March 2006 Sightings

Please email your sightings to Andy Lawson

If you live, or for that matter visit, any site west of the A249 between the Sheppey bridge and Maidstone and then East to Dartford and Tunbridge Wells (roughly...) then I would be delighted to hear from you.

Friday 31st March New Hythe

3-4 Willow Warbler, 1 Swallow, 40+ Sand Martin, 4 Cettis heard and 1 distant Harrier sp, on the 29th March. A walk around this afternoon 31st, produced 4+ Blackcap, many Chiff Chaff and an adult Kittiwake on Abbeymead briefly which was a patch tick for me.
(Terry Laws)

Friday 31st March New Hythe

Flossie and I had a walk on the wild side today or so it seemed with a strong NW wind blowing across Tesco lake. It was more sheltered the other side of the railway round Abbeymead and Brooklands where the Long tailed duck is still present.Migrants included a dozen or so Sand Martin battling against the wind over Tesco and Chiff Chaff were everywhere. We failed on Willow Warbler but it was nice to get 4 Blackcap before the end of March bringing the New Hythe year list up to 84.
(Martin Warburton)

Thursday 30th March Crayford

One Little Egret in a ditch behind the Rethman refuse complex at Crayford. Seen from the train.

(Andrew Lawson)

Thursday 30th March East Barming

Two male Hawfinches present again this morning (07:30) but more flighty of late and no sign of the female for over a week now.  Only 1 Fieldfare to report - numbers have dropped dramatically since the south-westerlies picked up on Monday.  Heron landed again in one of the South Street gardens to plunder the fish pond.  A quick walk down to the river produced a male and female blackcap in the scrub by the railway bridge - overwintering rather than new spring arrivals I guess.

(Adam Whitehouse)

Wednesday 29th March Hawden

An early Willow Warbler at Hawden this evening - singing occasionally and very active. I thought 31.3 last year was very early so was surprised at this.
(Andrew Appleton)

Wednesday 29th March Binney Marsh & Reservoir, including, Binney Fleet & Ivy Fleet.

I don' t have the stamina to struggle against the SW gales of the last two days, so we took advantage of a calm start to today, although a breeze soon set in by mid morning.
Little Grebe - 2 prs. B.Fl. 2 prs. B. Res. Grey Lag Goose - 18 BM. Canada Goose - 6 BM. Mute Swan -1 pr. B. Fl. 5 over Nty. Mallard - 1 pr. B. Fl. 5 B. Res. Wigeon - 22 BM. Teal - 6 BM. Shoveler - 5, inc. 4 dr. BM. 4, inc. 3 dr. B. Res. Gadwall - 3 B. Fl. Pochard - 11 B. Res. Tufted - 12 B. Res. Marsh Harrier - 1 f. soaring over Yantlet, flew high to nw. Peregrine - 1 at Nty. Coot - 18 BM. 10 B. Res. Moorhen - 12 BM. 8 B. Res. Med. Gull - 3 prs. nw. over area to Thames. Barn Owl - 1 hunting near roadside ,late pm, at SMH. double bend ( BHF ). 28/03. Green Woodpecker - 1 BF ( IVF area ). Pied Wagtail - 2 BM. White Wagtail - 1 ad m. BM. Wheatear - 3, inc. 2 m. BM ( sw ). 1 m. BF ( s ). Cetti's Warbler - 1 IVF. Chiffchaff - 1 in garden ( 210 ). Fieldfare - 3 near B. Res. Ring Ousel - 1 ad. m. BF. ( se ). at the gorse hedge n. of the large angled gate. Superb. Blackbird - 6 flushed from the same hedge.
(Janet, Trevor & Dave)

Monday 27th March Cliffe RSPB

A Swallow bombed over while a sand martin and 3 scaup were in the quarry.
(Tom Cackett)

