A 40 minute look at Bishopstone from 4:20pm until dusk produced 1 Robin, 2 Blackbird, 9 Golden Plover, 10 Grey Partridge, c300 Brent Geese over Reculver and 2 Woodcock at dusk.

Another freezing morning as I left home just after 6am where I spent some time looking and listening for Owls in the darkness. I didn't hear any but the sound recorder which was also out recorded Tawny Owl (53) calling during the night as well as a Pheasant (54). As the light picked up, 2 Grey Partridge called and a few Golden Plover were heard as was a Lapwing (55). A Woodcock (56) zoomed by in silhouette. I then drove over to the seafront where in a light south wind, I had an hour and a half before a brief walk at Bishopstone to warm the feet up. Birds noted included 63 Brent Geese, 19 Shelduck, 5 Gadwall (57) west, 3 Wigeon, 1 Pintail, 5 Pochard (58) flew west, 8 Common Scoter, 4 Oystercatcher, 6 Ringed Plover, 331 Lapwing flew west at sea, 1 Curlew, 1 Snipe, 6 Turnstone, 1 Sanderling, 2 Dunlin, c30 Black headed Gull, 4 Common Gull, 44 Herring Gull, 1 Great Black backed Gull, 3 Great crested Grebe, 79 Red throated Diver, 5 Cormorant and 1 Peregrine. There were 24 Woodpigeon, 4 Collared Dove, 16 Carrion Crow, 5 Blue Tit, 5 Great Tit, 1 Wren (59), 11 Starling, 4 Blackbird, 3 Robin, 1 Dunnock, 5 House Sparrow, 2 Pied Wagtail (60) and 4 Chaffinch. Still a number of species I should get in the next few sessions which include Goldfinch, Rook, Jay, Jackdaw, Goldcrest, Redwing, Fieldfare, Meadow Pipit, Stock Dove, Little Egret, Grey Wagtail and Cetti's Warbler. Hopefully next weekend will deliver something good. 

Tawny Owl

Back to weekend birding now, so I was out at 07:30 this morning where I drove down to the seafront and had a seawatch for a couple of hours in a brisk North wind which was quite a challenge to keep out of. Birds noted included 83 Brent Geese, 5 Shelduck (48), 24 Wigeon (49) 5 Pintail (50), 2 Teal, c40 Feral Pigeon, 1 Ringed Plover, 17 Redshank, 10 Dunlin, 33 Black headed Gull, 23 Common Gull, 30 Herring Gull, 1 Great crested Grebe, 1 Red throated Diver, 7 Gannet (51), 13 Cormorant, 1 Marsh Harrier (52) west at sea, 1 Peregrine, 2 Carrion Crow and 15 Starling. 

With the temperature in the car saying -3 degrees this morning, It was certainly a very cold session. I spent an hour looking out at a very quiet sea before a walk around Bishopstone Glen where a few year ticks were added. Birds seen included 85 Brent Geese, 40 Teal west at sea, 2 Common Scoter, 5 Grey Partridge, 25 Feral Pigeon, 8 Woodpigeon, 6 Collared Dove, 2 Oystercatcher (38), 1 Ringed Plover (39), 16 Redshank, 70 Black headed Gull, 4 Common Gull, 50 Herring Gull, 3 Great Black backed Gull, 6 Red throated Diver, 78 Cormorant, 1 Great spotted Woodpecker (40), 1 Green Woodpecker (41), 1 Peregrine, 6 Skylark (42), 2 Long tailed Tit (43), 1 Song Thrush (44), 1 Dunnock (45), 11 House Sparrow, 2 Chaffinch 1 Linnet (46) and 1+ Golden Plover (47) heard.

In a brisk WNW wind, I had a seawatch this morning from 07:30 until 10am and noted 15 Brent Geese, 12 Teal (27) west, 2 Common Scoter (28) on the sea, c30 Feral Pigeon (29), 1 Curlew, 5 Snipe (30) west, 15 Redshank, 1 Turnstone, 2 Sanderling (31), 1 Dunlin (32), c40 Black headed Gull, 3 Common Gull, c40 Herring Gull, 3 Great Black backed Gull, 2 Great crested Grebe (33), 16 Red throated Diver (34), 108 Cormorant, 2 Peregrine (35), 2 Carrion Crow, 8 Starling (36), 1 Black Redstart (37) and 1 Rock Pipit. 

I made my first visit into the Herne Bay Downs area with a two hour walk along the seawall this afternoon in very cold NW wind and then a brief walk around Bishopstone, Birds noted included 350 Brent Geese, 16 Grey Partridge, 1 Collared Dove, 1 Curlew, 2 Redshank, 10 Turnstone, 280 Black headed Gull, 7 Common Gull, 39 Herring Gull, 1 Great Black backed Gull, 10 Cormorant, 2 Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 10 Blue Tit, 6 Great Tit, 1 Firecrest, 2 Stonechat, 1 Rock Pipit and 4 Chaffinch. 

Rock Pipit

My final session of 2025 this morning where I had a seawatch from the pier from 07:45 in a light NW wind. Birds noted included 347 Brent Geese east, 3 Shelduck, 1 Teal, 1 Common Scoter, c80 Feral Pigeon, 27 Oystercatcher, 1 Woodcock west at sea, 4 Redshank, 4 Turnstone, 57 Black headed Gull, 1 Common Gull, 13 Herring Gull, 4 Great Black backed Gull, 4 Great crested Grebe, 303 Red throated Diver east, 1 Gannet, 173 Cormorant, 2 Marsh Harrier west at sea, 1 Peregrine, 3 Starling and 1 Pied Wagtail.