News from Gravesend RSPB

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2010-04-30T22:55:00.001+01:00

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Outdoor meeting - Rye Harbour NNR

2010-04-28T13:00:00.000+01:00

This Saturday, May 1st, we will be visiting Rye Harbour Nature Reserve.

Meet in the reserve car park next to the Martello Tower, TQ941189 (TN31 7TY) ready for a 10am start. WE SUGGEST A VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION OF £2 PER PERSON.

This is a mosaic of habitats with a variety of bird species to match!

Leader: Sue Healey

Stodmarsh - Sunday 26th April - Trip Report

2010-04-27T14:32:00.000+01:00

Apologies for the quality of the photo, but we had to share our first cuckoo of the year!

18 folk joined Ian for our second Stodmarsh walk this year. We walked through the woodland initially, where we were surrounded by birdsong; chiffchaff, blackcap and bursts of cetti's warbler. Everyone managed to get good views of both male and female blackcap, and several people saw a tree creeper. As we moved further along the track there was the unmistakable start of nightingale song. As the group gathered nearby, the song built and we were treated to a full range of the superb repertoire, typically despite our efforts there was no clear sighting.

Light rain fell as we neared the end of the woodland, but the sound of water rail, sedge and reed warbler and the booming of bittern spurred us on. Several people got views of the warblers, and a female bearded tit was seen flying low over the reeds by one lucky person. Throughout the day we were treated to great views of both male and female harrier.

As we moved along it soon became apparent that there were a lot of visitors to the reserve and as our thoughts turned to lunch, (and a comfortable spot to partake thereof) we decided to push on. Surrounded by the sedge and reed warblers and still with the occasional 'boom', our only stop was for a cuckoo, which the whole group saw - I just knew that Stodmarsh wouldn't let us down.

Lunch brought views of common terns from Feast's Hide. We moved onto the viewpoint at the Grove Ferry end of the reserve, and soon had a splendid view of garganey in the 'scopes. One of the many highlights of the day was a great view of a hobby circling overhead enabling everyone to get good views, with huge numbers of swift, swallow and house martin flying over the pools.

Ian led us back through the reserve along the river, and here we saw whitethroat, great spotted woodpecker, greenshank, redshank, dunlin, little egret, and willow warbler.

A great day out, thanks to Ian for arranging both the birds and the weather!

YTD Group Total - 117

Riverside Country Park - Tuesday 20th April - Trip Report

2010-04-24T18:16:00.003+01:00

Another lovely sunny day greeted the dozen or so meeting at this Medway reserve for the first of our Tuesday walks for the year.

Our main efforts were to be towards Berengrave and the reed beds hoping to catch up with some spring migrants along the way. Before we had left the car park we had stunning views of three sparrowhawk.

Our attention was soon drawn towards a blackcap which most of the group managed to see. As we walked along the riverside we concentrated on the trees and bushes - the tide being about as far out as it is possible to be! Another blackcap sat up in much better light and everyone got good views of this bird. There was a green woodpecker feeding in the orchard. A silent whitethroat flew across our view and then sat allowing us to get good telescope views. The telescope also became vital for spotting distant birds on the river with shelduck, teal, oystercatcher, greater and lesser black-backed gull, little egret, black-tailed godwit (coming into bright summer plumage) and whimbrel being among the sightings.

As we moved down the path we heard whitethroat, along with lesser whitethroat and cetti's warbler. Goldfinches and long-tailed tits flew around and we saw a kestrel mobbing another sparrowhawk.

At the end of the path we crossed the road following the call of nightingale, we entered into the reed bed reserve. At one stage we could hear three separate birds singing, and our patience was eventually rewarded when several members of the group saw a nightingale fly low across the path. A chiffchaff was spotted calling from a nearby treetop and several swallow and house martin flew by.

On our return journey, a cuckoo was heard by a couple of members of the group, but despite our keen ears and eyes we didn't managed to catch up with it again.

Thanks to Malcolm for leading an excellent walk, on a lovely spring day.

As for the Cuckoo, well there's always next time - hopefully Stodmarsh on Sunday!

Group Total Year to Date 110 species

Outdoor meeting - Stodmarsh NNR

2010-04-22T13:00:00.000+01:00

This Sunday, 25th April, we will be visiting Stodmarsh NNR.

