tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24629759954184044602024-03-18T11:32:54.481-07:00Plovers BlogPaul Troddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03532050770282573211noreply@blogger.comBlogger3235125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462975995418404460.post-33355242650847014952024-03-18T11:32:00.000-07:002024-03-18T11:32:22.187-07:00Wheatears<p><b>Mild, cloudy, dry SW3 - </b>We started the morning on the local patch at Lade where a decent spread of common diving and dabbling ducks were still present, mostly on south lake, that included 35 Shovelers and seven Goldeneyes. At least ten pairs of Great Crested Grebes<b> </b>have taken up territories while several Little Grebes could be heard trilling around the willow swamp. Passerines were in short supply with a couple of singing Skylarks and a Stonechat on the Desert, plus two each of Chiffchaff and Cetti`s Warblers around the ponds. However, the highlight was a person playing the pan-pipes by the swing-bridge, a first for me here!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDEzMO40q4yHQWF9j8jFQIO7bz65thsuywGqtqJwztCwDdGRI-anujoyqf76CDidMuIjDHyxtMyOT05zlQJl43E4VOedyGRXwAAT4FDqIAPL41rJBx3_cnUiGnHDk8dDNwB-zpU3dVGaskcysH8ewzmWOrO7C27AS-zqURXFI80phiR3c7nA5PcbD8nlY/s1791/DSCN1773.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1256" data-original-width="1791" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDEzMO40q4yHQWF9j8jFQIO7bz65thsuywGqtqJwztCwDdGRI-anujoyqf76CDidMuIjDHyxtMyOT05zlQJl43E4VOedyGRXwAAT4FDqIAPL41rJBx3_cnUiGnHDk8dDNwB-zpU3dVGaskcysH8ewzmWOrO7C27AS-zqURXFI80phiR3c7nA5PcbD8nlY/w400-h280/DSCN1773.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJqbAKF-XuUVMvYtDxd_PaZYbQt8b3Ipoibq37h00W67lM_NczdIphiGRm9-s_gqNvWhKHba0m9Q4K19Up3WUTLRQZO7fH6Mvm4GLC1puonMTAQ3e2ci7nrbz6pll1rP3GbPhFZi7XeyL6nt7gHX6Sdpgd0avrAaB4dGBsB8sfZrM0u1B_V7yd2pYcBU/s2504/DSCN1774.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2050" data-original-width="2504" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJqbAKF-XuUVMvYtDxd_PaZYbQt8b3Ipoibq37h00W67lM_NczdIphiGRm9-s_gqNvWhKHba0m9Q4K19Up3WUTLRQZO7fH6Mvm4GLC1puonMTAQ3e2ci7nrbz6pll1rP3GbPhFZi7XeyL6nt7gHX6Sdpgd0avrAaB4dGBsB8sfZrM0u1B_V7yd2pYcBU/w400-h328/DSCN1774.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jZpgM5y2FBbr_4wZ5MaSTD0TGE0MoCJUi_of6xYUz2WUn_vhvqY8-qgsp0CE9IAhSE-guNsq5SFxYGO8aVswdBdo_qq96rG9iQLwaTV78nCoW5uZkMy2_TyUUJkC2rhFLzTxpXSA4f8Mf0EXbaHQ2QUudk6GZ0e1Fns6j3040OjF3BpPQEaq7fKPxOg/s1720/DSCN1777.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1518" data-original-width="1720" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jZpgM5y2FBbr_4wZ5MaSTD0TGE0MoCJUi_of6xYUz2WUn_vhvqY8-qgsp0CE9IAhSE-guNsq5SFxYGO8aVswdBdo_qq96rG9iQLwaTV78nCoW5uZkMy2_TyUUJkC2rhFLzTxpXSA4f8Mf0EXbaHQ2QUudk6GZ0e1Fns6j3040OjF3BpPQEaq7fKPxOg/w400-h353/DSCN1777.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Wheatears, Dungeness<br /><p>Moving onto Dungeness where a walk along the beach produced our first three <b>Wheatears </b>of spring by the new lighthouse. It was also good to see the first returning Linnets, plus Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Skylark and Pied Wagtail all ramping up for the forthcoming breeding season. A singing Chiffchaff in the old lighthouse garden and a Peregrine perched on a pylon were the only other birds of note. On the bird reserve the Boulderwall fields were busy with the usual feral geese, Wigeons, Lapwings and a Great white Egret, while the Black-necked Grebe was reported from Denegemarsh and the two divers on Burrowes.</p>Paul Troddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03532050770282573211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462975995418404460.post-44020179856779546882024-03-17T12:22:00.000-07:002024-03-17T12:22:39.492-07:00Redwings<p><b>Mild, rain, S 3 - </b>Another wet start to the day but remaining mild. Fieldfares have been far more numerous than Redwings this past winter across the Marsh countryside but recently the latter thrush has been in the ascendency. This past week, first thing in the mornings, small parties of Redwings have been seen in the town park, having presumably dropped in overnight; while last night more birds were heard passing over heading eastwards. A few more singing Chiffchaffs have been noted during our Ted walks, plus daily Raven sightings, my first Brown Hare and a flock of 20 <i>alba </i>wagtails on a horse paddock on Thursday that contained a spanking <b>White Wagtail. </b></p><p>This evening I joined Chris P for the final harrier roost count of winter on Walland Marsh where 15 Marsh Harriers came to roost along with a male and female <b>Hen Harrier. </b>Very little else was noted in the general area apart from the usual vocalising Cetti`s Warblers, Reed Buntings and Waters Rails, plus several Common Buzzards, a Grey Heron, a Great White Egret and a Barn Owl at Midley on the way home. </p>Paul Troddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03532050770282573211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462975995418404460.post-91805223674143181202024-03-16T12:41:00.000-07:002024-03-16T12:41:38.811-07:00Scaup<p> <b>Warm, dry and sunny, light airs - </b>Perfect weather for a birding session with my 13 year old grandson. We kicked off at the ARC in the Hanson hide where the highlight was superb views of Common Buzzards and Marsh Harriers over the main reed bed and a pair of each thermalling over the shingle towards the airport. All the usual wildfowl seen but no sign of any divers. Moving onto Boulderwall fields where we jammed in on the <b>Glossy Ibis </b>that flew over the Lydd Road and landed at the far end of the pool along with a host of feral geese, Wigeons, Teals and Shovelers, plus several Lapwings and Curlews and a Great White Egret. Burrowes yielded a <b>Great Northern Diver </b>at the Makepeace end of the lake along with a Goldeneye and a 3rd year Yellow-legged Gull on an island in front of the VC. We finished the afternoon with a <b>Scaup</b> on the lake behind the caravan park at Scotney. Apparently, we noted 55 species (he does love a list!) during the three hours in the field. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGl4fuUytZxP1wDk_1L9832BiFFkgmpQ6lb3vaTVE8u55jq-jweneNMjaS24dGf48ug0DezbYlb7Jxpz3_Ym8cQKGQrV7vaIp_KndrMtbODRG_kRRn8b7AaEA-pTFrCD2SosYjExE-numzVcxBljQ-Q814lLHCWeOFvo67vLdve_zJR0P3_niGVTxSrPI/s2626/DSCN1770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1515" data-original-width="2626" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGl4fuUytZxP1wDk_1L9832BiFFkgmpQ6lb3vaTVE8u55jq-jweneNMjaS24dGf48ug0DezbYlb7Jxpz3_Ym8cQKGQrV7vaIp_KndrMtbODRG_kRRn8b7AaEA-pTFrCD2SosYjExE-numzVcxBljQ-Q814lLHCWeOFvo67vLdve_zJR0P3_niGVTxSrPI/w400-h231/DSCN1770.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Sleepy Great Northern Diver, Burrowes<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqNQa1EdD3CiFFb8vaVsMPFttG2C2aQLLZcZjX-udyrjh5AmhXnzf4qWhKLyof6au-7T4ki37lSan-rU8eSZJ6F3XDfR49wcPiPvSHOtnTUHn0gQytru_lo09YVQxnvfIviNs7x4h2V6odwfznYjXdJXtTuykJIQM1bEl7JnwTjBhVsPiV6qhnrexUWo/s3128/DSCN1766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2286" data-original-width="3128" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqNQa1EdD3CiFFb8vaVsMPFttG2C2aQLLZcZjX-udyrjh5AmhXnzf4qWhKLyof6au-7T4ki37lSan-rU8eSZJ6F3XDfR49wcPiPvSHOtnTUHn0gQytru_lo09YVQxnvfIviNs7x4h2V6odwfznYjXdJXtTuykJIQM1bEl7JnwTjBhVsPiV6qhnrexUWo/w400-h293/DSCN1766.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Marsh Frog, ARC<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrSYsqj98MM0J0fAvCeJb_-u9rxJsOQbn918Ow4MSoQqKttmeivRLoG_bYLzEB9JOAJkTzO14yAEIfedJdbiW-CDmJE8QiKslSAphlYwQCNyxuiQIh26bsEopD2N34unr1mvRGpJIJ5egnC23qkUt1vHDkMuhiOn5-hG1M-auMDl7wzYjtZ39C4E-YRY/s4608/DSCN1771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrSYsqj98MM0J0fAvCeJb_-u9rxJsOQbn918Ow4MSoQqKttmeivRLoG_bYLzEB9JOAJkTzO14yAEIfedJdbiW-CDmJE8QiKslSAphlYwQCNyxuiQIh26bsEopD2N34unr1mvRGpJIJ5egnC23qkUt1vHDkMuhiOn5-hG1M-auMDl7wzYjtZ39C4E-YRY/w400-h300/DSCN1771.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Ticking off the Scaup!</div></div>Paul Troddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03532050770282573211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462975995418404460.post-30276369817984615022024-03-15T12:18:00.000-07:002024-03-15T12:18:10.740-07:00Jack Snipe<p><b>Dungeness - mild, cloudy, SW 3 - </b>We spent the morning on the peninsula walking the Long Pits where at least ten Chiffchaffs were present, across towards the lighthouse and back through the flooded Trapping Area and Desert where the highlight was a <b>Jack Snipe </b>flushed by Ted, a scarce bird this winter. Precious few land birds were noted apart from several each of Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Skylark and Stonechat, a Sparrowhawk and a Black Redstart on the power station fence. We searched for a reported Wheatear by the war memorial without success, although two were seen later in the day. An hour from the seawatch hide delivered the expected Kittiwakes, auks, Red-throated Divers and Gannets, plus five Harbour Porpoises and a Grey Seal.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghP18xCqClTBfpfqfNVZ73xcUHhyphenhyphenmCnJNXvHd0GYcqGB7NZbAuCLYkmzH610BTvjo1e412UKnVUeXUrbG6Yvpo5U8tv-j-JYPoOWUb8MRpn4lq1-Gs6U-7gR3z9ODnl8NPMXKJF9DWO5Vtr9WTnZ_nm9SuehjDsFmRBqdyFrSmQXdEtnMKz7ygyoFL-ZU/s4608/Jack%20Snipe%20ARC%2019-10-13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghP18xCqClTBfpfqfNVZ73xcUHhyphenhyphenmCnJNXvHd0GYcqGB7NZbAuCLYkmzH610BTvjo1e412UKnVUeXUrbG6Yvpo5U8tv-j-JYPoOWUb8MRpn4lq1-Gs6U-7gR3z9ODnl8NPMXKJF9DWO5Vtr9WTnZ_nm9SuehjDsFmRBqdyFrSmQXdEtnMKz7ygyoFL-ZU/w400-h300/Jack%20Snipe%20ARC%2019-10-13.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Jack Snipe (from the archives) ARC, 2013Paul Troddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03532050770282573211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462975995418404460.post-33417905586704546302024-03-13T09:07:00.000-07:002024-03-13T09:21:18.222-07:00Black-necked Grebes<p><b>Dungeness RSPB - mild, overcast, SW4 - </b>Following on from yesterday`s deluge at least it was dry this morning for my monthly guided walk around the circular route for six guests. There was still plenty of wildfowl on Burrowes, mainly comprising hundreds of Shovelers, Teals, Gadwalls, Pochards and Tufted Ducks across the lake, plus four Goldeneyes and two Shelducks. A distant <b>Black-necked Grebe </b>in breeding plumage was the highlight along with an adult <b>Little Gull </b>within a flock of 100 Black-headed Gulls, while several pairs of Common Gulls were inspecting the nesting boxes. The hayfields were disappointing with only a single <b>Water Pipit </b>and several Curlews, Lapwings and Shelducks of note. From the hide at Dengemarsh another distant <b>Black-necked Grebe </b>and a Goldeneye were present, plus 50 Wigeons and 20 Shelducks in the back field and two Great White Egrets and a Marsh Harrier from Hookers ramp. Other sundries noted during the three hour walk included at least 20 singing Cetti`s Warblers (only one actually seen!), a Grey Heron, a Little Egret, five Pintails overhead, several Reed Buntings and a Sparrowhawk.