Pleased to see that the wintering Grey Wagtail that visited the garden regularly last winter has returned. We think it must winter on the Tarn but seems to like foraging around the feeder station in the garden. I am not sure what it is finding there as they normally feed on aquatic or other insects. Maybe it is hunting ants?
Oare Marshes
Little Egret
A fine day saw me on the North Kent marshes with Keith and Brian. Our day started at Oare Gunpowder works, where we recorded some woodland species, although the star bird was a Grey Wagtail which we found in one of the old works buildings.
Oare Gunpowder Works
Grey Wagtail
Then we moved onto the Marshes, which are one of the best places for migrating waders in the county.
Whilst waiting for the incoming tide to push the wading birds onto the marsh we went for a walk along the sea wall. We had been told that a Western Osprey had been fishing in the channel between Oare and Harty, but it seemed to have moved on. Then whilst searching the Harty bank, Brian found the bird perched on a post by the waters edge. As we watched it was clearly enjoying a meal of a fish it had caught.
On the rising tide, we saw increasing numbers of waders arriving on the marsh. Golden Plover, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Redshank and Black-Tailed Godwit were the most numerous species. Smaller numbers of Greenshank and Whimbrel were also present.
Golden Plover
Black-Tailed Godwits
In amongst these, we found at least 5 Little Stint and at least 4 Curlew Sandpiper.
Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin and Ringed Plover
Little Stint
There was a migrating passage of Swallows and smaller numbers of House and Sand Martins. We also heard and then briefly saw a Water Rail and had a brief flight view of two Bearded Reedlings.
Migrant Hawkers and Common Darters were present in good numbers and we also recorded 5 species of Butterfly including at least 6 Clouded Yellows. I also found a lizard which I believe is a Common Lizard basking in the grass.
Clouded Yellow. Photo by Nick Ford (https://www.flickr.com/photos/nickpix2008/)
Basking Lizard
An excellent day in a wonderful place. Thanks to Brian for driving us around and to him and Keith for their company.
Brant Goose [sp] (Branta bernicla)
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)
Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope)
Mallard [sp] (Anas platyrhynchos)
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)
Eurasian Teal [sp] (Anas crecca)
Little Grebe [sp] (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
Grey Heron [sp] (Ardea cinerea)
Little Egret [sp] (Egretta garzetta)
Great Cormorant [sp] (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Western Osprey [sp] (Pandion haliaetus)
Western Marsh Harrier [sp] (Circus aeruginosus)
Common Buzzard [sp] (Buteo buteo)
Common Kestrel [sp] (Falco tinnunculus)
Water Rail [sp] (Rallus aquaticus)
Common Moorhen [sp] (Gallinula chloropus)
Eurasian Coot [sp] (Fulica atra)
Eurasian Oystercatcher [sp] (Haematopus ostralegus)
Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta)
Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
European Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria)
Grey Plover [sp] (Pluvialis squatarola)
Common Ringed Plover [sp] (Charadrius hiaticula)
Common Snipe [sp] (Gallinago gallinago)
Black-tailed Godwit [sp] (Limosa limosa)
Whimbrel [sp] (Numenius phaeopus)
Common Redshank [sp] (Tringa totanus)
Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)
Little Stint (Calidris minuta)
Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)
Dunlin [sp] (Calidris alpina)
Ruff (Philomachus pugnax)
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
Mew Gull [sp] (Larus canus)
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus)
European Herring Gull [sp] (Larus argentatus)
Lesser Black-backed Gull [sp] (Larus fuscus)
Common Tern [sp] (Sterna hirundo)
Common Wood Pigeon [sp] (Columba palumbus)
Eurasian Collared Dove [sp] (Streptopelia decaocto)
European Green Woodpecker [sp] (Picus viridis)
Eurasian Magpie [sp] (Pica pica)
Western Jackdaw [sp] (Coloeus monedula)
Carrion Crow [sp] (Corvus corone)
Great Tit [sp] (Parus major)
Eurasian Blue Tit [sp] (Cyanistes caeruleus)
Bearded Reedling [sp] (Panurus biarmicus)
Sand Martin [sp] (Riparia riparia)
Barn Swallow [sp] (Hirundo rustica)
Common House Martin [sp] (Delichon urbicum)
Cetti’s Warbler [sp] (Cettia cetti)
Long-tailed Tit [sp] (Aegithalos caudatus)
Common Chiffchaff [sp] (Phylloscopus collybita)
Eurasian Wren [sp] (Troglodytes troglodytes)
Common Starling [sp] (Sturnus vulgaris)
Common Blackbird [sp] (Turdus merula)
European Robin [sp] (Erithacus rubecula)
House Sparrow [sp] (Passer domesticus)
Grey Wagtail [sp] (Motacilla cinerea)
Pied Wagtail [sp] (Motacilla alba)
Meadow Pipit [sp] (Anthus pratensis)
Common Chaffinch [sp] (Fringilla coelebs)
Common Linnet [sp] (Carduelis cannabina)
Large White (Pieris brassicae)
Small White (Artogeia rapae)
Green-veined White [sp] (Artogeia napi)
Clouded Yellow (Colias crocea)
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta)
Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum)
A misty morning as I arrived at Footscray meadows for a local RSPB walk. Whilst waiting for the group to assemble saw Song Thrush and Little Egret which were to be common sightings throughout the morning. As we set off towards the River Cray we could hear the Ring-Necked Parakeets shrill calling through the mist, which soon diapated leaving us with a bright sunny morning.
