Bough Beech Reservoir Group Car Trip
Tuesday 18 December 2007, 10.00am to 12.30pm

Leader: John Turner

Attendance: 18

Weather: Cold and misty, sunny later

Below zero temperatures shocked many but there was still some enjoyable Christmas birding. The mandarins soon became obvious in the sunlight and other species of duck were added to the list. As we decided to walk along the causeway a chiffchaff was spotted and also a fieldfare foraging along the waters edge with a mallard. The far end of the causeway produced a raft of diving duck. Moving to the feeders, brambling of both sexes were seen feeding on the ground among the other finches. Some of the group spotted a marsh tit while all the group enjoyed views of nuthatch and greater-spotted woodpecker. An overflying buzzard was the highlight of the morning followed by great crested grebe, black-headed gull, cormorant, grey heron, snipe, buzzard, meadow pipit, pied wagtail, fieldfare, song thrush, blackbird, starling, robin, dunnock, chiff-chaff, marsh tit, great tit, blue tit, goldcrest, nuthatch, greater-spotted woodpecker, chaffinch, greenfinch, goldfinch, brambling, reed bunting.

John Turner

Titchwell Marsh RSPB reserve Group Coach Trip
Sunday 25 November 2007, 10.20am to 4pm

Leader: Maurice Ewart

Attendance: 50

Weather: Sunny but cold with moderate north west wind

A 3 hour trip to this RSPB flagship reserve on a replacement coach almost full to capacity. On the way a substantial flock of golden plover were seen feeding in a field and 6 kestrels were noted.

The feeders outside the visitor centre are a magnet for finches, tits and house sparrows and some time was spent looking for siskin, brambling and lesser redpoll. These were elusive but sightings of each were made later by some of the group. Water levels in the lagoons were high with little muddy margin for waders but compensation came with the sighting of a water rail from the footpath and an obliging snipe sitting in the sun. There were over 60 pintails on the freshwater lagoon. Lunch was taken by most in the spacious Parrinder Hide from where a small flock of twite were observed. A male goldeneye showed well but a spotted redshank was more difficult to sight behind some pintail and gulls. The reported black brant was located within the brent goose flock on the freshwater lagoon.

With snow buntings reported from the beach and little auks being seen offshore, we headed for the beach stopping to view a female goldeneye on the brackish pool.

The little auks had gone before the main group reached the beach, but a mobile flock of snow buntings was found. The cold north westerly made seawatching difficult but with the tide being out the bulk of water activity was on the shore. A skein of pink-footed geese coming in off the sea was a bonus. On the way back to the visitor centre flocks of golden plover and ruff came in to roost. A female marsh harrier perched on a bush and a barn owl suddenly appeared over a field between the car park and the A149.

A good day out, although making an exit from the car park without the coach taking branches from the bushes proved quite a task .

Bird List
Little grebe, cormorant, little egret, grey heron, mute swan, pink-footed goose, greylag, brent goose, black brant , shelduck, wigeon, gadwall, teal, mallard, pintail, shoveler, pochard, tufted duck, goldeneye(2), red-breasted merganser, marsh harrier, sparrowhawk (2), kestrel , peregrine, pheasant, water rail (2), moorhen, coot, oystercatcher, avocet (5), ringed plover, golden plover, grey plover, lapwing, knot, sanderling, dunlin, ruff, snipe, black tailed godwit, bar tailed godwit, curlew, spotted redshank, redshank, turnstone, black headed gull, common gull, lesser black backed gull, herring gull, great black backed gull, little auk (2), woodpigeon, collared dove, barn owl, kingfisher, great spotted woodpecker, skylark, meadow pipit, pied wagtail, wren, dunnock, robin, stonechat (5), blackbird, fieldfare, goldcrest, bearded tit, long tailed tit, coal tit, blue tit, magpie, jackdaw, rook, carrion crow, starling, house sparrow, tree sparrow, chaffinch, goldfinch, siskin, linnet, twite, lesser redpoll, snow bunting (7+), reed bunting. (85 species).

