Bough Beech Reservoir & KWT Reserve
John Carter, Thursday 28 December 2006, 11.30am to 3.45pm

Feeders by the Oast House a scene of much activity with five species of tit in evidence. Reed buntings in the reeds, fieldfare feeding on fallen apples in the orchard and large numbers of chaffinch but no brambling. On the reservoir shelduck was unusual for this site. On the reserve plenty of mandarin swam beneath the trees and snipe hid in reeds.

Bird List
Blue tit, great tit, long-tailed tit, marsh tit (2), coal tit, robin, reed bunting (2), woodpigeon, cormorant, grey heron, carrion crow, jackdaw, magpie, jay, fieldfare (up to 30), chaffinch, greenfinch, goldfinch, nuthatch, wren, dunnock, pochard (76), tufted duck (30), mandarin (10), snipe (2), great spotted woodpecker (2), blackbird, starling, song thrush, teal, mallard, black headed gull, common gull, great crested grebe, shelduck, pheasant, kestrel, moorhen, coot, house sparrow. TOTAL 40 species.

Weather: Fine, mild.

Maple Leaf Drive, Sidcup
Eric Brown, Tuesday 19 December 2006, 12.10pm

Blackcap (male) in garden on crab appple tree. Later flew to pyracantha bush and then into neighbouring garden.

Weather: Cold, damp

Blackfen
Eric Brown, Sunday 17 December 2006, 12.35pm

Little egret flying over Somerfield store alongside A2 heading towards Eltham/Falconwood. Also green woodpecker in my garden at Maple Leaf Drive, Sidcup

Weather: Mild, dry

Crossness Nature Reserve (Erith Marshes)
Karen Sutton, Thursday 14 December 2006, 10am to 1pm

Public walk led by Ralph Todd

Bird list
Thames Foreshore: Black-headed gulls (200), teal (200), gadwall (40), common sandpiper, redshank (2), lapwing (100), great crested grebe (3), dunlin, peregrine.

Nature Reserve: Stonechat, reed bunting, chaffinch (2), kestrel, gadwall (46), mallard (3), coot (3), mute swan, teal (20), pochard (2), little grebe, snipe (3).

General observations
Birds may have been deterred by very strong wind

Weather: Mild, windy

Rainham and Aveley Marshes
Maurice Ewart, Monday 4 December 2006, 11.00am – 2.30pm

A walk round the new Rainham Marshes RSPB reserve and along the Riverside Walk. High tide.

Cormorant, grey heron, greylag goose, Canada goose, shelduck, wigeon (500+), gadwall, teal, mallard, pintail, shoveler, kestrel, moorhen, lapwing(1000+), snipe (3), black-tailed godwit (150+), black-headed gull, lesser black-backed gull, herring gull, great black-backed gull, collared dove, stock dove, woodpigeon, skylark, meadow pipit (6+), pied wagtail, dunnock, robin, stonechat (3), blackbird, song thrush, mistle thrush, blue tit, magpie, carrion crow, starling, chaffinch, greenfinch (38 species).

General observations
Nothing of real note. A dozen herons in large gull roost. No mud uncovered so no waders seen from riverside walk. Wigeon everywhere.

First visit since official opening. Friendly staff and a reasonable café. No access to reserve from riverside walk without returning to the visitor centre.

Weather: Strong SW breeze. Bright at first becoming dull.

Wyncham Avenue, Sidcup
Eric Brown, Monday 27 November 2006, 11am

Little Egret flying over Wyncham Avenue following the line of River Shuttle

Weather: Dull, overcast.

Funton Creek, Elmley Gun Club Track, Leysdown, Harty Ferry Road, Sheppey
Eric Brown and Maurice Ewart, Tuesday 21 November 2006, 10.20am to 3.50pm

Funton Creek just before high tide provided huge flocks of waders and geese then a search for winter thrushes around the Elmley entrance, shorebirds at Leysdown and the rough-legged buzzard on Harty Marshes. The RL Buzzard sat on a distant fencepost to the right soon after Harty Ferry Road bends left at Capel Fleet. At the raptor viewpoint there were no birds at all in or around the reedbeds towards Muswell Manor due to a shoot involving at least 20 individuals. At Harty Ferry Inn a merlin alighted briefly on the garden fence. No sign of whooper or Bewick swans or winter geese.

