Big Sits 2005

A Big Sit can provide an additional challenge to the year’s events, or maybe two, if you try it in both spring and autumn. The key here is selecting a spot that gives you the best view of the surrounding countryside and is maybe close to a key species or two. From the favoured spot on this patch it is possible to view the fish farm some two kilometres to the south, where a number of species that only occur infrequently on the patch may be seen – using a high magnification lens on the telescope! This is a relatively new event here and the peak totals to date are 52 on 19th May 2004 and 49 on 30th September 2003.

For those not familiar with this activity, the idea is to see or hear as many species as possible from within a five-metre diameter circle.

May 26th

It is mild, with a light southerly breeze, as I settle in my Big Sit circle at 3.45am and a Peacock competes with a Tawny Owl to be the first species heard. The nearly full moon to the south is partially obscured by high cloud, but I'm facing north initially, to have a good view of the barn. The first Cuckoo calls but the croaking of Marsh Frogs from the fish farm by the River Beult dominates the pre-dawn sounds, as the Tawny Owl continues to hoot. Just before 4am a Moorhen calls and the first phrases of Song Thrush and Blackbird song introduce the dawn chorus. A few minutes later a female Cuckoo 'bubbles', a Robin sings and a Pheasant calls, as I wait anxiously for the appearance of a Barn Owl. The calls of Canada Geese drift over from the Deer Park and I note the presence of a Carrion Crow as one 'caws'. I want to face south but I must concentrate and await the arrival of a Barn Owl (number 10 at 4.20am) and one does, flying into the barn just as I make this note - a great start - though the calls of a Little Owl would make a most welcome owl threesome.

A Green Woodpecker 'yaffles' and both Wren and Blackcap sing from the barn dell. By 4.30am I can see a drake Mallard swimming on the reservoir and a Magpie calls from the dell. A hint of red glows on the high clouds to the east and three Jackdaws call as they fly towards the Deer Park. A Woodpigeon 'coos' and I'm pleasantly surprised to see two drake and a duck Tufted Duck on the reservoir, which they've only been visiting infrequently, and an adult Coot is also visible. A Swallow (number 20 at 4.48am) flies behind me and I learn later that a pair has been visiting the old caravan parked near the barn. I'm scanning the area to the south and straining my failing hearing to separate new calls and songs, as the volume of the dawn chorus increases. A Rook calls, as it flies S to join the feeding flock on a recently drilled field, and a Stock Dove 'coos'. A Chaffinch adds its voice to the chorus but I'm concerned that I've not yet heard the third owl, but I look to my right and a Little Owl is perched on a power-line pole, staring at the ground, not more than 50 metres distant. A little before 5am the first of a number of Herring Gulls flies NE and the 'purring' of a Turtle Dove is another welcome sound, as few have been seen so far this spring. A Dunnock appears in the 'rarity' hedge and I think I hear a call of a Bullfinch, but I can't be sure and it doesn't call again.

An adult Kestrel flies low over the orchard, followed a few minutes later by a Starling and I can see a Mistle Thrush (number 30 at 5.23) perched and preening on a power-line. I can hear a second Turtle Dove 'purring', when I become aware of a bird alighting in the large Ash in the 'rarity' hedge. I can just make out a male Sparrowhawk amongst the tangle of branches and it flies further W to the top of a Beech in the Deer Park, where I enjoy good telescope views of it - the only sighting of the day. Three Collared Doves call as they fly around overhead. I'm feeling cooler, as the southwesterly wind increases and I'm looking forward to feeling warmth from the sun. I can see four Black-headed Gulls flying above the fishponds some two-and-a-half kilometres to the south, which I'll be scanning throughout the day for additional species. Our GC Grebes haven't returned this spring and I'm aware that three pairs are nesting there. Beams of sunlight are now improving the distant visibility and I'll start scanning in earnest shortly. Meanwhile, I see a cock House Sparrow on a power-line near Spindlewood, five or more Swifts circle in the sky above, a Greenfinch alights on one of the power-line poles and a Jay flies east to west over the reservoir. Just after 6am a lone adult Cormorant flies high N, a Common Whitethroat calls and again I think I hear a Bullfinch calling, but there is no confirmation.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker calls as it flies over the orchard below me (number 40 at 6.23am, which compares with 6.15 in 2003 and 7.15 in 2004, when 50 and 52 species were recorded respectively). I can see a Grey Heron , as I scan the fishponds and a Mute Swan swims into view, a few Tufted Duck are visible but there is no sign of Great Crested Grebe or Greylag Goose. A BH Gull flies over the reservoir, as the first fisherman arrives at 6.45am. The local nesting pair of Kestrels appears to be playing together, flying into the oaks and over the orchard, as I enjoy breakfast around 7am. The local Common Whitethroat sings and offers hope that other warblers may do likewise, particularly the Chiffchaff, which is nesting close by. A Blue Tit appears at last and works its way along the 'rarity' hedge, from which I think I hear a snatch of Lesser Whitethroat song, but that's all. That species and Garden Warbler have been present recently along this hedge. Through the telescope I see a cock Yellowhammer perched on a power-line, within its territory by the reservoir, but nonetheless a pleasing addition. I wonder whether it might be possible to see Goldfinch and Spotted Flycatcher, within their territories on the other side of the reservoir, but by the end of the day neither was seen. A lone Long-tailed Tit (number 45 at 7.33am) flies east to west in front of me - another welcome sight as none had been seen during recent visits. By 8am, it is pleasingly warm, with a light southwesterly breeze and I take a few scenic photographs, with which to eventually illustrate this article. I'm enjoying watching a pair of Turtle Doves displaying in the nearby Ash - probably new arrivals - but I don't, for whatever reason, include Feral Pigeons in my local patch studies, so the two that fly by aren't noted.

