November 2007 Sightings

Please email your sightings to Andy Lawson

If you live, or for that matter visit, any site in North or West Kent then I would be delighted to hear from you! Sightings would be appreciated from Sheppey in the North to Dartford & Tunbridge Wells to the West and then back to Maidstone in the East.

Motney Hill © Jamie Medford

Sunday 25th November Dartford

A presumed 3rd winter Caspian Gull was present this afternoon on Littlebrook for a short time.  The pics (below) demonstrate how different a bird can look in different images.  My pic makes the bird look long necked and long billed, ie, good for a Caspian, whilst Barry's pic gives the bird a shorter billed and less elongated head.  Still, the black tertial spots and the restricted streaking to the back of the head are good for 3rd winter Caspian and the tail had only a couple of black streaks unlike a similar aged Herring Gull. Unfortunately the gulls were flushed before we could study this bird in more detail.

At least 13 Yellow Legged Gulls were in the area today; 3 1stv winters, 2 2nd winters, 6 3rd winters and 2 adults.  Barry found a 1st winter Med gull on the New Diggings.

Four Wigeon new in on the New Diggings and the Kingfisher was again heard but not seen.

(Andrew Lawson)

presumed 3rd winter Caspian Gull - Andrew Lawson

presumed 3rd winter Caspian Gull - Barry Wright

Saturday 24th November Wouldham

Along the river this morning there were 2 Little Grebe, 3 Snipe and 3 Common Sandpiper, as well as an adult Mediterranean Gull amongst a flock of c250 Black-headed and Common Gulls drifting upstream on the incoming tide.  Also noted were single Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail, and 3 Stonechat on the adjacent marshes, whilst later in the day a Common Buzzard was seen over the downs to the west of the valley.

(Ian Shepherd)

Saturday 24th November Dartford

The 'flooded fields' adjacent to Bob Dun Way are flooded agan; hurrah!  This morning they were frozen; boo!  But the New Diggings held a few birds with the best of the bunch being a 2nd winter Caspian Gull that towered above the roosting Black Heads and half a dozen adult Leebs.  A Kingfisher was heard but not seen.

Littlebrook also had a few gulls that had congregated in a new flooded area of mud.  This bodes well for the rest of the winter.  2 2nd winter Yellow Legs and an adult Yellow Legged Gull were present.

Later in the afternoon 2 Gothic looking 1st winter Yellow Legged Gulls had replaced the birds seen in the morning and their white heads and black eye shadow made them look as if they were getting ready to go to a Nine Inch Nails gig.

Bluewater had two surprises: A male Wigeon looking out of place amongst the Mallards and a Water Rail braving life beyond the reeds and coming out onto the pool's manicured grass edges.

(Andrew Lawson)

2nd Winter Caspian Gull © Andrew Lawson

2nd winter and adult Yellow Legged Gulls © Andrew Lawson

Saturday 24th November Northfleet

Grey Wagtail seen Botany Marshes Northfleet on Friday, first one for me in this part of Kent

(David Payne)

