Driving around in the Automobile

Despite the gloomy weather and cold easterlies of late, various trips out have been made, plus a few interesting sightings on the commute to and from work.



23rd February

Hothfield, 09:00 to 11:00, Hothfield Heathlands KWT
16 Mandarin Ducks, 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 2 Lapwings (flew over), 1 Snipe, 1 Stock Dove, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Robin, 1 Redwing, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Jay, 1 Yellowhammer

Potman's Heath, 12:00 to 13:00
7 Pintails (incl 4 drakes with large numbers of Teal, Wigeon and Mallard), 2 Cormorants, 2 Redwing (one field contained 5 species of Thrush).

Appledore, 13:00 to 14:00
1 Little Egret, 1 Great White Egret (in a ditch by Appledore Turkey Farm), 1 Marsh Harrier (immature), 1 Green Sandpiper (flushed by the Marsh Harrier from the ditches by Fairfield Church).



28th February

Maidstone, 16:00
26 Waxwings (in tree by entrance to Park Wood Trading Estate, Sutton Road).



2nd March

Ashford, 13:10
11 Waxwings (flew over Godinton Park towards Singleton) - cleaning the car does have its birding benefits.

Conningbrook GP, 17:00 to 18:00
4 Mute Swans, c20 Wigeon, 4 Teal, 3 Pintail (incl 1 drake), 2 Shoveler, 15 Pochard, 1 Scaup (female with Tufted Ducks and Pochard - 2nd record for us here - this bird had relocated to Eastwell Lake on the 4th March.), 6 Little Egrets (roosting on middle lake), 1 Grey Heron, 4 Kestrels, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, c60 Fieldfare (roosting), 1 Chiffchaff.



3rd March

Seaton Gravel Pits, 10:00 to 12:00
5 Pintails (incl 3 drakes on main lake), 2 Goldeneyes (a pair on the smaller lake viewed from footpath), 2 Goosanders (a pair on the main lake), 1 Little Grebe, 3 Great Crested Grebes,
1 Slavonian Grebe (on main lake but no sign of Black-necked Grebe), 1 Bittern (flushed along the Little Stour), 2 Marsh Harriers, 5 Common Buzzards, 1 Kestrel (male), 1 Mediterranean Gull (adult in advanced summer plumage moult with Herring, Black-headed and Common Gulls), 1 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers (drumming), 4 Grey Wagtails (2 by the car parking area, 1 along Little Stour between the pits & 1 in Wickhambreux on the bridge by the mill), 2 Long-tailed Tits.

Chilham, 13:00
1 Kingfisher (Pickleden Lane - bridge over the River Stour) - a nice find by Angela.



5th March

Bethersden, 16:00
1 Barn Owl (hunting by Odiam Farm, Bethersden Road) - a pleasant sight on my way home today.