BirdsEye Newsletter of The RSPB Local Group Spring 2015

Events for Next Four Months Friday 22 – Monday 25 May Trip to the New Forest and Portland Bill Indoor Presentations

17 March - Eat in or Takeaway - Brian Nobbs Sunday 7 June - Stodmarsh/Grove Ferry NNR - 9.00 am 21 April - The Medway Living Landscape +AGM - Alison Ruyter Wednesday 17 June - East Blean Woods - 9.30 am 19 May - Two Weeks in South West Ireland; and no rain! - Brian Gallop Sunday 28 June - Samphire Hoe - 10.00 am

16 June - Wildlife of New York State and New See Programme for More Information Jersey - Paul Hale **** **** Public Events Outdoor Visits (Walks) Friday 27 March - Quiz Night, Anchorians Social Sunday 22 February - Capel Fleet Raptor Club, Gillingham - 7.30 pm Viewpoint/Elmley NNR - 9.00 am. Saturday 6 June - Go Wild, Oare Gun Powder Sunday 8 March - Bedgebury Pinetum - Works CP. 10.00 am GROUP LEADER’S NOTES Wednesday 18 March - RSPB Rainham Marshes, Essex - 10.00 am Although this is the 2015 Spring Newsletter I’m actually writing this on an extremely cold Sunday 22 March - Sissinghurst Castle Ground/ January morning! And as often happens in Hemsted Forest - 9.30 am January I reflect back over the past year. I must say I have some really memorable highlights. Wednesday 22 April - RSPB - On the occasion of our 40th birthday we had two 9.30 am celebrations. The first was in February when the RSPB’s chief executive Mike Clarke gave up his Sunday 12 April – Dungeness - 9.30 am time to come and tell us about his early connections with our group. It was a great Sunday 26 April - Sevenoaks KWT Reserve - evening and was celebrated with Mike cutting 10.00 am our anniversary cake. Not content with one celebration we also held an event at Northwood Sunday 10 May - Old Lodge, Ashdown Forest – Hill which culminated in a rather splendid high 10.00 am tea!

Sunday 17 May - Parc Ornithologique Du Apart from Mike’s talk I was captivated once Marquenterre N. France – Coach Trip again by David Darrell-Lambert style of lecture. He must be one of the few people that can make Wednesday 20 May - Church Woods RSPB a talk on gulls riveting (at least for me and Blean - 9.30 am apologies to all of you that find gulls really fascinating anyway). 1 I also enjoyed Adam Rowland’s talk, it was nice LANDSCAPING OF ALPHA LAKE, CLIFFE to know what the Minsmere reserve manager does for a sabbatical. I guess we call that a It has been brought to your Committee’s busman’s holiday!? It was also good that, after attention by Brett Aggregates and RSPB North an initial technical hiccough, our own Peter Marshes Reserves that Brett’s are Saville gave his inaugural lecture to the group. proposing to landscape Alpha Lake on their Well done Peter! I think it is also well done to Cliffe site, which is adjacent to Cliffe Pools David Saunders who laid aside last year to do RSPB Reserve. Please see briefings below: - his own “birding year” and managed to clock up 233 species!! Fast on his heels was Warren Brett Aggregates 28.10.14 Mann with 210 species. Brett Aggregates are proposing to turn Alpha To be honest the whole indoor programme was Lake near Cliffe into a habitat like that being excellent as usual thanks to the work done by created by the RSPB at the nearby Cliffe Pools Robin Smith! As I’m sure most of you are aware nature reserve. This will represent a significant Robin is stepping down; I think that after all the positive contribution to the wildlife habitats of the years he has organised the programme for us wider Thames estuary and marshes. Brett will it’s not an unreasonable decision. However, this also provide footpaths and hides to allow nature has been my big worry all this year as we don’t enthusiasts like you to enjoy it. seem to have anyone willing to take the ‘indoor programme’ over from him. He has done the Brett Aggregates have consulted with the RSPB, 2015 programme but what will happen in who have provided comment and expertise 2016??? Let’s hope that someone will come towards the design of the new habitat in the forward very soon. If not then…………………..? spirit of landscape scale conservation. Alpha Lake is currently 3.5-5m deep – not ideal for Anyway laying last year to rest, we have some marine invertebrates, plants, diving ducks, projects that will need your support. The wading birds and other waterfowl that depend on ‘Nightingales at Lodge Hill’ are dear to many of them. The landscaping will shallow the lake, our hearts and the battle continues. To this end and, also create new nesting islands. our quiz night on 27th March is to raise funds for this cause. I hope as many of you as possible Brett, a company over a century old, has won will come along and support us with this event. numerous awards for restoration including the Mineral Products Association award for We are also organising a coach trip to Parc du biodiversity. We want to support the Marquenterre in France on the 17th May so I infrastructure projects in London – Crossrail, the hope you will join us on what promises to be a North London Line and High Speed Rail by memorable trip. bringing excavated clay to Alpha Lake by boat and barge. I would like to thank the committee for their support, hard work and commitment that made The chance to create a significant extension to last year so successful! the wetland environment at Cliffe is obviously exciting and we are asking for people who want So here’s to an enjoyable and successful time it to go ahead, including the members of the for the group for 2015! local RSPB group, to send their expressions of support to Medway Council’s planning Marie Tilley committee.

That’s why if you feel that you support the significant benefits to wildlife and habitats that our plan will provide, please write to Medway Council to tell them so.

Please do email [email protected] or Friday 22 – Monday 25 May write to the Planning Department (at Gun Wharf, Trip to the New Forest and Portland Bill Dock Road, Chatham, ME4 4TR) citing planning To book contact Richard Hanman on case number MC/14/1630 with your support. 07785 707 797 or www.bargainbirdingclub.com Mike Courts, Brett Group 2 Taken from Autumn 2014 News from RSPB WATER VOLE PROJECT - NORTH KENT NKMR written by Rolf Williams. The complete MARSHES - MINK RAFT MONITORING report appears in MLG Winter 2014 Newsletter. As part of ’s efforts to conserve water voles in the North Kent Marshes, “Next door, Brett Aggregates have a similar we currently have a large number of mink aspiration and have made a planning application monitoring rafts deployed across Seasalter, to receive arisings to fill in Alpha Pool. Bretts Faversham and Sittingbourne. These rafts are recognise they could combine a commercial typically checked weekly or bi-weekly by staff opportunity with a potential enhancement of the and/or volunteers. The RSPB, who sit on the ecological value of the Special Protection Area steering group, have also contributed to these and so they have approached the RSPB for efforts through the monitoring of some rafts at advice, which we have duly offered. Seasalter.

The RSPB is not in partnership with Bretts, and There is a need at present to source some there is no formal arrangement between us. additional volunteers. Many that have been involved since the project’s beginning have The RSPB has offered its advice in the same either moved further afield or have for other way that it does to farmers seeking to improve reasons been unable to continue. land in their ownership for wildlife. Any impact to tenants on the landowner’s site as a The task would require volunteers to accompany consequence of their decision to change the the Water for Wildlife Project Officer on site land use is a matter entirely for the landowner to visits, where they would assist with checking the address. monitoring rafts for mink and water vole field signs. Many of the locations involve walking Therefore, anyone with concerns about the across quite flat, wet, open fields with the odd yacht club that currently leases Alpha Pool from gate to climbed over. There are also good Brett Aggregates should be directed to the yacht opportunities to do some bird watching in the club committee or Brett Aggregates. process.

