St Margaret's at Cliffe Photo Diary

Confucius say: A good bird selects its tree.

2012-01-15T23:49:00.004Z

Although the situation is very different to when the garden was invaded by the a huge charm of Goldfinches, there are enough Greenfinches, Chaffinches and sundry others to be emptying the feeders at an increased rate.

WHen I went out to top them up this morning I was pleasntly surprised to here the rhythmic calls of a pair of Coal Tits. Of course this is not an uncommon bird, but it isn't one that regularly uses the garden.

While I was watching one it raised it's rather paltry crest a few times. The Coal Tit has an enormous range, with over 20 sub-species, stretching from the UK right across Europe and Asia to eastern China and Japan. Some of the races in the east possess much more conspicuous, but still rather untidy crests.

It was quite confiding and stayed around for a while repeating it's "whit-chew" call, the Coal Tit equivalent of the Great Tits "Teacher, Theacher" song.

The absence of Sparrows for the garden has, at least for now ended, as a handsome cock Sparrow spent some time feeding just in front of where I am now. I did have to defend it's perch from some very determined Greenfinches, but seemed more than capable of holding it's own.

In heaven you won't hear the mosquitoes.

2012-01-14T22:14:00.004Z

I got fed up with sitting in front of a screen, trying to sort out a project I'm working on. I found an excuse that convinced me I needed to go out for a while and had a wander. What I really wanted to find was a hunting Barn or Short-eared Owl. It seems that this bit of Kent has been left out of the Owls wanderings.

I peered over the fence at the farm reservoir at New Does Farm Sandwich and was surprised at how many Tufted Ducks were on there, at least 35, plus two Pochard. I wonder if they are just resting or whether this over large plastic paddling pool actually has enough food in it to make it a worth while feeding site for the ducks.

Have you ever looked through your binoculars and seen what appeared to be a distant flock of birds, only to find, once focused that it is in fact a swarm of insects?

We're in the middle of January and one wouldn't normally associate "flocks" of Mosquitoes with visual hazards at this time of year. Even with the hard frost of last night there still seem to be a large number of insects in the air. I know that many insects are capable of surviving the winter but it is unusual the fins so many mossies around as there are at the moment.

Coinleach Glas an Fhomhair (The Green Stubble-Field of Autumn)

2012-01-11T23:47:00.008Z

Despite the forecast of the arrival of an overdue winter today was a comparatively mild and clear day. I'd just about finished working on tomorrows quiz for the KOS and decided that a walk along the cliffs around Fan Bay was appropriate. With the additional draw of the farm land opposite I had five species in mind to add to my very laggardly year list. The first and second objectives were not forthcoming along the cliff walk and Raven and Peregrine will continue to be blank spaces for a little long.

On the opposite side of Upper Road there is one of the largest remaining stubble fields in the area. At first I saw very little as I walked across the hard stems but there were birds, but never on the ground and never very close. At one stage a flock of about 30 Skylarks fly in and circled, landing about one hundred and fifty yards away. Once on the ground they disappeared and I only saw them once they'd taken off. The "magic" tree, near some of the MOD installations, is always worth looking at. Since the day it held over 100 buntings I've never come close to this figure, but invariably there are birds resting in it. I don't know whether the mild weather and still air makes a difference but every bird I saw was very mobile today and wouldn't allow me to approach anywhere near as close as I have done in the past. At least six Yellowhammers flew off calling just after I took this long range picture.

Almost be accident my camera alighted on a Reed Bunting, although I had been them here before I wasn't expecting one today.

There were a few Corn Buntings around, the "blip" call giving away their presence as they flew over.

The old building out here are ideal for Little Owls, but they are quite wary of cameras, so you'll have to believe me that just before I took this Robin on the roof a Little Owl had been sitting up there. I'm not quite sure how common they are in the area, but I can thing of at least five place that I've seen and heard then within a mile of home.

Of course the pair of Stonechats that is normally around the fence were present and correct, but even they seemed reluctant to pose.

There is a nice pile of what could be called manure in the field next to the MOD building, and it is steaming nicely. I'm sure that this brings an increase in the insects around and it should prove attractive to some visitors, although a deterrent to others.

Sparrows should not dance with cranes, their legs are too short.

2012-01-09T20:42:00.006Z

Today I finally tore myself away from things that I really have to do and went on a twitch. I must admit it wasn't a very long twitch and the object of my ambition is not, or at least would not have been, considered a rarity. However, I had been waiting for more than eight days to see a House Sparrow in my garden and it still hadn't happened this year.

We are into our twelfth year here and for at least the first seven it never occured to me that there would be a time when Sparrows were in short supply here. Of course I knew about the decline in the country, but the flock of up to forty that persistently inhabited the hedge behind our pond was nearly always there. I put up several Sparrow nest boxes but only one got used, but there were a couple of pairs in our roof and at least the same in the cottage below us on Kingsdown Road. Then the decline started here and numbers dwindled. Last year I was still seeing a couple on most days coming to the feeders, but that was all, and then at then end of the year they disappeared completely.

At the junction of Nelson Park Road and Seymour Road, just before you get to the stables, I'd noticed a good flock of Sparrows around the gardens there, when I've been surveying that particular tetrad, so I went over there today. In no time at all I'd found my quarry, a smart male Passer domesticus, in fact I found six. Now that sounds quite good, but it was quite a lot less than I'd seen before and unless the main body of the normal flock was elsewhere then numbers must be down here as well. Strangely I only saw males, I have nothing against a nice cock Sparrow, but unless there are some hens about they won't be around for long.

On the other side of the coin Great Spotted Woodpeckers were fairly infrequent visitors when we first arrived here, but now they are daily guests at the feeders and are drumming out their approval on one of the cut branches of the Ash tree on a regular basis.

I'm not at all sure what had caused the decline in one and the expansion of the other. Much research is being carried out on the predicament that has over taken the Sparrow. One study by Kate Vincent at the De Montfort University has found that in both suburban and that lesser extent rural gardens the annual productivity was lower than in that measured in Oxfordshire farmland. The main cause of this lower productivity was starvation of chicks, usually the first 5-6 days after hatching, during June and July. The results seem to indicate that the chicks are starved due to the lack of suitable invertebrates during this critical period. The full paper of this study was published in Animal Conservation. My own belief is that in addition to the problems they have in rearing young, there is also pressure on surving the winter. In years passed large flocks of sparrows could be found on stubble fields amassing the fat that would fuel them through the winter. Stubble fields are a thing of the past now and highly successful species like the Wood Pigeon are competing against them for what food is available.

Why Great Spotted Woodpeckers are doing so well is another matter, I think they have changed their habits to make more use of garden feeders, but whether this is enough to fuel the increase in numbers that they have had I don't know.

The man in the moon went home and the river went dry

2012-01-05T22:23:00.011Z

I had a look at the Bay this morning in very windy conditions and was rewarded with a couple of Red-throated Divers not too far off shore. Other birds in evidence included a Great Crested Grebe, quite a few Auks, the only ones I identified were Guillemots, two adult Gannets not far out and a flock of Fulmars sitting on the sea. Dover pier was closed to visitors and I decided on a quick visit to Kearsney Abbey and the adjacent parks.

The water at Russell Gardens still hasn't returned. I assume that even with the rain we've had there still isn't enough for the River Dour to flow.

The lake at Bushy Ruff is equally dismal, with just two large puddles. I can't quite work out how the river is flowing through Kearsney Abbey, and where the water comes from? Is the problem over-extraction up river and if so what is going to be done to restore these two important sites, both for wildlife and as amenities for the public.

There were a few Mallards on one of the "puddles" along with Coots and Moorhens, but there was no sign of any Dabchicks.

I was a bit surprised to find a pair of Gadwall sitting on the muddy edge, there doesn't look to be much food present for the ducks since the lake more or less dried out completely at the end of the summer.

I was pleased to find a pair of Grey Wagtails on the grassy area nest to where the stream should have been flowing. Last year a pair nested near here, but unless water returns they are unlikely to do so this year.

Over the road the lake at Kearsney Abbey still have a fair amount of water and there were a good number of Mallards, Mute Swans, coots and Moorhens, but I still couldn't find a Dabchick. Along the river as it flowed towards Crabble there was a Little Egret enjoying the quiet conditions. Two Kingfishers sped passed but I failed to relocate them.

I could hear a lot of Goldcrest calling in the bushes but the river and after some time I got some views of this little sprite.

It seemed to get quite upset when I squeaked at it and raised it's crest at me in what seemed to be a threatening display.

(SC aka Kingsdowner do you know where the title came from?).

In my mind I'm goin' to Carolina

2012-01-04T22:28:00.010Z

A text message from Steve Ray had me changing directions and heading to the Restharrow Scrape. Green-winged Teals are not the most charismatic of the rarer birds of Kent, but as it was just down the road it was well worth a look. There have been about 24 Kent records, with 13 this century (yes it's the 21st now!).

When I got in the hide there were five regulars in there, and the Teal was on view. As soon as I had got my binoculars on it a passing Marsh Harrier, out of view to me, caused all the ducks to fly. When they settled down one on the watchers offered a sweet to the first person to find in amongst the couple of hundred Teal on the scrape. Unusually for me, I started at the right end of the birds and it was the seventh one that I checked. Sadly the sweet wasn't forthcoming. but at least the bird was on show.

The Green-winged Teal, Anas carolinensis, was until recently considered to be con-specific with the Common Teal, Anas crecca. It is the North American replacement for the Teal that we are used to seeing here. The most striking difference in the drakes is the vertical white bar on the side of the breast, as opposed to the horizontal white bar on top of the flanks shown by the Common Teal.

It was quite a restless bird and moved around the various little islands, intermittently squabbling with it's European hosts.

Seen front on, the vertical bars were very striking, giving it a very different appearance to the other Teal around.

A close look at the head marking shows that the yellow lines that border the green patch on the side of the head are much reduced.

There was a discussion as the whether there were any other differences. Some thought, that at times, it looked a little larger that some of it's neighbours, but that may have been when it was next to small females, certainly it seemed no different in size to the other drakes.

The other point raised was if there was any difference to the under-tail covert pattern. Again, I couldn't see any difference.

I did manage to get a picture of the out-stretched wing, which looks very similar to a Common Teal wing.
Although the bird didn't come very close it was good enough to be an instructive comparison between these two closely related species.

Don't know why there's no sun up in the sky, Stormy Weather

2012-01-03T22:50:00.007Z

The title of my post yesterday turned out to be prophetic and the port of Dover was closed for the morning due to force 11 winds.

It is hard to believe that I took this picture barely two hours after one of the heaviest downpours I've seen in the UK. This monsoon seemed to signal the sudden drop in the wind, that had been around 38-40 mph for several hours with gusts up to 68 mph late morning. Already the sea had calmed and it looked like a gentle surf rolling into the bay.

The view past "White Cliffs" is one of my favourites and were I still fit enough I would make the walk at low tide to Kingsdown along the bottom. I imagine at the height of the storm the waves would have been crashing into the base of cliffs adding to the slow erosion that the annual falls testify to.

Along at the White Cliffs NT car park it was evident that the wind had relented enough for the port to be back in action, and the ferries were on the move.

As I was now on the move I popped along to Samphire Hoe to see how the start of the year was treating then there. I met Phil Smith and we did the happy new year thing as the sun slowly dropped just to the lest of the Dungeness peninsular.

From the west, the nest bank of clouds were already building up, and before I got hove we had another heavy shower. Just to the left of the grass bank you can see Dungeness Power Station on the horizon, although it isn't responsible for the red glow in the sky!

Some of the waves breaking were still quite large, but despite warnings this didn't prevent one couple walking their dog along the path. Sadly or luckily, depending on your point of view, they seemed to have managed to miss the waves as they broke, thus denying me a dramatic photograph!

A ship in harbor is safe - but that is not what ships are for.

2012-01-02T22:22:00.012Z

After attending to a few bits and pieces at home I thought that I'd take to opportunity, afforded by the sunshine, of watching the Great Northern Diver in nice light. Little did I know!

