Rainham Marshes RSPB Reserve - Car Trip
Saturday 16 December 2006, 9.30am to 12.30pm

Leader: John Turner

Attendance: 17

Seventeen enthusiasts ignored early morning rain to explore the newly opened RSPB reserve and set off from the centre across the drawbridge in sunshine. We spotted many wigeon with shoveler, gadwall and a pair of pochard. Progressing to the hawthorn covered area we saw a charm of goldfinches feeding, a song thrush singing and distant views of a small flock of redwing. A kestrel was spotted on the pylons. The pools provided a flock of greylag geese, many lapwing, a little egret, shelduck, teal, a few pintail and a lone black-tailed godwit. The path towards the remaining butts gave us a pair of stonechats and a flock of pied wagtail as well as many lesser black back gulls and a group of five grey herons. We were fortunate to have access to the sea wall footpath but the river only gave us a lone curlew a single redshank and large numbers of lapwing and gulls.

Bird List
Lapwing (lots), redshank, curlew, black-tailed godwit, little egret, coot (many), black-headed gulls (lots), herring gull (2), lesser black backed gulls (lots), common gulls (8), heron (6), mute swan (3), wigeon (50), gadwall (8), shoveler (30), pochard (2), pintail (6), shelduck (20), kestrel (2), pied wagtail (8), goldfinch (20), greenfinch (5), chaffinch (2), meadow pipit, stonechat (2), reed bunting (2), robin, dunnock, crow, magpie.

General Observations
The new reserve is well worth a visit. It has an impressive Education centre with cafe and shop and miles of boardwalk have been laid for walking comfort. There is, however, a £1 parking charge which applies to both members and non-members and on our visit the only hide was closed. It is to be hoped the RSPB can now focus on developing facilities at Cliffe Pools. During a talk to the Group, one RSPB staff member promised this reserve would become "the Minsmere of the Kent coast". We look forward to its completion.

Weather: Sunny

Pulborough Brooks RSPB reserve - Group Coach Trip
Sunday 26 November 2006, 10.15am to 3.45pm

Leader: Maurice Ewart.

Attendance: 28. We need 30 to break even so please support future trips or they may be at risk.

Bird List
Cormorant, grey heron, mute swan, greylag goose, Canada goose, shelduck, wigeon, teal, mallard, pintail, shoveler, pochard, tufted duck, sparrowhawk, buzzard, kestrel, grey partridge, pheasant, moorhen, coot, lapwing, dunlin (2), ruff (3), snipe, black-headed gull, common gull, herring gull, woodpigeon, stock dove, green woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker, meadow pipit, pied wagtail, wren, dunnock, robin, blackbird, fieldfare, song thrush, redwing, chiffchaff, goldcrest, long-tailed tit, coal tit, blue tit, great tit, nuthatch, jay, magpie, carrion crow, rook, jackdaw, starling, chaffinch, greenfinch, goldfinch, linnet, bullfinch (5), yellowhammer. (59 species).

General observations
Large numbers of geese, teal, wigeon, lapwing and corvids (particularly jackdaw). Over 100 pintail also seen. Redwings scattered through most of the reserve. Bullfinches gave good views. Although barn owl and short-eared owl have been regular we probably left a little too early to see these.

Weather: Sunny and mild. Moderate SW wind.

Peter Kite (with scope) and Anthea Reynolds peer at bulfinches on the Pulborough trip. Picture: Tony Banks