Ring-Necked Parakeet
Walking along the banks of the River we encountered a Kingfisher and a Grey Wagtail, both allowed good views although only the latter was within photographic range.
Grey Wagtail
Crossing the bridge at the northern end of the site we made our way back down the river through grassland and stopping to look at the woods. Apart from groups of Long-tailed Tits there seemed to be a marked absence of small birds. Arriving back at the river by the Five Arch Bridge we added Mallard, Coot, Moorhen and Tufted Duck to our list.
Mallard
A Great Comorant was seen flying over as we set off to the south following the bank of the river. A pair of Little Grebe and a pair of Gadwall were found amongst the Islands and a Water Rail was heard from deep inside the vegetation as we made our way back to our starting point.
A very pleasant mornings walk. Thanks to Ralph and Brenda the leaders.
Gadwall (Anas strepera)
Mallard [sp] (Anas platyrhynchos)
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
Little Grebe [sp] (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
Little Egret [sp] (Egretta garzetta)
Great Cormorant [sp] (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Water Rail [sp] (Rallus aquaticus)
Common Moorhen [sp] (Gallinula chloropus)
Eurasian Coot [sp] (Fulica atra)
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
Common Pigeon [sp] (Columba livia)
Stock Dove [sp] (Columba oenas)
Common Wood Pigeon [sp] (Columba palumbus)
Rose-ringed Parakeet [sp] (Psittacula krameri)
Common Kingfisher [sp] (Alcedo atthis)
Eurasian Jay [sp] (Garrulus glandarius)
Eurasian Magpie [sp] (Pica pica)
Western Jackdaw [sp] (Coloeus monedula)
Carrion Crow [sp] (Corvus corone)
Great Tit [sp] (Parus major)
Eurasian Blue Tit [sp] (Cyanistes caeruleus)
Long-tailed Tit [sp] (Aegithalos caudatus)
Eurasian Wren [sp] (Troglodytes troglodytes)
Common Blackbird [sp] (Turdus merula)
Song Thrush [sp] (Turdus philomelos)
Mistle Thrush [sp] (Turdus viscivorus)
European Robin [sp] (Erithacus rubecula)
Grey Wagtail [sp] (Motacilla cinerea)
A bright sunny warm afternoon and so I set out to do this weeks butterfly / insect walk around the Tarn. From having no butterflies on the previous walks, the recent days of warm weather had done the trick. A female Orange-Tip was the first seen, followed by a male Brimstone and a small Tortoiseshell all in one area.
Small Tortoiseshell (archive photo)
A little further on a Comma was found resting in the vegetation.
Comma
As I completed my walk Brimstones were again much in evidence with at least 3 males seen.
Brimstone
photo by Natural England (https://www.flickr.com/photos/naturalengland/)
An unusual call plus a bird flying low over the water drew my attention to some submerged wood in the lake on which were perched a pair of Grey Wagtails.
Female Grey Wagtail
Male Grey wagtail
Our Greylag x Canada Goose pair seem to have set up nest again. This will be the third year they have bred here.