General Observations
2 roe deer seen from the coach

Foots Cray Meadows Walk
Sunday 11 November 2007, 10.00am to 12.45pm

Leader: Maurice Ewart

Attendance: 18

Weather: A wet start and finish but with some brighter interludes in between. Reasonably mild but breezy

Rain falling for an hour before the start failed to deter a good number of participants. We had early success with 2/3 redwings observed in trees in the car park but most birds only gave brief glimpses to some of the group although a grey heron, jay and great spotted woodpecker showed well. The usual parakeets, crows and woodpigeons were all seen in profusion while dunnock, robin and blackbird showed in some numbers. The pond at Five Arches was empty of ducks apart from the usual mallards. A grey wagtail was seen briefly from the bridge here by some people before being disturbed by a dog and man walking through the river after which it could not be relocated. Not surprisingly given the number of dogs running about in the river no kingfishers were seen. Highlight of the day was the discovery of a mixed flock of tits along the Cray which included a goldcrest seen only by a few. While scanning this flock a treecreeper was discovered but frustratingly it too proved elusive for most of the group.

Bird List
Cormorant, grey heron, mute swan, mallard, sparrowhawk, kestrel, moorhen, coot, black-headed gull, collared dove, woodpigeon, ring-necked parakeet, green woodpecker(2), great spotted woodpecker, grey wagtail (1), wren, dunnock, robin, blackbird, redwing, goldcrest (1), long-tailed tit, blue tit, great tit, treecreeper (1), jay, magpie, carrion crow, starling, (29 species inc flyover goldfinches).

General Observations
Four participants new to Bexley Group outings enjoyed the walk

Cliffe Pools RSPB Reserve Car Trip
Wednesday 24 October 2007, 10.15am to 1.15pm

Leader: John Turner

Attendance: 14

Weather: Overcast with an east wind

At the meeting point in the car-park by St Helen's Church we had views of a mistle thrush and several finches and tits. As we set off from the Salt Lane entrance we were treated to a fly-past by five pintail. The pools provided sightings of little egret and the first of many sightings of little grebe and tufted duck. Radar Pool gave us shelduck and pochard as well as the intriguing sight of many wheeling waders. As we progressed to the Flamingo Pool the ducks included ruddy duck and female shoveler as well as a female goldeneye. The wader spectacle included hundreds of avocet in the air, on land and in the water; hundreds of grey plover and dunlin giving wonderful aerial displays joined by smaller numbers of oystercatcher and lapwing. When they landed we managed to spot five black-tailed godwits among the massed ranks. At the far end we spotted perched fieldfare and overflying redwing as well as a kingfisher. On the way back we spotted teal under the far bank and five wigeon flew in to complete a wonderful morning's birding.

Bird List
Avocet (100's), grey plover (100's), dunlin (100's), black-tailed godwit (5), lapwing (50), redshank (25), oystercatcher (40), little egret (2), little grebe (lots), great crested grebe (2), coot (lots), shelduck (lots), pochard (30), tufted duck (lots), ruddy duck (30), wigeon (5), goldeneye (1), teal (25), pintail (5) shoveler (4), Canada geese, blackheaded gull, herring gull, kingfisher (2), chaffinch, goldfinch, greenfinch, robin, dunnock, blue tit, great tit, fieldfare, redwing, mistle thrush, blackbird, wood pigeon, stock dove crow, magpie, green woodpecker (heard).

General Observations
The end of Salt Lane has sub-contractors parked near the barrier. Park in the approach road.

Black headed gull. Picture by Trevor Minns

Riverside Country Park Car Trip
Wednesday 26 September 2007, 10.00am to 12.30pm

Leader: John Turner

Attendance 10

Weather: Cloud, cool, windy

A single grey plover was seen among a group of black headed gulls when it was decided to move towards Motney to find birds at roost. On the way we passed a large school party which had disturbed any wildlife along the footpath. We found large groups of roosting redshank, a few teal and some flying wigeon which proved to be part of a group of over 200 in the creeks. A small group of migrating swallows passed over. On the return two immature pintail were discovered among the redshank.

