Maple Leaf Drive, Sidcup
Eric Brown, Wednesday 23 December 2009

Bird List
Redwing (5), blackbird (6), great tit, woodpigeon, grey heron (flyover), ring-necked parakeet (flyover), magpie, jay, black headed gull.

General Observations
A normally fairly quiet Sidcup garden was transformed by pre-Christmas ice and snow. Redwings and blackbirds gorged on pyracantha and holly berries for most of three days (from 22nd), leaving only occasionally when spooked by human or feline interference. Fiercely territorial, they chased off resident woodpigeons and began feeding early am when berries were still frozen. A berry-laden cotoneaster nearby was ignored. Redwings, nervous at first, gradually grew bolder and fed within three feet of the rear door. They removed the topmost berries first and worked down each shrub.

Weather: Very cold, garden covered with snow and ice

Foots Cray Meadows
Peter Kite, Sunday 20 December 2009, 9:50 am to 1:00 pm

A short visit in hope of water rail and kingfisher.

Bird list
Robin, ring necked parakeet, carrion crow, woodpigeon, magpie, great tit, black headed gull, jackdaw, blue tit, moorhen, little grebe (6), grey heron, mallard, long tailed tit, great spotted woodpecker, water rail, gadwall (6), coot, goldfinch, tufted duck, mute swan, mistle thrush, little egret, pied wagtail, herring gull, chaffinch, song thrush (2), grey wagtail, shoveler, wren, cormorant, lapwing (60+ fly over). 34 species
General Observations
Fox

Weather: Sunnny, cold with lots of snow on the ground.

Grey Wagtail Foots Cray Meadows 20 December 2009 Picture by Peter Kite	Gadwall Foots Cray Meadows 20 December 2009 Picture by Peter Kite	Water Rail Foots Cray Meadows 20 December 2009 Picture by Peter Kite	Little Grebe Foots Cray Meadows 20 December 2009 Picture by Peter Kite
Grey Wagtail	Gadwall	Water Rail	Little Grebe
Pictures by Peter Kite

Little Egret Foots Cray Meadows 20 December 2009 Picture by Peter Kite	Little Egret Foots Cray Meadows 20 December 2009 Picture by Peter Kite	Little Egret Foots Cray Meadows 20 December 2009 Picture by Peter Kite
Little Egret. Pictures by Peter Kite

London Wetland Centre, Barnes
Peter Kite, Tuesday 15 December 2009, 11.00 am to 3.00 pm

Bird List
Egyptian goose, moorhen, mallard, tufted duck, pochard, gadwall, shoveler, great crested grebe, little grebe, mute swan, blackbird, robin, grey heron, lapwing, stock dove, teal, black headed gull, great black back gull, lesser black back gull, magpie, carrion crow, Canada goose, woodpigeon, wigeon, goldfinch, great spotted woodpecker, green woodpecker, wren, blue tit, chaffinch, ring necked parakeet, herring gull, cormorant, jackdaw, pintail, great tit, long tailed tit, stonechat, Cetti`s warbler (3), snipe, greenfinch, common gull, common gull, water rail (4), siskin (15), redpoll (8), water pipit, pied wagtail, collared dove, bittern. Total 50 species.

Weather: Dry, bright, very cold.

Funton Creek, Leysdown, Capel Fleet, Ferry Inn, Isle of Sheppey
Eric Brown, Maurice Ewart, Steve Sheppard, Tony Dunstan, Tuesday 15 December 2009, 10.15am to 4.00pm

Excellent visibility in the morning at wader-stocked Funton Creek approaching high tide, lunch at Leysdown and on to Capel Fleet, Ferry Inn and back to the viewpoint as darkness descended

Bird List
Great crested grebe, cormorant, little egret, grey heron, mute swan, greylag goose, barnacle goose (6), brent goose, Canada goose, shelduck, wigeon, teal, mallard, pintail (50+), red-breasted merganser (5), common buzzard (3), marsh harrier (20+), hen harrier (4 r-t, 1 poss m), kestrel, pheasant, red-legged partridge, moorhen, coot, oystercatcher, avocet, golden plover, grey plover, lapwing (500+), sanderling (6), dunlin, ruff, snipe, black-tailed godwit, curlew, redshank, green sandpiper, turnstone, black headed gull, common gull, lesser black-backed gull, herring gull, great black backed gull, collared dove, woodpigeon, feral pigeon (rock dove), barn owl (2), green woodpecker (3), skylark, pied wagtail, dunnock, robin, stonechat (2), blackbird, song thrush, mistle thrush, fieldfare (50+), long-tailed tit, blue tit, great tit, magpie, jackdaw, rook, carrion crow, starling, house sparrow, chaffinch, goldfinch, reed bunting (20+). Total 68 species

General Observations
Negotiated our way through a police cordon at Raspberry Lane (road closed due to accident) to see excellent numbers of pintail, shelduck and waders in high tide roosts at Funton Creek where a flypast by half a dozen barnacle geese was a surprise. The sea at Leysdown was quiet and calm but turnstone, sanderling and redshank appeared as the tide receded. A flock of around 400 brent geese were spectacular in flight from the marshes onto the sea. In the first quarter mile of Harty Ferry Road three perched common buzzards surveyed the fields while a r-t hen harrier glided across the road , several marsh harriers hunted and many fieldfares patrolled hedges seeking berries. More r-t hen harriers were seen from Capel Fleet with one bird located atop a tree in fading light probably a male. Two barn owls appeared with one catching prey close to the viewing mound.

Weather: Mainly bright and sunny morning, light SE wind, but temperatures dropping to freezing by mid aternoon

Dungeness Patch, RSPB Reserve
Peter Kite, Karen Hills, Sunday 13 December 2009, 11.00 am to 3.15 pm

Bird List
Patch: black headed gull, herring gull, great black back gull, little gull, kittiwake, great crested grebe (80+), cormorant, shag (4), gannet (200+), guillemot (30+), razorbill (6), puffin (3), slavonian grebe (4), turnstone, great northern diver, red throated diver, brent goose, shelduck, common scoter. 19 species.

Reserve: woodpigeon, magpie, carrion crow, mute swan, coot, mallard, teal, wigeon, gadwall, shoveler, goldeneye, pintail, marsh harrier, grey heron, green woodpecker, great white egret, little egret, black necked grebe (3), little grebe, snipe, glossy ibis, starling, lapwing, greylag goose, Canada goose, robin, wren, blackbird, pheasant, tufted duck, pochard. 32 species.

Weather: Overcast, some sunny periods, chilly.

Dungeness RSPB reserve
Peter Kite, Jacky Foot, Saturday 5 December 2009, 11:00 am to 3:00 pm

Bird List
Glossy ibis (2), mute swan, carrion crow, teal, mallard, shoveler, wigeon, pintail, gadwall, pochard, tufted duck, smew (2), grey heron, cormorant, moorhen, coot, lapwing, great crested grebe, marsh harrier, little egret, great white egret, black necked grebe (3), ruddy duck, Cetti`s warbler, greenfinch, stonechat, greylag goose, goldeneye, magpie, robin, herring gull, great, lesser black back gull, blue tit, woodpigeon, black tailed godwit, shelduck, wren, tree sparrow (2), starling, gannet, oystercatcher, brent goose, kittiwake, kestrel. 46 species.

Weather: Bright with some sun turning to rain as we left the patch.

Glossy Ibis Dungeness RSPB Reserve 5 December 2009 Picture by Peter Kite	Glossy Ibis Dungeness RSPB Reserve 5 December 2009 Picture by Peter Kite	Black Necked Grebe Dungeness RSPB Reserve 5 December 2009 Picture by Peter Kite
Glossy Ibis		Black Necked Grebe
Pictures by Peter Kite

Reculver/Cliftonville
Peter Kite, Jacky Foot, Wednesday 3 December 2009, 10.45 am to 3.30 pm

Brief visit to Reculver and Cliftonville

Bird List
Reculver: black headed gull, herring gull, woodpigeon, pied wagtail (20+), brent goose (2500+), mute swan, lapwing (1500+), golden plover (300+), carrion crow, rook, stonechat (10+), reed bunting (60+), meadow pipit (100+), rock pipit (6), redpoll, linnet, snow bunting (20+), red breasted merganser (9), little grebe, slavonian grebe (4), red throated diver, great northern diver (4), cormorant, redshank (20+), grey plover, magpie, turnstone, common gull, little egret, mallard, oystercatcher, shelduck, starling, great black back gull. 34 species.

Clifftonville: black headed gull, herring gull, great black backed gull, sanderling (250+), turnstone (100+). ringed plover (30+), grey plover (30+), curlew, oystercatcher (25+), redshank (40 +), purple sandpiper (7), woodpigeon, starling, lesser black back gull, jackdaw, carrion crow, magpie. 17 species.

General Observations
Common seals

Weather: Frequent showers, stiff breeze, and some sunshine.

Rainham Marshes RSPB Reserve
Steve Sheppard, Eric Brown, Maurice Ewart, Wednesday 2 December 2009, 10.15 am to 2.15 pm

The two serins reported just off the reserve were a prime target

Bird List
Stonechat (5), little egret, wigeon, pintail, mallard, gadwall, teal, grey heron (10), starling, linnet (20), greenfinch, robin, chaffinch, reed bunting, meadow pipit, water pipit, house sparrow, black headed gull, herring gull, great black backed gull, blackbird, kestrel, carrion crow, Cetti’s warbler, moorhen, coot, Canada goose, greylag goose, mute swan, magpie, shelduck, cormorant, lapwing, collared dove, goldfinch (30), dunnock. Total 36

Weather: Sunshine after rain returning to rain pm

London Wetland Centre, Barnes, London
Andy Meaton, Monday 1 December 2009, 11.00 am to 3.00 pm

Water rail on path as I arrived augured well and four other separate sightings suggested the approximation of 40 resident birds as no exaggeration.

Bittern was skulking but good views were had through the scope with patience.

Bird List
Bittern, water rail (5), stonechat (1f) , pintail (1m), common snipe.

Weather: Clear, cold, calm

Sidcup
Eric Brown, Friday 27 November 2009, 9.45 am

Bird List
Little egret fishing in River Shuttle 10 yards from bridge at Willersley Avenue/Haddon Grove junction.

Weather: Cloudy

Sidcup
Eric Brown, Thursday 26 November 2009, 11 am to 11.30 am

A short walk from The Hollies, through Lamorbey and The Glade to Hurst Road.

Bird List
Blackbird, blue tit, great tit, black headed gull, coot, moorhen, house sparrow, carrion crow, magpie, Canada goose (20), mute swan (2), ring-necked parakeet, little egret, mallard. Total 14.

General Observations
The little egret was observed flying over the Hurst Road/Penhill Road roundabout from the Foots Cray Meadows direction towards Hurstmere School.

Weather: Fine, sunny

Reculver KWT Reserve
Eric Brown, Steve and Sandra Sheppard, Maurice Ewart, Tuesday 24 November 2009, 10.30 am to 2.00 pm

A visit principally to seek the snow bunting flock reported to be 24-strong

Snow Bunting at Reculver, 24 November 2009 Picture by Phil Jones

Snow bunting(s) at Reculver, 24 November 2009. Picture by Phil Jones.

Bird List
Blackbird, bunting snow (19), reed, chaffinch, carrion crow, coot, cormorant, curlew, egret little (4), goldfinch (5), goose brent (100+), grebe little, gull blackheaded, herring, great black backed, lapwing (200+), magpie, mallard (20), oystercatcher, pipit meadow, plover grey (10), ringed (8), redshank, sanderling, sparrow house (20), starling, stonechat, swan mute (20+) turnstone (18), wagtail pied, woodpigeon. Total 31 species

General Observations
A party of eight snow buntings was first located in a sheltered gully on the seaward side of a shingle mound just before Coldharbour. Later we counted 19 feeding nearby and on the return walk a group of 13 fed busily on shingle within a few feet of the path. It was impossible to tell whether we were seeing the same birds again or whether the total of individuals reached 40. Brent geese flew past constantly, swam or patrolled the beach and a large flock of almost 100 roosted in a field. A large flock of lapwing rested on mounds in the oyster farm while the usual suspects patrolled the shoreline and beach. The sea was fairly calm and quiet with just numerous cormorant and a flock of mallard. Not a single raptor or grey heron was seen.

Weather: Very strong wind but dry except for a brief drizzly shower.

Snow bunting(s) at Reculver on 24 November 2009. Photo by Phil Jones.
Grey plover at Reculver 24 November 2009. Photo by Phil Jones

Dungeness RSPB reserve
Eric Brown, Steve Sheppard, Dave Thompson, Doreen Newson, Wednesday 18 November 2009, 11.00 am to 3.00 pm

A look in at the ARC pit, lunch at the visitor centre and return trip across Romney Marsh

Bird List
Blackbird, bittern, chaffinch, carrion crow, coot, cormorant (100+), duck tufted, egret little (4), fieldfare (200-300), gadwall, greylag goose, great crested grebe, gull black headed, herring, lesser black backed, great black backed, grey heron, kestrel, lapwing (300+), magpie, mallard, moorhen, pheasant, pintail, plover golden (200), pochard, shelduck, shoveler, sparrow house, tree, starling, swan mute, teal, tit blue, little, great, penduline (2), wagtail pied, wigeon, woodpecker green, woodpigeon, glossy ibis (2), marsh harrier. Total 43

General Observations
On arrival we made direct for the Hanson Hide where two penduline tits had been reported the previous day. After an hour Doreen and Steve decided to go for a walk leaving Eric on watch. He was immediately joined by Dave and within minutes a bittern rose from left of the water tower, climbed high into the wind and slowly descended again while passing within feet of the hide. At 12.30 Eric heard a high pitched call and was able to direct others present onto a fine adult penduline tit which gave superb views perched on reeds no more than 10 feet to the left of the hide. By way of consolation the other two had located the two glossy ibises across the road on a channel bank. They were later seen by all. The trip across Romney Marshes produced a huge flock of fieldfares in a feeding frenzy on a berry bearing hedge. Tree sparrows were at the usual site.

