February 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 Tonbridge (roughly...) then I would be delighted to hear from you.

Tuesday 28th February New Hythe

Over the last few days Flossie and I have made several trips round Leybourne country park, today with Martin Coath. Flossie was well behaved and no trouble.......... A single male Wigeon is present on Strikers lake. Probably the same bird has been on several lakes recently but without a female. More luck for Goldeneye on Alders where a pair are present. No sign today of the Black necked Grebe which moved to Tesco lake last week nor of the Dunlin there on Saturday. However Green Sandpiper on Kidney lake and a Greenshank, a welcome addition to the year list, now 78. Also the occasional Common Snipe near the round pond and a Little Egret. A single Brambling has been in a mixed flock between the country park centre and Lunsford lane and 2 Siskin today.
(Martin Warburton)

Monday 27th February New Hythe

Made a visit to New Hythe on Monday morning.
I arrived at Brooklands around 8.15am. There was no sign of the Ferruginous duck but good numbers of Tufted Duck and Pochard. Six Lapwings and a Grey Heron flew over and there were three Great-Crested Grebe. Moving onto Abbey Mead intially there appeared nothing more exciting than Gadwell and Shelduck. Then while scanning the reeds I spotted a Bittern sitting in the reeds a good six feet above the water. I had great views of it as it hung on to the reeds, adjusting its postion every few minutes as the reeds sagged towards the water. It was the reed bed on the river side of the lake and was visible for 45 minutes. On the way back passed Brooklands I heard and then briefly saw a Cetti's Warbler. The views of the Bittern will be long in the memory.
(Sam Lucas)

Monday 27th February East Barming

Only a single male Hawfinch this morning, despite checking for others in the usual spots. Up to 4 had been seen over the weekend. Singles of Jay, Green Woodpecker and Great Spotted Woodpecker, but the highlight of the morning was a female Brambling sitting in the silver birch by the pavilion with a male Blackcap on the branch above it - strange combination! Also grey heron looking lost in the stubble field between Church Lane and the A26.
(Adam Whitehouse)

Sunday 26th February 7.15 - 8.45am Cliffe RSPB

A quick trip to Cliffe this morning. Absolutely freezing conditions. Red Necked Grebe showing well and diving continually on Flamingo Pool, also at least 10 Goldeneye there including 4 drakes. Also seen were good numbers of Pintail, Female Stonechat and a lone Little Egret. Not great conditions but the Red Necked Grebe made the trip worthwhile.

(Steve Nunn)

Sunday 26th February 8.30am - 10.30am Greenhithe/Swanscombe

I had a very enjoyable couple of hours birding this morning walking North East from Greenhithe towards Swanscombe. I parked in Ingress Park (residential area) and walked the short distance to the Thames. The tide was coming in and this had pushed the birds up to the river wall including six Black Tailed Godwits. I noted my first Scandanavian Rock Pipit; a very grey looking bird.
I carried on East and started checking for Jack Snipe in the marshy areas between the dual river walls eventually finding one after about 100 metres. I walked back up the bank to view the Thames and flushed a Water Pipit which landed on the brackish marsh next to the jetty. This bird was still in winter plumage. I also noted another seven Rock Pipits here with a number of the birds showing signs of summer plumage.
I checked the many gulls flying East upriver and noted a few Herring, LBB and Common amongst the many 100s of Black Headed. One 1st winter Yellow Legged Gull was also present.
A Cetti's Warbler could be heard singing from the marsh.

I bumped into Dave Miller who had seen another Water Pipit on the point at Swanscombe.
Also present; 1 Stonechat, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Pheasant, 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Linnet, 5 Reed Bunting, 7 Meadow Pipit.
Click here to see an annotated map of this area. Please email me if you have any questions.
(Andrew Lawson)

Sunday 26th February Motney Hill RSPB

Spent a very pleasant hour or so at the reserve this afternoon on the falling tide. There were a couple of places where you could get out of the wind to the north of the sewage works (you didn't want to be downwind of them today!)

Bartlett Creek was very quiet, with only 2 great crested grebes & single little grebe and red-breasted merg. A high tide roost of c.1200 knot were out on Nor, half of which flew into Rainham Creek as the tide fell, where they were joined by 2300 dunlin & smaller numbers of black-tailed godwit, grey plover, avocet and oystercatcher.

