NorthWestKentJan2007

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

I was approaching the Willow Hide at Sevenoaks WR when I became aware of something white flapping past. It was a small heron. Must be a Little egret, of which 14 are roosting nearby, but it was small, had quite fast wing beats, was not dazzlingly white or even Daz white, but above all had a short yellow bill and yellow legs. The Cattle Egret flew low over the North Lake and out of sight. A little later I had a Little Egret flying past: bigger with slower wing beats, more neck, whiter, black of bill and with yellow soles contrasting with its black legs.
After a superb 18 days in N India I otherwise found the reserve much as I had left it with 7 Mandarins, 6 Shoveler and only 39 Gadwall.
(Martin Coath)

A perfect afternoon for a count on Higham Bight & I was rewarded by loads of birds. A big dunlin flock arriving from roost on the falling tide totalled 2650, with 50-odd each of grey plover & curlew. 108 redshank were mainly round the barges, where there were also 3 turnstone & a couple of oyc. Ducks included 202 teal, 94 wigeon & 69 gadwall. The falcated duck appears to have deserted it's 2006 hang-out and is apparently now at Cliffe, though I'm not sure whether it's on the reserve. Perhaps those who saw/reported it at the w/e could clarify where it was seen? Ditto the smew. Checked the Alpha pool, but couldn't see the great northern diver, although there was one pristine drake goldeneye. Also large numbers of fieldfares (300+) arriving from the south & pitching down in the hawthorn scrub. Finished off with a grey wagtail flying west towards Salt Lane.

10.30 to 12.45 hrs. 8/8 cloud, dull & mild, 8 oC. at 10.00 hrs. HT. 10.05 hrs.
Little Grebe - 3 NM.
Great Crested Grebe - 10 NM.
Little Egret - 1 KL. 3 ACM.
Cormorant - 1 KL. 2 NM.
Grey Lag Goose - 34 ACM.
Canada Goose - 1 NM.
Brent Goose - 10 ACM. 12 NM.
Mute Swan - 4 KL.
Shelduck - 134 NM.
Mallard - 2 KL. 4 NM.
Wigeon - 49 NM.
Tufted - 21 KL.
Ruddy Duck - 1 pr. KL.
Long Tailed Duck - 1 KL.
Coot - 48 KL. & fields.
Moorhen - 80 KL. & fields.
Lapwing - 207 roost in ploughed field.
Turnstone - 18 NM.
Woodpigeon - 250.
Collared Dove - 32.
Linnet - 30.
Stonechat - 2 prs.
The dark bluish grey bill & large white facial area of the LTD. suggests ad. f. but drakes do not develop pink on bill until later in winter, so it may be too early to sex this bird.
(Trevor Bowley)

Fresh back from Swanscombe I can report that 'it (the Penduline Tit) may be in the area still' BUT I was there from 0845 to 1315 today checking the habitat. Sadly no Penduline but, 4 Blue Tits feeding Penduline fashion in the reeds, a minimum of 5 Cetti's singing, 4+ Water Rail, Jack Snipe, 75 Shoveler, 6+ Stonechat, Little Egret, 35+ Black tailed Godwits, 3 Curlew, Bearded Tits heard calling (never saw any) and best of all, a Swanscombe tick in the shape of 2 Shags!!! that were on the foreshore at 0830, saw me go for my camera and flew off East shortly after. Out of interest, I've now recorded 72 species here so far this year.

Monday 29th January, Grain areas, inc. Clubbs Pits, Deep Pit, Grain Marsh, Roas Bank
11.40 to 15.00 hrs. 4/8 cloud, nw calm, mild with sunny periods, 8 oC. at 10.30 hrs. HT. 08.50 hrs. Ebb tide.

