ICE COLD IN RECULVER

Today's headline pays homage to Christopher Landon's 'Ice Cold in Alex'.  However, Reculver was not in any way ,shape or form like North Africa.  I started the morning by actually beating Marc, only by a few minutes though, to our Owl searching spot.  We recorded 2 LONG EARED OWLS with one bird passing closely over our heads.  I added year ticks in the form of Grey and Red Legged Partridge and we arrived at Reculver Towers just after 7.00 a.m.  By 7.15 .am. Marc had lost half his body weight in the nearby Public Convenience and we were soon enoying Kittiwakes, Red Throated Divers and Brent Geese passing the Towers.  A Sparrowhawk buzzed over the Caravan Park and as we passed the Oyster Farm I was fairly confident we had a Red-Breasted Merganser at sea but Judge John Deed was not so certain.  I'm sure we'll be able to add this later in the year to our lists.  Looking out to sea we saw two flocks of c100 birds each of Cormorant flying off in the direction of Herne Bay.  In the words of Blondie 'The Tide is High' and Turnstone, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover and Dunlin were joined by Redshank fairly close to us.  The obligatory Little Egret and Little Grebe were seen and reaching Cold Harbour we met our chums the 3 SHORELARKS.  On our return we were joined by 'Nanook of the North' AKA Chris Hindle in some very natty head gear. We returned to theTowers and in the next 45 minutes 200+ RED-THROATED DIVERS flashed by with a small group  of 9 Wigeon noted . I thawed out in the car and returned home just after 11.30 a.m.

TWO GO TRAVELLING IN KENT

In the words of "Hannibal" Smith "I love it when a plan comes together".  Yesterday, was one of those days in 'Birding' when everything goes right.  I picked Marc up at just after 10.00 am. and we made our way to one of Kent's birding hot spots 'Tescos' car park in Whitstable.  On site already was 'Robin' in the shape of Mike Gould but unfortunately his partner must have still been in the 'Bat cave'  searching through several thousand images of Waxwings.  After 20 minutes wait, the flock of 24 WAXWINGS alighted in the trees in the car park and Marc hiding in the trolley park area managed a few pictures.

We made our way to Dungeness to hopefully see the GLAUCOUS GULL which had managed to elude Mark Chidwick on previous visits.  However after arriving in the lay-by next to the fishing boats we immediately sighted the bird loafing around on a shingle ridge in the company of a few Herring Gulls and dwarfing the two Black-Headed Gulls standing sentry each side of it.  After 15 minutes the biting wind got the better of us and we moved on.

A smooth ride onto Dymchurch for Marc to see the Northern Long-Tailed Tits was our next port of call.  Within 30 seconds the mixed flock of Long-Tailed Tits were visible in the trees in the churchyard and the next 45 minutes tested Marc's skills to the limit as they moved at pace from branch to branch and tree to tree.  However, we managed to see 5 birds interspersed with approximately 6 'ordinary' Long-Tailed Tits.

Our final port of call was the Denge Wood in Canterbury to hopefully see the wintering HAWFINCH.  This would be a new Kent bird for me as I had been too lazy to venture to Bedgebury.  With the weather closing in and drizzle beginning to fall, the first bird was soon picked out sitting happily on top of a distant conifer and soon six other birds flew in to roost and we left very happy just before 3.00 p.m.  Marc managed to get his passport stamped and I dropped him off home for his tea, 'Primeval' and an early night after so much excitement for one day.

DAY TRIP TO DYMCHURCH

Amazingly on waking up this morning the sun was attempting to break through and I decided to make a trip to Dymchurch to see the long staying NORTHERN LONG TAILED TITS.  My wife very kindly agreed to chauffeur me down and we arrived just before 10.30 a.m.  There was only one other birder in the churchyard who had not seen the birds but help was on its way with the arrival of 'Batman and Robin', Steve Ashton and Mike Gould.  We spent the next 20 minutes unsuccessfully searching the area.  However, just before 11.00 a.m. the Cavalry arrived in the form of Martyn Wilson, Mark Chidwick and other assorted birders.  Chidders found some 'ordinary' Long-tailed tits, but no sign of the 'Special Ones'.  Mike needed a 'tea-break' - no surprise there and Martyn and myself decided to search the area again.  On reaching a more secluded area I immediately heard LONG TAILED TITS calling and a couple of minutes later a superb NORTHERN LONG TAILED TIT popped onto a branch a few metres away.  Then two more emerged from a ivy clad tree.  Martyn contacted the rest of the gang and for the next 45 minutes about a dozen of us enjoyed excellent views of these beautiful visitors.

Thanks Martyn for the images.

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

Meeting Marc at just after 7.15 a.m. this morning it was fairly obvious that it was going to be very hard work.  Two Woodcocks whizzed around and we started to walk down to the sea wall via the railway and riding stables a single Sparrowhawk made an appearance and the first of 3 Green woodpeckers made the notebook.  The HOODED CROW was spotted by Marc with a gang of his new friends and as we reached the riding stables a Peregrine was showing off to a few Crows and when we reached the sea wall we were thrilled to see 4 Curlews as this was a year tick for us both. (Hope you've noticed the irony).  Our walk along the sea wall was significant as there was nearly as many dogs as birds. Highlight (honest) was a juvenile Kittiwake but just for the record we recorded c200 Wigeon, 58 Oystercatchers and an impressive 48 Shelduck and 8 Redshank at Cold Harbour.  The walk inland along the railway embankment was a bit like the Somme but the adrenalin pumped when we saw 2 Shovelers to add to our year lists.  We returned to our cars at just after 11.00 a.m. and another weekend with the Rough Legged Buzzard still AWOL .

RECULVER IN THE SUNSHINE

After yesterday's desperate conditions it was fortunately much brighter, clearer and crisper at Reculver today.  On our walk down to Cold Harbour 15 Mute Swans were mooching around in the fields by the Oyster Farm.  Two big gangs of Cormorant numbering 70+ each time and similar numbers of Lapwing flew over the Towers.  Six Carrion Crows made the notebook but the 'Hoodie' seems to have moved on to pastures new.  Redshank, Turnstone, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover and over 20 Oystercatcher fed happily on the beach but still no Knot or Curlew for the year list.  The obligatory Little Grebes and Egret plus approximately 200 Wigeon at Cold Harbour were joined by 20 Shelduck.  We soon found the 3 SHORELARKS and Marc fired off a few photographs but muttered about the light to himself.  On our walk back we met Ann and Chris and about 10 other birders on a pilgrimage to see and photograph the Shorelarks.  For a decent image of them check out the KOS website and view Mark Chidwick's pics.  We set up at Brook in the hope of finding the Rough-Legged Buzzard but again were unlucky.  However, 2 Marsh Harriers were seen, and Marc picked up a Ring-tail HEN HARRIER which was a very welcome addition to the year list .... and Jay.  A very enjoyable session was had by all.