Minsmere - Group Coach Trip
Sunday 29 October 2006, 10.00am - 4.15pm

Leader: Maurice Ewart

Attendance 51

Weather: Sunny and mild with a moderate NW wind

Bird list
Great crested grebe (offshore), little grebe, cormorant, bittern, little egret, grey heron, mute swan, greylag goose, shelduck, wigeon, gadwall, teal,mallard, pintail, shoveler, tufted duck, marsh harrier, sparrowhawk, kestrel, peregrine, pheasant, moorhen, coot, lapwing, oystercatcher, ringed plover, knot, little stint, dunlin, ruff, snipe, black-tailed godwit, bar-tailed godwit, curlew, spotted redshank, redshank, greenshank (h), black-headed gull, common gull, lesser black-backed gull, great black - backed gull, herring gull, collared dove, rock dove(feral pigeon), stock dove, wood pigeon, kingfisher , green woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker (h), skylark, meadow pipit, water pipit, pied wagtail, wren, dunnock, robin, stonechat, blackbird, fieldfare, cetti's warbler (h), dartford warbler, goldcrest, bearded tit (h), long-tailed tit, marsh tit, coal tit, blue tit, great tit, treecreeper, jay, magpie, jackdaw, rook, carrion crow, starling, house sparrow, chaffinch, geeenfinch, goldfinch, linnet, bullfinch.

General observations
81 species of which 4 were heard only. Highlights were a bittern in flight in brilliant sunshine, marsh harriers fighting over a dead greylag, 2 spotted redshanks landing right in front of the east hide while numerous stonechats gave great close views in brilliant sunshine. Those who ventured onto Dunwich Heath were rewarded with views of 2 obliging Dartford Warblers. Surprisingly no reed buntings or bearded tits were seen by any of the group. Still plenty of butterflies (particularly red admirals) and dragonflies with muntjac, hare and rabbit. Quiet offshore.

Riverside Country Park, near Gillingham - Car Trip
Wednesday 25 October 2006, 9.30am to 1.15pm

Leader: John Turner

Attendance: 10

As our group of 10 set off in the rain we were soon cheered by the sight of brent geese, a late curlew sandpiper and the first of many views of a charm of five goldfinches. Reaching the far end of Horrid Hill we saw a flock of avocets involved in synchronised feeding side by side in two long lines. We were entertained by two rock pipits hopping between the wall and the sea-weed, and in addition to the many black-headed gulls we located two lesser-black backed gulls on the mud. On the return walk a meadow pipit was seen and a lone black tailed godwit. After a fruitless visit to the pool we walked round Sharp's Green Bay to the path overlooking Copperhouse Marshes where we saw the flock of brent geese and the flock of wigeon on the water as well as many waders on the mud. We walked back to the car park through Eastcourt Meadows where we saw great tits, chaffinches and house sparrows. The day ended with a green woodpecker.

Bird List
Teal (10), shelduck (4), wigeon (100), brent geese (100+), great crested grebe (4), dunlin (lots), redshank (lots), avocet (30), curlew sandpiper, curlew (30),ringed plover (2), oyster catcher (lots), turnstone (4), grey plover (lots), lapwing (20), black tailed godwit, black headed gull (lots),lesser black backed gull (2), greenfinch (30) Goldfinch (5) chaffinch(4) great tit (2) house sparrow (6) rock pipit (2), meadow pipit, green woodpecker,

Weather: Rain followed by brighter periods.

Cliffe Pools RSPB reserve Group car trip
Saturday 30 September 2006, 09.30am to 12.45pm

Leader: John Turner

Attendance 20

Weather: Sunny

As we set off from the Salt Lane entrance we saw a fly-past by five shoveler followed by a tufted duck. The first two redshank were located on the far bank. We were accompanied by a party of long-tailed tits and were surprised by a group of swallows and the large number of red admiral butterflies. Reaching the far end of the reserve we watched a distant kestrel hunting and walked past Cliffe Creek to the river where we located many gulls and teal and had distant views of avocet and grey plover on the mud. Highlights of the return walk were a glimpse of a kingfisher, a solitary greenshank, a ruff, four oystercatcher, a gadwall and a party of redshank.