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmmgmJR9jxpgLp_yHcpDdSLWAApTn-hKs9-vfqNTWGZTo62X6Qq_AlADzu-B5yWH-r4XK8rlBVmJY9WqRUwp8Y5wWm78itEmEsVFr0M-OH1VYiw9kScJCFa99JLIZGvSHzdn2F_-jndlEJSA0M1Vhxd6uYU9zyCAUNLnrYxGqI913A5LWqoKB90ISqczQ/s3226/Common%20Gulls%20-%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2420" data-original-width="3226" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmmgmJR9jxpgLp_yHcpDdSLWAApTn-hKs9-vfqNTWGZTo62X6Qq_AlADzu-B5yWH-r4XK8rlBVmJY9WqRUwp8Y5wWm78itEmEsVFr0M-OH1VYiw9kScJCFa99JLIZGvSHzdn2F_-jndlEJSA0M1Vhxd6uYU9zyCAUNLnrYxGqI913A5LWqoKB90ISqczQ/w400-h300/Common%20Gulls%20-%202.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Common Gulls, Burrowes<div><br /></div><div>Monday evening whilst letting Ted out in the garden I could hear the sound of Redwings migrating over New Romney in the dark. They have been few and far between hereabouts this winter but were certainly on the move two nights ago, as testified by the 4,000 recorded over Dungeness Bird Observatory. </div>Paul Troddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03532050770282573211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462975995418404460.post-33875912239058029672024-03-11T11:43:00.000-07:002024-03-11T11:43:00.216-07:00Black Redstart<p><b>Dungeness - mild, misty, drizzle, NW2 - </b>After walking the local farmland over the weekend and not seeing very much at all, a change of scene was in order, despite grotty weather conditions. However, we walked a circular route along the foreshore from the lifeboat station to the seawatch hide, around the trapping area, which was still widely flooded, and back across the desert where we flushed a Common Snipe. I was hoping for an early Wheatear, but instead had to be satisfied with my first Black Redstart of the year by the war memorial. Also noted two Chiffchaffs in the lighthouse garden, plus six pairs of Stonechats and a sprinkling of Pied Wagtails, Meadow Pipits, Skylarks and Chaffinches along the way. A cursory look at the sea in poor visibility produced the usual Cormorants and Great Crested Grebes on the water, a few distant Gannets, Red-throated Divers, auks and a Grey Seal. We also called in at the Obs to say hello to Tom the new assistant warden.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtnpqapBxuNYTacPnwBuXEYQAVvRNjHU8qfZbQr21l0__jVmi-hn-vjJaIcAgjpTU-hTNINyjwV-hYpjYcKJKKiDACmUuhyFJQWhufQ97kwn9s8O2bbuReYmBl1vE-VL4IvqLjm0gVklaDCMBomA7ef7NYfP63WmVK5XkOmNN258rg8NSCpkoFnGmsLuE/s4608/DSCN1751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtnpqapBxuNYTacPnwBuXEYQAVvRNjHU8qfZbQr21l0__jVmi-hn-vjJaIcAgjpTU-hTNINyjwV-hYpjYcKJKKiDACmUuhyFJQWhufQ97kwn9s8O2bbuReYmBl1vE-VL4IvqLjm0gVklaDCMBomA7ef7NYfP63WmVK5XkOmNN258rg8NSCpkoFnGmsLuE/w400-h300/DSCN1751.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_A3qH4UwyRj6kwFO8nFYwaQ0Bq7_VsEQLyN-LXNuc9DeDId3o7RrQb0i7x8BMr-AupzU742NIYAMYJZrLIL4DoPmG6UECTrttwi1CGPgHGD-7j_yh7An209qxJ_qM_gJ30EquSekBcj_nqQt1YDmNe31PcyTkUUVl_C0dAh8PFMjGgTIsOLD6pLt0OQ/s4608/DSCN1752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_A3qH4UwyRj6kwFO8nFYwaQ0Bq7_VsEQLyN-LXNuc9DeDId3o7RrQb0i7x8BMr-AupzU742NIYAMYJZrLIL4DoPmG6UECTrttwi1CGPgHGD-7j_yh7An209qxJ_qM_gJ30EquSekBcj_nqQt1YDmNe31PcyTkUUVl_C0dAh8PFMjGgTIsOLD6pLt0OQ/w400-h300/DSCN1752.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Flood water on the desert<br /><p>On the bird reserve the Boulderwall fields attracted the usual numbers of feral geese, Wigeons, Shovelers, Shelducks, Curlews and a Great White Egret. Burrowes still had hundreds more Shovelers on the lake along with numerous Teals, Gadwalls and diving ducks; I couldn`t see any Great Northern Divers, although two were reported on ARC this morning.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9uQiStE9LgXGSaBD-PsTFN2YLDZ1mTTQ77ydhE_9BVSJAoAcnA2Hz2DPtouI26tsWlZxfzz4m9h_c3_zH_KUseJSMyhrC4TBW_XccyWiqZdABfejSWTkV3ZkUd1hTzUwbLRNeVHSMgfs5KGHn2fb2RTlRaj5Hryma8mZ7T-boKI4bFn4aPkNdGFAGt9M/s4608/DSCN1747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9uQiStE9LgXGSaBD-PsTFN2YLDZ1mTTQ77ydhE_9BVSJAoAcnA2Hz2DPtouI26tsWlZxfzz4m9h_c3_zH_KUseJSMyhrC4TBW_XccyWiqZdABfejSWTkV3ZkUd1hTzUwbLRNeVHSMgfs5KGHn2fb2RTlRaj5Hryma8mZ7T-boKI4bFn4aPkNdGFAGt9M/w400-h300/DSCN1747.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Ted relaxing after a hectic morning at Dungeness! Paul Troddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03532050770282573211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462975995418404460.post-5555509766012671092024-03-08T10:35:00.000-08:002024-03-08T10:35:57.466-08:00Water Pipit<p><b>Dengemarsh - cold, dry and sunny, E4 - </b>The circular walk around the wetlands, mercifully in dry weather conditions, was pleasant enough despite the brisk wind out of the east. Passerines were few in number with only a handful of Skylarks, Reed Buntings, Pied Wagtails, Great Tits and Cetti`s Warblers on offer along the way, plus a Water Pipit in the flooded field by Springfield Bridge. The hayfields held 150 Teals, 20 Wigeons, 20 Shelducks, 10 Shovelers, 50 Curlews, 10 Lapwings, a Redshank, Little and Great White Egrets, while the obligatory Marsh Harriers and Common Buzzards were on the wing. The highlight of the walk was a pair of Brown Hares, a scarce mammal in these parts nowadays no thanks to the illegal coursers, and my first of the year. All the usual feral geese and ducks were at Scotney, but I could find no sign of the Scaup on the pit behind the caravan park, although it could easily have been lurking in the reeds out of the wind.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMpSvbjqLVWE-Udhfl8PKYb0uuXbrVjsio2xZEN6BiudlPmNFwGUDvkXiu1SvARlRWbE7H_jo8RNymyDFD5kkenoKXXVRMKJEbNbMwTHqMrPHNXRdaY8qRddSUp0xXzNGIk8-khtqRyOzbOOjYM5ujEHSdM2Xzywz_WExX9_NiyWw-Wp4VtfHj0P3S-Iw/s2721/DSCN1734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1827" data-original-width="2721" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMpSvbjqLVWE-Udhfl8PKYb0uuXbrVjsio2xZEN6BiudlPmNFwGUDvkXiu1SvARlRWbE7H_jo8RNymyDFD5kkenoKXXVRMKJEbNbMwTHqMrPHNXRdaY8qRddSUp0xXzNGIk8-khtqRyOzbOOjYM5ujEHSdM2Xzywz_WExX9_NiyWw-Wp4VtfHj0P3S-Iw/w400-h269/DSCN1734.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Shelducks, Hayfield 2<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBzzzQ-O7VAZTHq2REdqU_ZmU4CAzKF4f_9sFMZR1uheDT3jqneAH9gUeusp01QRQsvDlB1hlgXPFxAQ1S42JMdLHrw5pcBwFMy3YgCovq78CKHzs2n1k2Mx3c4b04J5dwWnJk7BJfoyxBDTkSNEwdStUZVDZ3bN8CVcmwV6FFyqKEibC_h4xSTXr6Ro/s4608/DSCN1739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBzzzQ-O7VAZTHq2REdqU_ZmU4CAzKF4f_9sFMZR1uheDT3jqneAH9gUeusp01QRQsvDlB1hlgXPFxAQ1S42JMdLHrw5pcBwFMy3YgCovq78CKHzs2n1k2Mx3c4b04J5dwWnJk7BJfoyxBDTkSNEwdStUZVDZ3bN8CVcmwV6FFyqKEibC_h4xSTXr6Ro/w400-h300/DSCN1739.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Leucistic Badger, Lydd Road<br /><p>It`s that time of year when Badgers become more active, particularly the sows as they seek out food and bedding prior to cubbing. The other day travelling from New Romney to Ashford I counted eight dead Badgers along the A259 alone, while this morning there was another two along the Lydd Road, including the leucistic animal above.</p></div>Paul Troddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03532050770282573211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462975995418404460.post-24158619898080050332024-03-05T09:10:00.000-08:002024-03-05T09:10:14.466-08:00Avocets<p><b>Rye Harbour NR - mild, rain, light airs - H</b>ad to go to Rye this morning so we decided to take Ted along and do the circular walk around the Beach Reserve first, in the rain... (by the way, anyone planning to visit Rye from this neck of the woods would be well advised NOT to use the coast road as it is badly pot-holed and broken up in places, particularly around Camber). However, I`m ashamed to admit it that this was my first visit of the year to the harbour, but despite the weather we could take shelter in the dog-friendly hides and still enjoy the multitude of shorebirds and wildfowl on offer; it was also good to see that the bird information in the hides was bang up to date. Well done to all concerned. Twelve species of waders were noted including 20 Avocets, 200 Dunlins, 100 Golden Plovers and a Black-tailed Godwit. The Flat Beach hosted most of the waders along with hundreds of Shovelers, Gadwalls, Wigeons and Pintails, Little and Great White Egrets, Little and Great Crested Grebes, Great White and Little Egrets, plus 20 Shelducks, singing Skylarks and five Brent Geese. We can also recommend the coffee and cake from the cafe, while a sausage roll met with Ted`s approval!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7j7hfY3Fo4Xt_b21Clw-xKAos0aWgAnXefC20Xrnbpg-n_xcplvvTtMLnrjvvSeoufLZUsI_rmg0wnRlGH3L3P1z7_5jbqh2m-Rx3OkOuEd5vlbo_X7sroQl7WUwrLZ_DugddPO2dybPzeU8HgWyTqJ8CfJUC-m7Cw2P5twt4284mh0dM89ZFB_dSaVQ/s4608/DSCN1720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7j7hfY3Fo4Xt_b21Clw-xKAos0aWgAnXefC20Xrnbpg-n_xcplvvTtMLnrjvvSeoufLZUsI_rmg0wnRlGH3L3P1z7_5jbqh2m-Rx3OkOuEd5vlbo_X7sroQl7WUwrLZ_DugddPO2dybPzeU8HgWyTqJ8CfJUC-m7Cw2P5twt4284mh0dM89ZFB_dSaVQ/w400-h300/DSCN1720.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Dunlins from Gooder`s hide<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWUuzryN7JL0yDh_9HW2ren-zUMN0JUFSh3Vw1Sx8KoyvZymMqrAQ0oqe21OTOZeMLHq17OlU6UytmAsaoIQ8zg8XuQam8kjjSGDZNrcUeu2EtWCMfpdjZ7gAm8qpJHOzioIk_KblKjyESZDCU9TzZb3LKDlkBi9DvMvikSqGxmVdRzAh-yWW2lSJbOg/s4608/DSCN1708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWUuzryN7JL0yDh_9HW2ren-zUMN0JUFSh3Vw1Sx8KoyvZymMqrAQ0oqe21OTOZeMLHq17OlU6UytmAsaoIQ8zg8XuQam8kjjSGDZNrcUeu2EtWCMfpdjZ7gAm8qpJHOzioIk_KblKjyESZDCU9TzZb3LKDlkBi9DvMvikSqGxmVdRzAh-yWW2lSJbOg/w400-h300/DSCN1708.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Flooded Salt Pool</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Qc5VwRGp_sHsutavKfHKW464h9YRyli_WnF9altOwVM0BjdUkbYhEo-SOmhf5rQDMzZKvHnSw_ygrOB31L30hJbsFjMfS6Hsmvf_qLYLebo16EAM2wX7TGRT6pGs8fsC-oXAPwkU_BwlX4aYztPKqNLIILfXicikxkBlUgrPylZhbBjGLIfjCZIzGvY/s4608/DSCN1710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Qc5VwRGp_sHsutavKfHKW464h9YRyli_WnF9altOwVM0BjdUkbYhEo-SOmhf5rQDMzZKvHnSw_ygrOB31L30hJbsFjMfS6Hsmvf_qLYLebo16EAM2wX7TGRT6pGs8fsC-oXAPwkU_BwlX4aYztPKqNLIILfXicikxkBlUgrPylZhbBjGLIfjCZIzGvY/w400-h300/DSCN1710.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> High water levels on Ternery Pool <div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGb6xdd3N4QSK2nOyw7W9YAa7Lf-FZO9Dx4hiCR6KR3iv8YDk8Ak9LJajO9NbEdw5ZrXEeptdkfgxpkjmDAoqs00uVMmEaLdeUKRlxYSVKafMVwzferkI3x8EckQ6kNXTzhLgXblCDqHFs5r9xyIwDA-UQo8BuXr82Tsy1qEhJWPRa-9YdE9gFU75LWzo/s1771/DSCN1721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1161" data-original-width="1771" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGb6xdd3N4QSK2nOyw7W9YAa7Lf-FZO9Dx4hiCR6KR3iv8YDk8Ak9LJajO9NbEdw5ZrXEeptdkfgxpkjmDAoqs00uVMmEaLdeUKRlxYSVKafMVwzferkI3x8EckQ6kNXTzhLgXblCDqHFs5r9xyIwDA-UQo8BuXr82Tsy1qEhJWPRa-9YdE9gFU75LWzo/w400-h263/DSCN1721.