Weather: Fairly mild but feeling cold in the very strong wind. Afternoon drizzle.

Penduline tit at Dungeness RSPB reserve ARC pit 18 November 2009. Photo by Phil Jones
.
Glossy Ibis at Dungeness RSPB reserve ARC pit 18 November 2009. Photo by Phil Jones

Crayford Marshes
Maurice Ewart, Eric Brown, Wednesday 11 November 2009, 10.30 am to 2.30 pm

A walk from Slade Green station to the Thames and back

Bird List
Little grebe, cormorant (20+), little egret (3), grey heron (3), wigeon (6), teal (7), sparrowhawk, kestrel (2), moorhen (7), coot, lapwing (150+), dunlin (20+), redshank (50+), black-headed gull, lesser black-backed gull, herring gull, great black-backed gull, collared dove, rock dove(feral pigeon), stock dove (3), woodpigeon, ring-necked parakeet (10+), little owl, green woodpecker (2), skylark(h), pied wagtail (6+), wren, robin, stonechat (4), blackbird, fieldfare (10), song thrush, mistle thrush, blue tit, great tit, jay, magpie, carrion crow, starling (200+), house sparrow, chaffinch, greenfinch, goldfinch (43 species)

General Observations
The first ½ mile of the walk was the most productive in terms of bird activity with fieldfares moving through, a sparrowhawk sitting on the moat wall before flying off and later seen with prey (blackbird or starling). A perched little owl was a pleasant surprise. The weather and visibility deteriorated rapidly as we reached the Thames curtailing our time viewing the feeding waders and gulls.

On the return stonechats gave excellent views and a weasel sat in the open allowing good scope views.

Weather: Bright start giving way to persistent drizzle and poor visibility which gradually cleared. High tide 14.00. Little or no wind.

Footscray Meadows
Maurice Ewart, Monday 9 November 2009, 11.30 am to 1.30 pm

A return walk from Rectory Lane to Riverside Road along the banks of the Cray.

Bird List
Cormorant, little egret (2), mute swan (5), mallard, tufted duck, coot, moorhen, black-headed gull, carrion crow, magpie, jay (3), great spotted woodpecker (3), woodpigeon, stock dove, fieldfare (2), blackbird, ring-necked parakeet, robin, wren, starling, blue tit, great tit, chaffinch, goldfinch, grey wagtail (2). (25 species)

General Observations
Surprisingly no long-tailed tits this week. Main interest was the area between 5 Arches and the footpath to Riverside Road as this is where grey wagtails, fieldfares and little egrets were seen

Weather: Dull at first but becoming sunny with a light SW wind.

North Point Pit, Rye Harbour, Castle Water
Peter Kite, Jacky Foot, Saturday 7 November 2009, 9.45 am to 3.30 pm

Return visit to these locations, duck numbers were low, stopped at point at Rye for lunch on beach, at Castle Water duck numbers were down on last visit.

Bird List
North Point Pit: lapwing (1000+), golden plover (800+), starling, moorhen, herring gull, common gull, mallard, dunnock, blue tit, long tailed tit, blackbird, great tit, robin, jackdaw, cormorant, redshank, curlew, little grebe, goldfinch, great, lesser black back gull, Canada goose, great crested grebe, little egret, shelduck, green woodpecker, magpie, pied wagtail, reed bunting, kestrel, pheasant, tufted duck, woodpigeon, grey heron, carrion crow, rook, 36 species.

Rye Harbour: herring gull, kestrel, long tailed tit, collared dove, blackbird, mallard, snipe (6), redshank, woodpigeon, black headed gull, carrion crow, wigeon, skylark (20+), great black back gull, turnstone (15+), starling, lapwing (1500+), golden plover (1200+), oystercatcher, goldfinch, pied wagtail, little egret, ringed plover, robin, moorhen, blue tit, lesser black back gull, cormorant, shelduck, 29 species.

Castle Water: Cetti`s warbler (4), magpie, great tit, goldfinch, robin, carrion crow, blue tit, long tailed tit, gadwall, shoveler, coot, wigeon, cormorant, lapwing (3000+), great crested grebe, marsh harrier, teal, herring gull, black headed gull, golden plover (4000+), Canada goose, mute swan, great, lesser black gull, common gull, pintail, shelduck, greylag goose, stonechat, little grebe, woodpigeon, jackdaw, snipe, wren, green woodpecker, chaffinch, white wagtail, grey heron, rook, 39 species.

General Observations
Dragonly, flowers: common hawker, sea aster, creeping buttercup, bugloss, mayweed, dog rose, gorse dandelion, yarrow, hawksbeard sp. all in flower, several species of fungi

Weather: Chilly start, becoming very sunny and warm, not like November at all.

Pegwell Bay KWT Reserve
Maurice Ewart, Eric Brown, Doreen Newson, Tony Dunstan, Dave Thompson, Wednesday 4 November 2009, 10.45 am to 3.15 pm

A visit to look for fantailed warbler (zitting cisticola) and to observe the high tide wader roost round the mouth of the River Stour

Bird List
Cormorant, little egret (4), grey heron, brent goose (14), shelduck, wigeon, mallard, kestrel, peregrine, oystercatcher (200+), ringed plover, golden plover (300+), grey plover, lapwing (1500+), knot (4), dunlin (100+), ruff, curlew (200+), redshank (50+), black-headed gull, common gull, herring gull, great black-backed gull, woodpigeon, green woodpecker (4), wren, dunnock, robin, stonechat (6), blackbird, fantailed warbler, long-tailed tit, great tit, magpie, carrion crow, starling, chaffinch, linnet, reed bunting, pheasant (40 species)

General Observations
After several tantalising short glimpses, the fantailed warbler eventually showed very well at close range on the saltmarsh about 100 yards past the shore hide. It remained mobile but obligingly fanned out its tail in erratic flights. There was a very high tide and the roosts of lapwing, oystercatcher, golden plover and curlew were impressive. As the tide fell a visiting peregrine created havoc among the lapwings and golden plovers in particular.

Other observations: 14 harbour seals on the Stour.

Weather: Sunny with a light SW wind. High tide: 12.30

Footscray Meadows
Maurice Ewart, Monday 2 November 2009, 10.30 am to noon

A walk from Riverside Road in Albany Park to the bottom of Sidcup Hill

Bird List
Mute swan, mallard, tufted duck, coot, moorhen, kestrel, woodpigeon, stock dove (2), ring-necked parakeet, carrion crow, magpie, great spotted woodpecker, green woodpecker, blackbird, starling, chaffinch, goldfinch, grey wagtail, great tit, blue tit, long-tailed tit, robin, wren (23 species)

General Observations
The stubble field at end of Riverside Road is partly ploughed this year making the appearance of woodlark less likely. Only one dog seen in the River Cray and fairly quiet overall apart from a couple of mixed tit flocks (mainly long-tail tits). Grey wagtails feeding on the Cray at Riverside Road end.

Butterfly: speckled wood

Weather: Sunny with little wind

Dungeness RSPB reserve
Maurice Ewart, Eric Brown, Doreen Newson, Stephen Sheppard, Tony Dunstan, Monday 26 October 2009, 10.45am to 4.30pm

A drive along Dengemarsh Road then a visit to Dengemarsh Hide and the ARC pit

Bird List
Little grebe, great crested grebe, cormorant, little egret, cattle egret, glossy ibis, grey heron, mute swan, greylag goose, Canada goose, wigeon, gadwall, teal, mallard, pintail, shoveler, pochard, tufted duck, goldeneye, ruddy duck, marsh harrier, sparrowhawk, kestrel, pheasant, water rail (h), moorhen, coot, oystercatcher, golden plover (10), grey plover, lapwing, dunlin (5), snipe (3), black-headed gull, common gull, herring gull, great black-backed gull, lesser black-backed gull, woodpigeon, green woodpecker, pied wagtail, dunnock, robin, stonechat (8), blackbird, song thrush, Cetti’s warbler (3h), chiffchaff, bearded tit, long-tailed tit, great tit, magpie, carrion crow, starling, greenfinch, pochard (55 species)

General Observations
The cattle egret and glossy ibis were seen almost immediately from the Dengemarsh Road. Although the great white egret was also in this area we did not locate it. The penduline tit reported 24 hours earlier could not be found either. The cattle egret later gave good views from the entrance track. An inquisitive stoat was seen from Springfield Bridge overlooking Dengemarsh. There were plenty of dragonflies and butterflies around.

Weather: Sunny and mild. The moderate SW wind dropped as the day went on.

Great White Egret at Dungeness. Pictures by Phil Jones.

Stanwell Moor
Eric Brown, Steve Sheppard, Friday 23 October 2009, 12.05pm to 1.40pm

A trip to see Britain’s eighth brown shrike

Bird List
BROWN SHRIKE.

Blackbird, common buzzard, chaffinch, carrion crow, collared dove, rock dove (feral pigeon), goldfinch, black-headed gull, grey heron, jay, kestrel, magpie, mallard, moorhen, ring necked parakeet, pheasant, robin, house sparrow, starling, stonechat (2), mute swan (6), tits blue, great, longtailed (12), wagtail grey, pied, warbler Cetti’s, woodpecker green (3), great spotted (2), woodpigeon, wren Total 32 species.

General Observations
The rare brown shrike can be seen by Bexley residents with a little patience. The round trip took six hours by public transport while a Birmingham birder told us he made it there in 90 minutes’ driving. Our route was train to Waterloo, Jubilee Line to Green Park, Piccadilly Line to Heathrow Terminal 5, escalator up to ground floor, follow "local bus" signs outside, board 441 bus (every 30 mins) from stop 7 or 8 destination Englefield Green. Off at first stop on Stanwell Moor (4 mins) turn right at Anchor pub into Hithermoor Road, walk to end (ignoring a gate on the right leading to a concrete path) and cross a bridge with a pool on right. Follow path along side of reservoir for quarter mile, at wooden signpost turn right through kissing gate and in approx half a mile cross wooden boardwalk then bridge into open meadow. Look right across river where bird sits conspicuously on top of bramble and other scrub. Telescope useful but not essential. The brown shrike had been in this area for 13 days, had an audience of about a dozen while we were there and could be watched while lunching on a convenient seat! Take return bus from the stop where you disembarked (circular route). The whole journey can be completed free by those with a Freedom Pass.

Weather: Bright and warm sunshine

Reculver/Clifftonville, Kent
Peter Kite, Jacky Foot., Wednesday 23 September 2009, 10.30 am to 3.45 pm

A pleasant walk from the towers to Coldharbour. Amazed at how quiet the site was. Not much moving on the sea. Same at Clifftonville.

Bird List
Reculver: house sparrow, woodpigeon, pied wagtail, starling, little egret, mute swan, little grebe, coot, redshank, ringed plover (12+), turnstone (20+), meadow pipit, rock pipit, reed bunting, black headed gull, common gull (40+), great black back gull, herring gull, blackbird, linnet, gannet (12imm), cormorant, carrion crow, magpie, kestrel. 25 species.

Clifftonville: house sparrow, starling, great black back gull, herring, common, black headed, lesser black back gulls, cormorant, ringed plover(60+), turnstone (40+), sanderling (60+), linnet.12 species.

G eneral Observations
Grey seals, large white, small white butterfly

Weather: Sunny, very little breeze and sea flat calm at both sites

Oare Marshes KWT Reserve
Eric Brown, Steve Sheppard, Tony Dunstan, Tuesday 22 September 2009, 10.30 am to 4.50 pm

A visit to the famous landing site of tufted puffin. Even ramblers were asking about it but the bird had long since disappeared. Highlights included five species of raptor and eight species of wader. Several large flocks included an enormous group of golden plover, so many that their wings could be heard swishing as they suddenly descended on the reserve. There is little water on the west side and expanding muddy margins where the east lagoon is beginning to dry out. As we prepared to leave we startled a water rail in the roadside ditch.

Bird List
Avocet, blackbird, bunting reed, buzzard comm, chaffinch, carrion crow, coot, cormorant, curlew, dove collared, rock, stock, dunlin (20+), egret little (20+), gadwall, godwit blk tailed (250+), goldfinch, goose greylag, grebe gc, little, gull, black headed, lesser black backed, common, gt black backed, herring, harrier marsh, heron grey, hobby, kestrel, lapwing, linnet (12), magpie, mallard, martin house (1,000+), moorhen, partridge red-legged (8), peregrine, plover golden (1,000+), grey (500+), rail water, redshank (300+), ruff (3), shelduck, shoveller, sparrow house, starling (300+), swan mute, swallow, teal, tern sandwich (3), tit bearded (6), wagtail pied, whinchat (2), whitethroat lesser, woodpigeon, warbler Cetti’s, parakeet r-n (on return journey). Total 57 species

General Observations
Butterflies: red admiral, clouded yellow, common darter

Weather: Warm with sunny periods

Oare Marshes KWT Reserve, nr Faversham, Kent
John and Jeanna Turner, Wednesday 16 September 2009, 11.30 am to 3.00 pm

A limited trip watching from the roadside and the top of the causeway, where we caught up in a twitch for a tufted puffin. It had been seen earlier in Faversham Creek but had flown west up the Swale helped by the strong wind.

Bird List
Golden plover, lapwing, avocet, redshank, oystercatcher, black tailed godwit, bar tailed godwit, dunlin, little stint, curlew sandpiper, little grebe, coot, moorhen, black headed gull, herring gull, greater black backed gull, grey heron, little egret, mute swan, shovelor, gadwall, teal, mallard, swallow, carrion crow, collared dove, wood pigeon.

Weather: Overcast with a strong NE wind.

