"Deja vu" - bloody Groundhog Day!

It was almost noon when Bruno and I headed out onto Worth Marshes RSPB Res. We were late on parade due to the bitingly cold NW wind, early doors, and the simple fact that I had to do the Tesco run as we'd almost run out of food. Almost as soon as we turned the bend, which allows the first clear view over the marsh, I spotted the Barn Owl hunting over exactly the same area as it had been on Tuesday. My initial attempts at grabbing some shots was thwarted when a passing dog walker (doing absolutely nothing untoward) caused Bruno to go into meltdown mode and the owl had to take a back seat whilst I sorted him out. The situation quickly calmed down as the other guy and his two Jack Russells continued on their way, leaving me to watch a now, very distant owl hunting besides the railway line on the far side of the marsh. Admitting defeat, we then continued on our own walk, following the main track down to Hacklinge Pumping Station. We then took a left turn, along a side track which allows views across towards the old Betteshanger coal tip. A nice detour, although not particularly rewarding today.

A sub-adult Grey Heron provided some target practice for
the camera kit.

We'd already been out well over an hour, at this point, so we did an about turn and headed back towards the van, this time walking beside The Roaring Gutter, yet with a similar lack of excitement. It was only as we reached the section of The Pinnock Wall besides the reserve that it became apparent that the Barn Owl was still active around the same spot. We got tucked in using some brambles for cover and, after a few minutes, I did manage to grab a few more shots of this day time hunter.

By the time we got back to the bungalow, we'd been out almost three hours and Bruno was absolutely knackered. Another very enjoyable outing all the same.

A leisurely stroll

As a member of C&DAA I have vehicular access along a gated, private, track down to the club lakes (farm irrigation reservoirs) out on Minster Marshes. So, whilst I've not picked up a rod in well over a week, I have been able to visit the site in order to take Bruno for his morning stroll, just for a change of scenery. The weather forecast wasn't good, for today, and the onset of heavy rain was expected before mid-day. It was, therefore, just before 09.00 hrs we began our walk this morning. This particular area, adjacent to the club fisheries, is currently under threat from a power line project by The National Grid. I'm not 100% up to speed with the ins and outs of the scheme, but do know that it revolves around the need to link off-shore wind farms with our domestic power networks. "Green Energy" has to be the way forward?My mate George, the gamekeeper, has been instrumental in launching "Save Minster Marshes" in the hope that any environmental impact will be kept to the absolute minimum. All I can say is that I see both sides of the issue, but have decided to offer George, and his supporters, whatever assistance I can with a desire that a sensible conclusion can be reached.

Bruno and I were out on the marsh for nearly two hours, slowly wandering the set-a-side fields as I kept regular updates in my notebook. I recorded forty-one species today and that was with a few glaring omissions. No Corn Bunting, Kestrel or Cormorants! There was plenty to keep me entertained, as we made our way around the area. I've already offered to do some breeding bird survey work and today was happy to listen to five Song Thrushes and four Cetti's Warblers in full song as they seek to establish territories for the upcoming breeding season. Loads of Sky Larks along the route and the Tree Sparrow flock now numbers in excess of forty birds - absolutely nuts!

Two stand out records, from today, were a calling Water Rail and an adult Red Kite, headed north, both of which were new species for me out on Minster Marshes. 

Afternoon delight

The weather has been all over the place, just recently, so it wasn't until around 11.30 hrs that Bruno and I jumped in the van and headed over to Worth Marshes RSPB Res for our daily wander. Even when we arrived there was still rain in the air with ominous cloud cover to the south. There are no two ways about it? Bruno's arrival has been catalyst to my birding efforts, of late. The reserve was rather quiet and what I did see was totally predictable. We walked the Pinnock Wall, then The Roaring Gutter as far as the Hacklinge Pumping Station, before retracing our steps. In no great hurry, we'd been out for nearly two hours as the intermittent rain continued to cause problems with my binos and camera kit. We couldn't have been more than 600m from the van when I spotted a Barn Owl hunting over the marsh we'd just passed. Quickly retracing our steps, I was able to have a play with camera kit, whilst Bruno sniffed for mice in the adjacent vegetation.