Bird List
Redshank, grey plover, little egret, grey heron, ringed plover, teal, wigeon, mallard, pintail, black headed gull, starling, wood pigeon, collared dove, magpie, mistle thrush, song thrush, swallow, greenfinch. TOTAL 18 species.

Oare Marshes Group Car Trip
Saturday 22 September 2007, 10.00am to 1.00pm

Leader: John Turner

Attendance: 14

Weather: Sunny but breezy

With high tide having been two hours earlier we walked from the car park back up Harty Ferry Road to explore the East Flood before the waders returned to the foreshore. We were rewarded with large numbers of black tailed godwit and redshank at roost with the odd ruff feeding. Golden plover were also seen and these were joined by larger numbers later in the morning. The first of many curlew sandpiper was spotted followed by a little stint. Better views of the stint and juvenile curlew sandpipers were obtained from the hide with the light behind us. A wheatear perched on a mound south of the path and as we progressed to the river wall the first curlew were seen. Approaching the reed bed glimpses of bearded tits were obtained. As we approached the end of the bed an unidentified wader was spotted and unfortunately flew but a calling whimbrel took its place. A spotted redshank was seen feeding among the reeds a few minutes later. The bar tailed godwit were seen from the sea wall hide together with grey plover in both winter and summer plumage, as well as the common seals basking on the sandbanks

Bird List
Teal, shoveler, tufted duck, shelduck, mallard, wigeon, greylag geese, mute swan, cormorant, grey, ringed, golden plover, lapwing, redshank, spotted redshank, greenshank, ruff, dunlin, snipe, avocet, little stint, curlew sandpiper, whimbrel, curlew, oystercatcher, black tailed godwit, bar tailed godwit, little egret, grey heron, black-headed gull, herring gull, coot, moorhen, reed bunting, wheatear, bearded tit, blue tit meadow pipit, chaffinch, goldfinch, house sparrow, pied wagtail, house martin, sand martin, swallow, marsh harrier, kestrel. TOTAL 47 species.

General Observations
Emperor dragonfly. Southern and common hawkers. Common seals

Arne RSPB Reserve, Dorset, Group Coach Trip
Sunday 24 June 2007. 10:40am–16:00

Leader: Tony Banks

Attendance: 33

As the organiser and substitute trip leader it was pleasing that everybody seemed to enjoy the outing despite bad weather. Before lunch we had walks guided by the wardens and learned, among other things, how badly the huge population of sika deer are affecting the reserve. At 62 our count of species for the day was pretty good with a mix of farmland and woodland birds, waders, ducks and gulls. The many acres of colourful heather provided linnet, tree pipit, meadow pipit, and even a nightjar but sadly on this visit nobody located the elusive Dartford warbler.

Bird List
Great-crested grebe, cormorant, little egret, mute swan, Canada goose, shelduck, mallard, tufted duck, marsh harrier, sparrowhawk, kestrel, pheasant, oystercatcher, avocet, grey plover, lapwing, whimbrel, curlew, redshank, black-headed gull, lesser black-backed gull, herring gull, great black-backed gull, Sandwich tern, common tern, feral pigeon, stock dove, woodpigeon, collared dove, nightjar, swift, green woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker, swallow, tree pipit, meadow pipit, pied wagtail, wren, dunnock, robin, blackbird, song thrush, chiffchaff, willow warbler, spotted flycatcher, coal tit, blue tit, great tit, nuthatch, treecreeper, jay, magpie, jackdaw, carrion crow, starling, house sparrow, chaffinch, greenfinch, goldfinch, linnet.

Fauna – Sika deer

Flora – In the boggy patches many sundews. Among the different heather plants we found dodder and were shown Dorset heath.

Weather: Bright with continuous light rain.

Tony Banks

Blean Woods RSPB Reserve Group Car Trip
Saturday 16 June 200719.00 – 23.00

Leader: Tony Banks

Attendance: 11
First birds of note were a party of tits which included a pair of goldcrests. Emerging into a large clearing chiff-chaff and willow warbler were seen and the first woodcock performed its fly-past. Progressing through the wood we emerged into another clearing and were treated to a sweep of orchids spreading across the glade. As we progressed along the wide track long-tailed tits were spotted and more woodcock were seen roding; as they flew over we were able to hear their "clicking".