There are still a few Guillemots around the harbour, as there have been for a while, but unfortunately today they were never close to to me. If I saw one close to the pier as I walked up, by the time I was in that area it had dived it's way further out.

Now the Guillemots have be joined by a few Razorbills. They normally are less numerous round this part of the coast than Guillemots, but occasionally we do get an influx of them. Like the Guillemots I didn't manage any really close views, but I did enjoy watching these attractive auks as they made use of the calmer waters of the harbour to feed. All the time I was watching out for the Great Northern Diver. I learnt from Chiddy that it had been in the inner harbour, near the Life Boat earlier in the morning but that it had drifted further out as the tide had retreated.

Turnstones are waders, normally a wary family. It is therefore unusual that some have become habituated to people, most notably fisherman. The Prince of Wales Pier is not the only pier where I seen tame Turnstones and I've heard of them visiting garden feeding stations in some coastal villages.

Finally, as the sun started to disappear behind Shakespeare Cliff, the Great Northern swam past the south pier, into the tidal basin and then into the marina. With the sun behind it it was almost a silhouette.

It wasn't long before it was diving and appearing at the surface with one of it's favourite food items a nice crunchy crab. It caught a number of these, some very small, and easily swallowed, but a couple of others that it had to takes it's time over.

A few Moorhens can be seen around the Marina, I sure walking round the areas that Yachts moor is not the way they got got their names though.

It seems that some gulls are reluctant to grow up. all the time we were around the Wellington Dock, where the Diver ended up, this juvenile Herring Gull was giving out it's begging call. I didn't see any adult feed it, but judging by it's persistence the bird still remained hopeful of coning a beakful out of a "gullible" adult!

The Great Northern Diver did give us some very good views in the end. It is the first time that I've photographed this bird using flash. The bird was close enough, and the light was bad enough to make it useful!

I watched almost below the bridge on Union Street, before reluctantly leaving it, in order to get back to my car before a traffic warden noticed I'd out stayed my welcome (were they working today, being a bank holiday?).

In all a pleasant few hours birding, good company and a lot of sunshine. I only recorded thirteen species, bringing my year list to the dizzying heights of 23.

If birding had umpires!

2012-01-01T22:33:00.006Z

First, a happy New Year to anyone chancing across this blog. Let's hope that it's a god year, and that it get light tomorrow! If birding had umpires they would have had their light metres out of their pockets this morning and play would have been abandoned for the day!

There were a few, and it was just a few birds about in the garden. Both Chaffinches and Greenfinches obliged by feeding in front of the study, although these two sensibly kept their heads down.

Several Blackbirds were popping out from the shrubs to find bits on the lawn; my home made fat pudding was popular with them.

Even this normally smart Greenfinch looks quite dull in the appalling weather, but at least he got his head up for the camera!

Chaffinches always seem more comfortable foraging on the ground than balancing on feeders. Compared to the other finches they always seem to be unsure of their balance on the small perches of the feeders.

My Grandson Jack asked my on Skype tonight "What's your year list so far Granddad?" Well I hadn't really thought about it, on a day like today there's no way I going to be rushing round trying to get a New Year's Day list. I must admit when I added up what I could remember, I only got to ten. This is surely my lowest ever total for Jan 1st. Jack had reached twenty something, including a Treecreeper. If it's fine tomorrow I will try to stir my bones and get beyond the garden. The current forecast is good so there is some chance of seeing the Sun for the first time in 2012.

It's time to remember the Highlights of 2011

2011-12-31T19:35:00.013Z

My trip to Venezuela in February was certainly one never to forget. I have been to South America before, but only briefly in the much more temperate areas of Argentina, on the way to and from Antarctica. This time it was full blown tropical South America with all that that entails in diversity of species and habitats. It was a great trip, led by my eldest son Pete, and I've used a three of his photos below.

Manakin's are an extraordinary family of quixotic birds and this Crimson-hooded Manakin (Pete's photo) was one of the most stunning. The males form leks to display to their females and move with a speed that almost defies belief. But even these bright colours can be difficult to find in the forest.

Hummingbirds were well represented, and certainly the smaller ones gave my eyes some problems in following their erratic flights. The large Crimson Topaz coming to feed in the garden of one of the Lodges we staying in was somewhat easier, and a stunning bird to see.

For many of the group, the bird at the top of their want list was the fabulous Harpy Eagle, and very impressive it was too. This nineteen month old immature was near it's nest in the Sierra de Imataca. A fabulous encounter, but as it was a stake out it didn't give the adrenaline rush to me that the next two species did.

Birds that run round the forest floor calling are always going to be exciting, and when it is the fabulous Rufous-winged Ground-Cuckoo (Pete's photo), a member of a select South American genus of four. At nearly two feet long this was one of the magic moments of the trip.

Another bird that enchanted us as it spent much of the time on the ground singing, was this Ferruginous-backed Antbird (Pete's photo). It was a bird full of character and attitude and one of my trip favourites.

At the moment I'm reliving the trip, in preparation for a talk I'm giving at Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory on Jan 26th. It's always a great place to go, a good and knowledgeable audience, full of enthusiasm.

Officially it now the Winter Season

2011-12-20T23:42:00.003Z

I had finished mothing for the year, after a few blank nights, at the beginning of the month, so it was good to get a new moth for the year without any effort.

I was sitting, right here, editing some photos and when I looked up there was a moth on the outside of the window. To be honest there aren't normally many to choose from at this time of year, so sorting out the identity wasn't very difficult. A winter moth, and a male winter moth. Some species are easier to sex than others. In the case of the Winter Moth the female only has vestigal wings and doesn't fly, so even that bit's easy. The female climbs onto a tree trunk, where if she's lucky she's found be a male (great things those pheromones). The eggs are laid in a crevice near a leaf bud and hatch in the spring. They have extremely catholic tastes and will use almost any tree as the food plant, and can even become pests in plantations. Once the caterpillar has reach maturity it pupates and the tough cocoon falls to the ground. The adults fly between late October and February. This was the 285 Macro Species of the year. It is only the third I've recorded here and the first for seven years.

Unwrap your fat-balls

2011-12-18T22:42:00.003Z

Being reduced to Shanks's Pony and also feeling a bit lethargic I didn't venture far today.

I did notice that the Starling flock around the garden was building up, and like other birds they are quite partial to a bit of fat ball. These are often sold wrapped in plastic mesh. If you have them in feeders in the garden, please remove the mesh before putting them in the feeders. Some small birds, like Blue Tits, can and sometimes do get their feet entangled in the mesh, so although it seems convenient it to leave them as bought please take a couple of minutes to make them safe first.

Unheard of - A publisher on Time!

2011-12-17T20:18:00.006Z

When the first adverts came out of the Handbook of Birds of the World, to be published in 10 volumes, by a relatively little known (to birders in the UK anyway) publisher from Spain, it aroused a lot of interest and not a little scepticism that the project would ever be finished.

The first volume Ostrich to Ducks was so good that many found it irresistible and optimistically trusted that the series would be completed, at the rate of one every two years as promised. When it came obvious that to do the job properly it would take 16 volume, many of us in more advanced years wondered if we'd see the last books, even if it did get completed. Well, the publishers, Lynx, upped the rate to one a year, and unlike the publishers we are used to in birding literature in the UK, they kept to their time table. This week Volume 16 arrived, to finish the set, and what a fabulous achievement it is. Sixteen fantastic books, with many interesting subjects at the front of the family accounts in each one. Comprehensive studies of each family, with many photographs, and then plates illustrating each species. In all over twelve and a half thousand pages, over 1000 plates and six thousand seven hundred photographs. My only worry is, if ever I get asked onto Desert Island Discs will I be allowed to take the complete set as my book. If I was marooned for just one year I'd have to read and inwardly digest 34 or 35 pages a day to get through the set!

Here a summary of the books

vol	Pages	Plates	photos	year published
1	696	50	382	1992
2	640	60	302	1994
3	824	60	384	1996
4	674	70	236	1997
5	760	76	406	1999
6	589	45	385	2001
7	613	70	317	2002
8	845	81	477	2003
9	864	78	440	2004
10	896	81	427	2005
11	800	55	343	2006
12	816	56	436	2007
13	880	60	536	2008
14	896	51	657	2009
15	880	61	495	2010
16	894	81	499	2011
Total	12567	1035	6722

Lastly a warning, beware back ice. Hopefully I'll get my car back before Christmas, and luckily I was only going reasonably slowly when I touched my brake with the intention of moving over into a passing bay on Archers Court Road near the junction with Waldershare Road. I discovered that the road was the slipperiest I've ever known and lost my front bumper on the bank at the side of the road. No other vehicle involved, although the guy in the car coming towards me looked a bit worried as mine pirouetted into the road verge. Luckily no one hurt, but a bloomin' nuisance.

Afternoon in the Bay

2011-12-15T22:20:00.007Z

After the away-day I decided a local day was called for. I put up a couple of new feeders full of delicious fat balls and refilled the seed feeders. There does seem to have been a small increase in the number of finches around, and with some poor weather on the way they might be needed.

After luch I went t the Bay. There have been so few birds around in the hedges and fields round here for the last couple of weeks, the sea seemed the best bet. Despite the fact that the bay looked at it's best at high tide there were few birds out in the bay. A few Guillemots flew by distantly, but I failed to find any divers or grebes off shore.

The sea here calms down very quickly after a blow, and although there was a slight swell the only indication of the rough seas we've had over the last few days was the covering of pebbles on the paths just inside the railings. As we approach the winter solstice the sun dips behind the headland quite early in the afternoon and very soon the chill air begins to creep through even the warmest jacket.

Although I've not seen as many Rock Pipits around this year as in past years there were six together at the north end of the car park.

This is certainly one species that appreciates the appalling quality of the work done on the car park, as they feed round the edges of the many puddles, or small ponds accidentally designed into the structure.

Of course there were gulls, but only the usual two came to see me, in the hope that they might be fed.

I did check on all the legs I could see, but so far this year I haven't found any ringed birds. This Herring Gull has almost lost all of it's winter streaks and is looking quite spick-and-span.

Owl Panic

2011-12-14T23:26:00.024Z

This morning was very unpromising and I contented myself watching the antics of the garden birds.

Two Jays were very active at the back of the garden and would occasionally come out onto the lawn, apparently finding some items of food while probing around in the grass. I couldn't make out what they were finding, it may have been seeds that had spilled from the feeders.

This one appeared to be burying what ever it had gleaned from the grass. It is easy to see why many reports of unusual birds, reported by non-birders, turn out to be this species. They are normally quite shy and, given how few people actually notice any birds around them, they do look quite exotic. This may sound a harsh critique of most people's knowledge, but having watched the attempts at answering questions about birds and other wildlife on the various quizzes on the TV one can only conclude that the average person knows very little about natural history.

I was surprised to hear a Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming in the garden this morning, BWP states that they normally start in mid-January. Four or five weeks early doesn't sound that much, but it does show what a strange autumn and early winter we've had this year.

Pam bought a couple of these "donut" feeders the other day, the peanut one is getting some use, but the sunflower seed one is, so far, being ignored.

The sun came out at lunch time, and given the dismal forecast for the next few days, I decided to pay a visit to Oare marshes. With a late afternoon high-tide I hoped that a lot of waders would be coming in to roost and I wasn't disappointed.

The "island" just out from the parking spot was already covered in birds, mainly Black-tailed Godwits and Dunlin, with Golden Plovers filling in the gaps.

Further out a black and white strip in the water proved to be a flock of around a hundred Avocets. It still seems strange to see so many of this iconic bird in Kent. My earliest memories were of them was of the excitement that they nested in Suffolk and the almost pilgrimage like trips to see them.

The closest birds were Lapwings, with a few Ruff mixed in with them, and Golden Plovers were slowly arriving at the back of group as the other island became over-crowded.

The Great White Egret was there, but stubbornly remained more or less hidden in the reeds, I might not have seen it at all, had not Steve Reynaert pointed it out to me!

Suddenly all hell was let loose and the majority of the waders were in the air, the large group of Black-tailed Godwits wheeled around acting like one large organism.

As they turned in the air they changed from a mainly dark mass with white flashes to become almost silver white with dark edges.

