East Malling, Ditton and Barming

Tuesday 17th January 2012

2012-01-17T22:28:00.000Z

40 species seen on patch today - mostly seen while working in the fields on the East Malling Research site. Goodies included 12x Reed Bunting, 7x Lesser Redpoll, 12x Skylark, 60+ Linnet, 4x Tufted Duck (on a partially iced Bradbourne Lake, uncommon on patch) and a Little Egret. The full complement of thrushes was achieved with predominantly numbers of Redwing in Barming on my walk into work, and 500+ Fieldfares in East Malling (but no Redwings!). I had expected to find Meadow Pipit, Little Grebe, Wren and Pied Wagtail...but they weren't to be found!

Lapland Bunt count

2012-01-12T21:01:00.001Z

Prompted by Gavin Coultrip's posting on the KOS Forum, I revisited my photos from the RSPB fields, Sheppey on 5th January. Photo attached with markers over the flock. There were at least 3 Laplands in this flock, but I couldn't be 100% sure there weren't any Reeds in with them - there seemed to be plenty in the field that day. I've counted 32 birds in the flock.

Double click to enlarge

Wednesday 11 January 2012

2012-01-11T21:53:00.001Z

Making the most of the fine weather I spent my lunch hour down at Bradbourne House, East Malling. All the usual suspects including a glowing white Little Egret, initially seen perched in a London Plane tree, and later strutting its stuff across the sports field.

Looking at Alan Woodcock's excellent pictures from Sheppey today, I'm wondering if was the Pale-bellied Brent I saw last week? I've attached another photo from the day below, the bird on the far left is the bird I'm wondering about - any comments?

Sunday 8th January 2011

2012-01-08T21:09:00.005Z

After visiting some friends in Wateringbury, I opted to walk back to Barming via the river and West Farleigh. Highlight of the walk was a Whooper Swan on the River at Bow Bridge, Wateringbury along with Mute Swans, Canada Geese and a couple of hybrid geese (a couple of Canada x Domestic Goose hybrids I guess - see photo below, both parents I suspect are there!). Kev Reynolds had seen the bird late Summer 2011, and Eddie Denson informed me just before Christmas that it was still around, and it wasn't shy in coming forward so darw your own conclusions on its likely origin! Walking alongside the paddocks to the east of the river I added Meadow Pipit, Common and Herring Gull to the TQ65W of the KOS Winter Atlas, but Grey Heron, Skylark, Sparrowhawk and Kingfisher are all still absent!

Some pellets were found under one of the owl boxes - but with a Kestrel in the vicinity I can't be sure these aren't pellets from this species...any ideas anyone? Didn't exactly wet my appetite for my Sunday lunch.

5th January 2012

2012-01-05T23:19:00.001Z

A quick post from a couple of hours on Sheppey this morning (backdated posts to follow when I have time!). I arrived at Shellness for high tide; Knot, Dunlin, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover all in attendance, huddled, heads down in the unrelenting wind.

The large flotilla of Mallard were just off the point along with c 15 Common Scoter.

Common scoter, Shellness

On the way back up the entrance track towards Leysdown I picked out a small wader with 4x Ringed Plovers. Unfortunately it was keeping tucked down in the wind, and I couldn't hold my bins steady so struggled to ID it. I managed the shots below (which may or may not held), before car came up behind me, and the group flew off while I moved! Any help appreciated.

Mystery bird in the middle (double-click to enlarge)

Mystery bird on right (yeh I know, but it shows it has a dark bill!)

Plenty of Brent Geese and Curlew in the adjoining field. I'd heard a report of a Pale-bellied Brent, and it's not my thing to go through massed flocks for such things, but this particular bird flew past that seemed to have a paler-belly. Having never knowingly seen a pale-bellied Brent before, and at risk of showing my complete ignorance to this subspecies, is the bird on the right hrota (pale-bellied)?!

I pulled up at the seawall at Leysdown and this fella walked towards me - nice ring, possibly Polish, I need to check.

Next stop was the RSPB fields just west of Muswell Manor. The clouds looked more threatening, and the wind picked up ahead of the storm clouds (was blown off my feet at one point).

I didn't fancy my chances with the Laplands in this weather, but arriving at the fields there were a couple of flocks of passerines bouncing around in the wind. One was a small flock of Skylarks (10-12 birds) and the second was of buntings, consisting of c 30 birds. They were extremely restless an flew up within seconds on touching down. Luckily the flock passed directly overhead and I could see that at least some of the birds consisted on Lapland Buntings. Eventually I did get views of three birds on the deck, but the flock also consisted of Reed Buntings so I can't be sure how many Laplands were on show. Quite a result considering the weather!

Sunday 11th December 2011

2011-12-11T20:47:00.004Z

Another late pass to get out this afternoon, but what a difference to yesterday's crisp, bright weather. I'm nursing a heavy cold that seems to be getting worse, but I needed some fresh air, even though it was struggle to drag myself out. I travelled off patch to catch the last 1.5 hours of daylight at Oare Marshes. The Great White Egret that has been present for a few days was easily found, hunched up on the mud in Faversham Creek, just east of the sluice. It was joined by a mix of the regular waders (Curlew, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Black-tailed Godwit). A Peregrine scythed through the flock, but was unsuccessful in its attempts to chase down any prey, and eventually retreated back to the pylon from whence it came.

A walk up to Dan's Dock disappointingly failed to turn up any owls, but a couple of Marsh Harriers drifted to roost and a brace of disgruntled wildfowlers shivered below the seawall, staring up at the darkening,dusk sky.

Saturday 10th December 2011

2011-12-10T22:08:00.003Z

Nearly a month since my last post - life seems to get busier and busier! I'll try and get some posts backdated - the only real highlight on patch was a Raven, NW over Barming Bridge on the afternoon of Sunday 27th November.

This morning started well - a crisp morning, graced by this immaculate steam engine passing through Barming (35017 Belgian Marine).

I had hoped to get up to Sheppey this afternoon, but circumstances conspired against me, so I stayed local (ish) and made a long overview visit to Burham Marshes. All fairly quiet on the bird front until this Raven flapped lazily by! There were a supporting cast of Redshank, Teal, Little Grebe and Lapwing but not much else. The late afternoon light was fantastic and it was good to spend the rest of afternoon of a couple of fellow birders (Les Foster and other half and springer spaniel!).

Thursday 17th November 2011

2011-11-17T22:24:00.000Z

My first visit out in a while. The sun made a brief appearance picking out the apples in the East Malling orchards that will provide winter sustenance to the winter migrants. The crab apples were particularly vivid.

All seemed quite on the bird front: a Kestrel was mobbed by a crow near the Conference Centre, and a Great Spotted Woodpecker pecked voraciously on the line-side trees, but soon a flock of Fieldfares was put up, 100 or so, with a 70+ Linnets and 35+ Goldfinches soon leapfrogging up, and ahead of them. These were followed by Chaffinches, a couple of Yellowhammers and a smattering of Meadow Pipits and Skylark, quite a mix.

Linnets

good number of the birds alighted onto wires above the orchard, allow me to creep closer for some snaps in really poor light.

Sunday 13th November 2011

2011-11-13T22:34:00.004Z

Too nice a day for a 2-hour round trip to Margate for the Eastern Black Redstart. So stayed local, went for a beautiful walk down the Medway with my wife and youngest lad and spotted this Kingfisher (well hidden) to boot, not too far from Teston Bridge just before dusk.

Thursday 3rd November 2011

2011-11-03T21:05:00.000Z

It was one of those dull November days when you don't expect anything out of the ordinary to turn up on patch - no bins, no camera - just a trudge out into a wet field. Therefore I was extremley surprised when I a Short-eared Owl flew up from one of the alleyways between the strawberry beds. It landed a short distance away but was immediately mobbed by the resident crows and again took flight but this time moved high north , gaining height as flew towards the Medway Gap. I immediately phoned Phil Sharp and John Clements, but unfortunately neither of them were able to connect with it. A first for site, and a cracking patch record!

Monday 31st October 2011

2011-10-31T18:56:00.000Z

A quick visit to Sheppey (Swale NNR) resulted in distant views of both male and female Hen Harrier, juvenile Rough-legged Buzzard, also giving distant but prolonged views (including lots of hovering) and a distant view of a Great White Egret flying W around 10:45. Also a Sparrowhawk and up to 5x Kestrels.

A quick sortie along the Harty Ferry Road/Capel Fleet failed to relocate the GW Egret but added Marsh Harrier and Common Buzzard to the list.

Usual top quality photography.

Monday 17th October 2011

2011-10-17T23:02:00.000+01:00

Too, too busy to have posted lately - but a quick review. Early October delivered a couple of Hummingbird Hawkmoths to my garden, but the heatwave seems a long, long time ago. Yesterday (16th Oct) saw me at Cliffe taking in excellent views of the Isabelline Shrike - what a cracker!

Today started off still and sunny, but by midday the wind had picked up from the west, bringing cloud with it. A quick sortie to the Paris Farm Paddocks turned up my first, but distant Fieldfare of the year, hopping through the turf with 7x Mistle Thrushes. 12x Meadow Pipits and 25+ Goldfinches were also present.

Saturday 1st October 2011

2011-10-01T21:19:00.000+01:00

Phew, what a scorcher! Birding was put on hold as I spent the whole day basking on a beach...along with what seemed the rest of Kent!

Friday 30th September 2011

2011-10-01T21:17:00.000+01:00

Another misty morning in the valley, clearing to a hot, hot day with East Malling recording the most hours of sunshine in the country (11.1 hours).

Not much birdwise: 5x Meadow Pipits on the Sweets Lane Paddocks, and another couple on Paris Farm. Good numbers of Rooks and Jackdaws close to Gallagher's Gallop, both species once quite a rarity on patch. The spiders made the greatest impact - they seem to be spinning webs just about everywhere.

Thursday 29th September 2011

2011-09-29T22:21:00.000+01:00

Just a Meadow Pipit and Grey Heron of note on my travels this morning.

Monday 26th September 2011

2011-09-27T08:19:00.001+01:00

Not much on patch today apart from 35+ Meadow Pipits on Paris Farm Paddocks, with a couple of Skylarks and a Yellowhammer. The hedgerow just east of the paddocks (near the dung heap!) held 8x Chiffchaffs, some with very bright, fresh plumage.

Friday 23rd September 2011

2011-09-27T08:13:00.000+01:00

A lovely late September day, and a day off work. I had to go down to Brighton, and thought I'd take the opportunity to try them out in new territory - East/West Sussex. James Bushnell joined me for a long overdue birding day out.

First stop after Brighton was Newhaven for the long-staying, and apparently tame Sabine's Gull. Of course it had chosen today to clear off, possibly to Cuckmere Haven where a later trip also drew a blank! Still it was a nice hour or so, on a warm beach surrounded by Rock Pipits, Wheatears and clouds of House Martins.