Bird list
Avocet (30), grey plover (30), lapwing (lots) redshank (25), greenshank, ruff, oystercatcher (4), little grebe (2), great crested grebe (2), coot(lots), blackheaded gulls (lots), herring gull (4), lesser black backed gulls (lots), grey heron, mute swan (2), swallows (10), pied wagtail (2), goldfinch, greenfinch, meadow pipit, skylark, robin, dunnock, c crow, magpie, greater spotted woodpecker (heard)

General observations
Red admiral butterflies numerous

Rye Harbour Nature Reserve Car Trip
Wednesday 21 June 2006, 10.30am to 3.30pm

Leader: John Turner

Weather: Sunny and very windy

The mid-week group were overwhelmed by the pure numbers of birds with chicks on the Ternery Pool. Blackheaded gulls were in evidence in front of the hide but Mediterranean gulls and sandwich terns were soon spotted also with chicks. A black-headed gull juvenile was seen attacking a very young chick. Moving on to the beach we found at least 9 little terns on nest and finally located two very active chicks as well as a ringed plover on its nest. The main hide produced views of common terns and chicks as well as oystercatchers. The walk back to the car park along the river also produced lapwing with chicks and a vociferous juvenile oystercatcher with its parent.

Bird List
Sandwich tern (lots), common terns (lots), little terns (20), ringed plover (6), lapwing (6), redshank (2), oystercatcher (4), little grebe (2), ruddy duck (2), shelduck (10), blackheaded gull (lots), herring gull (4), lesser black backed gulls (6), greater black backed gulls (10), Mediterranean gull (40)

General Observations
Sheets of red valerian

Cliffe Pools RSPB Reserve
Wednesday 24 May 2006, 10.00am to 1.00pm

Leader: John Turner

Weather: Sunny and windy with showers

The mid-week group visited Cliffe Pools from the Salt Lane entrance and were greeted while parking by a cuckoo on one side and a whitethroat on the other. Another common whitethroat gave good views whilst collecting insects in a nettle bed. A cuckoo was seen in flight later as were song flighting common whitethroats. A singing lesser whitethroat provided the usual glimpse then flew to the next bush. A flock of bar tailed godwit in summer plumage were spectacular in flight and landed close for good views.

Bird list
Swifts(9), cuckoo, whitethroat (lots) lesser whitethroat, blackcap(5), chaffinch(4), corn bunting(3), kestrel, bar tailed godwit(12), redshank(2), oystercatcher(4), great crested grebe(10), little grebe(2), shelduck(20), blackheaded gull,(40) herring gull(4), lesser black back gulls(10)

General observations
Common wall butterfly

Leader: John Turner
Attendance: 43

Weather: Overcast with showers

Plentiful birdsong supplied a superb backdrop to a habitat perfect for the whole range of summer visitors.

Within minutes the strong bubbly calls of a concealed nightingale could be heard. At least 15 were heard during the day with a brief view of one bird deep in the scrub.

At Robbies hide overlooking the Colne a fast moving bird of prey moving inland turned out to be a dashing hobby.

Oystercatcher, turnstone, curlew, redshank and both black and bar tailed godwit and a grey plover in summer plumage were on the mud but numbers were low.

Some members of the Group observed a long tailed tit on the nest.

The last part of the day was spent avoiding rain in hides overlooking the scrape.

In bright periods birdsong was uplifting, especially the many nightingale.

The full range of warblers together with the turtle dove and dashing hobby made the showers bearable.

Bird list
Little grebe, cormorant, little egret, mute swan, canada goose, shelduck, mallard, pochard, tufted duck, kestrel, hobby, pheasant, moorhen, coot, oystercatcher, grey plover, black tailed godwit, bar tailed godwit, whimbrel, curlew, redshank, turnstone, black headed gull, lesser black backed gull, herring gull, great black backed gull, little tern, woodpigeon, turtle dove, cuckoo, swift, green woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker, skylark, sand martin, swallow, house martin, pied wagtail, wren, dunnock, robin, nightingale, blackbird, sedge warbler, reed warbler, lesser whitethroat, whitethroat, garden warbler, blackcap, chiffchaff, willow warbler, blue tit, great tit, long tailed tit, jay, magpie, carrion crow, starling, chaffinch, greenfinch, linnet, bullfinch

General observations
Painted lady, azure blue, common froghopper

George Kalli

Leader: Chas Parr
Attendance: 24

Weather: Slight wind turning to rain

Nightingale pictures by Sam Shippey

After last year’s success when the Group finally saw nightingales after many years of trying we again had high hopes of a sighting.

