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The RSPB Maidstone Local Group - Field Trip Summary 2009/10 |
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The RSPB Maidstone Local Group - Field Trip Summary 2009/10 |
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We endeavour to seek out new venues and interesting coach outings and welcome your preferences and ideas for future trips.
Many thanks to Simon Ginnawfor leading these trips and recording the species on the day and to all members who supported the field meetings.
Richard Marchese
10 members met at Cliffe Pools RSPB reserve for a pleasant walk around this large site situated on the Hoo Peninsula. We decided to walk the route anti-clockwise and found a total of 61 bird species overall.
The best bird of the visit was found within the first hour as we stood on the viewpoint looking over the Radar Pool. A louding 'cronk' from behind us signalled that a Raven - possibly a first for the area - was in the area and we soon located it, enjoying good views.
Common Buzzard, Marsh Harrier and Kestrel were the only birds of prey seen, but it was a joy to observe impressive numbers of Little Egrets, Shelduck and waders, with highlights being Curlew Sandpipers, 700+ Avocets, Greenshank and Grey Plover.
As we had lunch on the sea wall opposite the Coast Guards Pool a Green Sandpiper flew in off the Thames and a Clouded Yellow butterfly gave nice views as it fluttered by.
5 members joined me for a morning autumn walk around Vinters Valley Nature Reserve. We couldn't have wished for better conditions, with warm sunshine setting the rich autumn colours of at their best.
Our target bird was the Bullfinch for which this reserve is perfect for. Within only 30 minutes of beginning the walk we had located a group of 6 individuals feeding in a hedge - including a superb male.
A respectable 23 species of bird were spotted overall and all members agreed it was a pleasure to be out on such a beautiful autumn morning.
For our first outdoor meeting of the month, 14 members braved the cold north wind that was sweeping across the farmland around St. Margaret's and Bockhill. The weather remained bright throughout our visit, with the Sun feeling very warm in the sheltered areas.
A Stonechat and Meadow Pipit were spotted along the Cliff top, but most birds seen today were flying over, moving north along the coast. These included a female Sparrowhawk, Crossbill, Siskin, Redpoll, Ring Ouzel, and large numbers of Goldfinch. The fields around Bockhill Farm were alive with Skylark and Meadow Pipits, and 2 Goldcrest and a Chiff Chaff were spotted in the trees around Bockhill Farm.
After walking the paths around St Margaret's, we decided to adjourn to Samphire Hoe, where we would enjoy our picnic lunch and then explore the area.
With our bellies full, we made our way around the 'Hoe', managing to locate Black Redstart, Blackcap, Redwing, Rock Pipit, and a party of 5 Brent Geese, amongst a few other 'resident' species.
All in all it was an enjoyable trip out and we managed to tally up a very respectable 50 species.
On a sunny autumn morning 7 members enjoyed a walk along the Saxon Shore Way and Royal Military Canal in West Hythe and Lympne. Despite the wind making birding a little tricky, some really good birds were seen.
We began by walking through the wooded stretch of the canal before walking the footpaths along the old sea cliffs of Lympne. A Sparrowhawk and 2 Little Owls were seen by the old willows around the remains of the Roman Fort, and lots of Bullfinch were found around the Hawthorn scrub at the foot of the cliffs. The group also managed to find of feeding flock of 'crests', holding 1 Goldcrest and 3 Firecrests - a first for many of the group and the overall highlight of the walk. After we enjoyed the superb views over Romney Marsh from the top of the cliffs, we descended back down to the Canal where we located Grey Wagtail and heard a Kingfisher.
Although it was quite a long walk, the group agreed it was thoroughly enjoyable......after-all its not very often you get to see Ostrich, Zebra, Water Buffalo, Wild Hunting Dogs, Rhino, Antelope, Bison, Wildebeest, Giraffes and Elephants whilst out birdwatching in Kent!!
17 members joined the coach trip to Lee Valley Country Park and Rye Meads RSPB Reserve. We spent the morning at Lee Valley with the day beginning bright but chilly. We managed to spot most wildfowl species, some woodland birds, such as the Treecreeper, and fantastic views of a lone Fieldfare, who appeared unbothered by its human company looking on. As mid-day approached, a sudden downpour meant we all crammed into a hide not designed for 17 soggy birders. With us all packed in, we watched on as the shower turned into monsoon-like conditions outside, with the wind seemingly determined to open the hide door and join us inside. As the rain lightened we headed back to the coach and we then made our way to Rye Meads.
At Rye Meads we added a few more species, with Water Rail being the highlight, and it was nice to see the resident Water Buffaloes from the final hide.