Adult Med. gulls were out off the outfall. Relatively few wildfowl about - less than a hundred each of shelduck & brent goose and only 2 pintail. The highlight occurred just as I was getting ready to leave. A final scan of the channel revealed a bird on the water, which as I watched to try to ID it, was plucked from the surface by a peregrine. As the raptor climbed away, another peregrine moved in and the prey item was swapped, but with the prey's struggles and the wind, the 2nd peregrine was having problems maintaining height and the prey was dropped again into the water. For the next minute or so, the bird in the water (a grey plover) attempted to get to dry land, while the peregrine attempted again & again to take the plover in flight, resulting in the bird having to "ditch" repeatedly. Eventually, the plover made it to Fry Marsh, at which point I was distracted by as fly-by flock of 800 dunlin and didn't see if the peregrine got it's meal!
Fly-over grey wagtail on the walk back to the truck & a barn owl hunting around the carpark back at Bromhey Farm.
(Gordon Allison)

Saturday 25th February Bedgebury

At least two hawfinches there, both at 3pm and again at around 4.30pm. There are a couple of trees with bare branches at the top which they seemed to like perching on - so too some bramblings. Very windy though and I suspect that calmer days would be much better
(Nigel Matthews)

Friday 24th February East Barming

Four hawfinches still present (3 males and a female) in the usual field maple on the east side of the playing fields between 07:10-08:00 but disturbed by tree surgeons working on trees on the west side and flew north.  Great spotted woodpecker also flitting one tree to another on the east side.  Please respect residents privacy.
(Adam Whitehouse)

Wednesday 22nd February Cliffe RSPB

Reports of an Iceland Gull drew me back to the Reserve for an after work visit. There was very little to see on the wind swept Radar Pool but there were good gatherings of dabbling duck, including Teal and Pintail, on the lee side of the banks elsewhere as birds sheltered from the keen east wind.

I could see at least 500 assorted gulls in the distance on the Flamingo Pool but as I approached a military helicopter flew over. Although microlites disturb birds the worst culprits are helicopters, the beating of the rotors sends everything into a panic.

By the time I reached my destination there was hardly a gull to be seen, just distant views as they headed towards the Thames. There were at least 15 Goldeneye present and the Red-necked Grebe was located but no sign of any Iceland Gulls.

The waders were arriving on the tide with good numbers of Redshank, a few Knot but, surprisingly, very few Dunlin. There were however over 200 Black-tailed Godwits. In previous visits I have only seen a couple of this species so I guess they were induced to roost at Cliffe by the windy conditions.

As I walked back to the village I was accompanied, in the near darkness, by a Kestrel. It moved slowly in front of me hovering occasionally. I have often noted that this species is more active at dusk presumably attracted by the appearance of small mammals at that time.
(CBG)

Tuesday 21st February Cliffe RSPB

There have been two Iceland Gulls seen across the River at Tilbury in the last couple of weeks, one of which has already paid a visit to the Kent side. So I have spent most evenings this week visiting the area in the hopes of ticking one of them off for the year on my Cliffe list. Although known mainly for waders the Cliffe area has a good list of gulls to it's credit including several Ring-billed, Iceland (including a Kumlien's), Glaucous, Sabine's and Bonaparte's.

The week had already produced an eastern race Yellow-legged Gull so it was with high hopes that I made my way from the car.

As I approached the Reserve boundary there were flocks of Chaffinches taking shelter for the night in the Ivy as well as Wood Pigeons. It was not the kind of evening for owls with squally rain made worst by the lack of shelter along the Creek Road due to the loss of hawthorn. It was particularly bad today as the wind was in the east.

As I settled behind a dead Hawthorn bush on the causeway to try to get some shelter I noted the drake Goldeneye doing their nodding display to the females, very plucky of them in the choppy conditions, and a bedraggled Red-necked Grebe surface nearby.

There were hundreds of gulls coming in off the River to wash on the pool and there, suddenly, in the midst of them, was a pale ghost of a bird, a second calendar year Iceland Gull. There had been a leucistic Herring Gull seen on the Essex side so it was important check that this was not it. The pale brown markings within the tertials, barring on the undertail coverts, lack of tail band, size and general structure however all pointed to Iceland. Eventually the bird flew off to the Ski Pool and spent some time dip feeding on the water but eventually, due to harassment by Common Gulls, it was driven to land briefly on the other side of the bank before flying off over the marsh. By this time the light had nearly gone and it
was time to head for home.
(Paul Larkin)

Tuesday 21st February East Barming

Playing fields were alive with birds this morning - 7 hawfinches occupied the trees on the east side from 07:15-08:00 before flying off in a north-west direction.  At least 100 fieldfares, +50 starlings, 20+ redwings mostly feeding on the ground.  A single great spotted woodpecker has being regularly been seen over the last few days working it's way through the east side trees and occasionally visiting my garden feeder. 2 jays also present and a huge flock (48) of linnets on the telegraph wires alongside church lane. 

(Adam Whitehouse)

Monday 20th February New Hythe

A walk around this morning produced an adult Med Gull briefly on Brookland Lake along with the Fudge Duck. Female Goosander on Abbeymead. Green Sand on the Kidney Lake. A sum plum Black necked Grebe and drake Wigeon on Tesco Lake and Goldeneye on Alders Lake.
(Terry Laws)

Sunday 19th February East Barming & Brooklands Lake

A visit this morning to East Barming from 7.15 -7.45am. Initially no sign of Hawfinches but then one flew into the top of a birch tree next to the gardens and began 'ticking' very loudly. This seem to be the cue for 5 more to join it. The birds then moved to the Maple by the play equipment and dispersed around 7.45ish.