Friday  23rd November   Grain  Sea  Front 

09.30  to 11.30 hrs.  &  13.20  to 15.20 hrs.   calm  at  dawn,  0/8  cloud,  inc.  to  NW4  during  morning.  From  midday,  N 3 - 4,  exc.  vis.   HT.  10.50 hrs.  4 oC. at  08.30 hrs.   In  what  was  supposed  to  have  been  the  mother  of  all  sea  watches  this  autumn,  the  forecast   N  5  did  not  happen  at  all.  (  not  for  the  first  time  ).  Nothing  happened  during  the  morning   &  a  few  sea  birds  were  seen  in  the  afternoon. The  calm  start  at  dawn  was  the  disaster.   Great  Crested  Grebe -   5,  inc.  4  nw.
    Little  Egret -  1  feeding  offshore  at  the  barge  wreck.
    Grey  Lag  Goose -   c.  30  flew  south  , noisily,  from  the  Deep  Pit  area.
    Brent  Goose -  52,  all  arrived  from  the  east  or  south  east.
    Shelduck -  1  nw.
    Mallard -  flock  12  sitting  offshore,  later  returned  to  Deep  Pit  area.
    Golden eye -  flock  8  flew  south  into  the  Medway,  mainly  imms.  &  females .
    Scoter -  5  in  flight  offshore.
    Kestrel -  1  f.  nw.
    Oystercatcher -  2 singles  arrived  from  ne.  during  morning.  Numerous  small  groups  flying  ne.
    towards  Foulness  were  an  ID.  pitfall.  c.  1500  feeding  along  tideline  pm.
    Lapwing -  flock  15  flew  se.  across  estuary.
    Dunlin -  12  flew  west  into  Thames  am.  Later  c.  300  Roas  at  ebb  tide.
    Knot -  3  Roas  ebb  tide,  feeding  at  barge  wreck.
    Sanderling -  2  south  am.  but  only  1  later.
    Bar  Tailed  Godwit -   1  red  m.  feeding  at  barge  wreck  ebb  tide.
    Herring  Gull -  711  flew  nw.
    LBB.  Gull -  4  flew  nw.
    GBB.  Gull -  3  flew  nw.
    Common  Gull -  17  flew  nw.
    Glaucous  Gull -  1  FW.  flew  nw.  almost  overhead,  at  14.05  hrs.
    Kittiwake -  23  west  into  Thames.
    Stonechat -  1  ad.  male  perched  on  brambles  next  to  us  at  concrete  blocks.
    Crow -  1  flew  north  across  estuary.   
    Usual  collection  of  noisy  motorbikes  this  afternoon,  roaring  all  over  the  sea  front.          Glaucous  Gull -  A  FW.  Glaucous  Gull  approached  from  along  the  sea  front  at  14.05  hrs.
    &  passed  almost  overhead  &  very  close.   It’s  long  black  tipped  pink  bill,  plain  facial 
    features  &  shallow  forehead  gave  a  predatory  expression.  Uniform  colouration  of  very  pale
    buffish - brown  plumage  with  unmarked  underwings  &  very  pale  primaries.  Long  pink  legs
    &  uniformly  pale  tail  feathers .  When  overhead,  very  broad  wings  at  secondaries  &  large body  size  were  obvious,  a  different  profile  to  any  of  the  other  gulls  seen  today.  There  were no dark tips or terminal bars to any part of the  plumage.

(Janet & Trevor Bowley)

Friday 23rd November Sheppey

Today, bright sunshine and a fierce northerly wind persuaded the Elmley Rough -legged Buzzard to fly high, largely hovering, for about an hour at mid-day. Earlier on, I saw it rob a Kestrel of small mammal (vole?) prey. A Merlin caught a sky-lark after a two minute chase, and exited south over the Swale pursued by two Marsh Harriers.
A pair of Peregrines had a long disagreement with four Marsh Harriers over the flood. The Grey Phalarope ignored all this and kept on spinning.

(Rob Clements)

Thursday 22nd November Sheppey

Leysdowne: top of tide on the beach Sanderling, Grey Plover, Turnstones, Ringed Plover, Oyster Catchers and as the tide fell Brent Geese came in some on the beach and some swimming, Harty, Great gathering of Fieldfare, only spotted 2 redwing, a Merlin flew in front of the car for about 300 yrds.

Elmley,the Grey Phalorope was showing well as was a SE Owl, also 2 Rough legged Buzzards seen from first hide, Curlew and several sightings of Marsh Harriers at close quarters, in all a great day out.
( Dave Jordan)

Wednesday 21st November Sheppey

The juvenile rough-legged buzzard was quite active from c 1.45pm this afternoon, mostly just north of the RSPB raptor watchpoint. It flew west mid afternoon and I last saw it flying SW in front of the prison. I didn't see the returning rough-leg while viewing from the sharp bend in the road from 3.45-4.20pm, but it was reported by others early afternoon. Also two ringtail hen harriers, three merlins, three common buzzards, two sparrowhawks, lots of marsh harriers but no owl species or peregrine. A female kestrel upstaged a nearby merlin by taking a starling which was feeding on the ground.
Green sand and bearded tits by the viewpoint.
(Sean Huggins)

Saturday 17th November Sheppey

A trip to the Isle of Sheppey produced one Rough-legged Buzzard, two Common Buzzard, Hen Harrier, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk and Barn Owl at Capel Fleet in the first couple of hours of light. After defrosting we visited Shellness where six Snow Buntings performed near the Blockhouse - also in that area were a couple of Corn Bunting, 32 Avocet and the usual waders, Rock Pipits and stuff, and at Elmley the Grey Phalarope showed extremely well, as did four Short-eared Owls in the last hour of proper light, Barn Owl and two Peregrine, 35 Black-wits, a few Little Egret, a Mole (being eaten by a Grey Heron) and a Kingfisher.

