Pam and I decided to go to McArthur Glen shopping centre near Ashford at lunchtime, and it wasn't until we was about halfway between J8 and J9 on the M20 that we had a nice view of a Red Kite.
It was 12:38 when it came into view(I thought I would make a note of the time). I saw this large raptor behind the tree line on the opposite side of the road. my first thought was a Common Buzzard because we have sen them there before, but then it came out from behind the tree's being mobbed by a Carrion Crow. It wasn't until it banked round a little Pam then noticed it had a forked tail. I know she was driving but like me she has seen a lot of Kites in Wales over the years, and it's tale makes it unmistakable.
It went virtually straight over the car with the crow in tow heading north. Fortunately we have got a sun roof in the car so when it passed over I was then able to get a better view of it. What a stonking bird. To see a Red Kite in Kent is a really good sighting. This made me feel so elated because it is and always will be my favourite bird.
Below is a link for information and photo's of the Red Kite.
http://blx1.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob2390.htm
Fallow Stag, Knowle Park.
Thursday, 31 January 2013
Sunday, 27 January 2013
** RSPB 1 Hour Garden Bird Watch. **
This afternoon I did my RSPB 1 hour garden bird watch. Below is my sightings:
- Blue Tit 2
- Great Tit 1
- Long tailed Tit 3
- Robin 2
- Dunnock 2
- Blackcap 1
- House Sparrow 14
- Chaffinch 7
- Goldfinch 3
- Reed Bunting 1Blackbird 3
- Starling 11
- Collared Dove 5
- Wood Pigeon 1
- Great Spotted Woodpecker 2
- Black Headed Gull 1 ( surprise bird of the hour, landed in garden and cleared up some of the scraps, then flew off with half a apple.)
** 26th January.Home Birding. Harty Ferry Rd,Harty Marshes & The Swale. **
I have not been out birding for quite a few weeks now, I did intend to go to the river during the snowy weather but I decided not to as it was very slippery here, I was told by one of the locals that the cemetery bridge over the bypass was dangerous for someone like me.
Up until going out today I have been garden watching, struggling to keep up with feeding them. I have had a few good birds feeding in the garden. Apart from the usual Collared Doves(when the weather was at it's worse I counted 17 on the feeders), Gold, Green and Chaffinches, Dunnocks, Starlings, Blue Tits and Great Tits, there was 2 Robins having a dispute, sizing each other up, 2 Jays are still coming in nearly all day taking the whole peanuts, sometimes 3 turn up which was wonderful. The Jays have been regular visitors now for about 2 months.
Other species that are staying to feed throughout the daylight hours are Blackcaps( 2 males, 1 female) feeding on the hanging log with a mixture of fat and meal worms in it that is located about 8 feet from the kitchen window behind a bush about 2 feet from the ground.There has also been a male Blackbird feeding from it it has worked out that it can jump up flapping its wings with a very quick hover I suppose I would call it, it isn't just a jump and prod, then while in the air thrusting it's bill into a hole with food in it. My daily count of Blackbirds is between 6 and 8 feeding on the apples on my home made apple tree, and the dropped ones.
The other species visiting are: 1 Brambling(f), 1 female Reed Bunting, male and female G/S/Woodpeckers, 1 Pied Wagtail occasionally, and nearly every day in the afternoon I am getting a party of about 10-14 Long Tailed Tits. On one occasion Pam and I saw 9 on the fat ball feeder and 4 next door on the nut feeder. When the snow had started to melt I had 1 Black Headed Gull drop in to steal a apple. I am having to make more visits to Pinions at the moment for food but I don't mind because I love my birds.
On to today. I had no intention of staying out for long, I just wanted to go to see if I could find the ...no not the 7 Common Cranes, the White Fronted Geese. Seeing the Cranes was going to be a bonus as I have never seen that many before in Kent. The only place I have seen larger numbers is in Norfolk near Hickling Broads where one year along with a few other birders I saw 11.
I did see 3 Whites in with a large gaggle of Greylag Geese at the far end of Capel Fleet.
From here it was down to the viewing mound where the 7 Common Cranes was showing very well in the sunshine. There was as usual many Marsh Harriers doing their own thing, and 2 Grey Herons had decided to take in the suns rays by resting up on top of the large chalk mound that isn't far from the viewing ramp.