Dungeness RSPB Reserve, Patch
Peter Kite, Karen Hills, Saturday 5 September 2009, 9.30 am to 4.45 pm

Bird List
Patch: little gull, great black back gull, lesser black back gull, common, sandwich, black, little terns, eider, gannet, Baleric shearwater (6), wheatear.

Reserve: rook, house sparrow, starling, woodpigeon, magpie, pied wagtail, herring gull, wheatear, black headed gull, great black back gull, lesser black back gull, cormorant, black tern (4), linnet, kestrel, sand martin, mute swan, coot, greylag goose (200+), tree sparrow, carrion crow, gadwall, mallard, little egret, tufted duck, pochard, little grebe, great crested grebe, pied flycatcher, spotted flycatcher, whitethroat, robin, Cetti`s warbler, great white egret, lapwing (300+), marsh harrier, Canada goose, shoveler, red back shrike, yellow wagtail, blue tit, great tit, chaffinch, teal, pintail, moorhen, oystercatcher, collared dove, jackdaw, swallow, grey heron. Total 58 species

Red-backed Shrike. Picture by Peter Kite	Spotted Flycatcher. Picture by Peter Kite

General Observations
Butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies: small, large white, red admiral, painted lady, small heath, emperor dragonfly, common hawker, azure blue damselfly.

Weather: Breezy, sunny, warm

Elmley RSPB Reserve, Isle of Sheppey, Kent
Peter Kite, Karen Hills, Sunday 30 August 2009, 9.45 am to 2.45 pm

Visit to see the long eared owls, only just visible, sadly not many waders on scrape due to low water and very little vegetation

Bird List
Rook, yellow wagtail, swallow (600+), house martin, starling, woodpigeon, kestrel, mute swan, coot, grey heron, carrion crow, little grebe, mallard, goldfinch, little egret, moorhen, sparrowhawk, lapwing (200+), swift, shelduck, black headed gull, curlew, oystercatcher (300+), great black back gull, marsh harrier (6), wheatear, grey partridge, dunlin, ringed plover, avocet, reed bunting, Canada goose, gadwall, lesser black back gull, herring gull, teal, magpie, long eared owl, barn owl, merlin, Montagu`s harrier, house sparrow, pheasant, cormorant, linnet, blue tit. Total 47 species.

General Observations
Butterflies: red admiral, large white, small heath, small white, green veined white, painted lady, small skipper. Dragonfly: common hawker.

Mammal: brown hare

Weather: Bright, some cloud thickening by afternoon

Elmley RSPB reserve, Isle of Sheppey
Eric Brown, Dave Thompson, Doreen Newson, Wednesday 26 August 2009, 10.05 am to 4.00 pm

A trip primarily to seek reported Montagu’s Harriers and Long-eared Owls

Bird List
Blackbird, house sparrow, goldfinch (15+), pied wagtail, grey wagtail (2), yellow wagtail (25+), stock dove (3), little egret, hobby (2), kestrel (20+), marsh harrier (12+), Montagu’s Harrier (1+juv), common buzzard, long-eared owl (2), wren, lesser black backed gull, black-headed gull, cormorant, mallard, little grebe, lapwing (35+), mute swan (3), grey heron (6+), pheasant, green woodpecker, wood pigeon, starling (100+), swallow (250+) Total 28.

General Observations
Unloading lunch from car boots, we might have missed a second summer Montagu’s Harrier if Sheppey raptor expert Rob Clements had not kindly directed our attention to it flying over fields to the left of the entrance track. It disappeared flying over rugby posts in the direction of Sheerness. A hobby and common buzzard were observed on the ground and the owls, well concealed in thick bramble in the orchard, were eventually seen. While leaving we observed a dark raptor with narrow wings, acrobatic flight and no creamy head or other markings hunting low about 200 yds from the track and wondered if it might be the juvenile Monty’s also reported here.

Weather: Short shower then warm sunshine. Very windy.

Footscray Meadows
Peter Kite, Sunday 23 August 2009, 9.50 am to 11.45 am

Bird List
Magpie, great spotted woodpecker, woodpigeon, carrion crow, chaffinch, great tit, wren, coot, moorhen, black headed gull, mute swan, mallard, blue tit, goldfinch, garden warbler (4), whitethroat (3), long tailed tit, blackcap, ring necked parakeet. Total 19 species

General Observations
Dragonflies and damselflies: brown hawker, ruddy darter, blue tailed damselfly, banded demoiselle, common blue damselfly, azure blue damselfly.

Butterflies: large white, small white, meadow brown.

Weather: Very hot sunshine

Crossness River Bank and Reserve
Eric Brown, Tony Dunstan, Tuesday 18 August 2009, 12.20 pm to 4.10 pm

A walk along the river to seek reported black terns and yellow legged gulls.

Bird List
Carrion crow, magpie, reed warbler (feeding young), linnet (20+), goldfinch, wood pigeon, collared dove, stock dove, kestrel, sparrowhawk, pied wag, grey wag, starling, black headed gull, lesser black backed gull, yellow legged gull, grey heron (2), lapwing (30+), oystercatcher, Canada goose, blackbird, mute swan, shelduck, teal, mallard, garganey (f), great crested grebe, cormorant, green sandpiper, common tern (20+), green woodpecker, robin. Total 31 species

General Observations
No black terns but a yellow legged gull snoozed on the waterline near the golf centre when the tide receded. A green sandpiper dropped in for around 60 seconds and three grey wagtails flitted away from the filter beds. Hundreds of black headed gulls were joined by a large flock of lapwings hunting food in the mud and a garganey mixed with teal near the outfall. The reserve was deserted except for a single dogwalker (off the lead) and it is beginning to show first signs of neglect. Pools in front of the public hide had dried out and the field had been invaded by horses as building work on the huge new waste disposal building proceeds. It is to be hoped warden Karen Sutton’s departure will not lead to a major decline at this site but at the moment there is little to attract the usual migrants.

Weather: Very hot

Dungeness RSPB, The Patch
Peter Kite, Karen Hills, Sunday 16 August 2009, 9.40 am to 4.00 pm

Bird List
Patch: melodious warbler, black tern(3), gannet (200+), Sandwich tern, common tern, great skua, yellow-legged gull, Mediterranean gull.

Reserve: coot, rook, tufted duck, mute swan, swallow, house martin, whitethroat, house martin, house sparrow, pied wagtail, starling, linnet, cormorant, herring gull, great black backed gull, common gull, black headed gull, magpie, common sandpiper, moorhen, mallard, woodpigeon, little egret, sand martin, greylag goose, gadwall, meadow pipit, willow warbler, great crested grebe, great white egret, kestrel, grey heron, marsh harrier, swift, blue tit, great tit, chaffinch, blackbird, whinchat, lapwing, pochard, teal, oystercatcher, ringed plover, redshank, shoveler, Canada goose, dunlin, long tailed tit, greenshank (2), wood sandpiper (2), garganey, carrion crow, 59 species.

General Observations
Butterflies: large, small white, painted lady, small tortoiseshell, meadow brown, gatekeeper.

Dragonflies & damselflies: emperor dragonfly, ruddy darter, common blue damselfly, azure blue damselfly, blue tailed damselfly.

Weather: Hot, gentle breeze.

Great White Egret at Dungeness Pictures by Peter Kite

Bough Beech Reservoir KWT Reserve
Steve and Sandra Sheppard, Sunday 2 August 2009, 2.30 pm to 5 pm

Causeway and Visitor Centre

Bird List
Wood pigeon, magpie, moorhen, great crested grebe, spotted flycatcher, linnet (5), black headed gull, common tern, mallard, mute swan (10), swallow, tufted duck (3), carrion crow, swallow, shelduck, feral pigeon (many), goldfinch (5), little egret, grey heron (8), pied wagtail, greylag (6), blackbird, willow warbler.

General Observations
Visibility on causeway occasionally obscured by leathery birdwatchers campfire smoking profusely (Ed; probably Mick, a useful source of local birding knowledge)

Weather: Fine and hot

Leysdown, Isle of Sheppey
Sarah Beacock, Thursday 30 July 2009, 8.30 pm

Walking round a caravan site at Leysdown.

Bird List
Red-legged partridge (2) perched on a chalet roof, having also seen a fair number of them earlier in the day on the pitch and putt by the seafront.

Red-legged Partridge. Picture by Sarah Beacock

Weather: Dry but slightly breezy

Ashdown Forest and Bough Beech KWT Reserve
Maurice Ewart, Eric Brown, Steve Sheppard, Wednesday 29 July 2009
Ashdown Forest 10.45 am to 2.30 pm, Bough Beech KWT Reserve 3.45 pm to 5.30 pm

Three short walks in Ashdown Forest from the Visitor Centre, the Hollies and the Old Airstrip car parks then a look at Bough Beech on the way back.

Bird List

Ashdown Forest
Carrion crow, kestrel, woodpigeon, great spotted woodpecker, green woodpecker, Dartford warbler, whitethroat, stonechat (3), robin, linnet, goldcrest. (11 species).

Bough Beech KWT Reserve
Little grebe, great crested grebe, cormorant, little egret, grey heron, mute swan, greylag goose, Canada goose, shelduck, mandarin, mallard, kestrel, moorhen, coot, lapwing, green sandpiper (4), common sandpiper (2), black-headed gull, common tern, collared dove, woodpigeon, great spotted woodpecker, swallow, house martin, sand martin, pied wagtail, robin, blackbird, song thrush, spotted flycatcher (3), great tit, magpie, jackdaw, carrion crow, house sparrow, chaffinch, greenfinch, chaffinch, linnet, goldfinch, wren (+ yellowhammer on the way). (41 species).

General Observations
A single Dartford warbler appeared several times (once briefly perched) about 10 mins walk from the Ashdown Forest visitor centre. Few survived the harsh winter here.

The spotted flycatchers at Bough Beech can generally be seen in trees around the scrape and gave good views.

Butterflies: painted lady, red admiral.

Weather: Sunny intervals with a freshening SW breeze.

Weather: Sunny intervals with a fresh SW breeze. High tide 2.30 pm

Elmley Marshes RSPB reserve
Maurice Ewart, Eric Brown, Steve Sheppard, Monday 6 July 2009, 10.30am to 4.30pm

Birding the entrance track and around Kingsmill Farm followed by a visit to the Wellmarsh and Counterwall hides

Bird List
Little grebe, great crested grebe, cormorant, little egret, grey heron, mute swan, greylag goose, shelduck, teal, shoveler, mallard, garganey (4), common buzzard, marsh harrier (6+), kestrel (3), hobby, pheasant, water rail (h), moorhen, coot, oystercatcher, avocet (100+), ringed plover, lapwing, dunlin, ruff, black-tailed godwit (100+), whimbrel (13), curlew, spotted redshank (12+), redshank, greenshank (3), green sandpiper, wood sandpiper (2), common sandpiper (2), turnstone (20+), black-headed gull, common tern (20+), stock dove, wood pigeon, little owl, swift, swallow, skylark, meadow pipit, yellow wagtail (12+), pied wagtail, dunnock, robin, blackbird, reed warbler, magpie, carrion crow, starling, house sparrow, chaffinch, goldfinch, reed bunting, corn bunting. (59 species)

General Observations
Mammals: brown hare, stoat

Butterflies: Red admiral, large white, comma, meadow brown, gatekeeper.

Excellent drive down entrance track with yellow wagtails, meadow pipits and lapwings on the road itself. Garganey and wood sandpipers on Sharfleet pools. Avocets had young of differing ages and sizes and redshanks also had young. Little owl on gatepost and then in oaks behind the farm. We were unable to locate the long-eared owl which had apparently flown round the farm from its roost site during an earlier squall.

Weather: Sunny intervals with a fresh SW breeze. High tide 1pm.

Oare Marsh KWT Reserve, Faversham, Kent
Peter Kite, Karen Hills, Sunday 5 July 2009, 10:00 am to 2:30 pm

Bird List
Collared dove, turtle dove, woodpigeon, rook, swallow, starling, reed bunting, stock dove, chaffinch, redshank (30+), lapwing, greylag goose, whimbrel (2), oystercatcher, common tern, cormorant, greenshank (10), reed warbler, meadow pipit, grey heron, gadwall, hobby, marsh harrier, mute swan, coot, black-tailed godwit(300+), tufted duck, shoveler, pochard, avocet (18), teal, mallard, ruff, shelduck, little egret, sedge warbler, moorhen, linnet, carrion crow, bearded reedling (3), great black back gull, black headed gull, herring gull, Cetti`s warbler, skylark, magpie, swift, blackbird, house sparrow, kestrel, wren. Total 51 species

General Observations
Butterflies: small, large white, comma, meadow brown, small skipper, red admiral, green veined white,common blue

Dragon/Damselflies: common darter, common hawker, blue tailed damselfly

Weather: Warm but overcast, some sunny periods with gentle breeze

Elmley RSPB Reserve and Oare Marshes KWT Reserve
Anthony Dunstan, Sunday 5 July 2009, 8.15am to 3pm (plus 1hr at Oare marshes)

Pre arranged car trip with the ex. SE RSPB group

Bird List
Rook ,crow, black head.gull,lapwing, meadow pipit,coot,starling, wood pigeon,long eared owl, little owl (3),mute swan,dunnock, corn bunting (2), peregrine falcon, marsh harriers (8), redshank, common tern (4), mallard, reed warbler, oystercatcher, grt.crest.grebe*, tufted duck, curlew, turnstone (28), grey plover (6), black tailed godwit (50), little egret (6), bar tailed godwit, common sandpiper, avocet, green sandpiper, shelduck, ringed plover (3), kestrel, sedge warbler, spotted redshank (8), greylag goose, house sparrow, pied wagtail, yellow wagtail (3),swallow, cormorant, ruff, grey heron, hobby, moorhen, little grebe,teal, shoveller, herring gull, feral pigeon(3). Total 53 species.