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Black-tailed Godwit from Gooder`s hide<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifuyNI6_Wi1p3f5UrA7omIvEXEBkx0K4euqoKIjzfYp57I1slHTjD8h-GsREsbHYpm-WpMxegH-wTzN1VuY1WFY8RAIqI5OIEVFXRzfgAOKtPfemx2R3sDHtHTYF075S2W8c3DyN-bjTgZlqmR1C7HBa0uxwPolyS6TEB3gLwrOhNKgHPknNgsyIgQ34Q/s4608/DSCN1711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifuyNI6_Wi1p3f5UrA7omIvEXEBkx0K4euqoKIjzfYp57I1slHTjD8h-GsREsbHYpm-WpMxegH-wTzN1VuY1WFY8RAIqI5OIEVFXRzfgAOKtPfemx2R3sDHtHTYF075S2W8c3DyN-bjTgZlqmR1C7HBa0uxwPolyS6TEB3gLwrOhNKgHPknNgsyIgQ34Q/w400-h300/DSCN1711.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Species` status info in Parke`s hide</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzXt6oIbfTsEQ4WyBTl7qnkYesUTIusXkoO7aVY0aLXs8vf6XTsGmUAirX6AF4ooutVCo5ZQ7voU1O_Kbbh87g8K2vucbYN-UHFQD5kUjjP47CTBT8qubORbIZYZistZk7HoFIbNRbv32_8SJBUCQ3msw1yZGMInASpVrfjU5ieVH50YVDRjR8vLtkDQw/s3561/DSCN1714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2234" data-original-width="3561" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzXt6oIbfTsEQ4WyBTl7qnkYesUTIusXkoO7aVY0aLXs8vf6XTsGmUAirX6AF4ooutVCo5ZQ7voU1O_Kbbh87g8K2vucbYN-UHFQD5kUjjP47CTBT8qubORbIZYZistZk7HoFIbNRbv32_8SJBUCQ3msw1yZGMInASpVrfjU5ieVH50YVDRjR8vLtkDQw/w400-h251/DSCN1714.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Avocets, New Saltmarsh<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwjSjlvdtD6iKUziQ53kMLGkY1z49rWbtJgf32FhpH09Izi8HIbnkKdSgq5MKmDNnoNzGFGAbxKsoh1kvO2qIg-BuYK1ap8YM0q2Pi9Xudp4RdnW24kOyY0sJre2qD2VTK_c5x-Nn2swpnW2Wl6uB_ETBirh80xKTvbYWHUgR4BWyUCjQgeAzN0jhfHPg/s3739/DSCN1718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2321" data-original-width="3739" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwjSjlvdtD6iKUziQ53kMLGkY1z49rWbtJgf32FhpH09Izi8HIbnkKdSgq5MKmDNnoNzGFGAbxKsoh1kvO2qIg-BuYK1ap8YM0q2Pi9Xudp4RdnW24kOyY0sJre2qD2VTK_c5x-Nn2swpnW2Wl6uB_ETBirh80xKTvbYWHUgR4BWyUCjQgeAzN0jhfHPg/w400-h249/DSCN1718.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Golden Plovers and Dunlins, Flat Beach<br /><p>Elsewhere these past few days we`ve noticed increasing numbers of Mediterranean Gulls on the turf fields around New Romney, singing Chiffchaffs at two locations and Yellowhammers also in song. A visit to Lade yesterday yielded four Goldeneyes and two Marsh Harriers. News from the bird reserve today confirmed that the divers and ibis are still present, while singles of Swallow, Black Redstart and Firecrest were reported across the peninsula on Monday, heralding the coming spring, and a Scaup was at Scotney pits. </p></div></div></div></div>Paul Troddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03532050770282573211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462975995418404460.post-26528146844030076132024-03-01T10:40:00.000-08:002024-03-01T10:54:40.514-08:00Ted Walks<p><b>Cold, wet and windy - </b>A year ago today we took delivery of a bundle of energy and mischief that had just completed a one thousand mile journey across the European continent from Rumania; to be precise, it was actually two bundles, as we also took possession of a cat! To say its been a `challenging` year is something of an understatement, but after much hard work, patience and training both Ted the rescue dog and Polly the cat have been tamed (just about!) and transformed our lives along the way. I`ve been around or owned dogs most of my life but can honestly say that taking on a six month old, feral street dog has been a challenge that is not for the faint hearted! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxsS9KEEx6Hz27uDHcHkGYMmP-SbMIH7J0wm4FP8EdFIA1hh29mkNziw5azUjjNMVDW0Qb5m1Df7uPJh617BzAEj0nKIh-bN4_8IWNIv7LVIjDNRAX4LOT7OJVae3_5S9UVrft5K7zUJo_ylZAvQd1NRY7Uwkn8KBJdgOBJI8h0k-Yff9ruvFx4IXKJSk/s4608/DSCN1705.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxsS9KEEx6Hz27uDHcHkGYMmP-SbMIH7J0wm4FP8EdFIA1hh29mkNziw5azUjjNMVDW0Qb5m1Df7uPJh617BzAEj0nKIh-bN4_8IWNIv7LVIjDNRAX4LOT7OJVae3_5S9UVrft5K7zUJo_ylZAvQd1NRY7Uwkn8KBJdgOBJI8h0k-Yff9ruvFx4IXKJSk/w400-h300/DSCN1705.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Ted, in the garden<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZbcGMLL2jWRhRxBiBEYR9gkbyT5bkbFQQxaC_Pe0uA26zvIsAo0455LWRCrDArX3joR-jZ9wGzXnOT9kMkHAMJK7fNfsrwvCuEvRx354sOYvYdUMDG30_OBaaApAtTjDhOS6GgTqzUTdKmDx8SVyGezTs89hqJyILY2gzbYeV1M5vWqH39FA7Rf7P1U/s4608/DSCN1697.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZbcGMLL2jWRhRxBiBEYR9gkbyT5bkbFQQxaC_Pe0uA26zvIsAo0455LWRCrDArX3joR-jZ9wGzXnOT9kMkHAMJK7fNfsrwvCuEvRx354sOYvYdUMDG30_OBaaApAtTjDhOS6GgTqzUTdKmDx8SVyGezTs89hqJyILY2gzbYeV1M5vWqH39FA7Rf7P1U/w400-h300/DSCN1697.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGl59ZuoypL52mJxmhyi5XEH0bwAxOvItWzDu0V4qMh5BhRs6yJ_j_FVYhKaxzdtaLj0R3idej5kB3WUPq1i0WP6RrAtM6M6t-5q5vZZK8qzBaD8ZDN_6Y2FMCvy9vOAKXhIayAzjWgo4gveApTW5lBKbkSrCx8x5oLRD0LTCDw6zrwtUZIj8L7UBajxk/s4608/DSCN1696.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGl59ZuoypL52mJxmhyi5XEH0bwAxOvItWzDu0V4qMh5BhRs6yJ_j_FVYhKaxzdtaLj0R3idej5kB3WUPq1i0WP6RrAtM6M6t-5q5vZZK8qzBaD8ZDN_6Y2FMCvy9vOAKXhIayAzjWgo4gveApTW5lBKbkSrCx8x5oLRD0LTCDw6zrwtUZIj8L7UBajxk/w400-h300/DSCN1696.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Ted, Belgar Farm<br /><p>A sheep dog that has boundless energy such as Ted needs regular exercise and plenty of it, and as a result we`ve spent much time walking out from home and exploring the countryside around New Romney. Further afield he`s been to woodlands on the Weald and North Downs, Scotney, the canal zone, the foreshore between St Mary`s Bay and Dungeness, Dengemarsh and Lade Pits, so we`ve seen a fair old bit of the Marsh this past year, including a few places that I`ve not ventured to before. The majority of our walks have taken place on the farmland tracts around town, which is mostly arable, so winter wheat and barley, oil-seed rape, linseed and turf fields. Drainage sewers and ditches criss-cross the flatlands, many with reed-fringed margins and a few stunted hawthorns or willows here and there. Hedgerows are few with the ones in Hope Lane and the overgrown green lane to Old Romney the best of the bunch. Several heavily-stocked sheep-folds and a couple of horse paddocks complete the rural ensemble. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIG3I6oU_T-xU9LJXND5pq4nN-w6GDnh64um-3iC52h9yTPaXxxOslZIXqOm57eQ6GliMIJ2Q95Qa5LqFaX2dtVDuS3LrsevRTYS1OLpus2LSiNdBCRWGzpqq2-d-OHM4rVtimRE6fjvk5XDcvxm57-CDtp20AxBaKhA165oPnQs9s1iPe-_ee8VXLtXA/s3045/DSCN1699.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2851" data-original-width="3045" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIG3I6oU_T-xU9LJXND5pq4nN-w6GDnh64um-3iC52h9yTPaXxxOslZIXqOm57eQ6GliMIJ2Q95Qa5LqFaX2dtVDuS3LrsevRTYS1OLpus2LSiNdBCRWGzpqq2-d-OHM4rVtimRE6fjvk5XDcvxm57-CDtp20AxBaKhA165oPnQs9s1iPe-_ee8VXLtXA/w400-h375/DSCN1699.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What would farmers do without baler twine!</div><p>Needless to say that it was hardly surprising how nature depleted I found the intensively farmed land hereabouts; not once during the many hours in the field did I see a Brown Hare on the dry or a Water Vole in the wet. Tree Sparrows were absent and I`ve still yet to encounter a Little Owl or a Turtle Dove, while many former `common` resident and summer visitors were in pitifully low numbers. However, the highlights have been: Barn Owl, Kingfisher, Green Sandpiper, Common Snipe and Little Grebe along the sewers and ditches; a scattering of breeding Yellow Wagtails, Corn Buntings and Yellowhammers amongst the crops and a singing Quail; on passage, several Wheatears and singles of Ring Ouzel and Whinchat; and a flock of 1,200 Mediterranean Gulls loafing on a turf field in the autumn. </p></div>Paul Troddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03532050770282573211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462975995418404460.post-85820316985931933292024-02-27T11:05:00.000-08:002024-02-27T11:05:55.982-08:00Goose Barnacles<p><b>Dungeness - warm, dry and sunny, light airs - </b>Superb weather for a days guiding for Mark from Lexington USA. We kicked off at Burrowes where one of the wintering Great Northern Divers showed well from Makepeace ramp. All the usual wildfowl were noted on the lake including five Goldeneyes, plus my first singing Chiffchaff of the year and a Cetti`s Warbler in front of Firth. Following the recent torrential rain much of the reserve was flooded and devoid of birds including the hayfields. However, the exception was the Boulderwall fields where hundreds of feral geese and common wildfowl were present along with 200 Wigeons, 20 Curlews, two Great White Egrets, a Common Snipe and several each of Common Buzzard and Marsh Harrier thermaling on high. From Hanson hide we logged the second Great Northern Diver and a Black-throated Diver mid-way out on the lake. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkycwbYmdUMPxHyRIEgx2DiCjFz4Q8mzS93UM20Fi6dJqJllqBGqcpv9udXhmcjEK4Rg2ir5rrPWkOZ4y-xju4jmf1e9SYGeGNaskl14AfuXkVA5bn8vpeBgdxxTu2O07jzW659QFlmY-CmhuuDzzjwSA-j3gn_DttVKigiWI04lF70vKG5L04oZ_IFBY/s2583/DSCN1684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1868" data-original-width="2583" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkycwbYmdUMPxHyRIEgx2DiCjFz4Q8mzS93UM20Fi6dJqJllqBGqcpv9udXhmcjEK4Rg2ir5rrPWkOZ4y-xju4jmf1e9SYGeGNaskl14AfuXkVA5bn8vpeBgdxxTu2O07jzW659QFlmY-CmhuuDzzjwSA-j3gn_DttVKigiWI04lF70vKG5L04oZ_IFBY/w400-h289/DSCN1684.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Great Northern Diver, Burrowes<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVA_ojV1FUhudX_ogRCPoBTpHo835taB4Pdr2t6Lt2-Ic_-HOzLnDbTOPQSaA1gi6jIHSNm8LE9gVz1xEQZDqvh80ohdOO37jUVLeNNwD2UdlTe-aSOMQs0r1sUO_aN-PGbbqILs-45RI6nvEbaz9SBN5RFIxQKK9SlPK_c_dCU6a0ZVDU3LBz5qSoxbw/s4608/DSCN1686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVA_ojV1FUhudX_ogRCPoBTpHo835taB4Pdr2t6Lt2-Ic_-HOzLnDbTOPQSaA1gi6jIHSNm8LE9gVz1xEQZDqvh80ohdOO37jUVLeNNwD2UdlTe-aSOMQs0r1sUO_aN-PGbbqILs-45RI6nvEbaz9SBN5RFIxQKK9SlPK_c_dCU6a0ZVDU3LBz5qSoxbw/w400-h300/DSCN1686.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Flooded hayfields 1/2<br /><p>Next stop Scotney where hundreds more Wigeons, Shovelers, Pochards and Coots dominated the main road-side lake, plus 15 Pintails. A Raven showed well by the farm as did a Little Owl on a barn roof. A seawatch from the fishing boats delivered our third diver species as 20 Red-throated Divers flew to and fro between the bays and where a few Guillemots and a Fulmer were also noted. We finished off at Lade Bay with six species of waders and a superb baulk of driftwood covered in Goose Barnacles. A decent day in the fields, thanks mainly to the fine weather, and a respectable 75 species of birds logged for our guest. