Blog Archive

Thursday 29 September 2011

Spotted Flycatcher heaven

What a lovely sunny day - ideal for a trip to the coast, so off I went to Dungeness with my usual Wednesday companions - minus one - Paul having something more important to do.

The Old Lighthouse
We usually scan the patch when we arrive, but as migrants could be in the offing we decided to try the area around the observatory and trapping area (that's trapping for bird ringing of course).  The first thing to notice was the huge number of starling that are gathering at the moment, getting ready for their autumn movement, they were joined by linnet as both species fed on the ground near the rough track which we were following.   Near the buildings house sparrow were numerous.  

The Beach
Crow, magpie, robin and dunnock were also found in and around the gorse and bramble bushes.   As we neared the observatory there were several beautifully marked meadow pipit in their clean plumage and four wheatear - it was good to be able to watch these digging into the soil with their beaks and then hunting for tasty morsels.   Over the lighthouse garden swallow were feeding and herring gull called over the power station.

After a short stop for refreshment at the cafe we moved on to the beach to try for the patch.    The sight that met us was one of complete calm sea with a sea fog, the weather had encouraged lots of anglers onto the beach but there were few birds to be seen.

As we scanned, Sally spotted a couple of turnstone working their way along the shingle.  There were several common terns feeding on the patch but very little else.   A string of unidentifiable ducks flew across the bay towards Rye, but we did identify greater black-backed gull and cormorant.

Spotted Flycatcher
It was now time to move onto the RSPB reserve.   Here the bird numbers increased, along the track off the main road we saw marsh harrier, sparrowhawk and mute swan, and as we walked from the visitor centre we added coot, tufted duck, great crested grebe, lapwing, mallard, pochard, little egret and two grey plover.

Near the Christmas Dell Hide we noticed a photographer moving in on a bird in a nearby bush with his camera poised.   This was a spotted flycatcher.   Unfortunately the photographer moved a step too close and the bird flew off.   We stood and waited after he had left and sure enough the bird returned to its favoured perch.   Telescopes gave us great views and as others came along the path we shared 'scopes and views.   In the same small tree we saw chiff chaff and in the bushes behind blackcap.   Cetti's was heard several times along this stretch of the reserve.  

Stonechat
Sally spotted a small bird on a fence post which turned out to be a stonechat.   Once again, telescopes enabled us to have good views, and our small fan club gathered once again to share the sight.

On the pool at Denge Marsh there were shoveler, grey heron, large numbers of greylag geese, black-headed gull, more great-crested grebe, coot, lapwing, little egret.

As we left the reserve, we stopped at the wardens house and looked for tree sparrow, which have eluded us at this site all year.   Luckily today we had good views as they flew between the feeders and trees.

At the Hanson hide we added gadwall, wigeon, and knot - the latter found by Malcolm.

Small Copper
The day was not just about birds, we also saw clouded yellow, small copper and small white butterfly, and thanks to Irene's newly syringed ears found two great green bush-crickets.

Great Green Bush-Cricket
Now I could tell you what we should have seen - buff-breasted sandpiper, great white egret, whinchat, merlin, the list goes on.   Good job we're not into lists!

Monday 26 September 2011

The Wedding of the Year

Two of my good friends got married at the weekend, and as we usually see each other on holidays in Brazil it was a surprise for all of us to see each other in our wedding finery.   We all looked lovely (of course) and had a great time,

As I write the happy couple are on honeymoon in Tanzania and as both are keen photographers, I am sure that the shutters are clicking away ten to the dozen.

Here's wishing them every happiness.

The Happy Couple

Thursday 22 September 2011

Three Women and a Man go to Essex

cepaea nemoralis
After our visit to the local garden centre, four of us (Paul being otherwise engaged) ventured off through the Dartford Tunnel to visit the RSPB Reserve at Rainham Marshes.   After checking in we had a cup of tea and a biscuit before getting down to the serious business of bird watching.   On the sea wall there were at least 30 house sparrow in the hawthorn bushes, a reed bunting, and goldfinch.   On the mud by the edge of the river we saw black-headed gull, a grey heron and mallard.