This was the first time our group has visited Northward Hill for the Rook roost, and we couldn't have asked for much better weather conditions. On a bright and calm evening 7 members turned up to see this spectacular event. From the car park we picked up 5 species of finch, including Lesser Redpoll and Bullfinch, and large numbers of Fieldfare and Redwing passed over. From the Marsh Viewpoint we spotted a selection of wildfowl on the areas of wetland, and it was exciting to watch the rooks gathering far out on the marshes. As we reached the Heronry Viewpoint a few Pheasants could be heard settling down for the night, and the roosting Blackbirds were making contact calls as they too were beginning to rest for the long night ahead. We all waited patiently as the last few Blackbirds called, and a handful of Jackdaws and Rooks began doing aerial twists and turns above us.
With the light almost out, the sound of hundreds of Rooks could be heard from a distance, getting ever closer, and it wasn't long before a great heaving mass of birds appeared from above the trees to the west of us, and began swirling above the wood. With seemingly never-ending streams of more and more birds following on the sight was spectacular. The scene of around 4 thousand Rooks and Jackdaws swirling around in the sky above and in front of us is truly fantastic and the sound is awesome. After 5-10 minutes the birds were perched down in the trees but the sound continued on. As the Roost settled, a Woodcock flew out of the wood and down towards the marsh.
On a cold winter morning 16 people turned up for our Christmas Outdoor meeting at New Hythe Lakes. Despite getting very wet due to a heavy rain shower half way through the walk, a total of 37 species were recorded, including a good selection of wildfowl and 3 wintering Chiff Chaff. In true tradition the morning concluded with David providing Sherry and Mince pies.
11 members met along Palm Bay Avenue for our first outdoor meeting of the month.
Along the sea wall we had superb views of the Fulmars checking out the nesting sites on the cliffs and riding the cold north wind on their stiff wings. As we walked along the sea wall we were able to look at the many treasures the high tide had washed up including many different egg cases, shells, and crustacea remains. At the 'point', we found waders such as Purple Sandpiper, Grey Plover and Sanderling, and we also managed to spot Red-throated Diver moving east out at sea, 2 Guillemots, and 2 Mediterranean Gulls.
Before moving onto Pegwell Bay we adjourned to Northdown Park where we enjoyed the exotic colours of the noisy Ring-necked Parakeets, and managed to find a few slightly comoner species such as as the tits, Great Spotted Woodpecker, and a splendid male Kestrel.
After a bite to eat in the Pegwell Bay Reserve car park, we wandered along the coastal path enjoying the sight of thousands of waders out on the mud-flats taking off into the air every now-and-then. Unfortunately we had timed our visit to low tide, which meant that half the waders, the 2000+ Wigeon and the Shelduck were way in the distance along the tide line. New species included Bar-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Lapwing and Golden Plover - all looking beautiful in the golden sunlight that had by now managed to break through the cloud cover. Overall though, we all had a super day with 54 species of bird being recorded.
On a beautiful bright and frosty morning, 6 people met along the Causeway to enjoy a wander around the Kent Wildlife Trust reserve at Bough Beech, one of the best sites in Kent to find wintering birds. Despite the temperature being 'finger-numbingly' cold we managed to tally up to 51 species.
We started the morning by scanning the reservoir where we found one of the key Bough Beech birds, the Mandarin. We also managed to locate Snipe, both Great Crested and Little Grebes and 8 species of duck, including a smart female Smew.
After a while looking out over the water our next stop was the bird feeding station in the Old Orchard. It was here we hoped to find Brambling, another key species of the reserve, but unfortunately after searching through the many Chaffinches on and around the feeders none were seen. We did, however, have really good views of Marsh Tit as it visited the feeders, and 2 rather handsome Pheasants were feeding on the dropped seed.
A walk around the nature trail produced a fleeting glimpse of a Bullfinch, large flocks of Fieldfare and Redwing - with the latter giving super views along with a Jay - and at least 5 Common Buzzards were seen flying over in thermals with, at one point, there being 4 birds in the same field of view through our binoculars.
On our return to the cars we managed to spot a Kingfisher perched in the branches on the far side of the reservoir.
16 people turned up at the Old Lighthouse car park on the Dungeness Peninsula for a wet and windy walk around this special part of Kent.
A strong and cold on-shore wind was blowing so conditions were promising for some sea-watching. With us all huddled around the observatory hide on the shingle ridge we managed to share great views of Divers, Gannets, Fulmar, Brent Geese, and various gull species as they fought against the winds along the coastline.
