RSPB Dungeness (Hanson) 21/09/2009

Another short lunchtime trip to the Hanson pit at RSPB Dungeness saw a few good sightings again. The car park had a Kestrel sitting on a wire (not on top of a pole), not at all worried about the comings and goings below. Up to the hide and the usual Cormorants and assorted Ducks and Geese populated the lake and islands. A careful scan with the bins found a few hidden gems (well I think so). First found was a Black Tern, a year tick for me. A flock of about 60 Knot were hiding in plain sight and only really noticed when they were flushed by a passing Marsh Harrier. On the islands were also Grey & Golden Plovers, Ruff, Snipe & Dunlin, all there but easily missed. Singles of Shelduck & Avocet were notice on the water.

28 species for a quick luncheon visit, not too shabby I think!

Bird of the day was the Black Tern.

Kestrel

KWT Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve 12/09/2009

Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve was the venue for todays expedition. A mainly warm and sunny day saw 34 species seen, quite good for me! In the car park/garden area there were several Willow Warbler & Chiffchaff in the bushes with a pair of Sparrowhawks circling above looking for breakfast no dought! Singles of Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker & Rose-ringed Parakeet also crossed the sky with Wren & Dunnock skulking around the undergrowth as they do. Around at the Willow Hide good views were had of Snipe, Little Grebe, Lapwing, Kingfisher & Gadwall and 5 more Jays were seen landing in one tree! The main lake contained mainly Greylag & Egyptian Geese with the usual contingent of Cormorants & Tufted Ducks and thats about it.

Bird of the day was the Snipe, but only because it was so close for so long.

Common Darter in close up


Snipe


Dancing lapwing

RSPB Dungeness (Hanson) 07/09/2009

I had some time to spare a lunch today, so over to the Hanson site at Dungeness for an hour or so. The water level was very low, with a nice big mud patch right outside of the hide. The trouble was, no waders, well, just a Little Egret, large amounts of Lapwings and 3 Oystercatchers. Loads of Cormorants though, they seem to have taken over. The Goose population was very high as well. Greylags being the most numerous with a few Canadas thrown in as well. Ducks were represented by the usual Mallard, Shoveler, Tufted Duck and Pochard. A Grey Heron was hiding in the reeds and a Marsh Harrier passed overhead causing much exitment to the flock of Lapwings. Also seen were a small amount of Grey Plovers on one of the islands and a couple of Wheatears in the scrub.

Not too bad for a quick visit I think.

Bird of the day is the Grey Plovers, a year tick for me.

Mute Swan in flight

RSPB Elmley 06/09/2009

It started off quite overcast but soon bucked up, and turned out to be quite a nice day and not too much wind. At the farm at the bottom of the long drive the usual Starlings were perched on the wires. On the safari which is the drive up to the car park I saw Wheatear(6), Kestrel(1), Grey Heron(1), Little Grebe(2), Lapwing(stacks!), Marsh Harrier(2) & Yellow Wagtail(1). In the car park just the House Sparrows, Pied Wagtails and a single Grey Wagtail were hanging about. The field behind the toilets held an oddity. A Cuckoo was digging up worms! Down the track to the hides a Pheasant was seen, along with Goldfinch, Sedge Warbler, Yellowhammer, Meadow Pipit, Hobby(2) & Grey Partridge(3)). The lake was as good as bare, just a few Teal & Shelduck. Back in the car park I noticed a pair of Little Egret flying along the bottom field and back down the drive a flock of Barn Swallow were hurtling about, as they do.

Bird of the day has to be the Wheatears, or maybe the Hobbys. I can't make up my mind!

Dodgy picture of a Barn Swallow in flight. Best I could manage I'm afraid!