Monday 27th March New Hythe

The Saganauts have not, as rumoured, disbanded. Holidays, weather and other factors beyond our control have confined us to our local patches. Today 3 of us pondered possible venues, but the forecast mentioned gales. We have braved the coast before in such weather. We huddle together like a small grove of ancient trees, but the layers of clothing required to withstand such conditions make it difficult to raise the gnarled limbs high enough for binoculars to reach eye level. Accordingly we headed for the more sheltered biotopes of New Hythe, the in-place this winter in West Kent.
We were not disappointed, despite the frequent drizzle hurled at us by a strong SW wind. The Slav Grebe showed briefly on the Motorway Pit. This pit is now completely surrounded by a substantial fence, presumably to keep the fish in, as few people visit it. There are a few wintering duck left inc 117 Tufted, 15 Pochard and 8 Gadwall as well as 365 Coot- one for every day of the year. The long staying Long-tailed Duck has scrubbed up well, but the Ferruge was apparently having a morning in the reeds. What does it do in there all day? The most welcome sight was of about 100 Sand Martins scattered round the area, accompanied by a lone Swallow on Alders Lake. ( This is the pit we used to call Lunsford Lane Lake, but Alders is briefer if less alliterative). Wrens, Robins and Dunnocks were singing gallantly as well as 5 out of the 6 Chiffchaffs and 2 Cetti's. Great Tits are very vocal at present and, for my 3rd local trip running, have outnumbered Blue Tits. 7 Reed Buntings included some fine males, with 4 birds at the Lunsford feeding station.
50 species was a fair return for our efforts in conditions which were less than ideal.
(Martin Coath)

Sunday 26th March Cliffe RSPB

My dad and I went to Cliffe this morning. At the coast guards we saw a ringtail hen harrier. 2 adult med gulls flew over and there was a leucistic starling in a small starling flock. On the river there were 4 common scoter and 2 golden plovers flew over. There was also adult little gull and 3 scaup reported.
(Tom Cackett)

Sunday 26th March East Barming

6 Hawfinches present this morning (07:00), 4 on east side and 2 on west side of playing fields - all males and and no sign of female. Also Great Spotted Woodpecker trying to knock holes in the horizontal branches of the chesnut on the east side!
A short walk down the River Medway revealed a male and female bullfinch feeding in the hawthorns on the river edge just west of Barming Bridge. 12 Siskin in alders, and a Little Grebe which was the first for 2006. Rain moved in and only notable sighting therefater was 4 Grey Herons flying south-east just before dusk.
(Adam Whitehouse)

Saturday 25th March Swanscombe

A few hours at Swanscombe on 25th March failed to produce the hoped for late Scandinavian Rock Pipits though two water Pipits, one in reasonable plumage were present. The only other birds of note were 14 Gadwall on the River Thames, 4 Reed Buntings sheltering in the bushes, whilst the Herons were on watch from their wood!!
(Barry Wright)

Saturday 25th March Dartford Marsh & Greenhithe

A late afternoon sortie to the 'New Diggings' adjacent to Bob Dunn Way produced little except for 5 Stock Doves, a Shoveler, 3 Tufted Duck, 2 Teal and a few Black Heads. Watching 4 Moorhens engaged in some rather vicious lekking was entertaining however and not something I have witnessed often.

A quick look at the river from Greenhithe turned up 233 Redshank on the Thurrock side along with 2 Oystercatcher, 5 Curlew, 1 early Whimbrel and a single winter plumaged Knot feeding with the redshank. Larids were represented by 1000+ Black Heads, 300+ Lesser Black Backs, 200+ Common and a GBB.

(Andrew Lawson)

Saturday 25th March New Hythe

3 Sand Martin on Abbeymead, Slav Grebe on Motorway Lake, Long Tailed Duck on Brookland Lake this afternoon and Cetti's heard for the first time this year.

(Terry Laws )

Saturday 25th March Cliffe and New Hythe

We went down to Cliffe this morning and we parked next to the Black Barn to look across the marsh. We saw Swallow and a white wagtail. The pools best birds were a greenshank and a little egret. Coming back, we looked under radar to find a blackcap.

