DAY TRIP TO ELMLEY

Elmley National Nature Reserve is no longer an RSPB reserve it is being managed by the Elmley Estate and it looks like they have made improvements already and have plans for a new hide overlooking the Swale.Several new benches have been placed along the track to the hides the viewing from which has been improved somewhat.

A donation of £5 is requested per car to help with the upkeep etc,or you can join up to a membership scheme for £20p.a.Further details can be obtained from their web site.

The entrance track had good numbers of redshank and lapwing as did the rest of the reserve,skylarks and meadow pipits were also everywhere.New feeders have been provided, and they were full,the goldfinches had almost emptied a niger seed feeder by the time I returned to the large new car park behind the orchard.

 REDSHANK

 SKYLARK

 GOLDFINCH

MEADOW PIPIT-Doing a stretch at Elmley.
All the usual waders and ducks were seen ,Avocets are thriving it seems,bird of the day had to be a female Merlin disturbed at her lunch on the track to Spitend.

OYSTERCATCHER

 AVOCET

 FEMALE MERLIN with an unfortunate feathered lunch.

 AVOCET in the mud from Spitend hide

 CURLEW ditto

 SHELDUCK ditto

 CANADA GOOSE

 AVOCET Feeding in deep water

 SMALL TORTOISHELL

 LAPWING

 LITTLE EGRET

LAPWING

KITE RUNNERS

Sunny Sunday morning on the cliffs was a red kite bonanza with 5 in the air together,all along the south east coast they arrived from the continent some estimates of 50 in total may or may not be correct but from Dungeness to Thanet they arrived on a favourable light north westerly breeze.

 RED KITES ABOVE THE WHITE CLIFFS

Another migrant that arrived on the previous Friday was the Garganey,in fact 4 were found on the scrape at Sandwich Bay,as usual they were either sleeping or at the far side of the pool,in France they are known as the Spring Teal-arriving in March from Africa.

 DRAKE GARGANEY-REST HARROW SCRAPE.

The first Wheatear of the year arrived at Samphire Hoe on Tuesday 18th March,so winning yours truly the annual" wheatear arrival" prize of a bottle of beer-thanks to Steve Reynaert for finding the bird.In fact on further investigation a second male bird was found,they did not stay long and were last seen disappearing over the cliff top.

PROOF OF THE FIRST WHEATEAR- For those who doubt,you know who you are,ha ha.

BACK TO REALITY

It has taken a while to get back into something approaching normality,but here we are,been out and about a few places,Dunge,Bossenden ,Oare, and also locally around Dover.The harbour is pretty quiet now just a couple of guillemots and a few great crested grebes remain although the kittiwakes are still patrolling the pier looking for a free meal.
The glaucous gull was very obliging at Dungeness and a few goldeneye and smew are still on the ARC pits,and I think I was the first to see the Long Tailed Duck from Dennis` hide.
The Bossenden log provided good views of nuthatch and coal tit but failed to find lesser spot or marsh tit in the wood on the plus side I did hear a tawny owl call just before midday and mistle thrushes were singing loudly,great spots were also much in evidence drumming in several places.

 KITTIWAKE on patrol-Prince of Wales pier.

KITTIWAKES AT DOVER HARBOUR.

 GREAT CRESTED GREBE

 WITH SMALL HERRING

GREAT CREST!!

 BUZZARD OVER BARFRESTONE

There was a pair circling overhead calling to each other.

 COMMA Just out of its winter slumbers.

 COAL TIT

 NUTHATCHES IN A VARIETY OF POSES

MALE NUTHATCH The chestnut flank is only found on the male bird.

PINTAIL AT OARE.

 GLAUCOUS GULL

 WHITE WINGER

 These gulls from arctic regions are identified by the lack of any black markings on the wings-ie" white wingers"

 FIRST WINTER GLAUCOUS GULL -DUNGENESS BEACH

 DRAKE GOLDENEYE-ARC PITS

 LONG TAILE DUCK DUNGENESS RSPB

 LTD WITH COOTS for size comparison.

LONG TAILED DUCK-this was the closest it came to the hide.

TREE SPARROWS-can be seen on feeders near the entrance to RSPB reserve at Boulderwall Farm.

 GOLDFINCH-a charming creature.

 ROBIN GETTING TERRITORIAL

GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS are now drumming in the woods.