New bird for my Hamstreet list

My now regular early morning walks whilst working from home due to Covid took me today along the Royal Military Canal.  Going out at 5am is the best part of the day for me, there is no one around, the sun is rising and the birds are singing.  The cuckoo was calling, reed warblers singing and the Skylarks climbing high into the sky before parachuting down.

For the outward part of my journey it was the usual birds that I normally have, 3 Moorhens were having a fight and totally oblivious to me, Yellowhammer and Chaffinch singing in the trees, 8 swifts chasing each over across the sky.

On my return journey back two birds landed on the path in front of me and I was pleased to see they were Yellow Wagtail.  These are new for me for Hamstreet as in 17 years here never had them before, so a good tick for the morning. This brings my Hamstreet life list to 91.

On returning home a few hours later 2 Red Kites flew over, 2 Jay's in the garden, the first time for a few months and a young Grass Snake in my pond.

Day out in Kent

Having an extra day off following the Bank Holiday I went off to a few Kent birding spots.  First was Oare Marshes, arriving at 05:30 to the view of a Spoonbill sleeping in the East Flood.  Walking along the sea wall I managed to get a long distance shot before it left.  Arriving early had its advantages as a lot of birders missed it.  Heavily cropped image below.

There were some good birds around, 58 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Cuckoo and plenty of Sedge and Reed Warblers

Altogether 35 species of birds in 2 hours, some good photo opportunities including a Mute Swan coming into land.

The other highlight was 3 Bearded Tits that popped up in front of me but unfortunately I could not get a good photo as they went very quick.

I then drove down the coast to
Northdown Park to see the Parakeets.  I didn't stay long as too busy for me in this current lock-down situation, I got a few photo's of the Parakeet and then left hastily.

My last stops was to Grove Ferry and Stodmarsh.  At Grove it was very quiet but I did see a very vocal Lesser Whitethroat which was nice to see. Altogether 24 species and all the common birds expected, but little else about.

Onto Stodmarsh and as soon as I left the car park on the trail I had a Treecreeper land in the tree in front.  It obviously had young as it was busily collecting insects.  I could't get a great picture due to it being dark under the tree, the best is below.

There was an abundance of birds singing, plenty of Blackcaps, Chiff Chaff, Common /Whitethroat and Wren's. I also saw a Mistle Thrush, first one this year and a family of Long Tailed Tits, feeding the fledged young who were being very demanding.

Onto the wall and good views of Marsh Harrier being mobbed by a lapwing, and 5 Hobbies hawking for the dragonflies.

Also a Grey Heron flew over and Linnet sitting up on top of the scrub

Back on the return trail to the car park and at the entrance to the track to the hide (blocked off due to Covid-19) was a singing Nighingale, and the final bird of the day was a Goldcrest just before getting back to the car.  In all 36 species for Stodmarsh and a good days birding.

I am back

I am ashamed to say this is my first post for 7 years as I lost my way slightly with birding and nature, mainly due to work and travelling. In recent months, with my oldest son taking more interest in birding, photography and the enforced lock down my enthusiasm has returned. In recent years the most birds I ever had in my garden were 48 species in one year, so far this year I am on 35 and not even half way. For the area around Hamstreet my record was in 2006 when I had 57 species, this year so far I am on 61. My most recent tick was between Ruckinge and Hamstreet on Saturday, I had got lost and ended up on the main road walking back and in someones garden had a male Bullfinch, my favorite bird. Last week I had 3 Tree Sparrows on the canal by the garden center, so keep looking as you never know what to expect. I will try and continue to post about my journeys and birds around Hamstreet, and hopefully with some pictures.

Brambling - a first

I had work to catch up today so decided to try and do this on the laptop and keep an eye on the birds on the feeders. It ended up watching the birds on the feeders and occasionally on the laptop. Many of the usual birds on the feeders although there seemed to be more then usual, the Greenfinches of which I normally have 2 at a time increased to 5 and stayed all day, plenty of increased numbers in Blue Tits, Great Tits, House Sparrows and Chaffinches. I was hoping for something unusual or new for the year to come to the feeders with all of the snow and cold and I didn't have long to wait with a solitary Redwing dropping in. Shortly after when I went up the garden to check on the chickens a calling Lapwing flew over seemingly lost in the snow. Over the past few years during the winter I am always looking to the bird table and garden hoping to see a Brambling, something I have never had in my garden. At around lunch time I saw some birds fly up into the Oak tree next door and on inspection they were Greenfinches and Chaffinchs. As I was watching them I saw one at the back drop down through the tree's and I had a couple of brief glimpses and thought, that's not a Chaffinch. A few more hops in the tree and then down on to bird table where I had spread some seed and yes, a Male Brambling. Unfortunately it didn't hang around for long but over the next few hours it put in another 3 brief visits. Altogether I had 19 species throughout the day including a unsuccessful attempt at getting lunch by a Sparrowhawk. Noticeable absence today was from Great Spot and Green Woodpecker, Jay's and Magpies which up until this weekend had been daily visitors, maybe they stayed in the woods and don't like the snow.

Waxwings

Finally managed to get to see the flock of Waxwings in the village, thanks Bernard for the call this morning to tell me they are still there. That's the trouble of going to work in the dark and coming back in the dark, miss all the birds. Managed to get some quick views and a few photo's before shooting off to do the Xmas shopping with the other half. Also plenty of Redwing and Fieldfares.

Also had the Nuthatch back in the garden this morning, first time since February. In an hour I had 22 species of bird on my feeders, their are some hungry birds around.

Ring-Necked Parakeet

Walked up the garden this morning to sort my chickens out heard bird calling flying towards me. As soon as I heard it I thought I knew what it was and then as it flew over my head I was right, a Ring Neck Parakeet, it flew along my road and landed in some trees 10-12 houses down. This is a first siting for me in Kent outside of the Thanet and Sidcup area. Strangely enough I have not seen one this year until this week, and now 2 in 3 days as one flew over my head on Thursday when I was in Feltham. I assume that this is just a single bird but will now be keeping an eye out for any more.

A couple of additions

On Sunday I made a brief visit to Dungeness and driving out of Hamstreet at 5:30 a lovely Barn Owl was flying along the ditch at the side of the road looking for its breakfast. The visit to Dunge proved to be a non event, an hour and halfs seawatching from 05:45 - 07:15 produced Gannets and Common Terns, and that was it. With the wind and overcast weather early on there was very little else around so I went home. Yesterday I had a meeting to attend to which meant I had the novelty of catching the train. Heading up to Hamstreet station via the footpath along side the bridge a Turtle Dove was calling. I spent a few minutes locating it in the tree before then rushing for the train I nearly missed!