** Dungeness, And Scotney Pit.**

I was in 2 minds as to where to go today, it was either Stodmarsh, or Dungeness, and after reading Phil's blog I should have picked the former not the latter. When we left home the temperature was 14.5c so I was expecting a lovely day. By the time we arrived the temperature had dropped to 12c but still warmish.
I wanted to have a look at the trapping area, so that is where we went first. I know that the best time to go there is early morning or evening, but I still thought I would give it a go.
I was hoping for a Black Redstart but it wasn't to be, the only species seen was: Pied Wagtail, H/Sparrow, Meadow Pipit,
Starling, and the usual Gulls.
From here it was off to Dungeness RSPB Reserve.  Before entering the reserve we stopped off on the road, to scan the shallows and islands at the top of the ARC Pit, from here there was 11 Teal, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plover, and 1 Curlew. We moved on because I was going to watch the ARC Pit from the Hanson Hide later.
After entering the gates I could hear Tree Sparrows, but I decided to stop and see them on the way out.
After having a chat with Christine, and Mary in the centre we was told that the Long tailed Duck was on Burrows Pit, soafter having a scan around I saw it over the far back. I did however get a much better view of a Knot that was just out in front on one of the islands. We was surprise to see that the water level is high, and not low as I would have expected. Apart from those 2 birds there was nothing different out there, just the norm. Over on the feeder was  Chaffinch  Reed Bunting, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Greenfinch.
By now we was getting peckish so we went around to Denge Marsh Hide with the prospect of seeing the male Garganey that is present. After lunch I set off to look for it, which had been seen from the gate to the far end of the track up past the hide, by now the temperature had taken a dive to 10c, it was now fleece and light weight top coat time.
When I got there 3 other birders was already looking for it, but they told me that there was no sign of it. We all stayed there a while longer, but nothing, it could have been close in to the reeds. It seems as if the one at Stodmarsh was easier to see, or should I say a pair.
Many of the usual species was showing, but the highlight was more Great Crested Grebes displaying, which is most places at the moment.
There was 37 Wigeon along with:Gadwall, Mallard, Teal, Shelduck, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Dabchick(3), Greylag Geese, Canada Geese, Marsh Harrier, Mute Swan, Cormorant.
Over the back in the fields was a mixture of C/Crows, Jackdaws, and a few Rooks, W/Pigeon.
On the way out there was a few more species seen to add to the days list; Grey Heron, C/Dove, Magpie,
We stopped at the gate to look for the Tree Sparrows, and it didn't take long to see them. Even though one of the feeders was empty they was still hanging around the area, I counted about 11.
We then went to the Hanson Hide. When I got in there a photographer was sitting in the corner, and he said  to me" I wouldn't open the flaps it I was you, it is blowing a gale and cold with it".
Was I glad I had extra layers on, It was still very cold ,but with the wind chill factor it was bitter. Before he went he did say he heard that there was, or had been a few  Snow Geese at Scotney Pits so I thought I would pop round there when we leave.
As on Burrows Pit the water level is really high, at least 3 of the islands out in front was underwater. On the larger island was 3 Ringed Plover, 4 Oystercatcher, and 2 Lapwing.
Much of the wild fowl was as before, what you would expect, apart from 3 male Goldeneye, and 5 female Goldeneye.
Along with the Cormorants nesting on their usual island was a mixture of Gulls, L/B/B, Herring,  and Common.
A female Marsh Harrier made a few low fly by's putting all the birds up. There was also a small group of G/B/B/Gulls heading towards the power station.  It was now time to leave.
Once at Scotney Pits I didn't have to wait long to see the Snow Geese, there was 7 out in front grazing. There was also a large number of Gulls here. The island in the centre was covered with them, from G/B/B's to B/H Gulls.
The wind was still blowing as it was at ARC Pit, and cold with it too. The temperature in the car was still reading 10c.
After seeing the Geese we left for home, in fact if it wasn't for them I would have gone home earlier due to the drop  in temperature, but it didn't take long to warm up, by the time we reached the M20 the temperature was back up to 13c.
It may have  been a day of a warm arrival to very cold leaving, but I still enjoyed it, as usual.

