Margate Cemetery Birder

Friday 30th September

Well another good potential birding month comes to an end and the last few days have certainly been hard work, but there's one thing for sure Dave and I now have a cracking sun tan. Today in the hot humid weather we both once again stretched it out for another 5 hours, and for the birding it was slightly better than yesterday with a few bits on the move. Birds noted included 1 Redwing, 1 Brambling, 1 Redstart, 3 Whinchats, 1 Garden Warbler, 12 Chiffchaffs, 7 Blackcaps, 55 Siskins with more unseen overhead, 2 Grey Wagtails, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 40 Chaffinches, 6 Goldcrests, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 40 Meadow Pipits, 7 Pied Wagtails, 20 Linnets, 7 Long-tailed Tits, a small arrival of 14 Jays, 6 Ring-necked Parakeets, 30 Starlings and 20 Black-headed Gulls.

Thursday 29th September

Today yet again was another difficult session in hot and humid conditions and especially with most of the recent warblers pushing through, even so it still produced 6 Whinchats, 4 Wheatears, 1 female Peregrine, 5 Siskins, 1 Redpoll, 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps, 11 Grey Partridges, 10 Linnets, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Kestrels, 6 Meadow Pipits, 4 Skylarks, 2 Pied Wagtails and 1 Jackdaw hell we need some overnight rain.

Wednesday 28th September

It was certainly hot and humid today but at least, and at long last for the best, the wind seems to be changing direction. Dave and I watched the patch for quite a time and there was more nice birds to enjoy including 3 more Fieldfares which showed in the crematorium followed with 5 Whinchats. Other bits included 2 Garden Warblers, 7 Blackcaps, 10 Chiffchaffs, 15+ Siskins, 1 Redpoll, 1 Grey Wagtail, 5 Goldcrests, 6 Chaffinches, 9 Meadow Pipits, 7 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 7 Pied Wagtails, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 25 Greenfinches, 20 Linnets, 4 Jays, 12 Mistle Thrushes, 50 Black-headed Gulls, 200+ Herring Gulls, 3 Rooks and 1 Ring-necked Parakeet.

Tuesday 27th September

Although Dave and I recorded a good total of 43 species it was very hard going in the 6 hours that we had, but saying that there was a few bits to enjoy including 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1-2 Garden Warblers, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Whitethtoat, 19 Chiffchaffs, 12 Blackcaps, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 6 Siskins, 4 Goldcrests, 18 Lapwings, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Chaffinches, 20 Meadow Pipits, 15 Linnets, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 3 Kestrels, 2 Pied Wagtails, 25 Greenfinches, 1 Rook, 4 Jackdaws, 200+ Black-headed Gulls, 450+ Herring Gulls, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 4 Skylarks.

Monday 26th September

Dave and I watched the patch from 8:20am - 1pm, which produced another new species when 7 Curlew Sandpipers headed south/west over the cemetery at 9:05am, yet another excellent record for this superb birding patch. This certainly set up the rest of the day especially when the first Brambling arrived which was heard calling over the garden of rest, also noted was 1 Sand Martin, 600+ House Martins, 120 Swallows, 32 Chiffchaffs, 21 Blackcaps, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Hobby's, 8 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 18 Lapwings, 6 Golden Plovers, 2 Siskins, 4 Goldcrests, 3 Chaffinches, 2 Pied Wagtails, 25 Linnets, 30 Greenfinches, 8 Long-tailed Tits, 6 Jays, 6 Meadow Pipits and 15 Magpies.

Sunday 25th September

Highlights today between 3 - 4:20pm, included 2 Hobby's 1 Whinchat, 6 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 53 Swallows and 10 House Martins.

Saturday 24th September

It was a bit disappointing today with just over a hour of coverage possible especially as it was pretty good within that period, bits on the move included 7 Crossbills west, 15+ Siskins and 9 Swallows, also noted was 25 Blackcaps, 27 Chiffchaffs, 1 Wheatear, 15 Mistle Thrushes, 1 Sparrowhawk, 35 Linnets, 2 Jackdaws, 6 Meadow Pipits, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 2 Green Woodpeckers.

Friday 23rd September

Today had excellent coverage with Dave and I watching the place for just over 7 hours, in that time we recorded 41 Chiffchaffs, 21 Blackcaps, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Whinchats, 1 Wheatear, 28 Swallows, 78 Meadow Pipits, 3 Chaffinches, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrels, 50 Linnets, 15 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Green Woodpeckers and 7 Pied Wagtails.

Thursday 22nd September

Dave and I covered the patch for just over 6 hours and between us we recorded 1 Redstart, 1 Tree Pipit, 2 Garden Warblers, 1 Whitethroat, 25 Chiffchaffs, 10 Blackcaps, 9 Swallows, 3 Goldcrests, 1 Sparrowhawk, 60 Linnets, 11 Pied Wagtails and 2 Green Woodpeckers.

Tuesday 20th September

Today I only had an hour spare but it did produce an early surprise when 3 Fieldfares headed west over the cemetery, apart from that there was 15 Chiffchaffs, 7 Blackcaps, 17 House Martins, 7 Swallows, 40 Linnets, 2 Chaffinches and 1 Goldcrest.