Fluffed up House Sparrow


Goldfinch


A very iffy Cuckoo

Mote Park 05/09/2009

A trip over to Mote Park semed to be in order today, since I've not been there for a while. A nice bright sunny morning and the first spot of the day were about 6 Spotted Flycatchers in the trees between the leisure centre and the playground. They can now be found in several locations in the park, in excess of a dozen were seen today, so they have bred well. Wrens were seen and heared all over as well, between them they are taking over! Blue, Great & Long-tailed Tits were all seen but only 1 Goldfinch today. I went anti-clockwise today (for a change) so the lake came first. Mute Swans (4), Lesser Black-backed Gull (1), Tufted Duck (2), Cormorant (1), Black Headed Gulls (lots), Grey Heron (1) & Canada Geese (2) were all seen. On the walk up the main park road I found 2 Grey Wagtails foraging along the shore amd the Crows and Magpies were making themselves known. Near the steps Chiffchaff, Dunnock & Nuthatch were noted plus a pair of almost hidden Blackcaps. Up above a small flock of Barn Swalows were squawking away whilst eating, must have ben kids! Last but not least, a single Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen flying near the old carriage bridge.

Bird of the day was the Spotted Flycatcher. I could watch them for hours.


Migrant Hawker maybe!


Spotted Flycatcher


Tufted Duck


Mute Swan

Month List for August 2009

Late again I know, but this is what I saw in August. Jackdaw; Magpie; Moorhen; Coot; Little Grebe; Garganay; Mallard; Canada Goose; Cormorant; Feral Pigeon; Grey Heron; Sand Martin; Lapwing; Common Tern; Common Sandpiper; Wood Pigeon; Swift; Lesser Black-backed Gull; Mute Swan; Starling; Goldfinch; Great Crested Grebe; Long-tailed Tit; Willow Warbler; Blue Tit; Great Tit; Tufted Duck; Marsh Harrier; Herring Gull; Oystercatcher; Greylag Goose; Pied Wagtail; Linnet; Barn Swallow; Carrion Crow; Kestrel; Wren; Meadow Pipit; Green Woodpecker; Rook; Yellow Wagtail; House Sparrow; Robin; Grey Wagtail; Reed Warbler; Pheasant; Sedge Warbler; Shelduck; Avocet; Redshank; Turnstone; Reed Bunting; Blackbird; Spotted Flycatcher; Black-headed Gull; Whitethroat; Dunnock; Nuthatch; Jay; Chiffchaff; Black-tailed Godwit; Little Egret; Gadwall; Shoveler; Curlew Sandpiper; Ruff; Snipe; Greenfinch; Great Spotted Woodpecker; Kingfisher; Green Sandpiper; Sparrowhawk; House Martin; Barnacle Goose; Red Kite; Dipper; Raven & Common Buzzard.

A grand total of 78 species.

Road Trip

Over the bank holiday I took a trip to Wales, not specifically a birding trip, but that was included. On the way I stopped off at the WWT reserve at Slimbridge. I won't list everything, but a few of the interesting birds (not the ones in the collection) were, a nice Sparrowhawk sitting in a tree at a really bad angle to the hide, so no photo! Black-tailed Godwit & Green Sandpiper were also very visable. Gadwall & Barnacle Geese were the other water bourne residents of note. In the trees just Whitethroat & Willow Warbler were worth a mention, a good day out though.

On to Wales. I was camping near to Llandovery, on a farm called Cwmcuttan. A great place for birding without even going anywhere else if you pick the right time. Every morning a pair of Red Kites were seen over head. They are nesting in a tree next door, how good is that! Goldfinch, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff & Nuthatch were seen without even trying. Goshawks and Buzzards are also visitors on an almost daily basis and in the Spring a pair of Pied Flycatchers nest there, so I will be back.

A drive over to Gigrin Farm at Rhayader to see the Red Kite feding was well worth the trip. At least a 100 were seen as well as 3 Common Buzzards and a few Raven. There was also a possible Black Kite, but I'm not sure.

On a the RSPB reserve at Gwenffrwd-Dinas it was very quite, the time of day didn't help. The only bird of note were the Dippers doing there stuff in the river.

All in all a good trip away.

Bird of the weekend must be the Red Kite.

Green Sandpiper


A not great picture of a Common Buzzard and a Raven


Red Kite in flight