General Observations
Elmley was swarming with thousands of meadow brown butterfles. Also a few gatekeeper butterflies.Long eared owl viewed in orchard at 8.30 am was not to be seen at 12 noon. The little owls had raised 3 young , visible from the car park. another 200 plus black tailed godwits at Oare marshes

Weather: Hot cloudy 23° C. Light SW breeze.

Haddon Grove, Sidcup
Eric Brown, Wednesday 1 July 2009, 10.15 am

A brief look along the Shuttle riverway walk. Workmen were clearing rubbish from the river near the Willersley Avenue bridge

Bird list
Blackcap (pair with young), blackbird, blue tit, carrion crow 50+, starling, chiffchaff (singing), great tit, magpie, house sparrow, woodpigeon, ring-necked parakeet.

General Observations
Butterflies: meadow brown and large white abundant

Weather: Hot 28° C

Cliffe Pools, Northward Hill RSPB Reserves
Eric Brown, Doreen Newson, Tuesday 23 June 2009, 10.45am to 4.00pm

A walk around Cliffe where the new car park is nearing completion and brief trip to Northward Hill where a peregrine buzzed a pigeon sending feathers flying but did not linger to press home the attack.

Bird List
Cliffe (main sp only); shelduck (300+), curlew (9), lapwing, oystercatcher (20), little egret (6) kestrel.

Northward Hill: Great crested grebe, little grebe, peregrine, hobby (2), marsh harrier, kestrel, linnet (8), whitethroat, ruddy duck 3 (2 ducks one drake), goldfinch, avocet (12)

General Observations
Butterflies: red admiral, large white, meadow brown,

Moth: Cinnabar (6)

Weather: Very hot 28° C

Rye Harbour NR , Pett Levels and Pannell Valley
Anthony Dunstan and ex.S.E.Group of RSPB, Sunday 21 June 2009, 8am to 4pm

Pre-planned car meeting.

Bird List
Swift, blk.headed gull, herring gull, woodpigeon,collared dove, starling, blue tit, c. crow, greenfinch, oystercatcher, blackbird, chaffinch, greenfinch, pied wagtail, moorhen, turted duck, common tern, arctic tern, redshank, yellow wagtail, ringed plover (2), linnet, whitethroat, wheatear, curlew, lapwing, dunnock, cormorant, mediterranean gulls(20+), lesser blk.backed gull, sandwich tern, shelduck, mute swan, avocet, coot, sedge warbler, reed warbler, reed bunting, raven, dunlin, little tern (2), meadow pipit.

Little egret, swallow, mallard, rook, jackdaw, house sparrow, goldfinch, black tailed godwit(3), hobby, little ringed plover, teal,green sandpiper(2), grey heron.

Weather: Hot, cloudy 18° C. NE light breeze

Filston Farm, Shoreham then Bough Beech reservoir KWT reserve
Maurice Ewart, Eric Brown, Doreen Newson, Wednesday 18 June 2009, 10.45am to 12.00 Shoreham, 12.30pm to 3.30pm Bough Beech

A search for quail near Shoreham then a visit to Bough Beech Reservoir.

Bird List
Shoreham: Quail (h), yellowhammer (8), whitethroat (6+), skylark, chaffinch, linnet house sparrow, great tit, dunnock, starling, blackbird, song thrush, woodpigeon, carrion crow, green woodpecker.

Bough Beech: great crested grebe (25+), little grebe, cormorant, little egret(2), grey heron (6+), mute swan, greylag goose, Canada goose, shelduck, mandarin (30+), gadwall, mallard, tufted duck, c buzzard (2), kestrel (2), moorhen, coot, lapwing (5), common tern (20+) with 9 young also seen, collared dove, woodpigeon, lesser spotted woodpecker (2), swallow, house martin, grey wagtail, pied wagtail, wren, dunnock, robin, nightingale (h), blackbird, song thrush, reed warbler (h), whitethroat, garden warbler, chiffchaff, blackcap, blue tit, great tit, magpie, jackdaw, carrion crow, starling, house sparrow, chaffinch, greenfinch, goldfinch, linnet, reed bunting (overall 53 species)

General Observations
The quail was singing within 50 yards of a road bordering the second field on the left past Filston Farm heading in the Otford direction. With no gaps in the vegetation we were unable to get a sighting of this skulking bird. Yellowhammers were plentiful with beakfulls of insects for young. Whitethroats were also feeding young.

At Bough Beech at least 9 common tern chicks were on the breeding rafts soliciting food every time an adult flew in. Highlight was the brief visit by a pair of lesser spotted woodpeckers to birch trees on the path to the visitor centre. It was also unusual to see swallows and house martins (mainly young birds) sitting on tree branches. Mandarins were already moulting into eclipse plumage.

Weather: Sunny at first but becoming cloudy with a moderate SW wind

Old Lodge/The Hollies, Ashdown Forest, Sussex
Maurice Ewart, Eric Brown, Steve Sheppard,Wednesday 10 June 2009, 10.40 am to 3.45 pm

A walk round Old Lodge nature reserve followed by a brief visit to the Hollies.

Bird List
Kestrel, hobby, pheasant, common gull, collared dove, stock dove, woodpigeon, cuckoo (h), green woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker, woodlark (4), skylark, swallow, tree pipit (3), wren, robin, redstart (17+), stonechat (6), blackbird, song thrush, whitethroat, chiffchaff, willow warbler, coal tit, blue tit, great tit, nuthatch, carrion crow, chaffinch, linnet (30 species) and en route - jackdaw, magpie, starling, house sparrow, house martin, ring-necked parakeet.

G eneral Observations
The day got off to a great start with a juvenile redstart begging for food and then three woodlarks in flight all within 200 yards of the car park. A further woodlark gave good views as it sat on some wires. Redstarts were abundant and gave good views with two adults providing food at a nest site and also with a stunning male feeding two of its young (and possibly a third) on the path in front of us. A tree pipit gave great views with its regular parachuting song flight and then sitting on a wire about three feet from a male stonechat.

A hobby appeared briefly just as a flock of swallows flew overhead.

Although Dartford warblers are still being seen on Ashdown Forest we were unsuccessful in locating any during a short visit to the Hollies not helped by the cool, breezy weather.

Butterfly: small tortoiseshell

Weather: Cool and cloudy but dry after an early shower. Wind moderate, southerly.

Scadbury Park, Sidcup, Kent. Chislehurst Ponds
Peter Kite, Jacky Foot, Saturday 6 June 2009, 10:30 am to 2.45pm

A first visit for Jacky, who did not expect to hear so many birds singing.
Bird list
Woodpigeon, blackbird, robin, wren, chaffinch, goldfinch, song thrush, mistle thrush, magpie, carrion crow, jackdaw, jay, green woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker, lesser spotted woodpecker, nuthatch, coot, moorhen, mallard, tufted duck, Canada Goose, pied wagtail, swift, whitethroat, blackcap, garden warbler, chiffchaff, stock dove, ring necked parakeet, great tit, blue tit, long tailed tit, goldcrest, grey wagtail. Total 34 species

Weather: Light drizzle, some sunny periods, quite warm

Crossness River Bank
Eric Brown, Peter Sussex, Thursday 4 June 2009, Time
11.50 am to 2.50 pm

A short walk along the river path from the golf centre to the platform just beyond the outfall especially to seek ruddy shelduck and black tern reported in previous few days. Neither seen.

Bird List
Whitethroat (8), reed warbler (3), oystercatcher (8), gadwall (pr), mallard, shelduck (200+), black headed gull (200+), lesser black backed gull, linnet (4), woodpigeon (40), robin, blckbird, pied wagtail (3), house sparrow, dunnock, carrion crow, common tern (30+), kestrel, mute swan, cormorant, grey heron (6), great crested grebe, coot, moorhen, lapwing, wren, feral pigeon, blue tit, great tit, greenfinch (2), magpie. Total 31 species

General Observations
Butterflies: small white, painted lady, holly blue.

Weather: Warm bright sunshine, no wind

Elmley, RSPB Reserve, Isle of Sheppey, Kent
Peter Kite, Karen Hills, Saturday 30 May 2009, 10:00 am to 2.35 pm 

Bird List
Black headed gull, mute swan, starling, woodpigeon, magpie, carrion crow, meadow pipit, skylark, marsh harrier (10+), yellow wagtail, redshank, lapwing, reed bunting, reed warbler, sedge warbler, swallow, house sparrow, wren, pheasant, coot, little grebe, hobby, moorhen, kestrel, shelduck, mallard, garganey, ringed plover, shoveler, blackbird, goldfinch, pied wagtail, tufted duck, little egret, pochard, corn bunting, common tern, oystercatcher, Canada goose, avocet (40+), lesser black back gull, herring gull, grey heron, swift, green woodpecker, greylag goose, cormorant, buzzard, little owl. Total: 49 species

Avocet Elmley RSPB Reserve 30 May 2009 Picture by Peter Kite	Avocet Chick Elmley RSPB Reserve 30 May 2009 Picture by Peter Kite	Meadow Pipit Elmley RSPB Reserve 30 May 2009 Picture by Peter Kite
Avocet	Avocet Chick	Meadow Pipit
Pictures by Peter Kite

General Observations
Butterflies: small white, peacock, small heath, painted lady, clouded yellow, meadow brown, common blue, Moth; cream spot tiger moth.

Cream Spot Tiger Moth Elmley RSPB Reserve 30 May 2009 Picture by Peter Kite
Cream Spot Tiger Moth Picture by peter kite

Weather: Sunny and very warm

Oare Marshes
Maurice Ewart, Eric Brown, Doreen Newson, Wednesday 27 May 2009, 10.30 am to 3.30 pm

A look at the scrub opposite the cottages followed by a walk round the east flood and then a visit to the west flood hide.

Bird List
Little grebe, great crested grebe, cormorant, little egret (6+), grey heron, mute swan, greylag goose, Canada goose, shelduck, wigeon (2), gadwall, mallard, shoveler, pochard (2), tufted duck, marsh harrier (7+), kestrel, hobby, moorhen, coot, oystercatcher, avocet (13), lapwing, black-tailed godwit (250+), whimbrel, curlew, redshank, black-headed gull, herring gull, lesser black-backed gull, great black-backed gull, common tern, little tern (3+), collared dove, turtledove (3), woodpigeon, cuckoo (h), swift (200+), sand martin (50+), swallow (30+), house martin (50+), meadow pipit, yellow wagtail, pied wagtail, blackbird, sedge warbler, reed warbler. whitethroat, bearded tit (h), magpie, carrion crow, starling, house sparrow, greenfinch, reed bunting (12+). Total 55 species

General Observations
With the weather feeling like winter and a strong wind most small birds kept out of sight although this did result in a large influx of hirundines and swifts which continuously hawked for insects over the east flood as did the single hobby. None of the large number of black-tailed godwits (most in breeding plumage) were on the shore even at low tide, feeding instead in groups throughout the east flood. Little terns were spotted feeding off the shingle bank at Castle Coote and seen from the seawall hide. Marsh harriers showed well, with a food pass observed.

Also seen: brown hare on the beach at Castle Coote and fox.

Weather: Cold with rain at times in a strong south westerly wind.

Crayford Marsh
Peter Kite, Jacky Foot, Monday 25 May 2009, 09:30 am to 3.45 pm

Return visit to seek more dragonflies but none seen.

Bird List
Collared dove, woodpigeon, swift, swallow, house martin, chaffinch, blue tit, great tit, wren, robin, dunnock, whitethroat (10+), blackcap, blackbird, skylark (6), herring gull, magpie, carrion crow, starling (200+), pheasant, marsh harrier, redshank, moorhen, house sparrow, mallard, cormorant, ring-neck parakeet, black headed gull, mute swan, reed warbler, linnet, lesser black back gull, reed bunting (6), lapwing, shelduck, meadow pipit, sedge warbler, greenfinch, pied wagtail, grey wagtail, great black backed gull, goldfinch. 42 species.

General Observations
Butterflies: large white, small white, green veined white, common blue, holly blue, large skipper, green hairstreak, peacock, painted lady (150+).

Moths; yellow shell, silvery, burnet companion, lattice heath (20+)

Weather: Overcast, light shower, then very hot by mid-day.

Stodmarsh NNR
Maurice Ewart, Eric Brown, Doreen Newson, Tony Dunstan, Wednesday 20 May 2009, 10.45am to 4.15pm

A circular walk from Stodmarsh car park to the viewing ramp at Grove Ferry returning via the river bank path and Chambers Wall.

Bird List
Great crested grebe, cormorant, little egret, grey heron, mute swan, greylag goose, shelduck, gadwall, mallard, shoveler, pochard, tufted duck, common buzzard, marsh harrier, kestrel, hobby (20+), pheasant, water rail (h), moorhen, coot, avocet (2), black-winged pratincole, ringed plover, little ringed plover, lapwing, bar-tailed godwit, common sandpiper (2), black-headed gull, herring gull, common tern, collared dove, stock dove, woodpigeon, turtle dove, cuckoo, swift (100+), kingfisher, great spotted woodpecker, swallow, pied wagtail, wren, robin, nightingale (h), stonechat, blackbird, Cetti’s warbler (15+), grasshopper warbler, sedge warbler, reed warbler (100+), whitethroat, garden warbler, blackcap, chiffchaff, blue tit, great tit, jay, magpie, jackdaw, rook, carrion crow, starling, house sparrow, chaffinch, greenfinch, reed bunting. (65 species)

General Observations
Highlight undoubtedly the smart black-winged pratincole (first in Britain for eight years) which had left the vicinity of the Marsh Hide by 11am but was seen well on the ground from Harrison’s Drove hide and then in flight for an hour while it hawked for insects among swifts and hobbies. Later it was seen again on the ground from the ramp. At one point 20 hobbies hunted together in a spectacular aerial show. Marsh harriers gave excellent views and reed warblers/buntings were abundant although we had to work harder for an elusive grasshopper warbler reeling away in thick grass near the river bank

Butterflies: orange tip, small white

Weather: Warm and sunny with a light SW breeze

Rainham Marshes RSPB reserve
Ian, Nikki & Leanne Willmott, Wednesday 20 May 2009, 10.30 am to 1.30 pm

Went in search of Warblers and were not disappointed.