Canada x Greylag goose pair
Greylag Goose [sp] (Anser anser)
Canada Goose [sp] (Branta canadensis)
Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata)
Mallard [sp] (Anas platyrhynchos)
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
Common Moorhen [sp] (Gallinula chloropus)
Eurasian Coot [sp] (Fulica atra)
Common Pigeon [sp] (Columba livia)
Common Wood Pigeon [sp] (Columba palumbus)
Rose-ringed Parakeet [sp] (Psittacula krameri)
European Green Woodpecker [sp] (Picus viridis)
Eurasian Magpie [sp] (Pica pica)
Great Tit [sp] (Parus major)
Eurasian Wren [sp] (Troglodytes troglodytes)
Common Blackbird [sp] (Turdus merula)
European Robin [sp] (Erithacus rubecula)
Grey Wagtail [sp] (Motacilla cinerea)
Orange Tip (Anthocharis cardamines)
Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni)
Small Tortoiseshell [sp] (Aglais urticae)
Comma Butterfly (Polygonia c-album)
Common Carder-Bee
The Barbican development in central London is not exactly the spot, you would think, for seeing good birds.
Barbican Development
Photo by Duncan Steven (https://www.flickr.com/photos/doctorvee/)
The development, built during the 1960s and 70s, lies across the line of the old city wall and some parts of the old wall are preserved amongst the blocks of flats and offices. I was recently doing some photography there of the remains when something caught my attention.
On the remains of the wall was a Grey Wagtail, a winter visitor to London.
Real urban birding
A damp overcast morning but went off in search of some winter thrushes at Sutcliffe Park LNR.
A Grey wagtail was an early sighting on the marsh edge
Grey Wagtail
Then I spotted a Snipe hiding in the vegetation.
A large flock of Starlings were present and chattered noisily as they flew between their roost tree and the grass meadows where they were feeding
There were plenty of Song Thushes about and a Mistle Thrush was seen flying away, but alas no Redwing or Fieldfare were seen. On the lake were a good selection of waterbirds including Greylag Geese which is the first time I have recorded them on this reserve.
Tufted Duck
Greylag Goose
Mute Swans
Canada Goose
Greylag Goose [sp] (Anser anser)
Canada Goose [sp] (Branta canadensis)
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
Mallard [sp] (Anas platyrhynchos)
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
Little Grebe [sp] (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
Grey Heron [sp] (Ardea cinerea)
Common Moorhen [sp] (Gallinula chloropus)
Eurasian Coot [sp] (Fulica atra)
Common Snipe [sp] (Gallinago gallinago)
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
Common Gull (Larus canus canus)
Lesser Black-backed Gull [sp] (Larus fuscus)
Common Pigeon [sp] (Columba livia)
Common Wood Pigeon [sp] (Columba palumbus)
Rose-ringed Parakeet [sp] (Psittacula krameri)
European Green Woodpecker [sp] (Picus viridis)
Eurasian Magpie [sp] (Pica pica)
Carrion Crow [sp] (Corvus corone)
Eurasian Blue Tit [sp] (Cyanistes caeruleus)
Common Starling [sp] (Sturnus vulgaris)
Common Blackbird [sp] (Turdus merula)
Song Thrush [sp] (Turdus philomelos)
Mistle Thrush [sp] (Turdus viscivorus)
European Robin [sp] (Erithacus rubecula)
Grey Wagtail [sp] (Motacilla cinerea)
European Goldfinch [sp] (Carduelis carduelis)
The last month has seen an upturn in activity around the patch. The winter birds are starting to return and I have seen the first large parties of Ring-necked Parakeets..The numbers flying over on route to / from the roost at Hither Green have also been increasing. There has also been a rise in activity around the feeder station although Blue Tits still seem to be a rare sighting. The Little Grebe was seen sporadically on the Tarn where the algal bloom continues and where there are only a few Coots and Moorhens left. A Grey Heron has been been leaving the Tarn on a couple of occasions which I presume means it is using the Islands as a roost site. There were 25 species of bird seen on the patch this month including 2 new ticks for the year (Goldcrest and Grey Wagtail). This brings the total to 46 species for 2014.
At the end of the Butterfly season there were a good number of Speckled Wood around the patch along with large and Small White.