There are technical and logistical differences What’s being offered? between the two projects, they constitute separate planning applications, and the Involvement with a locally important management of each remains solely with the conservation project. respective landowners.” Flexible times that suit Informal training provided Rolf Williams Opportunities to do some bird watching RSPB Communication Officer, Kent. Morning/afternoon walks ------They will need: The RSPB Medway Local Group Committee has looked at the information provided and has Wellingtons, warm and water proof clothing, decided that it does not have the necessary binoculars (not essential). expertise to give any recommendations to the Group membership. If you know of any volunteers or other interested parties who might be interested, I would be Therefore your committee suggests that you, as grateful if you could pass this information to a member of the RSPB Medway Local Group, them and have them refer them to me. look into this matter individually and decide for yourself whether or not to support the proposals. With thanks & best wishes for the coming year

We have been advised that Bretts have Eamonn Lawlor arranged a meeting with Medway Council on 4 Water for Wildlife Project Officer February to brief them on their planning application and Rolf Williams has accepted an invitation to attend. General Enquiries: 01622 662 012 E-mail: [email protected] The RSPB Medway Local Group Committee Website: http://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk

3 SWALE BIG TREE PLANT - FEBRUARY and MARCH

Your Committee has received below. Please note this is not an RSPB or RSPB Medway Local Group event and you should contact Helen and Hannah of the Skillnet Group direct for more information. Thursday 23 – Monday 27 July Trip to the Forest of Dean and “I am writing to invite you to four community tree Skokholm Island, Wales planting events across Swale, in Faversham, To book contact Richard Hanman on Sheerness and Sittingbourne. They will take 07785 707 797 or place in January, February and March. www.bargainbirdingclub.com

I thought this might interest RSPB members, as people interested in conservation. We are NEWS FROM NORTH KENT MARSHES currently finding out who might like to come, so RESERVES - (Seasalter Levels, Great Bells as we can set a date which suits interested Farm, The River Medway, Cliffe Pools, people. This is the link to the Facebook event: Northward Hill and Shorne Marshes) AND BLEAN WOODS https://www.facebook.com/ events/593572584108976/? The reserves in North Kent are back up to a full ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular compliment of staff. Nick Covarr has joined Amy Winchester at the Blean, as the assistant Please have a look at the list of locations warden – both are former residential volunteers below. If any interest you, then please complete in north Kent. At Northward Hill, Will Tofts has the very very short form so we have your contact joined us as assistant warden, Will comes from details. It would also be helpful if you could let RSPB Oldmoor in the Midlands. us know your availability, using the calendar. We have been interviewing for the next tranche We, Skillnet Group Community Interest of internship volunteers who will share their time Company are organising the events in between North Kent and Dungeness. Craig collaboration with Amicus Horizon and Edwards successfully moved up to the warden Blenwoods Grounds Maintenance. We all look post at Dungeness and the new assistant forward to meeting. warden is another recent intern from the region, Alan Kell. The internship programme is evidently Contact: Hannah Parathian 07889 914 899 working very well, and most have gone straight Helen Long 07952 170 160 into full-time employment. or email The autumn and winter have been relatively mild [email protected] to date and there has been plenty of rain to wet [email protected] the marshes as we, and the birds, would prefer. The wardens are busy using pumps and pipes to February tree planting: shift the water around the land to where we Stockers Brow, Rodmersham, Sittingbourne ideally want it. Task: 4 specimen trees The flooding of the reserves is not just to soften March tree planting: the ground for the wintering waders and for Spicer Homes, Bell Road, Sittingbourne wildfowl to dabble, it is also preparing the ground Task: 150 saplings to enhance wildlife and for the forthcoming breeding season. It seems, create a screen to the main road. while things are mild down here after the warmest year on record, winter has still arrived Very very short form, to tell us your contact up north, so the birds are arriving as expected. details: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7YLHXJY Staff and volunteers are carrying out the Wetland Bird Surveys and the data is being Best wishes, collated – thanks to everyone who assists in this Helen and Hannah, Skillnet Group Sittingbourne important work that is a measure of the health allotment team.” and value of the Special Protection Area. 4 Shorne Marshes is in good shape and next Our volunteers are busy coppicing in the door, at Higham Marshes, the Nature woodland - the management of the trees’ age Improvement Area project has been completed and growth is crucial if we are going to get turtle so the remaining 75% is now under water also doves breeding on site again; of course this also and attracting flocks of lapwings, curlews, teals benefits nightingales and invertebrates and the and wigeons. We will take a flight over the site in fire wood keeps us warm. The monthly bird March to photograph it and see the difference. ringing event will continue through 2015 thanks to Roger Kiddie and his team of volunteers. The Next door at Cliffe Pools there has been a lot of new Sunday dates have just been released – planning by Bretts, and the RSPB, to obtain spread the word. planning consent for the shallowing of the pools. White-fronted geese RSPB has contributed to the designs on the Brett lake, and has designed the disposition for new material (called arisings) that could be placed into our pools to create shallowing, edge habitat and islands for feeding, roosting and nesting.

If planning consent is given we are set to dramatically improve the ecological value of the site over the next few decades working with our David Kjaer (rspb-images.com) business partner Boskalis Westminster. A public consultation was held in the autumn. The main On the Isle of Sheppey there has been good concern was the loss of habitat for deep diving numbers of white-fronted geese but, unusually, ducks, but it is all relative. At 7m, goldeneyes, they have had a smattering of pink-footed and pochards, and tutfted ducks, for example, are bean geese in amongst them, more than just the simply not using the pools, their optimum odd single bird. No-one seems sure why the feeding depth, from observation, is 1-2m. We change, but give the flocks some scrutiny if you plan therefore to meet these conditions and up find them. Nick May, warden of Great Bells to a depth of 3m in places – so deep-diving Farm reserve, has also reported 200 mute ducks will benefit greatly. swans and wigeons, teals, mallards, shelducks, gadwalls and pintails are building into the Tufted duck thousands. There has been a pair of hen harriers and barn owls using the boxes provided. Short-eared owls have been around but strangely nocturnal this year.

The RSPB and many others besides, now wait with keen anticipation for the Government’s decision whether to call in the Lodge Hill Planning Consent for public inquiry. In an unprecedented move, the Secretary of State (SofS) for Housing and Planning asked Medway Council to clarify their position in light of Natural England and the RSPB’s evidence.

Ray Kennedy Medway Council’s response in January failed to (rspb–images.com) address the criteria that we assert justify call in and both NE and the RSPB have written again At Northward Hill the cattle are in the barns - a to the SofS to highlight that point. We do not reminder of the significant amount of work know if a decision from the SofS will come completed on these buildings and lead by Elliott before, or after the general election. Therefore Lockyer. Elliott has now left the RSPB to return the future of the Lodge Hill SSSI hangs in the to university. The entrance road takes a balance, and with it, the definition of SSSIs hammering from the farm traffic and we are nationwide and the merits of the National looking at options for repair. Resurfacing will Planning Policy Framework. require a large pot of money and we cannot make running repairs while it is so wet. Please Rolf Williams take it easy on the approach in the mean time. Communications Officer, Kent 5 NEWS FROM DUNGENESS Additional note On an additional note, we have received some RSPB Dungeness News 16.9.14 - 5.10.14 fantastic news from Pagham Harbour, which reports that 12 little terns have successfully Craig Edwards appointed warden of RSPB fledged late in the summer breeding Dungeness season. When added to the return of nesting Congratulations to Craig who has been little terns to one of the Medway islands for the appointed the new warden of RSPB first time in a decade, this adds up to a hopeful Dungeness. Craig has been the assistant year ahead for one of our iconic priority species. warden at Dungeness for the past three years and has been temporarily filling in the vacant Little tern roll since Natalie’s departure. We are all extremely happy for him and look forward to seeing the positive impact he will have on the reserve.