A really nice surprise, given the time of day, and yet another demonstration of the ridiculous  advances in image capture technology that allows a "point and press" blogger to obtain such pleasing results.

Set-a-side stroll

For our stroll, this morning, Bruno and I went out onto Minster Marshes because we weren't likely to encounter any other dog-walkers. Binos, camera kit close to hand, and a note book in my pocket we took a very leisurely meander around the area knowing that all interesting sightings would be passed on to the "Save Minster Marshes" database. Yellowhammers and Corn Bunting duly obliged, as did a displaying male Marsh Harrier and a surprise Little Grebe on one of the drains. Two pairs of Stonechats were also encountered along the way and we also flushed a pair of Grey Partridges just before stumbling upon the Tree Sparrow flock again.

The absolute minimum count was thirty-one individuals and there might have been many more because they were extremely flighty and, hence, difficult to count. Once again I am indebted to the technology within my Canon set-up, which allowed me to obtain images which are far superior to anything I've achieved previously.

There is a very noticeable increase in Skylark numbers, and activity, around the area so all in all, a very enjoyable morning's wander.

The first garden "goodie" of 2025

Bruno and I were out on Worth RSPB Res. for the second day running, and it would seem that he is beginning to settle down. Being far less vocal when seeing other dogs or strangers. I still haven't been confident enough, with his behaviour, to let him off the lead, but it won't be too long now, I guess. The highlight, for me, of this morning's outing was seeing a Barn Owl hunting over the marsh beside the Pinnock Wall. It was 10.10 hrs, and very windy, yet the owl was obviously hungry? As we got nearer, it flew over the track and headed towards The Great Wood. I managed to grab one image before it was partially obscured by the adjacent hedgerow and my autofocus wasn't able to track the bird. 

Thinking that was it we continued on our wanderings only to spot it again flying beside The Great Wood headed towards Worth village. This sequence of events suggests, to me, that this individual was a newly arrived migrant? Surely any of the local Barn Owls would be safely tucked away in their regular roost sites at this time in the morning. There's no way, at this time of year, it is daylight hunting because it needs to feed a hungry brood. Back home around mid-day, Bruno had a bite to eat before curling up on Bev's lap for a siesta. I, as usual, was sat at my laptop when I spotted a bird pop up on the garden fence. Bloody hell! A female Black Redstart which disappeared as quickly as it had arrived. Grabbing the camera, I went out into the garden and, happily, it reappeared, perched up on next door's fence before flicking up onto their shed and then the leafless bush beyond. 

Although the images are nothing more than record shots, they'll do for me and are perfectly suitable to accompany my blogging efforts. The only other sighting, of any note, was that of a Wood Mouse at the Hedgehog bowl, last night. I did get a very poor record image, to confirm the id, but am hopeful of a repeat performance when my kit will be ready and waiting to get some better shots.

February catch-up

Bev is slowly, but surely, getting over her back problems and the company of Bruno is certainly having a positive impact upon her anxiety issues. I'd not been able to get out with the rods, since he arrived, but today Bev felt confident enough to allow me to get a morning session down on the Royal Military Canal. It was great to be back on the bank, yet the Pike hadn't read the same script and I blanked. I did have a wonderful encounter with a Barn Owl which flew straight over my swim, at first light, headed towards a roost site My previous morning walks, with Bruno, have enabled me to do a fair bit of local birding and the camera kit has provided further evidence of the massive advances in digital image capture technology. 

A ringed female Kestrel by the "Blue Bridge" over the Little Stour

Common Buzzard perched on an electric fence near my syndicate fishery.
Taken from my van window!

Mistle Thrush out on "Forgotten Fen"

I'm now sat at my laptop, listening to the Real Madrid vs Man City game and have seen the first Hedgehog of February. The last one, seen at the feeding bowl, was on 5th January prior to the cold snap and associated sequence of storms.

One of the regulars from the December/January period.
I wonder if it has had a snooze (opposed to hibernation) beneath my neighbour's shed, just the other side of the fence?

No two days .................!

