Dipping in Devon!

Back from a great weekend at Wildlife Crime Conference in Bristol with Peter then on to Devon to meet up with Chris and Helen for some 'R&R'!

Lunch at the BAWC Conference

An early start on Saturday, but all made worthwhile by a brilliant conference with speakers ranging from forensic scientists to professional bird watchers and - for me the real highlight of the day - the Police.  With Sgt Rob Taylor @NWPRuralCrime, illustrating how much can be done with the right people in place and the will to succeed.

Then it was off to Devon for the 'R&R' bit - great to walk by the sea and enjoy some afternoon sunshine, followed by the apprehension of otters and beavers.   Birds all around settling for the night, at least two Tawny Owl calling and peaceful surroundings, but neither mammal showed.

No option but a very early start on Sunday to try again!   Gripped off by a chap who saw otters twice - we missed them, but there's always next time.

Female Cirl Bunting

Male Cirl Bunting

Breakfast then the 'R&R' continued with some birding, Cirl Bunting, Raven, Red-throated Diver, Peregrine and Skylark singing above us in the lovely spring sunshine.   Heaven.

In true Devon tradition we had a Devon Cream Tea for lunch then it was time to return to the hectic south east.

Thanks to Chris and Helen for their excellent hospitality and to Peter for the entertainment - causing us to miss our M5 exit!   

Obviously it was nothing to do with me.   Lol

A three hour journey

A beautiful sunny journey back from Bristol to Kent.   Seven Buzzard - several of them very low over the M4 - one being mobbed by a rather keen Crow.

Nine brilliant Red Kite, they were further West than I normally see them, more west of Newbury and fewer around the Reading area.

Back to sleet and wind as I neared home, but more Buzzard near Clacket Lane, so that spurred me on.

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

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.

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!

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

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

Some views of Swanscombe Marshes - before Paramount build their Theme Park!

 QEII Bridge

Looking East

Black Duck Marsh

Chalk Cliffs behind

Ingress Park continues to develop onto the land

Walking towards the proposed Theme Park Development

Reed beds where Marsh Harrier roost

The Weather station that often makes Gravesend the hottest place in the UK

Northfleet and Gravesend in the background 

Ripe for development!  Part of Botany Marsh

Over 50 people joined this wildlife walk, thanks to Peter Beckenham for leading, very interesting to hear the history of the site and explore a new area. To follow the fight to protect this area, please go to 

Save Swanscombe Marshes

Blean

A wander around Blean woods last week did not produce a huge list, however I loved hearing the Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits around us.  

Butcher's Broom

Treecreeper made a short visit and there were Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker too.   The Lesser spotted eluded us on this occasion.   Crunching through ice and then slipping in muddy pools made the going interesting to say the least, but it was a great walk.

Butcher's Broom Bush

A large Butchers Broom bush was good to see - Blean is the only place I have seen this I think.   You can just imagine the butchers sweeping up with the slightly prickly leaves and the fresh aroma when you brush them.

After lunch a wander along the sea wall at Seasalter warmed us up.  The tide was at its lowest point so any birds were a long way out.   Groups of men were digging lugworm and large groups of Knot (amounting to around 900) were feeding near to them, totally at ease with the steady movements of these regular digging teams. Curlew and Lapwing were on the fields, and Marsh Harrier quartered low over them, causing a disturbance.

Dunlin

Highlight of the day for me were a group of Short-eared Owls, with two flying past at one stage then a further individual which was being mobbed by a crow.   Oystercatchers and Dunlin continued to feed on the mud, with a few Shelduck and several Grey Plover.

On the scrubby edge to the fields at the bottom of the seawall, Reed Bunting, Stonechat and Wren were calling.

Hearing my first 2016 Skylark sing above was great.   Lapwing were settling down on the fields as we returned to the car, and a large group of Starling were hinting at a murmuration, but we lost them eventually.   Magpie, Blackbird and House Sparrow completed the day.

Sevenoaks

After Bough Beech comes Sevenoaks . . . some lovely woodland fungi

Bracket Fungi

Bracket Fungi

Jelly Ear Fungi - Auricularia auricula-judae

and the occasional bird

Black-tailed Godwit with Coot and Greylag

My brain working in a mysterious way . . . . . .

This is a typical Sri Lankan dish.  Made of a thin pancake batter a "bowl" is produced which you put other food in, wrap it up and then eat.  This had coconut rice with it - scrummy

In the forest, there were leaves on the ground which had dried into a bowl shape and were capable of holding water and therefore providing a Hopper for wildlife - a Leaf Hopper

This is a Leafhopper!

I did warn you . . . . .

This is a String Hopper and only included because it was the best breakfast I had all trip!  Unless you know of a String Hopper creature ?

Sri Lankan Food

Mainly its fantastic!   Sri Lankan curries for breakfast, lunch and dinner, what more could you wish for . . .  within days "Curry Corner" was developed with those enjoying the local cuisine taking full advantage of the delights before us.

Western Influence

Spicy Appetisers

Full scale banquet

String Hopper at Breakfast

Dessert

Traditional Hopper with Coconut Rice