Liz Knowles has moved on Liz Knowles our Visitor Experience Officer has now left Dungeness and started her new position as Visitor Experience Development Officer at the RSPB headquarters. Staff and visitors alike were all sad to see her leave, but we wish her all the Eric Woods best in her new position. (rspb-images.com)

Winter work programme Recent wildlife highlights include: The winter work programme has now started A cattle egret has been around this past week, with work focusing on the removal of willow from offering some spectacular views from the the natural pits. The removal of the willow will Boulderwall fields. increase the internationally important fen plant communities situated here. Great-white egrets can still be seen daily, predominantly over in the ARC pit. Part of the removed willow will then be used to create habitat piles to aid critically endangered The glossy ibis is continuing to grace us with its slime moulds, which grow on the rotten presence and can usually be seen at Denge branches. Great crested newts will also benefit marsh or the ARC pit. from this work, as the removal of willow will help increase the water tables within the pits, it will A variety of wading birds have been seen across also encourage emergent vegetation for them to the reserve, including little stint, curlew shelter and breed in, as well as removing sandpiper and black-tailed godwits. shading which would otherwise perturb them A range of wildfowl have been regularly recorded Hide clearance including red-crested pochard, pintails, garganey Our volunteer work parties have done a great job and black-necked grebes. in clearing excess scrub and reed from in front of the viewing screen and hides, ensuring clear Small flocks of meadow pipits and yellow views of the wildlife for visitors. This has already wagtails are commonly seen and heard flying proved fruitful with water rail sightings, amongst around the reserve. others, increasing. There are still a fair few dragonflies about, and Boulderwall accommodation completed many wildflowers are still showing well. Work has finished on the refurbishment of Boulderwall farmhouse, which houses our RSPB Dungeness News 11.10.-10.11.14 volunteer interns who recently moved in. A massive thank you to all the volunteers and staff WeBS that have helped and contributed to work done We have just undertaken our wetland bird survey on the house. The house not only looks fantastic for the reserve with results reflecting a good but also benefits the reserve as it presents the diversity of waterfowl. High numbers of gadwalls, opportunity to offer an additional residential tufted ducks, mallards, wigeons, shovelers and volunteering placement. of course, coots were recorded. 6 Further highlights included a Slavonian grebe RSPB Dungeness News 11.12.14 – 08.01.15 located at ARC; black-necked grebe at New Diggings and a female goosander on Burrowes. Winter work programme Work in the New Year has seen the coppicing of Goodbye cattle a willow plot along the willow trail. This is the We will shortly be saying goodbye to our cattle in second year of a 25 year rotation plan which is the next few weeks. With the approaching winter aimed at creating a structural and diverse habitat weather the cattle will be moved to a barn where within the willow with the aim of increasing the they will spend the winter months. This reduces biodiversity of the site. the footfall in the fields and consequently the poaching of the grass. Future work will focus on willow removal within the reedbed, as well as reed cutting. By cutting Welcome blocks of reed on rotation it helps regenerate the Finally, in the past week we have welcomed reedbed by stimulating new reed. By creating Stephanie King to our reserve. Stephanie has this structural diversity, we hope to increase the joined the team here as a residential volunteer biodiversity of the reedbed, as well as increasing and will be helping the warden team carry out important reed edge habitat, which is beneficial the management of the reserve until April. for key species including both bitterns and bearded tits. Recent wildlife highlights include: Two cattle egrets are still being sighted daily and Sheep release onto the wider shingle are currently located in the hayfields. The sheep are now free roaming across the shingle from the entrance to Burrowes, New Cattle egret Excavations and Hookers. The sheep will be out on the shingle until mid March, they are there to graze the rough patches of grassland found around the shingle and reserve that would otherwise become thick and rank and would outcompete any plants/flowers, some of which are rare/specialised to Dungeness. It is also a step back into history as this was how the entire peninsula used to be managed (but on a much larger scale!) before urbanisation of the point and the power station built.

Recent wildlife highlights include: Steve Round Kingfisher sightings have increased and can (rspb-images.com) usually be spotted from Hanson and Scott Hide, six female red headed smews are regularly seen on Burrowes. A female red-headed smew was reported on ARC. Kingfisher

Great-white egrets can still be seen daily, predominantly over in the ARC pit.

Bitterns have been sighted flying over Denge Marsh and into the reedbed.

Kingfisher and water rail sightings have increased throughout the reserve this month.

A Caspian gull was sighted amongst the gulls roosting on the shingle.

A range of waterfowl have been recorded including long-tailed ducks, red-crested Andy Hay pochards, pintails, garganey and black-necked (rspb-images.com) grebes. 7 Great white egrets can still be seen daily around 16 December the reserve. A range of waterfowl have been Everything you didn't think you needed to recorded including pintails and large numbers of know about trees shovelers, wigeons and teals. Michael Walter

Tree sparrows are regularly sighted on the Most people, I’m sure are able to identify a fair feeder at the front of Boulderwall farmhouse. number of trees seen in and around our countryside but certainly not in the detail Michael For full listings of our recent sightings, including told us about in his presentation. dates and locations last seen, you can visit our Recent Sightings page at www.rspb.org.uk/ We now know how to identify a common from a dungeness sessile oak and how their acorns grow differently – the common oak acorns growing on stalks Alan Kell whereas the sessile acorns grow in clusters Conservation Volunteer Intern close to the tree’s twigs. These two species have cross pollinated resulting in a hybrid oak INDOOR MEETINGS which just adds to the confusion as it has characteristics from both parents. 18 November Travels to Shetland in search of phalaropes Michael spoke about the ancient practices of Adam Rowlands pollarding and coppicing. In pollarding young trees (often oak and beech) have their growing This talk on the monitoring of red-necked point removed to encourage them to send out phalaropes on the Shetland Isles was interesting multi growing points which resulted in branches (to me at least) in different ways. which were the right shape for use in shipbuilding, house building and furniture Adam Rowlands (a former warden at Elmley making. Reserve) chose to use his periodic sabbatical from his RSPB employment to help monitor the red-necked phalaropes population on Shetland.

What was most interesting to me was that, according to Adam, these birds are not that common or easy to find on Shetland, even at the promoted ‘hot spots’. At least one member of the audience had gone to the most promoted place on the islands and not seen one. I was always under the impression that these birds were quite widespread and common on Oak woods, Puttles Bridge, Shetland and therefore easy to see. Not so, New Forest, Hampshire apparently! Coppicing still continues today and here the After being shown the various methods of trees, often hazel or chestnut, are cut to the getting to the islands we were treated to many ground Many small trunks are then produced facts and figures about the red-necked which are cut again every 15 or so years to phalaropes populations (and some other birds) provide fencing and hop poles. This method of and many pictures of the scenery (scenery? – producing a supply of timber goes back to the more like bleakery: it looked a right God- stone age and although not as old as this some forsaken place to me). of the stools may be hundreds of years old and Michael thinks they should be preserved as Criticisms – I would have liked more pictures of ancient monuments. the other birds living on the islands and more information on other aspects of the islands’ Many people, including myself, found this an ecology. interesting and absorbing topic and most of us, I’m sure, learnt a few things we did not know All in all, interesting and a bit of an eye-opener about trees and may take more notice of the to me. trees themselves and not just the birds therein.

