Thursday 14 November 2019

Oare Marshes, 15:30 to 16:30, Calm. Cloudy but clear visibility following heavy shower. No dog walkers.
8 Marsh Harrier ((++) Unsually high level of activity today. Succession of birds in from east in 1's and 2's (I lost count) but 8, incl. 5 males, seen settling in reeds at E end of EF. (In an earlier lunchtime visit 4 seen hunting over EF incl. a male carrying prey which it dropped when mobbed by crows.) ) [Roger Clews]

Conyer, 12:50 to 15:45, weak sunshine becoming overcast with rain developing; gentle SE breeze; tide in and ebbing
3 Marsh Harrier, 1 Kestrel, 144 Curlew, 1 Greenshank (creek), 2 Little Owl (usual pair perched side by side), 1 Kingfisher, 2 Skylark, 6 Meadow Pipit, 1 Rock Pipit, 4 Stonechat, 2 Fieldfare, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Yellowhammer, 7 Reed Bunting [James Massey]

Stodmarsh, 10:30 to 16:30, Decidedly damp, overcast with some heavy outbursts of rain. Sky black late afternoon.
173 Teal, 4 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Water Rail, 1 Snipe, 2 Kingfisher, 2 Water Pipit (Marsh Hide with Meadow Pipits), 2 Stonechat, 65 Fieldfare, 37 Redwing, 15 Cetti's Warbler (Another personal high count), 5 Chiffchaff, 11 Goldcrest, 52 Long-tailed Tit (My highest ever personal count), 2 Treecreeper, 1 Jay, 5 Bullfinch (3 cocks, my highest count in Kent for many years) [Ray O'Reilly]

Snodland, 10:00 to 12:00, cloudy
1 Little Egret (flew over bypass), 2 Chiffchaff (+, back in usual winter territorys) [Jeremy Hall]

Collard's Lake (Stodmarsh), 09:00 to 10:15, Wet and overcast
2 Tundra Bean Goose (In Fields with Greylags), 1 Grey Wagtail [Ray O'Reilly]

Wednesday 13 November 2019

Conyer, 14:45 to 17:00, ebb tide; sun setting to dusk; calm
12 Little Grebe, 5 Little Egret, 3 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 1 Woodcock, 100 Curlew (circa, in grazing marsh), 8 Turnstone, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Little Owl, 2 Kingfisher, 2 Rock Pipit, 2 Stonechat, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Goldcrest [James Massey]

Walland Marsh, 14:30 to 15:30, Sunny, calm.
1 Great White Egret (also 4 Common Buzzard, 12 Fieldfare and Raven between The Woolpack and Little Cheyney.) [Barry Chambers]

Cliffe Pools, 14:00 to 17:00, Overcast but still, tide ebbing.
12 Pintail, 2 Goldeneye, 2 Grey Plover, 2 Little Stint (Flamingo Pool), 158 Dunlin, 76 Curlew, 3 Greenshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Rock Pipit (Cliffe Creek) [Ray O'Reilly]

Egypt Bay, 13:00 to 14:00, Clear and sunny with light SW breeze.Records for Salt Bay (new managed retreat just W of Egypt Bay). High tide at 12.50
23 Shelduck, 148 Wigeon, 2 Teal, 7 Shoveler, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 18 Ringed Plover (roosting), 190 Dunlin (roosting), 820 Black-tailed Godwit (roosting), 260 Curlew (roosting), 2 Stonechat (pair) [Murray Orchard]

Longfield, 13:00 to 13:00
1 Buzzard (Bird, being mobbed by Rooks and Crows, landed on a tree in our garden) [Richard Elvy]

Oare Marshes, 13:00 to 13:00
1 Hen Harrier (Ringtail over EF 1pm) [Damon Smith]