Speckled Wood
A Migrant Hawker was the only dragonfly around the patch with a single on a couple of occasions
Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata)
Mallard [sp] (Anas platyrhynchos)
Little Grebe [sp] (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
Great Cormorant [sp] (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Eurasian Sparrowhawk [sp] (Accipiter nisus)
Common Moorhen [sp] (Gallinula chloropus)
Eurasian Coot [sp] (Fulica atra)
Common Pigeon [sp] (Columba livia)
Common Wood Pigeon [sp] (Columba palumbus)
Rose-ringed Parakeet [sp] (Psittacula krameri)
Great Spotted Woodpecker [sp] (Dendrocopos major)
Eurasian Jay [sp] (Garrulus glandarius)
Eurasian Magpie [sp] (Pica pica)
Western Jackdaw [sp] (Coloeus monedula)
Carrion Crow [sp] (Corvus corone)
Great Tit [sp] (Parus major)
Eurasian Blue Tit [sp] (Cyanistes caeruleus)
Goldcrest [sp] (Regulus regulus)
Eurasian Nuthatch [sp] (Sitta europaea)
Common Starling [sp] (Sturnus vulgaris)
Common Blackbird [sp] (Turdus merula)
European Robin [sp] (Erithacus rubecula)
Dunnock [sp] (Prunella modularis)
Grey Wagtail [sp] (Motacilla cinerea)
European Goldfinch [sp] (Carduelis carduelis)
Large White (Pieris brassicae)
Small White (Artogeia rapae)
Speckled Wood [sp] (Pararge aegeria)
Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta)
We visited Kendal in Southern Lakeland twice during our holiday. There was an information board by the River Kent as it runs through the town which told us what a great birdwatching site it was. Guess what we saw nothing the first time we were there. Thankfully we went back for another visit and this time we got all the local specialities.
River Kent in Kendal
It did not take us long to find a Grey Wagtail on the shingle at the edge of the river.
Grey Wagtail
There was a party of 5 Goosander lazing on the rocks in the middle of the river giving excellent views.
Goosander
2 down 1 to go. Now where was that Dipper? Eventually without any sightings we began to walk back to the car park. Then suddenly a small dark bird flew past us down the river. yes it been there all the time but we hadn’t seen it. We walked down the river but couldnt locate where it had gone. Sue suggested that we go onto the road bridge over the Kent and look from there. Looking over the far side we found the bird right below us. It seemed completely unaware of us and allowed me to take photos and video it before it finally moved off.
Dipper
Dipper
Just goes to show even with resident birds two visits to the same place can produce two very different outcomes – that’s nature watching for you!
A morning walk around the Tarn between the rain showers.
The Canada x Greylag goose pair were present together with this years young one
Apart from this there were only 2 other geese, a pair of Canada’s
At the eastern end of the Tarn, a Grey Heron roosted in a tree
Also at the eastern end , a Grey wagtail was busy on the mud and the bank but too far away for a photo.
Grey wagtail (This one seen in Canterbury)
In the garden a party of 6 Blue and 2 Great Tits visited for a while before moving on.
Greylag Goose [sp] (Anser anser)
Canada Goose [sp] (Branta canadensis)
Mallard [sp] (Anas platyrhynchos)
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
Grey Heron [sp] (Ardea cinerea)
Common Moorhen [sp] (Gallinula chloropus)
Eurasian Coot [sp] (Fulica atra)
Common Pigeon [sp] (Columba livia)
Common Wood Pigeon [sp] (Columba palumbus)
Rose-ringed Parakeet [sp] (Psittacula krameri)
Eurasian Magpie [sp] (Pica pica)
Western Jackdaw [sp] (Coloeus monedula)
Carrion Crow [sp] (Corvus corone)
Great Tit [sp] (Parus major)
Eurasian Blue Tit [sp] (Cyanistes caeruleus)
Common Blackbird [sp] (Turdus merula)
European Robin [sp] (Erithacus rubecula)
Grey Wagtail [sp] (Motacilla cinerea)
Tarn Park
28 bird species were seen on the patch this month.This brings the years total to 49 and increases the total by 1 with the first sighting for the year of Grey Wagtail on the Tarn. This is an annual visitor on passage and was the second I had seen that week, having also had one at Sutcliffe Park.
Grey wagtail (This one seen in Canterbury)
The butterfly species Count was recorded this month 4 and the first record this year of Small Tortoiseshell was the only new species bringing the year total to 8.
Small Tortoiseshell
Speckled Wood
3 species of Dragonfly were seen during the month with Migrant Hawker being a year first for the patch.
Migrant Hawker
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