Trevor Hatton Carol Felix 8 20 January In the second half of his talk Mark spoke about A Message from Martha the problems being faced by our hen harriers. Mark Avery He stated that many birds are in decline because of various factors but that hen harriers Between 12 noon and 1.00pm on 1 September are the only species that are being 1914 Martha, the last remaining passenger systematically slaughtered by being shot and pigeon, curled up in the corner of its cage in persecuted by gamekeepers. Hen harrier, F Cincinnati Zoo and breathed its final breath. The Approaching passenger pigeon had become extinct yet only her chicks 50 years earlier it was the most numerous bird ever seen on the entire planet.

Mark's talk was a result of acknowledging the centenary of its demise and accompanied the release of his book with the same title as the talk.

He began by reading reports written at the time by such eminent ornithologists as Alexander Wilson and John James Audubon which described the massive movement of these birds as they flew overhead for hour upon hour, blackening the sky in flocks of millions or probably billions. So what was it that caused this rapid extinction? Mark Hamblin Before European settlers arrived in America the (rspb-images.com) vast majority of it was covered in deciduous woodland. The pigeon had a basic (and boring) The grouse shooting 'industry' has turned most diet comprising beech mast, acorns and nuts of the northern and Scottish moors into a and was present across the whole of the eastern monoculture of heather in order to encourage a half of North America from Canada in the north large population of grouse and other game birds to Mexico in the south. They were unique in but unfortunately hen harriers do include grouse being a nomadic species which moved around chicks as part of their diet. (It seems to me that if chasing the best areas for their food source. In you are a vegetarian bird like the passenger the winter they would move south and in pigeon or a carnivorous hen harrier it will summer returned north and breed in the inevitably bring you into conflict with the profit northern part of their range once the snows had system!) Rich punters are prepared to pay up to melted and revealed a ground carpeted in beech £40, 000 for a days' 'sport' in order to blast as mast and acorns. many of these unfortunate grouse out of the sky as they are driven towards them by beaters. Although many thousands of them were shot for food the population was big enough to absorb Grouse are therefore very profitable creatures this loss. The major issue appears to have been and it is the gamekeepers job to ensure that as the felling of the forests for agriculture which many of them as possible survive long enough fragmented their habitat to such an extent that to be killed (if that makes sense!). Any sensible they were unable to find enough food and the bird of prey will jump at the chance of dining on population plummeted dramatically. artificially high populations of game birds and they do obviously take substantial numbers of The lesson to be learnt from this is that at chicks. present we are doing exactly the same thing to our environment by fragmenting habitats and This conflict results in hen harriers (and isolating bird populations. Although this has not buzzards and peregrines) being persecuted by yet produced a mass extinction of any species being shot, poisoned or having their nests the overall avian biomass has tumbled to a destroyed on a systematic basis. England has fraction of what it was only 40 years ago and it is enough suitable habitats to support a population surely only a matter of time before our once of over 300 breeding pairs but over recent years common farmland birds are destined to suffer the recorded number of nests has been in the the same fate. region of five pairs with some years none at all. 9 Mark's solution as to how this annual slaughter Things started to pick up as we left the hide and can be stopped is very simple. He is pushing for found a covey of eight grey partridges which a complete ban on all driven shoots and has set caused a few identification disagreements until up an e-petition to be delivered to the they advanced closer towards us to confirm their government. At present the RSPB is being identities. subjected to a smear campaign fronted by the shooting fraternity in the guise of the Daily Several stonechats displayed superbly as we Telegraph and Ian Botham so it appears that we headed along the footpath by the yacht club but have touched a nerve. Do your bit by signing the it wasn't until we hit the coastal path that we petition and with a general election looming were treated to the most exciting part of the day. make environmental issues a key point when A green woodpecker drew our attention on the confronting the canvassers from the various lawn of one of the large houses. This was joined parties. by another and several birds in our peripheral vision morphed into chiffchaffs, wheatears and Robin Smith whinchats. This continued further along the track in an area of rough grassland in the golf course as the wheatears and whinchats eventually OUTDOOR MEETINGS condescended to sit obligingly on top of fence posts giving us all clear views. Sunday 28 September Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory This was definitely a day for the 'group listers' Leader Robin Smith with plenty of landmarks and new birds. Warren clocked up his 200th bird of the year, Dave A clear blue sky spoiled only by the plethora of caught up with his target bird of grey partridge aircraft contrails scrawling their pollution graffiti lifting his total to 216 and Richard ticked his first across it greeted 15 members of the group to whinchat, a bird that had been alluding him for Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory (SBBO). years.

We started the day in the ringers hut and got to The most unusual sighting of the day was see at close quarters a succession of chiffchaffs, probably the very late swift seen by Steve. blackcaps, robins and a couple of tiny goldcrests. Watching the ringers at work made Robin Smith me appreciate just how knowledgeable they are. There is no common denominator for Wednesday 1 October determining the age and sex of the various Rainham Marshes RSPB Reserve, Essex species and different criteria has to be adopted Leader Warren Mann for each one. Not only do they have to be incredibly gentle in handling these tiny dainty Only seven of us turned up for this walk. The creatures but also fairly firm with some of the low numbers were due, perhaps, to the dull larger birds as was witnessed with a young damp weather and the recent delays at the woodpigeon. Dartford crossing. In the event neither was a Garganey,Female problem. After some early drizzle it slowly but surely brightened up to give a dry sunny day and no one had any significant problems on the road. In the car park we saw four jays flying overhead. We had a pleasant surprise on entering the Visitor Centre as we were greeted by David James.

David had recently retired from his job at Northward Hill, but is now helping out on a part- time basis at Rainham, where he is manning the Mike Read reception desk. We scanned the reserve from (rspb-images.com) the comfort of the Centre and saw a mixed bag of magpies, cormorants and pheasants. Around We started with a stroll along the road and the feeders there were collared doves and great through 'the elms' which produced nothing of tits, together with good numbers of goldfinches note and then on to the scrape which had a few and house sparrows with a few greenfinches birds, the pick of which was a female garganey. and a chaffinch. 10 On leaving the Centre we decided to go round We had to be content with more of the same the trail anticlockwise, so at the Purfleet Scrape seen previously, including a good view of we were able to add wigeons and teals to our list another marsh harrier, lots of starling flocks and as we made our way we heard the first of swirling around and good numbers of several Cetti's warblers, got a glimpse of two goldfinches and of lone egrets. We saw very snipe dropping into the reed bed and noted the few gulls, presumably because the landfill site to first of the many starling flocks and little egrets. the west of the reserve is now shut down and is in the process of being landscaped. Then, as we walked through the scrub, we had our mega-tip-of-the-day. We met another Marsh harrier birdwatcher who had just seen both great spotted (GS) and lesser spotted (LS) woodpeckers. The great spot had flown off towards the cordite store, but the LS woodpecker had dropped down into the bushes beside the path. As we scanned and waited for its re-appearance we were joined by four or five staff members who had evidently run/jogged/ hurried up the path from the Visitor Centre. We learned that there had been five sightings of LS woodpecker over the last few weeks, but on none of these occasions had any member of RSPB staff actually seen the bird; and this Roger Tidman sighting did not prove to be the exception. (rspb-images.com)

Eventually we decided to cut our losses and We were very impressed with the two newer move on to the cordite store where we got good hides and the lift in the Butts Hide was a great views of the great spot. As we went further help to one of our less able members. We finally round the reserve we heard a chiffchaff and saw got back to the Visitor Centre almost four hours a mixed flock of passerines including blue tits after we set out. Truly, time passes quickly and long-tailed tits. when you are enjoying yourself and we were well content with our 45 species seen or heard We had several good sightings of kestrels and and we had a very pleasant walk. So much so, flyovers by a small flock of Canada geese and that we all went to the cafe and rewarded two GS woodpeckers. We studied all the pylons ourselves with the beverage and comestible of but did not see either of the pair of peregrines our choice. which had recently been causing such havoc amongst the local duck population. Warren Mann