We moved on to Brooklands Lake where we had great views of the Long tailed duck, as we were watching it a Bittern flew across the lake giving great views as it gained height over the railway track being continually mobbed by gulls. It then flew back and landed on the north end of Abbey Mead Lake. We heard three separate Cettis Warblers around Brooklands and along the Mill stream as well as a Chiffchaff and the regular Mill Stream Goldfinch flock. A great start to Sunday and home before 9am.
(Steve Nunn)

Sunday 19th February North Kent

An afternoon out in the rain hampered viewing conditions somewhat though a quick tour of several sites provided a few bits of note.
First stop, Chetney and Funton where the Bewick's Swan now numbered seven, still in the same body of water viewable from the road. Also way off in the distance, two Marsh Harriers. The tide was gradually coming in and the Avocet numbered 280, along with a measly 150 Knot and 32 Brent Geese!
A solitairy Little Egret looked very cold and was partially hidden out of the wind.
A quick stop at Lower Halstow, ring tail Hen Harrier, Sparrowhawk and a pair of Goldeneye offshore.
With the rain know lashing down I attempted to view Horsham marshes but even big white birds, other than the feral Geese were conspicuous by their absence.
On the other side of Otterham creek, still no big white birds, though a superb adult Med Gull swam alongside its more common cousins, Black-headed Gulls. Also in the creek were 70+ Black-tailed Godwit and three Red-breasted Merganser were seen in the murk looking towards Riverside CP. The rain had finally beaten me though so I decided on one last stop at Chatham Maritime which itself was showing extremely well, shame there were no birds on it though!!!
(Barry Wright)

Wednesday 15th February East Barming

Just a quick note to say a record 7 hawfinches were seen in East Barming Playing Fields, Maidstone this morning at 07:15. It was good to meet Marc Heath off his regular Stour Valley patch and notch up 5 of the birds. On a more serious note can I ask anyone to visiting the playing fields to please respect residents privacy, especially if making early morning visits. Unfortunately the trees favoured by the hawfinches are on the east side of the playing fields which back directly onto the houses in South Street and there have been a couple of occasions when residents have taken offence (understandably) to people (innocently) pointing binoculars in the direction of their bedrooms!
(Adam Whitehouse)

Tuesday 14th February Northfleet

Early morning dog walk, and a small group of eight Redpoll at the allotments at the back of the house.
(Barry Wright)

Tuesday 14th February East Barming

3 hawfinches (2 males and a single female) showed extremley well again this morning on the east side of the playing fields between 07:30 - 08:00. They spent 10 minutes on the large chesnut tree near the car park which has recently had it's largest branches lopped allowing very clear views on the birds. The bills on the males have developed a lovely steely-blue colour, noticeably different from the duller grey colour they had when they first arrived back in December.
(Adam Whitehouse)

Monday 13th February Motney Hill

I was up in Medway working today. Headed over to Motney Hill for lunch and saw the two Spoonbills across on Horsham Pond. Just as exciting for me was finding the set of scarce grebes out in Barlett Creek - 2 Black-necked, one Slavonian and one Red-necked all within one area allowing great comparisons. On the way home I stopped briefly to look out across Chetney Marshes from Raspberry Hill finding 2 Bewicks Swan.
(Jim Bloor)

Monday 13th February Motney Hill

I did a similar trip this afternoon and saw the Slavonian Grebe in the east basin by St Mary's Island. The two Spoonbills flew in to Horsham Pond and there were 10 adult and one immature Bewick's Swans in the first large pool on the left going out along the track to Chetney Hill.
(Ken Beckett)

Monday 13th February East Barming

2 male Hawfinches in the usual tree on east side of East Barming playing fields (off South Street) between 07:30-07:50. Showing very well.
(Adam Whitehouse)

Sunday 12th February Meopham & Shipley Hills

A walk with the dog exploring the area around Meopham and Shipley Hills. Despite the rain it was a good walk with a Sparrowhawk, Great sp Woodpecker and a group of 17 Redwings.
(Barry Wright)