In all we had about 20 sightings. Reversing our tracks we were listening for nightjar and were rewarded with two birds "churring" distantly but were unable to gain a sighting. As the light deteriorated we saw many glow-worms on both sides of the track. Some were caught and their earwig-like appearance was quite surprising. A few of the group had glimpses of bats flying past.

Bird List
Woodcock, willow warbler, chiff-chaff, blackcap, goldcrest, blue tit, great tit, long-tailed tit, chaffinch, greenfinch, song thrush, blackbird, robin, swifts, swallows, wren nightjar (heard).

General Observations
Glow-worms, bats and orchids

Weather: Clear and calm.

STODMARSH NNR GROUP CAR TRIP
Saturday 16 June 2007 - 10.00 to 16.30

Leader - Tony Banks

Attendance - 8

The breeze, quite strong in exposed areas, was probably responsible for some of the smaller birds keeping their heads well down. We did manage to see reed and sedge warbler, and Cetti’s were, as usual, very vocal. Swifts, sand martins, common terns, and a few swallows fed constantly over the lake and in the margins a pair of great-crested grebes displayed quite energetically compared with the loafing geese and ducks. A notable absentee was hobby, but marsh harriers in three different plumages provided some raptor interest. Cuckoos gave brief views and in a field by the River Stour five turtle doves accompanied a flock of feeding starlings. After a quick shandy in the pub garden at Grove Ferry we continued on our circuit finding a variety of birds in and around the scrape by the mound, including grey heron, little egret, teal, pochard and mallard. As we walked to the marsh hide a large flock of lapwing wheeled above the reed beds and pools. Once in the hide our attention was taken by a very drab looking garganey, a bearded tit and a common tern fishing only a few yards away. The rest of our route back to the Stodmarsh car park was quiet but two family groups of mute swans, with very cute cygnets, occupied small dykes along the way. All in all a very pleasant day.

Bird list.
Little grebe, great-crested grebe, cormorant, little egret, grey heron, mute swan, greylag goose, gadwall, teal, mallard, garganey, shoveler, pochard, tufted duck, marsh harrier, red-legged partridge, pheasant, water rail, moorhen, coot, lapwing, black-headed gull, common gull, herring gull, common tern, stock dove, woodpigeon, collared dove, turtle dove, cuckoo, swift, green woodpecker, skylark, sand martin, swallow, house martin, meadow pipit, pied wagtail, wren, robin, blackbird, song thrush, Cetti’s warbler, sedge warbler, reed warbler, garden warbler, chiffchaff, willow warbler, long-tailed tit, blue tit, great tit, magpie, carrion crow, starling, house sparrow, chaffinch, greenfinch, goldfinch. Total: 58 species

Weather: Warm and sunny, broken cloud, one short heavy shower.

Tony Banks

Northward Hill RSPB Reserve Unofficial Group Car Trip
Wednesday 20 June 2007, 10.30am to 12.45pm

Leader: John Turner

Attendance: 7

On arrival few birds were singing, but as we moved towards the mound numbers increased being led by the irrepressible wren aided by many chaffinches. From the mound only tufted duck appeared on the reservoir but pochard and gadwall were added. An oystercatcher seemed to be roosting with an avocet, and we were told by Dave, of the reserve staff, that the oystercatcher appeared to have assisted with the avocet chicks - a surprise as avocets are usually very defensive of their young. A female marsh harrier hunted successfully and landed to consume prey. A yellow wagtail flew past and while scouring the brambles for secretive whitethroats we spotted a family of linnets.

While walking towards the hill near the reed beds we glimpsed reed warbler but were surprised by a startled kingfisher which turned tail and then perched obligingly on a low branch; this was apparently the first sighting on the reserve this year.

On our return walk we startled a barn owl while passing the old barn and then completed our surprises with good views of a fine male yellowhammer on the overhead wires. I was informed later that a turtle dove was spotted by one member.