Little Grebe - 10 DP.
Brent Goose - 24 RB.
Bewick's Swan - 23, inc. 8 imms, roosting on RB.
Wigeon - 30 roosting on RB.
Teal - 42 RB. offshore.
Shoveler - 5 roosting on RB.
Mallard - 2 CP.
Tufted - 1 ad. dr. DP.
Coot - 14 DP. 4 CP.
Moorhen - 4 DP. 2 CP.
Peregrine - 1 over Gm.
Oystercatcher - 445 RB.
Knot - 100 RB.
Lapwing - 135 over Gm.
Curlew - 180 RB.
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1 CP.
Green Woodpecker - 2.
Long Tailed Tit - 1 CP.
Bearded Tit - 1 pr. scattering seeds of Bulrush heads. CP.
Greenfinch - 27 CP.
Crow - flock of 17 on RB. & sea wall.
(Trevor Bowley)

A Firecrest called, but I failed to see it at the north end of Abbey Mead at 4.30 this afternoon. Also drake and female Goldeneye on Abbey Mead and 9 Shelduck. 2-3 Cettis called around the sunken marsh area and there were 2+ Bullfinch here and along the river.
(Steve Nunn)

10 Pintail and approx 8 Goldeneye on Radar Pool, no waders at all on the river, about 200 Teal on the Thames (East of the Cliffe Fort).

A visit for an hour and a half this morning. A male Bullfinch near the scrape, Sparrowhawk over the railway and Grey Wagtail over the sunken marsh. The Ferruginous Duck showed extremely well in the sun on Brooklands.

Last night (Friday 26th) I had a Common Sandpiper over the sunken marsh late afternoon, fleeting views of a Firecrest nearby and a Bittern on Brooklands at 4.55pm. More detail at www.newhythe.blogspot.com

Ten Little Egrets still roosting on arrival at Haysden this morning and my first Grey Wagtail of the year was quickly bagged. I obtained a brief flight view of a Water Rail in the Shallows before heading on to a misty Hawden. I could just about make out 15 Wigeon and a single Redshank. Three Stock Doves also seen here and 3 or 4 Pochard were present.

Back to Haysden where there were six Little Egrets on Longfield and 4 Goosander (three drakes) showed well. Perhaps the biggest surprise here was a drake Shoveler (not seen at Haysden last year). Also a couple of Fieldfare here and there were a further two Goosander were on Haysden Lake (total of 4 drakes and two redheads). Finally about 12 Meadow Pipit fed in the damp fields beside the road.

14.45 to 16.30 hrs. brief visits only. 8/8 cloud, w 1 - 2, frequent sleet showers, 7 oC. at 14.30 hrs. dull & cold.
Allhallows fishing lake - 1 Black Throated Diver, seen to make short flights across the lake, calling as it landed.
Lower Stoke roadside pool - 6 Little Grebe, 45 Brent, 2 Mute Swan, 3 Tufted, 10 Coot.
Port Victoria Road - 1 Waxwing perched on conifer tops & telegraph pole at the small roadside beige cottage, " Medtha ", on the RHS. driving to the outfall.
The three of us had been waiting near the cottage for about five minutes when a Starling like bird bounded in & landed on the top of the tallest roadside conifer above my head. Mike Cooper reported that it had been feeding on the black berries of the front privet hedge earlier in the day. There are plenty of berries there. The cottage owner first saw the Waxwing last Wednesday, 17/01.
Also 1 ad. m. Sparrowhawk landed briefly in the garden trees.
There were 2 Redwing present, both in the same hedge & in the adjacent field. West Lane - 1 pr. Stonechats, 360 Lapwing roosting in winter wheat near a pylon, 41 Moorhen & 16 Coot.

Thursday 25th January Allhallows, Grain, Stoke, Grain, Northward Hill & Cliffe RSPB

Arrived at 11 am and went straight to the fishing lake at Allhallows, where the Black Throated Diver was showing very well. A snow shower sent me scurrying back to the car so I scanned the Stoke area from the upper road. Although distant I could make out 9 Bewicks Swans amongst the Mutes on Stoke Lagoon. Whilst I was watching a Merlin shot by.
Next stop was Grain, where I had a Waxwing almost immediately in the garden of the cottage at the start of the road to the Power Station outfall; very nice! Another snow shower cut short my visit here so I headed for Northward Hill. Lots of Fieldfares around the car park but the only other bird of note was an immature Marsh Harrier.