Meet in the reserve car park TR221608 (CT3 4BE) ready for a 10am start.

Possible species are wildfowl, snipe, water rail, kingfisher, bearded tit, marsh harrier, hobby, warblers and nightingale.

Leader: Ian Griffin

Outdoor meeting - Riverside Country Park

2010-04-18T13:00:00.000+01:00

This Tuesday, 20th April, we have a morning meeting at the Riverside Country Park.

Meet in the reserve car park TQ807683 (ME7 2XH) in time for a 10am start.

For wildfowl and waders, plus the possibility of early migrants.

The visitor centre has a cafe for refreshments afterwards.

Leader: Malcolm Jennings

Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve KWT Saturday 10th April - Trip Report

2010-04-13T13:09:00.001+01:00

The birds were singing and the sun was shining - what more could we ask for.

After what has felt like a long and cold winter, 26 enthusiastic folk met for our sunny walk around the KWT Reserve at Sevenoaks. The weather was bright and warm and we were greeted in the car park by a male great spotted woodpecker who performed well flying from tree to tree, enabling most of the gathering group to get good views. Chiffchaff and blackcap were singing in the trees. Soon we were looking at little ringed plover and queuing up for telescope views generously provided by the dedicated chaps prepared to carry them - you know who you are and a big 'thank you'! The yellow eye-ring showed really well and we spent some time watching at this handsome bird.

As we moved along the side of the first lake we quickly had coot, moorhen, shelduck, cormorant, greylag, egyptian and canada goose in our sights. Three long-tailed tits entertained us for a while with their frantic activity, and three blackcap were actively chasing about in a willow tree. Chiffchaff seemed to be all around us with one pair collecting nesting material along the edge of the track and totally unconcerned as we walked past their new home. Cetti's warbler sang away every now and then, and two gregarious robins came very close, demanding our attention.

As the day warmed up the butterflies came out and we managed to see several comma, peacock, a green veined white, and brimstone. A bees nest was spotted in a hole in a tree and the bees were living up to their name busily flying around the area.

Looking over the fields, we spotted stock doves and a pair of pheasant were in the long grass trying to avoid the sheep.

After a break for lunch a short walk back to the East Lake and the Tyler Hide where more water birds were spotted, including a snipe which was doing it's best not to be seen, giving us rather a challenge in describing its whereabouts - but we got there in the end. Walking back alongside the glistening lake, we chatted over the highlights of the day, some taking a cup of tea in the sunshine, wanting to prolong an excellent day out. Spring is finally here.

Many thanks go to Julie and Chris for leading a very successful walk (especially Chris who was suffering from a bad back - what a hero).

Other species seen on the day:

Gadwall, common gull, teal, herring gull, blackbird, mallard, kestrel, jackdaw, crow, pied wagtail, tufted duck, reed bunting, mute swan, great crested grebe, great tit, blue tit, magpie, dunnock, jay, wood pigeon, lapwing, chaffinch, wren.

Total species seen year to date by the group: 102

Indoor Meeting - The wonders of Butterflies

2010-04-11T13:00:00.001+01:00

This Wednesday evening, 14th April, we have an indoor meeting at St Botolphs Hall.

The guest speaker is Peter Kirby, who is the Reserve Manager for the Kent Butterfly Conservation Branch.

The meeting will start at 07:45.

Outdoor meeting - Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve KWT

2010-04-07T13:00:00.000+01:00

This Saturday, 10th April, we will be visiting the Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve.

Meet in the car park ready for a 10am start.

For a variety of waders, wildfowl, snipe, kingfisher, woodpeckers, warblers and tits.