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQkkAiW0XVaVZg6XsBclmFcqhCdKp8xjf3WChiSx5nGsmpOm9un4LgCChua-A7uNk2bGmqxEktE1SdfQRlZW441ARroWFXXuXHHbFckmxZKg-HuJzXmbht-yX4X_9XhPOR6uojzrX-ADNUEMlVOq5TnPwic87KWCfVT3eHLj2IFk4ND0LWUd57AFLezk/s2707/DSCN1694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2707" data-original-width="2593" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQkkAiW0XVaVZg6XsBclmFcqhCdKp8xjf3WChiSx5nGsmpOm9un4LgCChua-A7uNk2bGmqxEktE1SdfQRlZW441ARroWFXXuXHHbFckmxZKg-HuJzXmbht-yX4X_9XhPOR6uojzrX-ADNUEMlVOq5TnPwic87KWCfVT3eHLj2IFk4ND0LWUd57AFLezk/w614-h640/DSCN1694.JPG" width="614" /></a></div> Goose Barnacles, Greatstone Beach<br /><p><br /></p><p> </p></div>Paul Troddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03532050770282573211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462975995418404460.post-52963194004212572082024-02-23T10:58:00.000-08:002024-02-23T10:58:49.080-08:00Tree Sparrows<p><b>Cool, showery, NW 3 -</b> Late February is traditionally one of the quieter birding periods of the year as the winter visitors continue to drift back east and we await the first of the spring migrants. This past week has been particularly wet for our daily Ted walks with, at times, torrential rain resulting in flooded farmland fields across the Marsh and the water levels on the rise again across the Dungeness wetlands. On Monday we walked Dengemarsh gully which was just about bird-less apart from a few Dunnocks, a Cetti`s Warbler and a Chiffchaff. Two visits to Dengemarsh and the bird reserve today produced the expected Marsh Harriers, Great White Egrets and flocks of Wigeons and Curlews on the Boulderwall fields. The wintering Black-throated and Great Northern Divers are still present commuting between ARC and Burrowes, a single but elusive Glossy Ibis has been reported at ARC, while Lade pits has retained five Goldeneyes. A mid-week drive along the Midley wall failed to locate any winter swans and it would seem that they have departed for the season; infact there were few birds to be seen anywhere as the `custodians of the countryside` continue their relentless drive towards a monochrome and desolate landscape bereft of any form of nature.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFEeE47oFlnc-G2R3VYtNK36AAWsPHZLm7Ry7ClJfaz74mDkt1iJzFMEU5rKMbMzJ3toYp0fv7CpDYGTca0jVPig3pohhAIbwl5JSK-uJKzWGCIc5pA-s0hEZeYr2hJKeS07Wf4P_O5KLwPkoWi2WVosWJ4V84DRdx96QPCLLPCPX75J6193sueFzE7s/s4608/Ted%20with%20nest%20boxes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFEeE47oFlnc-G2R3VYtNK36AAWsPHZLm7Ry7ClJfaz74mDkt1iJzFMEU5rKMbMzJ3toYp0fv7CpDYGTca0jVPig3pohhAIbwl5JSK-uJKzWGCIc5pA-s0hEZeYr2hJKeS07Wf4P_O5KLwPkoWi2WVosWJ4V84DRdx96QPCLLPCPX75J6193sueFzE7s/w400-h300/Ted%20with%20nest%20boxes.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Tree Sparrow boxes being `guarded` by Ted<br /><p>On a brighter note another batch of Tree Sparrow nest boxes has been completed and are ready to go out at Scotney where this once common farmland bird retains a tenuous hold on its existence. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyn6shyz64HZl6s_HWbmg6c_WYGWHEjqLGJQT45xjel6XbaEEW7DX0QgmIY6BOU_jKk9kVcoBsZ48plGT8aMhv6G541pg89l00yxniSqOAIT29PETy7fCORWO1BECuYt7RQTN0eObflhH34UmW2Dj7y79qdlyjn6a1z04Ib3eJ1pPWmdZSvc1MLrUmD-U/s1965/Tree%20Sparrows,%2013-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="1965" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyn6shyz64HZl6s_HWbmg6c_WYGWHEjqLGJQT45xjel6XbaEEW7DX0QgmIY6BOU_jKk9kVcoBsZ48plGT8aMhv6G541pg89l00yxniSqOAIT29PETy7fCORWO1BECuYt7RQTN0eObflhH34UmW2Dj7y79qdlyjn6a1z04Ib3eJ1pPWmdZSvc1MLrUmD-U/w400-h351/Tree%20Sparrows,%2013-2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Paul Troddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03532050770282573211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462975995418404460.post-63158152197385487402024-02-18T11:32:00.000-08:002024-02-18T11:37:07.949-08:00Harriers<p><b>Mild, cloudy, SW 3 - </b>This morning`s Ted walk (once the heavy overnight rain band had moved through) out towards St Mary-in-the-Marsh produced a few bits and pieces such as several Song Thrushes, Yellowhammers and Skylarks, a couple of Common Buzzards, a Cetti`s Warbler, Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a lone Cormorant on a bridge over the New Cut. This afternoon I carried out the monthly harrier count at a private reedbed site on Walland Marsh where 16 Marsh and one male Hen Harrier came to roost. Also noted in the general area: hundreds of Starlings, 500 Goldies over, six Common Buzzards, two Ravens, 14 Corn Buntings, two Stonechats, calling Water Rail and Cetti`s Warbler, several Meadow Pipits, Skylarks and croaking Toads. Two Grey Herons were causing havoc over the reedbed chasing the harriers, corvids, gulls and two Great White Egrets. As I walked back to the car in the gloaming around 20 Bewick`s Swans and 100 Greylags flew overhead calling, en-route to their roost sites. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgex7WZkb9e4cAOwLVGIvnmFOwUh4RKP1HUSLaLK7Mgk1jWx2e-EiZa8WF1XOF7I23uiUxCjX6-gCup60jZGtt4uAesYTWnswT45NngHFnQvXiHjOAgKHhs5pKMouR__jDHee_BRiW4Tr57TsZUkcTwKjxgHLBmmIbJqUI1gaigLB5TptvkniZCfjhDRrc/s3168/DSCN1649.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2537" data-original-width="3168" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgex7WZkb9e4cAOwLVGIvnmFOwUh4RKP1HUSLaLK7Mgk1jWx2e-EiZa8WF1XOF7I23uiUxCjX6-gCup60jZGtt4uAesYTWnswT45NngHFnQvXiHjOAgKHhs5pKMouR__jDHee_BRiW4Tr57TsZUkcTwKjxgHLBmmIbJqUI1gaigLB5TptvkniZCfjhDRrc/w400-h320/DSCN1649.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Newly groomed Ted!<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiwv3GQ-d5Qs9uGDUDNrU6lbB-f2KX_RHKzZa6CgRVKQXomFV4cQtHxU9i2BoqlVWk2Czoc-mHc1IDMmK6TkKHAYcL1PAsxcuXotFHzDfJuTF9XDBmOFUBfnzT9soa-8uxw2vq4Mo1ZW0kev4c4X0MXEAYYDxRbye95GyBOG2d7I55RyOpL9ULH1s4RyQ/s4608/DSCN1660.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiwv3GQ-d5Qs9uGDUDNrU6lbB-f2KX_RHKzZa6CgRVKQXomFV4cQtHxU9i2BoqlVWk2Czoc-mHc1IDMmK6TkKHAYcL1PAsxcuXotFHzDfJuTF9XDBmOFUBfnzT9soa-8uxw2vq4Mo1ZW0kev4c4X0MXEAYYDxRbye95GyBOG2d7I55RyOpL9ULH1s4RyQ/w400-h300/DSCN1660.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Myriads of flying insects<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhij0V4ow3gMtBh55_It7AElkiQOUxQpyaafVPkXsR7oxCpizOAW0URTSyhqS8mDLJAhoTvWedxBUKWaLD_AF1oGwqcpoAh5nfevMQLw7S17c4-_6igU1SQB-O7O9vZeoXjks8zXlDr0O8D_ukPsop8MDBRFZjlqqgkC4nPkXiTeZA6J1iSflokabl_x1k/s4608/DSCN1667%20-%20Copy.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhij0V4ow3gMtBh55_It7AElkiQOUxQpyaafVPkXsR7oxCpizOAW0URTSyhqS8mDLJAhoTvWedxBUKWaLD_AF1oGwqcpoAh5nfevMQLw7S17c4-_6igU1SQB-O7O9vZeoXjks8zXlDr0O8D_ukPsop8MDBRFZjlqqgkC4nPkXiTeZA6J1iSflokabl_x1k/w400-h300/DSCN1667%20-%20Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Sunset over Walland</div></div>Paul Troddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03532050770282573211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462975995418404460.post-75112855942011685862024-02-16T10:31:00.000-08:002024-02-16T10:31:43.853-08:00Ravens<p><b>Lade - warm, dry and sunny, W 2 - </b>A superb spring-like morning with the temperature topping out at 15C by midday, ideal weather conditions for a circuit of the local patch. Ravens are now an established part of the birding scene across the Marsh landscape where they nest on the power station complex and at several other sites. The last couple of visits to Lade I`ve noticed them displaying over the stony wastes, but for some reason a pair today allowed a close approach. Ted flushed two Common Snipes from Mockmill where several Song Thrushes and Blackbirds were also noted and a Skylark was in full song over the shingle. However, the lakes were very quiet with few wildfowl and only two Goldeneyes logged. A splash of Coltsfoot in flower along the banks of south lake were classic botanical heralds of spring. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQVM68Vr5LgL40NBW9ENGoD6HKte9eemihGMSGqulVwMwowVuVRUl7EbeMpB9mFj_da220k5iBpXXnyAYYf-_LS8ZCpYZz2AyQTwssx8nMsFjKJgDoFOJ7-EM-f1vII5OURvnAMMiKhRkYhX2P9_95ASKnLYmVPYvCW0awR0sTsvD8WhNNBPOTY0ztV4/s2156/DSCN1617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1404" data-original-width="2156" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQVM68Vr5LgL40NBW9ENGoD6HKte9eemihGMSGqulVwMwowVuVRUl7EbeMpB9mFj_da220k5iBpXXnyAYYf-_LS8ZCpYZz2AyQTwssx8nMsFjKJgDoFOJ7-EM-f1vII5OURvnAMMiKhRkYhX2P9_95ASKnLYmVPYvCW0awR0sTsvD8WhNNBPOTY0ztV4/w400-h260/DSCN1617.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCi8ry8FsHIQMoCSWyCwGw9EmGWv4fsFlZPk6JFO7gX6pfqqGhDKld13CF6Yar3s6nwj5eBoHxn61uN0wA2wEL2ddjyCH2UbClsj3ykv1ZErmV5Ip7gmvDP8GELUqE9NK9GgReRDlNS1f2k19Xnte3lbiurf7lm2Xr0NYCmIWtT2Kxja5hmcilG2v2szA/s3035/DSCN1639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2345" data-original-width="3035" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCi8ry8FsHIQMoCSWyCwGw9EmGWv4fsFlZPk6JFO7gX6pfqqGhDKld13CF6Yar3s6nwj5eBoHxn61uN0wA2wEL2ddjyCH2UbClsj3ykv1ZErmV5Ip7gmvDP8GELUqE9NK9GgReRDlNS1f2k19Xnte3lbiurf7lm2Xr0NYCmIWtT2Kxja5hmcilG2v2szA/w400-h309/DSCN1639.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Ravens, Lade desert<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg257RlZfUbUn9NOvqflxTtAhSXq5bIHR077YwT9KRCKOg6qwSbcEFvJOyi4eu7T818NTVp2qAffHHfxoJK2JEu0GEIsLnj5-9iDTtE8_wKYHSbRGq_t3WVlJ_iCC9TFj9EryquIjHA921u5OhncSOj9eDKsi3n-BIwbhyDcasRDzYUiQS-WOt_K_yCRVE/s3861/DSCN1643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3009" data-original-width="3861" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg257RlZfUbUn9NOvqflxTtAhSXq5bIHR077YwT9KRCKOg6qwSbcEFvJOyi4eu7T818NTVp2qAffHHfxoJK2JEu0GEIsLnj5-9iDTtE8_wKYHSbRGq_t3WVlJ_iCC9TFj9EryquIjHA921u5OhncSOj9eDKsi3n-BIwbhyDcasRDzYUiQS-WOt_K_yCRVE/w400-h311/DSCN1643.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Coltsfoot<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVAqhrCmxrKZJvYP0G051aJYc16RsvnHPCvXdUUW2bvt4QtmG3rvWbBebW8KXhCudN2I3FsjZ-b8snM6NNSXU3QOigdZR29rQYmmtp7PX_RMHlVTgoCy4_N3VX2Ehr-B9ds1xfqR7DSQ8NJgLF89kB7nnfGeZoD5PHqfl_fjMnOIvw2XOjkFtoQ1y6jiA/s3556/DSCN1646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2866" data-original-width="3556" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVAqhrCmxrKZJvYP0G051aJYc16RsvnHPCvXdUUW2bvt4QtmG3rvWbBebW8KXhCudN2I3FsjZ-b8snM6NNSXU3QOigdZR29rQYmmtp7PX_RMHlVTgoCy4_N3VX2Ehr-B9ds1xfqR7DSQ8NJgLF89kB7nnfGeZoD5PHqfl_fjMnOIvw2XOjkFtoQ1y6jiA/w400-h323/DSCN1646.