Riverside Country Park, Gillingham, Kent

Blackbird

Collared Dove

Dunnock

Song Thrush

Riverside Country Park

Rock Pipit

Rock Pipit

Riverside Country Park, Gillingham

Red-backed Shrike

Red-backed Shrike

Red-backed Shrike

Riverside Country Park & Elmley Reserve

Riverside Country Park & Elmley Reserve:

Black-headed Gull

Blackbird

Lapwing

Little Egret

Meadow Pipit

Oystercatcher

Oystercatcher

Red-legged Partridge

Redshank

Rook

Turnstone

Yellow Wagtail

Riverside Country Park, Gillingham

We took a lazy wander around Riverside Country Park, Gillingham after a hectic couple of days around family and friend activities. Lots of dog walkers as usual, but always against a backdrop of bird activity such as Whimbrel (2), Chiffchaff, Greenshank (4), Grey Plover (120), Avocet (6), Little Egret (22), Wigeon (18), Black-tailed Godwit, Whitethroat (2), Sparrowhawk (1) and Green Woodpecker (4) to name but a few.

Greenshank

Riverside Country Park, Gillingham

Pre-work visit down to the Riverside Country Park, Gillingham for a little over an hour: Sparrowhawk (1), Mediterranean Gull (6+), Reed Warbler (1), Whitethroat (8+), Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Common Tern (1), Little Egret (2), Swift (3) and at least five Turtle Doves made for a pleasant visit.

Little Egret

Turtle Dove

Riverside Country Park, Gillingham

Cuckoo

Walking off the festive excess!

We decided to stay local for our first excursion of the year and headed for the Strand in Gillingham from where we walked to Motney and back in fine weather. Arriving at 09:20 (not bad for us!), and arrived back at the car around 13:45. Highlights included a count of over 1000 Avocet a couple of Marsh Harriers and the sheer variety and numbers of common estuarine wildfowl and waders so close to home.

Avocets, Brent Geese, Shelduck, Shoveler, Wigeon, Teal, Dunlin and Redshank

Robin

Blackbird

Lapwing

Redshank

Riverside Country Park, Gillingham (Kent): We managed a feeble amount of birding this weekend as we took advantage of the weather to concentrate on other work and home commitments. A quick look in at the country park this afternoon resulted in our enjoying good views of the reported Snow Bunting, now present for over a week and Brent Geese on the estuary itself.