Then we went to New Hythe to find lots of birds. The slavonian grebe was there with a common buzzard over head, a great spotted woodpecker and the long tailed duck was still there. Walking around New Hythe we heard Cetti's warbler, chiff-chaff and lots of little birds. Not much but a strong sign of spring is here!
(Tom Cackett)

Friday 24th March East Barming

4 Hawfinches showed very well again in the morning sun, high up in the field maples on the west side of the playing fields between 07:50-08:10.
(Adam Whitehouse)

Thursday 23rd March Hayesden

3 Meadow Pipits in the road this morning, also a Yellowhammer singing from overhead wires, and one each of Skylark and Reed Bunting on the way to work today.
(Andrew Appleton)

Thursday 23rd March Greenhithe

A quick visit to Greenhithe at lunch time was quite interesting. Though sunny and bright the E. wind was still very chilly. The tide was halfway and rising, usually a good time for waders.
The following were seen:-
Shelduck 105
Teal 79
Mallard 22
Black- tailed Godwit 155
Avocet 45
Redshank c175
Curlew 26
Grey Plover 1
The Godwits and Avocets were the most [by far] I have seen there. Everything [bar 4 Godwits] was on the Essex side.
(Dick Elvy)

Wednesday 22nd March New Hythe

A very quick sortie at lunchtime resulted in a Little Egret on Ham Hill scrape, a large flock of Lesser Redpoll (15+) & Sisking (10+) feeding on the lakeside alders in the north-west corner of Leybourne (Tesco) Lake and the Slavonian Grebe (winter plumage) hugging in close to the west bank of the Motorway Lake.
(Adam Whitehouse)

Wednesday 22nd March New Hythe

Thanks to Martin's note I had a very quick pre-work visit to look for the Slav Grebe in the early morning sunshine. It showed really well on the Motorway Lake (accessed from Lunsford lane by Lunsford House) Quick scan over Tescos Lake for Sand Martin as they often seem to appear here first...no sign yet.
(Steve Nunn)

Tuesday 21st March Hayesden

2 Little Egrets, 60 Fieldfare and 6 Redwings along the road this morning.
(Andrew Appleton)

Tuesday 21st March New Hythe

The First day of Spring but didn't feel like it with a cold N.E. wind. Went for a short walk round the lakes, mostly for Flossie's benefit but virtue was rewarded with a welcome addition to the year list - a Slavonian Grebe on the motorway pit.
The redhead Goosander was again on Tesco lake, 3 or 4 Reed Bunting and a couple of Brambling under the feeders in the garden of the house in lower Lunsford Lane.
Little else to note save that the municipal mind has obviously decreed the countryside be tidied up;much tractor and mowing activity. Let's hope they stop before every bit of long vegetation and undergrowth
disappears.
(Martin Warburton)

Tuesday 21st March East Barming

Four Hawfinches showed very well at 07:00 again this morning - 3 males and a female.
(Adam Whitehouse)

Monday 20th March Bedgebury

After an hour's walk with only robin and pheasant on the list I came across a silver birch tree with considerable bird activity all around it. I could hardly believe my eyes, the tree was a weeping birch with some sixty to seventy birds in it most of which were hanging upside down! At a guess there were 30 Redpoll and 40 Siskin all in beautiful plumage. I cannot remember seeing such a decorated tree other than at Christmas!
On the ground surrounding the tree were some 50 chaffinch amongst which I found one female brambling and a handful of goldfinch. In the next door pine tree my attention was diverted to 5 larger birds which turned out to be three male and two female crossbill, again in full breeding plumage. On the same tree there was a marsh tit calling continually.
I called in at the Pinetum and found 3 hawfinch in the usual area.
(Charles Trollope)

Sunday 19th March Cliffe RSPB

On Sunday I decided to concentrate on Cliffe and arrived there late morning. For the second time over the weekend the reported Garganey had disappeared. Nevertheless I had quite a few odds and ends during the next few hours,as follows:
2 Greenshank, 15 Goldeneye, 1Red Necked Grebe, 1Common Buzzard over to W, 1 Peregrine, 1ringtail Hen Harrier, 6 Common Scoter on the river, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 20 Avocets, 2 Little Egrets plus all the commoner waterfowl.
(John Tilbrook)

Saturday 18th March Greenhithe

A quick jaunt down to the Thames at Greenhithe produced 37 Avocet floating on the river over on the Essex side at high tide. 20 Curlew, 150+ Redshank and 25 Shelduck were also roosting on the other side of the Thames.