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Ted cooling off in south lake</div></div>Paul Troddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03532050770282573211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462975995418404460.post-90467661028520156622024-02-14T07:02:00.000-08:002024-02-14T11:09:30.064-08:00Curlews<p><b>Dungeness RSPB - mild, overcast, showery, SW 3 - </b>A murky, dank morning was far from ideal weather conditions for a guided walk around the reserve for five guests. Instead we spent most of our time viewing from the visitor centre and Dennis`s, the one remaining hide on Burrowes; we tried to get shelter from Firth lookout but it was hopeless with the wind and rain lashing in. However, duck numbers were very low, presumably some having already dispersed back east for the forthcoming breeding season. A flock of around 100 Shovelers on the island in front of the VC was the highlight along with a scattering of Teal, Gadwall, Pochard, Tufted Duck and five Goldeneyes. The usual gulls and Cormorants were on the water while a Great Northern Diver was still present. Singles of Kingfisher, Chiffchaff and Cetti`s Warbler were also noted around the margins. We then drove down to Boulderwall where a flock of 18 Curlews showed well by Cook`s Pool, close to the gate, along with a few Wigeons and Shelducks and a Great White Egret on the fields. Moving onto the ARC from Hanson hide where more common wildfowl were noted on the lake, plus eight Great Crested and three Little Grebes, another Great White Egret, a flock of 15 long-tailed Tits in the sallows and 30 Lapwings overhead.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNEFrhZ17O8hI-onsNvtyulZqvrvzW_51tdOyWqrMiIlqD7yoPr-dgUfG6lkZbA4-b43Qc2nRsf1nlV1zA23WPJs3UeMGZ2IiaR1IUdlFYccRd7Q5EYYihWD8-URVEVAIHGMpOpQ-RWhSRsfteUIdp7lZoGR96reuD4pQ7KgBoNCjeDRkqBf_BN1CxuE/s2811/Curlews,%20Boulderwall,.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1630" data-original-width="2811" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNEFrhZ17O8hI-onsNvtyulZqvrvzW_51tdOyWqrMiIlqD7yoPr-dgUfG6lkZbA4-b43Qc2nRsf1nlV1zA23WPJs3UeMGZ2IiaR1IUdlFYccRd7Q5EYYihWD8-URVEVAIHGMpOpQ-RWhSRsfteUIdp7lZoGR96reuD4pQ7KgBoNCjeDRkqBf_BN1CxuE/w400-h233/Curlews,%20Boulderwall,.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISJuaTIpsNtaOFJpTlftwIjeDadrYb_RHudEFCpYPkoHnO_J0_OwjPZvYUbiCnxOAxB6O-w6DlJRytBAvn0i37RTHOHO2-BCXdV9z3fVJXgHDS9KRTCjHW4fRybsUp2BJ6EMuN0Pn0SX1wZVr3RB9b7IhoQu4auxcgGjNXNmjnfIuUzcRzkYGkcQr5wM/s3984/Curlew,%20Boulderwall.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2832" data-original-width="3984" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISJuaTIpsNtaOFJpTlftwIjeDadrYb_RHudEFCpYPkoHnO_J0_OwjPZvYUbiCnxOAxB6O-w6DlJRytBAvn0i37RTHOHO2-BCXdV9z3fVJXgHDS9KRTCjHW4fRybsUp2BJ6EMuN0Pn0SX1wZVr3RB9b7IhoQu4auxcgGjNXNmjnfIuUzcRzkYGkcQr5wM/w400-h284/Curlew,%20Boulderwall.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Curlews, Boulderwall fields<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZw75Zttvrg6LZgDm3fwBjFCBORHa9bsw8tRCA3kI-5Y-1h7yHqjjZwBJaegHm30nLYnnCr2IWRWNT8QfOtrTLJzhCq9McYj73piQbcZSB-gIVuLh2nWb6s8t1Z7fLHALMSWWd9s8ilGzmBG_0eEvI1VZTmrJcC88XPerjpoJFO2NR2Xt8h8_BAIAktQ/s2956/Dabchick,%20ARC.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2173" data-original-width="2956" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZw75Zttvrg6LZgDm3fwBjFCBORHa9bsw8tRCA3kI-5Y-1h7yHqjjZwBJaegHm30nLYnnCr2IWRWNT8QfOtrTLJzhCq9McYj73piQbcZSB-gIVuLh2nWb6s8t1Z7fLHALMSWWd9s8ilGzmBG_0eEvI1VZTmrJcC88XPerjpoJFO2NR2Xt8h8_BAIAktQ/w400-h294/Dabchick,%20ARC.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Dabchick, ARC<br /><p>On Monday the weather was fine, dry and sunny when we paid a visit to Lade pits where a pair each of Common Buzzard and Raven displayed over the site and five Goldeneyes remained on south lake. Yesterday a farmland walk north of Romney yielded good views of a Chiffchaff in a drainage ditch and five Yellowhammers along Hope Lane, but precious little else. </p></div>Paul Troddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03532050770282573211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462975995418404460.post-78005538617546864912024-02-11T09:21:00.000-08:002024-02-11T09:21:21.769-08:00Pied Wagtails<p><b>Mild, showery, light airs - </b>We spent the morning walking the Dengemarsh circuit, mostly in light rain, where the farmland was saturated with large acreages flooded after the recent heavy rain. There were hundreds of feral geese and 60 Mute Swans on the stubble fields, plus hundreds more Woodpigeons, Black-headed Gulls and black crows where sheep, foraging on turnips, had turned the fields into a sea of mud. The soggy sheep looked a sorry old sight within the confines of the electric fencing with no way of getting to drier land. Another sheep fold near the corral attracted a large flock of Pied Wagtails numbering at least 150 birds, while a weedy field at the back of Hookers held around 80 Corn and 30 Reed Buntings. A few singing Skylarks and Cetti`s Warblers were also noted, along with a Great White Egret, two Common Buzzards, 100 Wigeons and 20 Shelducks across the Boulderwall fields. The section through the bird reserve produced flight views of Bearded Tits and a flyover Common Snipe at Hookers, two Marsh Harriers and several hundred Teal, Shoveler and Wigeon on the flooded hayfields.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEUnnf3ckJvSmdQsd2XQ-gxu_Br2bhTZGeks1R8EC_7SfTaBvBM_Q7nsKI4utbPlMXyQU2SzpRqfx0V4Xy7x8ZEngobfvICQJ7uOHqMxvAvObwV-yTNmNLbSNKMOejmO7-Fj2w3Og2Mhr7fzJriJCECTG4sz0YDRtYepy6VL3wTx4rtxv2l3BeBfUeus/s2489/DSCN1564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1853" data-original-width="2489" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEUnnf3ckJvSmdQsd2XQ-gxu_Br2bhTZGeks1R8EC_7SfTaBvBM_Q7nsKI4utbPlMXyQU2SzpRqfx0V4Xy7x8ZEngobfvICQJ7uOHqMxvAvObwV-yTNmNLbSNKMOejmO7-Fj2w3Og2Mhr7fzJriJCECTG4sz0YDRtYepy6VL3wTx4rtxv2l3BeBfUeus/w400-h297/DSCN1564.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpT_Kr_vMkWaaKRWK8uKhJ_Tdbhcxbajn2Af4FhKviiap9d87yyxQXliWTb5U0hxFFOxsjsRIBqe0vuqbS9Wk0tGHtO-rP5rtR8wkn6_iW3bqq_kB87VhYTqV_oaOjbFoHMpCzfgP_kHQh1pGUVgl9U0f2YeQz3pj2QJ863kSsNSsl9H_Mb0Obq9Up_yQ/s2455/DSCN1565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1809" data-original-width="2455" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpT_Kr_vMkWaaKRWK8uKhJ_Tdbhcxbajn2Af4FhKviiap9d87yyxQXliWTb5U0hxFFOxsjsRIBqe0vuqbS9Wk0tGHtO-rP5rtR8wkn6_iW3bqq_kB87VhYTqV_oaOjbFoHMpCzfgP_kHQh1pGUVgl9U0f2YeQz3pj2QJ863kSsNSsl9H_Mb0Obq9Up_yQ/w400-h295/DSCN1565.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Pied Wagtails, Boulderwall fields<br /><p>Elsewhere today the wintering Black-throated and Great Northern Divers were on Burrowes with another Great Northern on ARC, while the Bewick`s Swans were still, for the time being, present on Walland Marsh to the south of Brookland.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8laGeDCM3tBXY7PNqvIjBOkcAfJPQwOeZaPjh-VWOXslQ_EWqZWZOxLCNT7qNN9dOmtNk6pabXyzdBMBYGtLrG085nfX0rABId1GC8KbNwjb2qzwQ40UZqPtYPze2U-qxc8wSpYYzOdjT24kYBkW80MWUIYem3eOyaVSSDbiAvk7HnOA3bY1KYGJgNlU/s4608/DSCN1572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8laGeDCM3tBXY7PNqvIjBOkcAfJPQwOeZaPjh-VWOXslQ_EWqZWZOxLCNT7qNN9dOmtNk6pabXyzdBMBYGtLrG085nfX0rABId1GC8KbNwjb2qzwQ40UZqPtYPze2U-qxc8wSpYYzOdjT24kYBkW80MWUIYem3eOyaVSSDbiAvk7HnOA3bY1KYGJgNlU/w400-h300/DSCN1572.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Ted enjoying the rain!<br /><p><br /></p>Paul Troddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03532050770282573211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462975995418404460.post-86810545358467794222024-02-06T08:12:00.000-08:002024-02-06T08:12:24.157-08:00Nothing to report...<p><b>Mild, overcast, SW 4-5 - </b>There really hasn`t been much change to the birdlife hereabouts since my last post, as is often the case during the in between month of February with one foot in winter and the other looking towards spring. Having said that the divers are still on the bird reserve, along with five Cattle Egrets and a Glossy Ibis, while the wild swans remain on Walland Marsh where at least two Hen Harriers are present. Visits to Lade pits yielded a first Great White Egret of the year last Friday but little else in the brisk westerly. A couple of walks along the beach at Dungeness by the fishing boats yielded the usual comings and goings of Red-throated Divers, gulls and auks, plus a party of 50 Brent Geese heading up-Channel yesterday.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbOluNGaBBRbKD9Q8bhfWHUtLyV9MKSuKG8MNoYBg30-Qz2tD1Z7j5XqeUedTiM-zoZnyjMuEeGBCR79e-x2P1vPVr7jOMrnZ4_Tj3aig50Uhl_8qG4lni2cOhz7s7C7Gk2n4xshB7SqpPO37xprKI1YpdtWZefmlbnx5t9KWyYdiF8Rt0O45JrIpgoo/s3794/Brents%20DBO%2013-3-15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2018" data-original-width="3794" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbOluNGaBBRbKD9Q8bhfWHUtLyV9MKSuKG8MNoYBg30-Qz2tD1Z7j5XqeUedTiM-zoZnyjMuEeGBCR79e-x2P1vPVr7jOMrnZ4_Tj3aig50Uhl_8qG4lni2cOhz7s7C7Gk2n4xshB7SqpPO37xprKI1YpdtWZefmlbnx5t9KWyYdiF8Rt0O45JrIpgoo/w400-h213/Brents%20DBO%2013-3-15.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Brent Geese, Dungeness<br /><p>There have been one or two hints of spring during our daily Ted walks around New Romney where the borderlands of town have been the most productive with at least four Song Thrushes holding territory and regular sightings of Kestrel and Green Woodpecker. A two-dimensional Toad on a lane was further evidence of the continuing mild weather and a herald of spring. The dry weather has seen the `custodians of the countryside` out in force spraying the arable lands up to the margins and as a result few farmland birds have been noted apart from the odd Skylark and Yellowhammer; how they manage to survive is a mystery to me. However, the snowdrops and daffodils are in bloom around town and it won`t be long now until the first migrants start to push up from the south.</p>Paul Troddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03532050770282573211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462975995418404460.post-64222812505865788232024-02-01T11:10:00.000-08:002024-02-01T11:20:25.562-08:00Wild Swans<p><b>Warm, dry and sunny, light airs -</b>A cracking day of weather for a trip across the Marsh with Clare and Peter where our first stop was a field near Hamstreet, logging 30 Yellowhammers and 10 Tree Sparrows, plus several Reed Buntings, Goldfinches, Skylarks and Chaffinches. In a field off Clubbs Lane 53 <b>Bewick`s Swans </b>showed well, as opposed to five distant <b>Whooper Swans</b> below the Hook Wall. Elsewhere across Walland Marsh we noted 100 Fieldfares, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Sparrowhawk, 10 Kestrels, 20 Common Buzzards (one feasting on a dead Mallard), 20 Teals, 10 Wigeons and several mixed flocks of Common and Black-headed Gulls. Passerines were hard to come by, which is hardly surprising as wherever you go the `custodians of the countryside` are cutting, hacking back and chopping down any vestige of tree, bush or cover.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF5DBWSw_GexAM6INNAQWZeDiHcCwK_GzW0PUP_3kO_e-iBhUhHiKU2XAuAvcPabumoVuJM-WTp0Jh5o0M3kziwog911ZSYmuccEdoyu0HYm-IANpAWGbRCz59t5gldKLu9tGpsafv8LPYiAIBKQhDzjemESbacQ4In1BaXlSLGhJT0Gp_CSPhoYpK9L0/s3826/DSCN1544.