Over an hour passes before the next species, a Lesser Black-backed Gull circles over the fish ponds and heads N. I can see that the reservoir Coot pair still have two young, as I hear the welcome call of a Linnet as it flies over - only one pair is know to be nesting. I can see a Black Swan on the fishponds, but still no grebe or goose. A Great Tit eventually puts in an appearance and Laura Page, from Spindlewood appears with a welcome cup of tea at 9.30am, but her cheeky dog, Charlie, pinches one of my lunch rolls from my bag and it is impossible to retrieve it! Laura kindly produces a replacement. A little later, a pair of Linnets feeds along the edge of the young orchard immediately in front of me, and a tiny, black and yellow patterned Propylea ladybird alights on my thumb as I write. Just before 10am, I enjoy another cup of tea, from Zika and scan the sky between swigs. As I scan, a Hobby appears in my binocular vision and I switch to my telescope for a few seconds, before it drops down out of sight amongst the oaks south of the Deer Park. With continual scanning of the fishponds I'm at last rewarded with the sight of a pair of Greylag Geese (number 50 at 1023am - the earliest by nearly two hours) and their progeny. I'm a little puzzled by the fleeting glimpses I'm getting of small, warbler-like birds, that keep flitting through the wooded dell carrying food. They ought to be Chiffchaffs, as there is a pair holding territory in this area, but I haven't heard any song or calls as yet. A quick check above the dell confirms that that's what they are and a short snatch of song is also heard, so Chiffchaff is added to the list at 11am.

I keep searching the most likely areas for the four or five species that it ought to be possible to add - GC Grebe, House Martin, Pied Wagtail, Goldfinch and Bullfinch, while a snatch of song from either Lesser Whitethroat or Garden Warbler might just be heard in the early evening. I carefully scan through the small groups of Swifts, constantly check the fishponds, the rarity hedge and the wooded dell, as well as that part of the reservoir bank where the Pied Wagtails had their brood a few days earlier. Around 11.30am, as I raise my binoculars counting a thermal of Jackdaws, I find a pair of Hobbies that continue to thermal higher and higher, the slimmer male occasionally dive-bombing the female, as they disappear against the sun - not new for the day, but a splendid sight. Ten minutes later they reappear, circling and drifting high SW. The duck Mallard at the reservoir still has her brood of seven ducklings and at 12.30pm a flock of some 80 Rooks and 30 Jackdaws rises up but I can't see associated raptors on this occasion. Another Jay moves along the rarity hedge, but no new species are being found and I enjoy my lunch around 1pm.