The Kent side produced a 1st winter Yellow Legged Gull and 3000+ Black Heads and 500+ Lesser Black Backeds on the river.

(Andrew lawson)

Friday 17 March Hawden

A telephone call at 12.57pm alerted me to the presence of a drake Pintail at Hawden. I was not well dressed to brace the bitterly cold north-easterly winds but did so anyway and after some searching it emerged from behind the island and showed reasonably well.
Also present 14 Wigeon, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Jay and Green Woodpecker - and then a quick retreat back to a warm office.
(Andrew Appleton)

Friday 17th March East Barming

3 males and a single female Hawfinch showed very well again this morning in the trees on the east side of the playing fields between 07:15 and 08:30.  Also a quick scan revealed at least 2 Mediterranean Gulls amongst the Black-headed Gull flock on the ploughed field between St Margaret's Church and the A26.
(Adam Whitehouse) 

Wednesday 15th March East Barming

A female and male hawfinch still around this morning on the east side of the playing field and at least 1 Med Gull in the ploughed field.
(Adam Whitehouse)

Monday 13th March Cliffe RSPB

During my short visit to Cliffe pools today I found in the quarry 2 Black Necked Grebes (Down from 5 on Thursday), 6 Scaup 4 drakes 2 females plus a pair of Goldeneye. There were 2 Sparrowhawks chasing around over the far side and whilst I was watching these a Green Sandpiper flew out (my first for the year). Next I went onto the reserve and had a quick scan of the radar pool which produced 4 Goldeneye and the Greenshank which was feeding amongst the Redshanks in the corner by the black barn. The Red Necked Grebe was still on the flamingo pool for it's 6th week. Also I counted 19 Goldeneye which included 7 drakes, 23 Avocets and 2 little Egrets.
(Dave Rose)

Sunday 12th March Pembury

6+ Crossbills at Pembury this morning - apparently two or three times this number were present later in the day.
(Andrew Appleton)

Sunday 12th March Leybourne Country Park (New Hythe)

7 Great Crested Grebes and 5 Pochard were all on the main lake (i.e. the one with the path around it) A snipe was also in the main lake in the shallow corner nearest the railway lake. Two Jays were in a tree in the same area.
4 Reed Buntings were scattered about: two were in the area that has been fenced off, on an island sitting at the edge of the water (all birds were male).
A Great Spotted Woodpecker was near the car park and a Cattle Egret (yellow bill) flew over the fenced off area.
(Matthew Bentall)

Monday 13th March Riverside Country Park

I have just seen a male bullfinch at Riverside Country Park (Gillingham) the first one for years, he was absolutely beautiful eating the buds of a blackthorn tree. So now I have seen them in three sites, Motney, Bredhurst and now Riverside. Good news!!
(Sheila Pettett)

Sunday 12th March Knole Park 6.15am to 9.30am & Sevenoaks KWT Reserve

Just before we arrived at the entrance to Knole Park this morning a Tawny Owl flew across the road in front of the car, we reversed up and had it briefly sitting on a stump before it continued on it's way and was lost in the wood.
At Knole Park we were instantly greeted by wall to wall Great Spotted Woodpeckers drumming as well as several Nuthatches. We were however looking for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. After about 30 minutes we found our first Lesser Spot - in the same tree as I'd found one the year before last. It gave excellent views as it called and drummed on the outer branches of an Oak. We then saw another (probably a pair) Both giving excellent views.
By now we were also well into double figures with Nuthatches.
As we walked on we also found a Ring Necked Parakeet that left a hole in one of the Oaks. Knole Park is well worth a visit - 3 Woodpeckers fairly easy to locate as well as innumerable Nuthatch.
Before returning home we briefly visited the nearly Sevenoaks reserve now run by KWT. Here we found c50 Siskin and 2+ Lesser Redpoll on the nature trail.
(Steve Nunn)

Sunday 12th March Cliffe RSPB

As the monthly WeBS count had come around I made a visit to the Reserve.