The next draw was the Pallid Harrier at Burpham, nr Arundel. What a lovely location, and a lovely drive up to the village with Arundel castle standing dominant on the west bank of the river. It looked like we were out of luck for the second time in the day - some folk were leaving having waited over 3 hours with no sighting. Unperturbed we walked to whether some birders were gathered. What a pleasant lot! A really friendly crowd who told us about how the estate was being managed for Grey Partridge of which we saw 5 birds. Within 5 minutes of arriving the shout went up for the Pallid Harrier which drifted down right in front of us and catching some prey, dropped to the ground and fed for 20 minutes or so. What an absolutely beautiful bird - so well-marked. While all this was going on James picked out a male Hen Harrier quartering the field behind us, I didn't know which way to look. Buzzard, Kestrel and Red Kite were all quickly added to the tally.

Finally we moved on, just down the road to Chichester GPs where a very active Grey Phalarope was on show along with a Black Tern. Unfortunately I heard the Phalarope had been taken by a Pike over the weekend!

Friday 16th September 2011

2011-09-16T21:28:00.002+01:00

The wind had changed overnight to a light easterly and I was hopeful a few migrants might have dropped in. A scan of Gallagher's Gallop and the Sweets Lane and Paris Farm paddocks in East Malling didn't look hopeful. However in the last hedgerow before Kiln Barn Road I spotted the flick of a red tail - a female/juvenile Redstart, a long awaited first for me on the patch. It quickly worked through the hedge and was soon lost to sight - the snatched record shot doesn't really do it justice!

I managed to get back out at lunchtime but the Redstart couldn't be relocated. A Blackcap and 10+ Chiffchaffs were found in the same hedge, indicating there had been a local 'fall' in the area and this was confirmed with my next sighting, a smart male Stonechat, perched on a sloe bush - an excellent patch record. Unfortunately I was on the wrong side of the bush, looking directly into the sun, hence the silhouette...but I think you can see what it is?!

I scoured the Paris Farm paddocks sure that there must be something else, getting greedy, but if there was I didn't see it. Last port of call was Sweets Lane Paddocks - it had been pretty much deserted on my brief morning visit. Pied Wagtails flitted across the pasture, 35+ birds in total, and there amongst them, as bright as a Canary was a Yellow Wagtail. Unbelievably this was my first grounded Yellow Wagtail on patch - I was on a roll!

Unfortunately no new birds on the way back to work, but I did notice a snake skin alongside the path (Grass snake??)

The sunshine persisted into the afternoon and I spent the last part of the afternoon/early evening working through the apple rootstock seedling orchard on the Research Station.

A female Sparrowhawk skimmed amongst the fruit trees sending flocks of Wood Pigeons,Starling and Linnets in its wake. A couple of Spitfires and a couple of biplanes headed south (possibly en route to Goodwood?).

Hawker Fury? (Help me Twisden!)

Spitfire duo

Stampe Vertogen SV-4B G-BRXP (ex-Belgian Airforce trainer?!)

Thursday 15th September 2011

2011-09-15T21:27:00.003+01:00

Good numbers of Meadow Pipits have turned up on the Research Station site over the last 10 days, with 40+ seen around the strawberry polytunnels today. A steady stream of Swallows skimmed south, and a couple of the House Martin nests on the main lab buildings remain occupied.

Tuesday 16th August 2011

2011-08-16T22:22:00.003+01:00

Nice to get the first Wheatear of the autumn on patch at lunchtime - feeding voraciously around Gallagher's Gallop. Not the first migrant on autumn passage though, with a juvenile Stonechat seen in the same location last Monday (8th Aug) and an unfortunate Sedge Warbler found dead below one of the lab windows on the research station on Sunday 7th Aug.

Other snippets included a Red Kite over Barming Woods,

2x Nightjar in a nearby woodland (video here and here),

3x Spotted Flycatchers in Barming on my final BTO Breeding Atlas survey and loads of Brown Hawkers, Red-eyed and Emerald Damselflies and 4x Kingfishers on the River Medway between Barming & Teston.

Monday 11th July 2011

2011-07-11T21:51:00.001+01:00

Just 30 minutes at lunchtime to take in Oaken Wood. My first Gatekeepers of the year were on the wing, along with increasing numbers of Red Admiral, Comma and Skippers.

Unfortunately no White Admiral or Silver-washed Frits, but they'll be there somewhere!

A few other interesting bugs, with names to follow soon hopefully.

Goldenrod crab spider (Misumena vatia)?

Sunday 10th July 2011

2011-07-11T21:44:00.001+01:00

Up to Cliffe like every other nature bod seems to have done over the last 2 weeks - with Southern Emerald Damselfly in my sights. It was pretty overcast and there wasn't much on the wing. A lone figure scouring the west side of the ditch turned out to be James Hunter who was after the same quarry. Team Hunter called and James had to leave but not before giving some tips on how to locate the SED. Ten minutes later I was in luck, only one individual but a showy one nevertheless.

Travelling back to Barming I decided to take a chance on the Lesser Emperors on Abbeymeads, New Hythe that had eluded me last week. Barry Wright and Terry Laws were on the scene and promised me a sighting within two minutes.....I had to wait three minutes....then a Lesser Emperor buzzed past, then again, and again. Brown Hawker, Emperor and Red-eyed Damselfly were also on show.

Nice to finish the day off with a Barn Owl just off patch along the River Medway at 22:00.

2011-07-11T21:36:00.001+01:00

Tuesday 5th July 2011

2011-07-05T21:27:00.000+01:00

A lunchtime sortie was down to Bradbourne House, East Malling was productive in turning up a small clump of Pyramidal Orchids (my first on site) and a long absent but very vocal Kingfisher.

Two Little Owls sat out in the rain by Kiln Barn Farm as I made my way home.

Monday 4th July 2011

2011-07-04T21:31:00.001+01:00

About time I got back into it. A few sightings from today with an update for end-May through June to follow.

Nice sunny cycle to work, what looked like a fleck of dust on top of an oak tree in Oaken Wood transpired to be a distant Purple Hairstreak. Chiffchaff and Blackcap still calling and a couple of Little Owls in their usual location at Kiln Barn Farm.

News of a Lesser Emperor dragonfly or three saw me heading off patch at lunchtime. John Clements was bundled in the car on news of 3x Med Gulls that were strutting and feeding behind his house (a private field on the East Malling Research site).

We arrived in New Hythe to be met by Phil Sharp fresh from a soiree in Suffolk, and Jill and John Brook collecting exuviae - the Lesser Emperors were less apparent, although a Odanata pursuing a Red Admiral butterfly was a 'possible'.

Back in East Malling some butterflies of note flitted across my path; a single Ringlet (first on the research land for me) for me kept a Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral and Peacock company in the afternoon heat. Oaken Wood turned up a Comma and a White Admiral (seen to lay eggs).

Footage of White Admiral to follow.

Lack of posts

2011-06-20T22:06:00.000+01:00

Just a quick note to say I'm still alive but up to my eyes with work which has shown no sign of abating! Watch this space for updates...after the bumper strawberry season has slowed down!

Monday 9th May 2011

2011-05-09T22:28:00.000+01:00

New bike and a new route into work, taking an more extensive area of Barming Woods in the hope of a long overdue Tree pipit. Not to be today unfortunately, but a couple of purring Turtle Doves were new for the patch for 2011.

Yesterday was a BTO Atlas TTV on East Malling Heath. Highlights were 3x Cuckoo and a couple of Turtle Doves.

Saturday 7th May 2011

2011-05-07T22:02:00.000+01:00

In between running the kids to football, tennis, swimming a birthday party I managed to spot Swifts above Buckland Hill and Mote Park Leisure Centre - my first of the year. Football took me to Iwade and a slight detour turned up Bird's Nest Orchid in full bloom, Lady Orchids and loads of Green Hairstreak and a couple of Adonis Blues at some sites on the North Downs.

Friday 5th May 2011

2011-05-06T21:40:00.000+01:00

Two Wheatears, including a fine male, in the Sweets Lane paddocks, East Malling this morning.

Wednesday 4th May 2011

2011-05-04T22:24:00.001+01:00

The Ring Ouzel was still present (distantly) in the Paris Farm Paddocks, East Malling this morning and was still being reported late in the afternoon. Blackbirds, Pied Wagtails, Magpies and Starlings all hopped around in the same paddock and a small group of Swallows scythed along the low turf nearby. A flyover Yellow Wagtail was also seen (per John Clements) in the afternoon and a Red Admiral was also on the wing along the footpath.

Nearby 2x Wheatears and a Little Owl were seen in the Sweets Lane this morning, with Yellowhammer, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Skylark and Linnet all singing along Easterfields. Gallagher's Gallop held Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Garden Warbler and Willow Warbler. A Cuckoo was also heard calling from the Easterfields/Sweets Lane area in the morning.

A unexpected sight was the BBMF Lancaster flying directly over the research station, East Malling at midday.

Tuesday 3rd May 2011

2011-05-03T22:24:00.001+01:00

Lots of news to catch up after from the last 3 weeks, but thanks to Ken Beckett I managed to catch up with a fine male Ring Ouzel in the Paris Farm Paddocks. A female Wheatear was also present (per Steve Nunn) so suddenly it's all happening! My ability to take a good photo hasn't approved during my extended break - come on you can see what it is! An April update will be published soon.

Wednesday 6th April 2011

2011-04-06T22:30:00.000+01:00

What a scorcher, but I only managed to get outside for the cycle into work. 8x Chiffchaffs, 1x Willow Warbler, a Blackcap singing but not seen (first for the year). Other birds seen along Gallagher's Gallop and the East Malling paddocks included 4x Bullfinches, 1x Nuthatch, 1x Yellowhammer, 4x Linnet, 2x Green Woodpecker, 1x Sparrowhawk (with a charm of Goldfinches 'bouncing' nosily above it!), 1x Little Owl and at long last my first Swallow of the year...phew! But no Wheatear - and there were 25 in a paddock in Crayford this morning!!!

Back at home in Barming this evening, 2x Jackdaws, 1x Pied Wagtail, 2x Collared Dove, 3x House Sparrows, 1x Wood Pigeon, 2x Chaffinch all sat out on my roof (not necessarily at the same time) while I mowed the lawn.

Monday 5th April

2011-04-05T22:11:00.001+01:00

Work, work, work - only a few snippets from the last week as I've been working my butt off! Common Buzzard over S (Research Station) on Monday 28th March. The North Street allotment Nuthatch became two on Saturday 2nd April, let's hope they breed.

A Small Tortoiseshell was found near Four Acres, East Malling. Today saw my first Willow Warbler of the year, singing along the path between Gallagher's Gallop and the Quarry, with up to 5x Chiffchaffs nearby. Masses of Stock Doves (+40) on the research station, feeding on some newly-harrowed land. Wood Anemones were in full bloom in Oaken Wood and signs of Bluebell flowers.

Still no Wheatear or Swallow, only a Wood Pigeon up on the hedge by the paddocks, but I'm off to Cornwall at the weekend so I imagine I'll see my first of the year down there.

Friday 25th March 2011

2011-03-25T20:33:00.042Z

A thick mist this morning but pay to finding any grounded migrants, I could hardly make out the gallop and paddock fences! A couple of Little Owls were found in to different locations and more Chiffchaffs were heard.