Despite looking through the flocks of Teal and Wigeon no American ducks were noted (the Green-winged Teal had the bad manners to be at Cliffe it seems).  Just three Pintail were noted.  

A rather wishful thinking trip to lower Halstow to attempt to see a Black Brant in the faded light produced just black.

(Andy Appleton)

Friday 16th November Haysden

32 Skylark flew west at 7.50am today.

(Andy Appleton)

Friday 16th November Elmley

Four short-eared owls provided a traditional finale to an enjoyable day at Elmley RSPB today, a distinct improvement on last year's poor showing by that species. Earlier, from Spitend hide, there were two hen harriers, a slightly blotchy grey male and a ringtail (a different bird to the one I've seen on Sheppey over the past two weeks); a common buzzard hovering just like a rough-leg; a male merlin attacking a starling flock and many marsh harriers. Strangely I didn't see peregrine though I didn't visit Southfleet hide, where I saw three last week.
The grey phalarope was still present, spinning dementedly in a ditch not far from Swale hide.
(Sean Huggins)

Friday 16th November Elmley

As a fairly regular (though less than competent ) visitor to Elmley, I ventured out on a frosty morning to see:
4 Short eared Owls in a group wafted off the sea wall, just past the benches, a welcome return to the numbers of past years.
A few hundred yards further on, a Grey Phalarope spun round and round like a discarded children's toy in a small gap in the ice, seemingly oblivious to my presence thirty feet away.
Not much else, though yesterday (Thursday) I saw three Hen Harriers (1 male) and 4 Whooper Swans flying over.

(Rob Clements)

Friday 16th November East Malling

Red Kite drifting high W-NW over the East Malling Research Station site (TQ717572) at 12:45.
(Adam Whitehouse)

Thursday 15th November Kingfisher  Lakes,  Hoo  Marsh,  North  Medway

     10.00  to  14.00 hrs.   N1  or  calm,  3/8  cloud,  4 oC. at  09.30 hrs.  HT.  15.30 hrs.
     What  an  excellent  day,  very  cold  start,  but  when  the  sun  shone, unbelievable.
     Another  effort  for  the  WEBS,  &  hopefully  the  BTO  Atlas  project    Great  Crested  Grebe -  1  KL.  10  NM.
    Little  Grebe -   8,  inc.  4  KL,  2  HM,  2  in  reedy  fleets  to  sw.
    Little  Egret -  6,  inc.  2  KL,  2  HM,  2  in  reeds/fields  to  sw.
    Heron -  1  KL.
    Cormorant -  1  KL,  11  on  island,  NM,  LT.
    Mute  Swan -  2  HM. 
    Canada  Goose -  60  HM.
    Grey  Lag  Goose -  5  HM.
    Brent  Goose -  735  on  winter  wheat  near  sw.  corner.
    Shelduck -  83  NM.
    Mallard -  8  KL.
    Wigeon -   440  NM.
    Tufted  Duck -  6  KL.
    Water  Rail -  1  KL.
    Pheasant -  4.
    Moorhen -  92,  inc.  90  KL.
    Coot -  39  KL.
    Marsh  Harrier -  1  imm.  from  Medway,  flew  north  over  HM.
    Oystercatcher -  122  NM.  at  LT.
    Avocet -  2  NM.  at  LT.
    Lapwing -  205  in  cultivated  fields  to  nw.  of  KL.  Later  KL.  &  NM.
    Golden  Plover -  4,  with  Lapwing.
    Grey  Plover -  27  NM.  at  LT.
    Snipe -  5  KL.
    Dunlin -  170  NM.  at  LT.
    Redshank -  64  NM.  at  LT.
    Black  Tailed  Godwit -  6  KL.
    Curlew -  42  NM.  at  LT.
    Kingfisher -  1  KL.
    Meadow  Pipit -  40,  inc.  20  in  ploughed  field,  10  KL,  10  NM.
    Pied  Wagtail -  4  in  ploughed  field.
    Grey  Wagtail -  1  on  roof  of  stable  next  to  KL.
    Swallow -  1  over  horse field  &  KL.  Flew  east.
    Green  Woodpecker -  3.
    Stonechat -  6,  inc.  1 ad. F. in  hedge  to  north  of  KL.  1  ad.  M.  near  pillbox  area  to  sw. 1 ad. F. near reeds to sw. 1 pr. & 1 F.HM.