Monday 19th September

Once again today was a little hard work with a poor westerly wind but it did produce 1 Reed Warbler, 20 Chiffchaffs, 14 Blackcaps, 700+ Swallows mainly heading west, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 100 Linnets, 3 Chaffinches, 3 Meadow Pipits, 6 Pied Wagtails, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Jackdaw and 2 Ring-necked Parakeets.

Sunday 18th September

It was just as well today I didn't go to London for the Spurs game instead I spent a few hours doing other bits with the family, the time I had left about an hour or so was spent in a quick wander around one area of the patch, this in turn produced 25 Chiffchaffs.

Saturday 17th September

Today I could only watch the patch for a poor 45 minutes but included 27 Chiffchaffs and 1 Goldcrest for me troubles.

Friday 16th September

Today once again purely due to the numbers the 65 Chiffchaffs stole the show, but there was also a new arrival of 3 Whinchats which was nice. Others present included 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Stonechat, 11 Blackcaps, 2 Whitethroats, just 1 Swallow!!, 2 House Martins, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Chaffinch, 4 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Kestrels, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Grey Heron south, 40 Linnets, 5 Rooks and 3 Jackdaws.

Thursday 15th September

Dave and I once again spent many an hour on the patch, and today was excellent not just for the variety of birds, but for a new cemetery record which involved a total of 80 Chiffchaffs, seeing these birds pretty much everywhere got us both in good stead for the rest of the day and this was certainly true when a Grasshopper Warbler (no 105) (a good bird here) put in a nice appearance followed by 1 Turtle Dove (only the second record this year) heading west over the crematorium, and once again a Little Owl by the paddocks. Others noted included 1 Stonechat, 21 Blackcaps, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 9 Siskins south, 60 Swallows, 4 House Martins, 1 Chaffinch, 3 Meadow Pipits, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Kestrel, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 25 Linnets, 3 Pied Wagtails, 2 Jackdaws and 2 Ring-necked Parakeets.

Wednesday 14th September

Dave Gilbert and I watched the area for several hours which in turn produced a few nice bits, unfortunately I still have a few camera issues so I still can't get any record shots, but at least once again there was also someone else enjoying the good birds, best of all was 2 Little Owls which were feeding together in the horse paddocks, quite remarkable this as I have probably recorded more of these in the last week than I have in the last 20 years. Also noted was 1 Common Buzzard east at 12:55pm, 1 Hobby, 8 Wheatears, 21 Chiffchaffs, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 17 Blackcaps, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 80 Swallows, 20 House Martins, 86 Meadow Pipits, 11 Pied Wagtails, 2 Sparrowhawks, 5 Kestrels, 30 Linnets, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 17 Jackdaws east, 1 Grey Partridge and 3 Long-tailed Tits.

Tuesday 13th September

It was a bit on the quiet side today but it still produced 1 Little Owl, 1 Tree Pipit, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 4 Wheatears, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Chiffchaffs and 5 Blackcaps.

Sunday 11th September

I wasn't out on Saturday due to football and I wont mention what the score was, but today I arrived just after midday and left at 1:30pm, I concentrated all of my efforts between the allotments/horse paddocks which in blustery winds didn't produce very much, at best all I could manage was 2 Wheatears, 7 Blackcaps, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 7 Swallows and 2 juvenile Sparrowhawks.

Friday 9th September

Today after the recent spell of bad weather it was nice to spend some quality time and it paid off, these are the records for the day: 1 Firecrest, 1 Little Owl, 3 Spotted Flycatchers, 11 Wheatears, 11 Whitethroats, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 9 Blackcaps, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 3 Hobby's 1 rather large female Peregrine, 3 Swifts, 305 Swallows, 8 House Martins, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 120 Linnets, 60 House Sparrows, 22 Mistle Thrushes, 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Kestrels, 4 Ring-necked Parakeets and the first Chaffinch of the Autumn. I apologise for the lack of photo's in August and so far this September my camera is again out of action but will be back soon.

Thursday 8th September

Today I eventually got out at 6pm and left at 7pm, I stayed around the allotments/horse paddocks which in fact was fairly good, birds recorded within this time included 1 Hobby west, 7 Wheatears, 7 Blackcaps, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Whitethroat, 7 Swallows, 7 Pied Wagtails, 7 Ring-necked Parakeets and 30 Linnets, the good news is that I will have a lot more time for coverage on the patch after the next couple off days (weather permitting of course) and I'm thoroughly looking forward to it.

Thursday 1st September

Well another month goes by and for me personally the last few days of August certainly finished on a high, with the start of the new month not doing bad either. Dave and I between us watched the patch from 8:30am - 4pm, and we started off by having another look for Tuesday's AQUATIC WARBLER, we new it was a hard task and it certainly worked out that way with no further sign of the bird, but it didn't detract from seeing another scarce bird for the patch when we found a Little Owl heading east over the paddocks, that was probably the best it got but there was some other decent migrants including 1 Tree Pipit east, 2 Whinchats, 6 Wheatears, 9 Blackcaps, 8 Whitethroats, 1 Garden Warbler, 7 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Hobby by the cement works(chasing a distant small wader!!), 2 House Martins and 30 Swallows, also 30 Pied Wagtails, 30 Linnets, 3 Sparrowhawks, 5 Kestrels, 4 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 13 Grey Partridges and 3 Long-tailed Tits.