Sunday 12th February Cliffe RSPB

I do not venture on to the Reserve much these days, usually only to do the WeBS count, and so it was this Sunday. Bullfinches have always been scarce at Cliffe but they used to be attracted in reasonable numbers in late winter/early spring as they loved to feed on Buddleia buds at this time of year. In recent years they have become rare due to the removal of this winter food resource. It was pleasing then to find that a pair that had been around before Christmas was still present. As I walked towards West Point from the storage depot I heard, then saw, a pair that was feeding on a Buddleia, needless to say, just outside the Reserve boundary. On Saturday there were higher than normal numbers of bikes and quad bikes on the Reserve as they have forced a path through the scrub round one of the gates, but fortunately today all was quiet. Rain has its advantages! A quick check from West Point revealed that the waderswere roosting on the Flamingo Pool so I made tracks for there. On the way up the Creek Road I noted the Red-necked Grebe was still present, sleeping with a group of Great-crested.
The waders did not seem to want to settle and were flying up and down the pool. This at least allowed me to confirm that the Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper, that had been present at East Tilbury recently, were not present. The reason for their unease was soon revealed when a female type Marsh Harrier appeared over the bank at the rear of the pool. Things settled down as the harrier moved off and I was able to make the count. 844 Dunlin, 171 Grey Plovers, 9 Ringed Plovers and 8 Curlew. Even though hundreds are present at night, Curlew used to be rare visitors to the pools during the day, but they are seen more often now the gulley to the rear of the pools is out of bounds to the public. Further study of the flock revealed 4 Knot and a Bar-tailed Godwit. It's odd how things change. Thirty years ago Knot and Bar-tails were present in good numbers at Cliffe in winter but not now. Why this has changed, who knows?
Despite there being record numbers of diving duck in the area this winter there have been no Tufted or Pochard on the Reserve but Goldeneye have found it to their liking. Normally diving duck numbers start to drop in February except for Goldeneye whose numbers reach a peak in late winter/early spring. So far this winter they have been easy to count as they remained on the Elf Pools but this month they were spread between the Elf, Flamingo and Ski Pools They lead me a merry dance as they continually changed Pools. It is very easy to get high counts as you move from one pool to another because they are so mobile. Finally I found a position where I could see them all at the same time and counted 11 on the Elf, 15 an the Ski and 11 on the Flamingo Pools, making a grand total of 37 including 10 drakes, the highest total of the year. At this pint the rain began to set in and I made my way back to the car.
Other birds on the Reserve included 20 Teal, 22 Pintail, 1299 Lapwing and a single Greenshank.
(Paul Larkin)

Sunday 12th February Chatham

Dropping in at Chatham Maritime after a rather dire WeBS count (no water on the marsh) I found a Slavonian Grebe at the far end of the East Basin.
(Jonathan Martin)

Saturday 11th FebruarySwanscombe

Another short visit to Swanscombe marshes coincided with a high tide and hence very little shoreline activity to start with. A scan across the river to Essex indicated that all the birds were on the other side with a large group of Black-tailed Godwits and Curlew huddled together plus a group of 6 Avocet swimming just offshore though again in Essex!!!
Soon after the first sighting of Water Pipit was in the bag, a very tame 'ish' individual that allowed me to get some shots of it, still in winter plumage. The Scandinavian Rock Pipits belied their presence by calling and during the course of the next hour or so, up to ten birds of varying plumage were noted, with varying amounts of pinkish suffusion or absence of on the breast plus the greyish mantles and crown distinctive of this sub species at this time. A Grey Wagtail joined them together with another Water Pipit feeding no more than 20 metres away whilst I sat on my usual log by the waters edge admiring the rubbish and graffiti adorned on the walls!!!
There appeared to be little of note on the river though a return walk back to the car paid dividends with a cracking Water Rail that literally crashed out from the vegetation in front of me, and a female Blackcap in the trees above the car.
Not a bad couple of hours once again at this much neglected and little studied site.

(Barry Wright)

Saturday 11th February New Hythe

Yesterday and today Flossie and I made our first visits to the lakes for nearly three weeks. We started at the motorway lake where during my absence a Smew had sneaked in. No sign of it on either day so it must have sneaked off again but it was nice to see a pair of Goldeneye there.The Black necked Grebe was still on Alders and the female Goosander on the southern end of the sewage works lake. The Long tailed duck is still to found on either Abbeymead or Brooklands and although we didn't, others we met yesterday had seen the Ferruginous duck. Today a Water Rail was feeding in the open in the marshy area between Brooklands car park and the millstream path. Nothing else got entered in the notebook until a Green sandpiper on the round pond and,at last, Jack Snipe. All in all pleasant walks in nice conditions and the year list is now 75.
(Martin Warburton)

Saturday 11th February Riverside & Motney

A visit to Riverside this morning - 0800 to 0900 hrs - produced no Common Sandpiper. Nevertheless whilst standing by the outfall station the rising tide brought to within about 50 metres 9 Black Tailed Godwits, 5 Turnstones, 3 pairs of Tufted Duck, numerous Redshank and Black Headed Gulls, and several Herring Gulls of various ages. A fleeting glance of a Kingfisher, too.
Whilst viewing the mudflat I heard drumming behind me, coming from one of the tall trees. I eventually located a female Great Spotted Woodpecker, who presented very clearly and was not deterred by the people who walked the footpaths beneath the trees. There was the ubiquitous Pied Wagtails and House Sparrows too, and of course a singing Robin. Long Tailed Tits and Goldfinches were heard but not seen.
Not an earth shattering list of sightings, but I think worth mentioning because of the location. Riverside is a busy oasis in the middle of a busy town. Many pedestrians within a stone throw of the birds. It has two busy car parks. Moreover on the rising, and of course falling, tide the birds are well within sight of binoculars. It is an ideal place to introduce beginners to the hobby, and at a distance of 50 metres the birds offer good opportunities for photographers.
After Riverside, I went to Motney. Again on the rising tide I saw a host of Dunlin, Oystercatchers and Redshank. Two Curlews were on shore, and there were several small groups of about a dozen Grey Plover. Ducks seen here: Shoveler, Pintail, Widgeon, Teal and Shelduck. Brent Geese were both on shore and also on the tide line. 6 Mistle Thrushes were in the field inside the Sewage Plant perimeter, and it looks as if Crows will nest in the trees along side the field. Several Song Thrushes were about. The large field between the houses and the river has been ploughed, whereas last year it was left as set aside. Last year it offered lots of cover and food sources for many birds, especially larks. This year it looks as though it might not be so attractive although I can't judge until I see what is, or has been, planted.
The weather this morning was dry, 3oC, with no wind but fairly bright.
(William Weir)