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2905" data-original-width="3826" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF5DBWSw_GexAM6INNAQWZeDiHcCwK_GzW0PUP_3kO_e-iBhUhHiKU2XAuAvcPabumoVuJM-WTp0Jh5o0M3kziwog911ZSYmuccEdoyu0HYm-IANpAWGbRCz59t5gldKLu9tGpsafv8LPYiAIBKQhDzjemESbacQ4In1BaXlSLGhJT0Gp_CSPhoYpK9L0/w400-h304/DSCN1544.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Bewick`s Swans, Walland Marsh<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhfjuIFO273S1fMJeAHoE-0xC77fFjE1HpCMbypobo_jnsucizjeaOXrd-aJa1_bduc1CfQI-cZhn5wbmnXP9pqjUEFuc3REKcDVAtwLIz8UdBBLJqp_GH6Wn76htov-3BUAGJRlO8tJoQ6Ml5b0jJhTmDq_6U9BDSP5BB8kQeWUUqh4eMGdzvl050Cs/s4608/DSCN1545.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhfjuIFO273S1fMJeAHoE-0xC77fFjE1HpCMbypobo_jnsucizjeaOXrd-aJa1_bduc1CfQI-cZhn5wbmnXP9pqjUEFuc3REKcDVAtwLIz8UdBBLJqp_GH6Wn76htov-3BUAGJRlO8tJoQ6Ml5b0jJhTmDq_6U9BDSP5BB8kQeWUUqh4eMGdzvl050Cs/w400-h300/DSCN1545.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Environmental vandalism, Midley <br /><p>Moving onto Scotney, where we paused en-route to admire a sunbathing Little Owl, a species that has also suffered from habitat loss over the past decade and is nowhere near as common as before Brexit. The front sward was smothered in several thousand Lapwings and Golden Plovers, making for a fabulous spectacle when they nervously flew around, swirling overhead calling incessantly. Several Redshanks, Ruffs, Curlews and a Green Sandpiper were also present along with a few feral geese and hundreds of common ducks and Coots.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRnCnNjROz6BeIfAuci2ytpi0F2lZeak6hMDhNDp0i_zM32eqlYYMkqDbzKc9pXPgkgZDJ_P-cs1PxmnPqOFw6vyBSDKTxx5dOJLZ8msuTI8KLbAVQvqYqBX76QIX9ZT36hYFaQAh2wc0Zqtt6tlY9bYKJpB7if-_27eh8gL1FnY8RJE9DxtjpqCHEThc/s2676/DSCN1551.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2193" data-original-width="2676" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRnCnNjROz6BeIfAuci2ytpi0F2lZeak6hMDhNDp0i_zM32eqlYYMkqDbzKc9pXPgkgZDJ_P-cs1PxmnPqOFw6vyBSDKTxx5dOJLZ8msuTI8KLbAVQvqYqBX76QIX9ZT36hYFaQAh2wc0Zqtt6tlY9bYKJpB7if-_27eh8gL1FnY8RJE9DxtjpqCHEThc/w400-h328/DSCN1551.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Little Owl, Lydd<br /><p>On the bird reserve two Great Northern and a Black-throated Diver remained on Burrowes along with six Goldeneyes and flock of 30 Barnacle Geese at the back of Boulderwall fields; while Cockles Bridge paddock yielded five Cattle Egrets. A seawatch from the fishing boats produced a few Guillemots and Red-throated Divers tooing and froing but little else, and a party of 20 Sanderlings flew along the beach. We finished the day at Hanson hide where several Marsh Harriers and Great White Egrets flew over prior to roosting. A fine days birding in great company and a respectable 79 species noted. </p></div>Paul Troddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03532050770282573211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462975995418404460.post-8832181072077386072024-01-29T14:05:00.000-08:002024-01-29T14:05:52.230-08:00Pink-footed Geese<p><b>Mild, overcast, S2 - </b>A grim, dank morning for a circuit of Dengeamarsh with Ted where he encountered an electrified sheep fence for the first, and hopefully for him judging by his reaction, the last time! A flock of 50 Corn Buntings in a rank field at the back of Hookers was the best of the passerines that also included a few Reed Buntings, Skylarks, Pied Wagtails, Meadow Pipits, Song Thrushes and a pair of Stonechats. The flooded hayfields held hundreds of Lapwings, Shovelers, Wigeons and Teals, plus a pair of Shelducks while several Marsh Harriers, Great White Egrets and Grey Herons were noted during the walk. Back at Lydd a pause for a natter with Martin C delivered six distant <b>Pink-footed Geese </b>in the misty, arable fields opposite, plus 10 Golden Plovers, 20 Stock Doves and a couple of hundred Greylags. A check of the Scotney front lakes and sward revealed few feral geese, but hundreds of Golden Plovers, Lapwings and common wintering ducks. On the bird reserve the two divers remained on Burrowes.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdisys4IsFz8Yegi0VuUlfGCIqhe6o81vowemg3xpEt970Nts7k4YzbpN_Jup_NB99o95GBwCZ75NYTdpjZhqtEvVhmINXtRPrJvMFpXBM7lZiFlIcEJLQQ4JdyqaAC3VUlt1uOmnsABZQ-y9qip4NncMdi9hsbUqf3KSbKIgBuCQ-0PMKYSt6xj63HuA/s3340/DSCN1537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2065" data-original-width="3340" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdisys4IsFz8Yegi0VuUlfGCIqhe6o81vowemg3xpEt970Nts7k4YzbpN_Jup_NB99o95GBwCZ75NYTdpjZhqtEvVhmINXtRPrJvMFpXBM7lZiFlIcEJLQQ4JdyqaAC3VUlt1uOmnsABZQ-y9qip4NncMdi9hsbUqf3KSbKIgBuCQ-0PMKYSt6xj63HuA/w400-h248/DSCN1537.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Great White Egret, Dengemarsh<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Ie-meJ6lhoR2V68urbxe5VtD1EHrAradYs4QNkNR_kK5pKHk4yqbwGPZNAKKayBLHKpsEDG9JNQuT7TYgmIm4OOJu-hRTQ2AY2zM9KR02s9NUT8vLcBcbpLmHCD1rVRT1ZkVyWP27Dn_N97tS0QjNBv2bhUwBdirPYI9oOz48cSg-7fKJO14rg6WfZI/s2784/DSCN1542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2011" data-original-width="2784" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Ie-meJ6lhoR2V68urbxe5VtD1EHrAradYs4QNkNR_kK5pKHk4yqbwGPZNAKKayBLHKpsEDG9JNQuT7TYgmIm4OOJu-hRTQ2AY2zM9KR02s9NUT8vLcBcbpLmHCD1rVRT1ZkVyWP27Dn_N97tS0QjNBv2bhUwBdirPYI9oOz48cSg-7fKJO14rg6WfZI/w400-h289/DSCN1542.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Pink-footed Geese in the mist, Lydd</div>Paul Troddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03532050770282573211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462975995418404460.post-30601952134987340912024-01-28T09:35:00.000-08:002024-01-28T09:35:28.533-08:00Long-tailed Tits<p> <b>New Romney - mild, dry and sunny, SE2 - </b>This weekend was the RSPB`s annual garden bird survey, so I spent an hour counting the birds from the kitchen window in our small, town garden. Most of the activity was on or around the feeders where 32 birds of 10 species were recorded. I was thrilled to bits when `our` regular flock of Long-tailed Tits came through whilst counting, all six of them, and as the fat ball hanger is only 10 feet from the window I managed a few half-decent pics, and what super little birds they are. There was a typical absence of finches, and whilst Goldfinches are irregular visitors I`ve only noted Chaffinch twice and have yet to log a Greenfinch in just over two years. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9i5MucXOEXUIv1NCievaJ0bZEjLPu_4gK1j4vWqjPYrn0hzco12kKum_BcIAogqtGEXSgmFcvfEtXkngnabtHmF5g6TYa4zhkRbyKmUFQEkk47ch74mxem4Ow3ViNGmXpq49i0c6LBZcDxHy6gzi17LLBbfawMSnXc0QDm51J87-2UrlAFS91HEc3n8/s4608/DSCN1518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9i5MucXOEXUIv1NCievaJ0bZEjLPu_4gK1j4vWqjPYrn0hzco12kKum_BcIAogqtGEXSgmFcvfEtXkngnabtHmF5g6TYa4zhkRbyKmUFQEkk47ch74mxem4Ow3ViNGmXpq49i0c6LBZcDxHy6gzi17LLBbfawMSnXc0QDm51J87-2UrlAFS91HEc3n8/w400-h300/DSCN1518.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTzP_jQiiJU2U5p5tjauKpHW5yD-Ik6RkRS3GKcFY8gJ6bzlFJ-PwESBRP3YAZKdgqkW-ynxhTrBQCvS6v8BhkCHU5aAXJRRcgwsMeV37r-H5s88zvY9WOu2hDWXhfDlFsCJTITSZAiB1L8yD0Sh9Lqp9-aqpNTRatMoE8d9CfDEK-q4mHMfu3FpDQyg/s1951/DSCN1497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1694" data-original-width="1951" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTzP_jQiiJU2U5p5tjauKpHW5yD-Ik6RkRS3GKcFY8gJ6bzlFJ-PwESBRP3YAZKdgqkW-ynxhTrBQCvS6v8BhkCHU5aAXJRRcgwsMeV37r-H5s88zvY9WOu2hDWXhfDlFsCJTITSZAiB1L8yD0Sh9Lqp9-aqpNTRatMoE8d9CfDEK-q4mHMfu3FpDQyg/w400-h348/DSCN1497.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnGw7E8HoWIsuAxynYC3lEvJ1xmBya2JT9Vawf0O8QUMM8tUGE8ph-OvqiH8WCG7rBgQUl9c0cVL5YodgxQZUIvbxYWVyz7SDB9YHMRMlpsNOTqU9bTgn9fiDcGRWUjd_Tyo49ZUIr6W5bZKwpB5_RF9hl-P-jQ8vAE79kDV2jxJlpqNG4mvBVgWfSog/s3551/DSCN1502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2679" data-original-width="3551" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnGw7E8HoWIsuAxynYC3lEvJ1xmBya2JT9Vawf0O8QUMM8tUGE8ph-OvqiH8WCG7rBgQUl9c0cVL5YodgxQZUIvbxYWVyz7SDB9YHMRMlpsNOTqU9bTgn9fiDcGRWUjd_Tyo49ZUIr6W5bZKwpB5_RF9hl-P-jQ8vAE79kDV2jxJlpqNG4mvBVgWfSog/w400-h301/DSCN1502.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigz-l0Ok803NGhMT4EqANNaRlpz2iCZJe6tiLeEUVzIet6wkAZLZBu75G4wiLI8GE0iYY5sj6RH448gU64R34dP-J7WbIyRVLaWfkfa3imWvQdPcVHkECpnYKNYKIIryHAG4TCZpMPgPDlFT92YwVHfVz2VzNVbqb_wsKo1M2zyjuuoIhQUYcDiVNvebI/s4608/DSCN1503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigz-l0Ok803NGhMT4EqANNaRlpz2iCZJe6tiLeEUVzIet6wkAZLZBu75G4wiLI8GE0iYY5sj6RH448gU64R34dP-J7WbIyRVLaWfkfa3imWvQdPcVHkECpnYKNYKIIryHAG4TCZpMPgPDlFT92YwVHfVz2VzNVbqb_wsKo1M2zyjuuoIhQUYcDiVNvebI/w400-h300/DSCN1503.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Long-tailed Tits, New Romney<br /><p>Elsewhere this weekend our farmland Ted walks out to St-Mary-in-the-Marsh have yielded few birds apart from several singing Skylarks today in the warm sunshine and a Chiffchaff along Hope Lane. A flock of 500 Woodpigeons on the Salts yesterday was noteworthy, plus a handful of Yellowhammers and Song Thrushes. Three each of Common Buzzard and Kestrel at both sites were making the most of the fine weather to hunt for prey.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1CzN6WwxxwFga9V9Pf-fUUPVjxB6XGbnmD6VPwJZ-zr_JJXM8yT1rjdtm4LsUf0QE-V5ZyI3gi0ay33Ai9osoPDqezW77uCFPvlo1J9oY78GjKqX93xO5ZW8diGdjCwjNUQ083Q2iOHfkA7Jgv6Iv1wWsPXY0zQqNnfkvvHvi4TB24hsYK8BGQCbElA/s1064/DSCN1510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="839" data-original-width="1064" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1CzN6WwxxwFga9V9Pf-fUUPVjxB6XGbnmD6VPwJZ-zr_JJXM8yT1rjdtm4LsUf0QE-V5ZyI3gi0ay33Ai9osoPDqezW77uCFPvlo1J9oY78GjKqX93xO5ZW8diGdjCwjNUQ083Q2iOHfkA7Jgv6Iv1wWsPXY0zQqNnfkvvHvi4TB24hsYK8BGQCbElA/w400-h315/DSCN1510.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ABQGBnmPSgGC6DsR1K-E2kpYcDejQDyDt2w89aNF89IfyGZ9nuEY-tOEX7GeAyxBYSLd5Uxw1QoZXvc0ZByRMM_H2hIfkkXLe_3UPkXe2smkkNSk_gx0CO_A89DNVzT30-MpyWOgo1pMqND2c7aIlHKsFx98Pgx1Z4LdgkpsEPC3YY4ZA2dgkvG_7nQ/s1567/DSCN1532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1307" data-original-width="1567" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ABQGBnmPSgGC6DsR1K-E2kpYcDejQDyDt2w89aNF89IfyGZ9nuEY-tOEX7GeAyxBYSLd5Uxw1QoZXvc0ZByRMM_H2hIfkkXLe_3UPkXe2smkkNSk_gx0CO_A89DNVzT30-MpyWOgo1pMqND2c7aIlHKsFx98Pgx1Z4LdgkpsEPC3YY4ZA2dgkvG_7nQ/w400-h334/DSCN1532.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Kestrel and Common Buzzard, New RomneyPaul Troddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03532050770282573211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462975995418404460.post-54541213195262964522024-01-26T10:34:00.000-08:002024-01-28T09:35:53.252-08:00Great Crested Grebes<p><b>Lade - mild, dry and sunny, W 3 - </b>A fine day for our second visit of the week to the local patch where little had changed to the duck population with Pochard the most numerous at 130. One subtle change however was the first returning pair of Great Crested Grebes to their breeding lake, having probably spent the winter offshore feeding alongside hundreds of other grebes on sprats and the like. We walked Mockmill this morning where there was very little on offer apart from a few Blackbirds and Dunnocks. Passerines continue to be few in number just about everywhere, with a Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest around the ponds the only perching birds of note. