Monday 25 March 2013

Kentish Plovers

No sign of the Waxwings in Hestia Way this morning but they are probably nearby.
Driving past Belgar Farm a Barn Owl land on a post beside the road totally ignoring all the traffic rushing by, allowing me stunning views when I parked on the opposite verge. 


 A sea watch from The Point in the comfort of the car 07.55-09.00:
Red-throated Diver: 29E   2W
Gannet: 49E
Brent Geese: 26E   16W
Common Scoter: 14E
Sandwich Tern: 14E
Arctic Skua: 1E
3w Glaucous Gull: 1 on beach
Kittiwake: 14E
Auks: 95E  all those identified were Guillemots
Harbour Porpoise: 2+ off shore
A plod around the Lighthouse, Lloyds, West Beach, The station, the Research Station and the fishing boats came up with the grand total of:
Wheatear: 1
Black Redstart: 1
Stonechat: 1
Linnet: 2
Meadow Pipit: 4
Skylark: 1
Blackbird: 3
 At the south end of the ARC another Black Redstart showed well with a couple of Meadow Pipits and 3 Pied Wagtails. A Great White Egret was on New Diggings.
 While I was in Lydd getting some breakfast DW called with news of Kentish Plover at Rye Harbour. A short while later I arrived at Lime Kiln Cottage with PT hot on my heels. As no one else was there we had to find it for ourselves, fortunately it was virtually the first bird I looked at. Other people arrived and while trying to show them the bird I realised that were in fact 2 birds present. Most of the time they were fairly distant but mid afternoon the colour ringed individual did venture a little closer.
                      Both Kentish Plovers can just about be seen in this record image.
A jaunt around the hides with PT, Wendy and Doug. We saw 20+ Avocets, 50+ Sandwich Terns, 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 20+ Knot, 2 Sanderling, 3 Grey Plover, 100+ Dunlin, 20+ Ringed Plover and 5 Black-tailed Godwits flew in. The day started badly but got better and better.

3 comments:

  1. Hi Martin. Great photos as always. Thanks for putting the news out - why do the birds always turn up when I go back to work !!! The parents had the Waxwings in Kingsnorth today, at the crossroads by the cricket pitch. A rare day away from Hestia Way.

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  2. Great news and pics as always Martin. Lets hope they stay for a bit.

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  3. I think that Barn Owl has a death wish as it flew much too close to our car too. Again thanks for all the great pics.

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