird, coot, moorhen, tufted duck (6), gadwall (4).
General Observations
Too many dog-walkers about. Much bread etc is brought to feed the
ducks, causing the gulls to get excited. Constant disturbance in
river, with swans harassed.
Weather: Sunny and cold.
|
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
|
If
you would like to report any rare or unusual sightings then please
email Eric Brown
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