Dartford  Warbler - 1f. or imm. along sea wall  ditch to se. of broccoli field. Perched  on brambles & dog rose shrubs in full view, continually fidgeting with long black tail  upright. Disappeared into edge of broccoli field after c. 5minutes, seen at 11.30 hrs. After we had counted the Brent, we returned & the DW. was seen moving along the shrubs in  the  middle of HM. &  eventually into a reed bed. Clearly not settled & not patronising a Stonechat.  We assumed  it  to  be  a  recent  arrival.
Probably  our  most  successful  visit  to  this  area.

(Janet & Trevor Bowley)

Thursday 15th November Yantlett

Small flock of Snow Buntings on the shore, (a first for me) and a Merlin sitting in a field near the Water Tower at AllHallows
(David Payne)

Thursday 15th November Sheppey

The two rough-legged buzzards were still in the Capel Fleet area of Sheppey today, the returning adult by the prison at c10.30am and a juvenile between the RSPB raptor watchpoint and Muswell Manor, on the ground eating prey, from 11.40am. Also three common buzzards, merlin, and a Cetti's warbler by the raptor watchpoint.
At Shellness spit this afternoon, close views of five snow buntings at the seaward end of the permissive path, and 24 common scoter flew in and out of the Swale.
(Sean Huggins)

Thursday 15th  November Swale NNR, Sheppey

I had a high flying Whooper Swan come over the Swale NNR early this morning, going N to S.
I wouldn't of noticed that if it hadn't been calling constantly.
(Derek Faulkner)

Wednesday 14th November Sheppey

A northerly wind, colder but not too cold, got us out to Shellness again for a very pleasant morning.
A cool N wind produced no large numbers of birds but a reasonable variety. There was more vis. mig. than of late, mostly Starlings -1200, Dunlins -100 and Skylarks 70. With one small party of Larks was a Lapland Bunting and 2 Short-eared Owls came in off the sea.
Quite a variety of ducks moving including Pintails, Scoters, 2 Velvet Scoters, a Pochard, 3 Goldeneyes, 8 Mergansers, a drake Eider and an adult male L. T. Duck which very obligingly settled on the sea in front of us.
Not too many seabirds but they included 50-60 Kittiwakes, 3 adult Little Gulls, 6-8 Little Auks and 6 Pomarine Skuas including an adult dark phase.
(Dick Elvy et al)

Wednesday 14th November Allhalows sea front to Yantlet estuary

09.30 to 13.30 hrs.  0/8 to 2/8 cloud,  NNW 3 to N 3,  6 oC. at 08.15 hrs. HT.  14.45 hrs.  I put in a lot of effort with the Gulls today, the flocks were much larger than in recent days, but nothing unusual this time.  A few days late with the WEBS count.  Great Crested Grebe -  1 w.   Little Egret -  6 at H/L. at LT.  Later 15 in Y. est & Y. creek.   Cormorant -  6 Y. est.   Brent Goose -  276,  inc. 202 A/H. sea fromt,  also  21 e.  later  26 w. upriver &  27 from Roas to Yb.          Grey Lag Goose -  40 from Gm. flew sw.   Mute Swan -  2 over Gm.   Shelduck -  187, inc. 177 Yb. & 10 w. in 2 groups.    Wigeon -  6 w.   Teal -  c. 100 over Gm.    Scoter -  4 w.   Moorhen -  10 at chalet pond.   Oystercatcher -  708 Yb.   Avocet -  1 Yb. to Y. creek.   Ringed Plover -  50 Yb.   Grey Plover -  35 Yb.   Golden Plover -  146 A/H. sea front shingle.   Sanderling -  3 Yb.   Dunlin -  1200 Yb.   Knot -  400 Yb.   Redshank -  142 Yb. to Y. creek.   Black Tailed Godwit -  54 H/L. at LT. to Y. s/m.    Curlew -  223 Yb.   Turnstone -  40 Yb.   Little Auk -  1 w. at 11.35 hrs. but only as far as Y. est.      Kittiwake -  20 w. in 4 groups.   Common Gull -  45 w.   LBB. Gull -  11 w.   Herring Gull -  990 w.   Stonechat -  2 prs. inc. 1pr. to sw. of stones & 1 pr. to west, along fleet.   Rock Pipit -  3 sea wall near Yantlet.   Snow Bunting -  4 on sea wall near Yantlet   Reed Bunting -  1 ad. m. along sea wall fleet on bramble.   Long Tailed Tit -   9 in Amelanchier in front garden

