STEAMING DOWN TO DOVER

You will all be pleased to know the sheep are fine as the snow at the Hoe was not too bad,and there is still quite a lot of grass showing.The shag in the docks with the blue ring was a first winter bird ringed as a chick on the Isle of May in Scotland.
Today Wednesday the 22nd a steam train came through at lunchtime,a double header pulled by 35028 "CLAN LINE" a Merchant Navy class loco and 44932 a Midland Black 8.I managed to get some shots of the train emerging from Abbotscliff Tunnel in between Folkestone and Dover.

This will almost certainly be my last post before christmas so I wish everyone a very happy one and don`t eat too much.

IN THE DOCK

Whilst clearing the weekend snow from my car this morning I received a call from Richard Smith saying he had found a scaup in the Wellington dock.I have`nt seen a scaup in Dover harbour since 1971,so to say it is not a common sight here is not an understatement.An hour later I had located the bird  lurking between two pontoons in the inner marina.Asleep at first then waking and diving but always staying at a safe distance,however I managed a few half decent record shots thanks to the decent light,

SCAUP(adult female?)

G C GREBE

Also diving vigorously under the swing bridge was a SHAG  which on studying the pics was ringed with a blue band on left leg bearing the letters USH.A characteristic of the shag is the leap out of the water as they dive.

A great crested grebe was in the dock too with two of his little cousins several moorhens and three coots. Asthis post is published it is snowing again so the sheep may be hard to see at  Samphire Hoe tomorrow.

TALES FROM THE RIVERBANK

KINGFISHER sitting on lifebeltKINGFISHERthe red base to the bill means it is a female bird.

KINGFISHER WITH CATCH

KINGFISHER

TUFTED DUCK

POCHARD

SNIPE

GREY HERON

LITTLE EGRET

TAKING THE PLUNGE

GREY WAGTAIL with ring on right leg                   On a crisp frosty morning I decided to do the riverbank walk again starting in Bushy Ruff then following the Dour through Russell Gardens,Kearsney Abbey,and River village,then into Dover itself eventually ending up on the seafront.Three tufted ducks and a pochard had joined the regular water birds in Bushy Ruff while a kingfisher was successfully catching minnows in the ornamental lake in Russell gardens,using the lifebelt holder as her launchpad.beyond the lake a snipe was seen in the stream.Nothing else of note was seen until a grey heron a ringed grey wagtail and a little egret were found in the river near the water mill.Beyond here was a little disappointing bird wise but a mediterranean gull and a dozen great crested grebes were in the harbour.

In total 43 bird species were seen and while waiting for the bus home in Pencester the first signs of spring were noted with rooks returning to their nest site,a little premature methinks looking at tomorrows weather forecast.

THEY`VE GOT THE BLOOMING LOT

The waxwings have finally reached Dover,with 120 at Jewsons  at the weekend,doors floors and exotic birds,what more could you ask?more exotic birds I suppose.

BRAMBLING

BRAMBLING   Last Wednesday I had to stay in waiting for satellite dish repair and was repaid with a new bird for the garden in the form of a brambling,feeding along with chaffinches and greenfinches,a pair of bullfinch also showed.Goldfinch,a pair of blackcaps and great spotted woodpecker as well as the blue, great, and coal tits,were seen on the various feeders.

WAXWING (Folkestone)

GOOSANDER (female at Seabrook 2009)

SMEW(Holland 2009)

GOLDENEYE( taken earlier this year at Dunge)DOVER WAXWING

PUNK WAXWING

WAXWING

DUNGENESS POWER STATION

I was invited to accompany Malcolm Mcvail to Dungeness on Friday,and although feeling one degree under had a good day,highlights being Glaucous gull at the point,Goosander,Goldeneye and Smew at RSPB and 3 Bewick swans on Walland Marsh near the windfarm.
Sunday morning in Combe Valley Road watching the comings and goings of the waxwings,then a brisk walk along P o W pier where there was precisely 1 great crested grebe,left  me ready for an afternoons football and a hearty roast dinner.

RIME OR HOAR FROST?

REDSHANK

FROSTY BUSH

FROSTY FENCE POST      The hawthorns on Shakespeare cliff were coated in a thick frost this morning,Paul and I were of the opinion that this was rime frost caused by freezing fog, but Caddy Lee Preston said on t.v that it was hoar frost so any expert opinion would be welcome.

REDSHANK

DUNLINDOZEY DUNLIN

There were three dunlin feeding on the sea wall,a redshank a snipe and two lapwings on the Hoe and a couple of great crested grebes on the sea.

WAXWING AT PARK FARM FOLKESTONE

WAXWING

After work went to Park Farm Folkestone where there were about 30 waxwings feeding on the plentiful rowan berries.I make no apologies for posting more pics of these welcome visitors.

PROSPECTING FOR GOLD

BIRD ON A WIRE

LOOK OUT BELOW

WAXWINGwith rowan berry

WAXWINGDISTANT RED BREASTED MERGANSER

 Apart from going out for liquid refreshments in the evenings I spent three days in my igloo last week emerging on Sunday morning when the snow had gone.Dover harbour had up to 30 great crested Grebes  a pair of red breasted mergansers and the usual gulls and cormorants.Hythe has had a flock of up to 39 waxwings in Prospect Road so I took the opportunity to visit my old stamping ground to catch up with these beautiful scandinavian visitors,I was not disappointed either.Seventeen of them were feeding sporadically on the rowan berries and they were attracting quite a bit of interest from birders and locals alike.The light was not brilliant while I was there but I`ve done my best with the photos.