St Mary's Marsh, 12:15 to 16:00, Clear and sunny, light SW breeze, increased cloud later. High tide 12.50
23 Mute Swan, 2 Cattle Egret (feeding around cattle herd just E of St Mary's Bay, around concrete buildings ), 1 Marsh Harrier (flying towards Decoy Fleet ), 3 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine Falcon (adult), 162 Black-tailed Godwit (roosting on sea wall at high tide), 90 Curlew, 2 Short-eared Owl (hunting 15.15-15.40), 20 Meadow Pipit, 3 Stonechat (pair and a female), 2 Raven (pair seen around St Mary's Bay and marsh, still present late and one flew towards Northward Hill at 16.00) [Murray Orchard]

Swigshole/Decoy Farm, 12:00 to 12:15, Clear and sunny, light W breeze
1 Buzzard, 1 Stonechat (female), 20 Chaffinch, 6 Linnet, 1 Corn Bunting [Murray Orchard]

Stoke, 11:00 to 11:30, Clear and sunny, cold with light W breeze
3 Cattle Egret (feeding around cattle along sea wall by A228 lay-by, adjacent to Stoke Fleet), 1 Marsh Harrier (Stoke levels by A228) [Murray Orchard]

Lower Halstow, 10:45 to 12:30, Dry & sunny with a slight breeze, excellent visibility & a high of 8C. Tide rising & virtually full by the time I finished.
100 Dark-bellied Brent Goose (+, A few young.), 250 Shelduck (+), 100 Wigeon (+), 100 Teal (+), 20 Shoveler, 2 Goldeneye (perhaps 4.), 3 Little Grebe, 39 Great Crested Grebe, 8 Little Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Kestrel, 7 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Whimbrel, 10 Curlew (+), 300 Redshank (+), 4 Greenshank (perhaps 7.), 2 Chiffchaff (calling.) [Derek Tutt]

Riverside Country Park, 08:45 to 11:05, Bright and chilly,Rising Tide.
230 Dark-bellied Brent Goose (circa), 450 Shelduck (+), 1100 Wigeon (circa), 63 Teal, 57 Pintail, 84 Shoveler, 27 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Little Egret, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrel, 190 Oystercatcher (+), 145 Avocet (+), 11 Ringed Plover, 240 Grey Plover (circa), 90 Lapwing (circa), 1500 Dunlin (circa), 15 Black-tailed Godwit, 123 Curlew, 1 Spotted Redshank, 400 Redshank (circa), 165 Turnstone, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Jay [Mike Norman]

Swale NNR, 07:45 to 08:45
5 Pink-footed Goose [Derek Faulkner]

Oare Marshes, 06:30 to 11:00, sunny with a gentle W breeze. LT circa 06:45.
5 Pintail (four drakes and a duck on EF), 3 Marsh Harrier (one ad. male), 2 Peregrine Falcon (sharing same Nagden pylon), 2 Short-eared Owl (circling together high over WF drifting NW and being mobbed by corvids), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Rock Pipit, 6 Stonechat (+), 3 Goldcrest (+), 10 Long-tailed Tit (+), 2 Corn Bunting (Uplees copse) [Murray Wright]

Tuesday 12 November 2019

Bockhill, 11:00 to 13:00, sunny but cold wind
1 Firecrest (Bockhill farm), 1 Great Grey Shrike (good views from periphery of Freedown), 1 Snow Bunting (flying over) [Danny Chesterman]

Boughton Monchelsea, 10:35 to 10:40, dry, bright and sunny
4 Fieldfare (Flying west. First for this autumn.) [Bill Stoneham]

Swalecliffe, 10:00 to 10:05, dry,cold
40 Curlew (40 birds together on "boot fair"field[Whitstable bends]) [Kelvin Leader]

Conyer, 09:30 to 13:30, Strong chilly S.W. wind, bright sunshine. High tide at midday.
1 Peregrine Falcon (Dive bombing waders on Fowley Isle at 12:30pm.), 80 Curlew (Roosting on the seawall near Conyer at high tide.), 1 Short-eared Owl (Sitting on a pile of rocks near Luddenham gut at 10:50.) [John Shilling]