(Janet & Trevor Bowley)

Wednesday 14th November Sheppey

There's also a flock of 14-16 Snow Buntings along the beach between Leysdown and Shellness, Sheppey. They seemed to be around a lot of the day, so probably aren't the same flock.
(Derek Faulkner)

Tuesday 13th November Haysden

A Buzzard was just to the south of Haysden on the way to work today.

(Andy Appleton)

Monday 12th November Leybourne Lakes Country Park (New Hythe)

I made one of my daily visits to Leybourne Lakes Country Park at sunset in the hopes of seeing a bittern.  I was rewarded with a good sight of a bittern settling to roost in the reedbed at the southeastern corner of the lake numbered 9 on the map ('Streamside').  The reedbed was still clearly visible at around 4.30pm as it had been such a bright day.  The bittern flew up from within the reeds at about 4.35, and landed back a few yards away.  It moved around a while, then fluttered up and finally settled and climbed up some reeds so we got a really clear view until about 4.45, when the light failed.  

(Catherine Eden-Green. Volunteer Ranger at Leybourne Lakes Country Park)

Monday 12th November Sheppey

A Purple Sandpiper was with Turnstones c.100 metres north of the Beach Cafe at Leysdown. A Rough-legged Buzzard appeared at dusk hunting just west of the Capel Fleet Raptor Watchpoint then landing on the Marshes to the north. Also in the area a ring-tailed Hen Harrier, Peregrine, c20 Marsh Harriers and a Barn Owl.   The single Snow Bunting was reported from Shell Ness, near the Pill Box, then later by the hamlet.

(Jan Wilczur)

Monday 12th November Lower Halstow & Funton Creek

9 Bewick's Swans flew to the west over my house (Lower Halstow) just before dusk today. Yesterday in Stangate Creek (just north of Funton): 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Velvet Scoter and 1 Pomarine Skua plus usual geese, ducks and waders.
(Derek Tutt)

Sunday 11th November Sheppey

There was a Purple Sandpiper on Leysdown Beach at the coastal park feeding with 2 Turnstone. 7 Snow bunting were feeding along the sea wall near the Beach Cafe. 3 Stonechat were seen beside the road towards Shellness.

I managed to get to the blockhouse on Shellness Beach before the very high tide reached its peak. The tide was so high that it cut across the beach cutting 3 other birders and myself off, making a return impossible until it receded again. A Great Crested Grebe & 48 Brent Geese were on the flooded saltings behind the beach. There was also an additional Snow Bunting on the beach by the blockhouse. Good visibility and high winds proved ideal for a couple of hours sea watching. A pair of Common Scoters flew North over the Swale. A Guillemot swam south past us just off the beach, took off and flew over the point flying up the Swale towards Harty. An immature Gannet was seen flying north. A male Velvet Scoter flew up the Swale with two smaller ducks (too far out to identify) then turned around and headed back out to sea. 4 Kittiwake flew up the Swale. A Little Auk also flew in and dropped onto the sea just off the beach & a second bird was seen flying by a little later. By this time the tide had gone down enough to allow a dry exit from the beach. As I left about half hour later another 2 Little Auk joined the one on the water and they began to swim up the Swale together.

(Gavin Coultrip)

Sunday 11th November Funton Creek & Sheppey

I aimed to get to Shellness, but took a detour to Funton Creek en route to see what was probing around on the rising tide - glad I did as within 5 minutes of arriving a juv Pom Skua appeared in the creek and basically sped around scaring anything sitting on the water, before flying back out into the Medway and west! A bit of a bonus bird at Funton.