Bird List
Little grebe, great crested grebe, cormorant, little egret, grey heron, mute swan, greylag goose, Canada goose, shelduck, mallard, gadwall, tufted duck, moorhen, coot, lapwing, redshank, black headed gull, herring gull, great black-backed gull, lesser black-backed gull, woodpigeon, collared dove, swift, sand martin, skylark, pied wagtail, wren, dunnock, robin, blackbird, blackcap, whitethroat, sedge warbler, reed warbler (10+) Cetti’s warbler, blue tit, magpie, jackdaw, carrion crow, starling, house sparrow, goldfinch, greenfinch, reed bunting. (45 species)

Weather: Sunny with a little cloud, breezy at times.

Regent’s Park, London
Eric Brown, Philip Cliffe, Friday 15 May 2009, 10.50 am to 12.50 pm

Having dipped on garganey at Oare, Stodmarsh, Elmley and Northward Hill, an expedition to seek the wild drake reported on birdlines to have paired with a female from the Park collection.

Bird List
Pochard, red crested pochard (10), tufted duck, mallard, moorhen, coot, whooper swan (6), greylag goose, Canada goose, bar-headed goose, Egyptian goose, smew (drake), wood duck, mandarin, garganey (5 drakes 3 fem), pintail, shelduck, ferruginous duck, goldeneye, grey heron (20+), common sandpiper, reed warbler, carrion crow (30+), magpie, jay, starling, blackbird, dunnock, robin, cormorant, great spotted woodpecker, blackcap, greenfinch, pied wagtail, lesser black backed gull, herring gull, long-tailed tit (3), swift house martin, blue-winged teal, marbled duck, chaffinch, goldfinch. Total 43 species.

General Observations
After such an abysmal time trying to locate garganey it was a shock to reach the blue bridge at the end of the boating lake, as directed, to be confronted with eight ! Four drakes formed a lively gang chasing females and generally being active on the water while one drake remained half asleep on the bank alongside a female. We concluded this must be the wild bird. It was difficult to decide where the exotics ended and the wild species began. The red crested pochard, for example, were certainly free flying. Several unusual wildfowl shared the waterfall area with the garganey and they are all listed simply for reference purposes. A couple were not identifiable. Some of the geese had goslings and grey herons occupied treetop nests. Reed warblers sang from the reeds and common sandpiper was a surprise.

Weather: Cloudy with sunny spells. Breezy.

Elmley RSPB Reserve, Isle of Sheppey
Tony Dunstan, Eric Brown, Doreen Newson and Dave Thompson, Wednesday 13 May 2009,10.30 am to 4.30 pm

A visit to seek garganey, yellow wagtail and anything else of interest on a reserve rendered quiet by black-winged pratincole fever at Stodmarsh.

Bird List
Jackdaw, carrion crow, rook, starling, lapwing, red legged partridge, gadwall, black headed gull, kestrel, grey heron, shoveller, little egret, greenshank, meadow pipit, swallow, house sparrow, avocet, pochard, mallard, moorhen, coot, oystercatcher, swift, tufted duck, reed bunting, pheasant, sedge warbler, redshank, yellow wagtail (12+), spotted redshank, black tailed godwit (7), ringed plover, cormorant, pied wagtail, greylag goose, Canada goose, skylark, shelduck, marsh harrier, common tern, whimbrel, common sandpiper, turnstone (13), dunlin, robin, blackbird, grey plover, corn bunting, little grebe, house martin, wheatear, grey partridge. Total 52 species.

General Observations
A number of avocets had young chicks which they were defending . We missed a common buzzard overhead while we were in a hide and could not locate any of the garganey reported at the reserve. Little owl and barn owl also remained hidden out of the strong wind.

Weather: Dull, poor visibility , 13° C cold easterly wind. Brief rainshower.

Rye Harbour LNR, Sussex
Eric Brown, Steve and Sandra Sheppard, Monday 11 May 2009, 11.20 am to 5.00 pm

A walk for Med gulls and others to be found at this excellent reserve

Bird List
Avocet (7), blackbird, blackcap, chaffinch, chiffchaff, carrion crow, coot, cormorant, dove collared, stock, rock (feral pigeon), white (dom), tufted duck, dunlin (7), dunnock, gadwall, godwit bar-tailed, black tailed, greylag goose, gull black-headed, herring, lesser-black backed, Mediterranean (60+), jay, kestrel, lapwing, linnet, magpie, mallard, house martin, moorhen, oystercatcher, pheasant, meadow pipit, ringed plover, little ringed plover, redshank, sanderling (3), shelduck, skylark, house sparrow, starling, mute swan, swallow, swift, tern common, sandwich, thrush mistle, song, turnstone, pied wagtail, warbler Cetti’s, reed, sedge, wheatear (6), whimbrel, whitethroat, woodpigeon, yellow wagtail. Total 59 species

General Observations
A howling wind all day made observation difficult and disaster was narrowly averted several times as telescopes began to topple. A total of 92 species had been recorded the previous day in an official survey but considering conditions which made both sighting and hearing birds tricky our total was excellent. Some waders hunkered down in mud bunkers. Hearing a turtle dove call would have been near impossible. Many small birds stayed out of sight in scrub but obliging whitethroats and sedge warblers sang from swaying bush tops. A ringed plover performed its "broken wing" trick on the beach where we found three snoozing sanderling. Black headed gulls already had young but the Med gulls were still brooding. Possible hobby and turtle dove were not listed owing to the problem of positive flight identification posed by binoculars wobbling in the wind. No little terns seen.

Weather: Near gale force wind but dry and sunny

Dungeness RSPB Reserve
Anthony Dunstan, Sunday 10 May 2009, 8am to 5pm

Organised car trip by ex-SE Group.

Bird List
Cormorant (20+), little egret, Slavonian grebe, great crested grebe, little grebe, coot, moorhen, whimbrel (7), curlew (5), little ringed plover (2), ringed plover, pectoral sandpiper, Pomarine skua (4), eider duck, common tern, herring gull, common gull, black headed gull, yellow legged gull (3), great black backed gull, lesser black backed gull, swallow, swift, mute swan, Canada goose, greylag goose, lapwing, dunlin, redshank, oystercatcher, grey heron, mallard, shoveler, gadwall, garganey, pochard, tufted duck, shellduck,wigeon, carrion crow, jackdaw, blackbird, whitethroat (4), linnet, pied wagtail, sedge warbler, reed warbler, dunnock, starling, kestrel, hobby (5), cuckoo, marsh harrier, merlin, woodpigeon, pheasant.

General Observations
At 10.45 am the majority of the group left Dungeness to twitch a black winged pratincole reported at Reculver, leaving three members to continue around the reserve.

Weather: 18° C. Sunny. SE wind veering Easterly and strengthening.

Knole Park, Sevenoaks
Peter Kite, Saturday 9 May 2009, 10.39 am

Sidcup and District Natural History Group trip

Bird List
Chaffinch, swallow, jackdaw, greylag goose, starling, woodpigeon, pied wagtail, blackbird, carrion crow, green woodpecker, great spotted woopecker, great tit, stock dove, goldfinch, moorhen, sparrowhawk, magpie, robin, long-tailed tit, wren, chiffchaff, yellowhammer, willow warbler (6+), blackcap, mistle thrush, mallard, redstart (2), collared dove, blue tit, greenfinch, dunnock. 31 species

Weather: Sunny with fresh breeze

Weather: Overcast, very windy

Elmley RSPB Reserve, Isle of Sheppey
Ian, Nikki & Leanne Willmott, Monday 4 May 2009, 8.30 am to 1.00 pm

My wife and I along with our 2½ year old little blonde scarecrow spent a fantastic day having a leisurely stroll to two hides and ticking off 46 different species of bird. Good fun.

Bird List
Great crested grebe, little egret, grey heron, mute swan, shelduck, mallard, gadwall, shoveller, tufted duck, marsh harrier (2), kestrel, grey partridge, pheasant, moorhen, coot, oystercatcher, avocet, ringed plover, lapwing, common sandpiper, redshank, spotted redshank, black tailed godwit, whimbrel, BH gull, Meditteranean Gull (10+), common tern, common gull, woodpigeon, collared dove, swift, skylark, sand martin, swallows, pied wagtail, yellow wagtail, (30+), blackbird, sedge warbler (10+), magpie, crow, starling, house sparrow, linnet, reed bunting, corn bunting and hobby perched in a tree by the farmhouse.

General Observations
Mammals: Brown hares, rabbits

Amphibians: marsh frogs (noisy)

Weather: Sunny to start with, turning overcast.

Crayford Marsh
Peter Kite, Jacky Foot, Monday 4 May 2009, 9.30 am to 3.40 pm

A bus excursion to a site not visited before but will definitely return soon

Bird List
House sparrow, woodpigeon, collared dove, swallow (20+), ring neck parakeet, starling, dunnock, whitethroat (30+), lesser whitethroat (2), blackbird, herring gull, carrion crow, jay, house martin (20+), wren, grey heron, linnet, chaffinch, magpie, skylark, garden warbler (2), blackcap, greenfinch, yellowhammer, pheasant, blue tit, redshank (8), shelduck, reed bunting, reed warbler (4), mallard, sedge warbler (8+), mute swan, lapwing, black headed gull, coot, pied wagtail, robin, oystercatcher (6), whimbrel (2), cormorant, grey wagtail, great bl b gull, lesser bl b gull, stonechat, moorhen, little grebe, song thrush, swift (60+), common tern. 50 species

General Observations
Flowers/plants: white/red deadnettle, cow parsley, hoary cress, bush/tufted/spring vetch, bluebell, hedge garlic, groundsel, salad burnet, green alkanet, white/red campion, round leaved cranesbill, valerian, ragwort, greater celandine, field poppy, comfrey, hawthorne, elder.

Butterflies: small, large white, green veined white, orange tip, peacock, small tortoiseshell, wall brown, speckled wood.

Dragonfly: hairy hawker

Weather: Overcast, sunny spells, a few light showers, light breeze.

Crossness Nature Reserve
Karen Sutton, Andrew Waller & 9 Friends of Crossness Nature Reserve, Friday 1 May 2009, 8.30 am to 10.30 am

Bird List
Black-headed gull (14), blackbird (5), blackcap (2), blue tit, Canada goose (14), carrion crow (5), chaffinch, chiffchaff (2), coot (5), cormorant, cuckoo, dunnock (2), feral pigeon, gadwall (3), great tit (3), greenfinch (4), grey heron (6), herring gull (4), kestrel (2), lapwing (2), lesser black-backed gull, linnet (4), little grebe (3), magpie (4), mallard (7), moorhen (5), mute swan (2), reed bunting (4), reed warbler (5), robin (2), sedge warbler (2), shelduck (4), skylark, song thrush, starling (33), stock dove (2), swallow, wheatear (3), whitethroat (11), willow warbler, wood pigeon (5), wren (6)

Weather: Sunny, warm and dry

Crossness river bank and Nature Reserve
Eric Brown, Stephen Sheppard, Friday 24 April 2009, 10.15 am to 2.00 pm

A short visit mainly to look for the reported Iceland gull

Bird List
Blackbird, reed bunting (3), chaffinch, chiffchaff (2 h), carrion crow, coot, cormorant, collared dove, rock dove (feral pigeon), dunnock, gadwall (6-8), Canada goose, black headed gull (numerous), Iceland gull (juv), lesser black-backed gull (4), grey heron (3), kestrel, linnet, magpie, mallard, moorhen, oystercatcher (3), peregrine (2), robin (h), common sandpiper (4), shelduck (60+), house sparrow, starling (50+), mute swan, common tern (20+), arctic tern, wheatear, whitethroat (8+), woodpigeon, wren (h), reed warbler (h). 36 species

General Observations
The juvenile Iceland gull was easily located on the foreshore by the golf centre. Neither of us had seen one before but it was quite different to all other gulls with off-white plumage mottled and barred brown plus dainty, mostly black bill. Male and female peregrines staged spectacular flights with the female twice alighting on the incinerator tower. A small passage of common terms downriver included one arctic while a small group of common sandpipers flew in to land on rocks near the outfall. A wheatear perched on a gate on the reserve while abundant whitethroats sang. Many birds were heard only as they stayed in deep cover to avoid the wind.

Butterflies: peacock, small and large white

Weather: Warm sunshine (16° C) but very breezy

Joydens Wood, Bexley
Peter Kite, Jacky Foot, Wednesday 22 April 2009, 9.20 am to 2.30 pm

A trip by public transport to find out how easy it was to get there, first vist in over 20 years. Will return soon

Bird List
House sparrow, blue tit, dunnock, chiffchaff (20+), woodpigeon, robin, blackcap, great tit, wren, carrion crow, song thrush, nuthatch, magpie, great spotted, lesser spotted, green woodpecker, jay, blackbird, long tailed tit, chaffinch, Canada goose, sparrowhawk (pr), coal tit, tawny owl, ring neck parakeet, greenfinch, goldfinch. 27 species.

General Observations
Butterflies: peacock, orange tip, large, small white, green veined white, speckled wood, brimstone.

Flowers: groundsel, cleavers, red deadnettle, lesser celandine, herb robert, bluebell, hedge mustard, cow parsley, ivy leaf geranium, dandelion, wood anemone, lily of the valley, wood spurge, lesser, greater stitchwort, yellow archangel, bittercress, field forget me not, common dog violet, primrose, pendula sedge, barren strawberry, bugle, gorse, dogs mercury, white deadnettle, mouse eared chickweed, yellow pimpernel, arum, bush vetch.

Weather: Very warm and sunny.