It was then off to visit the Swale from the lower Ferry House Inn car park to scan the river and marsh land to see what waders were about as I haven't seen many this year. There was 2 other birders there when I arrived and I was just in time to see a ringtail Hen Harrier quarter the marsh and put nearly all the waders up. If I hadn't come here I would not have seen the ringtail, so thank you to the 2 birders.
I was very impressed with the wader species I did see which was Dunlin, Black Tailed Godwit, Curlew, Avocet, Oystercatcher, Grey Plover, Golden Plover,and Redshank.
There was a few Shelduck grazing, a large flock of Wigeon on the water along with 2 G/C/Grebes, but the largest gathering of any one species was dark bellied Brent Geese. When I was putting my scope away Pam and I watched a very large skein of Brents came in from the east to join the others, it is always nice to hear large skeins of Geese calling. There was also 1 Common Seal on Horse Sands which was only just above the water line.
I had now seen the birds that I set out to see and a few more so I now called it a day. I still kept scanning all the way to the main road. At a certain point along the road on the right is a series of bushes where I have always seen Corn Buntings and today was no exception, we could see movement before we even got close to them. When we was virtually lever with them we pulled over and I had a count up of all the Corn Bunting that was showing. I counted about 43. I probably counted some of them twice but most of them stayed where they was. I wondered if there might have been a few Reed Buntings amongst them, but I found none in the ones I was seeing.
So, I had a short but very enjoyable trip out, lovely weather, seeing the birds that I hoped to see plus a few more.
None of us know what we might see when we go out into the countryside, sometimes go to see something that has been reported, hoping we don't dip out, other times we get there in time, that's what makes this hobby so enjoyable.
Up until going out today I have been garden watching, struggling to keep up with feeding them. I have had a few good birds feeding in the garden. Apart from the usual Collared Doves(when the weather was at it's worse I counted 17 on the feeders), Gold, Green and Chaffinches, Dunnocks, Starlings, Blue Tits and Great Tits, there was 2 Robins having a dispute, sizing each other up, 2 Jays are still coming in nearly all day taking the whole peanuts, sometimes 3 turn up which was wonderful. The Jays have been regular visitors now for about 2 months.
Other species that are staying to feed throughout the daylight hours are Blackcaps( 2 males, 1 female) feeding on the hanging log with a mixture of fat and meal worms in it that is located about 8 feet from the kitchen window behind a bush about 2 feet from the ground.There has also been a male Blackbird feeding from it it has worked out that it can jump up flapping its wings with a very quick hover I suppose I would call it, it isn't just a jump and prod, then while in the air thrusting it's bill into a hole with food in it. My daily count of Blackbirds is between 6 and 8 feeding on the apples on my home made apple tree, and the dropped ones.
The other species visiting are: 1 Brambling(f), 1 female Reed Bunting, male and female G/S/Woodpeckers, 1 Pied Wagtail occasionally, and nearly every day in the afternoon I am getting a party of about 10-14 Long Tailed Tits. On one occasion Pam and I saw 9 on the fat ball feeder and 4 next door on the nut feeder. When the snow had started to melt I had 1 Black Headed Gull drop in to steal a apple. I am having to make more visits to Pinions at the moment for food but I don't mind because I love my birds.
On to today. I had no intention of staying out for long, I just wanted to go to see if I could find the ...no not the 7 Common Cranes, the White Fronted Geese. Seeing the Cranes was going to be a bonus as I have never seen that many before in Kent. The only place I have seen larger numbers is in Norfolk near Hickling Broads where one year along with a few other birders I saw 11.
I did see 3 Whites in with a large gaggle of Greylag Geese at the far end of Capel Fleet.
From here it was down to the viewing mound where the 7 Common Cranes was showing very well in the sunshine. There was as usual many Marsh Harriers doing their own thing, and 2 Grey Herons had decided to take in the suns rays by resting up on top of the large chalk mound that isn't far from the viewing ramp.
It was then off to visit the Swale from the lower Ferry House Inn car park to scan the river and marsh land to see what waders were about as I haven't seen many this year. There was 2 other birders there when I arrived and I was just in time to see a ringtail Hen Harrier quarter the marsh and put nearly all the waders up. If I hadn't come here I would not have seen the ringtail, so thank you to the 2 birders.
I was very impressed with the wader species I did see which was Dunlin, Black Tailed Godwit, Curlew, Avocet, Oystercatcher, Grey Plover, Golden Plover,and Redshank.