South Swale LNR, 09:15 to 12:15, 4deg;cloud 2/8; sun and eye-watering SW blow. WeBS count meeting Bob G halfway on circuit
1360 Dark-bellied Brent Goose (spread length of shoreline as tide rose), 2 Shelduck, 285 Wigeon (off Castle Coote), 15 Teal (Castle Coote lagoon), 1 Great Crested Grebe, 8 Little Egret, 1 Red Kite (W up Swale), 2 Marsh Harrier, 450 Oystercatcher (Castle Coote roost), 40 Ringed Plover, 10 Grey Plover, 24 Lapwing, 1600 Knot ((mud-flats, rising tide)), 510 Dunlin ((mud-flats, rising tide)), 9 Curlew, 410 Redshank (Castle Coote roost), 56 Turnstone (beach roost), 35 Skylark (plus; numerous), 1 Swallow (W along line of seawall) [Mike Roser]

Bockhill, 08:00 to 08:00
1 Buzzard [Keith Privett]

Kingsdown, 08:00 to 08:00
1 Buzzard [Keith Privett]

Sandwich Bay, 08:00 to 08:00, Restharrow/Elms/Ancient Highway
50 Teal, 21 Grey Partridge, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 10 Curlew, 10 Black-headed Gull, 4 Common Gull, 20 Herring Gull, 1 Caspian Gull (2nd winter), 3 Great Black-backed Gull, 10 Stock Dove, 1 Green Woodpecker, 5 Skylark, 2 Meadow Pipit, 4 Stonechat, 8 Goldcrest [Keith Privett]

Monday 11 November 2019

Birling, 20:00 to 20:00, Clear, Full moon 5C
1 Tawny Owl (Calling) [Trevor Manship]

Bedlam's Bottom , 12:10 to 12:20, Overcast Full tide.
32 Wigeon, 326 Pintail, 11 Shoveler, 60 Avocet (+), 42 Redshank [Mike Norman]

Willesborough, 12:00 to 13:00
1 Red Kite (Seen from M20 nr. windmill) [Stephen Hedley]

Burham, 11:10 to 12:15, Dry but overcast. Fresh W wind and very high tide
30 Greylag Goose, 182 Canada Goose, 16 Mallard, 1 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 16 Moorhen, 14 Black-headed Gull, 5 Wood Pigeon, 4 Collared Dove, 4 Pied Wagtail, 1 Wren, 1 Blackbird, 13 Blue Tit, 1 Great Tit, 5 Magpie, 6 Carrion Crow, 11 Starling, 6 House Sparrow, 3 Chaffinch, 4 Goldfinch [Bill Stoneham]

Oare Marshes, 11:00 to 13:00, cool west wind
1 Hen Harrier (Ringtail hunting over salt marshes seen from Dans Dock and heading west) [Danny Chesterman]

Oare Marshes, 11:00 to 13:00, cool west wind
1 Hen Harrier (Ringtail hunting over salt marshes seen from Dans Dock and heading west) [Danny Chesterman]

Swale NNR, 11:00 to 12:45
17 White-fronted Goose (10 of which were juvs.), 32 Snipe [Derek Faulkner]

Folkestone, 10:45 to 12:00, Cold W wind, high tide choppy sea
1 Great Crested Grebe (In sea near lighthouse), 4 Mediterranean Gull (Around Mermaid Beach), 60 Kittiwake (Adults and juveniles most on water around Folkestone outer harbour ), 1 Sandwich Tern (Resting on beach, near BH gulls), 3 Swallow (Around Lees) [Stephen Hedley]

Oare Marshes, 10:15 to 14:45, Broken cloud & sunny spells.Moderate chilly W'ly HT 11.40
1 Pintail (drake on EF), 1 Red-breasted Merganser (flying W along Estuary), 1 Grey Heron, 1 Marsh Harrier (also 4 accross Swale on Sheppey), 1 Kestrel, 204 Avocet (EF), 3 Grey Plover (EF), 16 Lapwing (EF), 12 Knot (EF), 1 Spotted Redshank (EF), 11 Common Gull (EF) [Damon Smith]