We then reached the hide overlooking the Avely Sunday 12 October Flash. The hide is a converted metal shipping Shellness/Capel Fleet Raptor Viewpoint container and would seem to be sufficiently Leader Richard Hanman vandal-proof for service at Cliffe Pools, perhaps without the cushions which added so much to On a glorious mild autumn morning, I was joined our viewing comfort. We saw singletons or small by 14 members and friends of RSPB Medway numbers of mallards, greylags, moorhens, coots, Local Group and we all gathered on the lapwings, grey herons and little grebes. 'apron' (Shellness Road) just beyond Leysdown On Sea at 9am. We were delighted to welcome We then moved further down the trail and new members Mary, Paul and Lisa to add to our through the reed bed to a viewing platform merry band of regulars. where we could scan a different part of the flash. Here we added more ducks (pochards, The tide was out but from the road we could shovelers, gadwalls and tufted), a couple of see curlews, black-tailed godwits, waders (greenshanks and common sandpipers) oystercatchers, redshanks and cormorants. Star together with the first sighting of a marsh harrier. birds here though were the small flocks of dark- bellied brent geese either resting in the fields From then on it was difficult to find new species, behind us or floating in the shallows catching up although we did see a distant buzzard, plus on the latest 'geese gossip' no doubt following meadow pipits, linnets and jackdaws. their long trip from the Arctic. 11 A green woodpecker called from close by but Sunday 26 October remained hidden. Five gull species were noted (common, black-headed, herring, lesser black- Leader David Saunders backed and greater black-backed). House martins and swallows rushed overhead On an overcast and blustery morning fifteen symbolising a late departure to warmer climes. eager beavers assembled on the Causeway and Maybe I'll catch up with them when I'm in The Richard was keen to point out the great egret Gambia (Ebola permitting) in five weeks time! feeding purposefully at the water's edge. On one occasion the great egret was in the same frame We condensed ourselves into the fewest number as both a little egret and a grey heron, making of cars possible then drove further down for good size comparison. Arriving early, Richard Shellness Road and parked just before the had also seen a single mandarin duck, which rough track. We walked along the ridge towards managed to elude the rest of us. Shellness Point scanning the sea on one side and the arable land on the other for anything that Great-white & Little egret moved. Passerines included linnets, meadow pipits, skylarks, chaffinches, goldfinches, dunnocks and house sparrows. Herons included little egret and grey. Waders included green sandpipers, turnstones, golden plovers and ringed plovers. Reed buntings, wheatears and stonechats provided good close up views. A small covey of red-legged partridge and a distant marsh harrier added to our list.

At the car park at the end of the track, Sue and Richards Brooks Steve spotted a little owl roosting half hidden (rspb-images.com) and everyone managed to obtain a glimpse ... albeit a little too distant for Mary's camera. From the Causeway, good numbers of great- crested grebes, Canada and greylag geese, At Shellness beach itself (aptly named) huge cormorants, coots and moorhens were seen, flocks of oystercatchers were whirling in the sky along with singles of pied and grey wagtails. ahead of the tide and a lone grey plover added Ducks were represented by teals, mallards, to our list. New member Paul Sharp (by name gadwalls and wigeons. A sparrowhawk patrolled and nature) picked out distant Sandwich terns, overhead and jays were much in evidence, as gannets and a possible great skua over the sea were numerous corvids including crows and as we retraced our steps back to the cars. jackdaws.

We then drove round to Capel Fleet Raptor As we walked towards the Kent Wildlife Trust Viewing Point for the second half of the walk. visitor centre, a kingfisher shot across the road We weren't disappointed as kestrels, peregrines in front of us and a common buzzard soared and common buzzards were all noted, taking our overhead. Then Steve had the good fortune to raptor tally for the day up to six. For me star see a single waxwing perched at the top of a birds here though were the corn buntings sitting tree, but unhappily for the rest of us it flew off on the telegraph wires. Their populations have before we could connect with it. plummeted in recent years due to changes in farming practice so for me it is always nice to Other birds seen around the visitor centre and see them hanging on in this part of Kent. Paul's on the short footpath walk through the woods, sharp ear's also picked out the sound of bearded were blackbirds, robins, chaffinches, blue-tits, tits hidden in the reeds. chiffchaffs, goldcrests, kestrels and both green and great-spotted woodpeckers. We called it a day about 1 pm and with 59 birds seen including five raptors, it has to go down as As we had our lunch, bees were flying in and a good day ... a little too early in the year and too out of their nest in the roof of the KWT oast. mild for sea ducks, divers and hen harriers but there's always the opportunity to come back A pleasant morning spent in good company and again for another look! with a species list of 41.

Richard Hanman Sue Carter & Steve Goodrich 12

Norfolk Trip Thursday 30 October to Sunday 2 November Leaders: Richard Hanman and Simon Ginnaw

This trip was organised by Bargain Birding Club primarily for members of the RSPB Medway Local Group plus a few special guests. Most of the 24 strong party were repeat ‘Bargain Birders’ on their 2nd, 3rd or 4th trip with the club, but we also had the pleasure of making new members Shona and Yuek feel welcome and looked after. Trip guests were aged 42 > 80 years, the average being 63 years young!

Thursday 30th – WWT Welney Wetland Centre Welney itself is part of the Great Ouse washes and is Britain’s largest area of seasonally flooded land. From the Main Observatory, one swan looked smaller than the rest - possible a Bewick? Tom did some great post-trip research to discover that this swan (ID X3C) was in fact a small 8 year old resident whooper called ‘Bjork’! We then moved on to Reedbed Hide which gave us great views of snipe and other waders. There was also an odd-looking Canada x barnacle goose hybrid bird. Some of the group also saw stonechat and ruff.

We then set off along the Summer Walk and picked up redwings, fieldfares, song and mistle thrushes, blackbirds, robins, linnets, chaffinches, yellowhammers, pied wagtails etc. After our lunch stop we retraced our steps to observe the Ouse Washes. Here the birds were a lot further away and common buzzards, pied wagtails and white wagtails were the only new birds added to our list. We headed back to the Main Observatory in time for the 3.30pm duck and swan feed.

As feeding time approached we could see the bird activity starting to increase. Family groups of whooper swans flew in from the surrounding fields. Mute swans worked their way to the front, pecking at anyone that jumped the queue. So as the sun set and the crescent moon grew brighter in the night sky, we called it a day and drove to our hotel to check in and get ready for dinner. The food at Ffolkes Arms was delicious and the portions generous. We sprung a little surprise for Judy Davies on her birthday by presenting her with a cake and a card signed by all.

Friday 31st - RSPB Snettisham and RSPB Titchwell Reserves After collecting our pre-arranged picnic lunch we set off at 8.30am for the RSPB Reserve at Snettisham. We took the path from the car park towards the bridge over-looking the fishing lake (Pit 1) where we saw Egyptian geese, redwings, fieldfares, starlings, linnets and goldfinches. As we continued past Pit 2 we saw our first curlews, oystercatchers and herring gulls of the trip.

We arrived at the start of the beach trail about 10.00am and with high tide predicted to be 11.35am we made a steady walk towards Shore Hide. The tide was a long way out but we could see huge flocks of knots, oystercatchers, dunlins, golden plovers, shelducks, redshanks and black-headed gulls. These were interspersed with lapwings, meadow and rock pipits and greater black-backed gulls. Some of the group also spotted a goldeneye flying overhead. The weather was exceptionally mild (21oC).

