24 November 2011

Thursday 24th November

Waxwing
Today yet again was another excellent birding session, once again Dave and I watched the area for a good few hours which produced a good selection of birds, best of all was a Waxwing (another big scarcity here) which was in the crematorium at midday before flying up in into some nearby trees, and then showed for a good 10 minutes before heading off west. The fun didn't end there with yet again another impressive total (same as yesterday) of 10+ Firecrests, well that's a conservative figure I wouldn't be surprised if there were more as today they seemed to be almost everywhere, following that was the male Bullfinch which showed well alongside 15+ Chaffinches. Other bits included a Common Buzzard which was getting mobbed by a few gulls over the paddocks, also 2 Redpolls, 9 Goldcrests (how many times does Firecrest out number Goldcrest!!), 15 Redwings, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 15 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 15 Blue Tits and 3 Goldfinches. I did photograph the Waxwing and Bullfinch today along with Firecrest, which will be shown soon, but my computer is on the way out and I still cannot load any pictures on, a new laptop is on its way so watch this space.

Wednesday 23rd November

On a lovely sunny day Dave and I watched the area for about 4 hours, during this time there was certainly a few good birds to enjoy including an amazing 10+ Firecrests which spent most of the time with Blue and Long-tailed Tits, and was a nice sight especially at this time of year, also a male Bullfinch now a patch rarity which was mixed in with 30 Chaffinches. At 11:40am, 2 Peregrines were feeding by the cement works including a rather large female which I presume is the one which has been seen occasionally throughout the year.Other bits included 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 Siskin, 2 Redpolls, 15 Goldcrests, 25 Redwings, 15 Long-Tailed Tits, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Cormorant north, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Linnet, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Pied Wagtails and 6 Goldfinches.

Friday 18th November

Well what a crazy day this was Dave and I watched the patch for about 5 hours which turned out to be more like a typical autumn day than early winter. It certainly started off well with an early Firecrest by the main entrance and which also included 2 latest bird records, the first to our surprise was a Yellow-browed Warbler which was in the crematorium, followed by a Ring Ouzel which arrived with a total of 15 Fieldfares, but the day didn't end there when we recorded an overall total of 9 Firecrests, including 6 birds together in a small bit of bramble, quiet remarkable that in the last few years these birds have started to overwinter and on occasions in good respectable numbers, but will these hang around is any one's guess. Other bits included 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Siskins, 30 Redwings, 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 7 Goldcrests, 10 Long-tailed Tits, 7 Goldfinches, 7 Chaffinches, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Linnets, 3 Pied Wagtails and 15 Blue Tits.

Thursday 17th November

Many thanks Don for the lovely comments at this sad time it goes a long way thank you, and I will certainly continue to watch Margate Cemetery as per normal. Also many thanks Lewis for the recent message yes by all means it would be a pleasure to meet up and do some birding over the cemetery, probably would be best in the new year, keep in touch by e-mail and we will make arrangements, thanks again for the interest. On the birding front today Dave and I went to look at this rather smart Eastern type Black Redstart at Walpole Bay, afterwards we went to the cemetery at about 11:15am which was pretty quiet, best of all was 1 Firecrest, 1 Woodcock and 4 Chiffchaffs.

Wednesday 16th November

Away from the patch when driving along St Peter's Road by Margate Hospital at 1:50pm, I came across 3 very obliging Waxwings sitting in trees near Lister Road before they headed off east at 2pm.

Tuesday 15th November

In better weather Dave and I watched the patch from 9 - 11:30am, bits recorded were 6 Crossbills, 2 Firecrests, 4-5 Chiffchaffs, 2 Redpolls east, 10 Goldcrests, 15 Redwings, 4 Fieldfares, 20 Chaffinches, 15 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Jackdaw 3 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Pied Wagtail, 7 Goldfinches and 2 Meadow Pipits.

Monday 14th November

First of all many thanks for all who have contacted me, no I haven't by any means given up the website or the cemo for that matter but the last few weeks have been a bit difficult. Unfortunately in late October my wife's mother sadly passed away at the same time we was moving into our new house, so life around this end of the woods has been a little hard, hence very little birding which to be fair has to take a back seat, but there are a few birding days in late October that Dave Gilbert and I did cover to which I will show in due course, along with a few photo's of Yellow-browed Warblers and Crossbills which I managed to take on the patch during this time. The first birding day in November along with heavy fog did produce 4 Firecrests, 1 Chiffchaff, 15 Goldcrests, 5 Fieldfares (plus many not seen overhead), 15 Redwings, 20 Chaffinches, 5 Goldfinches, 1 Sparrowhawk and 25 Blackbirds.

3 comments:

Don Wood said...

Sorry to hear your sad news Steve hope you are able to keep watching as I love your up dates

lewis phillips said...

Hi steve i contacted you a few months ago regarding photography. I have been following your blog and can see you have been very busy. I would love to visit and see some of the fantastic birds that you have at your local site with you if poss.

Many thanks lewis
www.lewisphillipsimages.com

Warren Baker said...

Another good month shaping up Steve, keep at it mate :-)

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