Sunday 22 February

Elmley RSPB Reserve/Capel Fleet

Leader Robin Smith

Weather was grey and over cast with North Westerly wind, 19 members attended with four new people who had seen the walk on our web site. We set off from the car park onto the marsh, good flock of wigeons in the scrapes with lapwings and curlews. Moving on down to the sea wall meadow pipits were showing well with skylarks singing, which is a sign of spring.

Through the gate good flocks of tufted ducks, shovelers and mallards were on the pools on the left side of the track. Reed buntings were present in the reed as we walked to the hides. It was on this stretch a water pipit was seen briefly by a few of the members.

At the first hide large flocks of grey plovers, knots, and dunlins with plenty of ducks to look at. As it was high tide on The Swale more and more waders were arriving on the pools. most being grey plovers and dunlins. an estimated number of two thousand on or around the pools. What a sight when the islands in front of the hide were just a mass of birds. A marsh harrier made its presence felt and set them all into the air - large flocks flying in a mass of grey and white until danger had passed.

We then moved on to the next hide with good views of ducks and ringed plovers in good numbers. Much debate was had over a buzzard - was it a rough-legged or not, the jury is still out on this one.

On the way back to the car park we had good views of a female hen harrier, no sign of short-eared owls, it was hoped that we might see some at Capel Fleet. Capel Fleet raptor view point had plenty of activity, marsh harriers seemed to be all around in good numbers.

Warren had the best spot of the day; he was convinced he had a large raptor in his scope, which turned to be a rather large pigeon! Best sighting here was a female peregrine, which flew slowly past the raptor point to sit on a fence for some time. Short-eared owls again absent. Still all in all a very good day was had by all with some 51 different species seen.

Pete Saville.

Sunday 8 March

Footscray Meadows LNR

Leader Sue Carter

lt was with some relief that all 20 participants found the venue, as the directions given in the programme were incorrect in that Crittalls Corner roundabout should have replaced Ruxley Corner! As it was, there was a new car park since our last visit and this was somewhat crowded, which necessitated much to-ing and fro-ing before we were all to park successfully.

Still, it was a beautiful morning and after a gloomy winter we all overdosed on much needed vitamin D from the glorious sunshine.

Ring-necked (rose-ringed) parakeets were everywhere, loudly announcing their presence as we set off across the park towards the River Cray, from which the Local Nature Reserve gets its name. We were amazed at how clear and fast-flowing the river was and when we reached the bridge, where the water cascaded down into the next section, we found a pair of grey wagtails. They were foraging in the margins before alighting on logs and then flying up under the bridge itself. Beautiful little birds, which have the longest tails of the three wagtails on the British list.

Spring was obviously in the air because we also saw a pair of great spotted woodpeckers and a mute swan and several coots apparently sitting on clutches of eggs. At one point Ian Lancaster spotted a sparrowhawk circling above us, before it exited stage right pursued by angry black-headed gulls! In all we amassed a total of 30 species, including jackdaws, little grebes, blue, great and long-tailed tits, a goldcrest, kestrel, tufted ducks, stock doves, goldfinches and greenfinches.

Footscray Meadows is an oasis in suburbia and is a scenic respite from the hubbub of modern living, but it does suffer from an abundance of dog walkers. Crufts has nothing on this place, I didn't realise so many canine varieties existed, nor had l seen so many gathered together in one place. A visit in mid-week may be preferable to one on a Sunday morning!

Sue Carter

Saturday 28 March

Northward Hill RSPB Reserve and Heron Trail

Leader Adrian Olsen

20 brave souls ventured out across the marshes towards Northward Hill heronry in blustery north winds with rain, and sometimes hail lashing into our faces. Quite a culture shock for Warren Mann who had only arrived back a few days earlier from tropical weather in the Caribbean to good 'Old Blighty' winter conditions in spring. Considering the poor weather a reasonable total of`25 species were seen.

From the first viewpoint to the reservoir. wigeon, teal and pintail were seen and a scaup was well spotted amongst the tufted by Robin Smith. Along the trail sparrowhawk and green woodpecker passed by. At approx 300ha Northward Hill (NWH) is the largest of the north Kent reserves, and the wood is still the site of the UK`s largest heronry with little egrets rising in nesting pairs every year.

It is difficult to believe that at last year’s count 230 nesting pairs of heron and egrets occupied the tree tops of the wood.

Amongst the large numbers of rooks and jackdaws nesting in the trees a pair of herons were just visible on a nest 'sky pointing' to each other and could quite possibly have already laid eggs. Young chicks could even have hatched by now for these large early-breeding birds.