Friday 10th February Motney

I went to Motney but I couldn,t see the spoonbills at Horsham lake unless they were over the back with some geese, my bins wouldn't reach that far. I have just started seeing a few blacktailed godwits, there was a huge flock in the autumn, I did see one down Riverside this morning I wonder if the group of birders saw it?. My biggest treat though was a jack snipe that suddenly flew up in front of me out of the reed bed. Down the road I had a wander and saw a female bullfinch; I did see a male last year probably not very exciting for some members but a bit of a rarity round here.
(Sheila Pettit)

Friday 10th February Burham

I spent about an hour there today starting at 2 o'clock. Cormorant 1; heron 3, greylag goose 150+, Canada goose 4, shelduck 3, teal 31, mallard 2, sparrowhawk 1, moorhen 8, coot 1, redshank 7, black-headed gull 11, herring gull 7, woodpigeon c500, collard dove 12, meadow pipit 3, wren 3, robin 1, stonechat 2, blackbird 10, fieldfare 5, song thrush 2, long-tailed tit 4, blue tit c30 including a flock of c20, great tit 4, jay 1, magpie 5, jackdaw 17, carrion crow 7, house sparrow 1, chaffinch 7, greenfinch 9, reed bunting 1.
(Bill Stoneham)

Thursday 9th February Chatham Riverside

The wintering Common Sand was still at Chatham riverside (3.05pm) on the mud below Rats Bay pumping station.I first saw it in that area on 5th Jan.
(Keith Cutting)

Wednesday 8th February New Hythe

Had excellent views of a female Goosander and a male Black Throated Diver at New Hythe Lakes this morning. Plus a Nuthatch in the Car ark, and a very obliging flock of Goldfinches, a "charm" I think is the term. Maybe it's not. On the major lake -the Windsurfer's Lake? - were many Tufted Ducks, and a lone pair of Goldeneye. On all the lakes I looked at there were plenty of Little Grebe and Great Crested Grebe. I saw the smallest Little Grebe that I've ever seen. Many Shovelers and 2 pairs of Gadwall. Many of the Shovellers were resting on the banks. Only Canada Geese and Greylag Geese were seen. Three Lesser Black Backed Gulls seen, all of which were resting on banks, along with some Lapwings and many Black Headed Gulls. Kestrels passing but none seen hunting over the park. Mute Swans also present, all in the water.
All went quiet though on the smaller lakes when the Kent Air Ambulance circled and then hovered over the Brookland (?) lake, prior to landing in the factory area at the Snodland end of the lakes. Interestingly many of the water birds didn't fly, they just took to the reeds.
(William Weir)

Tuesday 7th February East Barming

6 hawfinches still around this morning - 2x males & 1x female showed extremely well between 07:50-08:15 in the top branches of the usual tree on the east side, and another 3 flew over west heading towards St Margaret's church at 08:00.  They seemed very content until a sparrowhawk chasing some starlings made them fly south towards the river. 
(Adam Whitehouse)

Monday 6th February Darenth Lakes

A few hours spent at Darenth Lakes revisiting old haunts provided several birds of note. The walk from near the Chequers pub to the local football field in Darenth started with a very approachable Grey Wagtail and a noisy group of six Ring-necked Parakeet squawking from the overhanging trees. Near to the road a Green Sandpiper flew up suddenly from nearby and then flew around for quite a while before settling back down at the rivers edge. The allotments were alive with Fieldfare and Redwings whilst a Kestrel kept a close eye from an adjacent tree.
(Barry Wright)

Monday 6th February South Medway

Another effort to complete some systematic counts along this stretch on the rising tide. It's interesting how populations of various species move about around the localities here.

Another grotty day of anticyclonic gloom, 8/8 cloud, wnw 1, cool breeze, dull & misty, 5 oC. at 10.00 hrs. LT. 11.30 hrs. HT. 17.45 hrs.