Bird list
FC: avocet (up to 300), brent geese (200+), wigeon, curlew, grey plover, shelduck, pintail (50), dunlin, redshank, skylark, teal.

EGC Track; redwing, blackbird, greenfinch, robin, chaffinch, little egret, moorhen, coot, ruddy duck (f), blue tit, pied wagtail, collared dove, green woodpecker, grey heron.

Leysdown; turnstone (20), oystercatcher, common gull, black headed gull, great black-backed gull, sanderling, meadow pipit, jackdaw, rook, magpie, ringed plover.

Harty Ferry Road; golden plover (200+), pheasant (numerous), red-legged partridge (numerous), Canada goose, mistle thrush, song thrush, reed bunting (12), corn bunting (21), lapwing, starling, mute swan, marsh harrier (12+), kestrel, rough-legged buzzard, hen harrier (ringtail).

Harty Ferry Inn: Black-tailed godwit, merlin (2), house sparrow, cormorant.

General observations
Flying insects still around with a pied wagtail flying up to take a small moth over Leysdown beach.

Weather: Bright sunshine giving perfect visibility. Strong winds

Oare Marshes KWT Reserve
Maurice Ewart, Monday 6 November 2006, 3pm

Walk from Swale hide to Oare Village along Faversham Creek.

Bird list
Curlew, black-tailed godwit, bar-tailed godwit, oystercatcher, lapwing, grey plover, avocet, redshank, ringed plover, dunlin, long billed dowitcher , snipe, water rail, brent goose, greylag goose, mute swan, grey heron, little egret, cormorant, herring gull, common gull, wigeon, shelduck, pintail, shoveler, mallard, gadwall, teal, coot, moorhen, little grebe, goldfinch, stonechat, meadow pipit, rock pipit, blackbird, rook, jackdaw, carrion crow, magpie, starling, house sparrow, blue tit, little owl, kestrel, pheasant.

Earlier sparrowhawk + 2 little stint + marsh harriers on Sheppey

General observations
Extra high tide following full moon.Most birds seen when tide fell exposing mud. Prolonged and good views of L-B Dowitcher from path down Faversham creek with plenty snipe nearby. Water rail posed for five mins while preening close by. Still clouded yellows and red admirals plus a few dragonflies. Seal swimming fast up Faversham Creek

Weather: Sunny and mild. No noticeable wind

Oare Marshes KWT reserve
Maurice Ewart, Wednesday, 1 November 2006, 10.30am to 4.15pm

Walk along Saxon Shore Way from Oare Village and round East Flood with 90 mins at Swale Hide and 90 mins at East Flood Hide.

Bird list
Little grebe, great crested grebe(Swale), slavonian grebe, cormorant, bittern, little egret (5), grey heron(4), mute swan, greylag goose, brent goose, shelduck, wigeon, gadwall, teal, mallard, pintail (2), shoveler, marsh harrier (7+), kestrel (2), pheasant, water rail, moorhen, coot, oystercatcher, avocet (20), grey plover, lapwing, dunlin, ruff (5), snipe (40/50), black-tailed godwit (500+), bar-tailed godwit (7), curlew, redshank (100+), black-headed gull, herring gull, great black-backed gull, lesser black-backed gull, collared dove, stock dove, wood pigeon, short-eared owl, little owl, pied wagtail, bearded tit (h), blue tit, great tit, magpie, jackdaw, rook, carrion crow, starling, house sparrow, chaffinch, greenfinch, goldfinch, reed bunting.

General observations
Total 56 species + 1 heard. Steady stream of Marsh Harriers from S Swale to Sheppey. S-E Owl seen on Sheppey from Swale hide. Little owl in usual place behind cottages seen from Saxon Shore Way. Bittern on East Flood flew between reedbeds near Swale hide. I was there on a falling tide.

Weather: Sunny and cold with a F6 north westerly

Footscray Meadows
John Turner, Saturday 28 October 2006, 10.00am to 12.45pm

Birds were difficult to see with trees still heavily leaved but the riverside yielded good views of grey wagtail and the lake good views of gadwall. The highlight of the morning was the cormorant's tussle with a very large carp, which it finally subdued and managed to swallow without sinking.