Last stop was at Cliffe, where a quick scan seemed to confirm that nothing had changed. But then a Short Eared Owl got up and hunted briefly around the main pools. Not bad for a hurried few hours. Bird of the day however was a Robin singing inside a Sainsburys supermarket back home, keeping joe public entranced while they were shopping…
(John Tilbrook)

10.30 to 11.30 hrs. 8/8 cloud, n 1 - 2, 0 oC. at 10.00 hrs. O/N flurry of snow, Poor vis. at LT. in light snow showers, no movement offshore.
14.00 to 15.45 hrs. 4/8 cloud, n 2, 4 oC. at 13.45 hrs. good vis. during clearances, frequent snow showers to ne. & e. in estuary & east of Grain. HT. 16.30 hrs.
Black Throated Diver - 1 FW. present in fishing lake all day.
Great Crested Grebe - 1 w.
Brent Goose - 4 e.
Shelduck - 3 e.
Gadwall - 2 swimming offshore.
Wigeon - 60 -- -- in 3 flocks.
Teal - 15 -- -- & 12 e.
Pintail - 6 -- -- & 3 w.
Oystercatcher - 144 e. to Yantlet.
Dunlin - 300 e. --
Knot - 3100 se. --
Herring Gull - c. 500 w. during rising tide.
Common Gull - 20 w.
Kittiwake - 1 oiled ad. w.
(Trevor Bowley)

One Red-throated Diver seen well from the causeway, at midday, with a couple of Great Crested Grebes. Also drake Goosander and Snipe before a hasty retreat back to work.
(Andrew Appleton)

Just a passing glance at Alders Lake off of Lunsford Lane today I saw a pair of Goldeneye with the male displaying.

90+ House Sparrows at Dartford Station this morning. The highest number that I've seen in this in this area for years!

A trip to Bough Beech Reservoir this afternoon produced a female Scaup (it did wake up briefly during the afternoon) and the female Ring-necked Duck which showed very well on the main lake close to the causeway.

Other ducks included 10+ Mandarin and a pair of Goosander as well as the normal Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Pochard and Tufted Duck.

On the passerine front a single male Brambling showed well from the causeway with about 20 Chaffinches and two Meadow Pipits called as they flew over. A Buzzard flew over shortly before my arrival.

Several Bullfinch along the Medway, and the Ferruginous Duck showing well in the reeds by the fisherman's building on Brooklands Lake. Also a Chiffchaff in bushes near the car park. Weekends sightings at www.newhythe.blogspot.com
(Steve Nunn)

1 1st winter Caspian Gull on the roof of Grosvenor Recycling Centre 20 metres inside the London border at Crayford.

3 1st winter Yellow Legged Gulls with 2 on Littlebrook Lake and 1 in the flooded field adjacent to University Way.

Of note was the fact that I didn't see any Argentatus Herring Gulls at all this weekend.

Haysden held four Goosanders (2drakes) this afternoon and two Little Grebes again. Also present were (the) three Gadwall and as the light faded four each of Wigeon and Little Egret were seen along with over 50 Cormorant.

The best bird today was a Peregrine that came in from the north and drifted towards Haysden - it lingered around for a couple of minutes before dropping out of sight - nice one.

A couple of Coal Tits at the Powder Mills made in onto the year list, as did Green Sandpiper at Hawden. There was also a single Little Grebe at Hawden and 14 Wigeon. 250 Lapwing shared their time between Hawden and Haysden. After adding Kestrel, Stock Dove and LBBG the patch list stands at 62 for the year.

Spent an hour quickly checking the gulls on Littlebrook Pool and also down on the Thames at Greenhithe.

Littlebrook was quiet with a few hundred Black Headed, 52 Lesser Black Backed (48 adults), 2 Herring and 6 Yellow Legged Gulls. The Yellow Leggeds consisted of 3 1st winters (2nd Calendar Year birds) and 3 3rd Calendar Years (ie, 1 in '2nd winter' plumage and 2 in '2nd summer' plumage').

Thames was quiet gull-wise with just 1 1st winter Yellow Legged. Wader numbers looked the same as last week.

Of course any January day in Kent wouldn't be complete without the obligatory Red Admiral and this butterfly fluttered by at Greenthithe.

