Dung Heap Pipit

I decided to have a walk round Bockhill, including calling in at "Farm Wood" for another look at the Hume's Warbler. there are quite a few piles on dung on the fields, waiting to be spread over the area. On the way down to the farm I stopped to look at a Pipit was was feeding along the top of one of the heaps. 

It was obviously not a Meadow Pipit and although it was quite away from the seashore where they are normally found  it quickly became obvious that it was a Rock Pipit.

The only thing to consider was whether it was a littoralis (Scandinavian) or the usual petrosus,(British).

Although the bird was not as heavily marked as some petrosus  but the lack of grey tones on the head didn't look good for littoralis. 

In the wood there was no sounf of the Hume's Warbler and after a while I was watching a Great Spotted Woodpecker when a Warbler came into vew and moved into a large area of ivy, the usual story for the Hume's Warbler. I did get some better views, although it still stayed silent. Over the next hour and a half  I saw it a couple of times and as I left it became very vocal, but I still failed to get it into focus one my camera.

A round Rock Pipit

Lars Jonsson, one of the great bird artists in Europe, is sometimes criticised for making his smaller birds too plump, by those used to seeing them in our gentle climate. This Rock Pipit is demonstrating just how round it can look, when facing a cold wind coming from the Channel. There was little else on show when I popped down to the Bay, but I always look through the Rock Pipits hoping to find a Water Pipit or a Scandinavian Rock Pipit, both of which have occurred here.

As I drove out I noticed the Kestrel sitting on an aerial close to the road. Fortunately there were no cars coming either way and I turned the engine off and to a couple of pictures.

A visit from Doris

Storm Doris has been blowing all day and I wandered down to the Bay to see what she had brought in. There were a lot of Guillemots passing and a few Great Crested Grebes bouncing around, but the most noticeable birds were the Gannets, passing far closer then Normal.Most of the birds I saw were adults, but I don't know if that has significance.

One or two Rock Pipits were feeding along the "esplanade", often using the railing posts for  shelter when the biggest gusts came along.

A few lines of Cormorants came past low over the water

Inland, at the Manure dump from the stables, there were at least seven Pied Wagtails feeding on the insects attracted there. Unfortunately they were the only birds there.

A couple more added to my very short year list.

After the news that a Barn Owl has been seen hunting over the fields I had a look round for a while this afternoon, but with out any luck. A few years ago one was quite regular in the winter, but ranged over quite a large area.

In between looking over various areas I popped down to the bay. It was high tide, and in the evening light a Rock Pipit perched up on the railings and posed for a picture.

The dump where the stables empty the waste is often a good place for Yellowhammers and occasionally Corn Buntings and other small birds. When I took a look the only brids I found feeding amongst the straw were a couple of Pie Wagtails.

Missing the Rares

There has been an unprecedented influx of Siberian Accentors in Europe in the last week or so. In total there have been more than 120 and seven (unless I've missed some out) have occurred in the UK, The first in Shetland, was a UK first and then at least three on the north East coast of England and two more in Shetland and one in Lothian. None has appeared south of the Humber estuary.  I reckon that the undercliff at Kingsdown would make a perfect place for one to turn up in Kent. In addition a couple of rare gulls ahve appeared in Kent, only to disappear without hanging around for wider recognition. Ever hopeful I had a wander along the Undercliff on Friday afternoon, just as the sun vanished behind the cliffs and some storms started to wander along the channel.

It won't surprise anyone that although I did find a Dunnock, there was nothing exciting around although it is always good to watch the Rock Pipits there.

The fabulous cliffs looking towards Hope Point.

Black-headed Gulls wandered past, but no sign of any American visitors.

Black-headed Gull, adult in winter plumage.

The tide was high, and on it's way, and in any case I don't think I'm now up to the cliff bottom walk to St Margaret's Bay. Thi is a shame, because I alwys feel there is some good potential in places there is some scrub down to the cliff bottom.

One of the black storms wadering along the Channel.

The undercliffe, looking north towards Deal.

In fading light a black Crow flies sinisterly along the cliff top.

Changes in the garden

I noticed some change in the guard in the garden today. Fine and a lot colder than of late there was a lot of activity in the feeding stations.

There are always a fair number of Blackbirds around the garden, but they tend to be protective of their individual feeding areas and repeated drive interlopers away.  Today there were five on the patio feeding area busily picking up the spillage from above with little interaction between them In total there were at least ten around. 

Like many people I've noticed the number of Greenfinches in the garden has been very low. This has been the situation for a couple of years, probably due to Trichomonosis a disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trichomonas gallinae. It has been recorded in a number of garden bird species and is widely acknowledged to be the causal factor in the rapid decline of the British Greenfinch population that was first noted in late summer 2006 

Today there was small influx of around six birds, all looking very fit and healthy. Sick birds are normally very fluffed up and slow moving unlike the sleek bird above, that does looked startled at having to share his feeder with a chaffinch.  

Down in the Bay the sea was quite calm, but the tides high. These are good conditions to watch Rock Pipits that move into the Bay when the areas below the beach are covered.

Above I noticed two Kestrels cruising along the top of the cliffs. Their numbers do seem a bit down as other predators have increased in the county.

I'm not quite sure what this one is doing, but it seems to be scanning the area, either for prey or for any danger around.

Our magnificent car park is now perfect habitat for pipits and wagtails, that all seem to enjoy rough ground with puddles in it.

Altogether there were three Rock Pipits and one Pied wagtail making use the shambles that out council taxes financed

Coming back for a trip to Folkestone I stopped to scan a field with around 40 Common Gulls. There were a few Black-headed Gulls with them, (One above).

Towards the back of the field I noticed an adult Mediterranean Gull, still in complete winter plumage.

When it flew it had a ring on its right leg, but it was to far to be able to read any information.

Oh! I do like to be beside the seaside

It wasn't an inviting afternoon, but I decided to have a look at St Margaret's Bay around High tide, as there are normally lots of Rock Pipits forced up there, at this time. In addition, the fact that the direct road down to the bay was closed for road works would probably mean there would be fewer people down there.

Not too much of the I do like to stroll along the Prom, Prom, Prom!  - Tiddely-om-pom-pom!

Since the car park was renovated a few years ago it does provide nice muddy pools for wintering Pied Wagtails to pick around looking for morsels to eat.

There were at least two Pied Wagtails using the puddles that were sheltered by the wall of the car park, almost as if it had been designed for them.

The search finally paid of and this Wagtail popped up with a large caterpillar. It took a while beating on the ground, but it did disappear in the end.

After such a large meal the Wagtail settled to an afternoon dose, although I suspect it would be looking for more quite quickly.

 The thoughtfully constructed fresh water lake in the car park (providing we get enough rain) was in full use by some Black-headed Gulls.

All of those present today were winter plumaged adults and disappointingly they were not joined by any more interesting Gulls.

 The Rock Pipits were active along the shingle and the walls. This particular bird spent along time on its haunches keeping out of the strong wind.

This, a second bird seemed happy running along the  wall, unperturbed by the conditions.

There were quite a few Herring Gulls around, some occasionally making use of the damp grass to look for food.

The Bay was a filled with  white foam as the waves came in and broke over the wall. After yesterdays tragedy in Kingsdown I was pleased that no one was on the beach taking risks.

The wind, spray and drizzle made a proper sea watch impossible, but I could sea a good number of Fulmars and Kittiwakes over the waves and the occasional Cormorant passing by.