Marsh Frog
Taking the usual anti-clockwise circuit the feeders had more house sparrow, some chaffinch and green finch and numerous collard dove.   Along the track we noticed several snails and we examined a few of them - which appeared to be cepaea nemoralis - the humbug colourned snail with a brown rim to the aperture.   Irene also spotted a small white moth which was spread along the stem of a reed - almost invisible - and Malcolm identified it as a lime speck pug.

Magpie and wood pigeon were perched in the trees and a great spotted wood pecker was calling in the distance.   In the sheltered area we managed to see blue tit, great tit and a chiffchaff.   As we continued into the more open area a kestrel hovered overhead and a sparrowhawk flew through.  We heard a wren and cetti's warbler.   A gang of about 8 swallows flew through over the pools and towards the Thames.


Hole in Reedmace Stem
From the first hide (where we had our lunch) we could see mute swan, little egret, coot, greylag and canada geese and several teal.   At one stage a small brown bird flew quickly and low into some reeds in front of the hide.  After about ten minutes Irene noticed a snipe appearing from roughly the same area. 

Tunnelling inside the stem
I found a piece of broken and dried out reedmace stem which had a hole in it.   I showed it to Malcolm, and he split the stem to show me the tunnelling inside made by larvae of insects.

Continuing our walk on the wooden boarding between the reed beds we noticed several dragonflies including ruddy darter.   A large flock of starling were disturbed by a peregrine stooping.   From the viewpoint we added lapwing, pochard, tufted duck and little grebe.  

Looking out over the fields at the far end of the reserve there were large numbers of gulls including herring, greater & lesser black-backed, and black-headed.  They were joined by jackdaw and carrion crow. 

As Malcolm and I moved ahead of Sally and Irene there was a loud screaming of a water rail from under the boardwalk just ahead of us - quite a scary experience!   Further along we had very close views of lizard, marsh frog, devils coachman with it's raised "scorpion" tail. 
Devil's Coachman


As we had heard that there might be whinchat beyond the reserve near the base of the landfill site we continued along the path outside the reserve.   Although the whinchat eluded us we did see a large flock of goldfinch feeding on teasel heads, and peacock, red admiral, and small white butterflies.   A female long-winged conehead was very obliging whilst we took photos, and then a little later we also saw a male.
female long-winged conehead

From the path we had great views over the reserve and on a mound near the new hide there was a wheatear in usual pose, after we had spent several minutes enjoying it, we moved off towards the car park, arriving  just before 5.00 pm when they were due to close, and got back to Gravesend in record time. 


Wheatear


Wednesday 21 September 2011

Garden Centre Wildlife Area

Approaching the Wildlife Area
My usual Wednesday walk with friends started at the local garden centre, where they have recently installed a wildlife garden which is due to have an official opening and various wildlife events at the end of October.   Malcolm had agreed to help out so felt we should go and check out the site and plan our strategy.

They have done a great job - mainly down to Graham who has developed the site from a rough patch of ground into an excellent example of wildlife habitat.

The approach to the wildlife area is via a path leading to an insect hotel - this is to be developed with local children over the next six months.   Along the path there are various examples of insect homes, butterfly shelters and a beehive.

Screens and Hide
The materials used to create the area is mainly recycled with old pallet wood and previously used fence posts being pressed into use.   Bird outlines are used to decorate the screens, and there are small information slates explaining what is in place and what is planned for the future.  

There is a hide with binoculars available for use.   Again all the materials used to create the hide are recycled or natural even down to coat hooks which have been made from prunings off trees.  

Beyond the hide and behind the screening is the main part of the wildlife garden with two feeding stations, a pool area, planting of native shrubs, especially those providing food for birds.   Under a tarpaulin is a Worm Digestion Bed where they are using the natural habits of worms to provide compost for use around the garden.
The Wildlife Area

Although the area has only been developed this year, the omens are good, in the few minutes we were in the hide we saw wood pigeon, greenfinch and goldfinch and the list of birds seen in the area is impressive, so roll on October.

Monday 19 September 2011

Grey Dagger Caterpillar

Having noticed that the garden needed some urgent attention, I decided to spend the afternoon weeding and cutting back some overgrown shrubs.