Leaders: Chris and Julie Peeling

Blean Woods 21st March Trip Report

2010-03-24T21:21:00.002Z

21 Group members met at Blean Woods RSPB reserve on Sunday & managed to park in the tiny car park. We were easily out numbered by joggers on a rather cloudy, non-descript day, but at least it wasn't cold. The first sign of Spring was a rabbit collecting dead leaves & taking them down it's burrow, presumably making a 'nest' for the baby bunnies to come.
Not too far down the trail a Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard drumming. Malcolm & Ian looked for it & found a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker instead! It was a long way off & only identifiable with a telescope, but it was seen by several members of the group before
disappearing. Later, we also saw the Great Spotted Woodpecker & the Green Woodpecker. Not many birds were seen but deeper in the woods we could hear the calls of Tits and Chaffinch.
After lunch some of us visited Reculver, where we saw a Wheatear & 68 Mute Swans.
Our total list of birds; jay, blue tit, great tit, long tailed tit, coal tit, chaffinch, wren,
robin, dunnock, lesser spotted woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker, green woodpecker, nuthatch, tree creeper. & at Reculver; little grebe, mallard, herring gull, great crested grebe, black headed gull, mute swan, pied wagtail, meadow pipit, wheatear, blackbird, turnstone, redshank, oystercatcher, sparrow, lapwing (maybe)
Total = 29 spp

Indoor Meeting - The Wonders of Migration

2010-03-20T13:00:00.000Z

There is an indoor meeting this Tuesday, 23rd March at Millbrook Garden Centre.

Peter Holden, former head of the youth section of the RSPB, gives a talk entitled "The wonders of migration".

The meeting starts at 2pm.

Outdoor meeting - Blean Woods RSPB

2010-03-19T13:00:00.000Z

This Sunday, 21st March, we will visit Blean Woods.

Meet in the reserve car park ready for a 10am start.

Leader: Jeff Kirk.

Indoor Meeting - Pharaohs and Pratincoles

2010-03-07T13:00:00.001Z

There is an indoor meeting this Wednesday, 10th March, at St Botolph's Hall.

John Wyatt, an expert birdwatcher and egyptologist, will talk about "Pharaohs and Pratincoles".

The meeting starts at 07:45.

Outdoor meeting - Cliffe Pools RSPB & Northward Hill RSPB

2010-03-03T13:00:00.000Z

There is a meeting this Saturday, 6th March, at Cliffe Pools.

Meet in the new car park off Salt Lane ready for a 10am start.

Afterwards we will visit Northward Hill - meet in the Bromhey Farm car park.

Leader: Malcolm Jennings

Trip report -Stodmarsh 20 February 2010

2010-02-22T10:30:00.000Z

On a bright but very cold day Paul led about a dozen hardy souls on a round trip to take in Grove Ferry and the various hides at Stodmarsh. As the sun warmed up, the paths of frozen mud and ice thawed and we were left traipsing through thick mud! Great fun, but exhausting!

But plenty of birds to see. Bob saw yellowhammers at the entrance to the reserve and a buzzard circled over the car park. On the way to the first hide Irene and Joan saw siskins and redpoll feeding in the alders. Clifford spotted an amazingly well camoflaged snipe in the woodland area. Much of the water around the hides was frozen but there was a good selection of ducks on the open water including pintail. And a shout from Ian alerted us all to a bittern flying over to land in the reed beds. Cetti's were heard and little egrets and herons were around so perhaps the freezing winter has not been too hard on these species.

On the way to the mound Paul and Sam saw bearded reedling although others only heard them. From the mound there were large flocks of lapwings and Steve managed to spot greenwoodpecker along with stonechat in the surrounding fields.

Spring must be in the air as the Konic ponies were very frisky charging about, and a pair of marsh harriers displyed over the reeds.

But near the end of our visit we saw a delightful pair of little owls near the farm and to end the day a pair of bullfinches feeding in the bushes near the car park.

Overall we saw most of the birds you would expect to see, some 50 species in total.

Thanks Paul for a great day out!

Indoor Meeting - Marine Mammals and Wildlife

2010-02-20T13:00:00.001Z

There is an indoor meeting this Tuesday, 23rd Feb, at Millbrook Garden Centre.

"Marine Mammals and Wildlife", by Jon Bramley.

On his last visit, we learnt about otters in Kent, now join us to hear what Jon has to say on this subject.

Meeting starts at 14:00

Outdoor meeting - Stodmarsh NNR

2010-02-18T13:00:00.000Z

There is a meeting this Saturday, 20th Feb, at Stodmarsh NNR.

Meet in the reserve car park ready for a 10am start.