** Halling Walk and Garden Watch.**

It was definately a day for being out and about. As usual  feeding the horses comes first, how could I not feed them, they are so use to me going that way they always come over to the fence for their carrots and apples.
From there I made my way to the river, via the cemetery. I was hoping that there would be more activity in the cemetery area, by now, but apart from the common species nothing different showed.
As soon as I arrived at the river I knew that I wasn't going to see a that many birds because it was high tide, this was at about 11am. No sooner had I arrived when I found myself taking my sweater off, It was plenty warm enough in just a gillet.
As I looked on the river the first thing I saw was a sculler, shortly followed by a small motor cruiser.

The best species on the river was 4 Shelducks, along with 11 Mallards, 3 Cormorants, 2 Moorhens, and Herring, Common, and B/H/Gulls.
From here I strolled onto the Common hoping to maybe see my 1st butterfly of the year. I also  thought by now there should be a few more birds about, but there was nothing different, the ones I did see was Great Tit, Blue Tit, Dunnock, Robin, Starling, Wood Pigeon, C/Crow, Greenfinch, House Sparrow.
Further along the footpath I had another scan of the river, where I saw 2 Mute Swans up ending, a Little Grebe, and 3 more Moorhens.
I also picked up  a few more species on the Common,  Blackbird, Magpie, Wren, Pheasant, Chaffinch, Green Woodpecker, and a male Blackcap.
When I arrived at the stile at the bottom of Marsh Rd, I sat on the stile, as I normally do. I sit here to scan the sky for birds of prey.
There was a couple of other birds on Halling salt marsh, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Canada Geese, and 7 Greylag Geese.
As I sat there scanning the sky I heard a bird that I haven't heard in Halling for just under 2 years, and that is a Cetti's Warbler. It sounded as if it was real close, but that is not always the way.
My final sighting was seen while scanning the sky in the old disused quarry area near, which was what started off as 2 Common Buzzards. After watching them soaring, riding the thermals,  for about 5 minutes, another one came up from behind the tree line, and started soaring around with them, so now I was watching 3 Common Buzzards.
It was very peaceful watching them glide with ease in the blue sky, their tail spread, broad wings pulled forwards in a slight "V" , and just as I thought that was the highlight of my walk, it wasn't, their was a 4th one, way up high, directly above them. I am normally happy to see one which is quiet regular.
I called it a day and started up Marsh Rd. I made one final stop at the cattle feeder to have one last look at the Buzzards, I am glad I did, as 2 of them started displaying.
My final sighting of the day was in the scrub about 100yards passed the treatment works down Marsh Rd, I heard it first before seeing it, the bird I am talking about is a Chiffchaff. My first of the year. Welcome back.
I didn't see any butterflies on my walk, until I was nearly home. As I walked across the lower playing field, a Brimstone flew straight past me into someone's back garden, so that's one for the year list.

The view across the River Medway from Halling Common.

Wouldham Church as seen from the stile.

re: the Common Buzzards. They have been breeding in the woodland in the old disused quarry area for a few years now, but when ever that are out and about, on the wing they seldom stray far from this area. I live quite close but I don't see them from my garden very often.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I had a short garden watch today, which produced the usual species of bird which includes a couple of good species; Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Dunnock, Robin, H/Sparrow, Reed Bunting(5), Blackcap(m), C/Dove, W/Pigeon, Blue Tit, Blackbird, Magpie, Starling,
I have noticed that for the last 4 days a Blue Tit has been taking moss into a nest box that has been on our wall for about 2 years now, it is the first time any bird has shown an  interest in it, fingers crossed something becomes of this.

** 15th March 2012. Oare Marsh,KWT.**

Well I certainly picked a glorious day to go birding. When we arrived at Oare Marsh at 11.30am the temperature was reading 16.5c. I knew it was going to be warm acording to the weather forecast, but I wasn't expecting it to be that hot, a fleece wasn't nessessary, it was gillet weather. I haven't been to Oare for quite a while, so it made a nice change. The one draw back was the heat haze, and  the slight mist which made it harder to scope the other side of the river.
We parked up a the pull in half way down the road where I sat on the bench  scanning the east scrape to start my list, which was as follows: B/H/Gull, Herring Gull, Common Gull,, Coot, Moorhen, Mallard, Shelduck, Shoveler, Teal, Gadwall, Pochard, Tufted Duck(well into double figures), Dabchick, Wigeon, Pintail, Greylag Geese, Canada Geese, Mute Swan, Little Egret, Cormorant.
Waders: Avocet(11), Redshank(4), Snipe(4), Bar tailed Godwit(9), Black tailed Godwit(c60,inc 3 in breeding plumage), Curlew(3), Lapwing(8),Oystercatcher(1). There was also the Highland Cattle doing what they do best, and 2 Grey Herons  in the pool on the opposite side of the road.