A few little egrets were also to be seen through the murky grey skies, trying to carefully select a suitable nesting place amongst the squabbling corvids. Eventually the cold wind, drizzle and poor visibility helped us make the decision to call it a day.

Adrian Olsen

Saturday 4 April

Rainham Marshes RSPB Reserve, Essex

Leader Adrian Olsen

12 eager members set off promptly at l0.00am for this circular walk on the board walks and level paths circumnavigating the silt lagoons and grazed marshes entirely enclosed on the banks of the river Thames.

Once an area used as a military training ground, with the help of recent hydrological improvements, it now provides a good habitat for breeding waders, including home to one of the UK's largest populations of water voles. Sand banks once used for target practice are now home to rare carder bees. The eco-friendly information centre stands high over the reserve giving excellent views. The centre also contains good facilities and an RSPB shop.

Over 40 species were seen by our group including little-ringed plover, little gull, ruff, snipe and peregrine falcon, A red kite was also observed, probably by someone from the information centre view point - watching it fly over I2 unsuspecting eager people.

Adrian Olsen

Sunday 19 April

Ham Street Woods NNR Circular Walk

Leader Sue Carter

18 enthusiastic participants met at Ham Street railway station, but the gods had conspired against us and the day was overcast with a biting north-easterly wind which made me wish I'd brought my gloves!

We safely crossed the railway and negotiated two stiles before arriving at the start of the trail. The woods were ablaze with colour; bluebells, celandines, violets and wood anemones were all in bloom, creating a multi-coloured carpet and attesting to the fact that that this really was Spring! However, the cold wind and lack of sunshine meant that we didn't see a single butterfly!

Ham Street is a large wood comprised mainly of oak, birch and hornbeam, with many paths, some narrow, criss-crossing the area within the circular route. At one point we attempted to cross over a stream by means of a rickety and slippery wooden plank, but mindful of Marie's health and safety directives, we decided to retrace our steps!

We heard four singing nightingales, but weren’tfortunate enough to see any of them. We achieved a total bird list of 20, including house martin, swallow, jackdaws, nuthatch, tree creepers, blackcap and blue, coal, great and long-tailed tits.

Some of the group went on to Dungeness where we were rewarded with a superb male ring ouzel, plus sand martin, tree sparrows, cuckoo and little ringed plover. The sun came out and Spring truly had sprung!

Sue Carter

Saturday 25 April

Ashdown Forest, East Sussex

Guided Walk with Glen Peacock

The Group visit to Ashdown Forest on 25 April proved to be another good birding event. The weather was programmed to be a bit ‘iffy`. but in the event, nobody got wet and the birds presented well.

Michael Scott-Ham was again with us to share his unique local knowledge, plus a pair of ears which are a match for an owl. 13 members paraded and were not disappointed. Even without sighting a bird, Ashdown Forest has its own ‘wow' factor and people on their first visit were surprised by the beauty of the place.

The downside must be dispensed with and that was the lack of a sighting of a Dartford warbler. Our Guru informed us that most of the Dartford's were knocked out during the bitter cold spell in December 2008. This year there is only one breeding pair on the Forest and they were not showing for us.

The goodies included woodlarks, tree pipits, ring ouzel, redstart, and a particularly great view of crossbills having a pinecone feast only a few metres from our observation point.

In total we counted 34 species, which may not seem a lot, but there was quality, and 15/20 crossbills all at one hit would make most peoples day.

Glen Peacock

Sunday 10 May

Lakenheath Fen/Lackford Lakes, Suffolk

Coach Trip with Glen Peacock

Our annual coach trip was this year a double-header on the 10m of May to RSPB Lakenheath Fen and to the Suffolk Wildlife Trust reserve at Lackford Lakes. An early start, but it was a lovely late spring morning. We were lucky enough to keep the good weather with us throughout the day and we had plenty of warm sunshine, light winds and dry ground underfoot.

Lakenheath in the spring is now a star attraction and there were plenty of other birdwatchers enticed by the birding riches on offer. Our group was divided between those who adopted a laidback approach to enjoying the sights and sounds of what was around, and those who moved more determinedly through the reserve to the recommended viewing points where golden oriole and crane had been seen earlier.

Plenty was seen and heard by all, but the cranes remained elusive. Apparently they had temporarily left the reserve for nearby potato fields.

Most heard the calls of the golden orioles but were not lucky enough to see them. Some did catch glimpses as they flitted from tree to tree, and others were luckier (or more skilful) still, and got good views of both males and the recently arrived females as they flew backwards and forwards between the two major plantations.

Other notable features of the day were the large number of hobby in the air at any one time. The number of cuckoos seen and heard, a booming bittern, the songs of reed and sedge warbler from the reed beds, sightings of bearded tit, marsh and hen harriers, various wildfowl, reed buntings and the many whitethroats.