There was a few Shelduck grazing, a large flock of Wigeon on the water along with 2 G/C/Grebes, but the largest gathering of any one species was dark bellied Brent Geese. When I was putting my scope away Pam and I watched a very large skein of Brents came in from the east to join the others, it is always nice to hear large skeins of Geese calling. There was also 1 Common Seal on Horse Sands which was only just above the water line.
I had now seen the birds that I set out to see and a few more so I now called it a day. I still kept scanning all the way to the main road. At a certain point along the road on the right is a series of bushes where I have always seen Corn Buntings and today was no exception, we could see movement before we even got close to them. When we was virtually lever with them we pulled over and I had a count up of all the Corn Bunting that was showing. I counted about 43. I probably counted some of them twice but most of them stayed where they was. I wondered if there might have been a few Reed Buntings amongst them, but I found none in the ones I was seeing.
So, I had a short but very enjoyable trip out, lovely weather, seeing the birds that I hoped to see plus a few more.
None of us know what we might see when we go out into the countryside, sometimes go to see something that has been reported, hoping we don't dip out, other times we get there in time, that's what makes this hobby so enjoyable.
Wednesday, 2 January 2013
** New Years Day Birding.**Late Post **
Well the weather forecast was spot on, and so Pam and I took a run down to Dungeness. Now I know what you are thinking " With weather like this it is going to be absolutely heaving". Well you are dead right. We said the same thing before we left and on the way we guessed at how many cars would be there, I said about 30+ Pam said more than that, well it was definitely plus more like 50-60.
Don't get me wrong, it was a nice day out, and I knew it was going to be hard to see, and make a good days list but I am happy with what I did see.
Before we headed off I did a bit of home birding from the kitchen window, apart from the usual species I had 2 surprises, the 1st was a male Siskin on the feeders, my first since last winter(January),and the next was a sight that I will never see again. Something caught my eye walking in the park, it was a female Pheasant , now you might think where is this going? I then saw another one close behind , then 3 more, that was 5 and still they kept coming, 2,3 at a time. I called Pam I couldn't believe what I was seeing and still they came. I then saw 4 males bringing up the rear, or so I thought, they was shortly followed by some more females, Now I didn't know what to think, why would so many Pheasants wander into the park at 8:30-9:00am. In total I saw 17 females and 4 males, 21 in total . A wonderful sight to behold, but why??
On the way to Dunge we went via Walland Marsh. I knew I would pick up the Tree Sparrows and a few others species like a few winter thrushes that I wouldn't see on the reserve. I looked for the Bewick or Whooper Swans that have been in with the Mutes but most of the swans was feeding somewhere else, still next time. The only thrushes seen was Fieldfares.
We went into the centre first to wish them a Happy New Year and see what was about. We chatted with Jill, had a good look on Burrows Pit before moving on.
After turkey sandwiches and soup at lunchtime we then headed for the First Hide (now at this very moment of writing 'Firth Hide' I have just said to Pam that I have that feeling that I have done this before (deja vu) which we all must do at some time, anyway at one point I had the hide all to my self, albeit for about 4-5 minutes :-)
There is a good number of ducks/drakes on Burrows Pit. Among the norm there is also Goldeneye(male and female, the male looking really good with the sun on him) Smew( redheads,females) the male was over on the ARC Pit.and a female Goosander which I just missed out on because a couple of G/B/B/Gull made a fly past and disturbed everything. The species I did see during my short visit was as follows:
MuteSwan, Greylag Geese, Grey Heron, Great White Egret, Little Egret, G/C/Grebe, Cormorant, G/B/B/Gull, L/B/B/Gull, Herring Gull, Common Gull, B/H/Gull, Goldeneye, Smew, Mallard, Teal, Pintail, Wigeon, Gadwall, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Coot, Moorhen, Marsh Harrier, Lapwing, C/Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Magpe, W/Pigeon, C/Dove, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Reed Bunting, Robin, Starling, Blackbird, Dunnock, Chaffinch,
I don't like crowds and I didn't want to leave too late because I wanted to come home the way we went, through Walland Marsh. Whether this was a omen or not I don't know but it was the highlight of the day. Nothing was seen unto we got to a certain bend in the road where about 4-5 cars was parked. Among the birders there was Dave Walker from Dungeness Bird Observatory.
we slowed down and I asked Pam to ask what they was watching, and one of them replied "A Common Crane. We found a space and parked up. Out came the scope. It wasn't too dificult to find, it was just wandering about in the field feeding. Brilliant was my first reaction, plus a bit of excitement. It wasn't long before the crowd grew in number.