Grey Dagger Caterpillar
The roses by the porch had become overgrown and I started to chop back the longer branches, but I noticed a caterpillar lying along one of the branches, almost hidded by leaves.

It turned out to be a Grey Dagger Moth caterpillar.

Sunday 18 September 2011

Sandwich Bay Observatory

Bird Ringing Demo
Today I joined friends in my local RSPB Group for a walk at Sandwich Bay - we started at the observatory, where the staff there gave us a great demonstration of bird ringing.   Whilst we waited for the ringers to come back from the nets with the birds we concentrated on the birds we could see from the car park.   The first bird was a sparrowhawk which flew over twice.   House sparrow and chiffchaff seemed to be the most numerous birds, but there was one willow warbler too.

How many people can you get in a hide?
After a while the ringers returned with the birds in fabric bags carried carefully into the ringing hut.    Then four staff started to deal with the birds and their colleague wrote down the measurements and figures.   We watched as chiffchaff, blackcap, garden warbler and great spotted woodpecker (by far the noisiest) were all ringed, weighed, measured, aged and sexed before being released.   Thanks to all the team but especially Keith who took time to show us several birds in the hand, and explained identification points for us.

The scrape
We then moved off towards the scrape further down to road, pausing in the car park to see a mediterranean gull which was called out by one of the other birders present.  

In the fields along the road we spotted crow, jackdaw, magpie, wood pigeon, and starling.   There were also a large number of gulls - mainly black-headed - swooping over the fields but too far away for us to pick out any other potential species.  We all tried to get into the hide, but the reality was that there were far too many of us, so some of us did a bit of field scanning - lots of cows, a few cyclists but very few birds in evidence, just a couple of rather shy linnet seen by two and missed by the rest of us!   When we got into the hide however the scrape held a little egret, green sandpiper, moorhen, ringed plover and several teal.


Speckled Wood
 It was now time to move towards the sea, and we took a footpath through Restharrow Dunes Nature Reserve.   Blackbird, chiffchaff, blackcap and blue tit were using the trees and shrubs and we also saw peacock and speckled wood butterflies.   As we walked on through the woodland we noticed evening primrose and common storkbill. 

After lunch on the beach, where we saw some black-backed gulls, we walked towards the golf course, and followed the footpath along the edge of the course.   Meadow pipit and stonechat were seen, then a possible whinchat seen by two of us, but then not spotted again.   

The rest of the walk back to the observatory was quiet, and we decided to continue on to the river behind the buildings - our reward was a mute swan!

A great venue, and a good walk, but a bit quiet on the bird front.

Friday 16 September 2011

Nicky's Collared Dove

A friend has a collared dove which has been trying to nest in her palm tree near the house.   All through the summer eggs have been laid which have fallen through the holes in the bottom of the nest, but generally there has been a bird in residence.

Nicky's dove
For the past two weeks one bird appears to have decided not to move at all.   Continual residence without any apparent assistance or food supplies from another bird.

A day at Cliffe Pools

It was Wednesday - so it must be a birdwatching day!

Redshank
This week we decided to try Cliffe Pools, my local RSPB Reserve.   There had recently been reports of large variety of waders so we wanted to test our skills.

Kestrel

 From the car park we saw wood pigeon, magpie, tufted duck, coot (at least 130), black-tailed godwit, redshank, little egret, little grebe and cormorant.   As we scanned through the redshank, Malcolm noticed a spotted redshank amongst them.   A kestrel hovered overhead for a while before moving off to perch in a tree in the distance.   We moved towards the Saxon Shore Way where chaffinch, robin, great tit and blue tit flew across the track ahead of us.   A hobby came towards us and disappeared over towards the village.

Greenshank
Huge numbers of starling were flying around over the fields making their beautiful patterns in the sky.   Pied wagtail were feeding at the waters edge, and a grey heron took to the air.   Along the sheltered track of the footpath peacock, comma, painted lady, small heath, meadow brown and red admiral were seen.   At one stage there appeared to be a new emergence of red admiral feeding around ivy and hawthorn, and a great quote from Sally - "three red admiral in one binocular"!