Bird list
Ring-necked parakeets (numerous), goldfinch (5), greenfinch (4), chaffinch (2), grey wagtail, pied wagtail (2), jay (2), robin, wren, dunnock, great tit (2), blue tit, coot (many), moorhen (7) mallard (numerous), tufted duck , gadwall (9), mute swan (2), great spotted woodpecker (heard), kestrel being mobbed by carrion crows, magpies (4) cormorant.

Moorhen at Footscray Meadows. Picture: Trevor Minns

General observations
Red admiral butterfly

Weather: Sunny

Oare Marshes Kent Wildlife Trust Reserve
John Carter, Tony Dunstan and Eric Brown Tuesday 3 October 2006, 10.30am to 4.20pm

The long billed dowitcher was showing well in a feeding frenzy on a small pool close to and west of Harty Ferry Road EB had seen LBD at the reserve on 26.7.2001 on the east flood. A remarkable 13 wader species were seen. In addition, curlew sandpiper and knot were present but not seen. A flock of around 30 common terns seemed to be migrating while Sandwich and little terns fed on the mud in preparation for departure.

Bird list
Avocet (12), blackbird, reed bunting, common buzzard (3), carrion crow, coot, cormorant, collared dove, curlew, tufted duck, dunlin, little egret (5), gadwall, bar tailed godwit, black tailed godwit, goldfinch (6), greylag goose, canada goose, little grebe, black-headed gull, lesser black-backed gull, great black-backed gull, herring gull, common gull, marsh harrier (6), grey heron, jay, kestrel (6), lapwing, magpie, mallard, house martin, sand martin, moorhen, oystercatcher, pheasant, meadow pipit, golden plover (at least 100), grey plover, ringed plover, redshank, rook, shelduck, shoveler, snipe, house sparrow, starling (flocks of up to 100), little stint (13), mute swan, swallow, teal, common tern (30+), Sandwich tern (6), little tern (12), pied wagtail, sedge warbler, bearded tit (2) whinchat, wheatear, wigeon, green woodpecker, woodpigeon, long-billed dowitcher.

General observations
Buterflies: Clouded yellow (numerous), red admiral. Common seals (15) on Horse Sands.

Weather: Fine, sunshine.

Oare Marshes
Maurice Ewart, Wednesday, 6 September 2006, 10.30am to 4pm

A walk along the Saxon Shore Way from Oare Village to the KWT reserve.

Bird List
Little grebe , great crested grebe, cormorant, little egret (7), grey heron (4), mute swan, greylag goose, bar-headed goose , shelduck, mallard, shoveler, tufted duck, common buzzard ,marsh harrier (5), sparrowhawk , kestrel (3), hobby, peregrine, moorhen, coot, oystercatcher, ringed plover (20+), little ringed plover , golden plover (300+), grey plover (2), lapwing, knot (7/8), dunlin (30+), ruff (20/30), snipe(3), black-tailed godwit (600+), curlew (4/5), redshank(150+),greenshank, turnstone, black-headed gull ,lesser black-backed gull, great black-backed gull, herring gull, collared dove, stock dove, wood pigeon, swallow(20/30), meadow pipit, pied wagtail, blackbird, sedge warbler(3), magpie, jackdaw, carrion crow, starling, house sparrow, goldfinch, linnet.

General Observations
60 species which is about the average for Oare at this time of year. Good close views of the golden plovers, shrike and curlew sandpiper. Marsh harriers and buzzard were over Sheppey whilst terns flew west up the Swale. Also seals, clouded yellow butterflies and many dragon/damselflies.

Weather: Warm and humid, light SW wind.

Danson Park, Bexleyheath
John Turner and Eric Brown, Friday 4 August 2006, 10am to 10.40am

Spotted flycatcher (2)

John Turner located an adult Spotted flycatcher in the old English garden opposite the mansion in early summer. When EB visited on August 4 the adult bird caught insects and fed another, scruffier, individual which adopted a begging posture. Large numbers of carrion crows and magpies were present but if breeding of the red-listed spotted flycatcher could be established it would be a major boost for the Danson Park list. The spotted flycatcher has declined in numbers by at least 20 per cent since 1994.

Weather: Fine, bright sunshine

Old Lodge Nature Reserve, Ashdown Forest
John Turner, Maurice Ewart, Eric Brown, Tuesday 4 July 2006, 11am to 3.45pm

A Sussex Wildlife Trust Reserve consisting of heathland and woodland.