Conyer, 09:00 to 12:00, cold stiff W wind, sunny spells; rising tide to high water; WeBS Conyer to Luddenham Gut
1 Mute Swan, 30 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 5 Shelduck, 467 Wigeon, 119 Teal, 62 Mallard, 14 Little Grebe, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Cormorant, 6 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Marsh Harrier, 1 Kestrel, 52 Oystercatcher, 131 Avocet, 143 Grey Plover, 51 Lapwing, 293 Knot, 500 Dunlin, 178 Black-tailed Godwit, 139 Bar-tailed Godwit, 75 Curlew (low), 257 Redshank, 2 Kingfisher, 2 Rock Pipit, 30 Linnet (circa) [James Massey]

Elmley NNR, 09:00 to 11:50, overcast chilly,rising tide.
368 Greylag Goose, 94 Canada Goose, 36 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 250 Shelduck (+), 1500 Wigeon (circa), 9 Gadwall, 600 Teal (+), 500 Mallard (circa), 8 Little Grebe, 7 Little Egret, 5 Grey Heron, 12 Marsh Harrier, 1 Hen Harrier (Ringtail.), 8 Buzzard, 4 Kestrel, 11 Ringed Plover, 300 Golden Plover (+), 115 Grey Plover, 500 Lapwing (circa), 250 Dunlin (+), 26 Ruff (Entrance track.), 34 Curlew, 75 Redshank, 5 Turnstone, 14 Common Gull, 26 Stock Dove, 2 Short-eared Owl, 9 Skylark, 31 Fieldfare (By the gun club.), 19 Linnet [Mike Norman]

Sunday 10 November 2019

Conyer, 16:45 to 17:10, twilight, dusk, nightfall; clear sky with bright moon, low level mist forming
1 Barn Owl (obs with Clive) [James Massey]

Decoy Fleet, 16:00 to 16:30, Clear, cold, calm.
5 Marsh Harrier (at least 5 birds in to roost. Two present at 16.00 and 3 flew in high from E at 16.30. Age and sexes not noted for all birds but those that were seen well enough were dark female types.) [Murray Orchard]

Marden, 16:00 to 16:00, Dry
1 Little Owl (Perched on telephone pole along Hunton Rd) [David Errey]

Stoke, 14:25 to 14:40, Sunny and bright
4 Cattle Egret (with cattle to the north of the A228. Viewed from sea wall c500 yards west of Isle of Grain sign though distant.), 2 Cetti's Warbler (singing close to the main road while viewing the egrets.) [Keith Cutting]

Cliffe/Cooling Marshes, 14:15 to 16:45, Clear, cold, calm. WeBS count - including Salt Bay managed retreat and river. A lot of marsh and Cliffe Fleet not covered due to lack of time.
5 Mute Swan, 300 Greylag Goose, 2 Egyptian Goose, 127 Shelduck, 206 Wigeon, 29 Shoveler, 6 Red-legged Partridge, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 2 Oystercatcher, 6 Avocet, 65 Grey Plover, 700 Lapwing, 55 Knot, 105 Black-tailed Godwit, 97 Curlew, 1 Short-eared Owl, 7 Stonechat, 1 Cetti's Warbler [Murray Orchard]

Whetsted Gravel Pits, 10:00 to 12:00, Bright, calm
1 Goldeneye (Female on central pit.) [Peter Davies]

TR1261, 09:30 to 11:00, sunny
3 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 50 Wood Pigeon (+), 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Meadow Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Robin, 10 Blackbird (+), 3 Goldcrest, 10 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Blue Tit, 3 Great Tit, 1 Treecreeper, 50 Starling, 10 House Sparrow, 6 Chaffinch [Kieron McDonnell]

