WALK BY THE MEDWAY SUNDAY 30 JAN

Water Rail by Canon Lane Bridge

This Water Rail was not so shy

Below The Police Helicopter searching

 Below a Long Tailed Tit for you Julian

Swans feeding by the river

Below Eldridge Lock

Set off  later than usual today, 09.30, so wasn't anticipating seeing much. As I walked from Cannon Lane Bridge first picture of the day was of a Long Tailed Tit, nice to see these birds have survived the long cold spell, so far!  Over head I could hear the sound of a helicopter.  A quick look through my binoculars I could see it was the police helicopter searching.  Not very wildlife but thought I would include it anyway.  A little later police cars with their sirens blazing so not the quietest of mornings.  I then noticed a bird fly up from the river with a white rump calling as it flew, a Green Sandpiper.  I have made three visits now to Cannon Lane and have spotted this bird every time.  I will try my best to scare one your way Warren!! 

The third pic of the day was of the Swans feeding in the field, there were nine Mute Swans and two cygnets.  At that moment a large black labrador came running at me jumping up, I dont mind dogs but I wish people would train them not to jump all over you.  I find it irritating enough when there are dogs about but I suppose they have to have their walks.  At one point there were nine dogs all in a group barking but the worst thing of all was the woman shouting for them to keep quiet.  Think I prefer the dogs barking!  No one seems to pick their "mess" up........enough moaning, I will now continue with my walk.

All the watery pools that formed after the ice melt are now just solid ice so nothing too see there today.  I scanned around them anyway to see if I could see a Snipe but alas, nothing.

Though I would take a picture of Eldridge Lock, I will spend a bit of time here in the future to see if I can get a nice picture of a Kingfisher as there are lots of nice overhanging branches near the Lock.

Time to head off home.  When I reach Cannon Lane Bridge I saw a small bird fly across the river.  I thought it was like a young Moorhen but then I thought it couldnt be.  A quick look through my bins revealed it was a Water Rail, I couldnt believe my luck cos this is such a secretive bird.  It is always exciting to see a not so common bird.  Heart racing I started snapping away hoping for a good picture and the best I could do is above.  I really much find someone who can show me how to make the most of my new camera.  That was a perfect end to a two hour walk.  Sorry I moaned about the dogs.

Bird list for the day

Magpie

Robin

Black Headed Gull

Blackbird

Herring Gull

Blue Tit

Greenfinch

Long Tailed Tit

Great Tit

Wood Pigeon

Green Sandpiper

Moorhen

Fieldfare

Bullfinch

Goldfinch

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Reed Bunting

Jay

Pheasant

Red Wing

Water Rail

A WALK ALONG THE MEDWAY SUNDAY 17 JAN

A very blurred Green Sandpiper

Blackheaded Gulls and Lapwing

More Blackheaded Gulls and Lapwing

First view of the pools formed by rapid ice thaw

Can you see a Shoveler in the background Warren

Not perfect but i like this Wren Picture

Above and below the near overflowing Medway

Today I set off along the Medway at 07.45. The sky was clear and not as cold as the weatherman had predicted.   The river looked like it was boiling in places caused by the under currents, better not get too close, I cant swim!  I didnt think today was going to be too good but as I walked I was soon proved wrong.  I looked across the fields and great water pools had formed due to the rapid ice thaw and on those pools were dozens of Black Headed Gulls and Lapwing.  In amongst all this was a lone Green Sandpiper which always exciting to see this also prompted a quick call on the mobile to Warren Pittswood birds Baker to confirm my sighting. As I was scanning the Black Headed Gulls looking for a Common Gull in the background I saw a Shoveler, so this is where I stood for most of my time out this morning hoping that another species or two might drop in. Alas not to be but it was  very enjoyable watching all those birds feeding, I also did not think I would rack up 40 species today either.  On the way back to the car I spotted a Kingfisher flying away from me up the Medway I hope to get some nice pictures of this bird on future walks. Below is my species list for today.

BLACK HEADED GULL

MAGPIE

WOOD PIGEON

HERRING GULL

 COLLARD DOVE

ROBIN

GOLD FINCH

BLUE TIT

FIELDFARE

CARRION CROW

STARLING

SONG THRUSH

LONG TAILED TIT

GREAT TIT

GREENFINCH

CORMORANT

GREY LAG GOOSE

BLACKBIRD

BULLFINCH

MOORHEN

PHEASANT

HERON

DUNNOCK

LAPWING

MUTE SWAN

GREY WAGTAIL

WREN

MALLARD

SNIPE

GREEN SANDPIPER

SHOVELER

MISTLE THRUSH

REED BUNTING

GREEN WOODPECKER

GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER

STOCK DOVE

JAY

YELLOW  HAMMER

CHAFFINCH

KINGFISHER

Sunday 10th Jan, Walk by the Medway River in Tonbridge.