Bird List
Blackbird, chaffinch, chiffchaff, carrion crow, dunnock, greenfinch, jay, kestrel (2), magpie, grey partridge, tree pipit (2), common redstart, house sparrow, starling, swift, blue tit, coal tit, marsh tit, treecreeper, willow warbler, woodlark (9), great spotted woodpecker (3), green woodpecker, woodpigeon, wren. 25 species.

General Observations
The woodlark were a party of nine feeding on ground to left of the path about 100 yds from car park.
Butterflies; holly blue, common blue, meadow brown.
Also one (unidentified) lizard.

Weather: Hot and humid. Short shower

Crossness Nature Reserve (Southern Marsh)
Eric Brown Saturday 17 June 2006, 10am to 3.30pm

John Turner, Eric Brown and Maurice Ewart represented RSPB Bexley Group at the invitation of Crossness warden Karen Sutton to show visitors birds at the Southern Marsh open day featuring the opening of a new nature area and path. John Turner and Maurice Ewart remained near the scrape and collected name gathering cards while Eric Brown was stationed at a raised platform armed with binoculars and telescope. He was able to show MP John Austin-Walker singing reed warbler through both. Deputy Mayor Councillor Colin Tandy did not ask to see birds or ask any questions about them.

Deputy Mayor cuts ribbon	Eric Brown with attendee

Bird list
Wood pigeon, magpie, carrion crow, starling, chaffinch, linnet, grey heron, goldfinch, sparrowhawk, lesser black backed gull, skylark, wren, blackbird, little ringed plover.

General observations
Maurice Ewart spotted a grass snake swimming across a pool. Several dragonflies' hawkers were seen. Possible southern hawker.

Knole Park, Sevenoaks
John Carter, Tuesday 20 June 2006, 10.15am to 1.45pm

John Carter, Doug Marchant and Eric Brown had a good variety of birds but missed out on their target of common redstart.

Blackbird, song thrush, mistle thrush, woodpigeon, turtle dove, yellowhammer, willow warbler, green woodpecker, hobby, kestrel, chaffinch, chiffchaff, carrion crow, jackdaw, jay, cuckoo, swift, magpie, tree pipit, robin, starling, blue tit, great tit, wren, linnet.

General observations
Roe deer numerous.

Weather: Warm with cloud and breezy

Crayford Marshes
Maurice Ewart, Monday 19 June 2006, 11:15 - 13:30

A walk from Slade Green station to beyond the pumping station and back. Plenty of young starlings and greenfinches plus good numbers of hirundines.

Herring gull, black-headed gull, yellow-legged gull, wood pigeon, collared dove, stock dove, carrion crow, magpie, grey heron, shelduck, mallard, moorhen, cormorant, oystercatcher, ring-necked parakeet, starling, house sparrow, blackbird, song thrush, robin, dunnock, wren, greenfinch, goldfinch, whitethroat (6/7), sedge warbler (2), reed bunting (3), skylark, swift, swallow, house martin

Weather: Dull and breezy but warm.

EARLIEST RECORDED DATES 2006 – PART TWO
Sunday 4 June 2006

Little Ringed Plover (Barnes) 15.3 Common Sandpiper (Rye Harbour) 21.4 Sandwich Tern (Rye Harbour) 21.4 Common Tern (Rye Harbour) 21.4 Little Tern (Rye Harbour) 21.4 Ring Ouzel (Barnes) 4.4 Little Gull (Staines reservoir) 22.4 Swallow (Lee Valley) 10.4 Whitethroat (Lee Valley) 18.4 Willow Warbler (Barnes) 4.4

Whimbrel (Rye Harbour) 21.4 Mediterranean Gull (Southend) 23.1 Turtle Dove (Knole Park) 10.5 Redstart (Knole Park) 10.5 Garden Warbler (Knole Park) 10.5 Lesser Whitethroat (Rye Harbour) 21.4 Green Sandpiper (Haysden C P) 11.1 Nightingale (Lee Valley) 18.4 Blackcap (Lee Valley) 10.4

Maurice Ewart

EARLIEST RECORDED DATES
Saturday 27 May 2006

In the hope that others might be stimulated to follow I include here my personal list of earliest dates for migrants seen in 2006. Please e-mail in your own earliest dates (England only please). Follow the style below.