We arrived back at the car park at 12.30pm and took the opportunity to have our picnic lunch before moving onto the RSPB Reserve at Titchwell. En-route we added red-legged partridges and saw countless pheasants in the field margins. On the freshwater marsh we saw tufted ducks, spotted redshanks and avocet amongst the numerous commoner ducks, plovers and gulls. Pete and Richard bagged grey wagtails and water rails, while Pete and Sue saw a bittern. A single curlew sandpiper was spotted by a few and a debate began as to the ID of another wader – buff-breasted sandpiper or ruff? Points were awarded in the end to the ruff.

We continued past the saltwater marsh towards the beach for a spot of sea-watching. We had good sightings of arctic terns, great-crested grebes, turnstones and sanderlings. A lucky few in the group also caught sight of a long-tailed ducks and goosanders. As the sun began to fade skein after skein of pink-footed geese and brent geese streamed across the sky and descended on their chosen patch of ground seeking safety from predators for the night. Starlings performed a mini-murmuration over the reedbeds and waders huddled together feeding in the mud, grabbing a last-minute bite to eat before the sun set. 13 Saturday 1st – Holkham, Blakeney and Cley After breakfast at 8.00am, we started day three and acting on a ‘tip off’ that three different species of scoter had been seen floating out at sea just off the coast of Holkham, we decided to pay a visit first thing. We parked at the bottom of Lady Ann Drive and observed pink-footed geese and Egyptian geese in the fields. Simon led the group towards the beach picking up jays, goldcrests, great-spotted woodpeckers, coal tits and treecreepers in the trees. Richard, Ron and Lorna also got great views of a kingfisher. Out at sea, amazingly in the same scope view, was a small group of scoter. As we scanned the group we picked out surf scoters, velvet scoter and common scoters … at least two of these magnificent birds were ‘lifers’ for most!

At 10.30am we returned to our cars and drove to Morston Quay to board our exclusively chartered Bean’s boat to observe the seals at Blakeney Point. A lone guillemot swam close to our boat, teasing us by ducking down every time a camera was pointed in its direction. Eventually it gave up the game of hide and seek and afforded everyone a really good view and some photos!

Our timing was perfect as the first grey seals pup of the season was born the day before and we were lucky enough to watch it suckling milk from its mother. Large adult male grey seals observed us intently from a distance bellowing their dull ‘woo’ call. Smaller common seals (which pup earlier in the year) were more curious and came very close to the boat.

At 1.00pm we drove the short distance to Cley. Our target bird here was the red (grey) phalarope and within minutes Brian had got his scope locked on the bird – now that’s easy birding! We formulated a plan which involved walking the East Bank to Arnold’s Marsh and then heading to the North Scrape hide to get closer views of the phalarope. We bumped into David at Arnold’s Marsh and shared views of the long-tailed ducks and twites. David then headed off in search of snow bunting while we tracked across the shingle towards ‘The Eye’ for a spot of sea-watching. We saw razorbills, great-northern diver and eiders, and David got his buntings! Warren and Ed saw a bearded tit!

Sunday 2nd – Sculthorpe Moor and Lynford Arboretum By 8.45am we’d had breakfast, checked out of our hotel ready to drive the short distance to the delightful reserve at Sculthorpe Moor. This small reserve is run by the Hawk & Owl Trust and attracts many of the more unusual woodland birds.

From the woodland hide we had good views of tits, finches and pheasants but the brambling that we came for was notable by its absence. At the Whitley (fen) Hide we enjoyed fantastic views of nuthatches, bullfinches, chaffinches, greenfinches, blue tits, great tits, coal tits and marsh tits.

We set off about 12.30pm for Lynford Arboretum. En-route many of the group had independent sightings of a pair of red kites. In the car park at Lynford numerous mushrooms and toadstools were fruiting in the wet grass including fly agaric, sulphur tuft, shaggy ink cap, honey fungus and puffballs.

A total up revealed 127 species of birds over the four days – that’s why we came to Norfolk! Everyone had good views of at least one ‘lifer’ – Nigel and Judy had a record 11 ‘lifers’! I’ll end this trip report by saying a massive thank you to all ‘Bargain Birders’ for your continued loyal support.

Richard Hanman, General Manager Bargain Birding Club

The full report and many excellent photographs from the trip can be seen on http://www.bargainbirdingclub.com/downloads/Norfolk-Trip-Report2014.pdf or by contacting Richard Hanman on 07785 707797 or [email protected]