In the afternoon a small group went on to Cliffe where we had fine views of a large flock of shelduck and a garden warbler returning to its nest with a beak full of food.

Bird List
Avocet, lapwing, redshank, oystercatcher great crested grebe, coot, moorhen, mallard, tufted duck, pochard, gadwall, Canada goose greylag goose (both with goslings), blackheaded gull, herring gull, common tern, grey heron, little egret, mute swan, swallow, swift, sand martin, song thrush, blackbird, yellow wagtail, house sparrow, chaffinch, goldfinch, greenfinch, meadow pipit, skylark, robin, dunnock, yellowhammer reed bunting, reed warbler, whitethroat, garden warbler, blackcap, barn owl, marsh harrier, kingfisher, turtle dove, wood pigeon, magpie, rook, jackdaw. TOTAL 47 species

General Observations
Red admiral, comma, meadow brown butterflies. Common darter.

Weather: Sunny and breezy.

Knole Park, Sevenoaks Group Car Trip
Saturday 26 May 2007, 10.15am to 1.15pm

Leader: Tony Banks

Attendance: 31

An encouraging turnout of members gathered on a cool breezy morning in Knole Park. The drive in provided good sightings of some of the ever-present fallow deer herd which have roamed the park since Tudor times .

The first birds seen were blue tits which seemed to be nesting in the garden wall of Knole House . Swallows and house martins flew overhead as we made our way along one of the many rides.

The cool conditions seemed to discourage bird activity apart from some feeding goldfinches, chaffinches and long-tailed tits and very little birdsong was heard until a flurry of descending notes announced the presence of a willow warbler which posed nicely for all to see.

A short walk later one of our target species, tree pipit, flew into a nearby treetop where it perched, singing, for some time. A yellowhammer then appeared and flitted back and forward for most of the party to see. A great spotted woodpecker was seen calling to young and great tits were seen with their young which gave themselves away with contact calls.

As usual for Knole Park we were followed by the almost constant key-ow calls of the resident jackdaws which find abundant nesting holes in the woodland around the golf course although ring-necked parakeets are starting to move in.

Song thrush and mistle thrush were also seen and heard and a chiffchaff was found for us by Bob Savage.

Alas no redstarts seen during our visit this time although they are still breeding in the park.

Maurice Ewart

Rye Harbour/Pett Level Unofficial Group Car Trip
Wednesday 23 May 2007, 10.30am to 5.00pm

Leader: John Turner

Attendance: 6

A leisurely walk round part of Rye Harbour followed by a brief visit to Pett Level

Bird List
Little grebe, great crested grebe (10), cormorant, little egret (2), grey heron , mute swan, greylag goose, Canada goose, shelduck, gadwall, mallard, garganey (male), tufted duck, common scoter (c100 at sea), kestrel, pheasant, moorhen, coot, oystercatcher, avocet (5), ringed plover, little ringed plover (1 seen, others heard), grey plover (3- 2 in breeding plumage), lapwing, dunlin, ruff, black-tailed godwit (2), bar-tailed godwit , redshank, Mediterranean gulls (with young), black-headed gulls (with young), herring gull, lesser black-backed gull, great black-backed gull, sandwich tern (c500), common tern (c100), little tern (c20), collared dove, wood pigeon, rock dove (feral pigeon), turtle dove, cuckoo (2 heard), skylark, swallow, house martin, yellow wagtail (2), pied wagtail, wren, dunnock, blackbird, song thrush, Cettis warbler (4 heard), sedge warbler, reed warbler, lesser whitethroat (heard and possibly sighted), whitethroat, great tit, magpie, jackdaw, rook, carrion crow, starling.house sparrow, greenfinch, linnet, reed bunting, (66 species)

General Observations
Didn't go round Castle Water or past Lime Kiln Cottage to the mouth of the Rother. Superb male garganey was on new diggings behind Ternery Pool. Avocets busy chasing off crows and an unfortunate pheasant. Some time spent watching pair of ringed plovers in front of hide at Ternery Pool.

Excellent views of singing whitethroat and sedge warbler. Scoters were seen flying just of Pett Level.