Chiffchaff. Picture by Peter Kite

Rye Harbour LNR
Maurice Ewart, Monday 20 April 2009, 11.15 am to 3.00 pm

A circular walk from the car park out to the mouth of the river, along to ternery pool returning via the new pools and long pit.

Bird List
Little grebe, cormorant, mute swan, greylag, Canada goose, shelduck, gadwall, mallard, tufted duck. pheasant, moorhen, coot, oystercatcher, avocet, ringed plover, lapwing, dunlin, whimbrel (2), curlew, redshank, turnstone, Mediterranean gull (150+), black-headed gull (1000+), common gull, lesser black-backed gull, herring gull, great black-backed gull, sandwich tern (100+), common tern (30+), collared dove, woodpigeon, skylark, yellow wagtail, wren, dunnock, robin, wheatear (6+), blackbird, song thrush, grasshopper warbler (h), sedge warbler (12+), reed warbler (6+), lesser whitethroat, whitethroat (5+), blackcap, chiffchaff, great tit, magpie, rook, carrion crow, starling, house sparrow, chaffinch, greenfinch, linnet, reed bunting. Total 56 species

General Observations
Ternery Pool has been taken over entirely by gulls. Mediterranean gulls were constantly calling throughout the reserve. Tern numbers are well down possibly because the black-headed gulls seem to have to taken over their previous breeding sites. Most terns were on the shore. Sedge warbers were singing and song flighting continuously on my return to the village although the highlight was a singing lesser whitethroat which gave close views for around five minutes. Surprisingly no raptors or hirundines.

Weather: Warm and sunny with little wind initially.

Stodmarsh NNR and Grove Ferry
Maurice Ewart, Eric Brown, Doreen Newson, Wednesday 15 April 2009, 10.30 am to 3.30 pm

A visit to Stodmarsh first then a drive to Grove Ferry.

Bird List
Great crested grebe, cormorant, little egret, grey heron, mute swan, greylag goose, shelduck (2), gadwall, teal, mallard, shoveler, pochard, marsh harrier (6), sparrowhawk, kestrel, pheasant, moorhen, coot, lapwing, ruff, redshank, lesser black-backed gull, herring gull, collared dove, woodpigeon, green woodpecker (h), great spotted woodpecker, skylark, swallow, pied wagtail, wren, dunnock, robin, whinchat, blackbird, fieldfare (7), Cetti’s warbler (10+), reed warbler (h), lesser whitethroat (h), blackcap, chiffchaff, long-tailed tit, blue tit, great tit, jay, magpie, rook, carrion crow, jackdaw, starling, house sparrow, chaffinch, greenfinch, goldfinch, linnet, reed bunting. (56 species)

General Observations
Marsh harriers gave great views as they displayed with several food passes seen. Migrants were scarce with no sign of the garganeys and grasshopper warbler reported in early morning. Late in the afternoon we were surprised by a whinchat which flew up from a path into a tree. While studying it we saw a small flock of late fieldfares arrive to feed in a field beyond it.

Amphibians: Marsh frog (7), swimming grass snake

Butterflies : Peacock, red admiral, orange tip, small white, green-veined white.

Weather: Early mist clearing to sunshine. Feeling warm out of the easterly breeze

London Wetland Centre, Barnes
Maurice Ewart, Friday 10 April 2009, 12.15 pm to 2.00 pm

A look for migrants round the main lake.

Bird List
Little grebe, great crested grebe, cormorant, grey heron, mute swan, greylag, Canada goose, wigeon, gadwall, teal, mallard, shoveler, pochard, tufted duck, water rail (h), moorhen, coot, lapwing, snipe (3), redshank (5), green sandpiper, lesser black-backed gull, yellow legged gull, woodpigeon, ring-necked parakeet, sand martin (40-50), swallow (2), house martin, water pipit (2), yellow wagtail, wren, robin, wheatear (2), blackbird, chaffchaff (2), blue tit, great tit, magpie, carrion crow, starling, greenfinch, chaffinch. (42 species)

G eneral Observations
I didn’t have time to visit the wildside area where newly arrived sedge, reed warblers and blackcaps were reported.

The water pipits which have overwintered gave excellent views and they are now almost in breeding plumage. The wheatears were possibly of the northern Greenland variety. Wildfowl have diminished markedly with only two wigeon remaining,

Weather: Dull and drizzly but mild

Sevenoaks Wildlife KWT Reserve and Bough Beech KWT Reserve
Eric Brown, Dave and Jean Thompson, Doreen Newson, Monday 6 April 2009, SWR 10.30 am to 1.00 pm BB 1.20 pm to 4.00 pm

An excursion for migrants such as little ringed plover, early warblers and hirundines. At Sevenoaks we only had time to walk from the car park to Tower Hide and back but the former showed up in front of the main hide. Chiffchaffs sang everywhere. A female bullfinch flew into trees near the main hide. Despite vandalism and removal of trees favoured by lesser spotted woodpecker near the car park this species had been logged again over the previous three days.

At Bough Beech high water levels ruled out any possibility of waders around the reservoir – but at least there should be no summer drought. Winter visitors and migrants were mixed with wigeon on the scrape and hirundines above. We were unable to positively identify a raptor circling very high. The wings were held straight out (not in a V) and occasionally "shaken" rather than flapped. The tail was not long and splayed while there seemed to be some white at the top This may have been a trick of the light. The bird lost height quickly and disappeared from view towards Ide Hill. Ideas welcome.

Bird List
SWR: mallard, tufted duck, gadwall, teal, shoveler, moorhen, coot, Canada goose, greylag goose, Egyptian goose, mute swan, cormorant, lapwing, little ringed plover (3), blue tit, great tit, long tailed tit, bullfinch (f), goldcrest, chiffchaff, chaffinch, robin, great spotted woodpecker, blackbird, pied wagtail, goldfinch, dunnock, jay, black headed gull, lesser black backed gull, carrion crow, green woodpecker, woodpigeon, magpie, house sparrow, starling, great crested grebe, feral pigeon, ring necked parakeet (on feeder). Total 39.

Butterflies: peacock, brimstone.

BB: (additional species only) greenfinch, grey heron (6), reed bunting (2), shelduck, wigeon (2), swallow (3-4), wren, pheasant, house martin (2), collared dove (2), stock dove, jackdaw. Total 12. DAY TOTAL 51

General Observations
Sevenoaks reserve was much quieter than of late with no sign of noisy improvement work still in progress and vastly improved, hard paths as a result. At Bough Beech a sign proclaimed the closure of the Oast House information centre due to flooding..

Weather: Sunshine with some cloud. 59 degs

Oare Marshes, Kent Wildlife Trust Reserve nr Faversham, Kent
Tony Dunstan, Eric Brown, Doreen Newson & Dave Thompson, Tuesday 31 March 2009 , 10.20 am to 4.00 pm

A trip to try for garganey reported on four previous days plus little owl and early migrants already spotted here like swallow and little stint.

Bird List
Cormorant, great crested grebe, little egret, grey heron, mute swan, greylag goose, Canada goose, brent goose (20), shelduck (30), wigeon, teal (20), mallard, shoveller, pochard, tufted duck, marsh harrier, hen harrier (r-t), sparrowhawk, kestrel, pheasant, moorhen, coot, oystercatcher, avocet (20), grey plover (10), lapwing, dunlin (2), snipe (12+), curlew, redshank, black headed gull (100), common gull, great black back gull, herring gull, stock dove, woodpigeon, little owl, green woodpecker, skylark, meadow pipit, pied wagtail, dunnock, wheatear (2), blackbird, bearded tit (8), blue tit, magpie, jackdaw, rook, carrion crow, starling, house sparrow, chaffinch, linnet, reed bunting (20+), little stint (4). 55 species

General Observations
No sign of the garganey but little owl perched in a tree adjacent to one of the brick huts while bearded tits gave good views climbing reeds between the information centre and the seawall hide. No swallows or sand martins but wheatear showed up on a grassy bank towards the west hide. The little stints flew in on an island in front of the east hide about 3.20 pm.

Brief visit to the adjacent Gunpowder works CP revealed little grebe, long tailed tit and greater spotted woodpecker (drumming).

Weather: Sunny part cloudy 14 degrees centigrade(warmest day of March). No wind.

London Bridge Station
Eric Brown, Sunday 29 March 2009, 1.15 pm

As I left London Bridge Station via the walkway over Tooley Street I heard the familiar call of goldfinches above the noise of buses, lorries, other heavy traffic and trains. Looking around (without bins) I eventually spotted them in a buddleia bush at the Southwark end of platform one directly above the entrance to London Bridge Jubilee Line tube station.

Bird List
Goldfinches (2)

Weayher: Fine, sunny

Crossness Nature Reserve, Abbey Wood
John Archer, Ian Miller, Sunday 29 March 2009

Bird List
Iceland gull (2), common buzzard, wheatear (2), shoveler (5), white-fronted geese (3)

Crossness Nature Reserve, Abbey Wood
John Archer, Saturday 28 March 2009

Bird List
Curlew (2), shoveler (18), gadwall (20), teal (30), skylark, barn owl

Dartford Football Club, Princes Road, Dartford
Andy Meaton, Saturday 28 March 2009, 5.00 pm

Bird List
Swallows (50+) flying ahead of heavy squall shower

General Observations
Result Dartford 2 Tonbridge Angels 2, best game of the season!

Weather: Sun and heavy showers

Crossness Nature Reserve, Abbey Wood
Kevin Jarvis, Thursday 26 March 2009

Bird List
Peregrine falcon (2), chiffchaff, little grebe (2), Canada goose (2), stock dove (2), skylark, meadow pipit, tufted duck, teal (4), gadwall (12), shoveler (8), wheatear

Weather: Fine

Funton Creek & Elmley Marshes RSPB reserve
Maurice Ewart, Eric Brown, Doreen Newson, Tony Dunstan, Wednesday 25 March 2009, 10.30 am to 11.30 am Funton Creek. 12.00 to 4.20 pm Elmley

A look for waders towards high tide at Funton Creek then a visit to the Wellmarsh and South Fleet hides at Elmley

Bird List
Little grebe, great crested grebe, cormorant, little egret, grey heron, spoonbill, mute swan, greylag goose, Canada goose, shelduck, wigeon (1000+), gadwall, teal, mallard, pintail, shoveler, pochard, tufted duck, buzzard, marsh harrier (5+), hen harrier, kestrel, merlin, pheasant, grey partridge (2), red-legged partridge, moorhen, coot, oystercatcher (100+), avocet (200+), ringed plover, grey plover, lapwing, dunlin, ruff, black-tailed godwit (2), curlew (300+), redshank, turnstone, black-headed gull, woodpigeon, green woodpecker, skylark, meadow pipit, pied wagtail, robin, blackbird, magpie, rook, carrion crow, starling, house sparrow, goldfinch, reed bunting (54 species)

General Observations
The strong NW wind made for difficult birdwatching and waders in Funton Creek were mostly sheltering where they could. Curlew and wigeon were everywhere at Elmley and two grey partridges showed briefly on the left of the entrance track just before the farm. A merlin was seen in flight by Eric before it landed to allow good scope views. Big numbers of avocet, oystercatcher and shelduck in particular were seen from the Wellmarsh hide and a close black-tailed godwit was almost in full breeding plumage. A ring-tailed hen harrier did a circuit, hunting close to the ground as it quartered. We ended up at the South Fleet hide from where the surprise of the day, a spoonbill was seen in a field to the right of the hide.

Weather: Sunny spells and squally showers, one with hail which sent all the small waders scurrying for shelter. High tide at 12.09

Foots Cray Meadows
Maurice Ewart, Friday 20 March 2009, 11.30 am to 1.30 pm

A walk from Footscray to Riverside Road

Bird List
Mute swan, mallard, tufted duck, sparrowhawk (2), moorhen, coot, woodpigeon, ring-necked parakeet, green woodpecker (2), skylark, grey wagtail (2), wren, dunnock, robin, blackbird, song thrush (2), mistle thrush, chiffchaff (2), goldcrest, long-tailed tit, blue tit, great tit, magpie, jackdaw, carrion crow, chaffinch. (26 species)

General Observations
The volume of birdsong was high with numerous wrens and robins competing with the ever-noisy parakeets. Two singing chiffchaffs were probably spring migrants. Finches were notable by their absence apart from a couple of chaffinches. Sparrowhawks were busy, giving excellent views.

Oare Marshes KWT Reserve, nr Faversham
Maurice Ewart, Eric Brown, Tony Dunstan, Tuesday 17 March 2009, 10.30 am to 3.30 pm

A walk out along the Swale to Uplees Copse with a look also at both east and west floods.

Bird List
Little grebe, great crested grebe, cormorant, little egret, grey heron, mute swan, greylag goose, brent goose, shelduck, wigeon, gadwall, teal, mallard, pintail, shoveler, pochard, tufted duck, red breasted merganser (4), common buzzard, rough-legged buzzard, marsh harrier (6+), kestrel (2), peregrine, moorhen, coot, oystercatcher, avocet, ringed plover (2), golden plover (6), grey plover (5), lapwing, dunlin (5), snipe (13), black-tailed godwit (30+), curlew, redshank (100+), black-headed gull, common gull, herring gull, woodpigeon, stock dove, collared dove, skylark, meadow pipit (6+), pied wagtail, wren, dunnock, robin, blackbird, mistle thrush (2), song thrush (2), Cetti’s warbler (h), blue tit, magpie, carrion crow, starling, house sparrow, chaffinch, greenfinch, reed bunting (20+). 60 species

General Observations
The walk along the seawall to Uplees copse was productive with both grey and golden plover on the mud there with some coming into breeding plumage as were some of the godwits on the Sheppey side. Peregrine was seen both flying towards Sheppey then later coming back along the Swale. The pale common buzzard was seen followed shortly after by the rough-legged buzzard which appeared over Mocketts on Sheppey before landing on a tree where it gave scope views.

