Faversham Creek Spoonbills and Waxwings

Spoonbills feeding and roosting on the saltmarsh

Three Waxwings

Waxwing (rear view)

Waxwing (front view)

 

Gillingham Waxwings (Again)

The task set before us today was to try and locate Waxwing; particularly as Brenda had not been with me last Tuesday when I happened luckily on a few as I made my way to the railway station at Gillingham. Knowing that there had been a small group at Lower Halstow as recently as Thursday, we made our way to the brickfields and carefully set about the search. Eventually I managed a quick view of a single bird that unfortunately eluded Brenda's gaze! Taking time out for a welcome cream tea at the nearby 'Barge' we searched again after, but no further sightings were made. Other species seen around the area included: Great Spotted Woodpecker (1), Redwing (8), Fieldfare (15), Bullfinch (1) and Brent Goose (c80).

A slow drive home keeping an eye out for Waxwings seemed like a reasonable plan, so we decided to take a route via where I'd seen them Tuesday, little expecting them to still be around! I had not realised that there was as plentiful food source in the area as there clearly must have been, for as we pulled up near the junction, we were surprised to count six Waxwings calling and feeding at the junction of Sturdee Avenue and Barnsole Road around the school grounds. We captured a few record shots in very poor light, attracting some strange looks from passing cars and pedestrians, some of whom enquired as to what we were looking at of interest!

Waxwings

Waxwings

Waxwing Surprise!

Waxwings are being well reported throughout Kent at the moment, but the unexpected sight of two individuals at the junction of Sturdee Avenue and Barnsole Road in Gillingham as I parked the car before walking to the railway station completely lifted my spirits.

Trilling Waxwings and the tailess Glaucous

The dilemma today centred around the need to complete further Christmas shopping while still managing to get out in to the field; as Waxwings were in evidence at many sites throughout the county and the juvenile Glaucous Gull was still at Dungeness. We travelled to Folkestone arriving soon after 10:30 and shortly after arrival were watching some 240 Waxwings at the busy retail park. After soaking in the experience for a while, we left for Dungeness and visited the RSPB reserve to pick up a few suitable presents for family and garden birds before catching up with the 'tailess' juvenile Glaucous Gull near the fishing boats. Other species seen on the ARC included: Goosander (2 females), Ruddy Duck (6), Goldeneye (3), Yellow-legged Gull (1) and Cetti's Warbler (heard).

Waxwing