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MS9X0KxhkrAlNKaGOrR_oLLltPhWq1W7ZyhXwBD8u0OAkdhNq8gCJ7our9MHe7vWgnbZYpD93Pv1X_L-wTDQR-ko7sw84k9WMBE9c25kwrg1swtKsU_elyMIYW5Xot0aszbK_vwVdSMB8TOTB1kS6A2MQ-ILDR7GawU7bozkt4sg5sMzzG-NGk7kqxA/s2550/DSCN1475.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1866" data-original-width="2550" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MS9X0KxhkrAlNKaGOrR_oLLltPhWq1W7ZyhXwBD8u0OAkdhNq8gCJ7our9MHe7vWgnbZYpD93Pv1X_L-wTDQR-ko7sw84k9WMBE9c25kwrg1swtKsU_elyMIYW5Xot0aszbK_vwVdSMB8TOTB1kS6A2MQ-ILDR7GawU7bozkt4sg5sMzzG-NGk7kqxA/w400-h293/DSCN1475.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Great Crested Grebe pair on south lake<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuH-0OvoXNZDMDGD37Ot3Tp_nGHpFTrpj1G_B0V7PVFSHenGWAon-a29_9G2mpSvl8vqUrHpvOreygfANa6C3dJDuzYo1t_Oasz7avmLwLN_YUub0hiSnhJw1s6XftaGmbni36azb_K2CCujSraLUOslcjqib8fk8Kfa828CjGb9N_5Z9b7Xx8N3XNwYc/s2991/DSCN1473.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2021" data-original-width="2991" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuH-0OvoXNZDMDGD37Ot3Tp_nGHpFTrpj1G_B0V7PVFSHenGWAon-a29_9G2mpSvl8vqUrHpvOreygfANa6C3dJDuzYo1t_Oasz7avmLwLN_YUub0hiSnhJw1s6XftaGmbni36azb_K2CCujSraLUOslcjqib8fk8Kfa828CjGb9N_5Z9b7Xx8N3XNwYc/w400-h270/DSCN1473.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Lade `mirrors`<br /><p>Moving on to Dungeness where a wander along the foreshore scavenging for firewood delivered 50 Turnstones and 20 Sanderlings. I spent some time going through thousands of gulls on the beach and offshore by the `dustbin` hoping for a white-winger, but without success. The Boulderwall fields, in warm sunshine, were packed out with hundreds of Wigeons, Lapwings, and feral geese, 12 Curlews but little else. Elsewhere this week our Ted walks around New Romney have been much of a muchness, apart from a calling Cetti`s Warbler and Green Sandpiper along the New Cutt on Wednesday. Other local news includes the continued presence of the two species of divers on Burrowes and two White-fronts on the Scotney sward today.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12AivWpXr4KdawYk_tYeoBtcZ76bpLFE5M7Hm5BevuZp2Xd_GJoe8svE-L8zfKGVxZ1NJmluAtecl7VnBVMmEk6x8N5mwdRnVcpY0ir5aMCYUruJy7YeUDUMmWUa59BHHHTjZUWKNjf-3ZQbDE-zjz4u99K_78GowwD_yPz90uecr5iXa-i67FSUcj5I/s4293/DSCN1482.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2566" data-original-width="4293" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12AivWpXr4KdawYk_tYeoBtcZ76bpLFE5M7Hm5BevuZp2Xd_GJoe8svE-L8zfKGVxZ1NJmluAtecl7VnBVMmEk6x8N5mwdRnVcpY0ir5aMCYUruJy7YeUDUMmWUa59BHHHTjZUWKNjf-3ZQbDE-zjz4u99K_78GowwD_yPz90uecr5iXa-i67FSUcj5I/w400-h239/DSCN1482.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTHsO2wl-FQqnoAn45CjBHWsrqkIbQsl-70aT-9aANv-xyro4VqMEz12F3J8f-z4Ln3xXmaZAuKxlOB2tbK8uAqxiUHzV_G0i6VN5QQSwNMb9kKUeUXYOUJtvBDExZKQ1yS5FPsDvFG5MtZpaYeE9qBScpppIZwK_Y7edU-JNseJCSRyfX3vG3etS2RQ/s2811/DSCN1486.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1973" data-original-width="2811" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTHsO2wl-FQqnoAn45CjBHWsrqkIbQsl-70aT-9aANv-xyro4VqMEz12F3J8f-z4Ln3xXmaZAuKxlOB2tbK8uAqxiUHzV_G0i6VN5QQSwNMb9kKUeUXYOUJtvBDExZKQ1yS5FPsDvFG5MtZpaYeE9qBScpppIZwK_Y7edU-JNseJCSRyfX3vG3etS2RQ/w400-h281/DSCN1486.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Gull blizzard, Dungeness</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRn-Kbosg0AWkH3q4X_bVzPiWDgpya9KhNX646CJn9nqMZbVUnUwpwBx-be38AyMy-yuepvE17wkQHBCSPlEscQ6guWQeZLDZkINh8mUD5LH2-aixqG8p5N9zlO0Ktxnzdk3xnGgxqkKnfk3TpiOUaqSwpMx3PPGjBxwPONa93H7YfLKm0UhsHrmw-8JA/s3108/DSCN1491.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1963" data-original-width="3108" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRn-Kbosg0AWkH3q4X_bVzPiWDgpya9KhNX646CJn9nqMZbVUnUwpwBx-be38AyMy-yuepvE17wkQHBCSPlEscQ6guWQeZLDZkINh8mUD5LH2-aixqG8p5N9zlO0Ktxnzdk3xnGgxqkKnfk3TpiOUaqSwpMx3PPGjBxwPONa93H7YfLKm0UhsHrmw-8JA/w640-h404/DSCN1491.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> Ted eyeing up the gulls</div>Paul Troddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03532050770282573211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462975995418404460.post-90808532024091460382024-01-20T11:21:00.000-08:002024-01-20T11:21:03.923-08:00Harriers and swans<p> <b>Walland Marsh - cold, sunny, SW4 - </b>With the monthly harrier count scheduled for tomorrow cancelled due to the weather forecast we decided to do our usual count site this afternoon. Together with Chris P we logged 21 Marsh Harriers to roost plus one, possible two, <b>grey Hen Harriers </b>and a ringtail that went through the site heading towards Scotney. Also noted: a Sparrowhawk, a Common Buzzard, a Common Snipe, a few Lapwings, three Great White Egrets, a Little Egret, a Grey Heron and vocalising Water Rail and Cetti`s Warbler. Elsewhere, a mixed flock of swans contained <b>55 Bewick`s, five Whoopers </b>and 10 Mute Swans; the Bewick`s probably went to roost on the reservoir, while the Whoopers peeled off towards Lydd. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcCf-I5GXRY-nFqpPM6fzc1SvU6dA0ksGdhC1EEsgwfxQOT7b5kW4KW19vbQInstKUI4fgBmwPVJoR1_krC55VKIg4xGNJAEzCboNwZuLNjyYRCsEVbnj3zkgQaYvZcJB-e7uF219jNqzxrix4RQV1Sjr3Pld0EwirXrkiGF9uPEXuzoZZLyJeFU2P0o/s4608/Sunset%20Cheyne%20Ct,%20Nov.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcCf-I5GXRY-nFqpPM6fzc1SvU6dA0ksGdhC1EEsgwfxQOT7b5kW4KW19vbQInstKUI4fgBmwPVJoR1_krC55VKIg4xGNJAEzCboNwZuLNjyYRCsEVbnj3zkgQaYvZcJB-e7uF219jNqzxrix4RQV1Sjr3Pld0EwirXrkiGF9uPEXuzoZZLyJeFU2P0o/w400-h300/Sunset%20Cheyne%20Ct,%20Nov.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Paul Troddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03532050770282573211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462975995418404460.post-74157276493563101032024-01-19T10:26:00.000-08:002024-01-19T10:26:33.046-08:00Water Rails<p><b>Lade - cold, dry and sunny, light airs - </b>Another clear, still night of sub-zero temperatures resulted in both lakes being covered in ice, apart from the margins on the western side. Duck numbers were low with only Teal and Pochard into three figures, plus two Goldeneyes and two Dabchicks. However, with the reedbeds frozen over several Moorhens and Water Rails were actual seen rather than just heard, including a rail on north lake that was basking in the bright sunshine on the far side. Also trying to gather the sun`s warmth were two Foxes on the mirror apron and a Common Buzzard sat on the rim of the 30 foot dish. Hardly any passerines were noted apart from a few tits and Robins while a wander out onto the Desert produced not a single bird. Back at the car in Taylor Road I watched a Magpie nest-building in a pine tree, a sign of things to come... </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXQK8Fi-WdDfjIBW2afknS502T5CDdOEsBv0Lvjv_xnFNiWA8o9teUYc-Kf9MwlTvmfXPDc1xe51LyipPGCx3OrAMUSdKPfSEWzmtVhLNT9SjpAa9xs0kypu-EP_gHj2ZgqOOaG7riT8WHAeRYrMA9Deh-RVy7f_KViEfMqqKQMLedZZhfDsbUApEbpQ/s4608/DSCN1457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXQK8Fi-WdDfjIBW2afknS502T5CDdOEsBv0Lvjv_xnFNiWA8o9teUYc-Kf9MwlTvmfXPDc1xe51LyipPGCx3OrAMUSdKPfSEWzmtVhLNT9SjpAa9xs0kypu-EP_gHj2ZgqOOaG7riT8WHAeRYrMA9Deh-RVy7f_KViEfMqqKQMLedZZhfDsbUApEbpQ/w400-h300/DSCN1457.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Frozen south lake<br /><p>This week`s Ted walks around New Romney have delivered few birds in the bitter cold apart from an increase in Common Snipe sightings (which are probably weather related) most being inadvertently flushed from sewer margins where they seem to be able to find unfrozen ground and probe for food. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Paul Troddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03532050770282573211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462975995418404460.post-42150886357809408492024-01-16T10:42:00.000-08:002024-01-16T13:40:43.749-08:00Bearded Tits<p><b>Cold, dry and sunny, light airs - </b>En-route to the bird reserve there were three Cattle Egrets in the Cockles Bridge paddock and a Barn Owl quartering the frost-covered fields opposite the entrance, while there was no sign of yesterday`s Pink-footed Geese on the Boulderwall fields. The overnight temperature plummeted to -4C and many of the lakes on the reserve were frozen over except for Burrowes. In bright sunshine with an occasional zephyr the weather conditions were superb for a guided walk around the circular trail for eight RSPB volunteers. The trio of two <b>Great Northern Divers </b>and a <b>Black-throated Diver </b>were still on Burrowes from Dennis`s lookout with two birds approaching right underneath us affording good views as they caught tiny fish. All the usual wildfowl were noted on the lake including six Goldeneyes and five Shelducks, plus a distant perched Kingfisher. The hayfields attracted 10 Lapwings and half a dozen Common Snipes, while several hundred Wigeons and Coots were packed into a small patch of ice-free water on Dengemarsh lake. The highlight of the walk for us all were scope views of two gorgeous Bearded Tits as they picked up grit from the tray in Hooker`s reedbed; cracking birds which my pics do not do justice too. Elsewhere during the walk we recorded several Great White and Little Egrets, a Grey Heron, ten more Common Snipes, four Marsh Harriers, four Curlews and a Raven. Passerines were typically in short supply but did include several each of Blue and Great Tits, Robins and Blackbirds, two Stonechats, a Song Thrush and a Cetti`s Warbler, totalling a respectable 52 species of birds during the three hour walk. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0LlrFyKlKcootfzKnoqcM2gxpTvYmD98LLOAYwnvGXSYoXZW_XNMiYc5wVhMMBJQpYsYkCBm69va1v6V3zQyHdIcieRy-lwt8mNZgMdbFY8FMORfZXS6HYzFWxbF6NFJ-FvPvp6dwkdt_OJxrYolGt_AK62lFUzuzrzDt0-ZVMMNUuXsptciZgrcJ_E/s1962/DSCN1437.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1314" data-original-width="1962" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0LlrFyKlKcootfzKnoqcM2gxpTvYmD98LLOAYwnvGXSYoXZW_XNMiYc5wVhMMBJQpYsYkCBm69va1v6V3zQyHdIcieRy-lwt8mNZgMdbFY8FMORfZXS6HYzFWxbF6NFJ-FvPvp6dwkdt_OJxrYolGt_AK62lFUzuzrzDt0-ZVMMNUuXsptciZgrcJ_E/w400-h268/DSCN1437.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Great Northern Diver, Burrowes<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY724FCeoPtDVB6mFoiTCahZh0KcKjC6OiuEz2IAnwGDSGZiHw73Xgw5SKg5tL4A2ebdYfaBCOd4YmEbY8WJpheiukbPnCB3zI96nWWtJ7dmxMHmgYRueFnPcJbTQHXIy0CV_wTKLiOGFrioWv1ZErJ9jJ3ZT4zfUb1fDj0B3Hdxlsfdxs_LvPeRTocs0/s1035/DSCN1438.