** c150 -200 Waxwings, Nr Medway Tunnel.**

On the way to do my mother's shopping today we took a short detour to the Medway Tunnel as good numbers of Waxwings have been seen in the area. We arrived at 12-ish, and drove down past the MacDonalds all the way to the bottom of the road, and turned around with no sightings so far. On the way back I happened to see a few birds down one of the turnings. We turned arounds again and went down that road, and there they was. At first all we could see was about 30, then as we stopped a few more flew in and perched in the tree tops. I counted 54. they seemed a uncetrtain as to what to do, and then flew off so we went to the bottom of the road and turned around. As we come back, so did the waxwings, many more this time. They was feeding in the grass on the left, drinking from the small puddles on the right hand side of the road, facing MacDonalds.
We moved up a little at a time, and sat watching them. I wasn't able to do a accurate count, but I reckon 150-200 is a good estimate, there may have been more, as there was reports of around 350 in the area.
This is the directions for anyone who might want to go and have a look around. From Strood head for the Medway Tunnel, go right, MacDonalds is on the left, take the next right, almost opposite the MacD entrance. There is a yellow building on left, William T Eden, and on the right is Pirates Cave. That's where they was hanging out.
Below is a few photo's which I took. After we started to leave  about 10 Waxwings came as close as 8-10 feet from the car, they certainly wasn't too bothered about us being there.

It would have been better if the mild fog had gone, what I wouldn't have given for blue sky, still can't have everything.
Most years I am over the moon to see a few Waxwings, to see so many Waxwings, and quite close at times was the best end of year birding I could have wished for.
** Happy New Year Everyone.**

**Another Halling Lifer.**

With 2 days left of this year I decided to take a stroll down to the river, even though it was a bit foggy, no where as bad as yesterday. I just got a short distance down The Cam footpath when it started to drizzle, still I kept going, and by the time I got to the church it stopped. Once at the bottom of Ferry Road I stood at my usual place, my the railings. The tide was again near to low tide.
I started to scan the River Medway, and river banks to see what was about. I always start by scanning from right to left, and as I was scanning the water off to the right out from behind the reed lined river bank came swimming a bird I have never seen in Halling before. It started to make it's was across to the Halling side of the river, so once it crossed half way I could put it down on my list. Going by it's jizz straight away I narrowed it down to 2 species,  it was definately a sawbill diver (seeing as it was diving at times) so it was either a Red Breasted Merganser, or a Goosander, the latter I have never seen many of them on river's before, any way after it crossed going slightly away from me, it did a u-turn, and as it did, it faced me. I could see it's off white chest, with a neat cut off from the head and neck colour, along with a greyish back, so   I knew that I was looking at my very first female Goosander on my local patch.
I was hoping that it might come nearer, but there was a lot of shooting going off in the not so far distance, and after a while it was on the wing, and  flew off folowing the river towards Holborough/ Snodland.
The only other species seen  from here was: Grey Heron(2) Teal(m2) Mallard(m4,f3) Cormorant(6, including 1Sinensis with it's bright white breeding patch) G/B/B/Gull(2) Herring Gull(5) Common Gull(3) B/H/Gull(11) C/Crow(4) Moorhen(4) Lapwing(7) Redshank(8).
Halling total for December = 51 species.
Halling total for 2010 = 81 species.

** Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre.**

It was foggy, and drizzling with rain this lunchtime and Pam and I was going to Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre for a mooch around to check out the sales. The closer we got to the centre the thicker the fog got.
To say it was busy is a understatement. As we headed towards the car park opposite Argos, sitting in the tree's opposite the bus stop, and near the petrol station was 12 birds sitting in a tree, and they turned out to be... yes you've guessed it, Waxwings. I said to Pam "Quick drive around the car park so that I can get closer to them". Anyway we did get closer, not quick due to the amount of traffic in front of us. Pam stopped and I got out. Now as it happens I did take my bins, and camera with me, I often do as you never know when you might need them. So I attempted to take some shots of them. This is the 1st time I have taken any photo's in foggy conditions, what they are like I do not know yet. If  I can salvage anything out of them I will post them later on.
They was still about when we left late afternoon as we could see them sitting in the tree's.
I knew there had been some seen in Gillingham over the last few days or so, but I couldn't find out where before we left, finding my own made me feel much better.
I have tried to clean up some of the photo's, they are not briliant but at least you can see what the bird is. Shoting, pointing up into a foggy white sky, wel I wasn't sure what settings to use.

