Blog Archive

Saturday 27 February 2016

Dungeness

Great day at Dunge. despite the strong wind blowing, with Glaucous Gull sitting on a shingle ridge by the sea, and giving brilliant (if a little distant) views until it flew off down the beach.  

Glaucous Gull

Red-throated Divers, Common Scoter, Guillemot and Great Crested Grebe were either flying along the coast or diving.    Gannet soared and dipped further out to sea, and porpoise fins showed in the rough waters.
No Tea today!

Good news for the spring!   The RH&D Railway Cafe and Station are being rebuilt and should be open by the end of March.   Looks like they have some work to do, but it should be a great facility when its finished.

At the Reserve we managed to find the Long-eared Owl, a little more cryptic than on our last visit, but still there in the tangle of bushes and trees behind the dipping pool.
Common Coot

Back to more commonly seen species, and a near Coot stayed long enough for a photo - and a group of Long-tailed Tit - at least eight - visited the brambles outside one of the hides on several occasions.
'Lottie' through the hide window


Thursday 25 February 2016

Visited a new venue last week, Dryhill Picnic Site.   Well known for its geological specialities, with "Rag and Hassock", Ragstone sandwiched with the more easily eroded Sandstone which gives strong lines in the strata, especially where it has been uplifted and folded.   Here endeth the geology lesson (or at least my recollection of this from years ago)

Anyway, perhaps we were a little early for the best of this site, but a spring visit will be more impressive I'm sure.
Rags and Hassock

After a couple of hours spent here - which included a set to with a dog walker with five dogs off leads in an area where the signage advises they have to be ON the lead.   Apparently we were causing a problem!

Next stop Sevenoaks and more photographic opportunities there.
Grey Heron on their nest
There were many plants shooting, and birds preparing for nesting.   The Grey Heron pair were bringing more sticks to the nest and weaving them into shape.   A juvenile from last year was in the area, and kept being shooed away by the male on the nest.
Male Mallard outside the hide

All the ducks appeared to be paired up and lapwing were displaying - always great to see and hear.

Snipe feeding
Around eight Snipe were feeding in the longer grass by the edge of one of the lakes, not always easy to see - once you got your eye in, and they started to move around they were very obliging.

As we left the car park a Grey Squirrel sat on a fencepost to make sure we left.
Grey Squirrel making sure we leave!
Our final sighting was one of the best - on the fields outside the reserve in amongst the horses - were large numbers of Fieldfare and Redwing.

Blean

Bright and sunny at Blean yesterday, which gave a great opportunity for enjoying early spring in woodland.   Lots of Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin and Song Thrush singing, Blackbirds alerting and Woodpeckers drumming.
Gorse in bloom

Primrose
Catkins out, Gorse, Primroses and Alexanders in bloom and the delightful babble of the woodland streams made for a great day out.

Cleared of trees
The management of the site has continued through the winter and many areas have either been mown to ensure the ongoing habitat for fritillaries, and orchids and trees have been coppiced in strategic areas giving more open 'common' land.
Let's hope its isn't my only UK Nightjar this year!

A great place to spend a day wandering away from the noise of cars (almost) and few people beyond the 100 yards or so of the car park.

Sunday 14 February 2016

Cliffe Pools

A great day at Cliffe Pools and Northward Hill, with highlights being Bewick's Swan, Goldeneye, Greenshank, Siskin, Redpoll, and many Marsh Harriers.

Although sunny, the wind was from the north east and cold, as it whipped up the water on Flamingo Pool, froth was being blown across the path, looking like soapsuds.
Froth blowing off the Pool


Grey Heron are starting to gather along the ditches at Northward Hill and should soon be on their nests.



Alexanders have been in flower for some weeks now, and I spotted this one with a fly on it - the winter sunshine was bringing out the insects.

Alexander flower with fly!

Saturday 13 February 2016

Brent Geese

A wonderful sight at Swale NNR recently.

As the sun set, and all the birds started to come in to roost.   Something spooked the Brent Geese that were grazing on the fields behind the sea wall and as they flew around they came over our heads.

A spectacular and marvellous experience.

See the video here

Thursday 11 February 2016

Sri Lanka

The official trip report - makes much better reading than my version.

Thanks to Chris from Wise Birding Holidays for both the trip and the great report!

Wise Birding Sri Lanka Trip