Leader: Paul Yetman

Indoor Meeting - Of Birds, Of People, Of Whatever

2010-02-08T13:00:00.000Z

Don't forget the indoor meeting this Wednesday, 10th Feb, at St Botolph's Hall.

The guest speaker is Andy Hay, an RSPB staff photographer whose work regularly features in the RSPB BIRDS magazine.

Meeting starts at 07:45

Trip Report - Shellness February 7th 2010

2010-02-07T20:25:00.002Z

A damp & cold day, but nevertheless there were a good number of us at Shellness, & later at Capel Fleet, to see 45 bird species. The highlight of the day was the 400-500 Brent Geese feeding on the fields at Shellness, one of which, according to Bob, was of the Pale Bellied variety!

The 45 species were;
Oystercatcher, turnstone, curlew, redshank, sandling, knot, ringed plover, grey plover, golden plover, herring gull, black-headed gull, common gull, brent geese, greylag geese, whitefronted geese, red-legged partridge, lapwing, pheasant, wood pigeon, crow, jackdaw, magpie, mute swan, mallard, teal, gadwall, shelduck, chaffinch, reed bunting, greenfinch, robin, blackbird, stonechat, kestrel, sparrowhawk, marsh harrier, starling, moorhen, coot, snipe, pied wagtail, green woodpecker, little egret, grey heron, & finally, redwing.

Outdoor meeting - Shellness NNR & Capel Fleet RSPB Watchpoint

2010-02-04T13:00:00.000Z

Don't forget the meeting this Sunday, 7th Feb at Shellness.

Meet by the sea wall as usual. **NB: this is different from meeting point in the 2010 programme - we may drive down to the hamlet car park depending on weather.

Afterwards, we will go on to the RSPB Capel Fleet viewpoint for some raptor watching.

Leader: Jeff Kirk

The Big Garden Birdwatch

2010-01-27T13:00:00.001Z

Don't forget this weekend is BGBW weekend!

A good excuse to spend an hour just sitting and watching the birds in your garden.

Post your results or submit them online via the RSPB website.

Indoor Meeting - the making of Cliffe Pools

2010-01-23T13:00:00.001Z

Come along to Millbrook this Tuesday afternoon to hear our very own Malcolm Jennings talk about Cliffe Pools.

The meeting starts at 2pm.

Herring Gull Update

2010-01-22T11:11:00.001Z

Dungeness 17th Jan

Some of those who attended the outdoor meeting on Sunday noticed a Herring Gull on the beach with a ring. We have ascertained that this bird was ringed by the North Thames Gull Group on 10th January 2009 at Pitsea, and although it has been at Dungeness since 26th January last year, we are the first non-ringers to report it. When it was in its 5th calendar year or older.

Trip report - Dungeness 19th January 2010

2010-01-21T16:13:00.001Z

Plenty of people ventured out after the recent snow and enjoyed a fine sunny day with plenty of "year tick"s and a "life tick" for some with a penduline tit!

Species seen on the day:

(Lighthouse and Beach) Kestrel, Red Throated Diver, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Greater black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Great Crested Grebe, Pied Wagtail, Guillemot, Skylark, Snow Bunting, Magpie, Cormorant

(ARC Pits) Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Shoveler, Coot, Smew, Goosander, Goldeneye,

(Reserve) Blackcap, Mallard, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Marsh Harrier, Wigeon, Pochard, Barnacle Geese, Greylag Geese, Ruddy Duck, Water Rail, Slavonian Grebe, Canada Geese, Lapwing, Black-necked Grebe, Reed Bunting, Bearded Tit, Penduline Tit, Bittern, Redwing

TOTAL SPECIES FOR THE YEAR: 74

Wine and Wisdom Quiz Night

2010-01-18T19:55:00.004Z
On Saturday, March 13th, our friends down the road, The Medway RSPB local group, are having a quiz night at the Memorial Hall, Holly Road, Wainscott, Rochester ME2 4LG.

They're looking for ten teams of 6 and the cost will be £3 per person. All proceeds will go to aid the RSPB.

Tea and coffee facilities will be available, but bring your own wine, nibbles and wisdom!

The hall will be open from 19:00 and the quiz will start at 20:00.

For more information or an entry form, contact David Saunders on 07772 221261 or 01634 251433 or by email