Seawatch at Titchwell

7 Arthur Parry Sunday 9 November A large flock of golden plovers stimulated many Elmley in the group to reminisce about the large flocks Leader Richard Hanman seen on a recent trip to Norfolk. Cormorants, redshanks, shelducks, black-headed gulls and The morning started grey and wet with over an herring gulls all added to our list. inch of heavy rain the night before. Despite this 17 optimistic RSPB Medway Group souls came Overlooking an area of reeds just before the first together for a walk at this flagship reserve, hide we heard the ‘pinging’ of a bearded tit and tempted, not just by the birds we could see, but then all managed to see the bird. Giuseppe was also the promise of sunshine later. lucky enough to observe a family of four through his scope ... his best view of this beautiful bird in The 30 minute drive across arable land from the the UK! Others in the group also had great views farm to the reserve car park itself is always a of goldfinches and stonechats. pleasure ...and can sometimes take an hour! Starlings, woodpigeons, lapwings, curlews, At 11.00am we observed two minutes silence, rooks, carrion crows and the odd magpie were this being Remembrance Sunday. Birds at the already patrolling the new pools that had Wellmarsh Hide were few and far between, appeared overnight. Indeed, the water levels in distant views of two female pintails being the the dykes were so high that pumps had been highlight. Further sightings of golden plovers, installed to move the excess to the land. cormorants, common buzzards and marsh harriers, but again all distant. At the next hide A pair of grey herons flew overhead and we added shovelers, and peregrins and a small mallards and mute swans gathered in the flock of turnstones provided a brief view at distance. The characteristic ‘sip-sip’ of the reasonably close quarters. meadow pipits and the unmistakable song of the skylarks were heard as the sun started to break As the time was approaching midday we headed through the mirk. Pheasants were in the field back to the car park, hoping not to get caught in and a female stonechat perched at the top of a a shower as the grey clouds started to roll in. reed. Some of the group had been fortunate Our luck was in as far as the rain was enough to see kestrels, merlins and common concerned, but we didn’t add any new birds on buzzards on the approach to the car park. We our return leg. After bidding farewell and totting all hoped it would be a ‘raptor-day’! up the birds seen - a respectable 48, we set off in our cars back to the main road. I followed Having checked in with the warden and paid our Sue and Steve and just as we were about to £5 per car entrance fee in the honesty box, we leave the reserve we saw a little owl and a grey had a brief look over the wall for ducks. Only a wagtail perched on the roof of a barn – two great few wigeons, teals and mallards were present, birds to bring up our 50 birds for the morning. the mild weather delaying the arrival of the masses. A wren flitted in the bramble bushes and a distant little egret patrolled the flooded Richard Hanman fields. Around the farm and the feeders we saw jackdaws, song thrushes, blue tits, great tits, Wednesday 12 November chaffinches, goldfinches, robins, house Cliffe Pools RSPB Reserve sparrows, dunnocks and blackbirds ... amongst Leader Warren Mann the warden’s own chickens. A red fox was seen briefly skulking in the bushes, no doubt on the Eight of us braved the rush hour traffic, the short lookout for a juicy pheasant. Rabbits and brown sharp downpours en route and the overcast hares were also seen by many. A pied wagtail skies. Terry had arrived an hour before the flitted across the barn roof. official start time and had already seen 18 species. The rest of us managed to pick up We looked for the long-eared owl in the bushes nearly all of them during the walk. Most but he/she had decided to roost elsewhere this importantly he had located a female goldeneye morning and the barn owl in the chimney pot on Crystal Lake, the pool nearest to the car park, also failed to make an appearance. As we and he was able to put the rest of us on to it as it headed off in the direction of the hides we soon dived and swam between the distant islands. It added greylags, Canada and brent geese to our was a life tick for Karen, the first of three she day list, along with marsh harriers, was to see during our walk. She certainly made sparrowhawks and further sightings of common good use of her brand new telescope on its first buzzards. outing. 15 After picking up the almost inevitable coots, As we approached the car park two of our mallards, tufted ducks, redshanks and little and number elected to go to the Pinnacle viewpoint, great-crested grebes, the first of several where they had distant views of shelducks and gadwalls was spotted. As we made our way greylags. This brought the total number of down the track we added cormorants and species seen during our walk to a very amongst several “garden” birds we saw robins, respectable 51. It had taken us four and a half goldfinches and long-tailed tits. We also got our hours to go from the car park to the Thames and first and, as it turned out, our last really good back again – still, we all enjoyed ourselves. soaking. Warren Mann We reached Radar Pool and almost the first thing seen by two of our number was the flash of Shelduck orange and electric blue as a kingfisher zipped past. As we made our way up the Saxon Shore Way, going from viewing point to viewing point, we saw many lapwings, plus several little egrets and many ducks, including pochards, wigeons, teals, pintails and shovelers, in addition to those seen earlier. Perhaps the best sighting was of three snipe spotted in the undergrowth by George. Eventually they gave us really clear views. Reed bunting and stonechat were seen flitting across the tops of the dead vegetation on the islands. We also had the first of a good number of sightings of marsh harriers and we had up to three birds visible at any one time. Ray Kennedy (rspb-images.com) As we slowly made our way up to the top of Flamingo Pool, amongst the species we added Sunday 23 November to our list were black-tailed godwits, golden Seaton Gravel Pits plovers, brent geese (a nice fly past by five Leader Giuseppe Raffa birds), black-headed gulls and an elusive curlew. Brian picked out a distant kingfisher and we all A yellow weather warning issued by the MET had good views this time as it flew from branch Office seemed to be a good reason to stay at to branch and eventually flew down to catch a home and enjoy a cup of tea, so I was fish. There were many ducks and lapwings at definitively surprised when our keen member the top of the pool and as we watched they Yuek arrived at the Rose Inn pub, where the suddenly all took flight. The culprit was a group normally gathers before exploring the area peregrine which gave us excellent views as it surrounding the Seaton gravel pits. circled around in search of its dinner. After spotting jackdaws, starlings and one pair of We made our way to the Thames viewpoint, but chaffinches on the trees in front of the pub, we there were very few birds on the river, with a promptly set off. We were aware that heavy rain flock of teals flying off as soon as they spotted had been forecast after 11 o’clock, so we us. There was a distant raptor on the sea wall, wanted to get back to our cars certainly before which kindly confirmed that it was a kestrel by midday, as the option of getting drenched was taking off to hunt and then hovering. not particularly attractive.

By now we were enjoying really pleasant Whenever this walk is advertised in the group sunshine and blue skies, although it looked very programme, the phrase “picturesque spot” is threatening further afield. On the way back we used… well the village is so picturesque that we added grey herons, dunlins, herring gulls and ended up circumnavigating it before finding the great black-backed gulls to our list and had path I had in my mind. This allowed us to walk further really good views of curlews. We past quite a few lovely houses though, where decided to return by way of the Conoco path house sparrows, robins, blackbirds and song hoping to see the long-staying spoonbill and get thrushes did not fail to turn up. The high-pitched better views of golden eyes, but the best we song typical of the goldcrest was also could manage was a small island smothered in recognized at least twice, but we were not lucky redshanks. enough to sight this cute, little bird. 16 On reaching the lake, we repeatedly scanned it, Then Steve found a common buzzard perched in hoping to boost our wildfowl list. Coots, tufted a distant bush, but what he thought was a ducks, great-crested grebes, shovelers and second buzzard on a fence post turned out to be gadwalls were all promptly spotted, but a big female peregrine. (Well, it was a long way unfortunately – despite our efforts – we did not off!). manage to add smews to our list. With the weather getting worse, a drake smew - in On the final section of footpath, before returning particular - would have been very rewarding, but to the cars, we saw a few redwings and this is birding whether we like it or not. fieldfares to brighten the murk and amongst a few blue and great tits there was also a We also kept a watchful eye on the little stream tantalisingly brief glimpse of a bullfinch. close to the lake, but neither grey wagtails nor kingfishers materialized. We were pleased to have seen 51 species in all and relieved that the heavy rain which was In total, 26 species were seen and two only forecast didn't materialise. heard. Sue Carter & Steve Goodrich Giuseppe Raffa Sunday 4 January Sunday 7 December Dungeness RSPB Reserve Conyer Creek Leaders Sue Carter & Steve Goodrich Leaders Sue Carter & Steve Goodrich Following a very foggy start the sun broke The first field-trip of this year had attracted ten through briefly, then the weather became bitterly attendees and so it was with this last one. We cold and overcast. were pleased to welcome newcomers Tony from Canterbury RSPB Group and also Neil, on a Fifteen attendees met up in the RSPB reserve dreary and overcast morning. car park and they included new member Dave with his six years old grandson Shane, plus We set off walking along the creek with the return newbies Neil and Tony. former brickfields on our right and spotted teal, redshanks and little egrets before Steve put us After looking at some tree sparrows on the bird onto a kingfisher which was constantly hovering feeders we signed in at the visitor centre where then diving into the stream beyond the creek. they confirmed that they were expecting us! We Magical, even in the dull light. Further along the spent some time checking the sightings board bank Ed identified a yellowhammer in the scrub and browsing the goods on offer in the shop. and a sparrowhawk flew past, unsettling the Tree sparrow reed buntings and greenfinches. We watched a female marsh harrier quartering the farmland bordering .

We spent some time on the old dock area watching the array of wildfowl and waders, with the tide rising on the Swale. Much in evidence were both godwit species, avocet, grey plover, shelduck, dunlin and wigeon. Behind us we saw a green woodpecker perched in a bush and Trevor remarked on the influx of Continental blackbirds in the area.

Further along we passed the incongruous sight Andy Hay of a caravan, which appeared to be parked in a (rspb-images.com) muddy inlet of the river, but on close inspection was actually on a pontoon – very strange! Then on to the Firth hide where we were met with an assortment of ducks, gulls and a solitary We saw a flock of lapwings in the fields on the great white egret. A couple of little grebes Uplees side of the footpath and beyond them dabbled in the margins and in the bushes edging some brent geese were taking a rest on the the water we noticed several chiffchaffs actively grass. feeding. 17 Water levels were very high but on one of the As we set out on our return journeys once again few exposed islands was a large roost of great the weather closed in and the fog descended but black-backed gulls. There was good numbers of we had all made a good start with our New Year wigeon, pochard, tufted duck and shoveler and lists and a total of 59 species seen! sharp eyes also picked out smew, goldeneye and goosander, the latter three all being ducks Sue Carter & Steve Goodrich rather than drakes! Sunday 18 January Great black-back gull New Hythe Lakes Leader Robin Smith

With continental Europe still not particularly cold the lack of birds that would normally be overwintering with us was evident. This traipse through the mud at Snodland trying to find some interesting birds was somewhat akin to a Christmas party game of 'Where's Wally'!