And when the fog clears where do you start looking for the Wheatear!

By lunchtime the sun was out and the mist burnt off but another scan of the paddock fences in East Malling (and there are a lot of them) failed to turn up a Wheatear or Black Redstart. However, looking to the skies I was pleased to see another 3x Buzzards drifting N over Paris Farm, East Malling with a Sparrowhawk drifting high above them.

A Mistle Thrush, hugging the ground and twisting it's neck around snake-like, made my heart beat that bit faster, I thought I might have an early Wryneck - but a second bird joined it and it showed itself for what it really was!

Mistle Thrushes - the right-hand bird was 'snaking' it's head around and lying low in the grass ala Wryneck!

I took a quick look at Ditton Quarry - Chiffchaffs singing but nothing else out of the ordinary. I checked out the 'orchid' rosettes that Greenie has been prodding me to check. Here's some pics Greenie - I've got a feeling they're Bee Orchids (?).

Lots of Bee flies around the quarry walls, no doubt females depositing eggs around the burrow entrances of the solitary bees that live there.

Thursday 24th March 2011

2011-03-24T20:21:00.012Z

Another cracking day but I was mostly confined to meetings and the office so no sightings to report except these two:

Hot air balloon and helicopter drifting over East Malling early this morning.

...and guess who was on board (click here)!

Another 'sundog' (above the plane)

..oh, and a bat species by the North St allotments, Barming at dusk last night (Wednesday) as I cycled back to work.

Wednesday 23rd March 2011

2011-03-23T22:26:00.002Z

Wall to wall sunshine and warm with it, and the first outing on my shorts this year! The Nuthatch was calling loudly from the Oaks near the allotments at the top of North Street and a Covey of 5x Bullfinches picked at the few unfurled buds on a hawthorn bush. All the East Malling Paddocks were checked this morning, and a bird on a distant fence post got my heart racing for a Wheatear...but it turned out to be a Meadow Pipit and was eventually joined by nine others. A rare sight for this part of the patch were a pair of Mallards on a small roadside pool just off The Rocks Road.

A quick sortie at lunchtime into Barming Woods looking for reptiles once again drew a blank despite there being some ideal sun-baked habitats for them.

A good tally of 5x Peacocks and 1x Comma sunned themselves on the cinder path at the west end of Oaken Wood.

A Bee Fly hovered around some emerging Coltsfoot and 3x Chiffchaffs flitted and called through the coppice.

Well it makes a change from using arrows!

Best sighting of the day, and unfortunately not recorded with a photo, were 5x Common Buzzards by Dilly Rogers as they soared and displayed over the Research Station, East Malling at 16:30 before slowly drifting N towards the Medway Gap - nice spot Dill! There seem to quite a few Common Buzzards on the move at the moment, with good numbers migrating across the E of the county (see PlanetThanet)

Tuesday 22nd March 2011

2011-03-22T22:15:00.000Z

The sun was slow to break through, but had disappeared again by lunchtime. Highlights of my cycle in to work were 8x Meadow Pipits on the wires by the Paris Farm paddocks, East Malling and 3x Chiffchaffs and 5x Jays on the ride gown the bridleway adjacent to Gallagher's Gallop. Not much at lunchtime so I did a few botanical studies! Finally a Spitfire mid-afternoon, seen from the office, heading low, NE over the Research Station - possibly returning from East Grinstead (Guinea pig club flyby)?

Monday 21st March 2011

2011-03-21T21:37:00.010Z

Foggy start with a distant Pheasant hidden in the mist at the top of Gallagher's Gallop. A couple of Chiffchaffs called and a scan of the East Malling Paddocks turned up a Little Owl, but no migrants.

By lunchtime the sun was out and it was warm...whey hey! A quick cycle back around the Oaken Wood track turned looking for butterflies and reptiles turned up 3x Commas - a perfect day for them. Skylarks exalted from ever field, I must have heard about six on patch today.

Sunday 20th March 2011

2011-03-20T22:17:00.001Z

With friends round for dinner I only managed an hour's walk from Barming to East Farleigh and back along the river. There's been a lot of clearance on the riverbank but it hadn't stopped a Chiffchaff call loudly from some of the newly exposed scrub. This evening was dramatic with firstly a glowing sunset and then an super perigee moon.

Sunset

Moonrise

Saturday 19th March

2011-03-20T22:09:00.000Z

A fine day, but unfortunately I was at work for a good part of it. Still the cycle in turned up the first Chiffchaff of the year on my patch, calling along the bridleway by Gallagher's Gallop.

A snatched hour with my eldest lad and a couple of his mates turned up 3x Lizard's, a Brimstone, 2x Comma and thousands of Wood Ants at a nearby site.

Along the wooded paths numerous puddles from yesterday's downpours reflected the blue sky and overhanging trees.

Thursday 17th March 2011

2011-03-17T08:12:00.004Z

Photo courtesy of Christian Billon

No not Swallows on patch yet (I leave that to Marc) but a photo sent to me yesterday by Christian Billon of a Swallow migrating up through his village France. If you look closely (double-click to enlarge) then you'll see two flies neatly placed on it's body below it's wing. Christian indicated they were there when it lifted it's wing.

Wednesday 16th March 2011

2011-03-16T21:39:00.002Z

Only 20 minutes in the fog at lunchtime. Like most bloggers I'm hunting out those first migrants so a tour of the East Malling paddocks ensued. No spring migrants and it was also my first Fieldfare-free day since November so spring must be just round the corner. However it was good to find a Little Owl in a new location - can you see him? Arrow aficionados see below:

Tuesday 15th March 2011

2011-03-15T21:03:00.002Z

A sunny day, the car at my disposal and thoughts of some of fantastic Adder sightings posted recently by fellow bloggers The Tortoise Man and Greenie had me thinking I might go looking for reptiles at lunchtime. I've been off patch quite a lot recently but as Paul's (The Tortoise Man) patch abuts mine it seemed silly not to take a lunchtime trespass to see what was about. Fifteen minutes in and with a bank of fog developing I'd only managed to find Blue, Great and Coal Tits - no snakes! However salvation came in the shape of a Paul, crounching, camera poised at the edge of a wooded path. He was locked onto a Lizard, his second of the day - and told me he'd also just seen an Adder.

Selfless to the last he not only retraced his steps and relocated the Adder for me but also pulled a magnificent-looking Grass Snake out the bag (metaphorically of course!). Excellent finds Paul, and great to catch up with you at long last.

Walking back to the car a pair of Nuthatches flitted and called in the tree tops, but a scan of some promising looking paddocks failed to turn up any migrants, but I know they're on their way ;-)

Monday 14th March 2011

2011-03-14T21:01:00.001Z

Wavy clouds - double click to enlarge

Back on my bike today after a four week absence. The Nuthatch, that until this Spring had been elusive, was calling and showing well in the Oaks just N of the allotments off North Street. With the sun out I half expected a Chiffchaff to be heard calling from the edge of Oaken Wood but it was all quiet apart from the repetitive calls of Great Tits. By Kiln Barn farm I disturbed three birds from the hedgerow and was surprised to find they were Reed Buntings, my first sighting of these on my cycle in. It really seems to have been a bumper winter for these on my patch.

A Scold of five Jays lived up to their collective noun as they flew over Gallagher's Underpass, and a lone Skylark sat out in full view on Gallagher's Gallop pasture. I checked all the paddocks and fences for a Wheatear but to no avail...may be next week?

And just for Warren - those arrows are back!

Sunday 13th March 2011

2011-03-13T20:44:00.002Z

Sunday afternoon in Mote Park. Maidstone with the kids but still managed a bit of birding ;-) At least 13x Med Gulls on the football pitches to the E of the Leisure Centre amongst the massed BH and Common Gulls - quite a gathering. I'm sure there are more (Simon had at least 15 on Tuesday) with the constant 'yaa-yaas' that were emanating from the the lake and surrounding pitches.

One bird had a green leg ring but I didn't have my bins and despite taking some photos I still can't make out what it says - any help appreciated! Video, click here.

Update: I heard back from Camille Duponcheel of the Med Gull Ringing Scheme who has confirmed the bird '3CU1' that was first ringed as a pullus in Zeebrugge, Belgium in June 2000. Since then there have been 60 sightings of the bird, predominantly from Finistere, NW France in the winter and the Isle of Wight in the summer. Must be on it's way back, in a round about sort of way - keep an eye out for it if you're visiting Bembridge this summer!

Saturday 12th March 2011

2011-03-12T19:58:00.000Z

At work for a good portion of the day, but was pleased to get a couple of texts from Clare (also at work) to say firstly she had a 'sundog' and then a 'halo'. Never been into these optical phenomena but now I'm hooked. Photos courtesy of Clare, edited OTT by me.

Sundog (left) and halo (cente) around sun (right)

Wednesday 9th March 2011

2011-03-09T20:26:00.001Z

Photo courtesy of John Robinson

Off work today looking after my youngest and a stop off in West Malling this morning yielded my first identifiable butterfly of the year - a Red Admiral basking on the wall outside the Baptist Church, Swan Street. No Waxwings today that I saw in King Street, but the cotoneaster was stripped bare. Another cotoneaster on Norman Road remain untouched...strange! John Robinson who originally found the birds has kindly send me some photos from the weekend, a selection of which are below:

All courtesy of John Robinson

Driving back along the A26 between Teston and Barming I picked a large flock of seagulls on the fields N of the road. This filed has held Med Gull in the last couple of years, and with 15+ seen recently in Mote Park I was hopeful I'd be picking one out amongst the flock. 125+ BH Gulls later I was no the richer! Oh well, I'll keep checking. Final bit of birding of the day was a Common Buzzard S over the M20 just E of jcn 7.

Tuesday 8th March 2011

2011-03-08T21:47:00.000Z

A hard frost carpeted Barming this morning but quickly melted away as the sun rose. My walk in to work yielded 30 species including previously 'hard-to-get' species Nuthatch and Goldcrest in the oaks near the allotments off North Street. Five LBB Gulls mingled with BH, Common, Herring and Common Gulls on Gallagher's pasture opposite the underpass. Redwing, conspicuous by their absence in recent days made a reappearance, along with a smattering of Fieldfare in the orchards alongside the Tonbridge Rd, Barming.

Exotic-looking tree blossom (species unknown?)

At lunchtime the wind had changed to a SW and although breezy it felt warmer. A shrub and tree on the research land were in full blossom, the later was 'humming' with bees. I wandered over to Ditton Quarry which was fairly quiet apart from a Kestrel (with lots of it's pellets scattered around), Goldcrest and a few charms of Goldfinches.

Kestrel pellets

A Smooth Newt was found under a refugia.

Smooth Newt

Most unusual find of the day had to go to this:

...a 34D bra hanger, in bright pink....wonder what the story behind that was...or perhaps I don't! Amazing what gets discarded in the most unlikely of places, needless to say I didn't see the person who had discarded it.