We completed some of our WEBS count on a quieter day. Mild & breezy with warm sun. There were two bumble bees at the Yantlet estuary & numerous flies on the
sea wall. A Grey Seal was catching flatfish in the estuary most of the time. There
was a vagrant or tramp on the Grain beach for a while at HT. & several walkers along various sections of the sea walls. There were no powerboats, light aircraft or 4 x 4 to be seen, for a change.
10.30 to 15.00 hrs. 0/8 to 4/8 cloud, w 2 - 3, inc. 4 at midday, then decr. 2 during pm. 11 oC. at 09.30 hrs. HT. 12.45 hrs.
Red Throated Diver - 1 w.
Little Egret - 6, inc. 3 w. from Y. s/m. 2 Y. fleets, 1 along Gm. n. wall.
Cormorant - 1.
Heron - 1 Ym.
Brent Goose - 39 Y. s/m.
Mute Swan - 14 SL. & 3 over Gm.
Bewick's Swan - 25 SL. inc. 8 imms. very noisy & alert while we were there.
Shelduck - 41 Y. s/m.
Peregrine - 1 crossed the Y. creek from Grain towards the Nty.
Oystercatcher - 1370 Yb., inc. 420 arriving from Essex.
Avocet - 1 arrived from Essex with Oysercatchers & roosted on Yb.
Ringed Plover - 7 Yb.
Golden Plover - 2 w. from Y. s/m.
Grey Plover - 124 Y. s/m., inc. 100 arriving from Essex.
Lapwing - 30 Y. s/m.
Knot - 364 Yb., inc. 350 arriving from Essex.
Dunlin - 1500 Yb. inc. 1000 arriving from Essex.
Curlew - 275 Y. s/m. after HT.
Redshank - 180 Y. s/m. after HT.
Turnstone - 18 Yb, inc. 6 arriving from Essex.
Large Auk - 1 e.
Rock Pipit - 3, inc. 1 on sea wall & 2 in Y. creek.
Stonechat - 1 pr. Ym.
Yantlet saltmarsh flooded at HT.

I paid a quick visit to Brookland lake and Abbeymeads during my lunch break today. The rain clouds parted and the wind died down just as I arrived, but the miracle of a Bittern and Fudge Duck on Brookland didn't materialise! Unfortunately no sign of the Pintails on Abbeymead either although the male Goldeneye was showing very well.

I did take some time exploring the area at the north end of Abbeymeads in the hope that the Firecrest reported over a week ago might put in an appearance but again no luck. A Cettis Warbler was heard here though, and a second called out at the north end of Brookland Lake as I was about to leave for the car park. Unfortunately because I was on a lunch break I didn't have time to explore the other lakes so there's a possibility the Pintails might be 'lake hopping'!
(Adam Whitehouse)

Tuesday 16th January New Hythe

Saw a goosander (f) on Abbey Meads lake today at approx 15.45. waited at millstream lake until 16.30 in the hope of seeing bittern arriving to roost but no luck, however did see little egret and heard three cetti's around the patch.
(Phil Sharp)

A report of a pair of Pintail and a rapid change of plan led to Flossie and I walking round Brookland lake and Abbey Meads this afternoon in the rain.

The Ferruginous duck showed well on Brookland and the male and female Goldeneye on Abbey Meads but no sign of the Pintail which is a pity as this would have been a patch tick.

6 Shelduck on Abbey Meads and a Little Grebe,the latter a year tick, bringing the total to a paltry 57.
(Martin Warburton)

Had a walk this morning around Brooklands and Abbey Meads lakes. Highlight was a pair of Goldeneye and, a first at this site for me, a pair of Pintail. Has anyone else seen Pintail at this site?
(Alan Roman)

Juvenile Sparrowhawk has been showing well in East Barming, Maidstone recently. Often perched in tall trees opposite (north of) the Bull PH on the A26 Tonbridge Rd, Barming. Had the real bonus of it sitting on my garden fence this morning for 15 minutes...unfortunately (or fortunately) there was nothing else around for it to feed on!
Slight increase in Fieldfare numbers in the surrounding orchards this week, but Redwings all but absent and still no sign of the Hawfinches, Brambling, Siskins or Redpolls that were all seen in East Barming this time last year. Roll on the winter!
(Adam Whitehouse)

1st winter Caspian Gull, 1st winter Med Gull (yesterday's Thame's bird?) and 9 Yellow Legged Gulls were the highlights.