The cause of all this mayhem flew steadily over the flood, and I wondered if this bird would ever attack a bird as a large as a Godwit or Golden Plover? Looking in BWP birds form just 7% by weight of the diet of Short-eared Owls, normally finch sized birds, although thrushes and even an adult Moorhen have been recorded as food items.

The Avocets did a couple of laps of the flood, but eventually settled back, more or less, where they had come from.

Many of the Golden Plovers flew backwards and forwards before quite a few returned to land just in front of me.

The sheer numbers and volatility of the birds on the flood, especially at high tide make this one of the most spectacular places to watch birds in Kent. The noise as all the birds settled down after their flight of panic is something as impressive in it's own way as the song of a nightingale or the sound of a flock of geese.

Then, as I was watching the Golden Plovers in the glow of a very low sun, that was just disappearing behind a blanket of low cloud, I realised that the Great White Egret had come out of it's slumber and was on the move.

Much has been made of the spectacular flights of Starlings in various places and the large flock that accumulated here was very impressive.

As part of the flock of Starlings arrived in front of me a sprinkling of Dunlins could be seen mixed in with them.

The Great White Egret walked along the edge of the flood and then came out of the water and walked towards the road.

I was now very nearly too dark to take any pictures, but since I might never be so close again I did take some shots in the hope that some might be usable, if a bit grainy.

The bird ended up in the ditch right next to where I had parked the car. I guess it is a ditch that it frequently feeds in, it seemed to know exactly where it was heading to. It certainly seemed to pick up something, but I was unable to see what it had caught. In the end I could only see the head every now and again, and it was time to go.

Worth the Walk?

2011-12-13T23:50:00.009Z

A visit to Dover Harbour this morning was a bit disappointing, yes the Great Northern Diver was still around and looking healthy, but after last nights storm I had hoped to find more birds using the shelter the harbour provides. All the large gulls that I looked at were either one of the Black-backs or Herring Gulls and there was nothing with the Black-heads and Kittiwakes to get excited about. There were still a few Guillemots around and at least 24 Great Crested Grebes.

Herring Gull - adult

Back to St Margaret's Bay, and the Gull situation was the same. A couple of the Herring Gulls were posing so I obliged. Out on the sea there were a few Red-throated Divers, not too far out, and some signs of a small movement of Guillemots into the more sheltered waters.

Herring Gull - 2nd winter

A usual at this time of year the number of Fulmars is building up and they often sit in small rafts a few hundred yards off shore.

This afternoon I decided on a walk out to Roaring Gutter on the Worth Marshes, partly in the hope of seeing and possibly photographing the Great White Egret that's been around there, and partly because it is such a great area. Although it isn't really very remote, it does still have a little of the feeling of remoteness that grazing marshes should have. There really wasn't much roaring going on. I don't know if that's a reflection of the low rainfall this autumn, or because water is being abstracted somewhere else.

The area was very quiet. The only birds I saw on the water by the pumping station were a few Coots and Dabchicks and two Mallards.

I did get a good view of a female or juvenile Marsh Harrier as it hunted across the fields, but unfortunately it didn't hang around for very long.

There were few small birds around, but there was a sizable flock of Fieldfares out feeding in the Hawthorns looking towards the railway and the sea.

There was no sign of the Great White Egret, in fact the only Heron I saw was a Grey Heron that landed a couple of fields away.

It was good to be in a landscape that still has a good number of long hedgerows marking the field boundaries. Here at St Margaret's hedges are almost a thing of the past, with only small remnants remaining.

I did come across this lonely cygnet. Normally at this time of the year Mute Swans are still in tight family units so it was a surprise to find this single bird. A few hundred yards further on I did find two adults with two more cygnets. I wonder if this bird is part of this family, and if it was just temporarily separated from them, or perhaps had been banished for some sort of misbehaviour?

Finally Sealed the deal

2011-12-10T21:49:00.008Z

Although it is called the Common Seal it is in fact less common in the British Isles than the Grey Seal.

Appropriately the other name for the Common Seal is the Harbour Seal, and this ones been around the Harbour at Dover for a while. It isn't stupid as it seems to be benefiting from the kindness of the fisherman on the pier. The Common Seal has a rather dog like face compared to the more hoarse like face of a Grey Seal.

When it brought itself into a swimming position the back legs and flippers could be seen under the water. The common seal adults grow up to about 6 feet long, ca weigh as much as 168 kg. A female Common Seal can reach 30 years of age, but males are unlikely to survive beyond 20 years.

There were still a couple of Kittiwakes around the harbour, like the seal enjoying any tit-bits from the fishermen.

The nostrils appear distinctively V-shaped; and like all true seals, there is no ear flap, or pinna. A relatively large (for a seal) ear canal may be visible behind the eye.

It seemed to enjoy posing for the camera, but in reality it was the prospect of fish that kept it around the pier. They eat a wide variety of fish, including herring, sand-eels, whiting and flatfish. Shrimps and squid are also sometimes eaten.

In 1988 about 3000 deaths occurred in the British population of Common seals. The disease is now known to be caused by the newly discovered phocine distemper virus, but its origin is unknown. Epidemics have occurred in the passed and could happen again. The population seems to have recovered quite well at the moment. They are also vulnerable to fishing nets and pollution such as PCB's which accumulates in some of the prey species of fish.

Gull ID-Larus michahellis

2011-12-07T11:45:00.008Z

After failing to find any divers in Dover Harbour this morning I had a look at the roosting gulls. One white-headed, yellow-legged bird caught my eye. I thought it was a Yellow-legged as the legs are yellower than any Caspian I've seen previously, but the head looks very white for a winter michahellis. I was about 100 mtrs away and it was rather windy so apologies for picture quality.

The mantle colour was a shade or two darker than the Herring Gulls, as one would expect with michahellis.
Something disturbed the gulls and they all flew. Judging by the leg colour the bird in question is the right hand bird in near centre. Opinions appreciated.

A note from Andy Lawson, Kent's well known gull enthusiast, put the following points in favour of L. michahellis, on a quick look at the photos.

Yellow-legs (but I photographed a YL Herring at the weekend)
Square back of the head.
Long wings.
Darker grey upperparts (than nearby Herring Gulls).
white head (it's effectively in summer plumage).
small, white tips to primaries.

A loony day.

2011-12-05T22:45:00.021Z

It was later than I had intended when I got to Dover Harbour this morning, in search of the Great Northern Diver that had been seen there earlier.

A couple of Steves (they come in gangs with long lens round here) and Phil Smith were already there. They kindly pointed out the distant dot that was the Diver and then showed me the frame filling shots that it had provided earlier. Don't worry they said, it will come back to the corner near the pier, where it had been fishing, and catching crabs earlier. I gritted my teeth and gave an appreciative comment about Steve's great pictures. About this time another Steve arrived, and I knew we should be OK, Mr Ashton always get his picture.

While we were waiting for the GND which was slowly working it way round the harbour and getting close we suddenly noticed a much closer diver, not a Great Northern, but a Red-throated.

This promptly dived and started didn't reappear until much further away. At the same time the Great Northern was no longer getting closer and had retreated to the central area.

Then all of a sudden it was flapping across the water and was soon airborne and apparently heading out of the harbour.

Very soon it was followed by the Red-throated which was also heading towards the harbour entrance. The airborne antics weren't finished yet though. As one disappeared the other returned and quickly the Great Northern was heading towards us. In the USA they are called Common Loons, and they are the only birds with a large role in a multi-Oscar winning film, On Golden Pond.

The diver is an adult with the remnants of black and white chequered pattern on it's back and round it's neck still showing.

As predicted it soon got down to the job of fishing and after a couple of dives came up with a respectably sized flat fish.

As it swam, almost just below us, it's large legs and feet could be seen under the water. When flying, even a long way off shore, the large protruding feet always help to differentiate it from the smaller divers.

It took some time for it to manoeuvre the fish into the right position for swallowing, but it did finally disappear.

I hadn't really thought about it before, but Steve Ray remarked that the head was very wide. Looking from the front it doest have quite a wide "face" and I wonder it the eyes are placed so that it does have some binocular vision.

A close up of the head shows the characteristic forehead "bump" and the dark culmen of the whitish bill.

After the fish starter it got suck into a crab for the next course. They take quite a wide range of food items. Fish normally make up about 55%, and crustaceans and molluscs just under 20% each.

I'm not sure if it swallowed the crab or lost it in the water. I does seem to have a rather surprised look here!

One of the Great Crested Grebes that were in a flock in the middle of the harbour moved away from the rest and made a bee-line for the Diver. For some reason when the diver reappeared next to it after one of it's frequent dives the grebe seemed really spooked and shot of at a high rate of knots.

It didn't fully take off but ran across the water for about 50 metres before settling down. The whole thing seemed rather bizarre, I have no idea why it approached the Diver in the first place.

After vigorous period of feeding the diver settled down and slowly drifted along the pier, which was quite useful as the pier height drops by about 10 feet for the second part.

Although seemingly very restful it still travelled to end of the pier and then went from the Outer Harbour to the Inner Harbour and Western Docks, where the Red-throated Diver had re-appeared earlier.

We walked round to the Life Boat Station and from here were could see the Great Northern Diver slowly swimming towards us, but no sign of the Red-throated Diver. The Guillemot that's been around for a couple of days was happily feeding in the marina, quite oblivious to the people on their boats.

It looked very healthy and had a good preen and stretch while we were watching it. I was told that earlier in the morning a Common Seal had been around the marina, but there was no sign when we were there.

Eyes bigger than belly?

2011-12-03T22:08:00.010Z

Inspired by Steve Aston's Bittern pictures, and a bit fed up with finding so few birds locally, I allowed myself an excursion to Grove Ferry.

Arriving at the Feast Hide I learnt from Martyn Wilson and Mark Chidwick that they'd seen a Bittern in flight and also a Kingfisher had zipped through a couple of times, without stopping. When they left I was happy to watch the goings on on the pool, and was intrigued by what seemed a close association between a group of three Gadwall and three Dabchicks. I don't know if the Dabchicks were feeding on invertebrates stirred up by the dabbling Gadwalls or whether they just liked each others company, but, rather like Stonechats and Dartford Warblers, there definitely appeared to be relationship between the two species.

I don't seem to be able to get away from Cormorants at the moment, but there was no way to ignore this bird struggling with a large, potential meal.

I watched it for some time, and on several occasions it looked as if it was in a position to swallow the fish (an Eel possibly), but each time it ended up with it back in the water and still in tact.

I didn't actually see it give up, but I did see it swim to the raft and climb onto the right hand side, making a symmetrical pair with the bird already there. As there was no bulge in the neck and I hadn't seen it manage to get it down, I assume it had had to give up. (Just noticed Steve had an almost identical encounter, I wonder if it was the same Cormorant and the same eel.)

When the Bittern did appear it dropped out of sight in the reeds just behind and right of the water. A few minutes later it flew up and away and I failed miserably to get much more than a smudge across the screen.

As the afternoon wore on, in fact it was really quite early but a large dark cloud obscured the sun and made it seem later, there were large numbers of Fieldfare moving at the back of the marsh.

Looking into the sun, as it peeped out through a gap, some of the trees looked laden with these thrushes. At St Margaret's we watch them coming in off the sea on their migration, but they seldom hang around the area as winter draws on (a Carry On joke?). Only very occasionally have I seen one join the Blackbirds on the berry feast in the garden, but at Grove Ferry/Stodmarsh and on Worth Marshes it is possible to see hundreds gathering in pre-roost groups. Must be something to do with the farming methods?

Tails of the expected

2011-12-01T22:31:00.013Z

Having had our Indian Summer we now seem to have the monsoon season. In between the "showers" that were forecast I zipped down to Dover to check out the harbour for any wind blown strays, as I had intended to do, two days ago.

I wasn't lucky, no divers or auks so I contented myself with watching the regulars while the clouds gathered for the next deluge. I rather like collecting photos of bit and pieces of birds, legs, beaks, or in this case a tail. They come in useful sometimes. This one's quite easy.

Here's a view of the same bird from head on.

I quite liked the patterns it made as it landed. I almost looked as if it was doing a bit of ballet dancing.