Monday 7th March 2011

2011-03-07T21:10:00.005Z

A beautiful crisp, sunny morning...at last. What hadn't been touched by frost had been dabbed with dew, like on the Wood Pigeon feather above, a remnant of a Sparrowhawk attack.

A pair of Bullfinches fed near the oaks just N of the water tower and the hedgerow was alive with Great Tits and Blue Tits.

Thanks to John I got news that Waxwings were still present in West Malling, and having not had the fortune of seeing them in sunshine at East Malling I thought I'd go the mile or so off patch. When I arrived a couple of hearses were being moved around, which kinda summed it up, it looked pretty much dead! I could see where the Waxwings had being feeding, Cotoneaster berries littering the floor and car bonnets.

I glanced up at a Silver Birch next to the Cotoneaster and there were 3x Waxwings sitting quietly and unperturbed by the comings and goings below them. A tap on a car window, and John's happy face beamed out at me - I jumped in and John pointed out another Waxwing hidden under the canopy of the tree. Over the next 30 minutes or so 20+ birds descended on the bush, often flying off as quickly as they arrived. Talking to some of the residents of the flats it seems they have been around for a week or so.

Here's a couple more - and thanks to John for finding them and for the updates.

Red eye - reflection of all those berries I'm sure

Stopping off at Bradbourne Lake on the way back I was amazed at the numbers of Coots on the lake, 40+ and four Tufted Ducks were a new addition.

Stuff dreams are made of (for Warren)

Finally, I'll be out looking for Saturn again tonight. Using my scope I got excellent views of it - pretty mind blowing. As you can see my skills at planetary photos are just as good as my avian ones ;-)

Saturn located with the aid of Stellarium - just remember to enter your location otherwise you'll be looking at the wrong thing!

Friday 5th March 2011

2011-03-04T23:06:00.000Z

Thirty species on the walk into work from Barming this morning, including a Gull spectacular: Black-headed (x23), Common (x15), LBB (x3) and a flyover GBB. Best sighting went to a very vocal Nuthatch calling high up from the oaks by the North Street allotments, not as exciting as having a Sperm Whale on patch but my first for the year and only the third on patch.

The unique wind vane atop one of the Research buildings -

demonstrating the effect of different Malling rootstocks (M series) on fruit tree vigour

There was still a chill in the air with the easterly wind persisting, but eventually the sun came out and I checked the plots to see what was about.

The Linnets were still looping nervously around the tunnel frames, occasionally perching up on them, and were joined by three Skylarks. A quick check of the Miscanthus plots turned up 5+ Reed Buntings, and then it was back to work!

Thursday 4th March 2011

2011-03-03T22:39:00.001Z

Some sunshine at last - not much on the bird front, and my hope of finding a Med Gull amongst a flock of 40+ Black-headed Gulls on the Research site didn't materialise. At least the Daffs were out and the Great Tits were calling!

Wednesday 2nd March 2011

2011-03-02T22:59:00.001Z

After spending the end of last week and the weekend adding roving records from nearby Atlas squares it was nice to be back on patch. I'd borrowed a colleagues camera and gone for a wander without my bins - fatal! I decided to check out an area of set-aside at the back of the strawberry tunnels. Despite it's industrial appearance this area has been quite productive over the winter with Linnets, Meadow pipits and Skylarks all in evidence. I wasn't disappointed today with a flock of 50+ Linnets and 7x Skylarks.

Linnets on the move

A large raptor caught me off guard as it drifted above me, I thought it was a Buzzard but without my bins couldn't be sure so had to resort to firing off some shots with an unfamiliar camera! The shot below confirmed it was a Common Buzzard which as the name suggests are becoming noticeably common on my patch!

Checking out the Miscanthus plot I was pleased to see 9x Reed Bunting still around. Three cock Pheasants strutting their stuff added some colour to an otherwise gloomy day.

Still without a bike I walked home, taking in the huge tangerine sun and my old mate the Little Owl who put a bit of a display on for me (see video here) and even gave me a wink at the end of this one.

Thursday 24th February 2011

2011-02-24T21:12:00.000Z

At last some blue sky and a pleasant walk in to work. Everything was in song and I was lucky to see 34 species en route, the highlights being: a pair of Kestrels (Oaken Wood), Little Owl, 2x GS Woodpeckers, 2x Grey Herons, Linnets, Common/Herring/Black-headed and LBB Gulls and a lone Brambling (opposite Ditton Lab) - everything seemed to be paired up. Best of all, and you'll probably laugh, were a pair of Mallards (no 52 for Oaken Wood if you can count fly-overs) that zipped in, over Oaken Wood and onto Gallagher's pasture just S of Kiln Barn Farm. As rare on this part of my patch as a 'Coot in Pittswood'.

When you've got no water on your patch this is as exciting as it gets!

By lunchtime the sun had disappeared in East Malling and it looked like Armageddon was on it's way.

I covered another section of the West Malling & Mill Street tetrad, taking in Clare Park and Broadwater, and was lucky to add an elusive Coal Tit to the BTO Atlas. Both Skylark and Pheasant which I expected to easy ticks today failed to materialise.

There, on the nuts, best I could do without invading a resident's privacy

By the time I came to go home the sky had once again changed and a dramatic sunset was forming, hopefully indicating fair weather tomorrow?!

Wednesday 23rd February 2011

2011-02-23T22:20:00.001Z

Today the weather was pretty dire but a peak over my garden fence in Barming saw a good flock of Fieldfare feeding on the wet grass. At lunchtime I walked over to the West Malling and Mill Street tetrad. I spent most of my time in the overgrown orchard just S of the railway line and Cottenham Close, East Malling. The old fruit trees were dripping in Lichens and Moss, quite a sight.

Despite the drizzle it was full of life; Blue and Great Tits constantly calling, Blackbirds feeding along the many paths and three new tetrad ticks in the form of 7x Bullfinches, 2x Goldcrests and a flyover Herring Gull. A Little Egret was also seen on the Watercress Beds near Springhead.

Tuesday 22nd February 2011

2011-02-22T22:20:00.001Z

Back to work yesterday after my mishap last week. I managed to walk into the Aylesford tetrad by Calves Leys Cottage and added Yellowhamer (x10), Coal Tit (x2) and LBB Gull to that square.

Monday 14th February 2010

2011-02-15T17:35:00.003Z

Weather wise it was good, everything in the woods was glistening as I cycled into work and as the day progressed the developing, warm sunshine made it feel almost Spring like.

A Marsh Tit found calling off Sweets Lane made a new record for the Oaken Wood winter tetrad and a butterfly, my first for the year, fluttered ahead of me as I cycled along The Heath, East Malling but frustratingly dipped over a hedge before I could catch up with it.

It was one of those days where life was good. Unfortunately it all went wrong from there, and on the last leg of my cycle home at 18:00 an idiot decided to drive straight into me. I didn't know much about it until I found myself sitting on the roof of a car as it was being driven down Heath Road, Barming. By some miracle, not only did I survive shattering the windscreen with my head and the flip that put me on the roof but I managed to get away with only cuts and bruises. The headlamp on my helmet must have taken most of the force as it was found embedded in the windscreen, and I was later told by the A&E doctor, in no uncertain terms, that if I hadn't have been wearing a helmet I might not have been around to see the 15th February. Someone was looking over me.

I like to leave an impression

Needless to say my bike was mangled, so no more cycles in for a short while, and I suppose on the plus side the 3.5hours spent in A&E saved from having to go through all that smoochy, lovey-dovey Valentine's stuff! Phew, I live another day.

Sunday 13th February 2011

2011-02-13T21:36:00.000Z

No photos today - too miserable! I snatched an hour and a half to try and fill in the gaps off the BTO Winter Atlas records for nearby Aylesford (those highlighted in red were needed for the tetrad) . I was pleased to see a large flock of Meadow Pipits (26) and Stock Dove (45+) in the rough grassland field just N of the Cemex quarry. A scan of the quarry turned up Mallard, Teal, GC Grebe, 45+ Cormorants, Common, Black-headed, Herring, LBB and GBB Gull. Feral Pigeon was my next target and proved quite a challenge - I couldn't believe I was searching them out! Luckily The Forstal Road industrial estate provided the ideal habitat and turned up 14 birds...phew. Onto the Friars which added Coot, Moorhen, GS Wood, Long-tailed Tit, Sparrowhawk, Canada, Greylag Geese and two Black Swans! Nine new species, not bad for one and half hours work, but amazingly no Grey Heron despite a large Heronry being located in an adjacent square or Kestrel!

Later, on a trip with family and friends to the Ferry Boat Inn, Harty Ferry, Sheppey, we managed a Spoonbill on the saltmarsh in front of the pub, between courses.

Also news of some more Waxwings locally - 20+ reported at 13:30 on the Oxley Shaw estate, Leybourne. Some of the Snodland birds wandering???

Saturday 12th February 2011

2011-02-12T20:27:00.002Z

Only birding sighting of note was an unfortunate female Blackbird that flew into one of my French doors. Luckily it was only stunned and after being kept warm in my hands it took flight apparently no the worse for the experience.

Friday 11th February 2011

2011-02-11T21:59:00.003Z

Approx 150 Starling lifting off. North Downs as a backdrop. All browns and greys today.

Wet drizzle again. Only a short trip out at lunch (surreally passing a group of rifle-carrying officers from the City of London Police...I didn't dare take a picture!). I cycled up Easterfields and Sweets Lane round the back of East Malling to try and add some records for the NE corner of the Oaken Wood tetrad. Target species were Common Gull, Stock Dove, Meadow Pipit and Skylark which were all distinct possibles on the small corner of farmland in what is predominately a wooded tetrad. Well I scored one out of four, but it all adds to BTO records - a Skylark exhalting the smallest patch of blue that broke through the greyness...lovely! A large flock of Fieldfares were feeding with 200+ Starlings on a newly cultivated field, and a lone Herring Gull and Cormorant flew over west.

Moving onto the N end of Oaken Wood proper I quickly picked out the Gallup of Redpolls, at least 25 with a few Goldfinches associating with them. Long-tailed, Blue and Great Tits were also feeding on the Birch seeds. The Little Owl sat out in his usual position near Kiln Barn Farm.

Thursday 10th February 2011

2011-02-10T16:47:00.004Z

Not much to report in such awful conditions today from East Malling today. Lots of Fieldfares and Redwings (they're back!) feeding on the ground in the Genebank on the Research Station. Best sighting of the day, and totally unexpected was a Peregrine SW over North Street as I walked my lad back from school at 15:30. This is the first for me on the Barming part of my patch, not sure where it's come from (Gallagher's Quarry?) but represents no 55 for the Barming Heath tetrad.

On the way back from picking my youngest up from Nursery I cut through Barming Woods along North Pole Rd and picked out at least five Toads stirred into action by today's wet weather. Taking the photo of the Toad reminded me of the shot I took of a Pollack on Hythe beach on Sunday....not too dissimilar in appearance eh!

