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.