NOVEMBER 2021

 Here is a brief pictorial synopsis of my month.

COASTGUARD SPOTTER PLANE looking for migrants -aren`t we all.

BOLETTE LEAVING DOVER

SANDWICH TERN a late sighting at Sandwich Bay appropriately.

-hopefully it will be off the coast of West Africa by now.

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GLOSSY IBIS at Dungeness one bird has been there for most of the year.

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-now a second bird has joined it hopefully male and female?

-maybe hang around to breed next year if so.

REDWING at Langdon Hole a regular winter visitor from Scandinavia.

DUNNOCK

F15s American aircraft based at Mildenhall in Suffolk a regular sight at the White Cliffs.

GUILLEMOT one of four in Dover Harbour early in the month.

SHORE LARK a pair of these wintervisitors were seen at Leysdown on the Isle of Sheppey.

-They are called Shore Lark here because thats where they are seen but they are a bird of mountain regions breeding above the tree line in the Alps.

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-also known as Horned Lark

-because of the horn like feathers on the head

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-just above the eyes.

SHORT EARED OWL at Dicksons Corner Sandwich Bay

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CAR TRANSPORTER SEINE HIGHWAY heading down channel

BLACKBIRD our resident birds are joined by many immigrants from the continent at this time of year.

ROCK PIPIT at Samphire Hoe although there are two or three breeding pairs

numbers increase through the winter months especially on the west beach where up to twenty/thirty may gather in good years to scavenge amongst the sea weed.

GANNETS we saw them arriving back earlier in the year now they have bred on the northern breeding grounds

-and are leaving our waters for warmer climes once again

-these young birds are following the adults

-maybe as far south as West Africa

-Hopefully we will see them return in the Spring.

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RECULVER a graffiti artist with a good sense of humour.

MUTE SWAN flying in at Reculver,don`t think he has pooped a red pellet.

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BRENT GEESE probably a family group the four at the rear are juveniles with the pale wing bars.

-think these have probably come from Svalbaard or Greenland.

MAXINE a Ro Ro cargo ship en route from Sheerness to Calais

RAZORBILLS a small group of four at Samphire Hoe.

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TWO SONG THRUSH AND A  REDWING at Samphire Hoe

SONG THRUSH

REDWING

DUNNOCK

GREY MULLET in the Wellington Dock Dover.

DRAKE TEAL now in full winter dress at Bushy Ruff 

-hangs around with the Mallards expecting to be fed.

GREY WAGTAIL Russell Gardens Dover.

GREAT CRESTED GREBE one of two in the harbour on the 30th.

Also had a week in Norfolk but will publish a separate account of that trip later.TTFN.