Whetsted Gravel Pits

                                                        17th April 2024 

                                     Whetsted  Gravel  Pits 

                                                   

Ferruginous Duck

On the 17th Aprill i joined RR on a trip to Whetsted Gravel Pits nr Tonbridge to hopefully see the recently found ♂ Ferruginus Duck .

We parked up in the small car park at the end of Kelchner's Lane and then followed the footpath south until we eventually reached the Gravel Pits.

We heard 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Nightingale, 1 Common Whitethroat & a Cuckoo on route to the Gravel Pits.

The Ferruginus Duck was soon located as it fed amongst several Tufted Ducks , there were several Swallows also feeding over the water which was great to see, plenty of Common Buzzards overhead was also great to see.

 On our return walk we saw a splendid Grey Wagtail by the canal lock.

Here are a selection of Digi-Scope photos i took of the ♂ Ferruginous Duck.

♂ Ferruginous Duck.

 

Recent Local Birding Highlights

                                                   23rd March 2024

                                        Dungeness Rspb Reserve

Adult Little Gull

Only my 2nd trip of the year to Dungeness , this time with RG, produced some excellent views of 4 Little Gulls (1Ad & 3 Juvs) all seen on Burrowes Pit , Great Northern Diver was also seen as were several Goldeneye.

Adult Little Gull being watched by a Male Goldeneye.

Adult Little Gull.

Lovely Pink flush on the Juv's

Juvenile Little Gull

An afternoon visit to the Arc produced 3 summer plumaged Black necked Grebes and a single Slavonian Grebe still in it's winter plumage which was found by NB, (good to see you today).

Summer plumaged Black necked Grebe. (photo from 2016)

Other birds of note was a close fly-by Great white Egret & a Glossy Ibis took up from the reeds near the screen hide which was a new bird for my Year list.

Earlier in the morning a short look out to sea produced my first Sandwich Tern of the year plus a pair of Peregrines were patrolling the power station.

There were up to 5 Wheatears in fine plumage near the New Lighthouse.

31st March 2024

Oare Marshes  

White-fronted Goose with Greylag Geese & Shelduck

News from MW informing me of a White-fronted Goose on the East flood Oare Marshes had me grabbing my birding gear and heading straight there (Thanks Murray).

White-fronted Goose.

This was a very much welcome addition to my year list, also present still was the superb male Garganey.

Male Garganey & 2 Cormorants

Although the Garganey was asleep the whole time i was there today i had seen it awake on a previous visit.

Male Garganey.

I also saw a distant male Hen Harrier disappearing towards Nagden Marshes plus a brief  Water Pipit dropped onto the East flood before taking off again, i also saw my earliest ever Sedge Warbler in the car park !! (thanks MW & SC)

Alberta Fields  Seasalter

Green-winged Teal.

A very brief visit to Alberta field to see the Green-winged Teal was rewarded with decent but distant scope views of this splendid looking duck.

Green-winged Teal.

It spent most of it's time asleep but on one occasion it did have a preen and a look around, good to catch up with some familiar Kent birders today to !!!