The shot below was taken yesterday and is of a 3rd winter Caspian Gull at Littlebrook. I'm assuming that the brownish wash to the coverts eliminates 4th winter plumage.

Unfortunately I only managed a couple of shots before the bird promptly sat down and went to sleep and when the gulls were spooked, it didn't return.

3rd winter Caspian Gull - Andrew Lawson ©

Difficult to identify with just one good photo. Still, a whole range of features can be seen although note that these are variable!

The long legs (especially the tibia)
The colour of the legs
The upperpart colour
The small white head
The high chest
The amount of 'body behind the legs'
The bill is slightly blurred but the pattern is typical of a 3rd winter Caspian.
Small, black, beady eye
The 'brown wash' to the wing coverts appears to be a feature of 3rd winter Caspian Gull

Nothing too exciting at New Hythe today. Several Bearded Tit calling in the Sunken Marsh at the north end of Abbey Mead, a male Blackcap in the Ivy clad tree nearby. A Chiffchaff in Brooklands car park and a pair of Stonechat near the scrape.
(Steve Nunn)

Stopped briefly at Funton on my way over to Sheppey y/day afternoon. The tide was out & the mud was covered in birds - 400+ avocet & pintail,500+ wigeon, 700+ dunlin, 200+ black-wit + grey plover, knot, curlew,mallard, teal, shelduck, at least 1 little egret & a marsh harrier over Barksore.
(Gordon Allison)

It felt like hard work this morning so I was surprised when I found that I had actually seen 51 species in three hours.

I started off at Haysden where there were five Goosander (3 drakes one of which was on Longfield) and a Little Grebe. Also present at least four Little Egrets, two Rooks and a single Marsh Tit was showing well. Only one Fieldfare seen (Ballast Pit) and only single numbers of Redwing.

54 Coot on Barden and about 10 more at Hawden where there were also four Pochard. Two Sparrowhawk seen today and nine House Sparrows were near Barden, but only one Bullfinch noted.
(Andrew Appleton)

Found a new 1st winter Caspian Gull at Littlebrook just before midday. This bird had a very long, all black bill and was quite small with what appeared to be an oil stain behind its eye on one side of its head.
I returned again after lunch and refound the larger, broader necked 1st winter Caspian Gull which has a pale tip to its otherwise all dark bill. Also present were 1 adult, 1 3rd winter, 3 2nd winter and 4 1st winter Yellow Legged Gulls, ie, 9 in total.
Drove down to the river Thames at Greenhithe and counted 265 Redshank on the Kent side and another 80 over on the Essex side. Also 22 Dunlin present.
There were plenty of Black Headed Gulls feeding over the Thames with a few Common Gull and other larger gulls. I counted 1 3rd winter, 3 2nd winter Yellow Leggeds and 2 1st winters, ie, 6 in total. Only 3 Herring Gulls seen. Highlight was a 1st winter Med Gull feeding with the Black Heads.
(Andrew Lawson)

About 15 Collared Doves near Barden Lake this afternoon but no sign of House Sparrows today. At Hawden a Little Grebe was a surprise as it was the first I have seen in the Haysden area since last January. Also present - a drake Wigeon (my first this winter) and 150 Lapwing.
On Haysden Lake in failing light were four Goosander (three drakes), a further two Little Grebe, six Wigeon, three Gadwall, 30 Tufted Duck, a single Little Egret and at least 55 Cormorant.
(Andrew Appleton)

Saturday 6th January Cliffe Pools RSPB

After the poorest number of species recorded at Cliffe (169) for 10 years it was in some ways nice to start a new year however, the mild weather amongst other factors produced a poor start to the New Year.

The two Black-necked Grebes remained on station on the Radar Pool, although they could often be elusive, but there was no sign of either the Spotted Redshanks or the Greenshanks that had been present last year. The count of 19 Goldeneye (6 drakes), with another 2 (1 drake) on the Ski Pool was an increase in numbers suggestive of the beginnings of spring passage, the highest numbers normally being noted in late February.