I think that it is using thay large and strong tail as a brake, before the feet drop into the water.

Although Cormorants can't be described as elegant I think it's doing it's best! You can see the alula on the right wing acting rather like the flap on the wing of a landing aircraft.

Here's another diving bird, the main thing you see is how far back the legs are set.

There were about ten Great Crested Grebes in the harbour, there is a small flock each year, but I'm yet to find any of the less common grebes with them. The sheltered waters would seem to be ideal after stormy weather so it's certainly worth checking.

One or two Kittiwakes are often to be found here in winter. The winter adults develop a dark collar and hindneck and tend to look quite "grubby".

The jet black wing-tips, without extensive "mirrors" and the bright yeollow bill are distinctive.

I don't know if Black-headed Gulls ever form pairs in the winter, but these two seemed to be going through some sort of courting ritual, parading up and down and throwing there heads back and calling in a way I've only seen before around breeding colonies in the spring.
I made my escape as the rain returned, but this evening I heard that a drought is forecast for next year.

Gull force winds

2011-11-29T23:27:00.011Z

Today I woke to the noise of a very strong wind blowing from the South West. Gusts were getting up to around 55 mph by mid-day and walking around the cliff top was not a pleasant prospect. It occurred to me that Dover Harbour might be sheltering some birds blown off course, but when I got there I found that the entrance to the pier was locked off, presumably it wasn't thought to be safe to walk to the end with the strength of the wind. Instead I went on the Samphire Hoe, and shared a few minutes nattering with Phil Smith over a nice cup of tea. The sea wall was closed due to the weather and I ended up going on to Folkestone. Gulls were in short supply around Wear Bay Road, where Mediterranean Gulls can normally be found on top of the Street Lights.

The sea was looking pretty choppy and along Lower Sandgate Road waves were crashing over the groynes.

Looking back towards the harbour the sea looked very uninviting, certainly not the place for fishermen.

The Harbour had quite a few fishing boats safely in the calmer water, although whether or not they'd have been out with out the blow I don't know.

I did find quite a few gulls resting on the empty car parks. There's no doubt that this Great Black-backed Gull would win a beauty contest.

Herring Gulls in various plumages would have been useful as teaching tools to demonstrate the moults through the years to maturity.

What I was really looking for were some Mediterranean Gulls amongst the Black-headed Gulls. It took a while and I only found two, an adult in amongst a roosting flock of adult Black-headed Gulls and a first winter bird standing alone on the tarmac.

Unfortunately neither of these birds had colour rings so it won't be possible to check their histories. With the growing number of young produced in Kent it would be interesting to know if the birds that winter around Folkestone are just from those that breed in N France, Belgium and Holland, or whether any of the Kent birds join them.

A Christmas Carol

2011-11-29T10:33:00.033Z

A few pictures from the Dress Rehearsal of Christmas Carol. It runs from Wednesday 30th to Saturday December 3rd. Judging from the very successful run last night it will be an entertaining show, with some outstanding performances. Any resonance with the current banking community just shows how relevant Dickens still is today. I'll let the pictures tell the story.

Shark Report.

2011-11-25T22:52:00.006Z

Bright sunshine and a high tide induced me to visit the bay. Not too many visitors and some unseasonably mild weather made it a pleasant walk along the narrow strip of shingle still exposed just beyond the houses.

A group of about 40 Black-headed Gulls picked at the foam as the waves broke and rolled onto be beach.

I had recently noticed a distinct lack of Rock Pipits around the bay this autumn, so it was good to see at least six in that small stretch.

They were very active, chasing each other around the groynes and feeding amongst the sea-weed. I suppose if you've got feathers it's best not to face into the wind!

This Lesser -spotted Dogfish, (Scyliorhinus canicula) was washed up onto the waters edge. There was no obvious sign of damage and the gulls had so far not been pecking at it. This small shark goes under the alternative name of Rough Hound, and when sold in the fish-bar has the more attractive Monika of Rock Salmon. Dogfish are bottom-living sharks which are most commonly encountered on sand or gravel at depths between 1-50m, It feeds on a range of bottom-living invertebrates, especially crabs, shrimps, molluscs and worms and also some small fish.It is a common and widespread fish around the coasts of Britain and Ireland.

Having had my dose of the sea, I moved to higher elevations, passed the lighthouse and then walked to Fan Bay. There were absolutely no small birds to see and I can get bored with a few Carrion Crows, Jackdaws and Herring Gulls, so I decided to leave the cliff top and move a little inland. Back on March 16th 2009 I found a tree near the "Three Sisters" that was laden with buntings like an over productive apple tree. Today there was but one Corn Bunting in the same tree, but the stubble around had attracted several more, along with a few Yellowhammers and Skylarks. It was mainly little brown jobs, albeit one with a yellow head. A single Stonechat seemed to be moving round with a Dunnock, the two of them sticking closely together for several minutes. Quickly the sun dropped into the lower part of the sky and the haze soon had wiped out the bright shadows that there had been just a few minutes before. At the same time I was reminded why it was more usual to where a coast of some sort at the end of November. A brisk walk across the stubble warmed me up and I was cheered by the sight of several more Corn Buntings an Yellowhammers and the thought of a nice cup of rosy when I got home.

A quiet walk

2011-11-23T23:25:00.004Z

For the third morning running there were four moths in the traps, not the same species each morning, but no surprises. Being a clear and bright day I set off confident that there was something out there waiting to be found. My instinct took me to the Undercliff at Kingsdown but sadly, once again it failed to deliver. The one point of interest were at least three Fulmars that had returned to the cliff and seemed to be prospecting, There are only away a few months and, since it is always worth watching their flying skills, it is good to see them back. But no Rock Pipits and no Black Redstart, let alone anything the stir the adrenaline. I did listen to a gentle hammering, immediately recognisable as a Song Thrush with a snail at it's anvil. I though it might be a photo opportunity, but I couldn't see the Thrush. I was very close and realised that it mas under a very thick bramble right in front of me. I eventually emerged, and few a few yards, and went straight back into deep cover.

My second inkling was for a look at Langdon Hole. This, I'm sorry to say was no better, the only bird that caught my eye was a rather shy Redwing. Walking back to the White Cliffs car park, a Raven flew over calling loudly. It then joint a second bird, and they proceeded to circle and display over the cliffs that I'd left a few minutes before. So no pictures, but today I can't blame the weather, which was perfect.

Weekend Crowds

2011-11-20T23:51:00.010Z

We had friends staying this weekend, so after a great meal and a mellow evening an early morning start was not on the agenda.

The Sprawler

I did run my moth traps and I was surprised to find a new moth for the garden and for me. The Sprawler is not a particularly spectacular moth, it seems to have a thick winter coat, as befits a moth that is mainly around from late October to early December. It is somewhat unusual for a macro moth in that the adults don't feed. Their existence is purely for the purpose of procreation and producing the next generation of caterpillars.

In the afternoon I was going to walk the area where I found the two Snow Buntings last Sunday, but the fine weather had brought out dozens of people for a final outing in the sun and it seemed that a substantial number of them were walking round, what is normally an area of perfect solitude, with their metal detectors. Being the unsociable person I am I took myself off the Ancient Highway and the Restharrow Scrape where I knew there would be no more than a couple of people, who like me would be sitting quietly hoping for something special to arrive in front of the hide.

There were a lot of Snipe sitting down in the cut reeds but no sign of the Jack Snipe. A Robin popped out of the reeds and took the opportunity to have a bath. I returned to searching through the Snipe for their smaller relative.

The next time I looked at where the Robin had been bathing it had transformed into a Green Sandpiper. This puts a whole new slant on accelerated evolution and creationism, and no, photoshop was not involved.

As the Jack Snipe, nor anything of similar scarcity was around the opportunity was there to take a close look at our regular residents. Watching this beautiful drake Teal sieving through the mud made me wonder if it was taking invertebrates and if so why, in general this scrape fails to attract as many waders as you might think it would, given it's prime position.

By now the sun was dropping and the evening light was clear and cast a magic calmness across the scrape. Slowly the Snipe became active and started to work round the edge and some fed right up the grass and almost beneath the hide. It was so quiet I was worried that the noise of the camera might disturb them, but they carried on oblivious to the closeness of human activity. The bird above has it's bill slightly open but I can't see what it has just extracted from the ground.

In hte end they all seemed to on the move and I counted at least twenty-two, but I still was unable to track down the Jack.

When I decided to leave I took a last look at the Moorhen as it checked it's reflection in the water. I had hoped that an owl, either a Barn or a Short-eared might be patrolling as I scanned Worth Marshes, but tonight I struck a blank.

(I thank Derek for proof reading and finding some of my mistakes!)

The St Margaret's Player are pleased to bring you their Christmas show

2011-11-20T23:26:00.002Z

A Christmas Carol

Book & Lyrics by Chris Blackwood

Music by Piers Chater Robinson Creator of Peter Pan the Musical

A traditional, vibrant, atmospheric new two-act musical based on the classic novel by Charles Dickens. From the creator of Peter Pan the Musical, this joyous, new show by Piers Chater Robinson has been brilliantly adapted by Chris Blackwood from the classic novel by Charles Dickens. With a cavalcade of colourful characters and a ghostly quartet of guardians, A Christmas Carol is the perfect way to get you into the Christmas spirit. Filled with joy, laughter and heartbreaking moments, this new version has something for everyone, both young and old.

A wild goose chase

2011-11-17T22:17:00.012Z

After identifying the four moths in my traps, I set off for a look over by the Three Sisters. The mist was closing in and I was wondering if I should head further down the coast where the forecast was better when I noticed some "lumps" in the first field as I left the village.

We don't get many geese on the fields round here and I was a bit surprised. I managed to pull over and I was pleased to see eight Greater White-fronted Geese happily grazing in the field.

In the UK we get White-fronts from two separate populations, the nominate subspecies, albifrons, from Russia, and the Greenland sub-species flavirostris, which mainly winters in Ireland and Western Britain. These had made the journey from Russia and were the first White-fronts I'd seen in St Margaret's.

As the mist got worse and I knew that it was much brighter to the west I drove up to Hythe and had a great view of the Rough-legged Buzzard that's been hanging round near there for a while, great views but I totally messed up my attempt to photograph the bird. At this time of the year its' worth checking the rocky groynes at Hythe. At the one near the Strade Hotel there were several Turnstones and at least one Purple Sandpiper, that disappeared between the rocks to an inaccessible, for me anyway, area.

Further along, at the rocks opposite Twiss Road I had a bit more luck and two Purple Sandpipers were extremely obliging allowing me to get a few pictures.

I've always like waders and these chubby little chaps with their bright legs and bills are right up there in my favourite list.

As I passed the Geese on my way back for a bit of lunch they were still in the same place, but seemed be resting from the exertions of eating. It was still dull so I didn't hang around long.

At about 2.30 I realised that the sun had decided to put in an appearance and that the White-fronts would now be bathed in the gentle light of a winter evening.

This gave a much better opportunity for some better, but still quite distant photos. The birds with the heavier black breast marking are the adults. Although not as spectacular as the large flock that can be seen in their regular wintering haunts there is something special about wild geese, especially when you consider that a few months ago they were breeding on the tundra in Siberia. More pictures from today here.

When Gold turns to Green

2011-11-16T23:26:00.002Z

The main influx of Goldfinches left nearly a week ago and it wasn't until Saturday that we started seeing a few return to the garden. In fact I don't think that these are returning birds, but a second, and so far much smaller influx.

For the last couple of days there has been an increase in the number of Greenfinches in the garden. Not a huge number, but up to about 15 to 20.

After the problems with trichomonosis, a disease which severely affected the population of Greenfinches, and to a lesser extent Chaffinches it is good to see even a small influx in the garden.

Chaffinches are also increasing this week so a feeder with the three species on it is good to see. The overall numbers are still small by comparison to last week, when most of the 8 sunflower feeders were empty at the end of each day, compared to lasting at least six days so far in the last week.

Good to see some Goldfinches returning to their duties of cleaning up the seeds on the patio, I was beginning to worry that I would have to get the broom out.

The Z team turns up in time!