Bough Beech Reservoir KWT Reserve
Andy Meaton, Monday 16 March 2009, 11.00 am to 3.30 pm

Causeway and Centre Feeders

Bird List
Great northern diver, red crested pochard, goosander (4), common buzzard (4), goldeneye, sparrowhawk, brambling (2), plus lesser black backed gull, shelduck, wigeon, pochard, shoveller, teal and tufted duck. No Mandarin seen.

General Observations
First Brimstone butterfly and a skipper sp.

Weather: Sunny, sometimes even warm, cycling shorts deployed!

Northward Hill RSPB Reserve
Maurice Ewart, Eric Brown, Saturday 14 March 2009, 11.00 am to 1.30 pm

A visit to look for early migrants with a brief diversion to Southfleet to see the falcated duck which is back on the pond there.

Bird List
Little grebe, great crested grebe, grey heron, mute swan, greylag goose, Canada goose, brent goose, shelduck, wigeon, gadwall, teal, mallard, shoveler, pochard, tufted duck, marsh harrier (2), sparrowhawk, kestrel (2), red-legged partridge, moorhen, coot, oystercatcher, lapwing, redshank, woodcock, black-headed gull, lesser black-backed gull, woodpigeon, collared dove, green woodpecker, skylark, wren, dunnock, robin, wheatear (2), blackbird, mistle thrush (2), blue tit, great tit, magpie, jackdaw, rook, carrion crow, starling, house sparrow, chaffinch, greenfinch, goldfinch, lesser redpoll (3+) - 49 species + falcated duck

General Observations
Lesser redpolls were feeding in alders near Bromhey Farm. We accidentally flushed a woodcock from a ditch on the woodland edge here – quite a surprise. A distant wheatear, first of the year for both of us, was seen on the marsh from the Ernie Helmsley viewpoint. This was an earliest ever record for EB. An excellent male later gave good close views in a field with two mistle thrushes just past Decoy Farm near Swigshole Cottage.

Weather: Sunny intervals but feeling cold in a brisk westerly wind

Kensington Gardens, London
Eric Brown, Maurice Ewart, Friday 13 March 2009, 1.30 pm to 2.35 pm

A London walk to look for the regular breeding tawny owls

Bird List
Tawny owl (2 ads, 3 juvs), blue tit, great tit, long-tailed tit, greenfinch, chaffinch, goldfinch, lesser redpoll, blackbird, wren, ring-necked parakeet, jay, magpie, house sparrow, feral pigeon, woodpigeon, starling, moorhen, coot, red-crested pochard (pair), common pochard (pair). mallard, tufted duck, shoveler (30+), gadwall, mute swan, greylag goose, Canada goose, great crested grebe, black headed gull, lesser black backed gull, great black backed gull. 32 species

General Observations
The owls were easily located in a clump of trees just off the tarmac path past the obelisk. The two adults were snoozing in one tree and the three young in another tree nearby, all perched on small branches near main trunks. The two older siblings huddled together and already show adult brown wing feathers. The third chick (the runt) is smaller and still covered in grey-white downy feathers. There must be a healthy population of mice and rats for these adults to raise three young for at least a second successive year here. A redpoll feeding in a nearby alder was a surprise – and so was the total number of species seen in just an hour a few hundred yards from Lancaster Gate station and bustling Bayswater Road.

Weather: Mild, cloudy.

Dungeness Beach and RSPB reserve
Maurice Ewart, Eric Brown, Monday 9 March 2009, 10.45 am to 3.45 pm

A search at The Patch and near the fishing boats for Iceland Gull and then a circular walk round the RSPB reserve from the visitor centre.

Bird List
Little grebe, great crested grebe, slavonian grebe, black-necked grebe, cormorant, grey heron, mute swan, greylag, Canada goose, wigeon, mallard, shoveler, pochard, tufted duck, goldeneye, ruddy duck (12), marsh harrier, sparrowhawk, kestrel, peregrine, pheasant, red-legged partridge, moorhen, coot, oystercatcher, lapwing, Mediterranean gull, black-headed gull, common gull, herring gull, lesser black-backed gull, great black-backed gull, woodpigeon, green woodpecker, skylark, meadow pipit, pied wagtail, stonechat, blackbird, mistle thrush, cetti’s warbler, blue tit, great tit, magpie, jackdaw, carrion crow, starling, greenfinch, reed bunting. (49 species)

General Observations
The Iceland Gull could not be found west of The Patch. The strong wind and bright sunshine reflecting off the water were not ideal for close study of gulls. Gulls apart, nothing was seen offshore. The snow geese had disappeared and the female red-crested pochard reported a day earlier from the Christmas Dell hide could not be located either. Highlight was the fly-past peregrine seen well from the visitor centre plus the two rarer grebes.

No teal were seen and wildfowl numbers were dwindling as they return to their northern breeding grounds. The black-necked grebe is developing some of its dark breeding plumage.

Weather: Bright and sunny but with a fresh westerly wind.

Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve
Eric Brown, Maurice Ewart, Gill Page, Steve and Sandra Sheppard, Monday 2 March 2009, 10.20 am to 1.45 pm

A walk to look for redpoll, siskin and possibly lesser spotted woodpecker.

Bird List
Redpoll (5), siskin (12), snipe (6), nutchatch, treecreeper, tufted duck, mallard, black headed gull, blackbird, wren, blue tit, great tit, cormorant, mute swan

General Observations
Redpoll showed well in bright sunlight low in alder trees on approach to John Carter hide. A mealy has been reported regularly here but we were unable to identify anything other than lesser. Only one episode of woodpecker drumming was heard. Sounded like a Great Spot. Much disturbance around the main hide and on track to tower hide due to machinery and workmen improving paths.

Weather: Bright sunshine, warm

Lewisham
Maurice Ewart, Sunday 1 March 2009, 12.25 pm

Sighting from the train as it approached Lewisham Station from Sidcup direction.

Bird List
Peregrine flew from roof of Lewisham centre and chased pigeons

General Observations
First time I’ve seen a peregrine here, possibly one of the pair from Canary Wharf/O2 arena.

Dungeness RSPB, Patch, Scotney GP, Pett Level
Maurice Ewart, Eric Brown., Saturday 28 February 2009, 10.30 am to 4.00 pm

A brief visit to the ARC pit at Dungeness RSPB followed by a visit to The Patch for some seawatching then on to Pett Level with a short stop at Scotney gravel pits on the way.

Bird List
Red-throated diver (3), black-throated diver, little grebe, great crested grebe (300+), slavonian grebe, fulmar, gannet (4), cormorant, little egret, grey heron, mute swan, greylag, barnacle goose (13), brent goose, canada goose, shelduck, wigeon, teal, mallard, shoveler, pochard, tufted duck, common scoter (6+), smew (3f), marsh harrier, kestrel, pheasant, red-legged partridge, moorhen, coot, oystercatcher, lapwing, curlew (100+), redshank, turnstone, black-headed gull, common gull, herring gull, great black-backed gull, guillemot (16+), collared dove, woodpigeon, green woodpecker, skylark, pied wagtail, wren, dunnock, robin, black redstart (2), stonechat (3), blackbird, goldcrest (3), firecrest, long-tailed tit, blue tit, great tit, magpie, rook, jackdaw, carrion crow, starling, house sparrow, tree sparrow (7+), chaffinch, reed bunting. (65 species)

General Observations
The walk to the hide at the ARC pit was very productive with tree sparrows in the bushes round the car park, marsh harriers displaying, smew from the path to the hide and excellent close views of firecrest and goldcrest near the hide. Black redstarts were seen in the power station grounds and seawatching produced red-throated diver, common scoter, gannet and guillemot. Brent geese were on the move offshore. Although the Iceland gull was around we were unable to locate it. As at Dungeness, the sea at Pett was full of great crested grebes, some of them displaying. A slavonian grebe was seen in the Winchelsea direction whilst further out a black-throated diver (and a possible second) were identified.

The pools themselves were very quiet.

Weather: A mild sunny day with a light wind.

Dorset Avenue, Welling (back garden)
Steve and Sandra Sheppard, Thursday 26 February 2009, 11.00 am

Bird list
Siskins (3)

Weather: Sunny

Leysdown, Capel Fleet, Ferry House Inn, Sheppey
Maurice Ewart, Eric Brown, Tony Dunstan, Julia Maynard, Gill Page, Tuesday 17 February 2009, 10.30 am to 4.10 pm

Description/text
A visit to Leysdown, followed by a drive down Harty Ferry Road with various stops on the way.

Bird List
Great crested grebe, cormorant, little egret, grey heron, mute swan, Bewicks swan, white-fronted goose (100+), greylag, Canada goose, brent goose (200+), shelduck, wigeon, gadwall, teal, mallard, shoveler, red-breasted merganser (3), rough-legged buzzard, marsh harrier (15+), hen harrier (3f), kestrel (5), pheasant, red-legged partridge, moorhen, coot, oystercatcher (500+), avocet (6), golden plover (2000+), grey plover, lapwing, knot, sanderling (6), dunlin, ruff, curlew, redshank, turnstone, black-headed gull, common gull, herring gull, great black-backed gull, collared dove, stock dove, woodpigeon, barn owl (2), green woodpecker (h), skylark, dunnock, robin, stonechat (3), blackbird, mistle thrush, long-tailed tit, blue tit, great tit, magpie, jackdaw, rook, carrion crow, starling, house sparrow, chaffinch, greenfinch, reed bunting. (64 species)

General Observations
The fields near Shellness were full of golden plover, lapwing and shelduck whilst oystercatchers were everywhere on the shore at Leysdown shortly before low tide. On turning onto the Harty Ferry Road we were stopped by a low cruising hen harrier which gave great views as it quartered nearby fields and glided across the road. From the corner at Capel Fleet we sighted the flock of white-fronted geese whilst a rough-legged buzzard gave good views as it first perched on a bush then a fence before flying over the hill in the direction of Mocketts. The swans were feeding as a distant mixed flock.

Red-breasted mergansers showed well on the Swale from the Ferry House Inn. Last stop was the raptor viewpoint from where two barn owls gave good views as they hunted and one perched in a tree. The rough-legged buzzard appeared again.

Weather: Cold and dull with drizzle at times. Visibility poor particularly at Leysdown.

Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve
Maurice Ewart, Eric Brown, Wednesday 11 February 2009, 10.00 am to 2.00 pm

A leisurely walk round this KWT reserve

Bird List
Little grebe, great crested grebe, cormorant, grey heron, greylag goose, Canada goose, gadwall, teal, mallard, shoveler, pochard, tufted duck, goosander (1f), ruddy duck, sparrowhawk (2), moorhen, coot, lapwing (100+), snipe (25+), black-headed gull, common gull, great black-backed gull, collared dove, woodpigeon, kingfisher (2), great spotted woodpecker , wren, dunnock, robin, blackbird, fieldfare (40+), song thrush, mistle thrush, long-tailed tit, blue tit, great tit, nuthatch, treecreeper (2), jay, magpie, jackdaw, carrion crow, starling, chaffinch, greenfinch, goldfinch, siskin (40+), lesser redpoll (30+). (47 species)

General Observations
Our walk started well with a singing nuthatch, three long-tailed tits and two lesser redpolls in a tree beside the visitor centre. Flocks of siskin and lesser redpoll (with one possible common redpoll) were evident round the reserve giving good views as they fed mainly on alders. The many snipe were very active, showing well in the sun.

A female goosander was seen in front of the double-decker hide before swimming rapidly out of sight.

Two kingfishers were observed with one seen perched, then in flight from the John Carter hide shortly after a sparrowhawk had spooked the flock of siskins/redpolls feeding there.

Weather: Cold and bright, becoming cloudy in the afternoon. Some areas of water were partially frozen.

Rutland Shaw, Sidcup
Philip Cliffe, Sunday 8 February 2009, 10.00 am to 11.00 am

Rutland Shaw is a small piece of woodland between Festival Close and Footscray Lane near Albany Park. It deserves a good look now and then as it has a good variety of mature trees including alders and a small pond.

Bird List
Blue tit, great tit, long tailed tit, wren, robin, dunnock, ring necked parakeets, greater spotted woodpecker, green woodpecker, redwing (5), song thrush, mistle thrush, blackbirds, chaffinches, goldfinches, siskins (30+).

Weather: Cold but calm and fairly bright.

Leybourne Lakes CP, Millstream/Larkfield Lake
Philip Cliffe, Saturday 7 February 2009, 3.30 pm to 4.30 pm

The bittern climbed the reeds in the reed bed and stayed in full view for about five minutes. The water rail was seen in a swampy area along the path between the Millstream and Brookland lakes. The sparrowhawk flew across the lake at about 4.30pm

Bird List
Bittern, water rail, sparrowhawk

Weather: Sunny, calm

Dungeness RSPB & Walland Marsh
Maurice Ewart, Eric Brown, Saturday 7 February 2009, 11.30 am to 4.15 pm

A drive round part of Romney Marsh followed by a visit to Dungeness RSPB reserve.

Bird List
Little grebe, great crested grebe, slavonian grebe, black-necked grebe, cormorant (200+), little egret, grey heron, mute swan, bewicks swan (8), greylag goose, shelduck, wigeon, gadwall, teal, mallard, pintail, shoveler, pochard, tufted duck, goldeneye (12+), goosander (2f), ruddy duck (9), marsh harrier, kestrel, pheasant, red-legged partridge, moorhen, coot, golden plover, lapwing, snipe, black-headed gull, common gull, herring gull, lesser black-backed gull, great black-backed gull, collared dove, woodpigeon, dunnock, robin, stonechat (5), blackbird, fieldfare (200+), green woodpecker, long-tailed tit, blue tit, great tit, magpie, rook, carrion crow, starling, house sparrow, tree sparrow (10+), chaffinch, greenfinch, linnet, yellowhammer(4), reed bunting, (58 species)

General Observations
Highlights were the flock of over 200 fieldfares in a roadside field near Brooklands, close views of the family group of Bewicks swans near Midley Cottages where there was also a good-sized mixed flock of chaffinches and yellowhammers. Tree sparrows showed very well around Midley farm with another at Dungeness.

