Luddenham and Motney Hill

Birding time was short for us today having long made plans to spend time with friends living near Norton, Faversham. Popping into Luddenham very quickly on-route resulted in seeing two Spotted Flycatchers. More surprising was seeing a further two in an orchard along the A2 while having coffee and cake! 

Our day was essentially non-birding, but did involve a wonderful walk to Conyer where we had a delightful lunch outside enjoying the beautiful weather hearing Cuckoo and seeing a couple of Buzzards as we made our way.

Journeying home, we detoured via Motney Hill where still this site provides one of the few reliable sites for Turtle Dove near our home in Gillingham and we were not to be disappointed as one was quickly located singing on the telephone wires while a Cuckoo sang distantly.

A lovely day, with great birds, company and exercise! The only down-point remains that our dog Nell is still recovering from cruciate ligament surgery. She would so have enjoyed the walk today.

Spotted Flycatcher

Turtle Dove

Motney Hill, Medway

Managed to pop out to the Medway Estuary at Motney Hill this morning prior to starting work. Whitethroat (5), Lesser Whitethroat (1), Cuckoo (1), Whimbrel (1), Common Tern (4), Mediterranean Gull (1), Brent Goose (32), Blackcap (1), Reed Warbler (3), Cetti's Warbler (2), Chiffchaff (1) and Turtle Dove (2), one of which was 'phone-scoped' not having my camera to hand!

Turtle Dove

Motney Hill

Pre-work walk around Motney Hill this morning between 07:30 and 09:00. Red-breasted Merganser (2 males, 2 females), Brent Goose (c80), Grey Wagtail (1 flew over east), and Cetti's Warbler (1).

Motney Hill

Following a break in the mist, we went to Motney Hill at 13:00 for a couple of hours. A Cetti's Warbler was calling from the reedbed, the tide was out and the shorebirds and ducks were distributed thinly and mostly distantly: Canada Goose, Teal, Wigeon, Mallard, Shoveler, Pintail, Shelduck, Redshank, Lapwing, Knot, Grey Plover, Avocet, Dunlin and Curlew. Walking west round the hill, a few surprises were being pushed up on the incoming tide: Red-breasted Mergansers (1 male, 2 female), and a single Eider. More expected, there were also Great Crested Grebes (15) and a single Little Egret.

Medway Estuary

Try as we might, both Brenda and I are truly struggling to find time to get out much at the moment. We both had work to do this Sunday, but after all the horrid weather yesterday, we ensured that we managed a couple of hours close to home looking at birds of the Medway Estuary from Motney Hill. I've visited this site many times over the years; but still find myself being amazed at both the numbers and diversity of birds present despite the hoards of dog walkers, cyclists and ramblers!

View along the creek

Little Egret

Little Egret

Little Egret

Black-headed Gull

Black-headed Gull

Teal

Pintail

Oare: Popped down to Oare this morning to have a look at the Glossy Ibis found at this site yesterday. Also saw Little Egret (8), Avocet (2), Marsh Harrier (1) and Ruff (3).

Motney: Looking after the children in Gillingham today, so Brenda and I drove down to Motney this afternoon to watch the waders moving up on the rising tide. Also saw an adult Mediterranean Gull, Swallows (many) and heard a single Chiffchaff calling.

Lapwing

Mallard
Starling