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Recent sightings

• 5 May 2012

  sightings - 5th May 2012

  Inspired by looking at the BTO Website this lunchtime about the tagged cuckoos returning to Norfolk I thought ' I'll go to Northward Hill and hear one ' as I haven't managed to hear one yet this year!

  The weather was pretty rubbish I'll have to say with a barely achieved 8c and a North Easterly breeze it felt distinctly wintery.

  In the car park plenty of Goldfinches were about with Blue tits, Great tit and Chaffinch on the feeders. 50 yards along the trail the familiar scratchy call of the Whitethroats hit me as 3 or 4 flew up from the bushes calling and darted back into the cover. Despite the weather it was beginning to feel more spring like already.

  Up at the top view point I scoped the ponds, Avocet were present alongside a Greenshank dash-feeding along the margin. A pair of Redshank sat on the bank quite near to an Oystercatcher poking around in the tussocks.

  Canada Geese were there as well with Grey lag off across the marsh. A Lapwing flew his bubbling aerial acrobatics over the grass. Mallard, Tufted Duck and a lone Gadwall swam around feeding with a half a dozen Shelduck, and I saw my first Swift of the year, a pair whizzed overhead as I walked down to the meadow and across to the bridge to see if I could hear any Nightingales.

  At the ditches I could hear a Reed and Sedge Warbler limbering up in the undergrowth. By now I could hear Nightingales singing up the hill in the distance so I left them to it.

  Halfway up I heard two males dueting in the scrub and a Cetti's Warbler singing his powerful song.

  Walking back down to the bridge a male Blackcap was hopping around a bush. In the distance Heron and Little Egret could be seen making their way homeward. On the way back to the viewpoint a Green Woodpecker yaffled up onto a telegraph pole. Swallow were overhead now with 20 or so Swifts.

  Now back at the car park I was beginning to despair about the cuckoo until one started to call in a distant tree over at the Marsh Viewpoint.
  As I was just about to get into my car after twenty minutes of listening to that iconic sound a kind gentleman pointed out a trio of Wheatear on the old lambing field.

  Through the telescope the male was magnificent in his colourful summer garb escorted by his female entourage.

  Northward Hill well worth a visit anytime even if you only have a couple of hours to spare.

  thanks to David Saunders for this report

  Posted by Alan Else

• 29 April 2012

  Early Birds Dawn Chorus Walk - Saturday 28th April

  It always amazes me how early Cuckoos get up!  At 4.30am, whilst stepping blearily out the door with no hint of natural light on the horizon, a Cuckoo could be heard shouting his name out in the clear silence of dawn.  “Good morning and welcome home”, I remarked to myself in reply.

  The highlight of the walk for most was undoubtedly the exciting and thrilling fruity notes of the newly arrived Nightingales.  There are at least 20 individuals now on the reserve, after arriving from their distant winter holidays in Africa, all vying for territories before more rivals arrive.  Thrushes and warblers, tits and finches, all of Northward Hill’s feathered inhabitants joined the chorus, not letting the rain dampen their morning sing-song.  The gentle cat-like purring of the beautiful Turtle Doves could also be heard, adding their own unique sound to the chorus.

  It may be a effort to emerge from your slumber in the early hours of the morning, but as those that came along to the walk agreed, it is certainly well worth it!!!  With next Sunday being the official National Dawn Chorus Day why not be an early bird and set your alarms to see and hear for yourselves the spectacular dawn chorus, one of nature’s true wonders.

  Northward Hill dawn chorus line-up in order of appearance: Cuckoo, Robin, Nightingale, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Great Tit, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Wren, Dunnock, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Green Woodpecker, Blue Tit, Turtle Dove, Chaffinch, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Linnet, Cetti’s Warbler, Greenfinch, Sedge Warbler

  Simon Ginnaw – RV, Northward Hill

  Posted by Alan Else

• 11 April 2012

  first cuckoo

  resident volunteer Peter Beckenham was awoken by a Cuckoo calling from the scrub in front of the farmhouse this morning - brings a whole new meaning to a "cuckoo clock"!