At 2.08pm I pick up four House Martins , flying N, to equal the previous year's total of 52. Surely I can find at least one more to set a new challenge for future years. I think I deserve a reward, possibly a Buzzard, or even a Red Kite. A male Greenfinch puts on a fine display, though his mate doesn't seem that impressed. Bob appears at 3.15pm, interested in my progress and picks up a distant Hobby as he scans the sky to the south and the GS Woodpecker puts in a third appearance, as Bob does a short circuit looking particularly for dragonflies. He manages to find the first Blue-tailed Damselfly of the season but sees no bird species not already on my list. Just after 4.30pm the pair of Linnets reappears and still scanning at 5.45pm I see four Greylag Geese circling low over the fishponds before alighting. Shortly before 6pm a handful of Swifts and four House Martins fly overhead, as I continue to search the dell for a Bullfinch - Duncan might have glimpsed one, while I was chatting with Brian and Olive, the former owners of Spindlewood, who were making a fleeting visit! It is 6.20pm now and I glimpse what looks like a Pied Wagtail but it disappears behind trees and I cannot relocate it. A Turtle Dove 'purrs' again and at 6.35pm, a Hobby appears from the N and suddenly plunges like a stone into the oaks again, rapidly disappearing out of sight. A pair of Tufted Duck returns to the reservoir, where another BH Gull circles over and after 7pm both Blackcap and Common Whitethroat sing - will it encourage other warblers to do so? - I live in hope. The wind has dropped and it is a beautiful evening, surely a Bullfinch will call or fly within view. A pair of Yellowhammers return to the same power-line and there is undoubtedly renewed activity. One of the Chiffchaffs perches on a power-line, but I decide to call it a day at 7.45pm, after a 16-hour watch, a little disappointed that not one new species was added in the last six hours. The following morning, ironically, a pair of Ruddy Duck visited the reservoir - the 187th species for the patch!

September 26th

At 5.10am I'm sitting comfortably on top of a stack of straw bales, which provides an excellent view across the Weald, with just pockets of mist. It is a beautifully still, starry night, with light from a sliver of moon, as a Tawny Owl hoots; and at 12 o C it is pleasantly mild. I'm sitting facing the barn in the hope that I'll see a Barn Owl fly in or out before dawn breaks. A second Tawny Owl hoots, but the call from a Magpie , so early at 5.25am, surprises me, but calls from a Moorhen and a Little Owl from the Deer Park are as expected. It's not yet 5.30am but there is considerable traffic noise from the Staplehurst road. Dense fog is suddenly rolling up the hillside and it's feeling colder, as a Barn Owl screeches at 5.35am. I'm feeling happy with hearing the three owls but a little concerned about the fog. A third Tawny Owl hoots.

Gatwick bound aircraft produce an unwelcome sound, as the sky begins to lighten just before 6am, when the first Carrion Crow calls. A distant Mallard quacks at 6.02am and a short while later I don't recognise an owl-like sound with a picka-picka-pic rhythm, but three Little Owls call, along with both male and female Tawny Owls. The first Robin sings and a Blackbird calls, as what sounds like a ferocious argument from the direction of the badger sett reaches my ears. A Wren sings - number 10 at 6.20 - when it is sufficiently light to write without torchlight. I note the last hoot from a Tawny Owl at 6.24, as the fog drops off the ridge and the light improves. A Woodpigeon perches in the barn dell oak as a Pheasant calls and a loose flock of 28 Jackdaws flies into the Deer Park. I can see the reservoir clearly now and just a low bank of cloud lies over the Weald. A Green Woodpecker yaffles at 6.41 and a Blue Tit calls, a GS Woodpecker also calls and a Grey Heron flies along the Greensand Ridge. A Rook calls as it flies to the disked field south of the reservoir, a Mistle Thrush alights on a nearby power line and a Great Tit appears in the adjacent hawthorn - number 20 at 6.54am. A Jay calls and a noisy flock of nine Canada Geese flies S. Two Dunnocks fly from the top of the hawthorn, as the sun appears and I feel the need for some breakfast. Jays and Magpies call raucously and chase a male Sparrowhawk , which alights in the barn dell oak for a few seconds - a welcome breakfast bonus.