** 2 Lifers For My Halling List, And A Lovely Final Surprise **

This is our first day back after being away for Christmas, and cold or no cold I just had to go out for a walk around. It was still bitterly cold but,so after a good late breakfast and dosing myself up with cold remedies off I went. I walked the usual route, down The Cam footpath, checking the bushes as I went, but nothing special was seen. I stopped on the A228 Bypass bridge to check out the roadside bushes just incase a Waxwing or 2 was about, but no luck. From here I made my way to the River Medway. The tide was at it's lowest, just on the turn so I hoped for maybe something different. The species seen between the bottom of Ferry Rd, and the 1st Stile was: L/B/B/Gull(1), Herring Gull(5), Common Gull(3), B/H/Gull(11), Grey Heron(2), Moorhen(5), Cormorant(6), Mute Swan(4), Mallard(7).
Once on Halling Common I found a spot out of the wind, so I took advantage of it and took a break here. After a whileI moved on towards the 2nd stile, checking all the berry bushes as I went, although it didn't help having dog walkers who let their dogs run about off the lead. I did get a short distance along the path, and as the water level was rising, on one small shingle bank I saw 2 waders fly in. The one that landed, and then flew off again down river was a Redshank of which I saw many, but the other one was a new bird for my Halling Life list. It was bigger than a Redshank, a slightly upturned bill, and very pale greenish/grey legs. I am talking about a Greenshank. It stayed for a few minutes, had a good wash, and brush up before heading back the way it came, towards Rochester. While following it in my bins I saw a flock of wildfowl on the river so keeping my eye on them I continued on my way to the 2nd stile.There is still plenty of Redwing on Halling Common, plus a few Fieldfare's here and there, apart from that I saw the usual species;Robin, L/T/Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, W/Pigeon, C/Dove, C/Crow, Magpie, Starling, Dunnock, Kestrel.
Once at the 2nd stile I turned my attentions to the birds on the river. I was now that much closer to them, and I could now make out what was out there. Straight away I could see that most of them was a bird I have never seen before in Halling, and that was a flock of 54 Wigeon. There may have been a few more only they was quite close in to Halling saltmarsh bank.There was also 14 Gadwall, 3 Teal, and about 20 Mallard. While taking a brake at number 2 stile I also saw 1 Curlew, 1 Snipe. Then 9 LBJ's (little brown jobs) flew passed me, circled around and landed in the grass by the sign near the river. I believe them to be Rock Pipit's.They was slightly olive in colour, there legs were dark, not a light colour, their chest was darkish, and pale cream tips to their tails, so I am going to rule out Water Pipit, and stick to my guns. Perhaps I will get to see them again next time. I saw Rock Pipits in this area last winter.
I saw a few more Redhanks, and Lapwings, before I left, so my final counts for them was Redshank 17, Lapwing 23.
I was now getting knackered so I made my way home. I just got through the kissing gate up Marsh Road when I saw a few birds flittering about in the bushes, I stopped and put the bins on them, and then the ol heart started to beat a bit faster, why? because I was only looking at 5 Waxwing's. I was hoping to see them somewhere else, probably on one of the many berry bushes about, but hey, I'l take them anywhere.One of them even flew down and took a drink from a puddle. But as quickly as I saw them they took off, I lost sight of them, but I am sure they will be around somewhere. .
Today's birding  brought my Halling December total to exactly 50.

PS. Today my Blackcap number has increased to 3, Two males, and one female..

** 2 Fieldfare's In The Garden.**

Today although there was many Waxwings at Snodland I just couldn't get there to see them, looks like I have dipped out big time.
I didn't spend much time at all watching the garden birds today, and I didn't take any photo's to put on my blog, but what I did get this afternoon was 2 Fieldfare's  feeding on the apples that I have put on the tree at the top of the garden. They only stayed for a few minutes, but I was pleased to see them. Also the Gulls seem to have become a regular visitor.
The other species of bird seen in the garden today was:
Blackbird (m,f)
Starling
Redwing(1)
C/Dove
W/Pigeon
Common Gull(2)
B/H/Gull(4)
Chaffinch(m,f)
Greenfinch
Blue Tit
L/T/Tit
H/Sparrow(m,f)
Blackcap(m,f)
Robin
Dunnock
Reed Bunting(m2,f3)
And finally.......
*** Merry Cristmas to all the friends I have made since I started blogging.***

** Garden Birds, And A Bad Cold.**

I spent a little bit of time today watching the garden  birds as I haven't been out for a while due to me having a very bad cold.
I watch the birds on and off from lunchtime to about 3.30p, along with a few photo's. The usual birds paid a visit to the feeders and ground feeding, along with two different one's, andthey was a solitary Redwing, and a Song Thrush. I tried to get photo's of them, the S/Thrush wasn't having any of it, and the Redwing made it very difficult staying deep in the bushes and tree's, only popping out very occasionally. The shots below was the best I could do. Hopefully now it has been here, it will come back again.

Other birds I too photo's of today was: Wood Pigeon

                                                        
                                     Collared Doves & Wood Pigeon

                          
                                                         Starling 

                                                 Blackcap (male)

                                                         
                                                 Long Tailed Tit's

                                          Long Tailed Tit's & Blue Tit.

                                                     Blue Tit's.

And finall a few more Blackbird shots.