The closing of Mucking Tip for the weekend usually produces lots of gulls at Cliffe and today was no exception but despite there being hundreds present there was nothing of interest, not even a Mediterranean Gull. There were higher than normal numbers of diving duck due to the shooting on the top fields disturbing birds from elsewhere but because of to the low water levels due to the sluice into the Thames being blocked, apart from the Radar with 39 Tufted and 2 Pochard, the pools are not to the diving ducks liking at the moment.

There were only two Little Egrets in the area and despite the 1000 or so of Dunlin wheeling around (being harassed by a Peregrine) there was no sign of the Little Stint that had been present before Christmas. The only slight surprise was the presence of the Falcated Duck on Hidden Pool and later the Ski Pool. This gave good a opportunity for close study. It was in close attendance with Mallard.

Other highlights were a Kingfisher on a post on Ski Pool and a flock of 27 Linnets near the Elf Pools. As I returned to the car a phone call informed me that the Falcated Duck had turned up across the River at Tilbury along with 250 Teal and some Gadwall, presumably scared off by the shooting. A slow day but 77 species were found in a few hours.
Hopefully things will pick up later in the year.

2 Caspian Gulls present at 2pm today: a 1st winter with a black bill and pale tip seen previously on the 30/31th December and the large, streaky-necked, dark mantled 2nd winter first seen on the Thames foreshore on the 23rd December. Also 24 Yellow Legged Gull present; 5 adults, 1 3rd winter, 10 2nd winters and 8 1st winters. Many of the 2nd winters have moluted their head feathers and their heads are now gleaming white. Some birds have the distinctive pale bill colour of 2nd summer plumage (please see plate 410 'Gulls' by Olsen & Larsson).

I went to Swanscombe for a [longish] lunch break to-day. I had a good view of the Water Pipit. There were 7 species of duck present including 14 Shovelers and 15 Gadwalls. There were over 100 Snipes but no Jacks.Also 30 Fieldfares, 2 Corn Buntings [haven't seen them at Swanscombe for a long time] and a Grey Wagtail.

Another visit to Cliffe although rather late in the day, so by the time I reached Cliffe Creek the gloom was gathering. Rewarded however by a barn owl hunting in the area of grassland just past Coastguard's pool. It made at least one kill during a fifteen minute period. A lovely sight.

09.15 to 12.00 hrs. 0/8, inc. 2/8 cloud. w 2, inc. w 4 - 5, HT. 13.00
hrs. 8 oC. at 08.45 hr
A sunny start with lighter winds, which increased towards midday.

Grain PS. Outfall, 09.15 to 10.45 hrs.
Red Throated Diver - 8 w. 2 swimming offshore,
Black Throated Diver - 1 ad. swimming offshore.
Great Crested Grebe - 1 swimming offshore.
Brent - 4.
Shelduck - 2 w.
Peregrine - 2 at chimney, one displaying.
Oystercatcher - 231 sw. on rising tide.
Grey Plover - 1
Sanderling - 3 sw. into Medway & 10 roosting at Outfall.
Redshank - 30 roosting at Outfall.
Curlew - 13 sw.
Bar Tailed Godwit - 1 sw.
Turnstone - 14 roosting at Outfall.
Razorbill - 1 swimming offshore.
West Lane 11.15 to 11.45 hrs. w 4 - 5
Little Grebe - 4.
Teal - 2.
Pochard - 15.
Tufted - 4.
Coot - 20.
Black Tailed Godwit - 9.
Goldfinch - 15.
Green Woodpecker - 1.
Mosco Pool 11.50 to 12.00 hrs. Diving duck hiding or absent.
Little Grebe - 6.
Little Egret - 1.
Shelduck - 3.
Lower Stoke Pool -
Little Grebe - 4.
Coot - 8.
(Janet & Trevor Bowley)

Lunchtime visit to Cliffe today (Wednesday) - blustery but mild. Two black-necked grebe still on Radar Pool close to a group of tufties. Also a pair of goldeneye further out. Lapwing much in evidence - a couple of thousand around Flamingo Pool, most of which went up and stayed up for some time but unable to see the reason. One kingfisher flying back rapidly along the pool edge towards Radar Pool. The very pleasant sight of skeins of Brent Geese flying over (3 in all, about 90 birds) all heading towards Higham Bight.
(Alan Lean)