Above and below: Highland Cattle.

Next stop was  the main car park where we had lunch, and a longish rest before I headed to the sea watch hide. There was a few species seen and heard while here, Cetti's Warbler, Starling, Robin.
I was happy to go to the hide today because as it was such a lovely day I could take several stops to scan the area, from my fold up seat. The tide was about 2 thirds out, and it was mostly Dunlins on the mud flats. I entered the hide and then left to sit outside, because it was freezing inside.
There was some good birds on the mud flats but not on the water, The only species on the sea was 5 G/C/Grebes(no sign of the Red Necked Grebe that has been seen in the area), 2 Cormorant,  B/H,Herring, and L/B/B/Gulls, and they was all in the area between Horse Sands, and Harty Ferry Inn causeway. in the distance to the right was a good number of Brent Geese, with some Shelduck and Wigeon mixed in with them.
Along with the many Dunlin I counted about 14 Avocet, 7 Curlew, 27 Grey Plover, 5 Barwit, 3 Oystercatcher.
Half way back to the car park I stopped to scan the other side of the river. I could see a few of the usual waders seen, along with 3 Marsh Harriers, C/Crows, Wood Pigeon, a field with Gulls, where the G/B/Backs stood out.
It was getting close to home time so I decded to check out the West Scrape area, Just through the gate in the scrub  behind the paddock was a few birds, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Green Woodpecker, Pheasant, Magpie, Wren. Once at the hide to which I am surprised is still standing after all these years,(god knows what it is held together with) the water was at the level I expected, virtually none, but there was a few birds around, 3 Teal, 4 Mallard, 1 Coot, 13 Curlew feeding in the long grass, and a Grey Heron off to the right. along with 5 Konik's grazing.
On my way back I startled a a small flock of Linnets, and then while scanning the scrub area again I had to do a double take, sitting on a tall leaning post was a Little Owl, it made my day. I tried to get a bit closer, but it must have seen me and it flew off low.
I have seen one more than not when ever I go there, it is often on one of the bunkers further down.
When we left for home at about 3.30-3.45pm the temperaturte had only dropped one and a half degrees.
We made our way home the usual way, through the lanes to the 3 Mariners Inn, then turn right through to the A2, and turn right up the hill. We must have gone several miles when we heard a police car behind us, so Pam kept to the left to let it by,BUT they didn't pass, they pulled us over, and then Pam started to think what could be wrong, as you do, was I speeding, has a break light gone?
No none of the above. He came around to the window,I opened the passenger door and expecting the worst he said to us" Do you know that you have been driving with you boot up"? Straight away panic set it, and I went to the boot as quick as I could, why, because all my birding gear, and camera was in there, or was it? I gave a big sigh, it was. How the hell it stayed put I have  no idea, because the boot bottom is level, you don't lower items it to it.
Coming out of a side road and accelerating up a hill should have dislodged it, luck was certainly on my side. If it had fallen out of the boot, first of all it could have caused a accident, but my biggest concern was, how would I explain to my insurance company that I have no longer have my camera gear, tripod, and top of the range binoculars and telescope. I don't suppose some prat leaving the boot of a car open is covered.

Species seen for the day followed by a few scenic shots.
Herring Gull,  B/H/Gull,  Common Gull,  G/B/B/Gull,  L/B/B/Gull,  Marsh Harrier,  Little Owl,  Mute Swan,  Cormorant,  Grey Heron, Little Egret,  Coot,  Moorhen,  Greylags, Canada Geese, Brent Geese,  Shelduck,  Shoveler,  Mallard,  Gadwall,  Pochard, Wigeon,  Pintail,  Tufted Duck,  Teal,  G/C/Grebe,  Dabchick,  Avocet,  Dunlin,  Grey Plover,  Black Tailed Godwit, Bar Tailed Godwit,  Snipe,  Redshank,  Curlew,  Oystercatcher,  Lapwing,  Pheasant,  C/Crow,  Magpie,  Wood Pigeon,  Green Woodpecker,  Starling,  Robin,  Chaffinch,  Great Tit,  Cetti's Warbler,  Linnet,  Wren. 

Total: 49
 Bird Of The Day: ** Black Tailed Godwit in breeding plumage**