2011-11-14T21:17:00.016Z

I hadn't been to see the "Eastern" Black Redstart at North Foreland. It was a cross between idleness and the fact that I had seen similar birds in the Middle East. Clements lists seven sub-species (races) of Black Redstart. The one that usually occurs here is Phoenicurus ochruros gibraltariensis, and the range of this spreads across West and Central Europe, east to Crimea and south to North Africa. This has a dark belly, while the eastern birds of the sub-species, P. o. semifrufus, (the one I'd seen in the middle east), P. o. phoenicuroides and two others have rufous bellies to various degrees. The one at North Foreland has been broadcast as P. o. phoenicuroides, although I'm not clear as to how the various eastern races are separated. One thing is that is clear is that this bird is very different from our normal wintering birds.

When I left St Margaret's it was very foggy, and very dull, but knowing that we often get different weather in our corner I thought it would be better when I got to Margate. I wasn't, but fortunately the bird was extremely confiding and was being watched by four birders when I arrived. It spend most of it's on the beach amongst the weed, and washed up rubbish.

As so many good pictures are on various websites and blogs I wasn't going to put up any of my efforts in the dull conditions of to day, but if the record is accepted it will be a UK first (unless any of the four previous records that are now rejected are reviewed), and I would be remiss at not recognising such an event.

I did occur to me that it would be useful if it was trapped and measured, as this might help alleviate any thoughts that it is a hybrid with a Common Redstart. I'm sure the biometrics would be a useful piece of evidence.

This individual is a first winter male.

Occasionally it perched up on the cliff in characteristic pose for a Black Redstart.

The "bib" is far larger than the bib on a Common Redstart and the back much darker. More of my picutures of this bird here.

On the way back I popped into SBBO for a quick natter a a cup of rosie. The news that the Jack Snipe at the Restharrow Scrape had been out and on show a little earlier was good reason for a look at the scrape for a few minutes.

Luckily Justin was in the hide when I got there and pointed out the bird, bobbing up and down amongst the reeds some distance away. It is in the middle of the picture above, but not easy to see.

It was quite obliging and did slowly work it's way towards us, sometimes in good view, sometimes completely disappearing and then suddenly breaking cover to move to the next gully a little nearer.

At one time I had high hope that it would continue it's slow progress right round to the hide, at the rate it was moving that would have taken about an hour.

This was a close as I saw it. I went into reverse and started on it's way back. Steve Ray, exhibiting much patience, was still in the hide waiting for a change of mind when I left. More Jack Snipe pictures here.

PS this post is dedicated to my friend Derek, in the hope that he may come to realise that an interest in seeing rarities isn't a birding crime.

Sunshine and Snow Buntings

2011-11-13T22:08:00.016Z

A text from Kearsney Birder, Phil Smith had me on the move to Langdon Hole. Phil had just found a Great Grey Shrike, featured this evening on his blog, and I hope to catch up with it.

I met Phil near by and he told me it had flown over Upper Road towards the two remaining "Three Sisters". A walk round the area failed to re-find it but it wasn't without interest. The large stubble filed was full of Skylarks, Corn Buntings and Yellowhammers and the scrubby hedges held at least four Stonechats. I also saw two Buzzard, two Peregrines and a Little Owl, all in the glorious sunshine we were blessed with today.

Stonechats must get very regularly photographed as there can be few birds as obliging. This male bird did a little dance on the twig he was settled on.

In the light conditions they looked absolutely splendid, and they pair I was watching here chose some very good perches.

The female is not nearly so strikingly marked, but the plumage does shadow the pattern of the males hood and collar.

All the time I watched them they kept making the little tutting contact call, like two stones banging together, that gives them their name.

In the end I had to tare myself away from these posers and continue my unsuccessful search for "Phil's Shrike".

The Yellowhammers were mainly feeding out in the stubble and not in view until they flew, giving their characteristic "tzit" call.

Occasionally one would perch up, although I failed to get a clear view today, then their incredibly bright yellow heads almost shone out.

A surprise awaited me as I got back to the car, two Snow Buntings dropped down onto the tarmac of the old airfield just a few yards from me.

I think that this is probably a first winter male in it's fresh plumage, when it flew it had a lot of white in the wings.

And this is a female bird.

The female scuttle off into the long grass but the male was extremely confiding. This is often the case with just one or two Snow Buntings, they seem quite oblivious to people.

I have a feeling that these birds had only just arrived. They didn't seem to have got down to feeding yet.

It eventually joined it's companion in the longer gras and I left them to rest and feed. Hopefully they'll stay around a while, there always good to see. More pictures here.

The end of the Gold fever

2011-11-11T21:53:00.008Z

The Goldfinch party seems to be over for this year. On Wednesday evening there were over 150 around the garden, and the noise was extraordinary when they got together in the tree tops when flushed from the ground. The feeders, filled in the morning were all more or less empty and new supplies had arrived. On Thursday I was sorting out my moth traps when the deafening silence suddenly alerted me to the fact that the Goldfinches had moved on. Not one single bird was seen feeding by either Pam or myself yesterday or today, although I did hear a couple flying over.

The garden seemed strangely deserted, although a couple of Chaffinches and Greenfinches did pop in. Later this afternoon I watched a Robin, a Dunnock and a Wren spend quite a long time just out side the window, almost as if they were taking their time, now that the noisy gang had gone. The only other bird I saw on the feeders was a Great Spotted Woodpecker. I'm hoping that we will get visits from some of the other winter visitors and migrants that have been passing through. Today I heard a couple of Redpolls as they flew over and the time is about right for some Siskins and Bramblings to pay their respects.

I've had the history of Whooper Swan BER back from the WWT. It was only ringed this year on Feb 10th. as an adult Male, so there's no way of knowing it's age. It was recorded on it's way through Scotland in the Spring and was back at Martin Mere on Oct 19th. I'm not too sure about the exact meaning of the Departure heading, the last one is my record and the one above I presume will be extended by the staff at the reserve until the date it is last seen this winter.

EVENT DATE	DEPARTURE	SITE NAME	AREA
10/02/2011	10/02/2011	WWT Martin Mere	Lancashire
13/02/2011	05/03/2011	WWT Martin Mere	Lancashire
08/03/2011	11/03/2011	Caerlaverock	Dumfries
12/03/2011	12/03/2011	Thwaite Farm, nr Ruthwell,	Dumfries
19/10/2011	02/11/2011	WWT Martin Mere	Lancashire
31/10/2011	31/10/2011	WWT Martin Mere	Lancashire

OUR FIRE FIGHTERS NEVER LET US DOWN - IT'S NOW TIME TO SUPPORT THEM

2011-11-09T22:42:00.004Z

This post is about our village, St Margaret's at Cliffe and the proposal to close our local Fire Station. I, like everyone else have had little notice of the following event, so if you are from the village or surrounds please note that the first meeting is tomorrow.

The Kent Fire and Rescue service are holding a Drop-In Session at the Fire Station on Thursday, November 10 (yes, tomorrow) from 3.00-6.30pm. The poster states "you will be able to find out more about Kent Fire and Rescue Services's proposal for the county and local area".

It is proposed to hold a peaceful demonstration, against the closure, outside the Fire Station in Reach Road from 3.30pm - 4.30pm on Thursday, November 10, during the advertised Drop-In Session. Please support this, bring along a placard, or go in and make your views known.

WHY do we need OUR FIRE STATION?

BECAUSE: With the South Foreland Valley, National Trust land, unusual terrain, outlying farms and homes, unadopted roads, cliffs, holiday village, aeroplane flight path etc, etc. we need to be supported by our own local Fire Fighters who are aware of the problems here. They can be in attendance far sooner than an engine from Dover and will know where they are going!!.

The Parish Council are holding their own Public Meeting in the village hall, to which it is hoped everyone will attend, on Friday, November 18 at 7.30pm.

He be up yon Wurzel tree

2011-11-08T22:26:00.004Z

First, apologies for the quality of this picture. I took it at 3pm, when it should still have been light, but as it never really did get light I used ISO 3200, and took it on f 6.3 at 1/30th sec, the equivalent of what Dave Cotteridge used to call f8 for a something fortnight. Even so the point I want to make about this Blackbird is quite clear. On Autumn watch Chris Packham been talking about male blackbirds with black, or at least, dull bills. I've had quite a big influx of Blackbirds in the garden today and at least two where obviously males but the beaks showed little sign of yellow or orange. I can't find anything about other races that migrate here with duller bills in BWP or the in the Helm Thrushes monograph. The influx of Blackbirds from Northern and North-Eastern Europe should belong to the same sub-species (race) that we have here, Turdus merula merula, and I can find no references to them having different coloured bare parts. This bird does show a slight yellowish eye-ring. By this stage of the winter I think first year birds from the UK already show yellow bills, but I suppose some may be a bit delayed.

Satellite's gone way up to Mars

2011-11-07T21:47:00.010Z

It stayed dark all day today, that's about four days since the sun showed it's face. I did run two moth traps and had fun filling the feeders and then watching the Goldfinches on the patio.

Looking through the patio windows a good number of the flock fed on the spillage raining down from above. Not a great photo but if you count the birds on view, then add another 20 above them on feeders you get to somewhere near half of those around.

Some of the moths of the last three days.

It would be true to say that the Scarce Bordered Straw above, caught a couple of days ago, was the latest one I've had, but since I've rarely continued mothing much into November it would actually mean much. It is quite a late record, but migrants still seem to be appearing round the coast.

I've always been fascinated by the way Angle Shades wings are folded. As far as I know there are no other UK species that have a similar "crinkled" appearance.

Green Brindled Crescents are one of the reliable late year moths, although this year has been particularly good for them (same reason as above!).

The beautifully named Satellite (what great imaginations moth namers had!) appears early and late in the year. I don't catch that many and the last one was on the 7th April. The adults emerge in September, and can be encountered any time throughout the winter until April, in suitably mild conditions, when they can be attracted to light.

Although it's been very dark, most of the moths were very well behaved, sitting motionless on my chosen leaf while my camera, on a tripod took them in timer mode. That way I managed reasonable images even at 1/4 sec. The exceptions were the Feathered Thorn above and the Rusty Dot Pearl below, both of which rejected the leaf but behaved well on the projector stand I use to put my subjects on.

This is a rather nice and fresh Rusty Dot Pearl. Ive had a few of the migrant pyralid in the last few days, and looking at reports they seem to be widespread at the moment.

November Moths and their close relatives are a real conundrum. Most of the ones I catch are virtually patternless, as might be expected on a moth with the specific name diluta. This one does show some pattern but I'm still not 100% certain which of the genus Epirrita it is.

By the way there are 53 Goldfinches in the picture above, the whole flock, when it circled above the trees was well over 150.

Ahhh there!

2011-11-06T23:35:00.010Z

Since returning from Clitheroe I've hardly been out, being absolutely stuffed up with a very persistent cough and cold. The windows have provided most of my viewing and I have managed to get a moth trap out on a couple of nights.

The Goldfinch flock is still over 50 birds and I have moved more feeders close to the lounge windows. Up to 30 birds have been feeding on the ground, cleaning up the seeds and bits dropped from above.

I did go out on Friday afternoon, to get some supplies, and couldn't resist popping into the Restharrow Scrape and wandering along the Ancient Highway in an unsuccessful look for owls.

This dog Fox had a walk round. I know their are not everyone's favourite, the can devastate colonies of ground nesting birds, but they are certainly very handsome animals.

There were a good number of Snipe along one edge and the Curlew Sandpiper that's been reported for a couple of days was with them.

Looking through my pictures from Martin Mere I found another with a colour ringed WHooper Swan, BER, so I hope to get it's history from the Wildfowl trust.

