Trip reports
New years Day Birding
Tuesday, 1 January 2008
Ron took the back road from Lympne to Hamstreet in the hope that we might see something like an Owl, and he was right. He and Jean saw two Tawny Owls fly in front of us and although I was in the back seat I managed to miss them, a fact that I was reminded of constantly throughout the day as Ron related the tale of his first birds of the year to friends we met. Further on, two Song Thrushes were having a vicious battle on the roadside, and then a Blackbird flew across the road.
When we arrived at Hamstreet woods Vince was already scanning his patch and had also seen a Tawny Owl, adding to my misery. Parking was a bit tight as there were already several cars there but by eight oclock 10 of us, including Graham from the Maidstone group, were off on a circular path round the woods. We found a Robin, a pair of Jays, Crow, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Wood Pigeon and Chaffinch but the best bird was a Nuthatch which gave good views. I am sure that on a brighter day we would have had several more species. However, in the village we were able to add Collared Dove, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Starling and Rook.
Next we took a tour of Romney Marsh picking up Moorhen, Mute Swan, Herring Gull, Pheasant, Stonechat, Kestrel and Magpie. As we neared Lydd, we stopped to check a flock of Swans and Ron found a single goose with them which we soon identified as a Bean Goose. As the other cars caught up with us, I realised I had dipped yet another Owl, which had been sitting in an old tree on the side of the road. Eddie went back first and saw it but by the time we arrived it had got fed up of all the attention and hidden itself. Driving from the Marsh to Scotney we added Cormorant, and Coot and Jenny who was trying to catch up with us saw some Yellowhammers.
At Scotney we met Roger, who helped us locate the Long-tailed Ducks. We also saw Wigeon, Meadow Pipit, Little Grebe, Redshank, Shelduck, Tufted Duck, Curlew, Pochard, Mallard, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Pied Wagtail, Great Crested Grebe and Lapwing. Sadly no one would let me count the 'Snow Goose'. Shortly after leaving we mad a brief stop to look at some Golden Plover.
We headed for the reserve where we met up with Jenny and checked the board at the visitors centre which mentioned several good birds in the area. We didn't have to go far to get some of these with Goosander, Shoveler, Ruddy Duck, Gadwall, Pintail, and a single Shag seen on Burrows. Gulls included Great Black-back and Lesser Black-back and Black-headed and a Little Egret flew past.
Moving on round the reserve we saw several more Goosander and a number of Smew but only a few Teal. Just before the Christmas dell Hide we were treated to good views of a ringtail Hen Harrier. Waders were in short supply but with a bit of work we found a Snipe and Redshank from Denge Marsh Hide, and added a Common Gull to our list.
To the right of the mound, a party of Bearded Tits put on a brilliant display for us, feeding on the seeds and pinging from reed to reed. Two Stock Doves flew right and there was a half-hearted call from a Cetti's Warbler. A charm of Goldfinches flew over and then two Reed Bunting flew up from one of the bushes. Walking back we got a bit strung out along the path, Jim had a Red-legged Partridge and some of the group saw a Green Woodpecker.
We had lunch at the picnic tables. It seemed everyone was out today, and among others we met Tony, Richard and Other Ron from the Group and some of the Thanet Group.
After lunch a brief stop at the ARC pit brought us a Goldeneye and then we split up with Gilly, Nigel and Jenny going to the ARC Hide and the rest of us going to the point for a short sea watch. Vince reached there first and saw two Red-throated Divers before the rest of us scrambled up the shingle. Several Gannets were fishing. Ten Common Scoter passed and there were several auks, one at least identified as a Guillemot. Then Alison got us on to an Artic Skua which had a go at a couple of gulls.
Next we visited the Long pits where fortunately the Red-necked Grebe was at the end nearest the road and gave excellent views. As we turned to leave, your editor Phil turned up with Chris, Ray and Paul, and they were already on 102 and still had the reserve to visit. A Wren was added and we got into the cars just in time to miss a short downpour.
Back through Romney Marsh, we saw people looking at the Swans we had seen earlier and thought they were looking at the Bean Goose until we discovered that there was a Whooper Swan among the flock. As Ron was turning the car further up the road he managed to see the Little Owl some of us had missed earlier but by the time Jean and I got there, it was hiding again. We stopped again to look at a number of Fieldfare in the trees and located a single Redwing in a tree near the farm. We had been told there were some White-fronted Geese half a mile further on with Greylags but we eventually found them much further on. And at this point my luck with the owls changed when Vince saw a Barn Owl land on the ground, and we were able to watch it as it made several hunting flights along a ditch.
It was almost dark when we got to Brenzett Green to see Bewick Swans, which Jim had had earlier in the day on the Marsh but the rest of us had missed. We went home with a group total of 82, not as many as some other members of our group managed separately or with friends but some really good views of some special birds had made it a memorable day.