Kent weekend field trip, 16-18 September
As it had been several years since a Group ‘away trip’ it had been decided that this year we would try a long weekend in Kent and eight of us made our respective way to the meeting spot at Appledore. For once, perhaps showing our keenness, we were all early. The forecast a day or two beforehand had been for heavy rain but, fortunately, this had passed through earlier and we strolled alongside The Royal Military Canal in cool but sunny conditions. The canal had been built by prisoners of war during the Napoleonic War to aid the rapid movement of troops to the coast in time of invasion.
A really pleasant afternoon was spent wandering along the footpath surrounded by many calling Willow Warblers, finches and tits. Good views were obtained of a Sparrowhawk over the fields and a Kingfisher flying along the canal.
The Broadacre Hotel in New Romney can certainly be recommended if anyone is heading that way. Whilst only a 2 star; it is clean and comfortable, the staff are friendly and helpful and the meals were very good. Excellent value for money! Richard Swinbank can provide more details if anyone is interested.
The next day, Saturday, was the ‘big one’…..the RSPB reserve at Dungeness. This year is actually the 100th year of an RSPB presence at Dungeness (don’t suppose many of you remember that far back and I shall refrain from suggesting those that might!!!). In 1905 an RSPB ‘watcher’ was employed to guard the breeding Kentish Plover and Stone Curlew. Both these birds stopped breeding at the reserve many years ago but it still boasts about 60 breeding species and is very impressive with numerous hides (two of which are new and are probably the best) overlooking lakes created by gravel extraction. The birds seen were too numerous to name them all but Sparrowhawk, and Marsh Harrier were included in the sightings together with many waders including Ruff, Knot, Common and Curlew Sandpiper, Bar-tailed Godwit, Golden, Grey and Ringed Plover plus a fleeting glimpse of a passing Yellow Wagtail. During the afternoon we decamped to the seaside behind the nuclear power station…no buckets and spades and no swimming in case we started to glow! Out at see Gannets were seen and close in by the power station water outlet were a large flock of terns, Common, Sandwich and one Black plus numerous gulls including a Mediterranean Gull.
On Sunday, after another hearty breakfast, we headed off to visit Stodmarsh, in the Stour valley east of Canterbury. Although most of us managed to find the way there, unfortunately John and Tony ended up in the opposite corner of Kent. Having made contact with Tony on the phone, the rest of us set off without them. After a walk through part of the woodland nature trail, we headed for the reed-bed hide. As we approached, a bird flashed overhead, landing out of sight, making a distinctive loud metallic call. Ray recognised it as a Hawfinch. Once we had stationed ourselves in the hide, we started to see Mallards, Coots, a Little Grebe, several distant Great Crested Grebes. Carolyn shouted “Hobby”. Throughout the morning they were hawking for dragonflies over the valley. Ray heard Bearded Tits. We kept our eyes peeled and saw a couple of them flitting between the reeds.
We walked on, and bumped into John and Tony, heading in the opposite direction(!). We continued along the causeway, stopping several times, seeing the Bearded Tits again. Not to mention a couple of Bullfinches calling from a tree and a Marsh Harrier flying over the reedbeds. Once we had spent a short time in the Lake Tower hide (where we had a quick flyby from a Peregrine), we had to head back to the cars. On the way we were halted by the sound of Water Rails. Either that, or a couple of squealing piglets were stuck in one of the ditches. While most of the group drove back to Devon, Val and Richard were staying on an extra night and went back south to Rye Harbour. There we actually managed to see a Water Rail!
Altogether a fully enjoyable and worthwhile visit and our thanks go to Richard for organising it, also to Ray Jones for his identification skills and knowledge without which we may well have missed a number of species.
Being out in the countryside, with good company, good food and plenty of bird life, is what it’s all about.