I have heard back about C7B, and it's appearances are below:

EVENT DATE	DEPARTURE	SITE NAME	AREA
14/11/2006	Ringing date	WWT Martin Mere	Lancashire
16/11/2006	19/03/2007	WWT Martin Mere	Lancashire
30/10/2007	12/03/2008	WWT Martin Mere	Lancashire
28/10/2008	28/10/2008	Cummertrees	Dumfries
29/10/2008	29/10/2008	Cummertrees	Dumfries
16/11/2008	16/11/2008	Angerton, nr Kirkbride	Cumbria
11/12/2008	31/03/2009	WWT Martin Mere	Lancashire
21/10/2010	18/03/2011	WWT Martin Mere	Lancashire
29/12/2010	29/12/2010	WWT Martin Mere	Lancashire
04/03/2011	04/03/2011	WWT Martin Mere	Lancashire
18/03/2011	18/03/2011	WWT Martin Mere	Lancashire
19/10/2011	31/10/2011	WWT Martin Mere	Lancashire
31/10/2011	31/10/2011	WWT Martin Mere	Lancashire

It wasn't seen in the 2009/2010 winter, I wonder where it took a holiday?

C7B - I've got your number!

2011-11-02T22:08:00.017Z

Just back from a week up in Clitheroe, with Nina and Jack and Josh, and very briefly Pete, who popped in for a day at home between leading a Southern Australia tour and an Antarctica tour. What a hard life! We had a good day out in the 31 November with Jack and Josh. Although the weather was gloomy Martin Mere still had much to offer. As well as the fantastic Wildfowl collection a series of hides look over the wild part of the reserve, where annually over 1000 Whooper Swans spend at least part of the winter.

Many of the birds have been ringed in previous years and carry coloured rings that allow them to be identified. This one is C7B and I will try and find out it's history.

Out on the marshes there are hundreds of Pink-footed Geese, and some venture a little closer to the hides. Wild geese are always an exciting spectacle and it is a bit of a luxury to be able to watch them from the comfort of a hide, it's not quite the same without frozen toes and fingers!

As well as large numbers of Lapwings there were some waders were around, mainly on the islands in the mere. Most were Ruff with, I was told, over 50 around, and there were a few Black-tailed Godwits on one of the smaller lakes.

Although many of the Ruffs were active, as soon as I found one relatively close it tucked it's head under it's wing and went to sleep!

There were a few raptors in the area, with four Buzzards and about the same number of Marsh Harriers around. As soon as one, or above two, of the Marsh Harriers came over the flood all the waders and many of the ducks took to the wings.

As well as the large flocks of Lapwings, with a scattering of Ruffs in the air, flights of Teal and Wigeon and skeins of Pink-feet were often adorning the sky line.

As usual there were good numbers of wild Pintail around, but this bird did have me somewhat puzzled. I think it is a Pintail, just coming out of either juvenile or eclipse plumage, but any other ideas are welcome.

No such problem in identifying this handsome drake Pintail. The females are less obvious but still show a somewhat attenuated rear end.

As the afternoon progressed, and feeding time became closer the mere became more crowded with Whoopers as they left the grazing areas and flew into the mere.

Other birds also arrived, and there seemed to be an excited air amongst the wildfowl on the lake.

With so many birds in close proximity there was a great deal of posturing and posing going on, and a fair amount of physical squabbling as well.

I had read some where that the swans hadn't has such a great breeding season, in Iceland, so it was good to see this happy family party of four young with their parents. A family clean up time, come on make sure you do the back of your neck!

When the man arrived with the barrow of food the birds first retreated from the edge, but then as he mpved past the Whoopers where quickly crowding the edge of the lake, taking as much grain as possible on board.

It all seemed quite orderly at first, although with the large swans at the front of throng there wasn't going to be much left for any other birds.

The Shelducks seem to have worked this out and suddenly leap-frogged the swans so they could get the food higher up the bank. The all to soon it wa stime for us to go, Halloween and Trick and Treating beckoned back in Clitheroe.

Any Port in a Storm

2011-10-24T22:15:00.026+01:00

My phone went while I was in the one way system of Dover on my way out of town. Parking safely (of course), I returned Steve Ray's call and found that he was only a few hundred yards away, on the Prince of Wales Pier and was watching a Grey (Red) Phalarope. A little bird with two names! It is red in the breeding season, hence the widespread name, but on migration we see them in their grey plumage, hence the parochial English name.

When I arrived it had temporarily gone missing, but a few terns were performing well and As far as I could see we had a group of five Arctic Terns.

They all had white secondaries and no dark secondary bar. The bill looked quite small and dark and the carpal bar quite narrow and diffuse.

As if by magic the Grey Phalarope suddenly appeared just below us.

I suspect that it had been just below us all the time. Unfortunately the shadow cast by the pier meant that it stayed out of the sunshine all the time.

It busied itself picking at the surface, finding small items of food amongst the bit and pieces floating in the water.

The water was quite clear and it was possible to make out the rather strange lobed feet that are characteristic of Phalaropes.

It seemed interested in this primary feather, which would have been rather too large for it to wear!

This is what a Grey Phalarope looks like in Summer and why the name Red Phalarope is quite appropriate. I took this in 2005 on Spitsbergen.

Just to add to the charms of the harbour Phil Smith informed us that a Purple Sandpiper had been seen on one of the concrete groynes opposite the flats. When we located it, it was bathing in a small puddle on top.

Although I've seen Purple Sandpipers around the harbour before, they've always been quite distant, so it was good to be able to get a close look.

I've always though that the matching beak and legs make a strong fashion statement. More Pictures here.

There's nothing vulgar about my Starling!

2011-10-20T23:21:00.008+01:00

A cold morning once again met that there were very few moths to start the day, just two, one migrant, a Silver Y and the other another fabulous Merveille du Jour.

The garden was still full of Goldfinches this morning, and a walk down Kingsdown Road quickly showed a marked increase in winter thrushes, with groups of Filedfares and Redwings moving inland.

Each morning I'm greeted with the virtuoso performance that can only be produced by a Starling. A mixture of clicks and squeaks, mixed with high class imitations of other birds. So the day starts with Curlew and Buzzard but with the number of helicopters that are around I'm surprised that so far they not featured. My resident entertainer starts sitting low down in the gutter, tucked under the roof tiles.

As I was watching him this morning I was joined momentarily by a Blackbird, perhaps also intrigued by the noises coming from above.

As the show developed in it intensity and variety my Starling popped up, so now in full view and fluffed out his throat.

Once he was into his full swing he closed his eyes and got completely carried away by the moment. He really should keep his wits about him as the Sparrowhawk was circling round the clear blue sky this morning. The Starling goes by the unflattering scientific name of Sturnus vulgaris.

Even though the weather is getting colder there are still plenty of Red Admirals about. At this time of year they are often around Ivy, a plant that seems to attract a lot of insects in autumn,

Having a dig

2011-10-18T23:20:00.005+01:00

Mothing was quick this morning, with only two moths in four traps. It had been a wild and wet night, and I really shouldn't have bothered. All the traps and egg boxes needed drying out today. The huge influx in feeding finches, mainly Goldfinches, this week has meant that my garden feeders are emptying at a fast rate at the moment and I went to Malibu Bird foods in Shatterling for supplies. Of course on the way back I popped into the hide at Restharrow scrape. There were disappointingly few birds there, but a Snipe did parade in front of the hide.

Snipe is an interesting word, to most birders it means a long billed wader in the genus Gallinago. It can mean to attack (a person or persons) with a rifle from a place of concealment, but hopefully there's not much of that in Kent. The third meaning, to criticize adversely a person or persons from a position of security, is always a temptation where the internet is involved. Reading some of the comments on recent birding blogs, even those on their swansong, it seems its an irresistible temptation to some.

I took the picture above, and several more, because Snipe, when fully in the open, are very photogenic with their amazing cryptic plumage. But more striking is that amazing long bill, used from probing in the mud. Although it looks a pretty solid weapon it is in fact quite flexible. The tip is full of sensitive nerves, used for finding the prey and the bill is then opened at the tip and the prey drawn in by the tongue. Like the strangely twisted beak of the Crossbill yesterday, the Snipe's beak is beautifully adapted to it's way of life, and both can still preen successfully with these cumbersome looking instruments.

Invasion alert

2011-10-17T22:18:00.009+01:00

With all the rare birds that have been in the country, and several of them "chats and robins" of various species, I went out this morning hopeful that something might be waiting to be found.

There seemed to be fewer birds around than on Saturday, although Goldfinches were moving through all the time. In the Freedown I did see a bird feeding from the top of one of the small bushes and, not unexpectedly, it turned out to be a Stonechat.

Stonechats are worth a second look in their own right, crackling little chaps that they are, and of course there's always the hope that on closer inspection it might turn out to be a Siberian Stonechat. Not this time though!

At Hope Point, as well as Red Admiral, Peacock and I think, both Large and Small Whites, the Small Coppers are still looking quite fresh and very active. The eggs are laid on Sorrel and once they have hatched the caterpillars from this second brood will over winter as caterpillars. They will become chrysalises in April and provide the first flyers of next spring in May.

Everyone birding in Kent in the last week or so will almost certainly have been aware of noisy flocks of Crossbills passing overhead. There have been a good few here but until today I hadn't seen one land this autumn.

Today, as I got to the Leas at Kingsdown I could hear the chip, chip call of Crossbills, but for once it was coming from the top of a tree, in Hope Bay Studios garden. A small flock of about eight birds had landed and then almost immediately they took off again. Fortunately they didn't fly off straight away, but circled and came back to the tree.

A bright coloured male actually sat on top for me, just long enough for a picture to be taken. I'm not sue of the facts behind this big invasion of Crossbills, but I assume that it must be cause by a failure of the pine cone crop in Scandinavia and point east of there. Crossbills use their strange looking bill to extract the seeds from pine cones and they do have periodic eruptions, after good breeding seasons, when the pine crop fails then. Sometimes after an invasion some will breed in late winter or early spring, in suitably habitat in Kent. I could be a bumper season for them at Bedgebury or Pembury Walks next year.

A scan of the sea yielded not Skuas or Porpoises but I did see the Border Agency vessel, Seacher passing quite quickly. Wheter she was on official duty or not I don't know. The invasion of Crossbills will continue overhead!

Putting the jig saw together

2011-10-15T23:03:00.008+01:00

There was little in my moth traps this morning, although two Yellow-lined Quakers were new for the year.

A surprise was a beautiful little Firecrest coming down to drink at the fountain in front of the study. By the time I had got my camera it had moved on and left me with a group of Goldfinches coming down to drink.

The garden also seemed to have a large increase in the number of Blackbirds around and this one spent time probing between the stones round the fountain, often a good place for insects and small worms. A text from Jack speeded me on my way to Bockhill farm.

As I walked down the Droveway towards the farm I could see Nigel and as I approached he pointed towards the trees to his left and then I also heard the tell tale tswee-eet call of a Yellow-browed Warbler. Hearing was one thing, seeing another, and an almost impossible third was to photograph it! After a while we had both seen it, but only the white underparts, with not detail of the head or wings. Since these are the interesting bits, the fact that we knew it was the bird by the call was poor compensation.

Finally we got on to it in a slightly more open tree and after a while the characters started to give them selves up. The broad, long supercilium, small size and fine bill were seen as it took a rest from it's normal restless activity and sat on a small branch, high in the canopy.

From a different angle the start of the broad whitish greater covert wing-bar could be seen. The smaller bar on the median coverts doesn't show on the picture, but could be seen as it fed.

Again although half hidden by twigs two more of the characters can be seen, the broad edges to the tertials, contrasting with the darker centres and the palish legs. I didn't manage to see a cetre crown stripe, but peering high into the canopy made it difficult to see everything on the bird. It was a pretty vocal individual, which made keeping track of it easier than is always the case.

As I walked across the paddock I flushed this Green Woodpecker and I rather liked pattern shown on the wings as it flew off.

Don't believe all you hear.

2011-10-13T23:58:00.009+01:00

Moths have actually made the news this week, both on the TV and Radio. Stories of all the rarities blown in from Europe haven't quite equated to what's happened here!

Pearly Underwing

My only migrants of the last couple of days have been a few Silver Y's and a Pearly Underwing (one of the commoner wanderers). Other than that I've had a selection, in small numbers of typical resident autumn moths. In addition to those featured in the last week or so are:

Mallow

Sallow

Feathered Thorn

Green-brindled Crescent

The Brick

Red-lined Quaker

Thistle Birds.