Back to the birds and our next few birds were more waders, avocet, oystercatcher, ringed plover, little stint, dunlin and a really good view of a greenshank at the base of the bank.

Avocet
We took lunch by the sea wall and then walked back towards the car park along the edge of the river.   At the end of Flamingo pool there were more of the above waders, but added in were several bar-tailed godwit, and behind them some grey plover - two in almost summer plumage, and the rest in the more usual winter colure.   We watched more small birds arrive - a couple of curlew sandpipers, in with some ringed plover.   As we scanned the short grass at the end of the pool we realised there were high numbers of ringed plover sheltering in with equally numerous lapwing.  

On the way back we added more coot, redshank, little grebe, tufted duck and little egret.

Happy Birthday Sally!

Oare
As it was a significant birthday for Sally (but then aren't all birthdays) we decided to treat her to yet another day out birding - so the Wednesday wags convened on a Monday!

The weather was grey, wet and windy, but we didn't let that dampen our spirits.   Our initial venue was to be Conyer Creek, but as the weather was so inclement we decided to change to Oare, always a good option, and with the benefit of hides to give shelter.

Waders Galore
With a rapidly rising tide we did the usual clockwise circuit, and along the shoreline were dunlin, curlew, redshank and black-tailed godwit.  A kestrel hovered overhead, and a cetti's warbler sang in a nearby bush - just audible over the wind!   Great crested grebes were feeding in the river and as we watched a cormorant flying down river Sally spotted a swift flying past in the opposite direction.  

Near the first hide were large numbers of waders, and we added avocet, knot and oystercatcher to our day's tally.   Huge numbers of black-tailed godwit were flying into the reserve as the tide rose, and in one group we noticed birds with no wing bar, so we had definite bar-tailed godwit to look for when we got to the second hide.

Golden Plover
We still had some birds to see and lapwing, herring gull and turnstone were spotted as we started along the creek.   A sandwich tern was spotted flying over towards the scrape, and the distinctive "ping" of a bearded tit led us to several short glimpses of the bird which was struggling to fly in the strong wind.    There were several hundred starling flying around, one a distinctive "blonde" colour which stood out among its more usual coloured flock.  

Sea Aster
The sky started to brighten a tad as we reached the second hide, and we took the opportunity to enjoy the respite offered from the battering gale outside.   Three yellow wagtails, several ringed plover, large number of coot, a few teal, were seen.   The large flocks of waders were scanned with telescopes and binoculars, black- and bar-tailed godwit, redshank, ruff, made up the majority of the raft, and a few grey plover added into the mix.   Malcolm noticed two waders fly in and realised they were golden plover, they landed near to the sandwich tern which had flown in earlier.

Along the Creek
By now we were all hungry, and we made our way to the Shipwrights Arms on the other side of the creek.   After a hearty lunch and a toast to the birthday girl, we decided to take a short walk along the creek from the pub garden.   The sun shone and although it was still windy, at least it wasn't cold, we noticed sea aster sheltered from the wind in the lee of the seawall, and a small bee laden with pollen.

Wheatear
Several yellow wagtails and a wheatear flew along the path ahead of us.   We stopped to watch the wheatear then realised that there were another two birds further away from us.   All three were sitting up in their usual habit, watchful of their surroundings.  

One rather sad note is that there is a proposal to extract 2 million tonnes of ballast from Hollowshore and Ham marshes over the next 15 years as part of the KCC Mineral and Waste Development Plan.   The Shipwrights Arms are collecting signatures to object against this proposal.   If you want to add your name please go to www.kent.gov.uk/mwdf

We did try to see as many species as Sally's years but we were a few short!

Wednesday 7 September 2011

Bough Beech & Sevenoaks

Still not at full strength, but at least this week there were four of us - Irene having decided to go to South Wales for the week.

Little Egret with green algae
We headed off for Bough Beech Reservoir to see what we could find.  The good news was that the visitor centre is now open on Wednesdays and they make a lovely cup of tea.   We did manage to find several avocet, including one with colour rings, three green sandpipers, five buzzard, kestrel, hobby, and numerous sand martins.   These were supplemented by the usual; grey heron, little egret, cormorant, greylag geese, moorhen, mallard, ruff, mute swan and huge numbers of great-crested grebe.   Whilst Malcolm and I wandered off to the visitor centre, Sally and Paul were getting great views of a kingfisher.