Cliffe Pools, 09:00 to 14:00, Mostly clear and sunny, cold with light NE breeze.WeBS count for RSPB reserve (adjusted N Kent date as late tide on 17th). High tide 11.00
37 Shelduck, 14 Wigeon, 3 Gadwall, 285 Teal, 69 Mallard, 11 Pintail, 80 Shoveler, 9 Pochard, 78 Tufted Duck, 4 Goldeneye (on FP, one drake), 43 Little Grebe, 24 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Cormorant, 8 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, 3 Kestrel, 175 Coot, 1 Oystercatcher, 27 Avocet, 51 Ringed Plover (on FP), 375 Golden Plover (BBPs), 192 Grey Plover (roosting on FP/SP), 934 Lapwing, 1 Little Stint (on SP), 4995 Dunlin (4,840 roosting on SP), 1 Snipe (BBPs), 1 Black-tailed Godwit (just one! ), 15 Bar-tailed Godwit (roosting with Curlew on FP), 143 Curlew (roosting on FP), 2 Spotted Redshank (feeding on FP), 147 Redshank (133 roosting on Kingfisher Pools ), 2 Greenshank (on RP, including "Billy" c/r bird ), 20 Skylark (flock on BBPs), 4 Stonechat (two pairs on BBPs), 1 Cetti's Warbler (singing by viewing mound) [Murray Orchard]

Finberry (Ashford), 08:00 to 10:15, 39 species including:
40 Black-headed Gull, 1 Common Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 12 Herring Gull, 2 Great Black-backed Gull (both ads; first for 2 years) [Robert Carr]

Aycliff, 06:30 to 08:00
1 Fulmar, 4 Shag, 1 Firecrest, 2 Raven [Mark Kennett]

Oare Marshes, 06:30 to 10:45, sunny with a fresh ESE breeze. HT circa 11:00.
9 Tufted Duck (flew in from E and landed on Swale), 128 Cormorant (+ flew W along Swale in several large skeins), 2 Marsh Harrier (male and juv.), 1 Sparrowhawk, 30 Turnstone (+ roosting on boats and bouys), 6 Stonechat (three pairs), 5 Fieldfare, 5 Song Thrush (+), 15 Redwing, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Raven (on pylons again), 1 Brambling (female in bushes near disabled parking bay), 2 Siskin (flew W) [Murray Wright]

Saturday 09 November 2019

Stodmarsh, 15:30 to 16:30
3 Swallow [Tony Swandale]

TR1261, 14:30 to 15:30, sunny
1 Buzzard, 1 Green Woodpecker, 40 Pied Wagtail (feeding in field), 10 Blackbird, 30 Fieldfare, 10 Redwing, 3 Goldcrest, 10 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Jay, 1 Magpie, 6 Carrion Crow, 6 Chaffinch, 20 Goldfinch [Kieron McDonnell]

Reculver Marshes, 14:00 to 16:30
1 Little Owl, 3 Short-eared Owl, 2 Stonechat [John Birkett]

Naccolt, 13:00 to 14:00
1 Hen Harrier (Ringtail), 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 20 Snipe (+) [Neil Burt]

Oare Marshes, 12:10 to 12:10, Clear, sunny, light SSE breeze.
1 Hen Harrier (Ringtail gliding low over road and rape field down to Fav.Creek.) [Roger Clews]

Lower Halstow, 10:20 to 11:40, Dry & bright with a SSE wind force 2 & a high of 9C. High tide with most of the waders roosting on the saltings & majority of the wildfowl beyond the saltings, so my counts were incomplete. (2 Marsh Marriers & 170+ Avocets further off).
75 Dark-bellied Brent Goose (+), 200 Shelduck (+), 25 Wigeon (+), 20 Teal (+), 10 Shoveler (+), 4 Great Crested Grebe (+), 8 Little Egret, 2 Kestrel, 5 Grey Plover, 30 Curlew (+), 100 Redshank (+), 2 Greenshank, 15 Turnstone, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Goldcrest (perhaps 2.) [Derek Tutt]

Foreness, 10:00 to 12:45
2 Eider, 9 Common Scoter, 1 Black-throated Diver (flew west), 1 Fulmar, 1 Sooty Shearwater (at 11:40), 9 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Little Auk (flew east at 10:30), 1 Black Redstart [John Birkett]

Aycliff, 08:45 to 08:45
1 Ring Ouzel [Mark Kennett]