Yet another week gone...

It only seems like yesterday when I last wrote something on my blog, but it's another week gone and to be honest apart from the main highlight being an increased number of Swifts in Nythe, there really hasn't been much to write about.

However the weekend was totally different, as Dawn and I set off to Canterbury for a mini break. The main purpose was to just get away for a few days and secondly it's where I was brought up and haven't been back to for some 27 years. So a bit reminiscing was on the agenda.

We set off around 7:00am and headed down the M4 corridor and apart from 3 Red Kites, the only other birds of interest were an Oystercatcher at Theale and 3 Ringed Parakeets just south of the interchange between the M4 and M25. The rest of the journey was all about concentrating on the road as we moved slowly through the roadworks just before the M26.

On the outskirts of Canterbury the sun started to break through the cloud and it looked like we were in for some good weather. There was still a chill in the air but once we had booked into the Greyfriars Lodge, in Stour Street, it was off out and boat trip on one of the tributaries of the River Stour.

The Weavers

The Environment Agency have banned motorised vessels from the River Stour within the walls of the City, so our guide resorted to a set of oars and muscle power. From the Weavers, we headed up stream towards Greyfriars and then turned about and drifted back down to the weir pool at the Millers Arms. With the sun out it was a most enjoyable 40 minute tour of the River. En rout there were Mallard with ducklings, though one individual was alone with no parents in sight, there were Grey Wagtails zooming up and down the river course and Moorhens enjoying the lovely weather.

Blackfriars and Whitefriars either side of the river

There's always a Pizza Express!!

But take a look at this, their fire exit is straight out into the river

Lonely duckling

Grey Wagtail sunbathing

Moorhen

As we moored up a Collared Dove landed on the Weavers restaurant railings, no doubt waiting for a morsel or two.

Collared Dove

From the Weavers we walked up to St Dunstans Church via the West Gate and then back through West Gate gardens towards Toddlers Cove. Along the river there were Mayfly in their millions hatching out and dancing above the flowing river.

Mayfly

At Toddlers Cove, the bathing pool and boating lake are long gone, so it was back into the city centre. Half way up the high street was the Beaney, which used to be a library and today is a museum. Back in the 60's it used to host a huge natural history exhibition with lots of stuffed animals and birds from all over the British Isles. Today there were but to glass cases with just a handful of exhibits.

Can you spot the Kingfisher and Greenfinch

Spoonbill, Black-headed Gull, Ruff and many more

After the Beaney it was time for a meal and a drink or two, before heading back to the B&B. 

Looking out across City from the bedroom window I could see huge numbers of Swifts, occasionally individuals would swoop down by the window, but the speed they were travelling at made it difficult to capture them on camera. Though I did attempt a couple.

Swifts

Swift

Swift

Swift

Swift

Swift

As the sun set the Cathedral was lit up giving a striking photo.

Canterbury Cathedral

The next day it was up early and a drive around the countryside. Patrixbourne, Littlebourne, Sturry, Reculver, Herne Bay, Blean Rough Common and finally Harbledown.

At Patrixbourne the ford is still going strong, though the vegetation has grown somewhat in 40 years or so.

The ford at Patrixbourne

At Reculver the towers stand isolated against the skyline and make a great landmark if you want to know where you are. I tried putting Reculver in to my Tom tom and all I got was French and Belgium towns. Just as well I knew where I was going.

Looking west towards Herne Bay

Looking east towards Margate

Reculver Towers

From Reculver it was off to Herne Bay and Hampton Pier, where I used to fish. I can't believe I used to cycle the 8 miles or so from Harbledown to get there. Mind you in those days (1972) there were a lot fewer cars on the roads.

Hampton Pier at Herne Bay

From Herne Bay it was a flying visit to my old primary school at Blean, where I was amazed to see that one of the old wooden classrooms is still standing from 1962. From here I hear Nightingales singing away. The woods here I personally believe are one of the prettiest woods in the UK. Bluebells galore and a woodland you could really get lost in.

Blean Woods

Bluebells

And then in was into Rough Common and a quick visit to the Cricket Ground. It was great to see that Harbledown Cricket Club still play there, though they did seem to be in need of a few wickets as the opposition from Ashford were piling on the runs.

The woods at Rough Common

My last stop was at Harbledown and a last look at a house that probably had the best view in Kent. From my bedroom window I used to be able to see for miles and listen to Nightingales singing from just across the road. Those were the days....

Catch Up time..

Well another week over and a few bits & bobs to catch up on.

Monday
On Monday it was off to see Dawns Mum & Dad at Aldbourne, and to see how Don's Pheasant was getting on. Pheasants just love peanuts. Within seconds of the backdoor being opened and a few nuts thrown onto the lawn, he was there.

Eyeing up the Peanuts

Close-up

Wednesday

On Wednesday I was waiting outside the Abbey Meads Surgery and lo and behold a Lesser Whitethroat was singing away in the bushes opposite. Yep you've guessed it, no camera to hand. They have that really unusual song that for me sounds almost like a Yellowhammer.  Hopefully I'll remember to take my camera with me when I go back next time. 

Thursday

Thursday was a bit of a tease day, with Smokey our youngest of 3 cats really annoying the resident Carrion Crow, so much so she even lay on her back and taunted him. 

Friday

Today on the grapevine a Bee-eater was sighted on pit 38 at the Cotswold Water Park. Will it still be there tomorrow. We shall see.............