It was a fine sunny day and good to be out.

There were very few waders roosting, about 50 Dunlin, 80 Redshank and a small flock of Black-tailed Godwits were present as well as one of the wintering Greenshanks.

The Red-necked Grebe remained tucked in with the Great Cresteds but occasionally woke up to show itself and do some fishing. The drake Goldeneyes continue to court the ducks but these were the only diving ducks on the Reserve. A pair of Oysercatchers were the first seen on the Reserve for some time and were, perhaps, prospecting.

As I reached the sea wall it became apparent that large numbers of Black-headed Gulls were in the area and amongst their calls I could hear the faint but distinctive call of a Mediterranean Gull somewhere out over the Thames. I never did see the Med but I did find two aberrant Black heads in the main flock. One was an all white bird but which had normal coloured primaries and bare parts and even a normal partial brown hood, the other was more normal looking but had white wing coverts. Both were adults. Also on the River were six Common Scoter that now seem destined to see out the whole winter on this section of the Thames.

A large area of the Reserve had obviously been heavily grazed over the winter which probably explains the lack of owl and the few harrier records from the Reserve this winter, as there would seem to be no cover for small mammals. A count of 25 Meadow Pipits was also low. It will be interesting to see how this affects the population of Shrill Carder Bees which like rank grass to hibernate and to nest in.

As I walked on I flushed three Snipe, a rare sight this winter as the Marsh has been very dry. After a brief chat with some visitors I made my way back to the car after what was a pleasant, if uneventful, day.
(Paul Larkin)

Sunday 12th March Greenhithe

A quick look from the river front at Greenhithe from 10am to 10.30am produced the following: 15 Avocet on the Thurrock side of the river along with 17 Curlew, 250+ roosting Redshank and 5 Black tailed Godwit. The Kent side held 7 Black Tailed Godwit, 5 Redshank, 2 Oystercatcher, 5 Teal and a pair of Gadwall.

This is not the best time of day for large Gulls and I could only find two GBBs and five LBBs.

A routine scan of the largest pylons produced the desired result (see pic below). A day on Dartford Marshes to the person who IDs the bird first; two days on Dartford Marshes to the unlucky losers.
(Andrew Lawson)

.

Sunday 12th March Hawden

At Hawden today there were 3 White-fronted Geese with the Graylags and Canada Geese.
(Andrew Appleton)

Saturday 11th March Greenhithe/Swanscombe

I was very impressed with my first time visit to this area this afternoon. There seemed to be parking restrictions everywhere in the Ingress Park housing development so I parked just off the main road near the entrance and we walked down to the shoreline.

We quickly found a Grey Wagtail and interestingly good numbers of Chaffinch feeding on the tideline. Further along as we walked towards Swanscombe we found our first Rock Pipit and then several other Pipits which looked a little unusual. I am absolutely no Pipit expert but they weren't what I know as Rock Pipit - are these the Scandavian form that I know from other records have been seen around here - or perhaps they were Meadow Pipits out of context. Should have buffed up before the visit.