The reports of Little Auk were predominantly coming from Warden Point, not Shellness, so I decided to go there first. An hour later, and with only a transient Kittiwake for company, I called it quits and drove down to Warden Bay. Why Warden Bay I'm not sure - I thought there might be the possibility of Snow Buntings on the beach, but again was unexpectedly rewarded by a Little Auk on the sea just north of the beach. 20 minutes later a second flew in off the sea, over the beach and seawall and straight down the road (Beach Approach)! Where was he going? Well he never came back so I guess he either cut the corner and went back out to sea or collapsed in a nearby caravan park. Did manage to get a glimpse of the Leach's Petrel in the Swale, in falling light and through someone else's scope, but there all the same.

(Adam Whitehouse)

Sunday 11th November Cooling

A watch from Cooling today with Jonathan Martin, following our WeBS count, produced the following heading W upriver - thanks to the predicted NNW wind from mid-day:-
Little Auk 1
Pom Skua 1juv
Kittiwake 44
R/B Merganser 2
Com Scoter 6
Wigeon 65
Brents 13
R/T Diver 3
Not as productive as points further E but a lot more productive than a very poor wildfowl count!
(Murray Orchard)

Sunday  11th November Grain sea front

09.50 to 16.00 hrs.  W4 early after a windy night.  clearance to NW4, then showers during morning.    From  12.00 hrs.  fine & sunny, NNW  3 - 4,  HT.  13.10 hrs.  12 oC. at 09.00 hrs. 8/8 cloud, dull early, clearing later.  am.  mild, becoming colder pm.  Dull with poor offshore vis. during showers, exc. pm.   

Great Crested Grebe -  1 swimming offshore,  1 flew nw. Black Throated Diver -  1 adult flew west into the Thames with  2 adult Red  Throated Divers. Initially     this group was seen high in the sky over the Wind Turbines, then forgotten about. Some ten minutes later they flew into the Thames.  Great Northern Diver -  1 flew nw. into the Thames, high in the sky. An adult in SP. even the white neck ring could be seen in exc. sunlight. Red Throated Diver -  3, all nw. into the Thames in sunlight, very grey upperparts. Little Egret -  4, one of which flew north to Essex.  Later 2 nw. on the ebb tide. Brent Goose -  47, inc. 34 nw. & 13  sw. Shelduck -  33 all as migrant groups arriving from the east. 15 flew sw. into the Medway,  18 flew nw. Amazingly one group of  5 arriving from the ne. was joined by a single from the se. the group of  6 then flew into the Medway. Mallard - 2 flew nw. from some distance, migrants ?  Also  9 offshore from Clubbs. Wigeon -  1 offshore with Mallard.    Gadwall -  18 offshore. Goldeneye -  1 juv. nw. into Thames. Red Breasted Merganser -  3,  all ff.  nw. Scoter -  c. 207,  inc. flock of 45 offshore, also c. 150 in flight at distance to the east. Also groups of    1 & 7 offshore &  4 flew nw. Lapwing -  2 nw. Sanderling -  14 nw. to roost on the rising tide am.    Waders -  small numbers nw. offshore during HT. period. 2 Ringed Plover, 1 Curlew, 2 Dunlin, 1 Knot, 2 Grey Plover &  6 Oystercatchers. Difficult to classify as migrants since no obvious pattern noted. Kittiwake -  74, inc. flocks of 10 & 16, &  14 x  1 - 8. Med. Gull -  1 2nd. CY. adult nw. Herring Gull- As yesterday, continuous movement to the nw. of this species, today with far more GBB. Gulls than in previous days, probably due to several days of strong winds. However flocks were usually small, rarely more than 10 to 15, so may not have involved more than 400 or so all day.    Pomarine Skua -  3 imms,  all very close, flew nw.   At 12.20 hrs.  a small red fishing vessel, the MV.  "Linda Louise"  chugged south from the Thames into the Medway, close offshore. besieged by dozens   of GBB. & Herring Gulls, &  5 Kittiwakes,  2 imm. Poms. arrived  to investigate. Fish scraps were being   thrown overboard.  Later  the third imm. flew nw. at 14.30 hrs.   Little Auk -  3, all nw,  1 at 11.10 hrs.  1 at 15.05 hrs. & 1 at 15.10 hrs.  The two in the afternoon were   very close, juveniles, without the white trailing edge to the secondaries. The white side of the neck into the   nape & the narrow black bar at the shoulder were obvious.   Arctic Tern -  1 juv. arrived from the east at 16.00 hrs.. Seen well close offshore over the tideline as it flew   nw. Very delicate flight, all black crown & thin black bill.  Distinct white secondaries. Obviously a Sunday   only appearance.   Grey Wagtail -  1 feeding at concrete blocks in front of us, flew to the south along the promenade.   Jay -  1 flew across Grain road at Thamesport area.     The close views of so many species offshore at Grain sea front makes this effort well worth while,   especially with a good telescope & an enthusiastic & very observant wife to help.                                    