2011-10-11T22:20:00.008+01:00

I must admit that Thistles growing in the Freedown aren't always my favourite plant. Inevitably I seem to manage to get one of the spikes stuck down the side of my boots. But if I've ever wondered what they are for, this time of year provides the answer.

A wander around the Freedown, in the hope that a Ring Ouzel might have joined the influx of Song Thrushes and Redwings that were using the the big hedge on Sunday proved unsuccessful. In fact the number of birds feeding in the hedge had gone down and I saw no Redwings and just three Song Thrushes and two Blackbirds feeding there. The stars of the show was a small "charm" of Goldfinches. They noisily jingled from the top of a hawthorn before dropping on to the thistles and demolishing the seed-heads.

The local population is massively supplemented at this time of year with birds from Northern Europe, it is probable that our breeding birds spend the winter further south in Iberia, rather like the editor of the KOS news letter.

I had two sessions of sea watching today. In the morning I joined Julian who was having a pre-work Skua watch and this afternoon I had a quiet hour watching a largely empty sea. I was surprised when I focused on this small vessel almost on the horizon to see it was a Green Peace vessel. I think it is the MV Arctic Sunrise, but, if so, it has been repainted since the picture of it I could find on the net. I don't know what it was up to, I'd be interested in any information especially if they are engaged in a local project. This morning's sea watch produced several Skuas, at least three Bonxies and two Arctics, and one that we both thought was probably a Pomarine, but was just far enough out for there to be a bit of uncertainty. In addition there were a good number of Gannets moving in both directions. No Skuas this afternoon, just a couple of reasonably close Scoter and a Great Crested Grebe heading up channel.

Fantasy Birding

2011-10-10T23:16:00.023+01:00

Another fantastic day, and when walking in the sun in such stunning surroundings you can be forgiven if the odd day-dream flickers through your consciousness. There were birds around, but not as many as at the weekend when the visible migration was exceptional. This was well documented on the KOS Website by Jack, and there is even a picture of the assembled crew doing a seawatch.

Today there was still a good passage of House Martins and Swallows going through, but difficult to count as some seemed to be coming back to feed before continuing on their way. As group of around 12 Pied Wagtails fed together in the middle of the "big field" and Siskins could be heard passing over. My "problems" started when I got to Hope Point. There was a Dunnock, but in October why couldn't it have been Britain's first Siberian Accentor. If one could turn up in Sweden on the 10th October last year, why not Bockhill this year.

A Blue Tit interrupted my day dream, a Blue is just that and not at all easy to turn into an imaginary rarity.

But one of the Chiffchaffs, sure that could have obliged. A good date for one of the scarce or rare warblers, but still every one I looked at stubbornly remained a Chiffy.

Out at sea the slightly surreal sight of HMS Waverley paddling by added to the day. She was built in 1947 to replace her namesake, that was sunk at Dunkirk in 1940. In 1974 the The Paddle Steamer Preservation Society bought her for £1 when her operators could no longer afford to keep her going. She is now used for excursions during the summer months.

I walked on towards Kingsdown and decided to look at the Undercliff. There is often a Black Redsart there in autumn and winter and I fancied getting some photos. I didn't find one around the rocks at the beginning, a favourite place, but at the end of the path, a flick of red caught my eye as a bird landed on the sea wall. This Robin was feeding on the edge of the sea as it seeped through the wall, an unusual feeding area, but I've seen one down here before.

I've always though that this area would be perfect for finding a Pied Wheatear, it is still a week or so early for one in the south, but still possible. The cliffs looked magnificent from the end of the path, and with high-tide, hopefully any bird using the bottom of the cliffs for a feeding area would move on to the undercliff.

As I scanned I did find the adult Peregrine resting on a ledge about 300 metres away.

Then a Wheatear appeared on the sea wall. At first glance it looked just like a (Northern) Wheatear [brackets for Derek].

At second glance it still looked the same. Even if they're a common migrant they have two things going for them. They're nice looking birds, and because there are several rarities, that are very similar, they get well and truly looked at.

There is one important thing that you have to do when you are photographing a bird. You have to stay focused.

If you don't you find that the bird disappears and the white blob behind it turns into a pub. That isn't fantasy birding in this case, but a fact.

Another thought crossed my mind. The cliffs may be chalk, but after one turned up on the other side of the channel, these cliffs must be a good place for a Wallcreeper to turn up, I mean if Fairlight was suitable then Kingsdown must be a good.

A scam of the rock face did reveal another flash of red, but on the tail, not the wings, and there was my Black Redstart, determinedly staying half way up the cliff and refusing to pose like the Wheatear and Robin had done. May be next time a day dream will be fulfilled.

Shepherdswell or Sibertswold?

2011-10-08T22:29:00.014+01:00

Shepherdswell is how I've always know this village, but when I came to the church I found that it is often called St Andrew at Sibertswold. This name is probably derived from the name of one of it's early Anglo Saxon proprietors.

Opposite the Bell Inn, on the other side of the small village green this gate leads to the well wooded church yard of St Andrew's Church

Although there have been four churches on the site, the first listed in the Domesday Book, this church only dates back to 1863.

Designed Benjamin Ferrey in 1863 the interior of the church is quite simple but does have a large collection of impressive stained glass windows.

St Andrew's is built of local flint with Bath stone dressings and is distinguished by a little spirelet over, but not quite on, the west end.

The interior is simple and consists of nave, apsidal chancel and little transepts.

The east windows are by the St Helens Crown Glass Co., and represent the Ascension and Four Evangelists. The south window of 1900, by Kempe, shows the Epiphany

If you live around here and think that you phone line is being tapped, don't blame Murdoch, it might be this Great Spotted Woodpecker.

All in a Flash.

2011-10-06T22:04:00.009+01:00

The weather has become much more autumnal and at first I though that I was going to find a fairly empty Bockhill this morning. Once I was tuned in, and ignoring the strong breeze, the calls of Siskins could be heard as they moving overhead. Like Redpolls one or two Siskins can sound like a flock, and in the windy conditions I contented myself with listening. A few Swallows and House Martins were on the move, beating into the wind, and one flock of at least six Crossbills flew over noisily as I walked round the Paddock. There was little to be seen at ground level and I walked on towards Farm Wood.

In the hedgerow along the Droveway birds were moving and at the farm there seemed to be quite a sizable mixed group feeding. As usual in these groups Blue Tits are prominent, as were a couple of Great Tits.

Long-tailed Tits normally travel in gangs at this time of year and they seemed to be part of the larger congregation.

I could hear quite a few crests as I went round, and I concentrated hard to try and pick out a Firecrest, but I was unsuccessful. I wonder how long it will be before the sound of a Goldcrest calling disappears from my range? Mostly the Goldcrest remained hidden in the depths of the hedge, their illuminating go faster stripe giving away their presence.

I always think that their little moustache gives an otherwise pretty face a rather cross look.

If the number of Chiffchaffs in the Paddock had seemed down, then it was because they had concentrated their numbers in the wood. I seemed to have checked out dozens of them, and listened to a whole variety of of hooeets and many odd squeaks, but again no sight or sound of a Yellow-browed, surely the one by Richards garden in Kingsdown won't be the only local one this year?

The Chaffinch is another bird with it's number now building up. They seemed to be everywhere, to often giving reasonable impressions of Flycatchers, or something more interesting. Their numbers have also increased in the garden, meaning a trip to the bird food merchants will soon be needed.

This afternoon I took a walk along the River Dour. No prizes for what this picture was nearly of!

Marvel of the Day

2011-10-03T23:35:00.008+01:00

Our friend Alex, with his two children J(ason) and Katie came over for the weekend. On top of the list was a bit of badger watching, J saw one last time they stayed, but then he was a bit sleepy and the memory is a bit blurred.

I was really pleased when this Badger arrived quite early and allowed Alex to get some pictures.

I had thought it was a young boar, but one of Alex's pictures from side on has the conclusive evidence that he is a she. I don't think it is the same sow that came regularly a couple of months ago, unless she's broadened across the beam quite quickly.

Merveille du Jour (Dichonia aprilina),

Although I've been complaining that this year hasn't been great for moths, it is still possible that I will catch more species of macro in the garden than in any of the other years we've been here, although not s many individuals than in some years. One of the new species for the year today was a Merveille du Jour, surely one of the most beautiful, and thoroughly deserves it's name. Two of the others That are worth a second glance are the Green-brindled Crescent and the Pink-barred Sallow

Green-brindled Crescent (Allophyes oxyacanthae)

Pink-barred Sallow (Xanthia togata)

A second, more richly coloured Pink-barred Sallow.

Scarce Bordered Straw (Helicoverpa armigera)

I also caught eight Silver Y's, all looking very smart and fresh, and also a Scarce Bordered Straw, a less striking moth, but a more unusual migrant.

The Autumn Collection

2011-09-30T23:04:00.011+01:00

Another warm day with a bright blue sky and potential for sun burn! I walked through Kearsney Abbey grounds and followed the River Dour through Bushy Ruff.

At the end of Bushy Ruff, just before the river goes under the road I sat and watched the water trickle past for a while. The area looks perfect for a Kingfisher and it wasn't long before a flash of orange and blue proved me right. Although I saw one several times, never did it sit in the open and pose for pictures. It may be worth looking again and trying to work out if it has a favourite perch that can be watch from cover.

This time of year brings a collection of moths that really fit the "season of mists and mellow fruitfulness. In the third verse of his "Ode to Autumn" Keats does mention Sallows, but of course he is referring to trees, not moths. But the Autumn does bring sallows to the moth trap and somehow their basic yellow patterns reflect the season perfectly.

Centre-barred Sallow

Barred Sallow

Orange Sallow

Dusky-lemon Sallow

Some of the other moths that I'm trapping at the moment are similar in their style.

Lunar Underwing

Beaded Chestnut

Autumnal Rustic

Best of all, for me today, was a Flounced Chestnut, the first I've caught here. Chestnuts are another group of moths that are mainly seem in the Autumn.

Flounced Chestnut.

Mr Blue Sky

2011-09-29T23:17:00.004+01:00

I can't remember a more Mr Blue Sky or a calmer day in late September in the 11 years we've been here. It has it's down side though, migrant birds have no need to stop here and in perfect conditions they've either Left of just by-passed us. Even the number of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps seems to have dropped as some have taken the opportunity to head down towards the Mediterranean area.

After a walk round Bockhill I made one of my less frequent visits to the other side of the bay. The lighthouse wasn't open today, but there were still loads of people around taking advantage of the sunshine.

Looking north towards the Bay, the second "light house" that was used as a marker by ships endeavouring to avoid the Goodwin Sands. As the sands have now shifted they are no longer in a line project out from lining up the two Lighthouses. The only birds I saw or heard of note here were a group of 18 Oystercatchers flying low over the sea.

A little further on. looking north towards Dover Harbours, I noticed a single Cormorant perched on one of the flints that project from the cliff.

It really doesn't look a very comfortable perch, but it was still there half an hour late when I walked back past it again. Other than a few Skylarks, stimulated to sing by the weather, there were few birds around, I guess I'll ave to wait for some rough weather to arrive.

Painting the Cliffs

2011-09-28T23:23:00.019+01:00

Today was a glorious day, but although it doesn't show on the picture below it remained misty, especially over the sea, all day. As it warmed up I walked round the Paddock, down to the farm and then on to Hope Point. The most noticeable thing was the complete lack of Swallows and Martins. I did witness an interesting confrontation between a Green Woodpecker and a Sparrowhawk, near the monument. As the Sparrowhawk flew through the Woodpecker took off and the two birds almost collided. Both seemed startled by the near collision and disappeared in opposite directions.

When I got to Hope Point there was a artist just beyond, set up rather closer to the cliff edge than I would have been comfortable with.

Although it was still a bit misty out to sea, his view along the cliff top would still have been breath-taking.

I stopped to watch and listen, in the hope that something would pop up or make a sound that I recognised. There were birds around, still a few Chiffchaffs and good numbers of linnets, but not that elusive rarity that would illuminate the day. Eventually I did get onto a few Blackcaps, or in the case of the female above, brown cap.