Vixen in next doors garden.

Redwing in my garden on patio.

Above and below is a Great Spotted Woodpecker

A nice Mute Swan having a preen

A few Greylag Geese.

Took a walk to Eldridge lock today, set off around 7.30 am the weather forecast predicted heavy snow overnight and a bone chilling wind how wrong they were, fifteen minutes into the walk i was sweating buckets. First bird of the day was a Wren followed by a Magpie, Carrion crow Blue tit I looked across the fields and saw some Greylag geese i took a piture not very good but have included it. Next on the list were Starling, Bullfinch, i was very suprised by the amount of Bullfinches there were, one flock of a dozen or more. Another common bird by the Medway are Cormorants a colleague at work,a shooter, tells me they are decimating fish stocks and ought to be shot, All these sorts of people need is an excuse i dont know why they cannot leave nature to sort itself out.

 On with the walk Heron, Black Headed Gull, Wood pigeon. The snow was starting to fall a bit heavy i thought i better put my camera away, but just before i did i snapped a pic of a mute swan preening itself. Lapwing, Stock dove and Canada Goose. It really is a bit bleak by the river today the water level is very low, but ime sure that wiil change in the next few days when all the snow melts. Just then a beautiful male Kestrel flew over got to be one of my favorite birds. Moorhen, Collard Dove, Songthrush. In The distance i could hear a Great Spotted Woodpecker druumming. Great Tit, Gold Finch, Robin. As I was walking back a Kingfisher perched on a branch about 25 yards in front of me what a lovely sight that was. Just as i finishing my walk i heard a Green Woodpecker making the the total bird count today 26 species.

There was also plenty happening in the back garden today A Redwing appeared on the patio, never had one of those in the garden before so i snpped a pic, also a Great Spotted Woodpecker on next doors fat ball and Fox a Vixen.

Medway walk from Cannon Lane to Hartlake with Phil

Moon in the early morning sky.


Cormorants at sunrise

Great Tit (parus major)

Greylag Goose and a pair of Hybrids

Bad photo of a Grey Wagtail

Female Reed Bunting ?

Little Egret in flight

Same Little Egret from another angle

A nice shot of a Robin in the woods.

Male Sparrowhawk taken through glass at home.

Yesterday Phil http://www.cedarcrescentblog.blogspot.com and I decided to take a walk along the river Medway, as we set off I snapped a picture of the moon in the early morning sky.

First bird of the day was a Magpie followed by Black Headed Gull and Herring Gull. We looked across the river and noticed a tree with Cormorants roosting on it, they looked really nice in silhouette back lit by the rising sun, i snapped a picture.

We set off again then we heard a Great Tit calling, I snapped another pic, we then spotted Blackbird and Robin and Dunnock, we heard Greenfinch and Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Then the spot of the day - Kingfisher. A true gem of a bird and one that always eludes me on the Oxonhoath Patch.

Looking up we saw a Heron fly over and a Pheasant was calling in the distance, Blue Tit Wood Pigeon and Carrion Crow were now on the days list quickly followed by Wren and Goldfinch.

Then we heard the call of a wader, we saw it flying off away from us it had a white rump, a quick call to our good friend Warren Baker confirmed that what we had seen was a Green Sandpiper.

Pied Wagtail , Moorhen and a group of Mute Swans were feeding across the other side of the river. Greylag Goose and a pair of white hybrid Geese were paddling on the river, time to snap another picture.

Then another picture snapped of a female Reed Bunting, not very good but I thought i might as well include it. we then saw a Grey Wagtail feeding on the river bank , another bad picture also included.

Song Thrush, a nice female Bullfinch and Yellowhammer were then seen. Starling, Jay, Kestrel. A lone female Mallard swam up the the river. A Stock Dove flew over.

We crossed the river at Eldridge Lock, we had a good look around and came across a couple of owl boxes on telegraph poles, Phil and I will be keeping an eye on these in the future, then Phil spotted a Little Egret up in the trees, we tried to get close but it soon spooked and took flight, I snapped a couple of pictures.

The snowy weather was starting to close in so we headed back. On the way, Long Tailed Tits feeding in the the woods. As we moved on a large flock of Lapwing flew over, always nice to see.

The snow was coming down very hard now, as we walked a Snipe was flushed from around the icy pools in the middle of the field. We were soon back home and having a nice cup of tea and shortbread biscuits. As we watched the feeders in the garden a male Sparrowhawk dropped in and I managed to take a picture through the glass. A good days birding had by all.