WHEN THE RED RED ROBIN........

 When the early Europeans landed in North America they saw a bird with a red breast and called it a Robin,.It was nothing like our Robin apart from the red breast.It was in fact a member of the Thrush family which is quite obvious when you see it.

So when one was reported down the road in Eastbourne last week I went on my second twitch of the year and soon encountered this smart looking bird.

-It was first reported on the 8th Feb but may have been around longer.

-Evidently it is the 32nd American Robin to reach our shores

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The American Robin my second new bird for the UK this year a good contrast to the Little Bunting.

I SEE SHORE LARKS ON THE SEA SHORE

 A second visit to Leysdown for the Shore Larks eventually paid off when I found them at Warden Bay.The Magnificent 7 showed well and were quite confiding.The Horned Lark as it is known elsewhere is a winter visitor to Britain from NE europe where it breeds in mountainous terrain above the tree line.

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AN ALMOST DRY JANUARY

 The year started with the now traditional Dour Dawdle following the river from Bushy Ruff to the Wellington Dock and the harbour.Most of the usual suspects were encountered in a total of 42 birds.

LITTLE EGRETS CAN`T READ.

RED THROATED DIVER in the new marina.

-The most common of the 3 regular divers found in winter.

The slightly upturned bill is diagnostic.

GREAT NORTHERN DIVER in the Wellington Dock.

note the large straight bill and steep forhead.

A trip to Sarf London to see a new bird for me the Little Bunting was successful.

LITTLE BUNTING a visitor from NE Europe.

Found Footscray Meadows to its liking.

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Feeds on seeds mainly on the ground.

To another new venue for me Leybourne Lakes near Aylesford to see this Drake Scaup

DRAKE SCAUP at Leybourne Lakes Maidstone.

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GREEN SANDPIPER at Stodmarsh.

FULMAR PETRELS back on the breeding grounds.

SHORT EARED OWL  at the Cinque Ports Golf Club

WAXING MOON

A TAPESTRY OF GOSSAMER THREADS.

AVOCETS AT SEASALTER

MEDITERRANEAN GULL FOLKESTONE HARBOUR.

GREAT NORTHERN DIVER DOVER HARBOUR.

SANDERLING

ROBIN

NUTHATCH

NUTHATCH

NUTHATCH

BEWICKS SWAN AT WORTH

PURPLE SANDPIPER HYTHE

CATTLE EGRET COCKLES BRIDGE DUNGENESS

THE ELUSIVE SAMPHIRE HOE DARTFORD WARBLER

TYPICAL VIEWS OF THIS SKULKING LITTLE BIRD

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IT WILL SOMETIMES SIT OUT FOR BRIEF MOMENTS.

It has been a good winter for Dartford Warblers in Kent from Dungeness to Oare.

A VERY POOR PHOTOGRAPH OF A VERY FINE FIRECREST,

GREY WAGTAILS RUSSELL GARDENS DOVER

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FIRST WINTER LITTLE GULL CHILLENDEN

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SISKIN STODMARSH

SONG THRUSH STODMARSH

TEAL GROVE FERRY

BOLETTE OFF FOLKESTONE.

SISKINS AT FORDWICH

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CATTLE EGRETS AT ICKHAM

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KESTREL ENJOYING THE AFTERNOON SUNSHINE.