From the picnic table we watched swallow flying in and out of the barn and when we followed there were at least three nests which had been recently used (given the droppings on the floor below), and there were three juveniles perched on a cross beam still being fed.  We watched as they preened and stretched their wings.   One of the youngsters did fly out of the barn, and returned several minutes later, so it won't be long before they are off on their first long journey south.

We then moved off to Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve run by KWT.   Once again another great supplier of tea (I wouldn't want you to think that we don't take our birding seriously, but as we usually have no facilities and no provisions available, it's great to have a more salubrious outing every now and then).

Spot the humbug!
After we had taken lunch (and more tea!) we set off on the nature trail, near the car park we could hear robin and blackbird, and a blue tit flew across our path.   On the lake we could see cormorant, coot, moorhen, greylag and canada geese, grey heron, lapwing, house and sand martin were feeding over the water, and little grebe were diving. 

Malcolm spotted a great-crested grebe on a nest and we put the telescope up to see if there was evidence of eggs, as I watched, the bird started to preen and as the wing moved I could see a small stripey humbug juvenile sheltering underneath.

There were lots of tufted duck, on the second lake with 83 canada geese, mute swan, pochard, teal, more sand and house martin, cormorant, and mallard.   We watched a fox creeping along the side of the lake - he appeared to be munching on a worm.   Geese, teal and a young moorhen seemed to get dangerously close, but the fox seemed uninterested and lay down on the grass.  

Young Great-crested grebe
As we moved back towards the visitor centre, Sally spotted a kingfisher swoop down from the trees then disappear into the far trees.   We decided to go round the lake to a small hide in case the bird could be spotted from there.   A great decision, as the kingfisher was sitting out on a branch and gave us great views.   As we watched it flew down to grab a fish and then flew first right (and out of view) and then back to the left where it initially sat on a branch and then disappeared into the bushes.

By now it was time for us to take our leave, so a quick look from the hide by the centre where we increased the numbers of ducks already seen, along with some young blue tits on the peanut feeders, then it was off home.

Sunday 4 September 2011

When Jeff leads we end up in the PUB!

My local RSPB Group had a walk at Allhallows today, led by Jeff our group leader, and a dozen or so of us met near the British Pilot Pub.   We took the usual footpath from the car park towards the sea wall, through the kissing gate and onto the marsh grazing.    House sparrows, starling, linnet and magpie were our first sightings, and as we watched the group of linnet in a nearby bush a few blue tit appeared, then a female marsh harrier drifted into view and quartered over the field for some time before landing in a distant bramble bush.   Initially it appeared shocked that it's weight was causing the branch to dip, but after a few flaps it seemed to settle itself on the perch.

on the seawall
As we approached the concrete blocks near the second gate, we reminisced about previous migrant sightings in the area, and within minutes we noticed a wheatear perched high up on one of the blocks surveying the area.   It was eminently photographable - and perhaps now is the time to admit that I forgot to take my camera today - I felt bereft without it, but Sally kindly allowed me to commission her as chief photographer for the day. 

A borrow dyke

Having spent some time enjoying the wheatear we moved off towards the seawall, admiring the borrow dyke behind the seawall.   This was created when the soil was dug out to form the sea defences, sea water seeps through the seawall, and fresh water is added from rain and natural seepage from the fields and forms a brackish environment which provides a great habitat for wildlife. 


Wasp Spider
 As we approached the seawall Sally noticed a swirling mass of waders, they flew down out of view.   As we approached the river we saw hundreds of birds scattered far into the distance.   Most numerous was black-tailed godwit, with oystercatchers, little egret, black-headed gull, herring gull, lesser and greater black-backed gull and curlew joining in the feeding frenzy.    Continuing along the path we found a wasp spider which would not oblige by staying still and persisted in trying to elude our photography enthusiasts but Malcolm the Brave took it onto his hand and allowed it to crawl up and down his arm until it was safely placed back on a flower head where it sat obediently whilst we got our photographs.