With the light levels so much better, than they had been yesterday, Bruno and I returned to the same place for our walk this morning. It was reasonably clear, but the ESE wind ensured it felt bloody freezing so we were both well wrapped up prior to leaving the van. We'd gone back purely because I hoped to get some better images of the Tree Sparrows. How very silly? We took exactly the same route but, not only failed to spot any Tree Sparrows, didn't encounter a single Linnet or Goldfinch either. There were several Skylarks around the set-a-side fields with some in sub-song display mode. It was left to the bunting clan to provide the entertainment for the morning. I counted thirty-four Yellowhammers and twenty-one Corn Buntings, yet it was the Reed Buntings which were most numerous - triple figures! A couple of Ravens were amongst the mixed corvid flock and several Stock Doves were also present. 

It is a huge area of set-a-side, so there is so much more to explore, hence the Goldfinches, Linnets and Tree Sparrows could easily still be present, just not where we'd walked this morning. Looks like an ongoing mission if I'm unable to get out with the rods.

Once again the EOS 90d performed its' magic and I was able to get some reasonable images to accompany this post. 

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.

Grove Ferry "mud-fest"

It was around 09.30 hrs that I parked the van at the entrance to Grove Ferry NNR where Bruno and I were going for our morning walk. The reserve was deserted, although Martyn W's car was also parked up at the same gateway. I'd said, yesterday, that we'd do the circuit yet had absolutely no idea about the state of the footpaths which traverse this magnificent reserve. Utter chaos, muddy and flooded, for much of the route so we did well to get as far as the Marsh Hide. On opening the door, it was a lovely surprise to see Ben Ring already in position. We first met when I moved to Ash in August 1993 and it was really nice to sit and have a catch up whilst keeping an eye on the surrounding area.

Walking back towards Harrison's Drove, from the Marsh Hide, this
Water Rail was feeding out on the footpath

Under no circumstances were we able to complete the full circuit, given the state of the footpaths, so headed back to the van along the same route as we'd already walked. To be fair, I'm not sure that the full circuit distance is realistic for such a small dog? I'm sure I'll know better when the weather improves. There were quite a few birds to look at, along the way, although I failed to add anything to my year list. We did spend a few minutes in the David Feast Hide where I managed to grab a few shots of a female Marsh Harrier hunting over the reedbed.

I'm not sure where we'll go tomorrow, but am hopeful that I can get out with the rods on Friday?

Most peculiar

The weather, just recently, has been awful so the arrival of Bruno has taken centre stage in our daily routine. Thankfully, he seems to be settling in very quickly and has exactly the temperament that Bev had hoped for in her new companion. Unfortunately, she's not been feeling too well, of late, and it has fallen upon me to take him for his "walkies" thus far. I've got to admit that it's been a surprise how well behaved he has been whilst on our wanderings. I would reckon that the furthest we've walked has been in the region of two miles, yet he's shown no negative signs towards this level of exercise. It might be the full circuit of Stodmarsh/Grove Ferry NNR before the week ends?

The Canterbury/Thanet PAC gang got together last night and it was a very entertaining affair which, some how, just evolved from the "round robin". The main focus of conversation was centred around the ecosystems of the local fisheries, my new syndicate lake being very much the catalyst for this. I couldn't stay for the conclusion of the meeting but, was very interested to hear the other guys opinions on the use of braided mainline when in pursuit of Pike. For me it's a "no brainer" yet it was good to listen to the opinions and experiences of the other guys. I did feel that the consensus was that braid is the best option in 99% of situations.

So today, after getting home from the morning walk, I was sat in the study, cuppa in hand, when I caught sight of a Great Spotted Woodpecker on one of the seed feeders. The light was terrible, yet the EOS 90d performed superbly allowing me to grab a few images of the bird. It couldn't have been more than thirty minutes later when a bunch of Rose-ringed Parakeets dropped in and one of their number was a very spectacular looking individual. I'm not conversant with the nomenclature of this form of plumage aberration, yet don't think it's leucism? 