Wednesday 9th February 2011

2011-02-09T20:29:00.003Z

Highlights of the cycle in this morning (Barming to East Malling Research via Oaken Wood): 2x Jay, GS Woodpecker, Song Thrush, Bullfinch, 2x Green Woodpecker, Little Owl, 2x Kestrel and 15x Lesser Redpoll. Not bad for 15 minutes!

I spent my lunch hour studying the Reed Buntings on the Miscanthus plot on the Research station. They're such a rare visitor on patch I thought I'd make the most of them. Their numbers had doubled from yesterday's estimate, I reckoned on 26+ today but they were so in erratic in flight, twisting and looping and then quickly dropping down to the ground that I couldn't keep count. I only managed the count of 26 by scanning the birds that had dropped down on top of a windbreak.

A couple of Yellowhammers were also in with them, easily picked out by their bright yellow heads. Miscanthus must really be a home from home for these birds, but with very little in the way of seed heads I can't see what they're sustaining themselves on?

Josie and Kieron, thanks for your comments, I've replied to you, see comments at the end of the 30th January and 8th February posts respectively. Kieron keep up the good work with the blog, let me have any records you've got from Offham between November-now and I can enter them on the BTO Atlas website to fill in some of those gaps!

Tuesday 8th February 2011

2011-02-08T22:54:00.001Z

Frosty and foggy at first light, but this soon lifted and thawed to give a long-awaited, windless, blue-sky day. Oaken Wood was alive with bird song; Song Thrush, Blue Tit, Great Tit and Robin approved the change in weather.

By Gallagher's Gallop a Green Woodpecker looped across the track, and a glance across to the band of silver birches revealed a Gallup of Redpolls. I spent a good half hour scanning through the 35+ birds, which became literately a pain in the neck!

They all looked to be Lesser Redpolls to me, although I caught a brief glimpse of one that I wasn't sure about, it kinda looked grey!

Back out at lunch to check if the Redpolls were still around (they weren't) I was elated to see a couple of Buzzards drifting over the N edge of Oaken Wood and into East Malling airspace (no 79 for East Malling tetrad).

The birds seemed to be interacting and the darker bird kept trying to lock talons and twisting around (displaying?). Eventually they drifted apart and the pale bird (juvenile) drifted back to Oaken Wood. It had warmed up nicely now and I half expected a butterfly to flutter past, but I had to be content with a Ladybird tucked up in the seed head of a Clematis.

A Coal Tit was another welcome addition to the day list and the Little Owl was in it's usual spot.

Checking my strawberry plots on the Research Station in the afternoon I picked a large flock of Gulls on some newly-ploughed land, 90+ predominantly Black-headed but also some Common and Herring Gulls.

I put up 40+ Linnets from some set-aside as I cycled past, and 10x Skylarks and a lone Yellowhammer followed.

I noticed some birds flitting around a plot of Miscanthus and presumed they were more Yellowhammers of Linnets but as I got closer I realised they were Reed Buntings! I've only had one on the Research Station site, a lone birds 5-6 years ago, but this was Mural of 13 birds! Lovely - no 80 for the tetrad.

Sunday 6th February 2011

2011-02-06T22:58:00.001Z

The only birding this weekend was spent off patch, an hour at Dymchurch slotted in between a family shopping trip to Ashford and visiting an elderly relative in Hythe. A small group of Northern Long-tailed Tits have been in the area since November 2010 and I couldn't resist stopping by to see if I couldn't get sight of these little beauties. I was in luck, the birds were feeding in the tree directly above where I parked my car - I opened the door and was met by the flock! Another couple of birders were on site and we watched as they spent some time in the garden of the house to the west of the churchyard, sheltering from the strong wing in ivy and forsythia. Four birds in total were counted...I just couldn't get enough of them (I'm expecting a crude comment from Warren or Greenie!)

I made a quick visit to Hythe seafront to see if the Purple Sandpipers were on the rocks, but they weren't found...not surprising given the strength of the waves. A group of Turnstones were picking away further along the beach and as I walked towards them I started finding dead Pollack along the tide line, and then more, and then more! Not sure why they were beached but there were other fish with them, all looking pretty freshly-dead.

Not sure of the ID of the flatfish or the fish second from the bottom right? Greenie?

Wednesday 2nd February 2011

2011-02-03T21:47:00.001Z

Silhouetted blobs in Birch

Misty and cold, and for some reason I took a slight detour on my cycle into work to take in the track that runs along the N edge of Oaken Wood. I was glad I did as I picked out 25+ Redpolls feeding at first distantly in the Silver Birch strip that runs alongside the track, where I'd seen a flock in December. I checked this part of the patch a couple of times since the New Year but drew a blank so I presumed they'd moved on.

I managed to get a bit closer to the flock and despite my best efforts to string a Mealy they all appeared to be Lesser Redpoll. I was a bit suprised as most flocks of Redpoll I've heard of this year have held at least one Mealy (a influx year like the Waxwings so it seems)....but shouldn't be greedy, guess I've had my fill in previous winters. Needless to say I'll be topping up the little feeding station I've set up with Niger seed tomorrow to see if I can't bring them down for a closer look!

Another fine morning! Bike discarded in the haste to get onto the Redpoll flock!

Tuesday 1st February 2011

2011-02-01T20:53:00.001Z

Not to much report from my cycle ride in except a largish flock of Herring Gull (20+) over the Gallagher's Quarry, not the commonest of birds in those number on patch. Closing my eyes and hearing the "kyow" calls I imagined I was at the seaside....it certainly felt cold enough!

Again only a very short lunch today so I popped out to the corner orchard, East Malling Research and totted up 6+ Brambling, and shed loads of Fieldfare and Starling (where have all the Redwings gone?)....in the rain!

Three of today's Brambling - Starlings on the wires

Monday 31st January 2011

2011-01-31T20:42:00.001Z

With my legs warmed up from yesterday's cycle ride, I breezed into work, taking 5x Bullfinches at the N perimeter of Oaken Wood and my old mate, the Little Owl, back in his usual haunt at Kiln Barn Farm.

The sun showed signs of putting it's hat on (hip, hip hooray) at lunchtime, so I decided to trespass on Alan Woodcock's nearby patch. Mike Easterbrook joined me and as we arrived at the chosen Cotoneaster tree the Waxwings duly left! Luckily Alan was on the scene and guided us to the privet hedge just down the road, where despite the dull light we got some excellent views of 21x Waxwings, a few Blue Tits and a Chaffinch! A very quick look at Little Alders Lake turned up a Goldeneye that seemed to be favouring an aquatic lifestyle, barely breaking the surface to get decent views. And when I got back to work the sun shone non-stop until dusk!

Sunday 30th January 2011

2011-01-30T22:15:00.000Z

I took in 5x TTV BTO Atlas this afternoon on a 9-mile bike ride with my two lads. They were all centred around TQ75, starting off in my own tetrad of Barming Heath and crossing into Aylesford, Allington, Maidstone, Tovil and back. Amazingly I only managed to add four new species to the winter atlas; 2x Coot by Allington Marina and Jackdaws on the walls of Allington Castle (Allington TQ75N), A Grey Wagtail at Allington Lock (Sandling & Pratling St TQ75P) and Chiffchaff next to the toilet block between the two bridges at Fairmeadow, Maidstone (Tovil TQ75M). I was amazed not to add more to the Allington square which has a winter species list of only 31, now including a Coot which was apparently the first one in 4 years if you believe the Atlas records! I fancied my chances at ticking off Mute Swan, Pheasant, Grey Heron, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Fieldfare, Jay and Goldfinch which are still absent from this square, but despite locating some ideal habitats for all these species I couldn't fine them! Perhaps they aren't there?!

Saturday 29th January 2011

2011-01-29T20:59:00.000Z

A couple of hours this morning on patch, completing the BTO Atlas second winter TTV for Barming Heath (TQ75H). The obvious change from the last TTV was the massive increase in Fieldfare and Chaffinch numbers in the South Street Orchards, there were literately swarms of the latter, but no a single Brambling amongst them! Most of the walk was rather disappointing, but I managed to add to new species to the tetrad in the form a single Moorhen near the only water body in the square, a small, hidden pool to the east of the Hospital and 5x Siskins feeding nearby Alder trees.

A huge, heavily-laden Cotoneaster bush hid a good number of Redwings, but unfortunately no Waxwings...though I wouldn't be surprised if doesn't get 'discovered' before the winter is out.

The old mental hospital site only yielded a single Goldcrest today. The site has been converted into very nice flats/houses, but it's austere façade still gives me the creeps.

It has a good collection of mature trees in the grounds including redwoods and London Planes, and only on of these planes a bright bracket fungus was taking hold...I really must gen up on the names of these and not have to rely on Greenie!

A footpath along the northern perimeter of Maidstone Hospital took me temporarily out of the square but provided some excellent sightings; it was alive with finches and tits with a GS Woodpecker and a couple of Jays thrown in for good measure.

Bullfinches being as elusive as ever!

This afternoon I made a fleeting visit to East Malling Research to seed the track and saw at least one Brambling sitting in the nearby cherry trees. To top of the day The Bald Birder popped by on a rare visit into Kent - little was said about the Slaty-backed Gull! He did tell me he'd added a link to his flickr site which included his famous shot (well it made all the nationals) of the Humpback Whale breaching off the Isles of Scilly, check it out, along with lots of other goodies here.

Friday 29th January 2011

2011-01-29T20:17:00.003Z

Just a quick glance in the corner orchard before going into work - 5x Brambling feeding on the seeded track.

Thursday 27th January 2011

2011-01-27T20:17:00.008Z

Just 10 minutes outside today so at the risk of same old, same old I visited the corner orchard on the Research Station, East Malling to see if the Bramblings were still showing. The orchard had been pruned and mown and surrounding windbreaks flayed yesterday so I wasn't sure they'd still be around. The orchard was surprisingly alive, perhaps a combination of the brisk north-east chill and the disturbance exposing new food sources.

I was pleased to immediately pick out 3x Bramblings sitting out in a Cherry tree. Despite the change in wind direction the gloom of the last week persisted and I didn't reckon on getting any decent photos, especially as the birds were fairly distant. However the birds seemed quite content and I managed to creep a bit closer to get probably the best photo I've got of a Brambling...shame the sun couldn't have come out! The birds knew I was there but didn't fly, although looking back at my snaps one bird was giving me the evils (not dissimilar to the stare a Hawfinch gave me in my garden in 2008)!

Check out those eyes!

Wednesday 26th January 2011

2011-01-27T19:59:00.002Z

A slippery cycle into work, with Bullfinches, Jay and GS Woodpecker the highlights. Drawing up at the seeded track on the research station I picked out 8x Brambling washing in the puddles along with 20+ Chaffinches. No camera though! A couple of Herring Gulls were 'stomping' on the grass no doubt trying to raise a few earthworms to eat.

I managed 10 minutes out at lunchtime, no Bramblings probably due to the Sparrowhawk that glided low through the orchard as I arrived. The only other sighting of interest was a rare one, Twisden and his chums slipping past on their return from a ramble, blurred photo on account of their great speed. 'No Exit', a great motto/mantra to live by boys!