  According to the BTO this Cuckoo is over a week early (their average day of first arrival being 19^th April).

   

   

  Posted by Alan Else

• 29 March 2012

  sightings 28th March 2012

  A walk on the woodland side...

  Is there a better herald of spring than a Chiffchaff singing from the top of a tree? It’s been a slow start for spring migrants on the north Kent marshes but there are signs that it is hotting up. A walk around the woodland yesterday turned up several male Chiffchaffs – hard to spot in dense scrub but identified easily by their repetitive song. These have now been joined by Blackcaps, with two males singing their beautiful song from cover in the woodland too. Also heard (but not seen!) was a Treecreeper - always nice to come across and an important record for the area. The woodland is already showing signs of benefitting from the busy winter programme undertaken by staff and volunteers. Carpeting the newly widened rides and glades along the Saxon Shore Way are dog violet, lesser celandine and bluebells. The latter, not quite yet in bloom but promising to be spectacular when they do. Also enjoying the sheltered, bright conditions were Comma, Red Admiral, Peacock and Green-veined White butterflies - all spotted on the wing.

  A Common Buzzard sailing over the wood on Wednesday was met with a determined mobbing by several Rooks. The heronry continues to be a hive of noisy activity as herons and rooks prepare for the breeding season. The impressive nest structures of both birds make an intriguing site from the viewpoint; the comings and goings of the birds mean there is never a dull moment. Elsewhere in the wood, Great tits are conspicuous alongside the frequent squawks of Jays and Great Spotted woodpeckers.

  By Peter Beckenham

  Posted by Alan Else

• 16 March 2012

  Sightings - 11th March 2012

  On Sunday 11^th March, myself and Jenny led a guided walk to the heronry and back. There was an excellent turnout in the fine weather and those present received an introduction into how this extensive site is managed as well as some of the amazing wildlife found here. The group were treated to views of Grey Herons gathering nesting material and flying overhead with it in their bills. Using scopes we observed nesting herons on display from the heronry viewpoint. At the moment, the majority of birds are nesting in trees to the right; numbers are still quite low but will no doubt increase in the coming weeks. On the main scrape, there was a Green Sandpiper and a Snipe among the usual wildfowl species. Late-stayers were able to observe a female Marsh Harrier perched on a distant bush. Three harriers (2 female, 1 male) have been spotted from the Marshland Viewpoint this week.

  Other sightings of note include a pair of Long-eared owls that continue to display close to the Heronry trail at dusk. A Cetti’s Warbler has regularly been seen and heard near the ‘orchard bridge’. Mornings are gradually becoming noisier with the yard filled with the incessant chirp and chatter of smaller passerines. This dawn chorus is one of nature’s little wonders and will gradually increase in volume until April/May. We will be holding several dawn chorus walks this spring, why not set your alarm clock and join us? Check the events page for details. But the birds don’t just sing at dawn. On calm, clear evenings, the chorus of bird song at dusk can be just as memorable. At the moment the scrubland areas are filled with the gorgeous songs of Dunnock and Song Thrush. A Tawny Owl can also be heard calling most evenings. As winter slowly fades away, we can now look forward to spring and the return of many more migrant birds. Northward Hill’s first Chiffchaff of the year was heard singing on the Marshland Trail this morning (15^th) closely followed by a Comma butterfly on the wing. These will be the first of many no doubt and a sign of things to come.