Rainham Creek 11.15 to 12.10 hrs.
Shelduck 294, Mallard 4, Shoveler 88, Teal 141, Pintail 34, Wigeon 4, Marsh Harrier 1 f. over Nor marsh, Lapwing - 245. Knot - 257. Dunlin - 1850.

Motney Hill, 12.15 to 13.30 hrs.
Great Crested Grebe - 5 Bartlett creek. Canada Goose - 8 Shelduck - 271. Teal - 72. Red Breasted Merganser - 2 Bartlett creek. Goldeneye - a group of 8 in Bartlett creek, inc. 7 ad.dr. all displaying, rather smart. Marsh Harrier - 1 ad. m. Merlin - 1 f. chasing Dunlin over the river, no chance. Lapwing - 650. Avocet - 23. Knot - 250. Dunlin - 2500. Black Tailed Godwit - 44. Horsham marsh, 13.30 to 14.00 hrs. viewed from the village hall CP, behind the pub. Heron - 4 at a day roost. Spoonbill - 1 feeding in w. fleet inside sea wall, looking nw. arrived as we began to scan, so may well feed elsewhere at low tide. Grey Lag Goose - 20. Canada Goose - 11. Shelduck - 36. Wigeon - 110. Mallard - 6. Shoveler - 12.
The Crown at Upchuch, teas & a hot snack.

Lower Halstow, 14.45 to 15.20 hrs. a useful site addition thanks to Murray recently. Little Egret - 1. Brent Goose - 10. Shelduck - 126. Teal - 220. Pintail - 40. Wigeon - 110. Lapwing - 750. Avocet - 420, probably many more along " hidden tidelines " at low tide at Halstow & Twinney creeks, among others with no access. Whimbrel - not seen near the church, we could have checked to the west of the wharf.

Funton creek & Bedlams Bottom, 15.25 to 16.10 hrs.
Brent Goose - 650 flushed from west Barksore by a Marsh Harrier, not seen on last visit. Grey Lag Goose - 40. Shelduck - 675. Wigeon - 700. Teal - 370. Mallard - 34. Pintail - 660. Marsh Harrier - 2 ff. over Barksore. Sparrowhawk - 1 w. low over mudflats along FC. disturbed many species. Lapwing - 250 Barksore. Golden Plover - 700. BB. Avocet - 253 feeding along tidelines. Black Tailed Godwit - 31.

Chetney, 16.15 to 16.30 hrs.
Mute Swan - 2. Bewick's Swan - 10, inc. 1 imm. Shelduck - 60. Wigeon - 1500. Teal - 300. Marsh Harrier - 1 f. Lapwing - 5000. in two large flocks. Duck flushed by light aircraft low over marsh at end of the day. Then on to Tesco's in Gillingham for tea & shopping, the highlight of the day.
(Janet & Trevor Bowley)

Monday 6th February East Barming, New Hythe & Bough Beech

East Barming this am [8.10-8.20] up to 5 Hawfinches - all in trees in a garden south of playing field opposite car park entrance[ish] with a flock of greenfinches - thanks for directions - also a couple of yellowhammers which was a year tick for me.
Thanks all for directions to Brooklands - rewarded with both ferruginous duck and long-tailed duck... about 9.45 - 10.30 when fudge duck took off... we had a scout around the car park wondering if this was the ?park mentioned for Dartford warbler as something dropped into a bramble as we arrived and wasn't the wren, robin or dunnocks we saw there.
Last port of call was Bough Beech - nice views of brambling in on road side of hedge - which was as well for my wheelchair using mate as KWT has not seen fit to provide wheelchair access to the reserve or even the picnic area - yes, I know the place is closed for re-building but a style makes it accessible for the rest of us... my friend also managed to get views of nuthatch outside the gate... a year tick for us both.
Up to 12 mandarin on the reservoir - which I have never seen so low.
7 year ticks added including a couple hard for us Thanet types who rarely go much further than the Grove! The Fudge Duck was also a Kent tick for me - so only another 40 needed to get the magic 300 species in Kent!
(Bo Beolens)

Sunday 5th January Cliffe RSPB & Northward Hill

I was up at Cliffe Pools yesterday with a group of friends and saw a fine red-necked grebe on the Flamingo Pool.
At Northward Hill, a barn owl was quartering on the slopes by the main farm car park.
(Carol Goulden)

Sunday 5th January Motney Hill

2 Spoonbills showing well on Horsham Lake viewed across Otterhan Creek from high point on Motney Hill yesterday afternoon at 4.30
(Keith Cutting)

Sunday 5th February East Barming & River Medway

An early morning stroll turned up 3 hawfinches in the playing fields, 1 male was calling which made them easy to locate (north-east corner).  The mild weather had encouraged a lot more birds to feed on the ground and I estimated the football pitch to be occupied by 100+ fieldfares, 20+ redwings and 20+ greenfinches when I arrived.  A flock of 15 goldfinches were seen on the west-side, a first in playing fields this year (probably decamped from the teasels in the church car park).  Singles of jay, coal tit, great spotted woodpecker and sparrowhawk finished of my 5 minute walk! A birding trip down the River Medway between Barming Bridge and Teston in the afternoon was thwarted somewhat by the crowds of people who'd taken advantage of the fine weather.  Only birds of note were a kestrel and a male yellowhammer who stood out fantastically in the afternoon sun.
(Adam Whitehouse)