Monday 24th January 2011

2011-01-24T21:41:00.000Z

The corner orchard was being pruned when I arrived at work this morning and then the windbreaks were flayed so as I expected it was pretty bird less by lunchtime. The pruning has also involved knocking the apples from the trees that the Waxwings were feeding on so I suspect they won't return. I made my way to Ditton Court Quarry, picking up 5x Siskins in the alders just N of Ditton Lab. The quarry was as usual; Fieldfares, a lone Redwing, a couple of Bullfinches, vocal GS Woodpecker, Jays and Magpies and 'charming' Goldfinches.

I noted what looked to be 14x Bee Orchid rosettes in a part of the quarry I've not seen them before and also an interesting bracket fungus, but I have no idea what it is (Greenie?).

The tree it was growing on was covered with lichen, moss, fungus and bugs - a micro world.

Fame at last!

2011-01-23T22:34:00.003Z

Right Click to enlarge

Sunday 23rd January 2011

2011-01-23T19:42:00.001Z

An unexpected bonus in the form of 15+ Waxwings slightly off patch in Paddock Wood. We were just to embark on a family outing to London, weekend engineering work had forced us from East Malling to Paddock Wood. As I walked through the car park I commented that I thought I'd heard a Waxwing, to which my wife said, "What like those" and pointed to a collection of birds in the a tree adjacent to booking office! It's the first time she'd seen them so all credit, but I guess they're pretty unmistakable! With 10 minutes to spare until our train arrived I watched them drop down to feed on the Pyracantha bushes next to the '20 minute' bays and chatted with a couple of interested bystanders. The only one who didn't seem to be enjoying it was a male Blackbird who was very defensive of the larder he was slowly seen being stripped before his eyes!

Some photos below, but the old excuses I'm afraid....light was terrible and I was using a tiny compact x3 zoom.

On reaching London, and walking up the path past the 'big guns' to the Imperial War Museum I heard more Waxwings trilling, to the east by the London Plane trees, but having already subjected my family to one group of Waxwings I found I was being hurried on and didn't catch sight of them. They're everywhere.

Friday 21st January 2011

2011-01-21T21:20:00.003Z

No lunch break today so I had a quick 10 minutes before work to check the seeded track (becoming a bit of an obsession of mine!). 3x Brambling made a brief appearance, and I managed a few shots in the dank drizzle. It snowed an hour later, but then developed into a beautiful, bright sunny day, but I was stuck indoors...grrrr.

Thursday 20th January 2011

2011-01-21T21:16:00.000Z

A short lunch break today so not much to report. 1x fine looking Brambling made a fleeting appearance on the seeded track. The only other highlights were a couple of Mute Swans on Bradbourne Lake, the first this year, as were these Snowdrops.

Tuesday 18th February 2011

2011-01-18T20:42:00.000Z

A lovely sunny day but only 6x Brambling to report on the Research Station, flushed by a Sparrowhawk from the corner orchard and looped overhead, brilliant white undersides as they made their way towards the Genebank. No photos despite my best efforts so here's some sent to me today from the father of one of last year's French students. We met one evening and spent a few hours watching a Nightjar in Oaken Wood. Photos I aspire to take - especially the Nuthatch, thanks Christian!

Monday 17th February 2011

2011-01-18T20:33:00.001Z

Lots of chaffies, but no Bramblings on the deck

An awful day - non-stop rain. I decided to check out one of the seeded tracks to see if I couldn't get some better snaps of a Brambling. I used one of the work pickups as a hide, and shelter. Thirty plus Chaffinches came down to feed, along with a couple of Blackbirds, but the only Brambling I saw was in the top of some adjacent cherries and refused to come down to be snapped!

Distant Brambling that preferred rotting apples to bird seed!

Sunday 16th January 2011

2011-01-16T18:58:00.002Z

The best day of the month but unfortunately with prior commitments I couldn't get out to do the birding I'd like to have done. A roundabout route allowed me to snatch sight of 11x Teal on the River Medway opposite New Hythe railway station and a brief sortie into work added a single Brambling in the Genebank and 17x Pied Wagtail (a record count for me on site) on the lawn of Bradbourne House.

Saturday 15th January 2011

2011-01-15T20:52:00.003Z

I didn't manage to get out on patch today, but browsing on the Web picked up some excellent photos that David Armitage took of Waxwings in Ditton Court Quarry on 2nd January (the same day I picked up the Waxwings on the research station). His pictures can be seen here. David has since contacted me to say he had 17x Waxwings that day feeding on berries in the SW corner of the Quarry, and also drinking from nearby puddles - a good record for the Quarry, thanks David.

Friday 14th January 2011

2011-01-14T21:29:00.001Z

Just a quick post to report a quick sortie around the East Malling Research site at lunch today. I had put seed down on one of the orchard tracks to try and attract Brambling down, and I did see one briefly when I checked but the chicken wire across the gate precluded getting any pictures.

I sat it out for another 10 minutes (in the rain!) and saw the following coming to feed or wash in the nearby puddles: 5x Blackbirds, 2x Magpie, Dunnock, Robin, Fieldfare, Stock Pigeon, 10+ Chaffinches and eventually 6x Brambling...oh and a Grey Squirrel. The weather was awful and I only managed one crappy shot of the Brambling but I think you can just about make out what it is (strange the Squirrel snap turned out so well)!

The Genebank was pretty much deserted, apart from a cock Pheasant strutting around the base of the trees. The Medlars looked just about ready to eat - looking at fruit on my lunch hour, it must have been bad!

Next stop was Bradbourne, again nothing out the ordinary, but a bit of variety: 83x Canada Geese, 21x Moorhen, only 43x Coot, 3x Little Grebe, 1x Shoveler, 9x Mallard, 2x Grey Heron, 1x Green Woodpecker, 14x Black-headed Gull, 3x Herring Gull, 5x Mistle Thrush and 6x Redwing.

Wednesday 12th January 2011

2011-01-12T18:32:00.001Z

A quick scan of the corner orchard at East Malling Research on my way into work turned up 5x Brambling, mostly washing and drinking from the puddles on the dirt track, but a couple flew up to the trees giving a brief opportunity to get a snap...again in abysmal light conditions.

Just before lunch I saw Eddie scanning the orchards, he'd had no luck with Waxwings but hopefully he managed a Brambling. As much as I've loved scanning that corner orchard the last few days I felt I needed a change of scenery and so hitched a lift to Bradbourne Lake at lunchtime. Nothing out of the ordinary there but it made a refreshing change to see some of the regular birds without feeling any pressure to search for Waxwings. The lake held all the usual suspects; 43x Canada Geese, 47 Coots, 7x Moorhen, 9x Mallard and 3x lingering Shoveler (1 drake, 2 ducks). On land, a Grey Heron appeared irriated by my intrusion and took flight landing on the wall of the Hatton Fruit Garden, only to be irritated by a couple of Magpie. A Green Woodpecker, 2x Jay, Mistle Thrush, Goldcrest, Pied Wagtail and 20+ Redwing, feeding on the lawn of the House all added some interest.

Tuesday 11th January 2011

2011-01-11T21:09:00.001Z

A quick scan of the corner orchard, East Malling Research failed to find any Waxwings - I think they've finally moved on. A parcel of 20+ Linnets bounced, alternating between flapping and gliding on closed wings, across the orchard and dropped down onto the canes in the concept pear orchard. At lunchtime I scanned the orchard again - good number of Fieldfares and Redwings and a very distant Common Buzzard over towards the Downs by the Medway Gap.

I saw a couple of other birders scanning the orchard and catching up with them realised it was Sue and Frank who'd been on site last week. We chatted and walked down to the Genebank (orchard at the back of the churchyard), and Sue informed me they'd see Waxwings on site on Saturday (I'd not be able to find any on my short visit). Sue picked out a Green Woodpecker feeding on the orchard floor and a Brambling was amongst a flock of finches and thrushes that flew across the orchard from one of the trees adjacent to the road.

Sue & Frank: Good to catch up with you again, I hope you managed to find some more Brambling (or a Waxwing!). Re: Walland Marsh, the pub was the Woolpack Inn just of the A259 SE of Brookland. Take that road across the marsh towards Lydd and you'd be unlucky not to connect with a few Tree Sparrow or Berwick's Swan at this time of the year. Late afternoon opposite the pub should turn up Hen and Marsh Harrier at this time of the year with a Barn Owl to boot if you're lucky! Either view the 'marsh' from outside the pub or take the footpath to the grassy mound and scan across the whole area - things should start appearing as the light fades!

Monday 10th January 2011

2011-01-10T21:10:00.001Z

No waxwings today - the weather had returned to it's normal gloom. 2x Brambling were in the corner orchard with the massed thrush and Starling flocks as I walked into work, and a small exhaltation of 9x Skylarks danced over the stubble field near the weather station. At lunchtime searched the orchards again but they were fairly empty compared to recent days. 22x Common Gull and 2x Black-headed Gulls lined the bypass road. I tore myself away from the orchards on the research site to check out Ditton Quarry on the off chance any Waxwings had lingered there - but again no luck, although looking at the now bare berry bushed I'd photographed a few weeks ago I think they had paid a visit recently! The only birds of note were Goldfinches, they seemed to be everywhere and one charm feeding in an Alder tree held at least 40 birds. No photos as the light was so dismal! Good to catch up with John from Meopham, hopefully you got to see something!

Sunday 9th January 2011

2011-01-09T22:22:00.000Z

A lovely crisp morning, but treacherous on the roads evidenced by a VW Beetle in the field opposite St Margaret's in Barming. I was luckier and managed to get to the research station in East Malling without a mishap. The orchard next to the Kiln Barn Road gate was alive with Fieldfares (300-400), and the apples were 'furred' with frost. As I drove to the corner orchard a figure strode in front of me, Greenie, at last our paths had crossed! We chatted away and I was glad to hear Greenie had already connected with some Waxwings before I'd arrived, phew, I really thought he'd left it too late.

At one point this tree held Waxwing, Fieldfare, Redwing, Goldfinch and Chaffinch (double click to enlarge).

As we scanned across the orchard Greenie spotted another Waxwing on one of the Silver Birch trees and to cut a long story short we spent the next hour and half photographing Waxwings and winter thrushes, watching a Sparrowhawk scatter the massed flocks and chatted away about just about anything under the sun (discovering we're both villans - well who else are you supposed to support if you come from SE London!).

Sparrowhawk

John Clements graced us with his presence and after watching some Bramblings washing a puddle in the corner track I had to make my way home. A great morning and good company - looking forward to catching up soon Greenie ;-)

Saturday 8th January 2011

2011-01-08T19:36:00.000Z

After watching Fieldfares, Redwings and Starlings fly about this morning over my house in Barming (including one of the Albino Starlings) I decided to pay a quick visit to work to see if the Waxwings were still about. A forty minute search failed to turn any up (my first Waxwing free day in the last seven), although the church and corner orchards were initially very quiet. I managed 5+ Brambling, including 2 in the large tree opposite the Conference Centre entrance. Fingers crossed the Waxwings will be around tomorrow.