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1035" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY724FCeoPtDVB6mFoiTCahZh0KcKjC6OiuEz2IAnwGDSGZiHw73Xgw5SKg5tL4A2ebdYfaBCOd4YmEbY8WJpheiukbPnCB3zI96nWWtJ7dmxMHmgYRueFnPcJbTQHXIy0CV_wTKLiOGFrioWv1ZErJ9jJ3ZT4zfUb1fDj0B3Hdxlsfdxs_LvPeRTocs0/w400-h293/DSCN1438.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Black-throated Diver, Burrowes<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIzNwXmn9HEb909XNH6r2jAwo_sGMNmAKI1lxQsiZenXkVK9uAzcvg5sveaqb9bIC3g9irLF6F9A-VxPjDU3k4beM4eccyGnDT-vsIJg_SxDg-FkBYKVkO3U_8u3da_I_aDC5ygZtpYVtwsvrxQTZuKoUvkGFhRWa4s9VzRqU_nM0TOrMCajj0_Yosfk/s4608/DSCN1443.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIzNwXmn9HEb909XNH6r2jAwo_sGMNmAKI1lxQsiZenXkVK9uAzcvg5sveaqb9bIC3g9irLF6F9A-VxPjDU3k4beM4eccyGnDT-vsIJg_SxDg-FkBYKVkO3U_8u3da_I_aDC5ygZtpYVtwsvrxQTZuKoUvkGFhRWa4s9VzRqU_nM0TOrMCajj0_Yosfk/w640-h480/DSCN1443.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> View from Christmas Dell hide showing newly formed island<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSmVBKT0iVhVulG3xivEbVY1BRABv40t2YJfS2R-SK_FgFGxZAmFuEIRWBVUq4KEfG93ZpCbrzq9w4bIgZ1iS3ZHYG-Jf26ix8merMv3ImnSULibskXrG4AGAiJfs5toAt-bXFUtEiggxgf33na9wzcE0Zppm2GzE8cs1HCl4SUQrWeUR1X0s8cIOXGE/s2272/DSCN1446.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1812" data-original-width="2272" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSmVBKT0iVhVulG3xivEbVY1BRABv40t2YJfS2R-SK_FgFGxZAmFuEIRWBVUq4KEfG93ZpCbrzq9w4bIgZ1iS3ZHYG-Jf26ix8merMv3ImnSULibskXrG4AGAiJfs5toAt-bXFUtEiggxgf33na9wzcE0Zppm2GzE8cs1HCl4SUQrWeUR1X0s8cIOXGE/w400-h319/DSCN1446.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxP11923RbPl5wyPzwjoaiXl67t8J5fNjeUTQ29KXKvjSzc4JRQBjEdp5N7pZRDvSo4PXurkm9WbRmYi_CXFBHkgc4KBy23FC2BS3rYyox2kI2rBWyQYm8At6vPOkI3fVGgSg4V-kGITn1Oyit-dLjUmN-kcfU7DtuE119GD3QPzsCQSYEJA_YGBp9IH8/s2116/DSCN1448.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1632" data-original-width="2116" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxP11923RbPl5wyPzwjoaiXl67t8J5fNjeUTQ29KXKvjSzc4JRQBjEdp5N7pZRDvSo4PXurkm9WbRmYi_CXFBHkgc4KBy23FC2BS3rYyox2kI2rBWyQYm8At6vPOkI3fVGgSg4V-kGITn1Oyit-dLjUmN-kcfU7DtuE119GD3QPzsCQSYEJA_YGBp9IH8/w400-h309/DSCN1448.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Bearded Tits, Hooker`s reedbed<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaC-tKFgxb_3atJk2p3UD82uTajGeuhExFlDtHJvGVkqpU5tNgk4Xb7hRR5vpzFO7RWYJ9ODlsogCKdNaoZq-Lav_UIYsfbiTIkojhMLaYSuJeDLgY-Hop7pQZNbO3z2uYH-WzyaBwlCPjs01EAdSLBOINnjFQxazXLtDFpF8euDMDPtiZ_eenx9AWQKA/s3546/DSCN1454.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2630" data-original-width="3546" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaC-tKFgxb_3atJk2p3UD82uTajGeuhExFlDtHJvGVkqpU5tNgk4Xb7hRR5vpzFO7RWYJ9ODlsogCKdNaoZq-Lav_UIYsfbiTIkojhMLaYSuJeDLgY-Hop7pQZNbO3z2uYH-WzyaBwlCPjs01EAdSLBOINnjFQxazXLtDFpF8euDMDPtiZ_eenx9AWQKA/w400-h296/DSCN1454.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Relic Holly trees from the Holmstone</div></div></div></div>Paul Troddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03532050770282573211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462975995418404460.post-14959395646266176052024-01-14T11:53:00.000-08:002024-01-14T11:53:23.585-08:00Bean Geese<p><b>Cold, dry, cloudy, light airs - </b>A day out with Ted commenced at the local patch where we checked out Mockmill and the fields behind the lakes. It was slim pickings apart from a few Song Thrushes, Blackbirds and Great Tits in the scrub, vocalising Cetti`s Warbler and Water Rail, plus Common Buzzard and a flushed Common Snipe. South lake held the usual wildfowl.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5lQ8YxNHiddvWDMTAaPdRAlVzGDLA4ctJeGbd5DTgBoWRusqQQ0zoDGWpriKZlDX6htFXQj66h900kqJ5x6kEcXIBlwQpTV54HKjsf72NQ_hTTnYyo0vaAeIwTidUiAEn7bCaxeX18odEjePXMu5xyeYVFvwyQAd1FI0T84i6n4FTiIn7-Rp6dkNkgEY/s4608/DSCN1409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5lQ8YxNHiddvWDMTAaPdRAlVzGDLA4ctJeGbd5DTgBoWRusqQQ0zoDGWpriKZlDX6htFXQj66h900kqJ5x6kEcXIBlwQpTV54HKjsf72NQ_hTTnYyo0vaAeIwTidUiAEn7bCaxeX18odEjePXMu5xyeYVFvwyQAd1FI0T84i6n4FTiIn7-Rp6dkNkgEY/w400-h300/DSCN1409.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Lade desert looking south towards Dungeness<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetjikY-4cSGdN5O2uil3AFTqyvdCHABy7yg4KjvU25yQnIALywbF_-Y7K9G2_PalfaHcChRX27fZsykVJXywRlMOtQHowTJks2Xz-zh-O8CKb1hzNaqPGf7bJoA81KTp6vn7if3TMDV110kQ44Vkc10SQDnpf1KuQCguLxytj52NOKmv-8lbwOnX4vfI/s3005/DSCN1411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2271" data-original-width="3005" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetjikY-4cSGdN5O2uil3AFTqyvdCHABy7yg4KjvU25yQnIALywbF_-Y7K9G2_PalfaHcChRX27fZsykVJXywRlMOtQHowTJks2Xz-zh-O8CKb1hzNaqPGf7bJoA81KTp6vn7if3TMDV110kQ44Vkc10SQDnpf1KuQCguLxytj52NOKmv-8lbwOnX4vfI/w400-h303/DSCN1411.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Ted on the charge<br /><p>Moving onto Walland Marsh where the flooded fields around Hawthorn Corner attracted a number of Egyptian Geese, Teal and Mallard along with three Tree Sparrows and several Fieldfares by the model flying club bend. Hundreds more Fieldfares were noted across the Marsh farmland but only a handful of Redwings. At Clubb`s Lane we paused to view the two <b>Bean Geese </b>of the tundra variety alongside four Bewick`s Swans. Next stop the Woolpack and a walk out towards the wind farm where 10 Common Snipes and one Jack Snipe were the highlights on the sheep folds, plus two Great White Egrets three Marsh Harriers, a Kestrel and a Corn Bunting. A prepared field to the south of Hamstreet continued to harbour a decent flock of around 50 Tree Sparrows and 20 Yellowhammers, while several more Common Buzzards and Kestrels, a Jay and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were noted along the lane to Snargate. Back at the coast Boulderwall fields was full of birds and in amongst a mixed flock of 800 Canada and Greylag Geese were 22 Barnacle Geese, while several hundred Lapwings also harboured 15 Dunlins and four Ruffs. Two more Great White Egrets were on Cook`s Pool and the four divers remained on Burrowe`s. On the way home a check of the airport road delivered six Cattle Egrets and 500 Lapwings. In summary, a decent enough day around the Marsh where it was also good to bump into several birders I`ve not seen for a while and have a natter.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi33lz6nheg0k-j6ysi9zblJ-RrABfNUGNyrZaTIGRnAfdRXEJF05jU8yX7Tuaj1cCbg0FdKeHkfVBb5Kyc1U9o5HVbh7Y6Q_TajEHOxuurKOtijtIdxwkKuvCkiEh71VZRPKCjhjcuDElfb1pBOHEO5VAsgUgG_SPSntEkrRyd-FkYJuBYRUm_BNubC0/s2226/DSCN1414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1344" data-original-width="2226" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi33lz6nheg0k-j6ysi9zblJ-RrABfNUGNyrZaTIGRnAfdRXEJF05jU8yX7Tuaj1cCbg0FdKeHkfVBb5Kyc1U9o5HVbh7Y6Q_TajEHOxuurKOtijtIdxwkKuvCkiEh71VZRPKCjhjcuDElfb1pBOHEO5VAsgUgG_SPSntEkrRyd-FkYJuBYRUm_BNubC0/w400-h241/DSCN1414.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRx7dVTbuxCB0d3QQ9FAh0a931aj4mDLZn5RFIxzty4EcD3Q_AVsR_Z6NrSi78aF6ysACa6vk4j1WomTSb9mctttM4psF-cTvb9gI4CFiDTfmUBov1bpFqFlwT7yqhengEpNdLZV-tVbg3qUv-sFU_k77hZ0-ZpkYcp8JcNp5cOzwY3Kg6QNX7yd279I/s3615/DSCN1422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2522" data-original-width="3615" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRx7dVTbuxCB0d3QQ9FAh0a931aj4mDLZn5RFIxzty4EcD3Q_AVsR_Z6NrSi78aF6ysACa6vk4j1WomTSb9mctttM4psF-cTvb9gI4CFiDTfmUBov1bpFqFlwT7yqhengEpNdLZV-tVbg3qUv-sFU_k77hZ0-ZpkYcp8JcNp5cOzwY3Kg6QNX7yd279I/w400-h279/DSCN1422.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Bean Geese, Clubb`s Lane</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgkxYd5-EqVRKwkp5ulYb4s5J24I8BbVuSMuEVAEzVCGNsyXchzCxCeflOMbac7hwWZ4ITZ3UZ9TcKMz0kc-cDxtzM8BGt_2_e1iE0webdZM2kib175BCwIviLwj-gypbrUDBilW8sFRKt5IhK84fGtg4pvm6rq5VR9xcORU3dxsSLgH-lyfxYM688hk/s2878/DSCN1421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2266" data-original-width="2878" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgkxYd5-EqVRKwkp5ulYb4s5J24I8BbVuSMuEVAEzVCGNsyXchzCxCeflOMbac7hwWZ4ITZ3UZ9TcKMz0kc-cDxtzM8BGt_2_e1iE0webdZM2kib175BCwIviLwj-gypbrUDBilW8sFRKt5IhK84fGtg4pvm6rq5VR9xcORU3dxsSLgH-lyfxYM688hk/w400-h315/DSCN1421.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Bewick`s Swans, Clubb`s Lane</div>Paul Troddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03532050770282573211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462975995418404460.post-73703718016700908412024-01-12T10:12:00.000-08:002024-01-12T10:12:24.446-08:00Common Gulls<p><b>Lade - cold, cloudy, drizzle, NE 2 - </b>A grim, dank day with poor light throughout, although slightly milder than of late with the temperature peaking at 6C. We spent a couple of hours walking the local patch where the highlight was a flock of 1,100 Common Gulls on south lake, my largest count here for some time and maybe a cold-weather movement and a portent of what lies ahead next week from a forecasted Arctic blast. Goldeneyes were up to five birds across both lakes, plus 150 Teals, 100 Pochards, 50 Tufted Ducks, 20 Shovelers and a pair of Egyptian Geese. Sundries included singles of Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and a Ringed Plover over the Desert.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYP45HPezfx05QTaZ3I7-Z3m3yyOtTRjM15CSS5iTd2Rdp_5LTkqqmGTBVRFVfyzM8Y27L_Cxvs8yZbRdJXjRhNP3c5W6hXKkDuNKguNXjXmZFRHQ_tI_leO1Ycynzbq4kVZJMFE3ujPGut8ewQKbGttuuQS_nMwzaIpTVrUE5JpxyyXCbEoKTiclHOg/s4608/DSCN1401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYP45HPezfx05QTaZ3I7-Z3m3yyOtTRjM15CSS5iTd2Rdp_5LTkqqmGTBVRFVfyzM8Y27L_Cxvs8yZbRdJXjRhNP3c5W6hXKkDuNKguNXjXmZFRHQ_tI_leO1Ycynzbq4kVZJMFE3ujPGut8ewQKbGttuuQS_nMwzaIpTVrUE5JpxyyXCbEoKTiclHOg/w400-h300/DSCN1401.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggbrKKg014H02N2SzP0-F0g_0HkCEQAnzSAmx2TmEYIWEy5V2Ckhz4nzbrmgMH8Csig-Hzuz0Eg87lKLciVMpCl5FO2JbXckhYB9OuLKKzNzm_zToK4tkiBLCwr_ZDF3SzoqmTuE8-ke3MLunwMgdWAcQroZ1QPt3k1B1P6_1CsXbzpSUJUG_onMOYfhU/s4159/DSCN1404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1835" data-original-width="4159" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggbrKKg014H02N2SzP0-F0g_0HkCEQAnzSAmx2TmEYIWEy5V2Ckhz4nzbrmgMH8Csig-Hzuz0Eg87lKLciVMpCl5FO2JbXckhYB9OuLKKzNzm_zToK4tkiBLCwr_ZDF3SzoqmTuE8-ke3MLunwMgdWAcQroZ1QPt3k1B1P6_1CsXbzpSUJUG_onMOYfhU/w400-h176/DSCN1404.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> A few of over 1,000 Common Gulls, Lade<br /><p>Moving onto Scotney where the sward and front lakes delivered small numbers of common ducks, feral geese and Lapwings but little else. The horse paddock and dung heap at the head of the airport road was busy with Magpies, black crows, two Grey Herons and at least six Cattle Egrets, while the adjacent sheep fold held over 500 Lapwings and 250 Golden Plovers, but no sign of a Dotterel. </p>Paul Troddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03532050770282573211noreply@blogger.com0