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An individual, of no great importance, who is unable to see the natural world as a place for competition. I catch fish, watch birds, derive immense pleasure from simply looking at butterflies, moths, bumble-bees, etc - without the need for rules! I am Dylan and this is my blog - if my opinions offend? Don't bother logging on again - simple!

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Thursday, 13 February 2025

Thanet treasure

 It is rather surreal what happened on this morning's walk with Bruno. Only yesterday, in an exchange of comments with Stewart Sexton (Stewchat blog), he'd said something about looking in places where others don't. It was in reply to my hope of seeing some of Stewart's excellent field sketches of the Northumberland American Pipit and the subsequent discovery that he'd not bothered to "twitch" it. Fair play and I am fully able to empathise with this mind-set. So Bruno and I headed back out onto the flatlands, on the Thanet side of The Stour, to have a wander around some set-a-side fields which are under the control of my, gamekeeper, mate George. With not another soul in sight, we were able to enjoy a superb stroll along the tracks and dykes which create the mosaic of  habitat out there. Four Grey Herons flushed from a small ditch as soon as I parked the van and so it would continue. Good numbers of Yellowhammers and Corn Buntings was a very pleasant surprise, yet Reed Buntings (circa 270) Goldfinch (circa 400) Linnet (circa 200) and Chaffinch (circa 150) provided so many distractions as we made our way around the area but, the best was still to come! We'd almost reached the boundary of George's fields when I raised my binoculars in the direction of a group of birds perched up in the distance. WTF? Tree Sparrows, twenty plus, and the first I've seen on Thanet since 2011. Always distant, I am once again indebted to technology within the EOS 90d for the image captured  of this landmark encounter.

It seems like the 2024/25 Pike season is doomed to failure due to weather patterns, Bev's health issues and, now, the arrival of Bruno. If birding has to take centre stage, then I'm happy to enjoy whatever it produces whilst I await a change in circumstances.

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4 comments:

  1. Derek Faulkner14 February 2025 at 15:03

    Wow, people can keep their rare birds, I'd happily stick with Tree Sparrows. The last population on Sheppey died about 25 years ago and I haven't seen one since, lovely little birds. Good to see you and Bruno out and about together, you'll be soon find yourself having lots of chats with him.

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    1. Dylan Wrathall14 February 2025 at 19:04

      Derek, by your very own experience Tree Sparrows are rare birds, in 2025, certainly in Kent. This encounter was definitely my birding highlight, thus far, of the year. Crazy to think back, 1995 - ish, when I regularly recorded flocks in excess of 500 individuals feeding in game cover out on the Ash Levels. Bruno is proving to be a wonderful addition to our household, although I'm still not confident about letting him off the lead, just yet. Cheers for the comment - Dyl

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  2. Stewart27 February 2025 at 14:14

    Now thats better than a yank pipit! I'm lucky enough to see my garden Tree Spugs everyday which reminds me I must clean their nest boxes out this week!

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    1. Dylan Wrathall27 February 2025 at 15:34

      Hi Stewart,
      This was a real adrenaline rush moment. I'd not seen a Tree Sparrow in Kent (the UK) since Spring 2011. Better than a "Yank" pipit? I certainly think so. All the best - Dyl

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