After several false starts this week I finally caught up with a Red Kite which flew virtually over the cottage being harried by the ASBO Gulls. Had good views even without bins as it twisted and turned showing russet plumes and a deeply forked tail. As it headed north at a steady pace a quick text to one or two locals proved worthwhile as CP had it soaring over the raptor hotspot of New Romney. There appears to be a bit of an influx of this raptor across the region and PB had 6 over Shadoxhurst today.
Red Kites are still good birds down here; and let`s face it they are `proper` ones, probably migrants off the continent - unlike those tame, plastic residents that cavort about the Chilterns and Thames Valley frightening posh peoples toy poodles...
RSPB - 1100hrs - Led a small group of birders around the 2 mile circuit this morning during which we connected with all the usual breeding birds including two flight views of Bittern, plus a `boomer` and 4 Marsh Harriers over Hookers. Good views of 2 Cuckoos, 4 Hobbies, Kestrel, Raven and 2 late migrant Spotted Flycatchers in the scrub at Xmas Dell, plus singing Lesser Whitethroat. As always the Common Terns were good value on the Dengemarsh rafts. The Little Stint remained at the southern end of ARC (another or the same was seen at Kerton Road Pit by OL) where it was joined by a Blackwit in the afternoon (MH). Grass Snake and Common Lizard also noted around the bird reserve.
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