NORTHERN LONG-TAILED TITS in EAST KENT

MONDAY 24 JANUARY

That cold NW/Northerly wind was still blowing, with the brighter conditions of late morning soon replaced by heavy cloud. It did remain dry throughout despite some dark storm clouds developing.

Allan Stewart, JT and I decided to take a visit to SE Kent today, primarily with the aim of seeing our first-ever Caudatus LONG-TAILED TITS in the county - the 5 cracking birds did not disappoint...........

STAINES RESERVOIRS (SURREY/MIDDLESEX)

There was no sign of yesterday's two mobile Great Northern Divers just 18 Great Crested Grebes, 35 Gadwall, Common Teal, 58 Eurasian Wigeon, 90 Shoveler, Northern Pochard, 330 Tufted Duck and 33 Common Goldeneye.....

OLD ROMNEY (KENT): Common Buzzard at roadside

DYMCHURCH CHURCHYARD (EAST KENT)

A party of 5 Caudatus LONG-TAILED TITS (Northern White-headed Long-tailed Tits) had been present in the vicinity of the Murco garage and church at the north end of the town for nearly two weeks now. We arrived late morning and found them immediately, the 5 Caudatus associating with 10 'ordinary' British Long-tailed Tits (rosaceus). The entire flock were highly mobile and very vocal and were visiting the two well-stocked gardens to the north of the churchyard. They remained in the area for well over an hour and afforded exceptional views - and were gorgeous in appearance.

Most significant was the all white, snow-like heads, contrasting with the darker eye and reddish-orange orbital ring, whilst the wing coverts seemed slightly more white-fringed and the pink paler and less extensive on the flanks. They were calling frequently - but appeared in sound identical to the British birds. All of the 15 birds took it in turns to visit the peanut and suet feeders and there seemed no rivalry between any of them.

Apart from the Long-tailed Tits, Dymchurch yielded Mistle Thrush (singing male), 30 House Sparrows, Chaffinch (8), Great Tit and Blue Tit (7).

DUNGENESS BEACH, THE RSPB RESERVE, THE ARC AND NEW DIGGINGS AND THE DENGE MARSH ROAD (EAST KENT)

The long-staying juvenile GLAUCOUS GULL was roosting with other large gulls on the shingle on the coastal side of the road just north of the new lighthouse and inland of the moored fishing boats. The flock allowed a very close approach and we were able to obtain some awesome views of the young Arctic gull - the iris actually being dark brown at close range and much of the plumage now undergoing moult and wear towards its first spring plumage. It had a whacking great thick bill, bright pink in colour with an extensive black tip - but in terms of size and structure was quite a small individual. It was sitting amongst a large mass of predominantly Herring Gulls, with just a few Great Black-backed Gulls.

At the Beach itself, and viewing out to sea, there was a humungous number of gathered gulls, particularly at The Patch, with large numbers of Herring, Common and Black-headed Gulls and at least 50 (Black-legged) Kittiwakes too.

Auks were also in abundance, with well over 500 RAZORBILLS and at least double that number of Common Guillemots. There was an almost constant easterly movement of Northern Gannets offshore, whilst RED-THROATED DIVERS numbered 21 in just over 20 minutes and 15 or more Great Crested Grebes were sat on the sea.

At the ARC Pit, SMEW were the order of the day with 17 individuals logged (including two beautiful adult drakes). There were also 1 Greylag Goose, 28 Atlantic Canada Geese, Mallard, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Pochard, 18 Common Goldeneye, Great Crested Grebe and the first of several MARSH HARRIERS in the area.

We then walked as far as the Christmas Dell hide on the RSPB reserve, where Burrowes Pit produced 70 NORTHERN PINTAIL and well over 150 Shoveler and the New Excavations Pit an incredibly confiding SLAVONIAN GREBE. We did an extensive search of the fields and masrhes to the west but completely failed in our quest to locate the two Common Ravens that have now been present in the area for at least a week - every black corvid we checked was a Carrion Crow.

In fact the latter had been reported from the viewpoint at Hookers Pit but apart from up to 6 MARSH HARRIERS, a Little Egret and a calling CETTI'S WARBLER, we found nothing.

Opposite the stable fields on the road north from the RSPB reserve entrance and the Lydd roundabout was a herd of 75 BEWICK'S SWANS, including 16 juveniles, whilst a further 13 (1 juvenile) were with Mute Swans close to the Lydd Airport entrance.

The Denge Marsh Pit held a single BLACK-NECKED GREBE.

STADE STREET/WEST PARADE, HYTHE (EAST KENT)

A very confiding party of 5 wintering PURPLE SANDPIPERS was seen on the seaweed-covered rocks at the seaward end of the breakwater groyne directly opposite the Stade Court Hotel at high tide.