(Janet & Trevor Bowley)    

Saturday 10th November Crossness - Erith Marshes
 
Managed the morning on my local patch, very overcast with strong blustery winds, I arrived just before high tide. Lots of waders about on the river; large number of redshank, lapwing and dunlin, black-tailed godwits (c12), bar-tailed godwit, snipe (2), curlew. Wildfowl; teal (>100), shoveller (c12), shelduck (8), mallard, also; great crested grebe, blackheaded gull, lesser black backed gull, greater black backed gull, cormorant, moorhen and the ever-present starlings. It was very quiet on the marshes with just the usual on show; dunnock, blue tit, great tit, goldfinch, greenfinch, chaffinch, blackbird, woodpigeon, teal, mallard, mute swan, moorhen, carrion crow, magpi and kestrel.
(P. Grin)

Saturday 10th November Elmley Marshes RSPB

Started out from Kings Ferry Bridge at dawn. The walk along the sea wall towards Kings Hill Farm produced 3 Great Crested & 4 Little Grebes on the Swale, 5 Stonechat, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrel, a pair of Bearded Tits and a Green Sandpiper.

Birds of note around the farm consisted of a Barn Owl, around 70 Fieldfare and a few Redwing. The high tide had pushed 61 Ringed Plover onto the grazing marsh near the farm to roost along side good numbers of Lapwing & Golden Plover. On the flood there were 9 Pintail & 2 Shoveler amongst the Wigeon, Teal & Shelduck. Another pair of Kestrel & 3 Marsh Harrier were also hunting in the area. At around 12.30 a Peregrine flew north across the flood putting up around 100 Shelduck and a few waders. It landed on the ground to the north-east of the Counter Wall Hide providing fantastic views as it preened.
There was a Grey Phalarope feeding on the water at the sea wall end of Elmley Fleet. I was able to watch the bird at a range of about 20 feet for about half hour before I moved on just after 3pm.

The walk out to Spitend produced little of note other than another pair of Stonechat (making the total for the day 8 birds) & a female Hen Harrier was seen over the marshes on the north side of Windmill Creek.

(Gavin Coultrip)

Friday 9th November Sheppey

When I arrived at Leysdown about an hour after low tide it was apparent that the tide hadn't gone out far,no mud was exposed [should have been a half mile or so] so the waders are probably rather hungry now ! At Shellness we had to evacuate the usual sea-watch spot 2 hours before high tide.
The wind was as forecast Force 6 NW but unfortunately no further N than that. We did see some Skuas ,18 Pomarine [4 adults], 2 Arctic and 1 Great-most of the Poms before 10 30. Not too much else but eventually a Liitle Auk turned up. Other birds included 12 Gannets [the most Ihave seen for sometime], c70 Kittiwakes [ditto], a Velvet Scoter which spent most of the afternoon feeding offshore, 4 Snow Buntings in/off and later 6 along the beach, 50 Sanderling and a Hen Harrier over the fields.
(Dick Elvy)

Wednesday 7th November Sheppey

Spent the morning trying to find Lapland bunting at Shellness with no luck. Plenty of waders to watch at high tide including a most unexpected but very confiding Purple Sandpiper along the creek at the west end of the wader roost. Also of note a Peregrine on a post.

Afternoon at Capel Fleet - 2 Rough Legged Buzzards, Common Buzzard, Merlin, Barn Owl and Marsh Harriers everywhere. Also at least 20 Corn Buntings.