Weather: Warm, sunny with light breeze

Maurice Ewart

Marquenterre Group Coach Trip
Sunday 20 May 2007, 11.30am to 17.00

Leader: John Turner

Attendance: 41

After a 6am start from Bexleyheath and uneventful journey via the tunnel and down through France we reached Marquenterre on time. We were greeted by crested tits in the pine trees while a hobby and great egret flew over. Everybody brushed up on their grey geese in the pinioned area and had their first view of the resident crane. A bonus was a male garganey and a snow goose flying past. The first passerines were yellowhammer, sedge warbler and the first of many whitethroats accompanied by a distant singing nightingale. The many hides produced views of waders in summer plumage, grey plover, black tailed godwit as well as avocets with chicks and flocks of oystercatcher and redshank. A noisy colony of Mediterranean gulls with blackheaded gulls, and sandwich terns was viewed from one hide, and a group of little gulls among black headed gulls from another. One highlight, after much searching, was the discovery of a group of four black necked grebes and a single slavonian grebe all in full summer plumage. The heronry produced spoonbill on the nest as well as little egrets and some very advanced juvenile grey herons. The day ended with a visit to the aviary containing night herons and squacco herons.

Bird List
Avocet and chicks, grey plover in summer plumage, lapwing, little ringed plover, redshank, ruff, oystercatcher, turnstone black tailed godwit in summer plumage, mallard, shoveller, gadwall, garganey, pintail, wigeon, pochard, tufted duck, greylag geese, snow goose, barnacle geese, little grebe, great crested grebe, slavonian grebe, black necked grebe, coot, moorhen, cormorant, spoonbill, grey heron, purple heron, great egret, little egret, cattle egret, white storks + nests, mute swan, whooper swan common tern, sandwich tern, Mediterranean gulls little gulls, blackheaded gulls herring gulls (4) greater black backed gull, grey partridge, pheasant, swallows, house martins, pied wagtail, white wagtail, yellow wagtail, chaffinch, goldfinch, greenfinch, linnet, house sparrow, tree pipit, skylark, dunnock, yellowhammer, reed bunting, starling, blackbird, mistle thrush, carrion crow, rook, jackdaw, jay, magpie, stock dove, turtle dove, woodpigeon, cuckoo, green woodpecker, nuthatch + nest, crested tit, blue tit, great tit, willow warbler, chiffchaff, blackcap, garden warbler, whitethroat, lesser whitethroat, nightingale, Cetti's warbler, reed warbler, sedge warbler, moustached warbler, buzzard, kestrel, hobby, peregrine, sparrow hawk. Common crane - resident. Pinioned birds - white-fronted geese, barnacle geese, bean geese, red-crested pochard, scaup, ferruginous duck. Night heron and squacco heron in aviary.

General Observations
Unknown brown aquatic mammal

Weather: Sunny with occasional light rain.

Pagham Harbour Sussex Wildlife Trust Group Coach Trip
Saturday 21 April 2007

Leader: Tony Banks

Attendance: 31

Good weather was a bit of a handicap because views of distant birds were affected by heat haze but that wasn’t a problem near the visitor centre where we found greenfinch, chaffinch and blackcap.

At the Ferry Pool a small selection of birds were dotted around the shoreline including teal, shelduck, tufted duck and a pair of distant mallards with a family of youngsters.

Along the sea wall the variety of birds was expanded by linnet, Cetti’s warbler and buzzard but warblers in the reed fringes remained annoyingly elusive.

With the tide low the harbour presented us with a muddy landscape cut by channels in which redshank, little egret and grey plover sought food. As the tide rose birds began to move and groups of waders formed.

The heat haze made some identifications challenging but it was easy to pick out dunlin with black bellies and bar-tailed godwits with extensive red plumage. Turnstones and sandwich terns formed large roosts. On one of the islands in the middle of the harbour groups of curlew were scanned for whimbrel and one was eventually located on an island only a few yards from a female red-breasted merganser!

More whimbrel were seen on the way back to the coach rounding off the day very nicely.

Weather: Sunny and dry with a cool south-easterly breeze which felt cold on the beach.