At the RSPB reserve we dodged most heavy showers by watching from the many hides. Dunge's winter specialties made an appearance, including Smew, Black-necked and Slavonian Grebes, Bittern, and Goldeneye. Overall, 52 species were seen.
Only 3 members joined me for February's additional outdoor meeting, where we walked the Len Valley Walk in the countryside around the villages of Otham, Leeds and Broomfield.
Highlights included great views of a large flock of Redwing and Fieldfare, a pair of Grey Wagtail by Thurnham Mill, and a Little Owl was heard calling in the grounds of Leeds Castle where we also looked at some of their extotic collection of wildfowl.
12 members met at Linton Church on a cloudy morning for the first outdoor meeting of the month. The weather forecast didn't look good, but in the end we finished the walk as dry as we had started it!!
We were not able to complete the full route due to the terrain, but managed a very respectful 45 species. Highlights included a male Kestrel giving great views as he perched on the church tower before we set off, a singing Chiff Chaff along Laddingford Lane, 3 Bullfinch and a singing Yellowhammer were seen, a Peregrine Falcon gave brief views as it flew over Church Hill, a small group of Siskin was seen by the lake in Boughton Park where we also found Tufted Duck and Treecreeper, 3 Meadow Pipits were noted, and a Goldcrest was spotted just outside Linton Church as we returned to the car park. A very enjoyable walk was enjoyed by all and a big thank you goes to Bob Bland for his valuable knowledge of the local area.
16 members enjoyed a sunny spring walk around this excellent reserve.
We began by walking the coastal path, where we visted the 3 hides viewing the pools. Along here we managed to find birds such as Whimbrel, Wheatear, Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls, Mediterranean Gulls, Sandwich and Common Terns, and it was wonderful to watch the Lapwings displaying whilst listening to Skylarks singing.
We then moved a little further inland where we heard Lesser Whitethroat in bushes close-by whilst we ate our lunches, and Sedge Warbler and Common Whitethroat - the first of the year for most of the group - were found on the way to the Castle Water part of the reserve.
Here we added Willow Warbler, Little Grebe, Bearded Tits, and a booming Bittern. Also at Castle Water was a Stoat seen briefly as it ran out of 1 warren hole and into another, a Common Lizard was spotted, and Brimstone and Peacock butterflies were seen. Alltogether a super spring day!!
7 members enjoyed the brilliant wildflower-filled ancient woodland on the North Downs that is Holly Hill Public Open Space. Birdsong was unfortunately surprisingly quiet but the loveley sight and scent of the wood anemones and bluebells made up for the lack of sound.
The group enjoyed nice views of a pair of Common Buzzards flying over the adjoining wood and a Tawny Owl was heard calling from deep within the woodland. Brimstone, Orange-tip and Peacock butterflies were seen, and just before the walk was complete we visited the chalk downland part of the site where we found at least 7 Slowworms, and enjoyed singing Linnets in the scrub.
It's been 4 years since the group last visited the Tudeley Woods RSPB Reserve and this year 7 members went to enjoy the dawn chorus.
The woodlands that the RSPB manage at Tudeley are packed full of birds so there is knowhere much better in Kent to hear birdsongthe visit and we walked the woodland trails first . A respectable 42 birds were recorded in total during and then visited the heath side afterwardsCrossbills. Willow Warblers were singing from . Highlights were specialities like Tree Pipit, Garden Warbler, Marsh Tit, and fantastic views of almost every available tree on the heath, a Nightingale was heard singing in the coppice at the top of the main heath, and spotted including Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, and 3 raptors were Hobby.
Grey Wagtail was added during a quick visit to the Pembury Waterworks.
Pete Akers lead a group of 9 members around the Dungeness RSPB Reserve for this special evening walk. His expert knowledge on the site, its history, its management, and its unusual flora and wildlife was enlightening, and it was great to be shown areas where the public is not normally allowed access to. Highlights included great views of a Brown Hare and a Yellow Wagtail, a Little Stint and a Garganey were found, and from the viewing ramp on the return trail the group enjoyed the sound of a booming Bittern.
7 members enjoyed clear skies and warm sunshine during our visit to Stodmarsh and Grove Ferry. A total of 54 species were recorded and it was nice to also see the Hairy Dragonflies and Variable Damselflies as well. 9 species of warbler were recorded, with Cetti's Warbler appearing to have fared better than expected after the recent hard winter, at least 7 'purring' Turtle Dove were recorded, with 1 individual allowing super views on the Stodmarsh side of the reserve, several Common Terns were seen catching fish for their chicks, a pair of Garganey was spotted from the Marsh Hide, raptors seen included Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, and Hobby, and lots of Cuckoos were seen and heard all over the site, one of which was a hepatic female.