Paul Chesterfield The water birds were predominantly coots and (rspb-images.com) tufted ducks with sightings of the odd gadwall, shoveler, mallard and great crested grebes. We We then moved on to the Makepeace hide also heard water rail and little grebe as well as where we added pintail to the list, but the low Cetti's warblers. Being at the front of the group I winter sun reflecting on the water of Burrows pit managed one bullfinch but nobody else saw it. made further identification difficult. There were a few redwings and fieldfares, but not in any great numbers. We struck lucky on the stretch to the Scott hide when Elaine and Karen spotted an unusually Adrian disgraced himself by ignoring the safety cooperative and showy Cetti's warbler, a species advice about slippery conditions given by the renowned for its explosive song but seen only walk leader at the commencement of the walk. rarely. From the hide we added teal and a wren He proceeded to do a 'Bambi' impression as we to the list and counted almost one hundred crossed the railway line at the expense of a cormorants perched like black candles in the damaged tripod in need of some engineering sallow bushes. Outside the hide some saw a maintenance. However, he did manage to get goldcrest in the bushes flitting about in the back on his feet before the 9.45 express to branches with both blue and long-tailed tits. Charing Cross came thundering through.

At this point five of the group decided to The highpoint of the day turned out to be fur continue with the full circuit of the visitor trail, rather than feather in the form of a water vole picking up a stonechat and a kestrel on the way, located by Peter Saville. Those of us at the front before relocating to the ARC pits later on and had good views as it swam across the water and identifying a red-crested pochard (duck again!). climbed up the bank whereas those bringing up The rest of the party retraced our steps back to the rear had to make do with odd glimpses the visitor centre, then drove over to the Arc Pits behind the dead reeds. for lunch, but our only addition was a green woodpecker! A quiet, inauspicious start to the year with only 35 species seen. To up the ante we decided to go on a twitch to Dengemarsh Road hopefully to see two cattle Robin Smith egrets which had been in residence there for a while. Unfortunately it appeared that the birds Wednesday 21 January had flown but after a tip-off we found them Riverside Country Park, Gillingham further up the road busily feeding in a field and Warren Mann totally unfaized by all the attention. Ignoring the weather forecast eight of us On the way home we drove across Walland gathered at the RCP on a bitterly cold overcast Marsh and stopped briefly to see the herd of morning. We first picked up a few garden Bewick's swans which regularly winters there, species around the car park before walking this time along with a single whooper swan. along the riverside path towards Bloors Wharf. 18 We chose to go in this direction as large It was a particularly high tide and the mudflat numbers of wildfowls and waders had been and marsh at Sharp's Green bay were almost sighted there earlier in the week and the submerged. Amongst the turnstones, oyster incoming tide, which was still quite low, would catchers and lapwings perching on the rusting soon push the birds towards the wharf. barges and wrecked cabin cruisers were a few ringed plovers. There were also four brent As we made our way along we saw a few teals geese sheltering by one of the barges. and redshanks on the mud, with avocets and shelducks at the still distant tide line. Several When we reached the island of Copperhouse times we heard the call of the curlews and Marsh we found it disappearing before our eyes eventually saw the first of the many. We saw or as the tide continued to rise. We saw several heard jay, tits and dunnocks in the scrub and species of wildfowl we had seen before, but no many blackbirds, a couple of song thrushes and rbm's. However, there was a single great- a few redwings on the meadows. crested grebe and a little egret and, best of all, a very flighty chiffchaff identified by Pete and As we neared the wharf we continued to scan George. the ever-diminishing mudflats and amongst the still distant birds we saw a very large flock of waders. After some discussion we agreed with Adrian's initial opinion that they were knots; a somewhat unexpected sighting this far up the estuary. Other birds seen were shovelers, lapwings, oystercatchers and for some, a fleeting glimpse of a red-breasted merganser. Saturday 26 September – Saturday 3 October When we arrived at the wharf the anticipated Trip to the Alicante region of Southern Spain high numbers of wildfowl were not to be seen. To book contact Richard Hanman on There were reasonable numbers of shelducks 07785 707 797 or and teals, but instead of the expected several www.bargainbirdingclub.com hundred wigeons we could only find two birds. There were two flocks of avocets, which as the tide moved them on, became one large flock. Eventually we saw in the distance five Later we met some other bird watchers who had mergansers slowly drifting on the tide in our counted more than five hundred. There were general direction. Also in the distance great good numbers of pintails, turnstones and a few flocks of waders continued to fly backwards and grey plovers and dunlins. forwards over the remaining islands.

Amongst the black-headed gulls we managed to By now rigor mortis had set in and we called it a find a single common gull. There were also two day. Trevor decided to brave the cold for lesser black-backed and a single great black- another half hour or so and was rewarded by backed gulls. As the tide reached the wharf we two brief sightings of a male, and then a female, had excellent close views of the birds from our merganser which literally made flying visits. vantage point, with the pintails looking particularly splendid. We also saw that on the The rest of us decided to return via Eastcourt muddy edges of several marshy islands there Meadows, but practically the only bird was an were considerable flocks of dunlins and knots over-flying peregrine, which was seen very (probably the ones we had seen earlier which briefly by three of our number. However, we all had been shifted by the tide). They provided a saw the ten or so snipe, surrounded by water, distant spectacle as the tide encroached and perching on the last remaining bit of greenery in they took flight in swirling flocks. Sharp's Green bay.

We decided that we would go back past the Together with the house sparrow seen at the car visitor centre to Copperhouse Marsh as red park on our return, we saw forty five species in breasted mergansers are regularly seen there in all and the good numbers of various waders the winter at high tide and recently a pair of gave us a typical Medway estuary winter peregrines had been frequent visitors to the spectacle. Most of us, I'm sure, added a few area. On the way we added cormorants, robins new birds to our year lists. and goldfinches to our list and at the pond, collared doves, moorhens and mallards. Warren Mann 19 KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN IN DECEMBER A truly mesmerising experience proving that birds do not have to be rare to be interesting. If you are ever in Maidstone town centre in mid You won't need any special clothing, walking December (14.12.14) and need some respite boots, telescopes or binoculars - just enjoy. from your retail therapy then wander down Earl Street towards the Hazlitt Theatre at dusk. From Robin Smith about 4.15pm onwards you will be treated to a magical spectacle that is absolutely stunning as I was in Harrogate this time last year (mid pied wagtails come in to roost in two plane trees. December) and an early evening stroll was For about 30 minutes they will be flocking into made even more wagical by the hundreds of these two trees whilst some cannot seem to roosting pied wagtails in the trees in the centre of settle and fly back off again. town - I was amazed that such an incredible experience was so accessible-truly amazing! Pied wagtail Wendy Brownrigg

ROBIN’S RAMBLINGS – RENEWING MEMBERSHIP 2013

‘Twas down in the Hempstead Valley That very little stirred Apart from the local Medway Group Giving us the bird.

Tea towels and card and fluffy toys Like mistle thrush and coot And tawny owls with big bright eyes That, when squeezed, did hoot. Andy Hay (rspb-images.com) The friendly, jovial, happy staff All this takes place to a background soundtrack Said I was free to join of plaintive tweets and all bottom lit from the By filling in this little form shop lighting below. Eventually they all settle And giving you six coins. down and in the darkening sky you could be forgiven for thinking that it was a tree in full leaf So here they are with all my love as they take up their final roosting positions. I To help to swell your coffers estimated that there are in the region of 500 I now wait with bated breath birds in these two trees taking advantage of the To see what next year offers. extra couple of degrees of warmth found in the town centre. Robin Smith

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