The day started with Tawny Owl calling as we left the House at 7.15am. Very gloomy at Haysden - best bird was a drake Teal which I could hear and when it eventually swam into view it promptly flew off. My twentieth bird for the year and one I didn't see at Haysden last year. Apart from that just two Little Egrets, a single Kingfisher and a Marsh Tit was heard but not seen.
A quick trip to Bough Beech Reservoir wasn't very exciting - a few Fieldfare in the Orchard were the best to be seen before heading home for an early lunch.
I then decided to go and collect the Ferruginous Duck at New Hythe - this was duly added to the list along with a single Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff and two Goldeneye (drake and a female) - on Abbeymeads.
A telephone message informing me that the female Ring-necked Duck had re-appeared at Bough Beech decided where I was going next. Although fairly distant at first it did show well. One Great Blacked Gull late afternoon and a single Shelduck also noted.

I managed 53 species between 8.30 and 1.30 at New Hythe. A single Common Snipe on the scrape, a redhead Goosander on Millstream Lake, a drake Goldeneye on Abbey Mead and the Fudge Duck on Brooklands were the highlights. A flock of 150 Lapwing over towards Holborough Marshes was also notable. Redwings everywhere but just one loan Fieldfare.

A walk around Haysden CP this morning produced only 28 species which I thought rather poor but was surprised to find that my first raptor for the year was a Buzzard over Haysden lake. A pair of Kingfishers also brightened the day in the lovely sunshine.
(Colin Firman)

Monday 1st January Gillingham Pier, Motney Hill, Lower Halstow, Funton and New Hythe

I left home at 0800 for the short drive to Gillingham pier where a Little Egret was on view but very little else. At Motney Hill in the extremely windy conditions I managed to see a pair of Red-breasted Merganser, a Sparrowhawk, and a total of 50 species before heading off to Lower Halstow. Sure enough the Whimbrel was present, but fortunately although distant there was a Black Brant amongst the Brent Geese. A Kingfisher was seen a couple of times, whilst in the deep water channel there were 6 Goldeneye. A cracking Peregrine flew overhead as did a Sparrowhawk. Next stop Funton where the Avocet numbered 350 and 150+ Bar-tailed Godwit, plus another Sparrowhawk and 2 Marsh Harrier. Final stop of the day was New Hythe where the Ferruginous Duck was easily seen on Brookland Lake and 2 Chiffchaff were present.

I was pleased with my days efforts, 80 species in total, a good start to the 2007

Redwing was my first bird for 2007 at 8.30am as I left the house to join Richard and James for another gull-fest at Littlebrook Pool, Dartford.
It was quiet at first with just a few Lesser Black Backeds and Black Headed Gulls present. However, the first Herrings started to arrive at 9am and I picked up a 2nd winter Caspian Gull as it flew in from the east and settled on the pool. This was the same dark, streaky necked individual seen yesterday and on the 23rd. At 10am another 2nd winter Caspian flew in. This bird was first seen on Boxing Day and its smaller size and shorter bill suggests that it is a female.
At 11am a 1st winter Caspian appeared and was therefore our third for the day. The most surprising thing was that this bird was the 'baggy-trousered' bird seen on the 17th December and it had a generally white underwing unike yesterday's 1st winter Caspian. Where do these birds go for a week or two at a time?

Also present were 7 Yellow Legged Gulls: 3 adult, 2 2nd winter & 2 1st winter. The vast majority of the 100+ Herrings seen appeared to be northern European Argentatus as many of them had the complete white primary finger tip in P10.

We headed off towards Cliffe and quickly located the 2 Black Necked Grebes and a Spotted Redshank on Radar Pool.

We walked out to Higham Bight but failed to locate the Falcated Duck. 60+ Teal, 15 Gadwall and 12 Mallard were present along with 34 Dunlin, 26 Redshank, 2 Avocet and 32 Curlew.

I decided to seek a little respite from the cold, blustery wind by sheltering behind the river wall and I started scanning Alpha Pool. I picked up a drake Pintail and carried on until I saw the back end of a Great Northern Diver just as it plunged into the water. I called over the others and we eventually had good views of this young bird.

Our last stop was North Quarry where we had 40 Greater Black Backed Gulls along with a few argenteus Herrings and a female goldeneye.