Sunday 11th December 2011

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.