Sunday 5th February Sevenoaks WR

I arrived at Sevenoaks WR to find that 11 Little Egrets had left their roost a lot earlier than I had left mine. The first Goldeneye had appeared and I soon found it or another on the West Lake. 31 Gadwall were there as usual, but 38 Pochard better than usual. 2 Chiffchaffs were active in branches just above the water by the Alder Carr. I visited the new landfill site (friday) at Greatness to find 600 Herring, 500 Black-headed, 250 Common and 5 Great Black-backed Gulls. 17 GBBGs today at the Reserve were a good omen for more big gulls there in the future. Long live rubbish.
(Martin Coath)

Sunday 5th February New Hythe

On Brooklands Lake Ferruginous and long-tailed duck showed well this afternoon along with single Wigeon, a few Shoveler, Gadwall, plenty of Tufted duck and Pochard. Sparrowhawk, Bullfinch and Kingfisher added to the enjoyment of a quiet walk; unlike over at the Country Park which was manic with families enjoying the mild weather. We slipped aside to Alders lake and were pleased to find the Black-Necked Grebe and drake Goldeneye amongst the many Gadwall and other duck.
(Ralph and Brenda Todd)

Saturday 4th February Ashenbank Wood (Cobham)

I do not often get to do woodland birding so occasionally I like to visit this local wood. It has had its good days in the past, with all three woodpeckers seen in the area as well as Hawfinch and Goshawk (of dubious origin) but there is one species that really brings me here. I parked up and walked up the main path to the large central clearing. Being used to the open spaces of the North Kent Marshes it was odd to be enclosed by the trees with their fingered branches silhouetted against the sky on what was a cold but calm morning. My usual tactic, in winter woodland, is to watch and wait for the itinerant tit flock to find me, but today it was quite apparent that spring was in the air, and the Blue and Great Tits had set up territories, as I could hear birds singing throughout the wood. This meant the birds may not be flocking so I elected to walk round and headed off south. The wood consists of a mixture of old standard oaks interspersed with Silver Birch and Sweet Chestnut. In the '87 storm some trees were felled but fortunately the warden took the decision to leave the trees to rot in situ and even lashed trunks vertically to standing trees thus making lots of feeding and nesting places for birds and invertebrates, a management feature that other reserve wardens would do well to follow. It was also noticeable that many of the trees had been fitted with bat boxes since my last visit adding yet another dimension. As I walked I could here a Nuthatch doing its "peewut" call but the bird remained elusive and out of view. On the southern edge the wood is bounded by arable farmland and as I reached this point I heard the raucous call of a Jay and then saw two of them fly off into the wood. Lovely birds with a touch the exotic. I am sure if they were rarities birders would go a long way to see one.
There is beauty in the ordinary. Whilst contemplating this thought the soft plaintive whistle of a Bullfinch drifted by and I saw the bird retreating into the undergrowth echoing the Jays in plumage and action. There is a large underground reservoir in the centre of the wood and I circled round this to appear above the railway cutting. Just as I could see the edge of the trees I flushed about 35 thrushes which were feeding in the undergrowth with a few Blackbirds. As they alighted on the branches I could see they were Redwings. There are no berries left in the area so I guess they are struggling to find food in their usual haunts. I can't say I have ever seen them feeding like this but that probably reflects my lack of woodland experience rather than anything else. As I rounded the reservoir I heard a Nuthatch again and this time it gave good close views as it moved through the trees. I returned to the clearing near the car park and decided to visit a small pond near there. There was little water in it and the unfortunately no birds were bathing there but in the summer months birds find it attractive as do newts. As I walked back to the clearing the sun was breaking through and the birds became more active. A GS Woodpecker called and flew off towards the reservoir and a small group of tits were moved through the bushes near the old wartime RAF camp. As I watched them the bird that had brought me here appeared, a Marsh Tit. I always enjoy seeing the "brown" tits and this area used to hold both but, as in many areas, Willow has now gone, but it is nice to know that Marsh Tits still have a toe hold.
For those who don't know Ashenbank is a Woodland Trust Reserve just off the A2 at Cobham. It is situated on a greensand outcrop and is like a little bit of West Kent here in the North. It is contiguous with Shorne
Country Park from which it is separated by the A2 and the Channel Rail Link. Shorne country Park is very good for Damsel and Dragonflies in the summer.
(Paul Larkin)