After a very pleasant stay, we re-embarked on our coach for the short trip to Lackford. On the way we saw red-legged partridge but not the stone curlew reported to be in the area last spring, On arrival we all had a welcome cuppa or two, and then made our way to the various hides. Lacktord Lakes are a number of small flooded former gravel pits, now surrounded by mature scrub, trees and reed beds. This provides a variety of habitats, and although some of the bird species present were common to Lakenheath, a good number of others were seen.

This included several Egyptian geese, a lone barnacle goose, several other species of wildfowl, waders such as ringed plover and oystercatcher, grebes, nightingale (heard but not seen) and various woodland birds including jay and tree creeper.

Overall during the day we saw a total of 73 bird species, a range of moths and butterflies, several species of deer and a weasel. As usual, a full list of the birds and other wildlife may be seen in on our website.

Our thanks go to Glen Peacock for organising the trip so well, and in keeping a coach load of 53 people in order and on time.

As we filled the coach, Glen was able to reduce the price from the original £26 to £20, and then include in this the cost of refreshments at Lackford Lakes and the Group donation to the Suffolk Wildlife Trust. Plus a little something for the driver. He can almost be forgiven for calling a crane as we drove down Strood Hill on our return journey. It turned out the crane he had spotted was not of much interest to bird watchers, but was more for the aficionados of building sites.

Warren Mann

Saturday 30 May

Sevenoaks Wildfowl Reserve (KWT)

Leader Karen Snow

Nine of us turned up to what was a gloriously hot day at Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve. Having visited the week before to discover there was not a lot about other than resident species, 1 had little hope of finding much, especially given the weather. But once we set out we soon started spotting things. A tip-off from a local at the first stop was to come in useful later in the day, but our aim on this first leg was to walk up the side of the East Lake to the Tower Hide and back for coffee at the Visitor Centre.

As we approached the first hide, a couple were standing outside looking hopeful with a camera. We soon discovered that there was a blue tit's nest in the roof overhang by the door. but we crept by and didn’t disturb them. This hide revealed the first few ‘locaIs` for the day, a pair of Egyptian geese and two pairs of little-ringed plovers, along with a few more species of geese and some grebes.

We left this hide to continue our walk and just before the Tower Hide we heard the lovely song of a blackcap. alas we didn’t manage to spot it. but did get a great view of a wren.

The hide itself didn’t reveal much more titan we had already seen, so we quickly moved on. We headed back to the Centre through tl1e woods, but the only bird spotted was a robin.

After our coffee, we headed down past the West Lake en-route to the North Lake. Before we even got going, we heard a garden warbler, a woodpecker was seen, but unfortunately, it was not a lesser, just a great spotted. We carried along over the River Darent and saw a chiffchaff, before squeezing into Carter Hide to see, as tipped off earlier, a kingfisher.

Looking back towards the hide further along the path, we had a grey wagtail. As we continued to walk along, we heard the familiar sounds of a warbler, then we spotted it, hiding in the bottom of the undergrowth, a reed warbler, a quick stop in the hide revealed a mute swan and cygnets. We continued round. but little else of note was seen and we headed back to the car park. However, those that stayed for another coffee, were rewarded by a ring-necked parakeet at the feeders.

A good day and 36 sightings.

Karen Snow

PUBLIC EVENTS

Sunday 24 May

Hempstead Village Fayre, Playing Field,

Hempstead

This annual event had been resurrected after a nine year absence and attracted a large number of stalls from different organisations. The weather was warm and sunny throughout the day.

Rob, Marie and Giuseppe helped Carol and I set up the Group’s stall. Giuseppe staying to help Carol and I man the stall for the morning session, which turned out to be fairly quiet. Warren. Marie and Rob covered the afternoon session, which proved to be somewhat more lively.

As usual we managed to get The RSPB message out to a significant number of people and at the same time sold £25 worth of pin badges, but disappointingly only sold £4.95 of sales goods.

Des Felix

Sunday 21 June

Open Day, Friends of Broomhill Park

The weather was on our side again this year and obviously the word was out that this event, though small, was well worth a visit as there were a lot more people in attendance. Rob and Marie helped Carol and I set up and run the Medway Local Group stall as last year.

The event was supposed to close at 4:00 pm, but was still doing brisk business at 4:15pm. We were able to talk to a number of adults and children about the work of the RSPB, particularly the North Kent Marshes Reserves. Unfortunately we did not sign up any memberships this year, but did manage to take £14.65 in pin badges and £43.78 in sales and over 40 children took part in the Bird Identity Quiz.

Des Felix