Friday 7th January 2011

2011-01-07T21:01:00.002Z

Wet weather dominated the day again, but a few waxwings remained on East Malling Research land which managed to lift my spirits somewhat. Seven Waxwings were seen in the orchard just before 09:00 before flying up to the wires,

and then onto a silver birch next to the 'Concept Pear Orchard' sign that lies next to the public footpath (nice bit of free advertising for Chingford there!).

Five or so Brambling were flitting around on the ground in the same orchard, but proved a challenge to photograph in the dismal light. One flew up briefly onto the alder windbreak and just about managed a record shot.

The sun decided to come out to play, albeit briefly, at lunchtime, but after waiting all week for a blast of brightness to photo the Waxwings they decided to go AWOL! I glimpsed three in the corner orchard but they quickly took flight strongly east. I checked the Genebank at the back of the church but there was nought about. The wires adjacent to the concept orchard were dripping with Starlings (over 200) and the wires near Egham Sheds had 150+ Fieldfares on them.

The corner orchard remained pretty much deserted when I returned - Sue and Pete from Burham were also looking for the Waxwings but to no avail. I continued to the orchards to the east of the site and glimpsed 3x distant Waxwings on top of the trees on the western perimter of Ditton Court Quarry where they seemed to be flycatching! One final check of the corner orchard before returning to work, once again with the couple from Burham, eventually turned up the goods - 13x Waxwings dropped into the same silver birch I'd seen them in this morning. Fantastic! I left the Sue and Pete watching them and walked back to the office, only for the flock to fly right over my head as I approached the main lab buildings.

Back in the office I casually glanced out of the window and saw 3x Brambling sitting out in the tree opposite my window! I don't claim to keep an 'office list', that might indicate I do nothing all day but stare out the window, but suffice to say that if I did (!) this would be a new tick ;-) A glance a short while later, out the same window, added Waxwing to the non-existent office list! A single bird with 2x Starlings (Sue and Pete - I saw you walk past the tree with another birder when the Waxwing was up there but didn't know how to attract you attention without scaring the bird off! NOTE: They saw it!).

Thursday 6th January 2011

2011-01-06T21:01:00.000Z

Heavy rain persisted all day making it uncomfortable and difficult to do much birding. Again I walked in from East Malling village this morning and quickly located 8+ Waxwings in the orchard nearest the main labs, sitting out the rain a top a couple of Walnut trees. A quick scan across the track turned up a male Brambling drinking from a puddle alongside 3x Chaffinches.

During my lunch hour I checked the orchards again - 20 Waxwings flew over the weather station and appeared to land in one of the middle orchards (away from the public footpaths) but I failed to relocate them. Over 500+ Starlings sat out on the wires, interspersed with Fieldfares and Redwings. On to the orchard at the back of the churchyard - this help good numbers of Redwings but Fieldfares numbers seem to really dropped off in the last 2 weeks. A cock Pheasant picked at the fallen apples and Chaffinches and Goldfinches hopped and flitted between the fruit trees. Amongst them I was pleased to find 6+ Brambling, especially after commenting to someone yesterday it had been a poor year for them. Walking back past the corner orchard I picked out 4 Waxwings; 2 sitting on the wires and another 2 feeding on apples close to the road alongside a male Brambling. I checked out where I'd seen the Brambling earlier and was amazed to see 15+ Bramblings, mainly males amongst a larger flock of Chaffinches. A couple of Lesser-blacked Gulls graced the air above the bypass road. Unfortunately the weather conditions were so bad that all my photos were particularly poor...even by no standards!

Wednesday 5th January 2011

2011-01-05T22:48:00.001Z

My short walk from East Malling Church to the Research labs turned up 4x Pheasants of Great East and 20+ Waxwings in the corner orchard.

By lunchtime the wind had picked up, and even though it was blowing from the south and the sun was out it still felt bitterly cold. The corner orchard was surprisingly quiet with only a smattering of Fieldfares and Redwings and a single Waxwing. Moving onto the Church Orchard (Genebank) I met a couple who had no luck with the Waxwings but a lot more Redwings, especially in the churchyard Yews. With things looking quiet in the orchards I made a quick sortie to Bradbourne Lake. A couple of drake Shoveler remained, along with 3x Tufted Ducks but even here things were quieter. 101x Canada Geese and a couple of Greylag Geese drifted around on the lake, 48x Black-headed, 5x Common and 3x Herring Gulls loafed on the Sports Ground. Back up to the orchards and I was pleased to meet the couple on their way back - they'd connected with at least 4x Waxwings sitting out on the Walnut Trees at the N end of the corner orchard. By the time I got there this has increased to eight and they dropped down to feed on apples giving more photo opportunities. I moved on to check some of the other orchards to see where the 52 birds seen this morning by Eddie Denson had gone. No luck, but 8x Common Gull were feeding on the grass area adjacent to the bypass road.

1w Common Gull on the Bypass grass

Returning to the orchard I disturbed a group of Waxwings, probably 12-15 birds which flew towards the Church orchard. John from Ditton had been watching them and informed me that he'd had a group strip a hybrid Rowan X Sorbus tree of it's berries outside his house in St Peter's Road a few days ago.

It was good to meet some of my blog followers and local birders today...all very well-behaved! And more photos.......

Tuesday 4th January 2011

2011-01-04T11:10:00.001Z

After dropping my youngest lad off at nursery I did a quick scan of the East Malling Research, surprisingly only a single Waxwing, although John Clements told me he had 30 or so earlier in the morning. Driving down Red Hill into Wateringbury I saw another 15+ Waxwings in a tree opposite The Oasts Business Village entrance - they're everywhere!

This is as good as the view from the road got today - better off staying on the footpath!

I had a text from Clare Hopson mid-afternoon to let me know there were now 81x Waxwings on the Research Station site. I popped by briefly at 15:15 and found John Clements watching 76x Waxwings in the orchard at the back of the church. 30 or so birds were sitting up in the tree at the public footpath intersection, although light was once again awful for photography but at least the sun finally shone, albeit at 4pm!

As I left a Red Ford Focus passed me and the occupant appeared to be searching for birds. Please can I remind everyone that this is a PRIVATE ROAD, please leave your car in East Malling (Church walk or the village hall car park behind the King & Queen pub always have spaces) and walk along the footpaths - you don't get better views than from here. Looking from the footpath you have the light behind you, from the road you're looking directly into the sun, when it's out!

Monday 3rd January 2011

2011-01-03T22:28:00.006Z

To cut a long story short I located at least 64 Waxwings at East Malling Research - there were more, I saw four flocks of birds but I only managed to get a count on three of these. They were very confiding and were feeding voraciously on the apples on the trees. Occasionally they'd fly off, and at one point I watched them until they landed in the trees on the western perimeter of Ditton Court Quarry (a new Quarry tick!). I'll let the photos do the talking (see below)! Also CLICK HERE for a video of some of the birds.
As I left the site at 11:15 I saw a flock of Waxwings (20+) land in Ditton Court Quarry but couldn't relocate them. John Clements pointed out a Siskin flying over. Both John Clements and James Bushnell reported seeing a single male Brambling in the same orchard as the Waxwings.

I also had a Lesser Redpoll feeding with a lone Goldfinch in a Silver Birch tree on the Tonbridge Road, Barming.

NOTE:

East Malling Research is a PRIVATE SITE with access to the public restricted to the use of the public footpath that runs across east-west the site. Under NO circumstances should anyone trespass into the orchards or research land or block the public path or private roadway. The Research Station reopens tomorrow after the Bank Holiday and there may be some disturbance in the orchards due to field operations.

If your visiting and get cold or hungry then check out Bramley's Restaurant next to the Conference Centre which serves hot and cold food and drink until 14:00!

Mixed flock on the wires (looking West towards East Malling Church), including Waxwing, Starling, Fieldfare and Redwing

Sunday 2nd January 2011

2011-01-02T21:33:00.006Z

I didn't manage to get out birding yesterday, so my first patch bird for 2011 was an albino Starling seen from the car, sitting out on an TV aerial on the Tonbridge Road, Barming.

This morning I decided to make amends and a walk from South Street to Maidstone Hospital to pick up my car (my wife was working and had taken the car at some ungodly hour) seemed like a good opportunity to see what was on patch. With my two lads in tow we managed 4x Black-headed Gulls on the TV aerial opposite our house first (TV aerials seem to be dominating my birding of late!). We managed 2x Red-legged Partridge, 2x Pheasant, 2x Red Grouse and a Woodcock on North Street - unfortunately all dead, the trophies of a friend's New Years Day shooting expedition. Onto Heath Road where I had the brief glimpse of what I'm 95% sure was a Waxwing. The rest of the journey was pretty uneventful in terms of birds, I'd hoped to get perhaps a Treecreeper or Nuthatch in the old Burial Ground but everything was decidedly dead!

I visited West Malling in the afternoon and after speaking to James Bushnell (and prompted by Greenie's comments) I thought I'd check the Research site in East Malling for Waxwings. I've been off since the 23rd December and have checked the site on a couple of occasions, but going into work on annual leave, even if it is to go birding, don't seem right! Parking by East Malling Church, and with the kids in tow I walked first past the Genebank (orchard just east of the churchyard) - everything went up and I was positive I had 20+ Waxwings in flight amongst the Fieldfares, Redwings and Starlings. I followed the flock East and sure enough in the apple orchard nearest the main lab buildings I counted 32x Waxwings. The light was pretty dire (it was almost dusk) but I managed a few record shots before the flock flew South at 15:45. Good to have them back, and savouring every minute of them!

Friday 31st December 2010

2010-12-31T20:12:00.001Z

Back in Barming after the Christmas tour. I was confined to the house most of the day, but still managed to see huge flocks of Redwings and Fieldfares that were spooked by a Sparrowhawk that made at least four passes down South Street. A couple of blog followers had emailed me while I was away with reports of Waxwings locally and late in the afternoon I followed up the lead from Donna.

The Barming Dozen - reduced to silhouettes in the glum of the last day of 2010.

I was really glad she'd contacted me because when I arrived at the location she'd told me about I saw 12x Waxwings perched together in a tree. Sorry if all this Waxwing talk is getting boring, but these were the first Waxwings I'd seen on the Barming section of the patch and even more satisfying that they were only a few minutes walk away from home. The birds were constantly dropping down into a private garden and conscious that the area is PRIVATE I knocked on the door of the garden owner to ask their permission to take some photos from outside their house. The owner was very interested in the birds an invited me to go into their back garden to take some snaps. The birds were feeding voraciously on a Rowan tree not 10ft away but the light was absolutely awful and most of the 'perfect' shots suffered from camera shake (not helped by my excitement).

The birds were even drinking out of the guttering at the front of the house as I bade farewell to Colin, the owner. I've posted a few record shots and wanted to thank Colin, the owner, for allowing me to see these birds so close up and Donna for alerting me in the first place, a great way to finish the year!

I so wanted this one to turn out OK! Oh well, New Year's Resolution - persuade someone to buy me a better camera (always blame the tools!).