A striking individual which I've never set eyes upon previously. The turquoise tail feather is diagnostic of the Asian sub-species, which is by far the most numerous percentage of the Thanet population. There are examples of the African race present within the area, but they are very scarce in comparison.

"I'm home!"

Due to traffic issues, Bev & I were five minutes late for our adoption meeting at the Dogs Trust. Not to worry as Bruno was going nowhere else and less than two hours later he was inside our Dumpton bungalow. Astonishingly, there were no signs of any stress and within minutes he looked like he'd lived here all his life! He certainly doesn't want to share this space with any other dogs, and is quite vocal in expressing this whenever another dog is spotted, via the front room windows (or on the t/v)!

It's obviously going to take a few weeks before he settles into this new environment, yet his behaviour suggests that it won't be too much of a struggle? Fishing, birds and other wildlife encounters should now take centre stage for my blogging efforts, safe in the knowledge that Bev has the companion she'd so desired since the cancer saga finished.

New recruit

I expect that the majority of regular visitors, to my blog, will have noticed a significant lack of posts in February?  Nothing to worry about, thankfully, just Bev and I are very close to adding a dog to the Dumpton household and this has dominated our waking hours over the past week, or so! The staff at the Canterbury "Dogs' Trust" have been outstanding with their help and enthusiasm which now means that Bruno will be formally adopted on Saturday and, as a result, a whole new chapter will start in my experience. Never, in sixty-nine years and two months, have I owned a dog - although Bev always had pet dogs before we got together in June 2000!

Not a particularly flattering image of our new pet.
Fear ye not as I'm confident there will be plenty more!

Why now? Well, one of the side issues which arose during Bev's cancer treatment was that of anxiety and the associated mental health impact. It was a meeting with a Macmillan Cancer support worker, based at the Oncology Dept in Kent & Canterbury Hospital, who spoke about the positive aspects of pet ownership and how it might reduce (if not remove) the unwanted stress. So it might have taken nearly four months, yet we're on the verge of the start of a brand new adventure! 

A Grey Wagtail spotted on the weir just over the syndicate fishery fence

I have been out with the rods - I blanked! - and the birding kit but, apart from getting the van stuck, haven't got too much to report. I've started to put together a few ideas for how I'd like 2025 to progress yet, obviously, this will depend upon umpteen other factors which could throw a spanner in the works. I did manage to take a stroll out on the flatlands, in the hope of adding Barn or Short-eared Owl to my meagre year list. Sadly, I failed in the owl quest, but still pointed the long lens in the direction of a Corn Bunting - a species I didn't record in 2024! 

Syndicate stroll

Benno and I had been discussing the issues, and options, which are posed by the Pike within our, stunning, syndicate venue for much of the preceding week. There is so much to learn, yet we now have less than six weeks before the challenge ends for this particular season. Ben had planned a trip, for today, so I took a drive across to see how he was getting on early(ish) this morning. As it turned out, Ben had a very good session landing six fish from eight bites! What is rather puzzling was the complete lack of "doubles" to his landing net! 

We have a few theories about the ecosystem within this fishery, none of which have any basis in science! I do wonder if we've just joined the syndicate at a low point in the population cycle of the Pike? The water quality, and associated birdlife, would suggest that there is nothing awry within a bigger picture, just our timing is a little out of kilter? The best part is that we're now members, thus can await developments knowing that all decisions are for us to make as time elapses? Half a season, this winter, will hopefully provide an insight before we are able to undertake a full season next winter?

I carried my binos and camera kit, whilst on site, and wasn't to be disappointed by what was on display. As I drove the van along the entrance track, a group of geese dropped onto an adjacent  stubble field, allowing me to pick out five Barnacle Geese amidst the regular Greylags. 

Plenty of other bits to enjoy, as I did a lap of the fishery, with the red-head Smew, two Chiffchaff, four Egyptian Geese, two Sparrowhawks and a Little Egret providing entertainment as I walked the perimeter path. I do have a few thoughts about the role of technology within modern image capture, but they can wait for another day. A Common Buzzard provided the perfect subject to support my opinions. Crop sensor cameras, thirty-two million pixels and image stabilization - how can you go wrong?