Tony Banks

Petts Wood Car Trip
Saturday 24 March 2007 9am to noon

Leader: Tony Banks

Attendance: 20

We met in Chislehurst Station car-park (free at week-ends) where a group spotted a nuthatch in a tree close to Summer Hill as they waited to move off.

Fortunately for everyone else, there were more nuthatches to be seen in the trees bordering Goshill Rd. Many tits and finches were also seen and heard as we made our way along the lane.

We had a muddy climb up the hill on the edge of the woods but were rewarded with views of two mistle thrushes in the adjacent field. The walk continued past fields and a pretty farmhouse where we watched a charm of goldfinches. Once we reached the woodland, the main birds seen and heard were woodpeckers. We had excellent views of green woodpeckers grazing. We also heard great spotted woodpeckers drumming and saw one in flight.

On the return trip, a couple of people on a small detour found a treecreeper in a tree next to the stream.

This was a most enjoyable walk and all the better for being so close to home.

Bird list:
Blue tit, great tit, carrion crow, blackbird, nuthatch, great spotted woodpecker, goldcrest, ring-necked parakeet, chaffinch, wren, chiffchaff, robin, stock dove, starling, pied wagtail, magpie, green woodpecker, jackdaw, goldfinch, house sparrow, mistle thrush, jay, long-tailed tit, moorhen, Canada goose, kestrel, woodpigeon, greenfinch. TOTAL 28 species.

Weather: Cold: damp start but warm later

Gill Page

Abberton Reservoir and Tollesbury Wick – Group Coach Trip
Sunday 25 February 2007, 09.45am to 5.15pm

Leader: Tony Banks.

Attendance: 29

Our coach driver safely negotiated heavy rain which stopped when we arrived at the Layer Breton causeway. As usual we walked across the causeway, studying the birds on the reservoir as we went, and met the coach on the other side. As well as a variety of ducks including goldeneye, pochard, ruddy duck and teal there were a number of cormorants in the trees, some indulging in courtship displays.

A few minutes’ drive brought us to the second causeway where we alighted again. During our walk here the highlight was a pair of smew, the male bird giving good views even at quite a distance.

Back on the coach again we soon arrived at the Abberton reservoir visitor centre, ready to take advantage of the facilities. Some of the paths were flooded but we got to two hides and some of our party managed to spot a pair of goosander. The rest of us had to be satisfied with close views of goldeneye and a large flock of wigeon.

After lunch we set off for the 20-minute drive to Tollesbury, a destination very popular with yachtsmen and birdwatchers alike. Our walk took us along the top of the sea wall with the fresh grazing marsh to our right and saltmarsh to our left.

We had fine views of brent geese, a very dark marsh harrier, a variety of waders and a pair of mergansers. The short eared owl we hoped for didn’t materialise but those of us who delayed our return to the coach to the last minute were treated to the sight of a barn owl hunting over the rough grazing.

Bexley Group members on the sea wall at Tollesbury Wick. L to R: Keith Cocking,
Doug Walters, Stephen Ansell, Margaret Rusbridge. Picture: Tony Banks

Bird List
Dabchick, great crested grebe, cormorant, little egret, grey heron, mute swan, greylag goose, canada goose, brent goose, egyptian goose, shelduck, wigeon, gadwall, teal, mallard, pintail, shoveler, pochard, tufted duck, goldeneye, smew, red-breasted merganser, goosander, ruddy duck, marsh harrier, kestrel, pheasant, moorhen, coot, oystercatcher, avocet, golden plover, grey plover, lapwing, knot, sanderling, black-tailed godwit, bar-tailed godwit, curlew, spotted redshank, redshank, turnstone, black-headed gull, common gull, lesser black-backed gull, herring gull, great black-backed gull, woodpigeon, collared dove, barn owl, kingfisher, green woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker, skylark, meadow pipit, grey wagtail, pied wagtail, wren, dunnock, robin, blackbird, song thrush, goldcrest, long-tailed tit, blue tit, great tit, jay, magpie, jackdaw, rook, carrion crow, starling, house sparrow, chaffinch, greenfinch, goldfinch, reed bunting. 77 species

Weather: Wintry showers, cloudy, cold, sunny spells and a rainbow.