We carried on along the seawall towards Yantlet Creek, where the mudflats spread out before us, sadly devoid of birds.   I heard a common tern and spotted it circling over the buoy at the mouth of the creek, but it moved out of view before I could get anyone else onto it.   As we headed past the sluice and continued along the creek, a little grebe was calling in a nearby pond, and a moorhen shot into the reeds as a dog walker came towards us.  

By now we were ready for our lunch and we picnicked by the mouth of the creek.   As we sat watching black-headed gulls and black-tailed godwit I spotted a sparrowhawk flying from the river and up Yantlet Creek, most of the group saw it.   Soon afterwards a clouded yellow butterfly also fluttered past but so quickly only three of us saw it, much to the chagrin of Malcolm.

By now several of the group had retreated with prior commitments, the rest of us took a slow wander back along the seawall, where we added redshank to the day's list.   At the footpath we decided to continue towards the caravan park as the tide was due to turn and there was a chance of closer views of some of the waders.

Female Common Darter
This was a good decision, we saw greater and lesser black-backed gull well, common gull, ringed plover, more redshank, and the best sighting of the day for me, bar-tailed godwit.   We managed to spot the shorter legs, the colour spreading further down under the belly and when it flew there were no wing bars.   A great piece of identification.   We also saw a female common darter which was struggling to fly in the strong south westerly breeze.

The rain started to fall and we decided to retreat to the cars and consider our next step - should we continue on to another site or call it a day?  

By the time we got back to the car park the rain had cleared and we felt it was too early to go home, but could not decide on where else to go - so we went to the pub!   A great time was had by all.

Thanks to Sally for the photographs.

Friday 2 September 2011

And then there were two! . . .

So, given that my usual Wednesday entertainment involves myself and four friends it was a rather reduced number who ventured out this week - and two females at that!  Now I don't wish to take anything away from Irene or cause any offence, but anyone who has been out with my local RSPB group will know the ongoing joke of how many women it takes to confirm an ID - and it is fabled to be more than two!  So armed with this background we were not sure whether to wish for a new bird for our Wednesday list or to hope that we didn't have to raise the issue. 

Black-tailed Godwit and Grey Plover
The tide was out when we arrived and there were literally hundreds of black-tailed godwits feeding on the mud flats, along with oystercatchers, and some superbly coloured grey plover still in summer plumage.   There were some juveniles or winter plumage birds amongst them, but the more we looked the more we realised that the majority were the handsome strutting variety.

Black-headed gulls were paddling in the shallows, stirring up food to pick off the surface - making a lovely noise which travelled across the beach.

Out at sea several ships were waiting for the tide so that they could enter the estuary, and a couple of fishing boats were trawling off Sheppey attracting large groups of gulls.  

Linnet
As we moved along the coast towards the old quarries there were lots of blackberries already ripened, unfortunately we didn't have anything to collect them in.   Further along there was a small apple tree which was loaded with fruits - all on the land side and a discussion on the benefits of pies and crumbles kept us going for several yards, until we were disturbed by a little grebe, little egret, and a flock of linnet.   The linnet were mostly juvenile with short wings and downy feathers still showing, there was only one adult showing colour on the chest.

White Mellitot
In the surrounding bushes there were whitethroat, blue tit, great tit, and blackbirds, but try as we might we could not find any other migrants.   As we had been away from the coast for some while the tide had come in since we were last by the sea and we wandered back towards the car park and took lunch on the bench nearby.   

In the afternoon we decided to try the moat and orchard area where there are lots of shrubby bushes which should be idea for migrants to rest and feed in.

We spent a long time enjoying a group of eight blackbirds chasing about in a tree and diving out to feed on berries before hiding in the depths of the tree again.   We also heard robin and wren.

Berries for blackbirds
As we moved around the orchard area I noticed a hobby flying towards us, as we followed it with our binoculars we watched it take an insect and feed mid-airm before flying off towards Sheppey.   In the orchard area there were once again huge numbers of apples and blackberries just ripe for the picking - we sampled a couple of the berries which were sweet and once again regretted not having anything to collect them in.

Eventually, we gave up and made our way back to the car park for the journey home.