Further along we had our first definite Water Pipit on the shore which gave really good scope views and then a second as we made our way back which was even better marked. Well worth the trip - and we managed to avoid going to Bluewater as well.
(Steve Nunn)

Saturday 11th March Hayesden
as I was driving back down the A21 this afternoon, a Little Egret was flying SE alongside the road just as it crosses the Medway (Hayesden)
(Cliff Dean)

Saturday 11th March Haysden

One Sparrowhawk with prey (possibly a Chaffinch) along the road and 3 red-head Goosander were still at Haysden. A largest flock of about 25 Yellowhammers was the largest that I have seen in the area for some time - they were feeding in a field with about 30 Redwing, 50 Starling, three Siskin, a single Greenfinch and a female House Sparrow.
(Andrew Appleton)

Friday 10th March Lower Haysden & Barden

A drive along Lower Haysden Lane produced about 3 each of Reed Bunting, yellowhammer and three or four Skylarks were in song-flight. A single Goldcrest and a small number a Fieldfare were also seen from the car near Barden.
(Andrew Appleton)

Friday 10th March Bough Beech

The Bramblings are still at Bough Beech. They come to the feeders by the 'visitor centre'. We saw seven, including at least four males. They are easier to view than they were last year, when they were visiting feeders further into the orchard. It's worth waiting as the numbers built up from only one while we watched. Also two Nuthatches and a Marsh Tit.
(Timothy Goss)

Wednesday 8th March East Barming

Looks like the Hawfinches are returning - 2 males and female in field maple on east
side this morning (07:00-07:20) with one male staying in the same tree for over an hour (I left for work at 08:15 and he was still there).
(Adam Whitehouse)

Monday 6th March Cliffe RSPB

The Red necked Grebe was still on Flamingo Pool and there was a Black necked on Radar Pool. I saw a total of 31 Goldeneye including 7 drakes. A couple of Mediterranean Gulls flew over SE towards evening and at high tide waders included 230 Black-tailed Godwits, 210 Grey Plover, 1 Greenshank and 1 Spotted Redshank. The only raptors I saw were 2 Hen Harriers, one a magnificent and obliging grey male. The most interesting observation was by another bird-watcher who reported 6 Twite at the back of Cliffe Creek. I looked but didn't see them.

(Dick Elvy)

Sunday 5th March New Hythe

I visited New Hythe between 0630 and 0830 this morning. A bright morning meant that the area was alive with bird song. I walked around Abbey Mead pit where I found an adult Med Gull in almost full breeding plumage  in amongst the black headed gulls.

I then walked the path along the Medway and found the reported Green Winged Teal in  amongst a flock of around 20 Teal. The Heronery along the Medway is  also in full swing.

Walking on around Brooklands Lake a Bittern was showing exceptionally well sitting up in the reeds and basking  in the sun, the long staying Long Tailed Duck also showed  well. On along the Mill stream I heard a couple of Cettis and  had good views of a two Lesser Redpoll in the Alders along with  around 60 Goldfinches.

The Kidney Scrape held a Green Sandpiper  and I flushed 2 Common Snipe as I walked around the adjacent pond. Finally I  found the female Goosander on Alders fishing lake between the  A228 and Lunsford Lane.
(Steve Nunn)

Saturday 4th March Lower Haysden, Barden & Bawden

A visit to Haysden in the freezing cold first thing this morning was rewarded by 11 Little Egrets and 4 red-head Goosander (10 reported in the last couple of days). The Goosander were on the river Medway which hadn't frozen over and 19 Great Crested Grebe's huddled together in an unfrozen section of Haysden Lake close to the cormorant island.

There were three or four Yellowhammers (my first this year) and about 130 Lapwing in nearby fields. A flock of 75+ Siskin were mostly seen in flight and 1 or 2 Marsh Tits were noted along straight mile today.
At Hawden there were 28 Wigeon still, just a few numbers of Pochard and Tufted Ducks and 2 Snipe. 2 Little Egrets flew over.
(Andrew Appleton)

Thursday 2nd March East Barming

A single male hawfinch briefly at 07:30 on the east side of the playing fields but lot more flighty than of late.  It's not be joined by any others since Saturday suggesting they've found a new food source or have moved on.  A large flock (30+) of brambling were seen in the East Malling Research Station orchards this afternoon, a few males in summer plumage.
(Adam Whitehouse)

Wednesday 1st March New Ash Green

Today, I had a brief view of a Hawfinch from my window, skulking in the Hornbeams
again.  Seems like they may still be around (up to 3 since Christmas), but less frequently.

(Timothy Goss)