Trip reports

Pegwell Bay Outing and other sites.

Sunday, 21 October 2007

For the first time this autumn we had to scrape frost off the windscreen before setting out and it was still chilly when eleven of us met in the car park at Pegwell Bay at 8am. The tide was just on its way out and there were plenty of birds on the shore. We heard the distinctive call of Ring-necked Parakeets from the car park and then saw two birds fly over towards Ramsgate. Other birds around included Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker, Long-tailed Tits, Robin, Blackbird, Redwing, Song Thrush, Wren and a charm of Goldfinches.
Then looking at the shore we saw Little Egret, the ever present Oystercatcher, Curlew, Redshank, Dunlin and busy little Sandlings. There were also large numbers of Golden Plover which flew up, whirling around in flocks, and being joined with quite a few Lapwing as well. A smaller group of Snipe flew just over us. Reed Bunting were calling from the bushes and ducks on the sea and estuary included Mallard, Shelduck and Wigeon. As the tide receded further we walked around the reserve, eventually returning to the Burger Van where excellent bacon rolls and hot drinks helped to keen out the chill of the morning for those that partook.
By happy chance we then decided to go to Sandwich Bay, little knowing what a treat was in store for us. Those of us who were members of the Bay took in the non-members who left there cars outside the entrance. The car park seemed more than usually full, indeed overflowing and cars were starting to park in the Lane. A Bluethroat had been found in the Waldershare Gully. All of a sudden we were leaping out of the cars and heading off down the road, wondering if we had a chance of seeing it.
At first we were searching in the wrong area but soon found a group of birders including Ian, Warden at the Bay, in the Restharrow field, intently watching the grass path and the bushes in the big gully. After a while we had a tantalising view of the tail as the bird came up and almost immediately dived back into cover. More people were arriving and we moved around a bit trying to get the best viewing places. Eventually an hour and three quarters into our vigil, we were rewarded with decent views, good enough to see the blue on the throat and even the red patch. After a couple of minutes the bird decided he had showed enough and skulked off again.
We walked back to the Obs through the Elms which seemed fairly quiet, and saw a few birds on the way including Redwing. As we drove out of the Bay to pick up the cars.

We then decided to go to Stodmarsh arriving at about 1.30pm to find the car park full to capacity, but no rarity twitch here, just people out enjoying the autumn sunshine. We started of birding with Long-tailed, Great and Blue Tits, Green Woodpecker and Jay. The main lake held a good number of Shoveler, quite a few Great Crested Grebe, a few Teal and Gadwall. No sign of the large flock of Greylags, possibly they were out in the fields.
We heard Cetti's Warbler as we walked along the Lampen Wall. Even though still early in the afternoon we heard the call of Tawny Owl. We saw a pair of Bullfinch just beyond the pond. No sign of any Harriers today, our only birds of prey being a Kestrel at Stodmarsh and a Sparrowhawk at Sandwich Bay.
Several Fieldfare flying over brought that feel of Autumn as we walked back.

Setting of for home about 4pm we were talking about how lucky we were to see what must be the Group's bird of the year. You never know with birding, who would have dreamed this morning what we were going to see. That's what makes birding so special!