Tony Banks

Oare Marshes - Unofficial Group Car Trip
Wednesday 21 February 2007, 10.00 to 13.00

Leader: John Turner

The Swale produced a surprise for our 12 participants when a distant single common scoter was spotted. On the mud were many waders while overhead we had a flypast by a large flock of avocets. Hundreds of brent geese fed on a distant bank. The walk round the east flood produced reed bunting, stonechat and a singing, but unseen, Cetti's warbler while one member of the group spotted a flying bearded tit. The Swale produced another spectacle when hundreds of golden plover flew in to join the masses of lapwing on the far bank. A small group stayed after lunch and were rewarded with a rock pipit and four twite on the sea wall while others spotted long-billed dowitcher and little stint.

Bird List
Teal, wigeon, shoveler, tufted duck, shelduck, mallard, common scoter, mute swan, brent geese, cormorant grey, ringed, and golden plover, redshank, dunlin, snipe, avocet, little stint, long-billed dowitcher, curlew, oystercatcher, black-headed gull, common gull, lesser black-backed gull, great black backed gull, coot, moorhen, reed bunting, stonechat, bearded tit, meadow pipit, rock pipit, twite, chaffinch, stonechat, marsh harrier, kestrel, lapwing.

Weather: Sunny but breezy with views of a thunder storm over Essex and a rainbow

Rock Pipet. Picture by Trevor Minns.

Group Car Trip to Cliftonville and Reculver
Sunday 28 January 2007, Cliftonville 9.30am to 1.30pm, Reculver 1.45pm to 4.30pm

Leader: Maurice Ewart

Bird list
Cliftonville: red-throated diver, great-crested grebe (20+), fulmar, cormorant, mallard, eider , oystercatcher (loads), ringed plover (loads), grey plover (30+), sanderling (loads), purple sandpiper (6+), curlew (20+), redshank (20+), turnstone (loads), black-headed gull, common gull, lesser black-backed gull, great black-backed gull, herring gull, rock dove, meadow pipit, pied wagtail, black redstart, stonechat, blackbird, mistle thrush, carrion crow, starling, house sparrow.

Additionally at Reculver: little grebe (12+), little egret (3), mute swan (50+), brent goose (350+), shelduck (2), pheasant, moorhen, lapwing, dunlin (2), linnet (20+).

General Observations
At Cliftonville our group of 16 walked from Foreness Point down to North Foreland spotting main target bird, purple sandpiper almost immediately. Good close views of all wader species plus nesting fulmars on the cliffs. Plenty of grebes offshore but divers proved difficult to identify at a distance. Possible great northern diver on water not positively identified. A single female eider was seen on rocks and a black redstart was at North Foreland.

Magnificent Seven braved the chilly wind with an afternoon walk east from Reculver Towers to Coldharbour Lagoon to search for wintering shore larks without success although excellent views of circling brent geese were a compensation as were 12 little grebes swimming together in one of the channels.

Weather: Bright, mostly sunny but with a moderate and chilly NW wind

Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve - Unofficial Group Car Trip
John Turner, Wednesday 24 January 2007, 09.30am to 12.45pm

Three people decided to ignore overnight snow and were rewarded with an unexpectedly easy drive. We soon had a charm of 20 goldfinches which re-appeared several times and located a group of one male and two female siskins high up in a pine. The remainder of the walk produced no unusual sightings except for a pair of Egyptian geese from the Willow Hide.

Bird List
Canada geese, greylag geese, Egyptian geese, mallard, gadwall, teal, wigeon, shoveler, tufted duck, pochard, grey heron, cormorant, coot, moorhen, great crested grebe, little grebe, goldfinch, chaffinch, siskin, chaffinch, greenfinch, blue tit, great tit, long tailed tit, mistle thrush, song thrush, redwing, fieldfare, common gull, black headed gull.

General Observations
Storm damage limited the walk to the area of the nature trail.

Weather: Overcast