(Chris Fox)

Monday 5th November Haysden

Siskin, Fieldfare, Grey Wagtail, Kingfisher (heard only) and just three Tufted Duck were at Hawden this morning.

(Andy Appleton)

Saturday 3rd November Haysden

Three drake Pochard, 12 Great-crested Grebe, one Meadow Pipit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper and the usual bits and pieces.

(Andy Appleton)

Sunday 4th November Grain

Seawatching from Grain this morning from 08.15 - 12.00 (with Jonathan Martin and Trevor & Janet Bowley) produced:-
Pom Skuas 14 W
[3 juvs 09.08; 4 (1ad 3juv) 09.45; 4 (3ad 1 juv) 10.20 & 3 (1ad 2 juv) 10.30]
Bonxie 1 W
Gannet 15 W (but all turned back E before reaching Grain)
Kittiwake 87 W
Arctic Tern 1-2 juvs offshore
Com Scoter 422 W (of which 90 landed on sea just offshore)
Pintail 13 E
Shoveler 22 W (mixed with 15 Scoter)
Brents 51 W
Diver 1 E (prob RT)
.....but no Little Auk!
(Murray Orchard)

Saturday 3rd November Grain

03/11/2007,  Grain areas, inc. Roas,  Clubbs area,  Deep Pit,  Grain marsh.   13.00 to 15.30 hrs.  2/8 to 8/8 cloud,  fine, becoming dull.  15 oC. at 12.30 hrs.  NW 1 to calm.    

Great Crested Grebe -  1 near tideline, Roas.   Little Grebe -  8 DP.   Little Egret -  5 Roas, ne. corner.   Brent Goose -  34 Roas, also 5 south.   Mute Swan -  2 DP.   Wigeon -  2 tideline, Roas, with ---   Gadwall -  6 tideline, also 9 DP.   Scoter -  flock of 30 nw. along tideline, Roas.   Tufted -  1 f. DP.   Moorhen -  8 DP.   Coot -  6 DP.   Pheasant -  1 ad. m. among sand "dunes" at Clubbs area.   Merlin -  1 on sea wall near Whitehall beach.   Oystercatcher -  1408 Roas.   Grey Plover -  25 Roas.   Knot -  240 Roas.   Black Tailed Godwit -  138 in two flocks, Roas.   Curlew -  147 Roas.   Arctic Skua -  1 LP. west offshore.   Pomarine Skua -  1 imm. west offshore.   Long Tailed Tit -  4 at Clubbs area, nearest to CP.   Dartford Warbler -  1 ad. m. on brambles to east of DP.   Stonechat -  1 pr. with DW, also 1 ad. m. at rough grass field to west of DP.   Redwing -  3 on brambles to east of DP.        

Dartford Warbler  -  Janet drew my attention to a Stonechat on a close bramble. We were sitting at the northern end of the cliff alongside Clubbs, with our backs to the "dunes."  I checked the nearest & smallest bramble alongside the multirow of concrete bollards to see a  f. Stonechat at the top, & within seconds a dark grey shadow from the depths of the shrub emerged alongside the Stonechat to reveal an adult male Dartford warbler, showing a long cocked tail, dark grey slate upperparts & dull red below. The trio moved away towards the MOD. fence & remained on the brambles in that area. This was from 14.30 hrs. We moved on to the DP. & MOD. fence to the west, some distance from the birds. I suspect the DW. was following the ad. f. Stonechat, although of course both m. &  f. were often close   to each other on a single bramble, with the DW. nearby. The DW. frequently perched on top of a shrub in full view.

(Trevor & Janet Bowley)

Friday 2nd November Sheppey

This week I have mainly been watching Rough-legged Buzzards. I'm still not sure how many are present at the moment. There are certainly three, and may be four, with birds seen regularly over the farmland to the north of the counterwall from the hides at Elmley. The adult female remains in her regular place to the east of the prison, while the other birds (all juveniles) are spread out over two miles to the west from Great Bells farm to Grove Farm. The adult male Hen Harrier is still present, while Merlin numbers have reached the usual winter maximum (perhaps 10-12 birds) on Sheppey.

(Rob Clements)

Thursday 1st November Cliffe RSPB

3 Yellowhammers at Cliffe by Radar pool on 1st. Large numbers of Pochard, Lapwing and some Shovelar, no other ducks seen today

(David Payne)