Blackcaps were still numerous in the area, but such id the density of the scrub and the difficulty is seeing them it is difficult to know quite how many are there.

I walked on to the Lees and Kingsdown and then all the way to the Golf Course, but in all honesty it was almost birdless, save for the odd sight of about 10 crows at the top of two trees at then end of one of the gardens. They seemed very intent on something, almost as if they were expecting food to arrive at any minute.

On my return journey I could see the artist still working on his canvass, a small figure in a huge view of sea, cliffs and fields.

Walking closer I could see that he had a range of instruments to apply the paint, but that these did not include brushes. using various trowels and other tools the paint on the canvas was very thick, so that when it dries he will have created a three dimensional painting.

I had been careful not to impose on him on my first encounter, merely exchanging a good morning, but now I was intrigued and he seemed more relaxed so that we got into a conversation, about art and how we saw the modern trends. As on most subjects I know very little, and of course feel that this gives me the right to express my opinions. Since we coincided on many things, but not Georges Braque, who I just don't get, we had a pleasant chat. It turned out that our artist is one George Rowlett, a man who is quite well known in the art world and has held exhibitions in several countries. I think his next exhibition is in London, at the Art Space Gallery in Peter's Street (N1). It is called, "Paintings 2011 - The Outer Hebrides & East Kent " There is an on line catalogue.

Back at home there seemed to be a queue for both bird bath and shower. Great Spotted Woodpecker have large beaks so they don't have to wait for the warblers.

The water level was a bit low, so the Chiffchaff arrived and then disappeared when it went into have a splash.

When it came out it was clear that it had made a thorough job of getting wet.

On the other hand these two didn't seem to clear on what to do with a shower.

Standing on to of it wasn't going to get the feather washed.

It did manage to drop it's wings down to get a bit of feather care done, but it didn't seem to get the idea of standing under a shower. The only bird I've seen do this on this little fountain is a Blue Tit.

As you can see only the wings are wet, so in the controversy of shower vs bath, in the case of Chiffchaffs bath wins hands down.

The sport is, you fly, then you get shot!

2011-09-26T23:12:00.007+01:00

At this time of year there are loads of Red-legged Partridges to be seen on the fields in the area, and I came across this group some where between Studdal and Betteshanger.

There was a group of around 45 and as soon as I stopped to look at them they ran off to shelter under the nearest hedge.

A couple that got left behind took flight and caught up with the rest of the group. They are fun to watch, but of course they've been put out in the wild so that they can provide "sport" for the shooting fraternity.

On one field I noticed a lump on the ground that looked interesting, and as soon as I put my camera up it grew wings and took flight, disappearing behind the nest hedge.

It took a while to get to the other side of the hedge to see two Buzzards, now quite far back slowly gliding towards a wood just behind the fields.

The road took me to where I thought that they were heading, but they weren't to be seen, so, suspecting that they had probably been feeding on carrion in the first field that I'd seen them in, I retraced my route. One was flying round the field, and landed on top of the hedge, again still at a fair distance.

With what appears to be a large Rabbit poplation, at the moment, and cars now speeding quickly along the lanes, I'm sure that there will be plenty of food for them, and available with very little effort on their part.

A Surprise Visitor

2011-09-23T23:47:00.007+01:00

Another fine day, with little evidence of any new birds arriving to join the still numerous Chiffchaffs.

Looking over the cliff top ( not something I do often) I noticed a Cormorant drying out. Hopefully this means that there's a good lot of fish not too far out, and we'll be seeing a good few piscivores off shore.

There haven't been many Painted Ladies around this year and I nearly stood on this one on the cliff top path. It did look a bit tatty..........

and when it opened it's wings it revealed just how battered it was. I can't remember a year since we've been here with fewer Painted Ladies around, a great pity as they are such a beautiful butterfly.

On the other hand it's close relative, The Comma, is now out in good numbers, and being a resident they are nice and fresh. At this time of year they are often found on Brambles, the butterflies seem addicted to the over-ripe berries.

This one even closed it's wings to show off it's eponymous signature punctuation mark.

As well as the Chiffchaffs there are still good numbers of Blackcaps around. I saw two dive into a thicket in the paddock, and with a bit of persuasion I eventually found that there were eight in this one area. As they are not nearly as showy as Chiffchaffs it is difficult to compare numbers, but it may well be that there are far more than we ever manage to count hidden away in the denser scrub.

Convolvulus Hawk-moth (Agrius convolvuli)

A nice surprise this evening was the arrival on my doorstep of this fabulous Convolvulus Hawk-moth. It arrived in the safe hands of Richard Hart as his wife had found it in their garden. This is a reasonably scarce migrant, I've only had five records here and the last was in September 2009. In some years it occurs in quite good numbers, 2006 was a good year when I caught three. In these years there are usually good numbers of other migrant moths, so possibly there is still some hope for this year. The moths will feed on garden flowers, particularly favouring Tobacco Plants (Nicotaina). Caterpillars have been found on bindweed, but it doesn't usually breed in the UK. Many thanks to Richard for bringing it round.

A dry retreat

2011-09-21T23:17:00.013+01:00

The weather this morning was dull and full of drizzle and mizzle. After a quick, damp look at the cliff top and peering at distant Gannets through the mist in the bay I decided to fall back on the reliably dry Restharrow Scrape hide. Even if there wasn't much about at least I would be sheltered.

As it happened the weather started to improve and while I was checking all the Teal for something more interesting at Curlew arrived. Even though it was at the far end of the scrape a Curlew is big enough to get some pictures! It started with a good splashing bath.

Once it felt satisfied with that it retreated to the island to sort out it's feathers.

I presume that the large amount of time it spent with its beak in this area is because it is collecting oil from the preen gland to treat it's feathers with.

Back to the edge of the water and it spent a lot of time scratching, but soon left to continue it's worm hunt somewhere out on the fields.

One of the great sights of grazing marsh and damp fields is a flock of Lapwings. They are such spectacular fliers and their striking pattern against the now blue sky is impossible to resist with the camera. Unfortunately I don't paint, but many wildlife artists find Lapwing flocks similarly addictive.

Spot the odd one out!

The Curlew returned and this time chose a closer pool to the left of the hide. Another bout of bathing ensued.

It rather looks as if the Jackdaws are taking an interest in the Curlew, but I don't think that this is the case. They are just there to satisfy their own needs, and large flock of all the crows come to drink regularly.

On the other hand the Curlew was extremely nervous with the Jackdaws in such close proximity, and each time one took off or landed it jumped in the air.

It even made a sort of threat display at one flying over it's head. I didn't see any aggressive actions by the Jackdaws that warranted this antagonistic attitude.

It didn't stay very long, the arrival of another group of jackdaws seemed just to much to bear and it was off.

As can be seen it is comparatively short billed, this and the streaked rather thank spotted flanks indicate that this is a juvenile. This might account for it's timid character.

Winter Draws On!

2011-09-19T23:29:00.006+01:00

Last night the temperature fell to well below 10 deg C and it was still chilly first thing when I quickly went through my moth traps. I was quick because most moths didn't come out in the cold weather.

Common Marbled Carpet

There was a second brood Common Marbled Carpet, but as usual for this time of year Large Yellow Underwings were the most numerous moth of the night.

A walk round the Paddock, Freedown and briefly along the cliff top failed to find anything special, but there were still quite a few Chiffchaffs around, although not as many as two or three days ago. The sun soon warmed the air up and where it was sheltered there were quite a few butterflies still o the wing. This red Admiral still looked quite fresh and typically quickly settled on the warm bare earth to get the benefit of the suns rays.

It was also good to find Small Coppers on the Lees. I've always thought that this is one of the most attractive species we have.

Chiffchaffs are still being amusing, playing on the various water features in the garden. This one was having fun trying to bathe in the water coming from the middle of the stone.

National Chiffy day

2011-09-15T23:45:00.006+01:00

As soon as I went into the garden this morning to "do" my moth traps, a short task at the moment, I was greeted with a chorus of Chiffchaff calls. Once I'd completed noting the 77 moths, the best for a few days, that were in my traps, I went to the monument. As I left the car there were at least six Chiffchaffs in the tree next to the Bluebird tea rooms. I wandered down past the paddock towards the farm and I counted quite a few more, but little else other than two striking male Blackcaps. I met Jack, who'd just done the gun site and we walked to Hope Point. In all we counted over 120 Chiffchaffs, and I got the feeling that if we'd been able to search every bush and tree there would have been many more. We watched a Hobby over the Freedown, but before it came into lens range it was seen off the premises by a rather belligerent Crow. A couple of Wheatears and a few Whitethroats completed the migrants, so in reality what had appeared to be a promising fall of migrants really consisted mainly one species.

All through the morning we were accompanied by a couple of Spitfires with their helicopter minders. Today is Battle of Britain day, and the helicopter passengers have the opportunity to photograph the Spitfires in the air space that saw so much action 71 years ago.

This afternoon there were still plenty of Chiffs round the garden and Pam and I had fun watching three trying to take a shower in the small fountain just out side the window.

They would spend time looking at it and then suddenly dance into the air and have a quick splash in the curtain of water.

I reckon that there were at least six, just around our garden this afternoon, so how many this must represent in total in the area I don't know, but it must be huge. They are mainly migrating to around the Mediterranean and West Africa, they are shorter distance migrants than there close relative, the Willow Warbler which is a sub-Saharan migrant. A few Chiffchaffs do now remain in southern Britain, although many more winters like the last one may see the end of this increasingly common strategy.

Amongst the moths this morning was the first Feathered Ranunculus of the year. This is a distinctly Autumn moth, occurring in the second half of September and October.

With it was the first Black Rustic of the year, a similarly autumnal character. This one was the earliest I've caught this species by two days. I don't think that if foretells of a hard winter to come, but it is certainly a year when many moths have occurred outside their normal dates.

And did those feet?

2011-09-14T23:39:00.013+01:00

Last night I had the privilege to talk to the ladies of the village at a WI meeting. It's the second time I've done this, the last time was on 12/1/2010, when the village was almost snowed in. I thought that not many would make it, but I reckoned without the spirit of the WI and there was a good turnout. Last night was even better and it certainly made me wish that other groups that I belong to, like the KOS, had such good attendances at meetings.

The fact that it wasn't that long ago led me to think about what changes there had been in the time (apart from the snow melting). The cottage at Bockhill was still a shell, just starting to have the roof done, then. Now it has been renovated and has new occupants, and the barn behind it is being modernised and incorporated into the building. As I always thought that it was a sad sight to see the old building crumbling I'm really pleased to see it back in use.

Back along the Droveway, towards the village there has been no such movement in the state of the site where "Franconia" still, just about, stands. I last mentioned it on the 7th July, when the site round the empty building had been cleared. Since then the building has become a ruin and the cleared site is now becoming a jungle. I guess the development of the site is held up at the planning stage, but it doesn't enhance the look of the area as it stands.

At long last something appears to be happening at the burned out house in the High Street. Again this eyesore has been around too long and the sooner something appears there the better.

I had a good time at the meeting, although I wasn't all that confident when my computer and projector refused to talked to each other when I first set up. Fortunately there were lots of cups of tea to be drunk and other things going on, so my panic wasn't noticed by too many. A quick switch off and restart of the computer solved it and the "no source found" message went and all was OK.

The one positive to come out of me taking most of the interval getting set up was that it go me off having to judge the competition. Ive done this before at other meetings and have always felt that although I may have become a friend of the winners, I might be in danger from the losers!

Behind the group here I could see a large notice board, and of course curiosity got the better of me.

It was of course there so that the ladies could practice the words of "And did those feet..........." in readiness for England reaching the Rugby World cup final. Nothing like a good chorus of this stirring hymn to support the team out in New Zealand. Here Gloria is giving it a try, but I'm not sure she's totally convinced that we'll win.

I made the walk down to Backsands Scrape this afternoon. With the winds of the last few days, and lots of rare waders around the country, it seemed like a good idea when I started. It wasn't. There were three Little Egret's, on Green Sandpiper and four Greenshanks.

One of the greenshanks did come very close to the hide, and although I've already taken far too many pictures of Greenshanks this year I couldn't resisit a few more, especially as the light was perfect.