Raven at Birchett Woods

Raven calling over Birchett woods - what a sound!

Having spent a Sunday morning, visiting Blindgrooms (off Hornash Lane), Sugarloaf Plantation and Fags Wood trails (on Saturday too), I thought I 'd have nothing of note to report. But then I thought I'd just make one last call to Birchett woods, and - a what relief - a splendid Raven. As much interested in me, as me in him, the bird circled above long enough to take a few snaps.

Ravens are no doubt following their arch-enemy, the Buzzard to new lowland habitats. This bird represents my third Raven sighting in 2 years - nothing at all before that.

The target bird for my weekend had been Lesser spotted woodpecker in areas I hadn't looked before, sadly nothing new to report - yet! One visit is never enough though!

On the Buzzard front, birds are giving superb views above Orlestone forest, and also in neighbouring woods in the Shadoxhurst area too.

Note - Ravens at Beachy Head

Ravens are not known as being much of a migrant, and birds on the move are a rare sight. So an unprecedented 17 Ravens were seen passing Beachy head this same day. Could our bird have been one of those? Link to Beachy Head

http://beachyheadbirding.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/11th-march-2012-beachy-head-clear-cool.html

Bewicks off to roost

I made a quick call to Romney Marsh this evening, to to do nothing more than watch the Bewick Swans depart to Dungeness to roost. The birds gave little warning before take-off, some had a wing flap, a neck stretch, and there was a little more honking. But look away to admire a Marsh harrier hunting as I did, and they're already up and away. I counted 50 birds tonight. Also of note a Kingfisher in the dyke adjacent to the field and plenty of Little Owl activity across the Marsh (even more back here in Shadoxhurst tonight).

Getting ready to fly, seconds before flight

'Peckers and 'bills at Fags wood

An early morning walk from trails along Birchett Lane and Faggs Wood car park, seemed initially very quiet with just a few parties of Siskins and Redpolls to report. But then a male Lesser Spotted woodpecker dropped-in from some height with its familiar PEE -PEE–PEE call. Shortly after a single Crossbill flew over too.

In dense woodland backing on to Birchett Lane a flock of 200 + Redwings was feeding noisily on the Woodland floor. The noise the Redwings made reminded me of the cacophony of a large Starling roost. The Redwings were flushed once, only to return in minutes. It was difficult to see what the food attraction was.

Future Nightjar environment - or Meteor landing site?

Recently, around Orlestone Forest, there has been large scale, heavy-duty woodland clearing, undertaken by the Forestry Commission. This follows on from equally heavy-duty woodland clearing in 2010 leaving a significant part of the forest 'open'. In my ignorance, I'd like to hope that this work has been carried out-in-part to create habitat for Nightjars and Woodcock. I haven't recorded Nightjars for two years running in Orlestone forest so some management work was very much needed. My only concern is the state of the woodland floor once the felling has been done. Cleared areas I visited last summer had a floor of hard-baked mud, mixed in with wood cuttings - leaving a barren wildlife-free environment (in my eyes).

Garden Chiffchaff

Here in Kent, we've had a splendid week of sunny weather. On Wednesday night I had time to sit on the Dungeness beach and share an hour's solitude in the company of a rare Long tailed Skua and watch the sun go down. Tonight, and back in the garden a migrant Chiffchaff is happy to mix with a resident flock of Blue Tits and Great Tits which frequent the over grown plants and Sedges around the garden pond. Once again, the late afternoon sun has enabled me to get a decent photo of a fast moving bird. It's possible in September that many dozens of Chiffchaffs stream through our gardens turning to just a trickle in October and eventually the majority in Africa for the winter.

Whilst we've had a few flights of autumn Meadow Pipits pass over, there are still plently of late summer Swallows and Martins around and also their arch enemy the Hobby. The odd Buzzard is never too far away and a party of 6 Cormorants flew north over the village to.

It may never happen again, so here's a couple more pics of the Long Tailed Skua watching the sun go down on Dungeness Beach.

2nd summer Long tailed Skua at Dungeness

I spent sometime up on the shingle at the fishing boats watching this Long tailed Skua at close quarters tonight. Unconcerned by visiting Birdwatchers, but always keeping an eye on passing Gulls and Sandwich Terns, this was a rare ocassion for me with a very special bird - my second ever Long tailed Skua. When this bird returns north next spring it may well have its dramatic long tail feathers, and will be returning to an Arctic homeland in the company of Arctic foxes and Lemmings at least for the summer.

But as I write, this bird seems in no rush to make it back to the Equatorial waters of West Africa for its winter home. Sadly this Squa has a missing foot, and also should really be west of the British Isles out in the Atlantic on a more standard path south. However, it's healthy and feisty bird, every bit a Squa chasing Terns and stealing prey at will. It may well be the highlight of the year seeing this bird today, so I'd like to thank Martin - aka the Ploddingbirder for placing pics and information, enabling myself and other birders to catch up with a very close Long tailed Skua. Cheers Martin!

Arctic Tern at Dungeness

Back to the fishing boats at Dungeness on Sunday morning for a 2 hour sea watch. My birdwatching was dominated by Swallows accompanied by House Martins and Sand Martins bravely heading off the point and over a choppy channel sea to France, on then onwards to Africa. Passing low over the water in waves, I estimated 40 birds a minute were passing in front of me, inshore. Also travelling south was this Arctic Tern.

Now Arctic Terns are not such a common site for in Kent as their ousin the Common Tern, and this one is an adult bird moulting from its summer plumage to a winter plumage. It has a white an interesting white cheek effect, created by black fringing on the cheek feathers meeting the grey feathering of the underpart plumage. Its loosing its black cap, but still has a blood red beak to sport. The overall effect is distinctive, if a bit scruffy.

The Dungeness Glaucous Gull

On Tuesday afternoon, gale force winds and heavy rain raced through the English Channel forcing the ferrys to stop running, but also providing the opportunity for some off-course seabirds to be seen at Dungeness. When I arrived at the the fishing boats, the wind and driving spray were fiercely present, but sadly any seabird rarities were were few and far between:- well, in fact there weren't any!

Common Terns fed along the stormy tide line with little problem from the wind, and 'Stubby' the second winter Glaucous Gull, and yet to find his true home back in the Arctic, just sat it out feeding on sprats thrown up on to the beach by the waves. Despite sheltering to the side of the boats, I was soaked to the skin in an hour. My camera too, seemed very wet and salty taking pictures at 1600 and 800 iso with just a few keepers to make the trip worthwhile.




Stubby will one day grow out of his adolescent plumage to be dazzingly white with elegant silver wings fitting for his native home in the arctic.



Common Terns feeding on the tideline seemingly little bothered by driving rain and stormforce 7 gales.