Saturday 4th February New Hythe

I hoped that someone would join me on the KOS walk round New Hythe on Sat. 4th. There was the usual ad in KOS News and I put something on kosnet. There were 2 early phone calls, so I would not be alone. Further calls and emails meant that we would have enough for a football team; by Friday evening I even had a full subs bench. I arrived to find that we would be able to field 2 full sides. There were plenty of experienced and eager eyes, most of which saw most of the best birds on the 4 and a half hour, 5 mile circuit. The weather was milder and brighter than we had experienced on the last 3 chill and raw days. The Ferruginous Duck missed the chance to perform before a mass audience, but seemed to prefer the comfort of the reeds. The Long-tailed Duck was more obliging and we all enjoyed good views of Wigeon, 45 Shoveler, loads of Gadwall, Sparrowhawk, Green Sand, 2 Kingfishers, 4 Mistles and 4 Siskins. Some saw Goosander and Little Egret in flight. An adult Argentatus Herring Gull was perhaps the most unusual bird. A few hardy souls with hardy soles went with me round the Lunsford circuit in the afternoon and were rewarded with BN Grebe, Smew and another Sparrowhawk. No one got lost, fell in anything or broke anything, because, being KOS members, they were too sensible. Between us we recorded 55 species, but no Cetti's.
(Martin Coath)

Saturday 4th February Lower Haysden & Hawden

Again no sign of the Bittern and no sign of yesterday's Water Rail - six Bullfinches in the Shallows, about 100 Fieldfare and a few Redwing here. At Haysden the 3 Goosander were still present along with 11 Little Egrets (a personal record locally). Also around Haysden were 40+ Siskin and 20 Redpoll. There were probably around 250 Lapwing around and over Barden Lake and at Hawden the female Scaup remained.
A female Goldeneye was my first at Hawden for many years. Also present were 35 Wigeon, 19 Pochard along with the usual Tufted Ducks, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull was present and one of the Haysden Little Egrets flew in to feed. Nearby at least 4 Skylarks were present - my first birds in the area this year. My Haysden year list now stands at 68 but I am aware I have missed Med Gull, Hawfinch, Bittern, White-fronted Goose and Gadwall!
(Andrew Appleton)

Saturday 4th February Greenhithe, Motney Hill & Lower Halstow

Took in a few sites today including forays into London on both sides of the river. The undoubted highlight was four Penduline Tits at Rainham RSPB showing down to as close as 10 feet! Anyway, back to the stuff seen in North West Kent. We started off by walking east along the Thames at 7.30am from Ingress Park at Greenhithe until we found our first Scandanavian Rock Pipit. We carried on walking towards Swanscombe and tried and failed to flush Jack Snipe from the marshy areas in between the two river banks. We then failed to locate any Water Pipits around the disused jetty. We headed back and finally located a Water Pipit on the Thames foreshore 500m east of Ingress Park. A 100 metres further we located 20+ Scandanavian Rock Pipit including groups of 11 and 7. Also noted were 90 Black Tailed Godwit which is the biggest group I've seen here.
Later in the afternoon we visited Motney Hill and located the immature Spoonbill as it flew up Otterham Creek and landed on the pool at Horsham Marshes. To view this bird you will need to walk up the hill and scan the pool to the east on the other side of the creek. Best place to stand was next to the house number 2.
A quick stop at Lower Halstow produced the wintering Whimbrel on the right just beyond the parking area. Access via Lapwing Drive.
(Andrew Lawson)

Friday 3rd February Lower Haysden

Two sightings of Water Rail in the Shallows early morning, but no sign of the Bittern. Several Fieldfares and Redwings in nearby fields and a few Bullfinches were in the area. Siskin was heard but not seen.
(Andrew Appleton)

Wednesday 1st February Sevenoaks Reserve & Chipstead Lake

February started calm, but cloudy in the centre of a large anticyclone. The raw chill penetrated my many layered garb. Any more layers and it would be impossible to raise bins to eyes. The venue this time was Sevenoaks Reserve. There is always plenty to see, but as often after 2 months of winter with no real freeze the same squad of birds tends to be on offer. It is however not really a hardship to walk round this fine reserve. We still have 30 Gadwall, 3 Shoveler, 70 Teal, 21 Pochard and the old faithful Ruddy Duck, as well as 4 species of gull. Coot and Tufted numbers are way down. The woodland areas hold a good variety with 20 Blackbirds, 4 Treecrepers, 3 Green Woodpeckers and 12 LT Tits. The highlight was a total of 300 Siskins high in the alders or flying over calling with a mass sound like a minor meteorological phenomenon. A few were singing their creaky but endearing song. Still no Goldeneye; will this be the first winter without one for perhaps 20 years? After a stop for coffee, a doughnut and a chat I eased over to Chipstead Lake. The water held 20 GC Grebes, a few Coot and Tufties and, mirabile dictu, a drake Goldeneye. 75 Common Gulls were sitting on the water, taking their turn to follow the ploughing leviathan operating to the north of the lake. Disturbance on that scale ruled out small terrestrial species, but the hedgerows and woodland belts entertained fair numbers of common passerines including 2 Bullfinches and 25 Siskins.

(Martin Coath)