Another month of lockdown,which basically meant not being able to go to the pub,last time I stayed at home, went to the allotment and that was it basically,but this time it seems that every day was treated like a bank holiday with crowds of people out exercising whenever the sun shone,and it was a fairly good month weatherewise throughout November.
There have been some interesting sightings too
RAVENS are regular visitors to Samphire Hoe,quite often heard before seen.
STONECHAT the colour ringing scheme continues with several more caught and ringed this month.
GOLDCREST several of these diminutive birds arrived at the Hoe early in the month having survived the hazardous crossing of the North Sea.
ROBIN numbers increased too with up to 20 squabbling over territory
GOLDCREST,here`s how it gets its name.
GOLDCREST
GLAUCOUS GULL this first winter bird was found at Hythe and stayed a few days.
A few arrive most winters from the far north of Europe.
GG
WHITE WINGER
REDSHANK one of five seen in Folkestone Harbour.
MEDITTERANEAN GULL a large wintering population can be seen around Folkestone Harbour and the East Cliff/Copt Point area.
MED GULLS
CATTLE EGRET doing what they do best.
CE
MOORHEN
GREY WAGTAIL at Bushy Ruff.
CETTIS WARBLER more often heard than seen.
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News of a Mega rarity at Kingsdown got the local birding fraternity excited.The Crag Martin is a relative of the Sand and House Martin and is normally confined to rocky gorges and old castles in the south of Europe,however this one has decided to have a look up north.
CM
CRAG MARTIN
JAO LOKESH an Indian oil tanker changing crew off Dover.
As the bird had stayed and the weather improved had another visit to try for better photos
CM
CM
GREY PARTRIDGES seen in the fields along the Ancient Highway.
GREY PARTRIDGE
RAZORBILL this one was seen near the Dover Lifeboat Station.
RAZORBILL,there was also a Kingfisher in the area but it was not posing for photos.
COMMON SCOTER this single female was seen at Samphire Hoe.
CRAG MARTIN is now commuting between Kingsdown and Samphire Hoe and is still attracting much attention.
MICKEY IN THE MIST- DISNEY MAGIC leaving for Brest on Saturday morning.
A walk along Princes Parade Hythe on Sunday gave good views of this Juvenile WHITE FRONTED GOOSE on the Imperial Golf course.
WFG several hundred birds arrived in East Kent over the weekend from Russia,this one must have got separated from its family group.
WFG
WHITE FRONTED GEESE - SAMPHIRE HOE These three are adults and probably came down in the fog on Monday morning.
Now for a few late moths.
FEATHERED THORN
SILVER Y
RED GREEN CARPET
DECEMBER MOTH
DM
DM
MOTTLED UMBER.
The moth trap will now be put away until the early spring unless we get a really mild spell.
Well thats it for now stay safe and enjoy Tier 3,see you later folks.
KINGFISHER AT RUSSELL GARDENS DOVER
FEMALE KINGFISHER -Should it be QUEENFISHER ?
