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Elmley, 29/12/2019. |
I started at Elmley at sunrise, though there wasn’t exactly much of that on a particularly gloomy day. However, evocative post-roost streams of wildfowl soon illuminated proceedings, along with Marsh Harriers and hundreds of Lapwings, and smaller numbers of Black-tailed Godwits and Golden Plovers. The safari-esque drive-through to the car park is always a treat here. Next up was Capel Fleet, where a Rough-legged Buzzard had been reported the previous day. I spotted a/the pale Common Buzzard at mighty range but little else, save five Corn Buntings and a female Stonechat.
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Wigeon, Elmley, 29/12/2019. |
It was then on to Swale NNR, passing big flocks of roadside thrushes, scenes currently absent from patch. Here, a field stalking egret turned out to be Little – we’re almost getting to the point where one in such habitat is expected to be Cattle. On the reserve a large portion (156) of the wintering flock of Eurasian White-fronted Geese were showing fairly well in a crop field next to the path. Further back were three other Goose species, including my first Kentish Pink-footed.
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Little Egret, Sayes Court, 29/12/2019. |
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Eurasian White-fronted Geese, Swale NNR, 29/12/2019. |
The Capel Fleet Rough-legged was reported again so we headed back, only to find an empty watchpoint and the pale Common Buzzard showing a little better … as I understand it, the RLB sighting was later withdrawn. Three Snipe and a Grey Wagtail flushed from a ditch here were the only ones of the day. With a Rough-legged Buzzard currently being watched at nearby Chetney Marshes we dashed there, and upon arrival a band of very helpful birders quickly got me on the distant individual. Only my second British Rough-legged, though the views weren’t fab …
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Rough-legged Buzzard, Chetney Marshes, 29/12/2019. |
Continuing west I checked various marshes and stretches of mudflats, picking up several common waders, before the urban setting of Chatham was punched into the sat-nav. A Black-throated Diver had taken up residence in the marina here but I dipped, though was cheered up by a Shag. An English-ringed Black-headed Gull was also knocking about.
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Shag, Chatham Marina, 29/12/2019. |
The penultimate site was the Hoo Peninsula. I’ve never really warmed to Cliffe Pools, despite recent sun infused memories of my first Marsh Sandpiper there, and I have to say the it was pretty bleak this particular day. That said, I managed some good day ticks: three grebes (Black-necked, Red-necked and Slavonian), seven Bewick’s Swan, Goldeneye and Yellow-legged Gull. Most of the afternoon was then spent exploring Grain and the northeast section of Hoo. This area is much vaunted by Sam J as an under watched one with bags of potential and it was on my autumn radar, though I never found time to visit.
It’s a wild and somewhat remote area – I can think of few places that evoke such a similar feeling in the southeast. A ringtail Hen Harrier had welcomed us in near Cooling but it was the seawall along the Grain Coastal Park car park that delivered the bird of the day: Lapland Bunting. I flushed it and two Skylarks inadvertently and it called several times as it flew northwest, before dropping down. I couldn’t re-find it. A Barn Owl quartered nearby.
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Ring-necked Duck, New Hythe, 29/12/2019. |
I only self-found Lapland Bunting for the first time in Lewis in October, so this was more than satisfactory. I later learnt this species used to winter here in numbers, but they are rare now. With the light already fading it was a race to New Hythe, where a drake Ring-necked Duck had pitched up on one of the fishing lakes near the station. I eventually found him (asleep) but the views were naff, and to be honest I was happier with the late additions of Long-tailed Tit, Treecreeper, Jay, Siskin and Greenfinch to the day list.
So, a top day out, and if one factored in a decent inland site and watched the sea for a bit I imagine 100 would be doable. Things I missed out on included Mistle Thrush, Goldcrest, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Red-throated Diver and Sanderling. A lot of racing around and walking had taken place, so the following day called for something far more relaxed …
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Caspian Gull, Dungeness, 30/12/2018. |
With several reduced loaves on the back seat it was a late start at Dungeness, where I had a couple of hours to spend with the gulls. There were a lot more around than I’d expected, and it didn’t take long for a first-winter and fourth-winter Caspian Gulls to appear. The latter flew off and wasn’t seen again, but the former performed well, dominating dibs on the bread and making lots of noise.
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Caspian Gull, Dungeness, 30/12/2018. |
The bird was a bit of a beast really and stood out like a sore thumb, with a whacking great bill and extensive tail band, as well as lovely cold grey scapulars and neck shawl. It seems remarkable this species was considered a type of European Herring Gull until recently …
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Caspian Gull, Dungeness, 30/12/2018. |
The light wasn’t on my side at all and the photos aren’t the best, but forgive an image overkill of a beautiful gull. There wasn’t so much time for birding after this so I skipped the reserve, though had any Smew been in this bypass would have been tested big time. Incredibly, none have been recorded this winter, at what’s a nationally significant site. I really don’t like these increasingly mild winters.
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Caspian Gull, Dungeness, 30/12/2018. |
Aside from Kent and the Sussex gulls there’s little else to report, though I made the annual pilgrimage to the Arun Valley Bewick’s Swans on 27th. I saw four, distantly from Burpham church, though pleasingly Gareth J had eight today. That’s pretty much it for the holidays really, a feast of birds and some enjoyable trips, leaving me ready to get on the 2019 patch grind.
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Bewick's Swans, Burpham (Sussex), 27/12/2018. |
The forecasts, and extremely quiet day there today, suggest it’s going to be a humdrum start to the year Thorncombe Street. However, there’s only one thing for it, and in the words of Rihanna: work, work, work.