Islands of trees break through the blanket of mist as five Starlings fly over and a hen or juvenile male Blackcap appears in the top of the hawthorn - another welcome bonus - and a Nuthatch calls. For the second time, the mist clears from the reservoir and a Coot swims into view at just after 8am. The first of the late-rising fraternity of finches is noted at 8.07am, when five Goldfinches alight on the nearby power-line. Two BH Gulls - number 30 at 8.18am - fly S and a few minutes later two Song Thrushes and three Swallows fly over the ridge, followed by a lone Chaffinch at 8.25am. Two more BH Gulls visit the reservoir but glimpsing a Kingfisher there is going to be most fortuitous - was it one that streaked behind a tree all too quickly? Four Linnets fly past, as I chat with Duncan Priestley, another male Sparrowhawk flies over and a few minutes later the first Kestrel and then a real bonus, as seven Skylarks fly W along the ridge at 8.57am - the first sighting this month. A Stock Dove flies into the Deer Park, as Duncan hears calls from a possible Meadow Pipit and a wagtail - neither of which can I hear and he also adds Goldcrest! Fortunately the Goldcrest sings - out of my hearing - but it flies passed us into the large ash in the rarity hedge.

By 9.15am the mist has virtually dispersed and I'm beginning to scan the fishponds, some 2 kms to the south, with my 60x lens to hand. Two Little Grebes appear - the first for an autumn Big Sit, on the pool where I'd seen them the previous evening and a pair of Mute Swans swims into view - number 40 at 9.24am, three hours earlier than in 2004. At least eight Grey Herons are standing in a field by the River Beult but I can't see any Lapwings. Bob joins me for a short while at 9.50am having seen two Spotted Flycatchers in the churchyard ash trees, but had no sign of the Black Redstart, three Skylarks flying W over the reservoir and both Chiffchaff and Bullfinch in the bottom corner of the rarity hedge - two species I struggle to find all day. As he arrives, five Herring Gulls fly W and as he departs, I locate a GC Grebe on the same fishpond as the earlier two species. A cock Blackcap appears in the rarity hedge and a Collared Dove coos at 10.28am. I feel that 50 species is possible, as I check through the species list. In retrospect, had my hearing been able to pick up high-pitched calls I might have surpassed it for a new autumn high.

Standing on top of the straw bales, I can see more of the fishponds but still can't find the pair of Tufted Ducks that was present yesterday. The flocks of gulls there all appear to be Black-headed. It is now after 11am and the southwest wind is increasing, bringing more cloud cover as well as feeling cooler. A few of the missing passerines, like Chiffchaff, LT Tit, House Sparrow, Greenfinch and Bullfinch will become more and more difficult to add - and so it proved.

As I scan at 11.25, two House Martins suddenly come into view, a male Sparrowhawk circles high and a LBB Gull flies SW, as the Spindlewood 'café' waitress appears with a welcome hot cup of coffee - thank you Laura. Numbers of House Martins are obviously moving SW and an estimate of 400 for the rest of the day is probably low.  A flock of 12 Linnets appears on the power-line, but still no Greenfinch. At 12.15pm a juvenile Common Gull joins the many Black-headed Gulls on the fish farm; ten-minutes later a flock of mainly juvenile Herring Gulls circles high and drifts N and, somewhat surprisingly, a lone Cormorant circles high with them. Flocks of 50 and 25 BH Gulls fly S towards the fish farm - this moderate to strong wind is certainly causing some movements - possibly 500 BH Gulls are now circling over the fish farm or flying W along the River Beult - an impressive sight, but nothing unusual flies with them. I'm taking a semi-break for lunch at 1pm but, apart from a few more Herring and LBB Gulls flying SW, little is happening and passerines appear to be almost non-existent - I feel the opportunity to add anymore has been missed. A female Sparrowhawk is 'playing' with a flock of at least 10 Magpies in the Deer Park beeches. Another hot coffee and a piece of shortbread from the 'café' are extremely welcome in the cooling conditions.

Bob joins me again, at around 2.30pm, for an afternoon spell and a flock of four Greylag Geese flies over the River Beult shortly after 3pm. Sparrowhawk sightings are proving to be among the best ever, as an adult male flies into the nearby ash, while Bob searches unsuccessfully elsewhere for Greenfinch and House Sparrow; and shortly, Jays and Magpies harass a female Sparrowhawk. Flocks of local Goldfinches and Linnets continue to fly over the orchard or alight on the power-lines and at 4.15pm a flock of 10 Greylag Geese alights in a field by the fishponds. Bob decides to leave some fifteen minutes later. At 5.40, shivering with cold I'm thinking of calling it a day, when a flock of 35 Linnets alights - the biggest of the day. With no sign of any of the missing species appearing I have to say enough is enough, sadly, still two short of the elusive autumn 'Big Sit' target of 50 species.

The four autumn Big Sits have totalled 61 species, with a maximum of 49 on 30th September 2003 and a mean of 47 species.