  Peter Beckenham, Resident Volunteer Warden, NKM

  Posted by Alan Else

• 22 February 2012

  "Owl Fest" 20th Feb 2012

  On Monday evening myself and Simon were treated to an unexpected but memorable encounter with a pair of Long-eared Owls at Northward Hill. After checking the heronry roost at dusk, we stopped to admire the large number of Rooks gathering on the marsh. It was at this point that a pair of owls ‘flushed’ from trees along the edge of the wood. Even in the fading light, the distinct ‘ear tufts’ were visible, thus avoiding confusion with other owl species. What was more remarkable was that one bird gave distinct ‘wing claps’ before alighting on the ground 30m from us. Long-eared owls are occasionally recorded on the reserve (and in the vicinity) but rarely seen so well. Amazingly, whilst watching the pair, a Tawny owl began calling in the distance and a Little owl was active near the barns. With a Barn Owl hunting on the reserve daily and a Short-eared Owl reported at RSPB Cliffe Pools this weekend, now is a good time to catch up with these enigmatic birds.

  Other recent sightings of note around the reserve include a Raven that flew over on the morning of the 20th, the same day that a male Crossbill was seen heading west (both seen by Jason Mitchell, reserve warden). On Saturday, a Peregrine was spotted from the Woodland viewpoint, while Marsh Harriers and Common Buzzards are recorded daily. A Treecreeper has been heard in the woodland regularly since the beginning of the month, a good record for the site. On Tuesday evening, 15 Woodcock were observed leaving the wood at dusk and heading out on to the marsh to feed.

  Elsewhere, a large number of Fieldfare (c150) continue to plunder the berry harvest, joined by smaller numbers of Redwing and Blackbird. On the marshes, several Snipe have been seen in the newly flooded fields and Grey Heron numbers are beginning to increase in the Heronry. Flocks of Wigeon, Teal and Mallard can be seen on the scrape from the marshland viewpoint, although numbers are lower than usual – a result of the exceptionally dry winter.

  So, plenty about and signs that spring isn’t too far away.

  By Peter Beckenham, Residential Volunteer Warden, RSPB Northward Hill

  Posted by Alan Else

• 12 February 2012

  sightings 11th February 2012

  Received this information from Chris Gibbard:

  I had 21 woodcock come out of northward hill wood, decoy hill at dusk plus 2 buzzards going to roost. From bromhey viewpiont buzzard, barn owl, marsh harrier late pm.

  thanks Chris

  Posted by Alan Else

• 10 February 2012

  "Silence and Sound" 10th February 2012

  I have recently completed an audio report about the Hoo Peninsula airport proposals that will be uploaded to the RSPB website later next week. The editor asked me if I could record some sounds of the rooks on the reserve since I make reference to them in the piece.

  This evening I set off across a crust of icy snow for the rookery at the foot of Northward Hill, recorder in hand. The rooks were already streaming in from Chattenden Woods. At the marshland viewpoint I stopped, my back to the reservoir, and started a recording of the rooks, jackdaws, and crows.

  As I did so, trying to breathe as quietly as possible so as not to interrupt the recording, I heard what I thought were geese, calling behind me. I turned around to take in the view and there over the reservoir were twelve swans, deciding whether there was enough unfrozen water to make a landing. It dawned on me that these swans were not mute, and therefore were not Mute! The Bewick’s decided a landing was not possible, and with their yellow beaks just catching the last of the setting sun, they headed off westwards for RSPB Cliffe Pools.

  Not to be outdone by the snowy theme, I also caught a glimpse right then of the barn owl dashing into a tree without a sound.

  I continued to the rookery to enjoy the birds wheeling about trying to settle for the night. This took a few attempts, each time the 1,000 or more birds took flight there was an audible whoosh in the air, but eventually, and surprisingly, they fell totally silent, as if there were no birds there at all. 

  I turned for home, the darkening sky sporadically animated with the silhouette of a woodcock dashing off to the marsh to feed by night.

  What a delightful mix of birds by silence and sound.

  Rolf Williams - Communications Officer, Kent RSPB

  Posted by Alan Else

• 4 February 2012

  Rough Legged Buzzard 2nd Feb 2012

  Cracking views of this bird from the marshland viewpoint today. Great aerial display of gliding, hovering etc across fields and reedbeds.

  David James Lead Field Teacher/Assistant People Engagement Officer

  Posted by Alan Else