A Happy New Year to one and all!

Monday-Tuesday 27th/28th December 2010

2010-12-31T19:49:00.001Z

Off patch big time with a couple of days in Swindon and then Birmingham. The trip to Swindon was most productive for birds with 10x Red Kites seen along the M4 between Reading and Swindon, by far the highest count I've had on this stretch, outnumbering Buzzards for the first time (saw three)...no doubt a consequence of the harsh weather.

Taking a breather on Monday afternoon I drove literately round the corner from sister-in-laws in Grange Park, Swindon and stumbled upon a large Blessing of Waxwings on Rowton Heath Way. Fourteen were perched on a lamp post over the road I was driving along and when I pulled over I saw more on rooves, aerials and in nearby trees - 42+ in total. It was late afternoon and the light was abysmal, confounded by fog starting to creep in, but I snapped away to at least get a record shot of this spectacle.

The trilling was fantastic, and when they took flight they swooped like Starlings low across the sky. Fantastic!

I returned to the same site the following afternoon - this time the light was even worse but I managed to count at least 49.

They were mainly sitting out in a single tree in a nearby close, and when I approached I noticed some were feeding on the ground with Redwings (which were also numerous in the area).

Sunday 26th December 2010

2010-12-26T17:41:00.003Z

With some many Waxwings being reported locally I'd thought I'd check out a couple of locations on my travels with my two lads.

I stopped off briefly to check the orchards at East Malling Research - lots of Redwings but little else.

Onto New Hythe where I only managed to get to the East Scrub from Brook House as the kids wanted to throw stones on the ice and break iced-up puddles! 12x Siskins flew overhead and I noticed the familiar figure of Mike Easterbrook emerging from the scub. We chatted briefly as the dinner at his daughter's was going cold! He had also had some Siskins earlier but also a Bittern in flight near Millstream. He asked if I'd seen the Waxwings that Phil Sharp had seen yesterday, I was just about to reply no when seven Waxwings lifted from the East Scrub and landed in an Alder tree on the periphery of New Hythe Industrial Estate. Two other birders, Den and Doreen appeared and as we moved towards the flock, Terry Laws emerged from the other side of the Scrub...quite a crowd! The Waxwings flew off south into the industrial estate, briefly drinking from the guttering on one of the warehouse rooves. I made my way back to Brook House and saw three Waxwings feeding in the Hawthorns along the track.

As I drove home I amazingly spotted another Waxwing a top of a Field Maple in the garden of one of the Preston Hall bungalows at the north end of Hermitage Lane, Aylesford. Quite how I spotted it when you look at the photo above I don't know (may be the huge arrow had something to do with it?!), but conveniently there was a lay-by opposite so I could stop to get a couple of record shots in the dying light.

Saturday 25th December 2010

2010-12-25T17:16:00.000Z

A walk down the River Medway between East Farleigh and Barming Bridges turned up a good count of ducks for this stretch of the river; 26x Tufted Ducks, 4x Pochard (3 male/1 female) and 1x Gadwall (a first for me on this stretch of water). Thirty-one Cormorants and a Kingfisher were also seen. However one bird stood out from the flock as it quite an extensive area of white around the base of the bill. It lacked the greyish vermiculations I'd expect on a Scaup, but did not have a 'tuft', had a less-angled head and lacked black on it's bill. The 'pale' area on the flanks seemed more extensive then on the neighbouring Tufted Ducks. It probably is a Tufted but I wondered if there was any possibility it was Tufted X Scaup hybrid?

Further along the river 35x Canada Geese and the hybrid Greylag X Canada Goose were seen and a single Snipe was flushed from one of the streams.

Friday 24th December 2010

2010-12-24T18:03:00.002Z

Now I've struggled to get decent pictures of decent birds this year, as Warren kindly reminds me on a regular basis. So I thought it was about time to resurrect my reputation (!) by capturing one last superb image before the year was out. Waxwings in the Winter sunshine would be ideal and I've waited and waited to get a picture of some in Pittswood, nr Hadlow but I think I'm flogging a dead horse there ;-) So I had to turn to another local patch watcher/blogger, Alan Woodcock, who had seen Waxwings on his patch yesterday. I left Barming at just after 9am this morning and arrived 15 minutes later in another world .....Snodland full of exotic Scandinavian birds. I quickly located the flock of 30+ birds and set to work to capture that 'decisive moment' shot. I was really pleased with my first effort (see above). It portrays the atmosphere of the 'twitch' with a few other subtle seasonal references - deserted suburban street (Christmas Eve....everyone's off shopping), smattering of snow (representing winter), the sky reflected off the car window (looking to the heavens for the Star), a wheelie bin awaiting it's last collection of the year (emptiness one can sometimes feel over Christmas - mentally, not physically of course), the three telephone wires traversing the skyline mirrowed by the three bollards and three clipped hedges below (references to the Holy Trinity, Three Kings, etc).....all classic stuff. But of course it needs avian interest to warrant inclusion on this blog...so there, deftly pointed out by one of my signature arrows is the flock of Waxwings. This will be the picture for 'December' in next year's 'Distant Nature' calendar (also featuring distant Glossy Ibis, Raven and Teal, and may be with kind permission of W. Baker some distant Snipe).

Having got the perfect shot I decided to get a more run of the mill photo:

A BIG thank you to Alan for alerting me to these birds - see some of his excellent photos HERE.

After the excitement of bagging the Waxwings I stopped off at Bradbourne House, East Malling (Private Site) to see if I couldn't find a White-fronted Goose. There's been a mini invasion of this species across Kent in the last few days and I thought one was long overdue in East Malling. Thirty minutes and 400+ Geese (310+ Greylag and 112 Canada) later I realised that once again East Malling had missed out.

Still there were some nice Shoveler on the lake (12 in total), 3x Pochard, 9x Tufted Duck and 15x Lapwings. I managed to get a shot of one of the Lapwings, a bit too close for my liking though ;-)

WISHING ALL READERS AND FELLOW BLOGGERS A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

Wednesday 22nd December 2010

2010-12-22T21:24:00.001Z

View from Barming Bridge towards East Farleigh

A very quick sortie down the River Medway, Barming this morning as I knew I wouldn't be able to get out at lunchtime - that would be spent in The Rising Sun for the East Malling Research Running Club Prize Giving (don't ask......I came third after leading the Grand Prix until November!).

Tufties - a rare River tick

There was no frost and much of the snow and ice of the last week had started to thaw but it was a dull, foggy morning. First birds up were 2x Tufted Ducks (a rarity for the river), then 3x Cormorants overhead followed by a flotilla of Canada Geese that also contained one Greylag and a Greylag x Canada hybrid.

Canada and Greylag x Canada hybrid Geese

One Snipe was flushed from 'Snipe Marsh' but I picked up the trail of what I presumed was a Woodcock. It meandered all over the snow, down into ditches and back up again with disturbed snow where presumably it had been feeding based on the 'probe' holes in the snow. I followed the tracks to a small copse and up flushed a Woodcock - too quick for a photo - that flew low over the railway in dropped into the field SE of St Margaret's Church. I felt like a right Davy Crocket (I'm sure that's prison slang for something?!)!

Signs of Woodcock - plenty of holes where it's been probing!

On the way through Bradbourne to the pub at lunchtime a lone Lapwing lifted up from in front of the house and the massed ranks of Grey Geese on the opposite bank of the lake had me wondering if a White-front wasn't with them?

Tuesday 21st December 2010

2010-12-21T20:01:00.001Z

Not much to report from my walk in to work - all very quiet. However at work the winter thrushes were in full voice, I could hear continuous 'chak-chaking' even from the office. Occasionally the flocks would land in the tress opposite my window - Chaffinches, Fieldfares and Redwings...no Waxwing yet though.

At lunch I checked out the orchard nearest the lab buildings - it was absolutely loaded with birds; predominantly Redwings, Fieldfares, Starlings and Wood Pigeons, but a sizeable flock of Greylag Geese (90+) were also feeding around the base of the apple trees. A lone Stock Dove sat on the wires, but was soon joined by the rest of the orchard when a female Sparrowhawk drifted low, quickly followed by a male Kestrel.

On the way to Bradbourne I encountered a/the Sparrowhawk (probably same bird) on another two occasions and flushed a Snipe as crossed the stream by Park Farm (right by JC's garden....has he got it on the garden list?!). Bradbourne Lake once again turned up the goods - I half expected some extra ducks as nearby New Hythe is all but iced over and the wildfowl had to go somewhere. A Rush of Pochard, 18 in total - by far the most I've ever seen on site - took flight as I approached. On the water were 17x Tufted Duck and 9x Shoveler (another high count for me). At the south end of the lake I picked out a patch of yellow which turned out to be 2x Teal, a new site tick for me! They remained elusive, knowing I wanted to photograph them, so you'll have to do with arrows again! Four Little Grebe, three Gadwall and a mixed flock of Common and Black-headed Gulls bobbed about on other parts of the lake. Seven Lapwing sat out on the lawn.

I decided to check out the only other bit of water I knew locally to see what else was about. This was the small lake at Clare Park just on the western edge of East Malling and part of the West Malling & Mill Street BTO Atlas tetrad which only had Mallard ticked off to represent wildfowl! Bingo - I added Gadwall (x4), Shoveler (x2) and a couple of Common Gull to boot for the winter tetrad. I just need one of those ice-bound Bitterns from New Hythe or even a few adventurous White-fronted Geese from Sheppey to make my day!

Monday 20th December 2010

2010-12-20T22:10:00.000Z

No work today as I'd taken the day off to take the kids to a panto in Chatham. I managed an hour and half down the River Medway mid-morning before we set off and clocked up a good tally of birds, the highlight being a Woodcock on 'Snipe Marsh' just W of Barming Bridge. It flushed and rather clumsily made it's way across the railway line, one leg hanging down, before conveniently dropping down in the field SE of St Margaret's Church (the Barming Heath BTO tetrad). A Lapwing and 10x Snipe were on the same 'marsh', the streams are just about flowing, although ice has started to from on some of the smaller tributaries and even on the River.

After checking the old orchard on the West Farleigh bank which held a number of Pheasants, Blackbirds (x12) and Redwings oI made my way back along the river towards East Farleigh. A couple of Mute Swans, 6x Canada Geese, 2x Mallard, 6x Moorhen and a Cormorant were on the river near Barming Bridge. Another Snipe was flushed from one of the streams that led down from the railway embankment and good numbers of Fieldfare and Redwing were put up by a female Sparrowhawk that skimmed above the railway line. A Kestrel posed nearby. On the river I was pleased to see a collection of ducks which included 14x Tufted Ducks and a Pochard; both firsts for me along this stretch of the river. Six Cormorants sat out in a bare tree on the East Farleigh side with a Grey Heron alongside them, hunched up against the cold. A dart of colour was provided by a Kingfisher that must be grateful that the river, although showing signs of, hasn't yet frozen.

The fun didn't end there - waiting for the Park and Ride Bus Horsted near Rochester a lone Lapwing flapped down into the car park!