NYDay Bird Count

Mild, cloudy, dry morning, wet afternoon, W 2-3  - Our traditional NYD outing commenced at daybreak in Park Wood, Appledore (having seen a perched Barn Owl en-route) where the resident woodland birds included hooting Tawny Owls, two Ravens overhead and a mixed flock of Treecreepers, Coal and Long-tailed Tits, Goldcrests and Nuthatches, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers and calling Green Woodpeckers. Moor Lane produced several Yellowhammers, Red-legged Partridges, a Jay, winter thrushes and the first of a number of  Kestrels and Common Buzzards seen throughout the day. Moving down onto the the canal zone where Bullfinch and 19 Little Egrets were noted, but little else. We then crossed the Marsh farmland taking in a prepared field of millet and kale for farmland birds to the south of Hamstreet that attracted a flock of up to 100 Tree Sparrows and 50 Yellowhammers; certainly the largest number of both species I`ve seen in my time living down here. Elsewhere on the Marsh farmland we noted 39 Bewick`s Swans from the Midley wall, three more Tree Sparrows and two Stonechats. 

                                 Kale field near Hamstreet

Next stop Scotney pits where a host of common wildfowl and waders were added to the day list, including Avocet, Redshank, Little Grebe, Shelduck and a surprise Great Northern Diver, while the spectacle was provided by thousands of swirling Goldies and Lapwings. From the Tavern viewpoint at Lade bay on a rising tide, amid hundreds of NYD dog- walkers on the beach (where do they go for the rest of the year!), we added eight species of waders, most notably two Black-tailed Godwits, 50 each of Knot and Sanderling, 20 Bar-tailed Godwits and over 1,000 Dunlins. A seawatch from the fishing boats was very poor on diversity although it was good to see plenty of close Turnstones and Sanderlings foraging along the the tideline. A pause along the airport road and 15 Cattle Egrets made it onto the day list. 

                                 Sanderlings and Turnstones, Dungeness

The bird reserve beckoned next where two more Great Northern Divers and a Black-throated Diver on Burrowes made for a clean sweep of the diver tribe trio (a first on our NYD forays down the years), plus half a dozen Goldeneyes on the lake and a female Marsh Harrier tucking into a dead Coot alongside a couple of expectant Crows at Boulderwall fields where a Brent Goose had attached itself to a Canada Goose flock. We finished the day in some style from the Hanson hide with three Great White Egrets and four Glossy Ibises flying to roost, calling Water Rails and finally a Merlin delivering a respectable 104 species for the day. A great start to the year and many thanks to Chris for driving and Phil for keeping the list. 

    Marsh Harrier on prey, Cook`s Pool

    Wigeon using the buoy rope to anchor their position, ARC