Birds seen:
x - species seen during main trip (afternoon on 16th to morning of 18th) 99 in all 1 - additional species seen by VP & RS on afternoon of 18th at Rye Harbour Locations: 16th - Appledore (canal) 17th - New Romney, Dungeness (reserve, ARC pits and sea), Camber and Pett Levels 18th - New Romney, Stodmarsh and (VP and RS) Rye Harbour
| 16 | 17 | 18 | |
| Mute Swan | x | x | x |
| Greylag Goose | x | x | |
| Canada Goose | x | ||
| Shelduck | x | 1 | |
| Wigeon | x | ||
| Gadwall | x | x | |
| Teal | x | 1 | |
| Mallard | x | x | x |
| Pintail | x | ||
| Shoveler | x | x | |
| Pochard | x | ||
| Tufted Duck | x | ||
| Common Scoter | x | ||
| Ruddy Duck | x | ||
| Pheasant | x | x | |
| Little Grebe | x | x | |
| Great Crested Grebe | x | x | |
| Gannet | x | ||
| Cormorant | x | x | |
| Little Egret | x | 1 | |
| Grey Heron | x | x | x |
| Marsh Harrier | x | x | |
| Sparrowhawk | x | x | x |
| Kestrel | x | 1 | |
| Hobby | x | ||
| Peregrine | x | ||
| Water Rail | x | ||
| Moorhen | x | x | x |
| Coot | x | x | |
| Oystercatcher | x | 1 | |
| Ringed Plover | x | 1 | |
| Golden Plover | x | 1 | |
| Grey Plover | x | 1 | |
| Lapwing | x | x | x |
| Knot | x | 1 | |
| Sanderling | 1 | ||
| Little Stint | x | ||
| Curlew Sandpiper | x | ||
| Dunlin | x | 1 | |
| Ruff | x | ||
| Black-tailed Godwit | x | ||
| Bar-tailed Godwit | x | 1 | |
| Whimbrel | x | ||
| Curlew | x | 1 | |
| Redshank | x | 1 | |
| Common Sandpiper | x | ||
| Turnstone | x | ||
| Mediterranean Gull | x | ||
| Black-headed Gull | x | x | |
| Common Gull | x | ||
| Lesser Black-backed Gull | x | 1 | |
| Herring Gull | x | x | x |
| Great Black-backed Gull | x | 1 | |
| Sandwich Tern | x | 1 | |
| Common Tern | x | ||
| Black Tern | x | ||
| Feral Pigeon | x | x | 1 |
| Stock Dove | x | x | x |
| Wood Pigeon | x | x | x |
| Collared Dove | x | x | x |
| Kingfisher | x | ||
| Green Woodpecker | x | x | |
| Great Spotted Woodpecke | x | ||
| Sand Martin | x | x | |
| Barn Swallow | x | x | x |
| House Martin | x | x | x |
| Meadow Pipit | 1 | ||
| Yellow Wagtail | x | ||
| Grey Wagtail | x | ||
| Pied Wagtail | x | x | 1 |
| Wren | x | ||
| Dunnock | x | x | |
| Robin | x | x | |
| Whinchat | x | ||
| Stonechat | x | ||
| Wheatear | x | 1 | |
| Blackbird | x | x | 1 |
| Mistle Thrush | x | x | |
| Cettis Warbler | x | x | |
| Sedge Warbler | x | ||
| Chiffchaff | x | x | |
| Willow Warbler | x | x | |
| Bearded Tit | x | ||
| Long-tailed Tit | x | x | |
| Blue Tit | x | x | |
| Great Tit | x | x | |
| Jay | x | ||
| Magpie | x | x | x |
| Jackdaw | x | x | x |
| Rook | x | x | |
| Carrion Crow | x | x | 1 |
| Starling | x | x | x |
| House Sparrow | x | x | |
| Chaffinch | x | ||
| Greenfinch | x | ||
| Goldfinch | x | ||
| Siskin | x | ||
| Linnet | x | x | 1 |
| Bullfinch | x | ||
| Hawfinch | x | ||
| Reed Bunting | x | ||