The Crane was at the following position: From the Woolpack Inn to Lydd follow the road as far as Old Cheyne Court , grid reference 004 238 on the right just around the bend, just passed the large derelict glass building which lays a little way back from the road.
As the light change someone found a Barn Owl quartering the dike area at the back of the field the Crane was in. I got onto it, and at one point it passed by the Crane, seeing both of them together in the scope.
While watching the Owl fly off to the right and over the road another Barn Owl appeared, 2 in a matter of minutes, can't be bad, so after what turned out very enjoyable day we headed off home.
My Bird Of The Day has to be the ** Common Crane.**
Don't get me wrong, it was a nice day out, and I knew it was going to be hard to see, and make a good days list but I am happy with what I did see.
Before we headed off I did a bit of home birding from the kitchen window, apart from the usual species I had 2 surprises, the 1st was a male Siskin on the feeders, my first since last winter(January),and the next was a sight that I will never see again. Something caught my eye walking in the park, it was a female Pheasant , now you might think where is this going? I then saw another one close behind , then 3 more, that was 5 and still they kept coming, 2,3 at a time. I called Pam I couldn't believe what I was seeing and still they came. I then saw 4 males bringing up the rear, or so I thought, they was shortly followed by some more females, Now I didn't know what to think, why would so many Pheasants wander into the park at 8:30-9:00am. In total I saw 17 females and 4 males, 21 in total . A wonderful sight to behold, but why??
On the way to Dunge we went via Walland Marsh. I knew I would pick up the Tree Sparrows and a few others species like a few winter thrushes that I wouldn't see on the reserve. I looked for the Bewick or Whooper Swans that have been in with the Mutes but most of the swans was feeding somewhere else, still next time. The only thrushes seen was Fieldfares.
We went into the centre first to wish them a Happy New Year and see what was about. We chatted with Jill, had a good look on Burrows Pit before moving on.
After turkey sandwiches and soup at lunchtime we then headed for the First Hide (now at this very moment of writing 'Firth Hide' I have just said to Pam that I have that feeling that I have done this before (deja vu) which we all must do at some time, anyway at one point I had the hide all to my self, albeit for about 4-5 minutes :-)
There is a good number of ducks/drakes on Burrows Pit. Among the norm there is also Goldeneye(male and female, the male looking really good with the sun on him) Smew( redheads,females) the male was over on the ARC Pit.and a female Goosander which I just missed out on because a couple of G/B/B/Gull made a fly past and disturbed everything. The species I did see during my short visit was as follows:
MuteSwan, Greylag Geese, Grey Heron, Great White Egret, Little Egret, G/C/Grebe, Cormorant, G/B/B/Gull, L/B/B/Gull, Herring Gull, Common Gull, B/H/Gull, Goldeneye, Smew, Mallard, Teal, Pintail, Wigeon, Gadwall, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Coot, Moorhen, Marsh Harrier, Lapwing, C/Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Magpe, W/Pigeon, C/Dove, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Reed Bunting, Robin, Starling, Blackbird, Dunnock, Chaffinch,
I don't like crowds and I didn't want to leave too late because I wanted to come home the way we went, through Walland Marsh. Whether this was a omen or not I don't know but it was the highlight of the day. Nothing was seen unto we got to a certain bend in the road where about 4-5 cars was parked. Among the birders there was Dave Walker from Dungeness Bird Observatory.
we slowed down and I asked Pam to ask what they was watching, and one of them replied "A Common Crane. We found a space and parked up. Out came the scope. It wasn't too dificult to find, it was just wandering about in the field feeding. Brilliant was my first reaction, plus a bit of excitement. It wasn't long before the crowd grew in number.
The Crane was at the following position: From the Woolpack Inn to Lydd follow the road as far as Old Cheyne Court , grid reference 004 238 on the right just around the bend, just passed the large derelict glass building which lays a little way back from the road.
As the light change someone found a Barn Owl quartering the dike area at the back of the field the Crane was in. I got onto it, and at one point it passed by the Crane, seeing both of them together in the scope.
While watching the Owl fly off to the right and over the road another Barn Owl appeared, 2 in a matter of minutes, can't be bad, so after what turned out very enjoyable day we headed off home.
My Bird Of The Day has to be the ** Common Crane.**
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