Good views of black-necked/slavonian grebe at Dungeness. Goosanders were seen at the ARC pit.

Weather: Cold with moderate NW wind

Bedgebury Pinetum
John and Jeanna Turner, Saturday 31 January 2009, 2.30 pm to 3.30 pm

The walk produced only two hawfinches with a flock of chaffinches and brambling.

Bird List
Hawfinch, chaffinch, greenfinch, brambling, blue tit, great tit, coal tit, greater spotted woodpecker, pied wagtail, blackbird, coot, mallard, magpie, carrion crow, wood pigeon.

Weather: Sunny but windy

Capel Fleet, Isle of Sheppey
John and Jeanna Turner, Friday 30 January 2009, 11.00am to 4.00pm

The corner produced common buzzard, merlin, peregrine, brent geese, Bewick's swan, whooper swan, female hen harrier and four circling buzzard silhouettes one of which could have been a rough legged buzzard. Good views of two perched peregrine were seen from the mound together with several marsh harrier. Three red throated diver flew past over the Swale and a fine male hen harrier was seen over the Swale Reserve. Two barn owls were seen on the drive out of the area.

Bird list
Red throated diver, golden plover, lapwing, redshank, oystercatcher, ruff, dunlin, curlew, avocet, great crested grebe, marsh harrier, hen harrier, merlin, peregrine, common buzzard, kestrel, barn owl, black headed gull, herring gull, lesser black backed gull, greater black backed gull, shelduck, teal, wigeon, mallard, brent geese, grey lag geese, pheasant, red legged partridge, robin, reed bunting, blackbird, mistle thrush, fieldfare, redwing, goldfinch, crow, rook, magpie, wood pigeon.

Weather: Sunny some breeze.

Maidstone Road, Bexley
Philip Cliffe, Eric Brown, Friday 23 January 2009, 12.05pm and 3.15pm

After a morning of heavy rain and strong winds the flock of eight waxwings was observed on his lunchtime arrival by Philip in the spot reported 24 hours earlier – perched on trees opposite the entrance to Ruxley Manor Garden Centre. Philip kindly alerted Eric who arrived within 35 minutes to see no waxwings at all. Nearly three hours later a passing sparrowhawk spooked eight starling sized birds – the waxwings. They had probably been in the area all the time but it took the sparrowhawk to flush them. They were so nervous and flighty they were even put up by the squawk of a passing ring-necked parakeet. They perched briefly on a garden rose bush before returning to their favourite tree. After five minutes they disappeared over the greenhouses heading into the Garden Centre.

Bird List
Waxwing (8), jay, magpie, greenfinch (20+), blackbird, chaffinch (2), carrion crow, black headed gull, grey heron (2), woodpigeon (25+), moorhen

Waxwing group. Picture by Tony Dunstan

Mammals
Rabbit (2)

Weather: Damp with a flippin' cold wind

Riverside Road, Albany Park, Sidcup
Eric Brown, Tuesday 20 January 2009, 11.15 am to 12.40 pm

Short walk for a bit of fresh air after illness

Bird List
Blackbird (3), pied wagtail (8), starling (4), stonechat (M), chaffinch (pr), carrion crow, ring-necked parakeet, blue tit, grey heron (2), woodpigeon (many), collared dove (2), stock dove (2), robin, wren, mistle thrush, redwing (8), dunnock, kingfisher, great spotted woodpecker, green woodpecker, siskin (2), greylag goose (2 over). 22 species

Ggeneral Observations
The redwing were in a tree alongside the footpath by pumping station, kingfisher and siskin seen from bridge over River Cray.

Weather: Dull and cold

Riverside Road, Albany Park, Sidcup
Maurice Ewart, Eric Brown, Thursday 15 January 2009, Noon to 2.00 pm

A walk around the fields at the end of Riverside Road and down to the bridge over the River Cray primarily to see if the woodlarks were still around with the stubble fields now having been ploughed.

Bird List
Black-headed gull, moorhen, stock dove (2), collared dove, woodpigeon, ring-necked parakeet, robin, stonechat, blackbird, redwing (12), song thrush, blue tit, great tit, magpie, carrion crow, starling, chaffinch, goldfinch, linnet (25+), pied wagtail (10+), house sparrow, dunnock. (22 species).

General Observations
It is likely that the woodlarks have gone for good with the ploughing over of all the stubble fields.

Weather: Dull, chilly with moderate SE wind.

Riverside Road, Albany Park, Sidcup
Philip Cliffe, Tuesday 13 January 2009, 11.00 am

The main field has now been ploughed over and the woodlarks were seen on the lower stubble field just past the pumping station. This field was also examined the following day but it had also been ploughed over and there was no sign of the woodlarks.

Bird List
Woodlarks (4)

Weather: Dull, calm, 8-9 degrees

Hythe, Kent
John and Jeanna Turner, Tuesday 13 January 2009, 11.00 to 16.00 hours

Description/text
A visit to see the night heron which we had missed before at West Hythe. We watched as it slowly swallowed a whole trout. On the beach at high tide we found a single purple sandpiper. We came home via Dungeness and the ARC pit held goosander, smew and goldeneye as well as numerous gulls.

Bird List
Golden plover, lapwing, purple sandpiper great crested grebe, little grebe, night heron, grey heron, little egret, kestrel, black headed gull, herring gull, lesser black backed gull, greater black backed gull, common gull, barnacle goose, wigeon, teal, shoveller, goldeneye, smew, goosander, tufted duck, coot, moorhen, robin, blue tit, great tit, reed bunting, blackbird, bullfinch, tree sparrow, skylark, meadow pipit, stonechat, crow, rook, jackdaw, magpie, wood pigeon, collared dove. 40 species.

Night Heron. Picture by Tony Dunstan

Weather: Misty at first and sunny later.

Dungeness RSPB Reserve
John and Jeanna Turner, Sunday 11 January 2009, 11.00 am to 4.45 pm

A visit to Denge Marsh produced a flock of mute and Bewick swans. The reserve, although mostly ice covered, held slavonian grebe, red crested pochard and smew on the new diggings; bittern, smew and black necked grebe were seen from the Xmas Dell hide. Walland Marsh again held a small flock of chaffinch, corn bunting and a single yellowhammer and a flock of greylag geese flew into a roadside field bringing the white fronts and the tundra bean geese. The reed bed near the Woolpack Inn produced a great male hen harrier coming in to roost.

Bird List
Slavonian grebe, black necked grebe, little grebe, great crested grebe, grey heron, bittern, grey lag goose, Canada goose, white-fronted goose, tundra bean goose, mute swan, Bewicks swan, cormorant, smew, shelduck, pintail, teal, wigeon, gadwall, shoveller, mallard, red crested pochard, pochard, tufted duck, black headed gull, common gull, greater black backed gull, herring gull, kestrel, sparrowhawk, marsh harrier, hen harrier, lapwing, coot, moorhen, carrion crow, magpie, wood pigeon, mistle thrush, blackbird, starling, stonechat, robin, dunnock, great tit, blue tit, chaffinch, reed bunting, yellowhammer, corn bunting. Total 50 species

Weather: Sunny but cold.

Riverside Road, Albany Park, Sidcup
Philip Cliffe, Saturday 10 January 2009, Noon

The woodlarks were on the stubble field near two wooden boxes or pallets, quite near to the road. The brambling was reported to me by a reliable source.

Bird List
Woodlark (5), chaffinch (50+), meadow pipits (20+), linnets (20+), stonechat (f), brambling (f)

Weather: Dull, calm, about 8 to 9 degrees

Foots Cray Meadows, Sidcup
Maurice Ewart, Thursday 8 January 2009, Noon to 1.45 pm

A walk from Riverside Road to the bottom of Sidcup Hill.

Bird List
Little grebe (4), little egret (2), grey heron, mute swan (3), gadwall (9), mallard (20+), tufted duck (10+), moorhen, coot, black-headed gull, sparrowhawk, kestrel, collared dove, woodpigeon, ring-necked parakeet, robin, blackbird, redwing, long-tailed tit, blue tit, great tit, magpie, jackdaw, carrion crow, woodlark (7) starling, chaffinch, greenfinch, goldfinch, linnet.(30 species)

General Observations
The woodlarks flew into their favourite stubble field at the end of Riverside Road about 10 minutes after my arrival but I could only locate two on the ground which disappeared from sight just as Philip Cliffe arrived. As Philip left six flew up from left of where we were looking and landed in the stubble field on the River Cray side of the path where I eventually located a couple although they were very well camouflaged.

Their favourite stubble field has been partially ploughed and I suspect it will be completely ploughed within a week or so.

The woodlarks were believed to have left the area on 11 December but were also reported on 22 December and may have been around all the time without being noticed.

All the finches and the redwing were at the Riverside Road end with no finches at all seen elsewhere.

Weather: Unbroken sunshine with no wind. Still fairly chilly.

Danson Park, Bexleyheath
John and Jeanna Turner, Wednesday 7 January 2009, 9.30 am to 11.30 am

The lake was virtually iced over except for a small area under the trees on the north bank where all the wildfowl were massed. Among them a male goosander appeared and stayed for several minutes fishing before flying westward. The rock garden held six siskins, two goldcrest and a flock of eight long-tailed tits.

Bird List
See Danson Park sightings for a full list.

Weather: Overcast with sunny periods.

Foots Cray Meadows, Sidcup
Maurice Ewart, Sunday 4 January 2009, 11.45 am to 1.15 pm

A walk from Riverside Road to the bottom of Sidcup Hill.

Bird List
Little grebe, little egret, grey heron (2), mute swan (3), gadwall (4), mallard (20+), tufted duck (14), moorhen, coot, black-headed gull, collared dove, stock dove, woodpigeon, ring-necked parakeet, grey wagtail, kingfisher (2), pied wagtail, wren, robin, blackbird, fieldfare(3), song thrush (3), long-tailed tit, blue tit, great tit, jay, magpie, jackdaw, carrion crow, starling, chaffinch, greenfinch, goldfinch, linnet. Total 34 species.

Grey Wagtail at Foots Cray Meadow. Picture by Ian Willmott

General Observations
First kingfishers I have seen here for over a year, one at either end of my walk. Fieldfares were in the grounds of the water works at Riverside Road. The pond at Five Arches was partially frozen. Surprisingly, no woodpeckers seen.

Weather: Dull and very chilly, light wind.

Dungeness RSPB reserve
Anthony Dunstan, Friday 2 January 2009, 12.30 pm to 4.00 pm

First visit of the new year.

Bird List
Goosander (2), mute swan, shelduck, teal, coot, wigeon, lapwing, pintail, goose canada (30), goose greylag (30) goose whitefront (12) goose tundra bean (8), goose barnacle (8), goose bar headed, goldeneye (7), herring gull, blackheaded gull, tufted duck, grey heron, gadwall (10), mallard, shoveller, kestrel, rook, crow, green woodpecker, cormorant (20), red crested pochard (3), slavonian grebe, moorhen, little grebe, black necked grebe, grt crested grebe, ruddy duck, smew (2), blackbird, oystercatcher.

General Observations
The six species of goose were observed west of Dennes Road, Lydd. Otherwise on NR.

Weather: Easterly wind, temp 2° C, cloudy but bright

West Hythe/Folkestone
Peter Kite, Karen Hills, Sally Jacobs, Friday 2 January 2009, 10.30 am to 12.30 pm

Another chance for night heron and waxwings.

Bird List
West Hythe: pheasant, collared dove, woodpigeon, jackdaw, blue tit, robin, blackbird, carrion crow, herring gull, house sparrow, magpie, dunnock, chaffinch, moorhen, song thrush, greenfinch, goldfinch, mute swan, black headed gull, muscovy duck, mallard, starling, night heron, little egret, grey heron, mistle thrush, starling, wren.

Waxwing. Picture by Anthony Dunstan

Folkestone: herring gull, black head gull, pied wagtail, white wagtail, blackbird, mistle thrush, greenfinch, starling, waxwing (25)

Weather: Overcast, drizzle, breezy

Bough Beech Reservoir near Ide Hill
Maurice Ewart, Eric Brown, Thursday 1 January 2009, 11.30 am to 2.20 pm

A walk along the causeway followed by a look at the orchard and round the visitor centre

Bird List
Great northern diver, great crested grebe (30+), cormorant, grey heron, mute swan, mandarin (4), gadwall, teal, mallard, shoveler, pochard, tufted duck, goosander (6), ruddy duck, sparrowhawk, pheasant, moorhen, coot, snipe, black-headed gull, common gull, lesser black-backed gull, herring gull, rock dove (feral pigeon), woodpigeon, collared dove, great spotted woodpecker, wren, dunnock, robin, blackbird, song thrush, mistle thrush, redwing (35+), bearded tit, marsh tit, blue tit, great tit, long-tailed tit, nuthatch, goldcrest, magpie, carrion crow, jackdaw, starling, house sparrow, chaffinch, brambling (2), greenfinch, goldfinch, pied wagtail (h), reed bunting (52 species + ring-necked parakeet in Sidcup)

Female Bearded Tit at Bough Beech Reservoir: Pictures by Ian Willmott

General Observations
The great northern diver performed close to the causeway when we arrived. Goosanders were tucked away in the NW corner where two males and a female were later joined by a further three which flew in from the east. The pools east of the causeway were frozen over and nearly all passerine activity was in the orchard area where two bramblings showed well. Highlight was the female bearded tit feeding near the bridge by the path to the visitor centre where it gave prolonged close range views.

On our return journey we saw a flock of redwings in trees by the roadside in Brasted. Surprisingly there were no fieldfares/redwings at Bough Beech itself.

Weather: Dull and chilly with little wind.