 And finally, I had lots of Gulls about, and at one stage I heard this squealing/squawking noise, and I looked out of the window and there was about 15 Gulls fighting over the scraps offood I put out, I would say there was c5 Common Gulls, and c 11 B/H/Gulls, many of them touched down in the garden, grabbed a beakful and off they went.
The complete list of species seen today was:
Song Thrush, Starling, Blackbird(m6,f3), Redwing(1), Long Tailed Tit(9), Great Tit (m2) Blue Tit( 11 in one sighting), Dunnock(2), Robin, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, House Sparrow, Collared Dove(14), Wood Pigeon(2), Common Gull(c5), B/H/Gull(c11), Blackcap(m1), Reed Bunting(m4,f2).

** Garden Watch. Day 2, And A Male Blackcap.**

Another day of snowy weather, and cold with it, so I spent another day on and off watching the birds in the garden. One species of bird that has been circling around the area all day looking for food was the Gulls. I have never had so many Gulls over the garden, or even bettter  "In"" the garden.before, so I put out some extra food just for the Gulls, ie soaked bread leftover scraps etc spread along the path. Today at one stage I had 2 Common Gulls, and 6 Black Headed Gulls actually feeding on the ground rather than land, grab it and fly off. I never thought I would be adding Common Gull to my garden list as a feeding bird, rather than a fly over.
The species that made the list today was much the same as yesterday, except for a male Great Spotted Woodpecker,

and I also had the company of not 2, but 4 Reed Buntings, 2 male, and 2 female. I first picked the female's out when they was with the House Sparrow's at the far end of the garden by their distinctive tail flicking. (Again please excuse the picture quality, you all know what it's like shooting through double glazing.)

2 male Reed Buntings.

2 Female Reed Buntings

Then later in the afternoon The female Blackcap came back to feed, and a short while after a male turned up to join her, I guess she has been spreading the word as to where all the good food joints are.

The 2 species that never appeared today was: Long Tailed Tit, Grey Wagtail. The ones that did was as follows:Blue Tit, Blackbird, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Dunnock, Robin, Blackcap, common Gull, B/H/Gull, Common Gull, W/Pigeon, C/Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Reed Bunting, Magpie.
Below is a few random photo's.

Blue Tit

Wood Pigeon

Magpie

Goldfinch

Greenfinch

and finally a block of Blackbird photo's.

I thought I would pick a garden bird of the day so after thinking about it, my Bird of the Day is the * Common Gull.*
It may not be the prettiest, but it's not something I see every day.

** New Bird For December From Home.**

So here we go again, snow forecast, for today, and boy was they right, by mid morning the heavens opened and down came the snow, not like I need to tell you guys that. I thought to myself, "I wish I had topped up the bird feeders last night like I was going to". So dressed up like a Eskimo out into the big white world I go.
I was bitter cold, but it had to be done, after all it is harder for them to find food and get warm than it it is me.
I sat by the kitchen window on and off through out the day so see what showed, straight away the most numerous to show was Starlings  checking out the food that was around.

Then there was one particular Starling that seemed to spend all it's time, on the hanging log with lard in the holes. I say the same one, I did watch it for a while, and after it fed for a while it then it flew up to join the others, and then it came back to the log. Another one did follow it over at one stage, but this Starling chased it away, even though there is room for 4 on it.

The other bird that absolutely loves it is the Great Spotted Woodpecker, but he/she didn't show today, the one day I thought it would. Up until late in the afternoon I only had the usual species visit to feed. (A full list of species seen at home today will be listed at the end) I did attempt to photograph a few of the garden visitors but the snow was coming down so heavy,and it didn't ease off until the afternoon.
When I did attempt shooting, now and again the central heating boiler would fire up, and throw out it's usual exhausts,  so I had to pick my moment if I wanted to produce any half decent shots. The few I did get was:                  

Male Blackbird that was foraging close to the kitchen window.



Robin in the bush behind the feeders

Then later in the afternoon, while I was having a scan, that was when I had my 45th species for my Halling December bird list, and that was a bird that shows up in my garden every winter, It last paid a visit in January this year, but it is always welcome, it was a female Blackcap.I did grab a record shot of it , not brilliant but a record never the less.

She hung around an for a short while before flying off, then about 10 minutes or so later, the Gulls started circling and  dropping in for the bread that I put out in the clearing. There was 5 B/H/Gulls, and 2 Common Gulls.It was  a quick touch down, grab the food and off.
Then just as I was packing up I saw a small bird fly in, and feed in the clearing. It turned out to be the female Grey Wagtail. Now I knew I would get a rubbish photo if I was to attempt it because it was getting dark and the bird would look like a silhouette shot but I took it just the same. you can see that it is a Grey Wagtail by it's jizz, greyish back, long tail, yellow under tail.

The complete list of species seen today was:

Blackbird(m3,f2 on the berry bush)

Starling(numerous)

Collared Dove(9)

Wood Pigeon(1)

Black Headed Gull(5)

Common Gull(2)

Dunnock(4)

Robin(1)

Blue Tit(numerous)

Long Tailed Tit(5)

Reed Bunting(m1,f1)

Greenfinch

Goldfinch

Chaffinch

Blackcap(f)

Grey Wagtail(f)