Birding and other distractions

After checking out a BBS site near West Hougham it seemed a good opportunity to look for the introduced Chough at nearby Dover. From a layby on the A258 I picked up the flock somewhat distantly. They flew and landed on a fence, 16 birds in total. After a while the birds took to the air again and some made their way to the nearby aviary, where presumably supplementary feeding still occurs. From another road we were able to get somewhat closer views of the aviary, with at one point all 16 birds on the roof. Then to Broadstairs arriving at 4:15 to try for the Scops Owl which had been seen well the previous evening at the north end of Broadstairs cricket field. As it got dark an orderly line of birders scanned the favoured large Oak tree, one or two using a thermal imaging device. However, try as we might the owl did not show this evening, and we left at 6 p.m. 16 Chough near the aviary. Choughs The Scops Owl twitch

At home this morning entering WeBS data on the laptop when the phone pinged and I found myself looking at a message from Glenn Honey enquiring about the identity of a bird he'd just photographed at New Hythe. The bird was an American Yellow Warbler no less, which he'd found along the mill stream at the site. Needless to say I was in the car within ten minutes heading to New Hythe. I parked near the sewage farm and walked to where about ten birders were looking for the warbler. It hadn't been seen since the original sighting but fortunately a short time later the bird was found in alder trees near the sewage farm. It then remained in the area though was very mobile, flycatching from tree to tree. It was mild and sunny that day so favourable conditions for insectivorous birds, the proximity of the sewage farm being another factor. There were also numerous Chiffchaffs in the area, some often seen off by the Yellow Warbler as it defended the territory.  By mid afternoon the cro...

Quite mild today with spells of sunshine. We started at the observatory though the Hume's Warbler has seemingly moved on, perhaps to the trapping area. After a walk across shingle on the reserve we managed to see both Long-tailed Duck and Great Northern Diver on New Diggings though the latter species was on the far side. I bought two Stephen Message paintings in the Visitor Centre which sadly looks set to close in the New Year. A close range Great White Egret was seen whilst eating lunch there. We finished the day on Walland Marsh finding the flock of Bewick's Swan, which numbered 23 birds, while in another area a single Whooper together with Mute Swans. Part of the Bewick's Swan flock. Whooper Swan