We walked along the bottom ride to the rookery and also saw the grey herons. Numbers have reduced since this site was the largest heronry in Europe but there were still plenty around.

The top ride made a spectacular sight as it was covered with bluebells.

As we walked back down the hill we heard our first nightingale.

A second one answered from behind us then a third was heard further up the hill. A distant fourth joined in and we listened to the delicious, fluty song for some time.

No actual sightings but at least we made it back to the Decoy Hill car park just before the Heavens opened.

Chas Parr

Crossness Nature Reserve, Abbey Wood
Saturday 29 April 2006, 9.30am to 12.30pm

Leader: Tony Banks
Attendance: 60

Weather: Sunshine, windy, brief rain shower

Group Listen to Crossness Warden Karen Sutton (Picture: Tony Banks)

Tony Banks led this Group walk, attended by an amazing 60 people, for a behind the scenes look at Bexley's only nature reserve with warden Karen Sutton. List includes birds seen on River Thames as well as reserve.

Bird List
Blackbird, reed bunting (8+), carrion crow, coot, cormorant, cuckoo, collared dove, tufted duck, gadwall, black tailed godwit, goldfinch, Canada goose, little grebe, black headed gull, lesser black backed gull, grey heron (8), kestrel, linnet (4), magpie ( 6+), mallard, moorhen, oystercatcher (3), shelduck (12), house sparrow, starling, mute swan, black swan, reed warbler, sedge warbler, teal, great tit, blue tit, whitethroat (6+), woodpigeon, wren. Total 35

General Observations
Water vole, peacock butterfly

RSPB Group Among Reedbeds

Northward Hill RSPB Reserve
Tuesday 25 April 2006, 10.00am to 1pm

Leader: John Turner

Weather: Sunny and windy

The mid-week group visited Bromhey Farm and heard lots of birdsong just 20 yards from the car park.

Bird List
Swallows (9) willow warbler, cuckoo, whitethroat (several), lesser whitethroat, sparrowhawk, avocet (2) garden warbler heard , nightingale, blackcap (5)

Lesnes Abbey Woods Group walk
Saturday 25 March 2006, 9.30am to 12.00 noon

Leader: John Turner
Attendance: 25

Weather: Bright, sunny approx 12 degrees

Bird list
Blackbird, chaffinch, carrion crow, Canada goose, greenfinch, black headed gull, grey heron, jay (4), kestrel, magpie, mallard, moorhen, robin (7), house sparrow, blue tit, great tit, great spotted woodpecker (3), green woodpecker (4) - 3 together on grass near information centre - woodpigeon, wren (3)

General observations
Red admiral butterflies (2), bumblebees (2), grey squirrels(numerous), daffodils beginning to bloom

Riverside Country Park Group Car Trip
Saturday 21 January 2006, 12.30 - 14.45

Leader: Maurice Ewart/David James + 6 others

Weather: Cold , sunny, with moderate north westerly

Bird list
Great crested grebe, cormorant, brent goose, shelduck, wigeon, teal, mallard, pintail, shoveler, red-breasted merganser, pheasant, moorhen, oystercatcher, avocet, ringed plover, grey plover, lapwing, knot, dunlin, black-tailed godwit, curlew, redshank, turnstone, black-headed gull, common gull, lesser black-backed gull, herring gull, great black-backed gull, wood pigeon, pied wagtail, robin, blackbird, fieldfare, magpie, carrion crow, starling, house sparrow, chaffinch

General observations
1 seal swimming in Medway