Garganey (Stodmarsh) 19.4 Hobby (Stodmarsh) 19.4 Little ringed plover (Elmley) 6.4 Ringed plover (Dungeness) 29.3 Whimbrel (Rye Harbour) 3.5 Greenshank (Cliffe Pools) 12.5 Common sandpiper (Bough Beech) 2.5 Mediterranean gull (Rye Harbour) 3.5 Sandwich tern (Rye Harbour) 3.5 Common tern (Rye Harbour) 3.5 Little tern (Rye Harbour) 3.5 Turtle dove (Cliffe Pools) 12.5 Cuckoo (Stodmarsh) 19.4 Swift (Stodmarsh) 19.4

Sand martin (Dungeness) 29.3 Swallow (New Hythe GP) 11.4 House martin (New Hythe GP) 11.4 Yellow wagtail (Elmley) 6.4 Nightingale (Bough Beech) 2.5 Wheatear (Elmley) 6.4 Sedge warbler (Oare Marshes) 12.4 Reed warbler (Stodmarsh) 19.4 Whitethroat (Stodmarsh) 19.4 Blackcap (New Hythe GP) 11.4 Chiffchaff (Sevenoaks WT) 22.3 Willow warbler (New Hythe GP) 11.4 Cetti’s warbler (New Hythe GP) 11.4

Dates for sand martin and sedge warbler are my personal earliest. For eight of the last nine years I have seen my first swallow between April 6 and 14 but in 1998 my first date for this species was April 21.

Eric Brown

Crossness Southern Marshes (east end)
Ian Miller, Karen Sutton, Wednesday 5 April 2006, 14:30

Common redstart (male) in full breeding plumage seen near Great Breach

Weather: Mild, sunny

Footscray Meadows
Philip and Judith Cliffe, Sunday 2 April 2006, am

Willow warbler, chiffchaff, kingfisher, siskin(12), great spotted woodpecker (2 pairs), blackcap

Weather: Mild, sunny

Danson Park
John Turner, Saturday 8 April 2006, 9.30 hours

The first swallows seen over the lake and a willow warbler was singing in the bog garden.

Swallows (2) willow warbler, chiffchaff

Weather: Sunny and windy

Footscray Meadows
John Turner, Monday 28 March 2006, 10.30am

Sand martins (2)

The first sand martins of the year seen over the river upstream from Five Arches bridge.

A further four were sighted in Danson Park on the following morning.

Weather: Windy with showers

Footscray Meadows
Jim Butler, Friday 24 March, 2006, 10.40 to 11.10

Lesser spotted woodpecker (2)

Male and female present again near Ellenborough Road entrance. Excellent views of both, including male displaying.

Crossness Nature Reserve
Roger Taylor, Sunday 19 March 2006, 9.30am

White stork

White Stork in flight over Crossness Nature reserve, March 2006 (pictures: Gabriel Jamie)

Weather: Dull, overcast, windy

Sidcup, above 16 Lewis Road
Judith and Philip Cliffe, Sunday 19 March 2006, 13:20

White Stork (one) circling , mobbed by crows than moved in a SE direction.

Weather: Cold sunny breezy afternoon.

Footscray Meadows, Ellenborough Road entrance
Jim Butler, Tuesday 21 March 2006, 11.00

Lesser spotted woodpecker (female)

Weather: Cold, Overcast

Water Lane to Bexley Station
Jim Butler, Tuesday 21 March 2006, 0940 to 1045

Little egret , kingfisher , grey wagtail (2), song thrush, blackbird (5), dunnock , robin (3), wren , great tit (7), blue tit (4), chaffinch (2), greenfinch , skylark (7), magpie (8), carrion crow (7), wood pigeon (25), collared dove (2), ring-necked parakeet (17), kestrel , green woodpecker, canada goose (4), black-headed gull (20), moorhen

Weather: Cold, overcast

Footscray Meadows
Eric Brown, Tuesday 14 March 2006, 10.15am to 12.30pm

Two personal firsts - the first time I had seen lesser spotted woodpecker at Footscray Meadows and the first time I'd seen three different species of woodpecker in one day. The lesser performed for 10-15 minutes at a maximum height of six feet in a row of mature trees less than 20 yards from the Ellenborough Road entrance. It had also been seen there three days earlier.