The M4 Corridor

It was up at 2:20am and off to pick up my two passengers for Luton Airport, We were on the M4 by 3:15am and with a clear road to the Airport it was bon voyage to Kim and Dan at 4:55am. So with the sun just up it was a morning of bird watching down the M4 Corridor. And what a start it was, no sooner had I turned off the M25 onto the M4 when a Ring-necked Parakeet crossed the road just before the Queen Mother Reservoir on my left. A little further on over the Slough Rugby Club Sports Ground, on my right, there were 8 or more Swift feeding over the treetops, my first of the year. What a great start to the morning!

Jubilee River Local Nature Reserve, Dorney

My first destination along the M4 was to be the Jubilee River Local Nature Reserve at Dorney, and I wasn't to be disappointed. Unfortunately, I shouldn't complain it was 5:55am and the sun was low and right in my face. I decided that as there were two bridges to cross I would keep to the right of the river and make my way to the second bridge before coming back to the 1st one. This way I would have the reserve on my left and the sun behind me.

Part of the Reserve looking west

Between the bridges there is a boardwalk which takes you out over the river and back again. The air was full of the sound of both Sedge and Reed Warblers as they competed for the best spots in the reed beds. Also about were Garden Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap and Reed Bunting all singing from the hedgerow next this public walkway.

Sedge Warbler

Reed Bunting

Having attempted a couple of photographs of the Sedge Warblers I got back onto the path and waked across the bridge towards the Reserve on the other side of the river. The bird species was much the same as on the other bank, however there are a few bare islands along this side and on them a Mute Swan was incubating at least 3 eggs, though it did appear that one had rolled out of the nest and was a good couple of metres away. On this first island a Common Sandpiper was feeding along the edge.

Lost egg from the Mute Swan Nest

Common Sandpiper

The island behind had a Redshank, Lapwing and a Mallard on it shoreline. Just as I stepped back from the hide I heard one of my favourite sounds of Spring a Cuckoo. I just managed to squeeze a couple of shots off with the camera before it headed east down the river.

Just a silhouette I'm afraid of the Cuckoo

To get round to the other bridge you pass through a gate into a field and back through another gate at the bottom of the hill. On the fence I could see something flitting about and with binoculars out it turned out to be a female Whinchat. Yet again this was a very flighty bird and any chance of a decent photograph was out of the question, especially as I was in an open field with no cover. So the best I could do was a record shot.

Female Whinchat

Another bird was also along the hedge line and all I caught was a quick glimpse as it landed on the fence and then darted into the hedge. Who knows what it was. LBJ (Little Brown Job). I did get a couple of quick snaps, very poor unfortunately, but those red legs!

Red legs!

Into the bushes?

As I crossed the river a Cetti’s Warbler suddenly burst into song and a pair of Shelduck flew over. I managed a shot of the Shelduck, but the Cetti’s will have to wait for another day.

I got back to the car park for 7:15am and a quick count revealed I had recorded 51 species in just over an hour, with 8 new species for this year.

Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Shelduck, Mallard, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Kestrel, Coot, Lapwing, Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Cuckoo, Swift, Green Woodpecker, Skylark, Swallow, Yellow Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Whinchat (female), Blackbird, Song Thrush, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Cetti’s Warbler, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Jay, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Reed Bunting 51 Species recorded

Theale Gravel Pits

Back in the car it was off again to the Theale Gravel Pits. I've not been here either, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but I wasn't to be disappointed. Once out of the car I decided to have a look at the Main Pit. Before I’d even walked a few paces I could hear the song of the Nightingale and then another. Another great start at a new location. The track splits into three, so I opted for the middle one, which takes you straight to a headland overlooking the pit. Its huge, I had brought my telescope, but as it turned out I didn’t really need it as I could clearly see a few Common Tern with my binoculars. And then just as I was about to put them down a Black Tern came into view. The morning was just getting better and better and it was only 7:45am

I watched it for awhile and turned back to the have a look at the other water across the road from where I had parked. As I did so I caught a glimpse of a juvenile Grey Heron looking straight at me. I don’t know who was more startled him or me. As I walked back I met a bird watcher from the Berkshire Ornithological Society and informed me there was a Mediterranean Gull on the other lake, which is called Hosehill Lake LNR. So if it was off again and sure enough in amongst the three or four hundred Black-headed Gull was a very smart looking Mediterranean Gull. It seemed to have paired up with a Black-headed Gull, though to be honest the female Black-headed Gull didn’t seem to be that interested. Every now and then the gulls would get agitated and all rise from the island. On one occasion around 9:00am a Sandwich Tern appeared and flew across the lake to a floating pontoon to my right. I tried to pick it up again but unfortunately I didn't see it gain. What another great bird to find. Also on the island opposite there was a Redshank, Red-crested Pochard, possibly a pair, and an Egyptian Goose.

Long-tailed Tit with food

A pair of Greylag Geese

Juvenile Grey Heron - Close up

I'm off

Egyptian Goose

From left to right Red-crested Pochard, drake Tufted Duck, Redshank 3 Tufted Duck

Mediterranean Gull with Black-headed Gull

Very distinct red bill and white eye.

Looking at my watch I decided to call it day and got back to the car to total up my sightings. It was even better here with 53 Species recorded.

Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Greylag Geese, Canada Geese, Egyptian Goose, Mallard, Red-crested Pochard, Tufted Duck, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Tern, Sandwich Tern, Black Tern, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Swift, Swallow, Sand Martin, House Martin, Dunnock, Nightingale, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Bullfinch and Reed Bunting 53 Species Recorded

With both sets of recordings put together I had amassed an impressive 71 Species, which included Red Kite which I saw 3 of on the way back to Swindon and of course the Ring-necked Parakeet. So with 15 new species to this years list it was back off home for a well earned cup of coffee!

NB: Birds highlighted in Red - first for my year list