A kingfisher fished successfully from a low branch overhanging the river 20 yards downstream from Five Arches Bridge until flushed by a marauding dog. It was relocated fishing further downstream.

Great spotted woodpecker (3), green woodpecker, lesser spotted woodpecker, kingfisher (3 sightings, at least 2 birds), grey wagtail (2), grey heron, dunnock, blue tit, great tit, long-tailed tit, goldfinch, greenfinch, chaffinch, robin, house sparrow, blackbird, starling, redwing (flock of 8), black headed gull, cormorant, gadwall (6), mallard, pochard, mute swan, tufted duck, canada goose, little grebe, moorhen, coot, carrion crow, jackdaw, ring necked parakeet, collared dove, woodpigeon TOTAL 34

The edges and banks of the "lake" have been cleared. They look over sanitised and with less scrub the area may no longer be attractive for nesting. Pumping is in progress near Five Arches Bridge. There are daffodils coming into bloom.

Weather: Cloudy, overcast, cold wind

Lower Station Road, Crayford
Chas Parr, Tuesday 21 February, 2006, 7pm

Barn Owl observed flying low over Crayford Station car park

Weather: Cold, dry

Sidcup and Crayford
Maurice Ewart, Wednesday 1 February 2006

Another male blackcap was seen in my garden near Sidcup station on 1 February enjoying the birdbath.

Going to football at Charlton recently via Crayford and Slade Green from Sidcup I have seen:

• Peregrine hunting over farm on curve between Crayford and Slade Green
• Common buzzard twice in the same area as above
• On 28 January, eight grey herons roosted in the space of about 50 yards on bank of River Cray about 400 yards east of Hall Place and Little Egret on the Cray about 1 mile further east.

Footscray Meadows
Philip Cliffe, Saturday 28 January 2006, 13:00

Siskin (6), little egret, water rail, kingfisher, grey wagtail.

Weather: Cool, breezy with sunny spells

Danson Park
Bernie Jordan, Friday 13 January 2006, 10.30am

Whilst walking in Danson Park on the path between the rock garden and the bog garden my attention was drawn to a moorhen-like bird skulking in the bog garden. I had seen my first water rail on the recent car trip to the Lee Valley Country Park and on closer inspection recognised the long beak of my second sighting.

I stayed for about fifteen minutes watching the bird moving in and out of the vegetation on the edge of the small stream and confirmed my suspicions, seeing the smaller brownish speckled body, the red on the beak and the white under the tail.

I could hardly believe my luck! In my excitement on identifying the bird I had to report my sighting to someone. The sighting was confirmed later in the day by the group leader when it was seen in the small stream in the rock garden.

The bird has been seen since in both these localities.

Weather: dull cold.

The Hollies, Sidcup
Eric Brown, Friday 27 January 2006, 2.10pm

Returning from a short walk to The Glade, I had entered the Burnt Oak Lane entrance to The Hollies housing development when my attention was drawn to a tree adjacent to a school playing field by the noisy activity of four carrion crows and two magpies.

They were obviously mobbing something and as I drew nearer I thought it might be a tawny owl. But further observation through binoculars from approximately 50 feet revealed a raptor perched in an upright posture on a branch about 20 feet up.

Overall colouring was pale with rich creamy underparts streaked vertically not horizontally. This ruled out sparrowhawk which I have also seen in the area. The bird also looked larger than sparrowhawk with clear "shaggy trousers" but the tail remained hidden behind branches.

I watched for about five minutes until the nervous raptor tired of its noisy treatment, turned horizontal and glided across the footpath into a wood opposite pursued by its tormentors. Unfortunately the tail could still not be seen.

My conclusion? A pale common buzzard!

But what on earth could a common buzzard be doing on a Sidcup housing estate about a quarter of a mile from the station? A few years back I would have been lucky to see one in Kent let alone a few hundred yards from my front door. I wondered if Eagle Heights might have lost a bird but there was no sign of jesses or wing tag.

Did you see this bird? If so please email in your sighting.

Weather: Dull, cold.

Crofton Hill, Bexley
John Horton, Thursday 26 January 2006, AM

Gannet
The adult gannet flew over fairly low and heading towards London

Weather: Overcast